RUST IN PIECES

(A CALL TO ALMS)...
by Heywood McGuillicuddy, Company Chair:

"Rust In Pieces, Boris Carloff" by the Misanthrope Specialty Co.

He was a veritable Frankenstein monster. A 1987 Pontiac 6000 pieced together out of other dead cars -- and therefore christened Boris Carloff. He served the Company well, and he will be missed.

Boris in Arizona during the 2008 Sweetie Pie Press/Misanthrope Specialty Co. tour.
(photo courtesy of Becky Johnson)

Boris may not have been an official member of the M.S.Co. fleet, but he put in far more time and covered much more distance in the Company's employ than any one of the misanthropes' vehicles. He belonged to the lovely and intrepid Becky Johnson; proprietor of the Sweetie Pie Press, invaluable ally of the Misanthrope Specialty Co., and sweetheart to the Company's impresario, Reverend Aitor. Becky and Aitor toured North America on joint Sweetie Pie/ M.S.Co. ventures long before the days of the Company convoys.

Boris' door, paralyzed ever since his altercation with a drunk driver
in Chicago.(photo courtesy of Becky Johnson)

Despite the fact that he'd been running around with a bashed in door for years due to a scarcity of replacement body parts, Boris has been a real trooper. In all his years of faithful service, he rarely complained, and refused to show his age. Last summer, some of the misanthropes had the privilege of watching Boris' odometer turn over to 300,000 km on the way from Albuquerque to Los Angeles. It was a metric milestone, and heartily celebrated. But Boris was ailing.

Boris turning 300,000(photos courtesy of Becky Johnson)

Boris was finally showing signs of fatigue. He may only be twentyfour years old in human years, but that's closer to one hundred in car years, and seven years of crisscrossing the continent have taken their toll. Every effort had been made to keep him healthy and running. Had a fantastac mechanic looking after him. But now his oil tank keeps filling up with coolant, and the old boy just won't hunt anymore. It's time to put him down.

Outside of Kansas City, on the 2009 tour. (photo courtesy of Becky Johnson)

This sudden loss has come as something of a blow to all who loved him, but especially, both emotionally and financially, to Ms.Johnson, whose 2011 touring plans are now under threat. Having to purchase a new vehicle significantly ups the startup costs of embarking on another four-month roadtrip. But Becky Johnson doesn't take things lying down. Just ask Aitor.

The always resourceful Sweetie Pie Press is taking its campaign to the online funding platform known as Kicktarter, and you can be a part of it.

No donation is too small or too great. All manner of crafty rewards an incentives are being offered up to those willing to donate, and help raise the seed money needed to kick off this summer's Sweetie Pie Press North American expedition. The Company urges you to find out more about it by visiting the Sweetie Pie Press Kickstarter project page. And if you're somehow unfamiliar with the Sweetie Pie Press' escapades, Becky chronicles her travels on her blog.

Driving through Pennsylvania, or maybe Indiana. (photo by Reverend Aitor)

Becky and her blog have been an inspiring resource to many an aspiring craft-making bindlestiff. She has personally been a great help to the Company on its own travels. The misanthropes would probably never have begun their extensive touring had it not been for the example she'd set, lessons she'd passed on, and contacts she'd shared. We will not allow this bump in the road keep her from satisfying her raging wanderlust.

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