Prices for oil took their biggest leap ever today, to $138.54. Gas is already well over $4/gallon at most stations in Gainesville; $25 put only a half a tank in our Beetle a few nights ago. These high fuel prices are making everything we buy more expensive.
I have no proof, but I am making a prediction: these high oil prices are a scandal waiting to be uncovered, quite like the high energy prices in California in 2000.
Filed under: Cost of Living, Current Events on June 6th, 2008 | 1 Comment »
There aren’t many dates before I met Miriam where I can be certain what each of us were doing separately; June 6th, 1994 is one of the few.
On that day, the 50th anniversary of the allied invasion of Europe, Miriam was in Normandy on a class trip.
It was the last day of my junior year of high school. I distinctly recall my English teacher, Mr. Marks, writing “D-Day” on the chalk board. I also remember one of the jocks in the class casually calling me “a freak”. I had never thought of myself as being different from anyone else. I also recall that the girl with whom I was obsessed (and over whom had suffered considerable angst) asked a guy I considered a close friend whether he and I would be hanging out over the summer. My feelings were hurt when, without hesitation and sounding almost offended, he said, “no!” I had never felt less popular.
Filed under: Dana Heritage Project, History, Nostalgia, School on June 6th, 2008 | No Comments »
It’s not yet officially summer, but it’s officially hot. It was 95° today. And I am noticing the higher temperatures because I ride a bicycle to work each day. Plus, GRR practices twice a week at the Alachua County Fairgrounds in an enormous building without air conditioning. Seeing how sweaty the girls are getting, it’s obvious that summer is upon us. Alas, it’s just the beginning.
Filed under: Meteorology on June 5th, 2008 | No Comments »
Today is Miriam’s birthday, and although I want it to be the most super-special day ever, the reality is that she and I are both at work. On this date in previous years we have been in Venice (2001) or Miami (2006), or even in honeymoon bliss. It’s a sorry testament to the weak Dollar ($.64 to the euro) and the unprecedented high price of gasoline ($4.01 in Gainesville this morning) that we are unable to make as many pleasure trips on our own dime. Miriam’s work, fortunately, is making up the difference, and later this month we’ll be in Chicago for a few days. Later this year we may go to South Carolina and Washington, D.C.
On the plus side, however, we are among the very fortunate who have been unaffected by the housing crisis, or the recent budget cuts at the University of Florida that have cost many their jobs. We can still afford to have dinner out with friends and if I wanted to I could probably have the good root beer that comes in glass bottles.
So, Angel, happy birthday. I promise that on some future birthday I’ll give you a kiss atop the Arc de Triomphe.
Filed under: Cost of Living, Special Occasions, Travel on June 2nd, 2008 | 1 Comment »