Quick update: unexpected medical emergency, resulting in a surgery and hospital stay. Unfortunately, the garage is shut down for the foreseeable future. I'll reopen the garage when the docs give me the green light. The GrayGhost will have to wait.
I'm posting this in my journal for the same reasons I post everything: to help the novice (like me) understand that life happens and to not get discouraged. We'll all get there eventually. See you all on the other side.