wpedtv -- Thanks for your post. Fortunately, I have an 89 Plymouth Horizon I can limp around in until I can pull things together and get my beast fixed.
I sorta have funds to do something, perhaps locally. I think the option of sending it to Terry's is probably pretty good -- just not sure about sending it out-of-state (my practical wife will LOVE that idea!)
Good luck to you, my friend -- I really feel for you in your position. I was laid off from a well-paying tech job a year ago, and have been chasing my tail to make ends meet ever since. Now am going to college classes to get a Computer Sci. degree ... the fun never ends, eh ? ..... - Dave