Maybe the car is old enough that if you replace the alternator, he reckons you'll then just be spending more money on fixing/replacing other parts? (You don't often hear of mechanics saying you ought not to pay them to fix your car, so I'd be inclined to take him seriously. There's nothing in this for him -- unless he's sick of the sight of your car...)

On other matters, if you need more cat-sitting done, let us know. (Is Dan going to Seattle? Maybe not.) We're done with our apartment-finding.

To help you get thru the next few days, I have a banana-nut loaf with your (= Dr. Pretentious, not rianders, who got the last one) name on it. We'll try to drop it off to you today.