Got Gas?

Larry called out today. He couldn't get to work because he ran out of gas and no stations in his area had any.

Friday night at Garden Ridge seemed like a Wednesday. Three times as many employees as customers. Eating lunch today at McAlister's was like a typical weekday. Only it is Saturday. A block from the mall. It was me and four others. Quiet. Quiet enough that I could hear the girl across the room on her cell phone.

Nobody is going to use gas they may not be able to replace before midweek to go shopping or out to eat. There was even talk of canceling the Alabama-Georgia football game, and if you know anything about football in the south, you'd have better luck asking a preacher to cancel a holiday service.

This all started with hurricane Ike, which caused the shutdown of several refineries in Texas. Atlanta, along with about 14 other cities, require a cleaner grade of gas which is only refined at a handful of refineries, of which only one is in operation. The Governor has persuaded the EPA to temporarily release us from those restrictions, but the gas delivery will still not arrive for some time now.

When stations have received their deliveries recently, the lines begin. My wife waited in line for forty-five minutes the other night. I have heard stories of longer waits and restricted purchases. There have been fights and police. At the very least, we live in a very frustrated and panic filled metro area.

If I wouldn't look stupid on a scooter, I'd get one. I may anyway. At $4.50 a gallon, I can laugh my way to the bank.