Alternator? HELP!

Day 1:
So I picked up my car on Wednesday from the body shop.. after driving the car a couple miles, the radio first goes out, then the gauges all drop to zero, then the car fights to stay alive, and dies. My attempts to restart the car fail. I then went and picked up a new battery, installed it into the car, and was able to drive away no problem.

Day 2:
I drove the car to work and ran a couple errands. Throughout the day, I notice the car isn't turning over as easy each time I start it up. On about the fifth drive of the day, the same thing happened - the radio dies, the gauges die, then the car dies. This time I had to push the car off the road in traffic. I'm not happy now.

Today:
I yanked the alternator and took it to all the local parts stores, but nobody has a connector to test my alt. I ordered a new alt anyway to see if it fixes my problem, but I have to wait a few hours for it... does this sound like the right fix to you guys/gals? I'm not ruling out an electrical short somewhere since I just got the car back from the body shop, but would a short cause these symtoms? ALL THOUGHTS APPRECIATED!

Btw, the new battery now reads 11.5v on the voltmeter. Obviously the battery is slowly discharging somehow.

TTT

Any guesses anyone? After putting in a new alternator, the car still dies. Guess I'm gonna have to give the car to Ford.. might be selling this car soon.

Thanks for replying guys - I needed to hear something on this one. I thought it was the alternator too, but even after putting the new alt on my car drove a half mile and died again. I guess it's an electrical short because this time the airbag light went on - not to mention my ABS light is on. I need an 01 Cobra, cause I'm getting