One of my favorite things about Nashville is our ability to overreact to just about any weather pheonomenon. When it snows, which it does here on occassion, though hardly very deep, the Butcher and I like to go to the grocery store just to watch people buying five gallons of milk and ten loaves of bread at a time. One wonders what folks plan on doing with five gallons of milk if the power goes off–maybe making large vats of instant pudding in the dark? I don’t know. Quite possibly, there are wild winter pudding wrestling matches I’m missing out on. I can’t say.
And when it rains, you are literally taking your own life in your hands when you drive, because people act as if the presense of rain negates all traffic laws. People ignore lanes. They run lights. They drive as fast as they can, as if that will somehow help them get to their destinations safer.
And now, in what might be considered the world’s most fucked up show of solidarity with the people who are actually going to suffer due to the hurricane, we’re running out of gas around town. The building has been a-flutter all afternoon with rumors of prices jumping fifty to seventy-five cents over the course of the day and now, folks are saying forget even trying to buy gas, that there’s no gas left along West End.
I hope I make it home in one piece before the rioting and looting start.
Tiny Cat Pants 
I wonder if my bicycle is still safe on my porch.
Same thing is happening here. It’s freaking ridiculous too, because they say we’d experience almost no hike this weekend at all if people continued to buy gas at normal rates instead of freaking out. Unfortunately, people are stupid and are freaking out and panic buying meaning our gas here is now at $4.99/gal (up from about $3.50). Apparently (according to the local news), we’re the only region in the state that stupid so the rest of the state is still enjoying gas at normal prices.
Meanwhile, it’s a self-sustaining cycle. People panic and buy gas because they’re worried about it going up. That sudden sharp demand increase in turn actually makes the price go up. Next time around, people will think “Last time a storm came through, prices went up, so I better buy” and cause a panic spike again…
Oh well, I’ve got enough in my car to last me at least well into next week. These artificial spike tend to be very short-lived so hopefully it will have calmed down by then.
And I thought my troubles were just because I was on the road at 5 on a Friday, and I’m rarely on the road then. And I did wonder when gas prices jumped back up again. Oh why did I forget to fill up yesterday? And the light came on; I have no choice anymore.
Crap. I need to get gas, too.
Looks like I may not get to “Burn After Reading” this weekend after all.
Rumors spread like wildfire today at work. When I left at 5:30, the gas up on the corner was the same price as this morning, $3.69. Plenty of people fueling up; no closures. Where is the crisis?
Lesley, the two stations I passed after work were selling gas, too. One was at $4.09 for premium, and another was at $3.99 for regular. These were on 21st and on Wedgewood.
Get used to this. Seriously.
Another Nashvillienne (Nashvillite? Nashvillese? Nashvillain? <–ooh! I like that one!) shaking her head with you.
Found you via Shannon’s blog.
The Exxon on Spring Street and Bell Road is at $3.53. And there’s a freaking line wrapped around the curb!
In Memphis, people also may be buying because of rumors that gas will go up in price. Of course, I can’t say what I think of that on some one else’s blog.
And now the teaser on News Channel 5 for 10pm is a station in Winchester selling it at $5.29. Nothing like finding the most sensational evidence to quell the panic.
I’m with Mack on this one.
People were panicking here too but on the other hand, I heard a lot of folks I would never think of researching information about wholesale gas prices in comparison to oil prices and talking about it.
It’s going to get worse according to the local gas company which distributes. They showed me their books. No one here is profiting.
I wonder what kind of bonuses the big gas company CEOs will get this year at Christmas from this weekend alone.
Lost amid the “news” that is lipsticked pigs and Hustlers for Kindergartners is the fact that Venezuela has expelled our ambassador. Add to that trouble in Bolivia, Russia, Pakistan, and, of course, our follies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and you have all the information you need that energy is going to cost much much more in the near future. I haven’t started in on India and China.
Drilling won’t fix it, hydrogen won’t fix it, ethanol won’t fix it. Conservation won’t fix it. There is no fix. There is, however, some things the average person can do to protect themselves at least somewhat.
First and foremost…avoid debt. Be as liquid as possible. Electricity is going to rise at a ridiculous pace. All types of fuel are going to spike intermittently. You may literally have to choose between light, and heat.
Hate to be a buzz-kill, and I’m happy to be ridiculed if I am wrong, but there are signs everywhere. This year, next year, but its coming.
It can be manageable, but it will take prioritizing, and a new approach to managing your life. Less trips, less expenses that aren’t for basic needs. I think we’ve just seen a glimpse of the future. I don’t believe it has to be apocalyptic, but it will be life-altering.
Have a nice weekend!
Oh, I forgot: DON’T SIGN CONTRACTS. Not for cell phones, TV, internet, etc.
Yet another reason I am glad I work at home, and don’t leave the house often… and I can walk to the grocery store.
Mack: as much as I hate to shill for an ex-employer, the no-contracts thing is one reason I have stuck with comcast.
**sighs**
ahwell.
There is no quick fix, you are right, but we can start making steps towards a more diverse future, and conservation and focusing on efficiency can really help in the mid term.
I agree, Polerin.
I live in Houston, am still without power or water (am using a friend’s internet). This storm was a bastard. But I really liked that there was NO panic ahead of it. Preparation, yes. “Oh yeah, I guess I’d better get some batteries and water. How are you? La la!” But no panic. It was a beautiful thing.
But man, I want my AC back.