I am going to start filtering some of my more private musings. Since blogger does not have a tool for that, you will need to visit my Live Journal and ask to be friended there. I will continue to post Daily Gratitude and other subjects here. There is also a FAQ for my Journal at the same link.
Send gas -- but also rain
| Tuesday, August 19, 2003 @ 06:58 It's very bizarre to be in the middle of a gas crisis -- even a local one. The main pipeline that provides gas to the Valley (the metro Phoenix area) was shut down about two weeks ago. It took some time, but by this past weekend a fullscale panic ensued and reported gas prices were up to $2.50 by yesterday -- that's $1 more than when the pipeline broke. And it's going to be another week or two before the pipeline is tested and running. The ridiculous thing is that as much gas is arriving by truck and would normally come through the pipe. However, panic buying has resulted in a constant scroll on this mornings news programs listing not what schools are closed, but what gas stations are actually open. Weather helicopters have been used as spotters since the weekend -- finding which stations are open and how long the lines are (2-3 hours to get 5 gallons or $10 or whatever limit the station put on the pumps). Somehow it's the governor's fault that people sat in 115 degree heat for hours to get gas to go play golf on Sunday but couldn't find an open station on Monday to get gas for work. And it was really icky to hear people at work yesterday complaining that police, fire, and buses are probably taking all the gas that should be available for us civilians. And, seriously, how is it better to spend an hour driving around to find an open station (thereby using up half a tank or more) and then sit for 2-3 hours in line to get your 5 or 10 gallons (which might not replace what you used to get there!) than to get up an hour earlier and spend $1.60 to take a bus to work???? But, then, what do I know? I live about a mile from my office and *every* major grocery chain has a store within 1.5 miles of us. And we were informed enough to get $10 worth of gas early Sat morning, which is normally enough to last over a week, but with the higher price, might be a little less. Still, we have a fairly energy efficient car, we rarely run the a/c, and we are being careful in planning the trips we use. And this wasn't an accident. I chose my Myrtle based partly on fuel efficiency. We picked this apartment because it is close to the office. We don't believe in living 10, 20, 30 miles from where you work. When Myrtle breaks down (twice since we moved here for minor battery/gas problems) I can catch a bus right outside the apartment and only have to leave 30 mins early. If we run out of gas later this week and don't want to pay $2.50, $1.60 both ways is going to seem like a very minor inconvenience. Now if the rest of the Valley could get past the idea that this pipeline rupture is a direct insult to them. It's not personal, people. It's just what happens when no one carpools and 50-75% of the population drive gas guzzling SUVs, Jeeps, and minivans while living 30-40 minutes from work. Be sane and conservative and no one has to get beat up in a gas line. What we *really* need is rain. boy's Mistress sent us some from Texas last weekend, but we're in a 5 year drought here. We need MORE. Mom was complaining that they are having a drought this year in KS, but don't talk to me until your resevoirs are at 15% of normal, and falling. Please, if you're having too much rain, send it to us!! Thanks :)
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