Van life

Here in the desert its just way to hot to ride..call me a pussy but the 100+ degree wind blasting your whole body, and the added heat of the engine beneath you is just hell. So lately Ive been driving my awesome 1979 dodge ram van around. Its a good reminder of how awesome old vans are.

Back home there was this sweet yellow thing that I would drive by all the time to see if it was for sale, it was parked in this same spot for a good year.

The other day my buddy from back home sent me a photo of it now. And holy shit does it rule! 

Chetwynd was pretty cool today, nothin; like the smell of freshly carved wood.

Cougar on Cragars, trailer parks everywhere have the best cars

Livin' without internet at home, and my phone being on the fritz has made me realize how awesome real life is.

I can handle the lack of communication devices, I write a lot of letters anyhow, but I can't handle not having cable TV, if I'm not blogging for weeks at a time it's because I'm caught up watching TV.

I'm just not hip enough to hate that

I've been really making signs, for the man, and for my own pleasure. Bloggin' don't pay the bills, and isn't nearly as fun as building signs. 

Amigo from work likes the dumb shit I come up with and puts in on his truck. Thanks Milo

Been workin' on some stuff for friends, this is a quick design for Wheeler's 

griptape endeavor, this is the prototype, fucked up, but got the colors right today, this is 

how it looks when I make shit, bad 10 second sketch to prototype.

It's fuckin' hot out! 

Sort of workin' on stuff, sort of just enjoying summer.

Philo Beddoe looks exactly like my uncle Gerald. 

It's pretty cool. He's definitely my coolest uncle too.

I'm not sure but McAfee says this site is sketchy? 

I assure you there is nothin' sketchy going on here...

I started painting this for Boots as a going away gift a year ago, but never did finish, then yesterday I found 

it again when I was looking for my tackle box, and there was some sand paper sitting on it, 

the rest is history as they say. I think it turned out alright, looks old, faux patina brooooo

Wasn't gonna garage sale this weekend cause I'm pretty broke til payday, but I'm sure glad I did. 

93 sporty seat, Mikuni carb, some weird Italian light and for me the holy grail 70s Canadiana helmet. 

I've tried to buy various ones I've seen from vintage stores and the like and they always want 100-200 bucks for them! I paid two bucks. 

5&Dime was never strictly about choppers, its just a label I can do all the different stuff I like under, hell that was my very first post on the blog if anyone bothered to read it.
I just fuckin' like making my own stickers and shit, and stickers that say Michael Graham would look stupid.
Its a creative outlet, if you don't like that, thats no skin off my back.

"Bikes and cars, guns and guitars" 

That's definitely my life motto.

Some weed baggies full of goodies to send off. 

I cruise around town at work a lot, here's some cool shit I saw today.

This dude is two blocks from my shop, He's had three of these trucks as long as I've lived here.

The GMC second from the left is a new addition, and clearly my favorite.

Don't fuck with Trigger's strap.

Wheeler made this crazy stool for himself. If I had a van I'd totally do the interior in this type of shit

and also long furry stuff.

I really wish my truck didn't fuckin' die yesterday, I found a 66 Charger project for cheap. 

But noooo, now I need to find a new truck. Might part out Lucille, anyone need late 80s/early 90s GM parts?

Just need one more coat of bondo to smooth out a few spots, some glaze, sand then prime.

I'll be getting risers and a gas tank mid month of June, and hopefully finding some 6 bend pull back bars for it. 

I need to put a new starter in my truck this next cheque, and I've already commited to the baseball tees, so that puts the bike on hold for a bit. 

Wheeler was spotted out and about Red Deer at an art show at Classic Tattoo 

last night, wearing a 5&Dime shirt. These are available again, made to order.

That's the truck dreams are made of. 66 GMC Fenderside.

It's rumored this is just a GMC grille and tailgate on a Chev though. Has Chev gauges, hood and 

doesn't have leaf springs. GMC had coils then as an option but why would you go to the trouble

of putting in Chevy gauges? 

I'm not gonna argue it with these good ol' boys though. Right turn Clyde.

I went through a walk behind my house today. 

No word of a lie I was listening to The Legend of Wooley Swamp when I came 

across this creepy swamp. so I followed the path through it...

And I found a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Burn out cars, dirt bike jumps, 

beat up washing machines and discarded furniture turned into forts

This is where 80s arcade machines go to die. 

There's two of these early 60s C10s in my neighborhood, I sure wish 

one of them was mine. Well not really I'd rather a GMC, but I wouldn't refuse one of these.

 The other is also white but doesn't have stupid wheels on it. 

Hey, don't even read this blog if you're just here to rip off shit for your stupid fucking tumblr.

Fuckers.

Wheeler finished the crazy seat he was building. 

mu' fuckas wilin' out

I made stickers too. Holler at me if you want some.
Unless I don't like you, then don't holler at me.

Tryin' to not neglect the blog, I just can't afford my internet bill and working on the BSA.

So obviously the BSA comes first.

Updates will happen when they happen, thanks for continuing to check in. 

Maybe that punk Emily could pick up the slack. Or we could get a third contributor?
Anyone interested?

End of the month I will have a small run of these, well they will be much nicer than my

microsoft paint version, I promise. 

Got some new shit in the works, once the screenprinter gets back to me that is. 

Everyone is gearing up for the big chopper shows of the summer, gettin' ready to put on miles and see old friends. 

It seems like all of the internet crowd only puts importance on the big shows that have their own blogs, and will no doubt have magazines in attendance, hell, everyone wants to be in a magazine. I think it's really cool that so many people are willing to make trips from around the world to shows like Born Free in California, but I notice people just seem to overlook all the local shows, small or large, and just talk shit about them.

 If the younger builders aren't going to the local shows other enthusiasts might never see a real chopper and catch the bug like we all have. Everyone needs to hang up the pretentious attitudes and support your local shows so that choppers stay alive, in real life, not just the internet. 

5&Dime babe of the millenium. Amber Heard.

5&Dime Drag Racing Team, comin' soon. Stay tuned, first race is next weekend, will have details after that

Spent the afternoon putting nice new valve covers on and a quick coat of paint 

on my rusty old air cleaner. Once I get everything cleaned up she won't look too bad. 

I start work Monday so I can finish welding the frame, fix the sissy bar, make footpeg mounts,   

and have started making plans for getting the BSA painted, 

found the parts I need except handlebars, so it should be coming together soon. I'll try to post 

progress here, when I make it. 

If you are around Edmonton you should check out this little bike show! 

I don't think I'll be able to make it, but if I get a chance I probably will try to go.

Happy Birthday Hermano, can't believe it's been nearly 5 years. 

Buck finally got himself on two wheels! Fuck yes.