Thanks everyone--all really good advice. My plan is to hightail it back to Florida next Thursday (drive from the DC metro area to Melbourne Beach) and get an OEM replacement top as soon as it is available--I will pass along the ebay information to the shop that will be doing the repair work (I would never be able to do it myself). Although I could try to paint it, since I don't embarrass easily, I'll just drive it as is and if anyone says anything, then I'll tell them it was the biggest bird I've ever seen that made a deposit on my car

In the meantime, I need to find a secure place to the park car until next Thursday as I am leaving for a quick business trip to the West Coast on Sunday and not back until Wednesday night (thus, I won't be around to keep my eye on the car or the neighborhood). I know my friends will help me out. I too am paranoid about the car and Halloween night.

Everyone have a happy and safe Halloween and thank you again . . . you have helped me more than you can ever know.