Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is once again - gas prices. This weekend is a 3 day holiday weekend. Once I believe it was one of the most traveled weekends. Not so, anymore. This fourth of July - I - will be sitting in my backyard watching and listening to the neighborhood fireworks. Yes, they are illegal but they go on for about a week. Perhaps we could charge outrageous taxes on them to reduce the price of gas. Fireworks are illegal to purchase for recreation. They are legal for agriculture purposes. What a bunch of CRAP.

Back to the gas gouging prices - that impacts all of us, except for the CEO's of fuel companies. I can't afford to leave my cul-de-sac and that has a direct impact on other business's. I won't be going to the grocery store to purchase items for my trip. I won't be buying new clothes, trinkets, and I won't be visiting, parks, cafes and other establishments that rely on my business. Multiply this by hundreds and what happens? Business's raise prices to offset their merchandise decline or just go belly-up. The domino effect. People are laid off due to lack of business and the unemployment rate rises. Crime increases to offset the unemployment. Buildings are boarded up, taxes are not paid, people are homeless and gas gouging continues.

The world is falling apart, decaying and rotting away in deficits. Who suffers? We know the answer to that question and it is not VP's of fuel oil companies. They get richer and the average hard working stiff - gets stiffed. A vicious circle, not even a circle a dead end, with nowhere to go. What happened to all those who praised - thinking inside the box? Well the box is made out of cardboard, you dummy, and when it rains the cardboard gets wet and disintegrates. That is why I have always thought outside the box. I refuse to be confined in small spaces. I will sit in my large backyard and watch with amusement as the illegal fireworks light up the sky.

I cannot afford these high gas prices. Can you?



Sincerely,



Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with - tomato growers. What the flup are you people using for fertilizer? What kind of poisin are you using on us? You have tainted our beef, spoiled our spinach and now during the height of tomato season you have soiled our tomatoes. What's going on?
I've also heard whispers that the lettuce pickers urinate on the lettuce for fun or whatever. You are tainting our food. Healthy food!! Do you just want us to eat unhealthy? They have taken away our trans fat - they say it's bad for us but yet we let anyone smoke? Apparently smoking isn't bad enough to ban. We can no longer have tasty french fries but we can light up.
Now, the price of tomatoes are right up there next to gas prices - if you can find tomatoes to purchase. So I can't afford the gas prices and now tomatoes are off my list. What will you do to us next? Taint the coffee beans? Can you just imagine all the caffeine starved people walking around throwing tomatoes at all the gas pumps.

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with rude, ignorant, stupid people who don't even know they are rude, ignorant and stupid.
The price of gas is stressful and frustrating every time you go to gas up the vehicle. Friday (paydays - for some) and the line at the gas station is out of control. Cars are lined up three deep to get to a pump. Getting into the parking lot was like a script from a bad movie.
So, finally I pull up to the pump and directly in front of me at the other pump was this lady (_itch) sitting in her car with three cars stacked up behind her waiting to fill up - on her CELL PHONE. The #%&*@ was chatting away laughing and having a great time. The poor guy behind her beeped his horn a few times but she was clueless. Finally he gave up and pulled into another long line.
The entire time I filled up my car she sat inside her car having the conversation from lala land. Totally oblivious. Others pulled behind her vehicle and realized her stupidity and drove away. When I was done she finally emerged from her car still on the cell phone and slowly - very slowly she began pumping her (expensive) fuel. She stopped a few times to chat with her hands in the air - pumping stopped.
As I drove away I could not contain my outrage. I blurted out a few choice words to MS. Rude and Stupid of the year. I thought also of flipping her off but I controlled my urge. I cannot believe anyone would be so rude, ignorant and stupid. Apparently they are out there!!!!!

frustrated,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with the CEO of Exxon. I am so mad - that steam is exiting from both of my ears. I can barley get my thoughts into words.
He is telling us - the consumers who are being raped at the gas pumps by THEM, to reduce our consumption. Cut back, buy more fuel efficient cars, combine trips, sell your SUV, take the bus and on and on. SCREW YOU. Your profits are unbelievable. And you have the audacity to put the burden and the blame on us. I'm sure your using your bike for trips to the store. I'm sure your cancelling your traveling plans due to high gas prices. I'm sure your buying less groceries so you can have money for gas to drive to work.
How dare you implicate us in your greed and ruthless attitude. How dare you say your profits are really not profits. My suggestions to you is use that bike, use public transportation and cut back on your travel and then talk to us the common people.
I would continue but the words I'm thinking are not appropriate!!!!

P.S. I own a fuel effecient car, I ride my bike and do use public transportation and I have CANCELLED my summer driving vacation. I'd stop buying gas for the lawnmower and not mow my lawn except the deed restrictions mafia would fine me for lack of compliance.

Fuming,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is gas prices. It finally hit me this morning when I had to pay $3.49 a gallon for gas. It's not going to get any better. I a middle class person will continue to pay high prices for fuel. The CEO of fuel companies do not have this worry hanging over their heads.
I have decided or actually it has been decided for me to limit my travels. This is unfair. Not only is it unfair to me it is also unfair to all of the places I will no longer frequent. And how many other people will have to reduce their travels? Many.
So I (and many others) will stop frequenting strip malls, theaters, restaurants, hair salons, ABC stores, gift shops, etc., etc. Now these business will soon be making less profit. They may have to lay off employees. They may close down - lose their business and income. It goes on and on.

I can no longer afford the luxury of gas in my vehicle and it's a small vehicle, not a gas guzzler. My options are taking a bus that limits my travel, riding my bike that is dangerous to my life. Florida drivers are wack and riding a bike could be dangerous.

So I will sit home and sadly watch our economy wither away. And the politicians really don't seem to give a damn. But they want my vote and promise me the world.

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe involves car manufactures. I think all car producers should get together and discuss which side the gas tank should go on. I believe they should all go on the same side. If you have multiple cars it is sometimes difficult to remember which side the tank is on. You pull up to the pump get out and see that there is no tank on that side. You hop back in the car to turn it around and some smuck has taken your spot. On the other side the line is at least four cars long. You pull around to the other side of the gas station and cars are going the wrong way. Your tank is on the opposite side and there is not enough room to squeeze by roadster boy to fill your tank. So the tank dance continues till it is your turn and you are on the correct side of the pump. Then, some bumbo pulls in almost touching your front bumper because his tank is on the opposite side of yours. Some bimbo has pulled in behind you because her tank is on the same side as yours. So, bumbo goes inside to pay his bill- why can't he swipe his debit card and be on his way. Oh, that's right the debit machine is down. This means you will also have to go inside to pay and you do and hurry right back outside. Bumbo is nowhere to be seen and bimbo is honking her horn so you will move your vehicle. Apparently bimbo can't see that you are blocked in by bumbo who has gone AWOL. Minutes pass by and it seems like hours. Bimbo has used the horn several times but you bite your tongue and look the other way. You think you could ram bumbo's gas guzzling vehicle out of the way but think - not a good idea. You motion to bimbo to back up so you can exit and she can gas up. She doesn't see you because she is chatting on her cell phone with hands in the air fast as lightening. Perhaps you could go tap on her window to get her attention? Bumbo is still not around. The store manager comes outside (he must be at least 19 years old) and asks you to please move your vehicle because YOU are holding up traffic. You explain that bumbo has you blocked in but the young whipper-snapper manager doesn't listen. He explains that you are in the right hand gas tank line - not the left hand gas tank line. You ask for posted verification on this issue but once again he ignores you as he smiles at bimbo. He states you are making a disturbance and to please leave. Count to ten, count to ten - perhaps count to 150. Bumbo strolls out of the gas station texting someone on his cell and walks slowly to his car. You see him and hurry back in your car. You get ready to hit the pedal to the metal and get out this place - you look up and someone has just pulled in where bumbo has left.
So if all the gas tanks were on the same side of all cars, trucks, motorhomes and any other vehicle that pulls up to a gas pump life would be easier for me and bimbo.

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is travel by car. I have just returned on a whirlwind trip from Florida to Virginia and back to Florida. Traffic!! Headaches!!! Crazy drivers!!!! Road construction!!!!! You know it's a bad sign when you leave in the pouring rain, in the dark and it's almost freezing. The lines painted on the road are fading. I don't know exactly what lane i'm in? The downpour does not help the situation. Cars are whizzing by my leaving me completely in their wake of sloppy rain.
By the time I hit North Carolina the rain has leveled off but still dark and gloomy. I can live with sprinkles and dark and gloomy. What is impossible to accept is the traffic jams. All through North Carolina I am traveling at a parking lot pace. South Carolina brings an end to the drizzle. Still dark and gloomy and still I95 looks like the mall parking lot the day before Christmas. I don't see any accidents. I don't see any speed traps. Like anyone could speed! What's the problem?
Georgia has a bit of sunshine and apparently has chased away the gloomy darkness. Still, the creep mode along I95 continues. I have been in the car for 11 hours. I'm cranky, hungry and have drivers cramps. The last three miles to the hotel exit is excruciating. The cars are at a total standstill. My temperment is ready to explode.
Finally, finally, the hotel looms in sight. I can feel the soft comfy bed beneath my road weary body. The parking lot at Cracker Barrell is only 3/4 full. That means the hour wait is only 15 minutes, if we are lucky. I check into the hotel and flop on the bed. AAAHHHHHH.
A good meal and a great night sleep and I can get up and start the road rodeo all over again. I ask myself? Why don't you just fly? But I have no patience for sitting in an airport dealing with delays, late departures and expensive cardboard food.

travel on,

Mr. Pid