depressed, bored, lethargic, ect, ect.

Worked last Saturday. Hated it. Killed my weekend.
There I am bored, lethargic, depressed. Thinking about things I need to do to my 86 GTi to get it ready for next weeks autocross. Exhaust. Injector seals. Check it over in general. Just not feeling like playing with the car. But now it is Monday. I am back at work. And I want to go home to work on the car. I have THINGS to do!
Ok, I feel better now...

When you start letting work get int eh way of more important things, depression can be a result. I suggest working on the head at your desk...

Yep, sounds like me. So stressed at work that I'm exhausted when I get home, no energy left to get into the garage. Go to work and think about how much I need to get done, more stress... repeat until major heart attack..... Sunday nights are the most depressing time of the week. Dread going to work, upset about not getting enough done over the weekend.

I don't dread work, but I've killed my build schedule by working 12 hour days for the past 2 months. I'm way behind now, which is going to mean a thrash to be ready for the first race of the season.

It sucks.

I work 7 days a week... Granted only a couple hrs a day Saturday and Sunday but man it gets rough. I find myself waking up earlier and earlier trying to cram more into my day and it is grueling.

When I hit the wall in the garage and at home I just take a Saturday. Go into work early then take a nap and go 4wheeling and take the little woman somewhere nice to eat. I had her mounting and balancing tires for about 5hrs Saturday while I welded. Then gave her a welding lesson. I took her to hobby lobby and Italian. She perked right up

I find that no matter how tired I am after work if I make myself go in the shop with a single goal to accomplish I get a second wind and can keep going.

I'm ready for a vacation. I've been working my normal hrs and spending 30+ hrs a week in the shop for the past 2 months. I will be ready for racing next month!

Me too... and here's my conclusion. Even though I was bloody exhausted from weekly travel and deadlines, up until the fall I worked out religiously. Kept me vitalized, healthy and "up". Let it slide until here I am, eight months later, flabby, cranky, tired, headachy and bummed out.

Time to renew the gym membership. Great way to get an endorphin rush.

Graduated, got my degree, took almost a year to get a job.

Job is in the DC area and I have an apartment. They get on my case if they see me with the hood open on my car.

My shop space and my tools are at my moms house, 3 hour drive away.

About all the apartment is good for is cooking/internet/sleep.

Its lack of projects that is killing me.

Any ideas of stuff to do in an apartment? (Keep in mind, trying to save money for a wedding and a house)

Apexcarver wrote: Graduated, got my degree, took almost a year to get a job. Job is in the DC area and I have an apartment. They get on my case if they see me with the hood open on my car. My shop space and my tools are at my moms house, 3 hour drive away. About all the apartment is good for is cooking/internet/sleep. Its lack of projects that is killing me. Any ideas of stuff to do in an apartment? (Keep in mind, trying to save money for a wedding and a house)

Model cars?

Apexcarver wrote: Graduated, got my degree, took almost a year to get a job. Job is in the DC area and I have an apartment. They get on my case if they see me with the hood open on my car. My shop space and my tools are at my moms house, 3 hour drive away. About all the apartment is good for is cooking/internet/sleep. Its lack of projects that is killing me. Any ideas of stuff to do in an apartment? (Keep in mind, trying to save money for a wedding and a house)

I get all kinds of crazy E36 M3 going in my apt. I don't work, so I'm home a lot with my kid, and to keep from going stir crazy you have to invent things. I recently took up cooking advanced level food (home made EVERYTHING. Pie, fried chicken, mexican food, you name it) just to see what I could cook. Turns out, I'm damn good at it. There's the usual cleaning and stuff as well. I also have a spare room (you may not) where I have an art desk set up, along with a desk that i've got for working on small mechanical stuff ( My RC car is the big one here) and I can just go in there and screw around. Draw up a piece I might want to lay on a friends car, test out some line work for an idea I had, make sure the RC car is tight (drifting season is upon us) and so on. I also try to combine what I love with my childs interests. He LOVES hot wheels, and I love cars. Hot wheels are little cars... see how that works? I make it a point to name make and model any car he brings me. I only get "car" so far, but.... he's 19 months old. I'll take it. Lots of this stuff can be done on a tight budget. Art desk was less than 100$ new on sale at the local Dick Blick, came with a chair and everything. I need to design a shelf for the other side so I can set my laptop up on it as well, as I get a lot of ideas off the internet. Hot wheels- they're a buck a piece. RC car can easily be done for 200$, perhaps less if you go used on CL. MY RC car was not 200$, but most of it is straight from Japan/Korea, where the RC drift scene is HUGE and you can get some REALLY wicked parts for it. Combine that with an extensive movie collection and so on- I've got days worth of E36 M3 to do that I LIKE in my apt without ever having to disassemble my IRL car. That happens sometimes too, but you get the idea.

Did a miata and I have a Lotus F1 car to do.

Just not as engrossing as I would like.

(hopeful to go up to the shop and have my 1:1 scale miata back for Bowie, you gonna be there, Sky?)

FranktheTank wrote: I find that no matter how tired I am after work if I make myself go in the shop with a single goal to accomplish I get a second wind and can keep going.

Yeah, I've had that work for me a few times.

Been living in apartments and dorm rooms for the past 5 years. My advice is the same as my grandma's: Books are your best friend. Whether it is about the Civil War, fighting dragons, or the history of Railroads, it is a decent substitute when you can't get to the real thing.

Lesley wrote: Me too... and here's my conclusion. Even though I was bloody exhausted from weekly travel and deadlines, up until the fall I worked out religiously. Kept me vitalized, healthy and "up". Let it slide until here I am, eight months later, flabby, cranky, tired, headachy and bummed out. Time to renew the gym membership. Great way to get an endorphin rush.

Gigantic +1 to this. Gotta do something physical everyday. It can be something as mundane as walking the dog, but get the heart rate elevated at least a little bit.

Apexcarver wrote: Graduated, got my degree, took almost a year to get a job. Job is in the DC area and I have an apartment. They get on my case if they see me with the hood open on my car. My shop space and my tools are at my moms house, 3 hour drive away. About all the apartment is good for is cooking/internet/sleep. Its lack of projects that is killing me. Any ideas of stuff to do in an apartment? (Keep in mind, trying to save money for a wedding and a house)

Got Forza? If so, check out the Honda Challenge thread over in Off-Topic...

Also, got a bike (the pedal kind)? DC area is great for that - lots of trails. Bike commuting to work helps make my job more bearable.

I don't believe in working out... haha I eat healthy take my vitamins and work my butt off. If I worked out I wouldn't have time to do other things but I don't doubt it's merit for people with the time. I also have an outside job working with my hands and back.

I have rebuilt carbs in the living room... Polished heads and put together intake/carb set ups. I have my electric cutouts in the bed room. I had a friend that rebuilt a transmission on his kitchen table, his wife left him when he brought a carburetor to bed. Seriously... If you aren't married I see no reason not to work on your car in your apt.

DaveEstey wrote: I don't dread work, but I've killed my build schedule by working 12 hour days for the past 2 months. I'm way behind now, which is going to mean a thrash to be ready for the first race of the season. It sucks.

Sounds like me. I am working so much right now I haven't touched my project in a month. I look at things on the way out to work for a second but I'm working tons of OT to try and fund 2 project cars. Why have I not learned?

Apexcarver wrote: (hopeful to go up to the shop and have my 1:1 scale miata back for Bowie, you gonna be there, Sky?)

Yeah, I should be there.

I fully understand this headline

Apexcarver wrote: They get on my case if they see me with the hood open on my car.

who gets on your case ? anyone that has the right to get on your case ?

if not .... berkeleyum

Apexcarver wrote: Any ideas of stuff to do in an apartment? (Keep in mind, trying to save money for a wedding and a house)

You can do bike stuff in your apartment. Buy a cheap older bike from Craigslist then refurbish it.

If you have enough room and a 1st floor apartment you might be able to do dirt bike stuff?

Apexcarver wrote: Graduated, got my degree, took almost a year to get a job. Job is in the DC area and I have an apartment. They get on my case if they see me with the hood open on my car. My shop space and my tools are at my moms house, 3 hour drive away. About all the apartment is good for is cooking/internet/sleep. Its lack of projects that is killing me. Any ideas of stuff to do in an apartment? (Keep in mind, trying to save money for a wedding and a house)

My primary active hobby right now is cooking. I started making Indian food this year using this cookbook. I have been cooking on my own intuition for years now, with the result that all of my food generally tastes the same. Following recipes to the tee has really improved my understanding of how flavors work together. Whenever I cook, I always share some of it with friends. It's good for the ego.

A few weeks ago, I found an awesome deal on a huge commercial stand mixer, so bread has now entered my life. Honestly, if you wanted to specialize in only one area of the kitchen, make it bread. Bread is such an amazing, wonderful, universally loved food item. It is chemistry; it is art. However, without care, it will take you down yet another hobby rabbit hole... I borrowed my neighbor's pizza stone, and I am convinced that it is why my first loaf turned out so well. The crust was just perfect. One you get into your own sourdough starters, and capturing your own yeast, you have left for the point of no return. A good loaf of homemade bread will cost you between $1 and $2. Not bad, considering that you have to eat anyways.

For a year or so, my main hobby was partner salsa dancing. It is a lot of fun, and it is a skill that you will have as long as you can stand. The minimum requirements are music, a partner, and a surface to dance on. Besides, if you're preparing for a wedding, a love of dancing will make the reception that much better.

In reply to Mitchell:

Intuitive cooking... now I know what to call it

Ecatacetera?