On the Road Again

Say your regular car is a Volvo. It's a few years old and no one would ever call it sexy, but you've been through a lot together. Despite a few quirks, it's been very reliable ... until now.

Suddenly the engine blows and you're left without wheels. Repairs are going to take a while -- what to do?

You still have that Caprice Classic that's been collecting acorns out back, but it runs about as well as a three-legged dog. One that's ancient, arthritic, and morbidly obese. A hopeless case, you think, wishing a heavy branch would take care of it once and for all.

Enter Carlos, a mechanic who's made several improvements to the Volvo, customizing it to your particular needs. Having heard of your dilemma, he just shows up one day. After a few questions he dives into work -- and hell if he doesn't have that Caprice purring a couple of hours later. It's no Lamborghini -- Carlos is a craftsman, not a miracle worker -- but it should see you through until the Volvo's fixed (or replaced).

Thanks, Carlos! You de man. I'd already planned to make your work the focus of my fundraising appeal; now I have even more to say.

To readers who are out of the loop (or just exceptionally dim), I'm actually alluding to computers, not cars.