Catching Up

The effects of the hurricane are still being felt throughout Texas.  Finding gas here near and in Libtardville (San Antonio) is a real problem.  The word had gotten out that there may be gas shortages due the all the refineries that are were in the path of the hurricane would be shut down. 

Consequently, it created a mini-hysteria about the availability of gas.  Before we left for Arizona I had to search to find a station that had gas.  Three of the four near us were completely out.  This was last Wednesday.  Luckily I was able to fill up at the last one.  I was a little worried that we might leave on our trip and get stuck out in West Texas due to no availability of gas.  That didn't happen.  

However, the trip back was a different story.  We found gas at the outer reach of our range in Ft Stockton.  I planned to top off in Ozona so we didn't roll in on fumes and not be able to find gas when we got home.  I had been keeping up with the situation at home and it had become and even bigger problem.  The first two stations in Ozona were out.  The third only had ultra premium for 3$/gal.  

So I topped off.  Glad I did.  All the stations around home the next day were completely out.  WE have a full tank on my truck and near half on the wife's car.  We will conserve and avoid the hysteria.

There is no gas shortage.  The current situation is compounded be social media.  Everyone is telling others how there is no gas anywhere and as soon as a truck rolls in to refill they post that on social media and everyone descends on that station blocking roads and emptying the station in a couple hours.  Those idiots even advise folks to take extra gas cans to fill.  They are the ones responsible for this stupidity.  You know that everyone that doesn't really need gas is topping off and adding to the problem.  The herd mentality is in play instead of cool thinking.  Some stations are beginning to ration gas to 5 or 10 gallons  It makes me want to slap people.  Can you imagine the hysteria if there was a real shortage like back in '73/'74?  Not sure of the real date.  There would probably killings at various stations.  There are already folks with short tempers letting go at some of the locations with long lines.  I'm thankful we have small supply of essentials and we will stay away from the madness as long as we can.

Everyone in Texas is related to or knows someone really well in those areas hit the hardest.  There are a lot of folks turning out to help the worst hit areas.  Texans being Texans.  It's how we roll.

OK enough about that.  Where we live here in Texas is on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, so we are no newbies when it comes to heat.  This recent trip of 2000 miles in 3 days was an eye opener of what real heat is.  Granted they don't have the humidity we have.  But that saying 'but it's a dry heat' is meaningless.  When we rolled into Phoenix it was 110*.  Normally I would say 110 in the shade, but they don't have shade.  Those things they have aren't trees with those little spindly leaves and stunted growth.  (Yes, I'm dogging you Arizona).  When a friend found out I was headed out there he told me that it gets very cool at night.  I don't know where he was, but it was still near 90* at 4:00 AM.  The heat radiating off the pavement just keeps the heat in.  There is no way I could survive in anything like that with the heat issues I have.  I was a bit worried about the wedding since it was outside and it was 108*.  They actually found a shady place so all was tolerable for the time it took to get that over. My Grandkids didn't fare as well, they had some heat related issues.

Today we are sitting at home missing our kids and wishing we had been able to spend more time out there.  We hope to go back to take in the sights I want to see, but it will have to be sometime other than the summer.  Most likely an October.  We also want to get to know our Son's in-laws better. 

They are really great folks and he is blessed to have them.  

Happy Trails