My first car was a fabulous Fiat 1500 Spyder. My old man

made me sell it when insurance go to high. We traded it

for the stude and got $200 in cash besides.

This car would stop for no reason at all. Usually on 101–

My mom, a wonderful RN- whom I would be transporting to

the hospital–would be amazed that I could get the

rattly convertible going–by simply getting out of the car

and kicking over the right front tire.

I later learned this was the site of the fuel pump.

Someone told me that that was the name of this part.

I ordered to Canada for one. It took 3 months for it to

get back to Santa Barbara.

Meanwhile, my buddy Mark, loaned me his Rambler Classic

for weeks and weeks. The Rambler was a more reliable

auto.

As for all you bad night dreamers—simply think of

something really nice instead. Sweet Dreams!

Instead of kicking the fuel pump–order a new one and

borrow something from a friend that defeats the problem!

I am writing a book on autos. May I use the quote by
Cassie B.

I will reference you or cassie as she wishes.

Or not, if you give me permission.

thanks!
ajt

ps. I will enter a studebaker story if you want!

Unfortuanately, I remember the sequence too well. Pump, pump,pump,pump rrrrrrrrrr pump, pump, pump, pump very agressively with pumping while the rrrrrrr’s continued and pumping while not turning the key. This could be a minute or 30 minutes with a dead battery finally and me bouncing away on that tiny leather seat of that 72 pinto very frustrated.

Free books: I always look, even if I don’t find anything that makes me enthused enough to stick my hands in and rummage. I’m currently saving all the paperbacks that come my way for a local cat rescue’s spring book sale. When I mentioned to the rescue president that I had the books saved, she nearly came through the phone to bear-hug me. “Mysteries and thrillers — people will love those!” I think she despairs of placing the romances and science fiction books more than she does the cats.

First car: Mine was a ‘74 Buick Century. It had been an “island car,” meaning that it was kept on one of the islands off the coast of Maine back in the days when cars that remained on islands didn’t have to be registered or inspected. “Rustbucket” would have been a compliment. It We called it the Milennium Falcon, after the line in the first Star Wars movie: “You got here in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.”

Stuff that scares me: The things that scare me in dreams (though I very rarely have nightmares): being chased by shadowy strangers, missing connections, doing something completely wrong and getting called out for it, stuff like that. The things that scare me when awake are: heights, getting lost, and running out of coffee. Oh, and Dick Cheney.

I ALWAYS rummage through free books. Alas, too often the titles don’t appeal to me, but every so often my fingers land on a gem.

I tag my “mind candy” books with a Bookcrossings ID, then leave them at the local coffee shop. There’s a pretty rapid turnover of books there.

I read a lot, and am always thrilled to get books at a low or (even better) no price. I would definitely stop to look. But wouldn’t take anything that I didn’t plan to read.

Have a nice weekend!

Analyze that, someone? eeeeek.

I have so many unread books in this house right now that I’m even embarrassed to count them. But they are my babies, and eventually I’ll get around to them.

My first car (age 19) was a choice made by my family against ALL my wishes (a brand new Chevrolet sedan instead of the VW bug convertible I wanted). From that moment forward, cars lost all appeal to me except as transportation.