New guy here from Southeast Texas

[jcook]

I guess I'll make a formal introduction of myself. My name is Jay and I'm from a little town on the Gulf Coast close to the Louisiana. My car is a 1981 2000. I actually have two of them but one is beyond repair. The one I plan on building is partially torn down. There is no way I can count how many hobbies I have. On Nov. 17, 2009, while involved with my most prominate hobby, carpentry, I cut off my pinky and the ring finger was hanging on by skin (table saw). The blade went across my palm and also knocked out the joint in my thumb, also held on just by skin. The surgeon did an incredible job and all I am missing is the little finger. So, now that the saws are off limits, I now have time to return to the Spider. The weather offshore will be getting better hopefully about the same time I can start using my hand again, so I need to get busy. I have a ton of questions as I plan to take it down to where no two pieces are touching. There is some info on the net about a Fiat club in Houston, is it still very active? How many people on here are around this area?

Looking forward to getting to know yall,

Jay

[maytag]

welcome, Jay!

My wife's a Texan, and so I know what I'm talking about when I say that I'm sure that injury won't keep ya down long!

(She once got mad at me for suggesting I'd better go to the E.R. 'cuz I'd shot a 16p framing nail through my hand 4 hours earlier, and it was beginning to swell... )

Y'all Texans are TOUGH!!!

[Foster48x]

Hi Jay,
I'm up north of you in Fort Worth. Good luck with the recovery and restoration.
Throw up some pics of the car (we love pics) when you've got time.

Rick

[rlux4]

Hiya Jay! Welcome to the forum.
Not having a finger is a good thing for someone working on cars. Just think how much easier it will be to get into tight places.
I am a carpenter, been one for going on 40 years. It would take too much time to go into all the injuries I've had. But I taught woodshop for about seven years and I used to tell my students that I'm missing the tip of my middle finger so that I would pass the Federal requirements for woodshop teachers.
Good luck getting your car in shape.
Ron
"Old carpenters don't die, they just disappear a piece at a time.

[mbouse]

OUCH!
that is a painful introduction.

welcome to the site, please post some pictures of your fingerless car!