Car started to miss, now won't start

[Teresa, F.]

Hi all,

Bright and early the tow truck arrived to take my car to the garage.  I
didn't even get a chance to check for spark.  I did try to listen to the
fuel pump and couldn't hear anything but then again, my hearing isn't
the best.  

When the tow truck driver tried to start it he said "it sounds like the
starter".  So okay, not a huge deal.

This afternoon the garage calls.  The guy who usually handles my car was
out injured(didn't know that ahead of time)and the guy who was there
isn't nearly as experienced.  He said he did a compression test and
there is no pressure and because of that, he feels the timing belt
jumped or broke.  The timing belt has about 30K on it.

I've had a timing belt go out before and when it happened, my car died
fast and hard.  This just didn't seem the same.  Going to work yesterday
morning my car started to miss.  I've had no problems with this
previously.  I pulled to the side of the road for a minute or two to let
traffic pass and then it cleared up.  After work it started up fine and
I drove about 2.5 miles and when rounding a curve it started to miss
again.  I pulled off and waited a minute and it cleared up.  I came
home, turned off the car and went inside.  About 1.5 hours later I went
to drive in town and it wouldn't start. 

I'm going to have the car taken to a new garage to have it checked out.
I'm just lost as to what this could be.  If it is the timing belt, I'm
probably screwed and will be in the market for a new(new to me,
haha)car.  Or maybe I'll just jump off a bridge.  It would be less
painful.

Thanks again,

Floyd