With the anticipation of Christmas, Santa’s elves had to have been communicating with our gas companies.
With each passing week between Thanksgiving and Christmas, gas prices came down a few more cents. Thank you, Santa.
The lowest they got for us in these parts was $1.55 in January. Here’s evidence of them heading that way.
However, surprise, surprise, Christmas is truly over now and a Happy Valentine I am not. Gas prices are coming back up. This week saw $1.99 at our pumps.
Perhaps one way I can save at the pumps is to just stay put, rather than move from country house to older daughter’s in the city to younger daughter’s north of us. But if the truth be known, I rather like gallivantin’ around.
A couple of weeks ago, I got to stay with younger grandson so his parents could go to work. Poor guy had the flu and was feeling all sorts of miserable. From one day to the next I found myself 200 miles away. Rather than take the roads, I flew this journey. As I awoke in the middle of my first night there staring up at green phosphorescent stars shining down on me, I asked myself “Where am I?” Then, I remembered I was at daughter and son-in-law’s house in grandson’s bedroom. “Shhh…do not make a sound,” I reminded myself. “Let him sleep. Oh please do not wake up.” By the end of the week he was much better to go back to preschool on Monday.
I flew back to Houston and found not only Rick greeting me at the airport but this space-cow assuring me I was nearly back home.
It’s Random Acts of Kindness Week and today is RAK day this February 13. I look forward to remembering this day even more than Valentine’s Day. Yes, the CD Romanza still plays on my car CD player at this time of year, but I’m always on the lookout on days that I’m driving in the city for folks who could use one of these to help them along.
I feel like I’m on a roller coaster with these gas prices, Georgette. I’m happy to hear your grandson is feeling better. Poor little guy…I bet he loved having you as his nurse. 🙂
Good morning, Jill. I loved being there and helping out for a few days.
You are a kind soul, Georgette. I especially like the care package at the end. My version of that: little lunch packs of chicken or tuna to give to homeless of which there are many in big-city Jacksonville. The slideshow – a nice touch!
Your lunch packs are a good solution, too. Just add them to the grocery shopping each week.
Our gas prices never got as low as yours, and we’re back up to $2.05 right now. But we sure enjoyed it while it lasted!
Glad your grandson is feeling better.
Have a great weekend and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentines to you, Dianna.
You had me laughing with your 6 carrot ring this morning. Time to visit Aggie maybe?
Our gas prices never dropped below $2 (we have high taxes on our gas to repair infrastructures which never seem to be repaired) and they are already heading back up. Love your idea for the homeless.
ouch…never dropped below $2.00? Then our prices really were a very nice Christmas gift for us.
The care bags are something grandson and I do. We try to keep one in the front seat for me and one in the back for him. He is required 4 hours of volunteer service work every 9 weeks through his elementary school and he usually does it with the food bank. We have extended his food bank service by doing this now. I’m so glad he’s aware of those in need when he sees them.
you and my wife have similar lives @ this point…being able to spend a few days helping out w/ the grandkids is one of the things she really enjoys. We too have been enjoying the lower gas prices, never got down as low as yours..they are still hovering around $2.i love the picture of the long horn on your blog header! DM
Now is a time of fun choices as your wife probably has chosen to do. I’m busy yes, but not so busy as to have to sacrifice time from family. I did that working full time and I’m relishing not doing it again. If we can reduce just a little stress, that’s all the reward I need. I remember all too well those days of something on the calendar every day of the week and little time to breathe.
you’ve been very busy and a traveling fool! 🙂
It has been fun. Thank you for dropping by, Theresa. You are so good. I know I’ve been scarce.
Sounds like a good February so far. Nice that you could spend time with your grandson. Gas prices are down here in Europe and everyone is very happy about it. We are driving a Smart car so we aren´t using much fuel at all. Happy Valentine´s Day and Happy RAK day!!
That’s very good news that Europe is experiencing lower gas prices, too. Paying by the liter is a very dear price to pay. I wonder if you see hybrids in Europe along with your Smart car?
Greeting from a space cow…oh, my! 🙂
This is Houston, TX after all. 🙂
Try $2.39 on for size. 😦 That’s what I paid at the gas pumps here.
Ouch! I was just wondering so went ahead and threw it out there. Although the prices made for a jolly season, it did kind of make me wonder who the gas price puppeteer is/was?
That’s a whole lot of traveling… glad your grandson is better and that you didn’t catch it 🙂 Love the care pack, great idea. Our gas made it down to 1.75 and is now back up to 2.19.
Bless his heart, he was miserable. Eyes, ears, nose, cough, etc. I was able to sandwich this stay between classes and return without a germ. Whew! So glad I teach face to face twice a week and not every day. Have a lovely Valentine’s Day, Pix.
Speaking of traveling, greetings from Crowley, Louisiana. I’m over here for the Courir de Mardi Gras in Church Point, with a friend from “down the bayou.” We met the people whose home we’ll be at tomorrow, and it looks like wonderful fun.
I did notice that gas is higher here — $2.20 — but I can’t believe your $1.55. The lowest we got in League City (that I know of) was $1.79. Ah, well. It’s still cheap enough that a little traveling is possible.
I must say, the traffic was as bad as I’ve seen it in some time. There were two cars burned to crisps — one on I-10 west, one on I-10 east — and there was a twenty mile backup heading into Houston. I suspect several people in those messes could have used a little kindness!
Enjoy your time away. My high school friend and family are taking in Mardi Gras this weekend. Be safe and take care on the roads. Driving in to see my mother today who got bedded down with the flu after flu shot and all. I completely bypass I-10 driving under it and take the back roads to visit her.
It was in January when we saw $1.55 once, $1.57 another time, etc. We certainly felt the savings and were grateful for it. Gas prices as they are has prompted Rick to remember what his dad’s take would be in such times as he was an ole petroleum engineer.
What a good idea to keep a care package handy! Gas is creeping back up to over $2 here also. The low oil prices have hurt some small independents and some are laying off or shutting down so the job loss is not good. But the low gas prices are good. Stay safe on your travels!
Thank you, CC. Driving home from my mother’s today, it seems to be at $2.09 and $2.19. Low gas prices registers problems with Wall Street, too. Like Gilda used to say, “It’s always something.” I’m not sure I know which is the lesser of two evils here.
I remain in wonder & awe at your blogs and how they bring everything to life for me, from changing gas prices to handing out those goodie bags which I so enjoy doing. It has been a crazy busy year already for 2015 to be so new, but it is passing quickly as days seem to do as we grow older. Thank you for sharing your thoughts of randomness & sharing your life with me online & in person. Love you, my longtime friend.
Love you back. I’m glad these pieces bring things to life for you. I must say one of the reasons I blog is to stay engaged. I can’t help but turn over little things and larger things alike in my mind over and over to find meaning, an explanation, an insight. We are so lucky to live in an age to read each others’ published thoughts.
Of course living in a country that is one of the largest oil and gas producers in the world – Norway that is, it hurt our economy when the prices drop dramatically as they have done the last half year or so. At the same time, I think it’s healthy for the economy to have an adjustment – if not for the environment. If it’s any consolation, the price in my country at the gas stations are about the same as in yours, but for one liter, not a gallon…
Thank you for weighing in your perspective and keeping us aware that our prices as “high” as they may seem, are thankfully by the gallon and not like yours by the liter. That would definitely clip our wings from doing any flying and flitting around. However, that said, I do try to get the most out of every time I pull out of the driveway. Our natural resources – the environment as you point out, namely gas and oil, are not inexhaustible.
Prices for me current in the high $2.30s … meanwhile, working at staying warm.
Me, too, Frank. I’m pulling out anything wool and cute (vanity sets in) as I dress for classes.
Gas is at $2.09, $2.05 or $1.99 depending on where you stop.
Daughter, five hours north of us, got to stay home Monday, Tuesday and today they had a “late start” due to icy conditions.
Ice in your state can’t be fun!
I love your practice of keeping food for the homeless. That’s an act of true generosity, and it’s wonderful that your grandson has learned compassion as well. My town is large enough so we have a homeless shelter, but not big enough to have any people living on the street.
Your commenter from Norway gave a very interesting perspective. I don’t think lower gas prices encourage more pollution here, though, at least not for the average person. America is a huge country, a fact that I don’t think many Europeans can fully grasp unless they’ve seen the heartland or the west. Unless you live in a big city, you almost HAVE to drive to get from point A to point B.
We keep a bag in the front and one in the back. Grandson has learned when we see someone, we have to move fast –grab bag, roll down window, call out to the recipient– before cars start honking from behind. This usually happens at a light or stop sign. He will never forget giving one to a man who he soon realized had a wife and baby in tow. “Quick, grandma, give me your bag,” he called at me and then handed out a second one.
I always appreciate Otto’s comments as he really brings a global perspective without preaching, just matter-of-factly. I think your comment is very interesting, too. It’s true that here in the States, we have to own a car and use it to get around…especially in TX.
Thank you for stopping by. I’ve been a bit scarce with lots to keep up with-with my double life…helping daughter in the city and going home to the country. Still, it’s a time of fun choices.
I’m glad to hear you got to do some gallivanting. 🙂 It’s nice from time to time, even for a homebody like me. I like the space cow, and really like the little food packs.
Still gallivanting and loving it. 🙂