**

I work on an Army post in west central Louisiana (just try and figure out which one, I dare you!). Every afternoon when I get off work, I stop by this convenience store right outside the gate and pick up a liter of Diet Dr. Pepper and a cup of ice for the trip home. (Liters of Coke products are currently on sale for $1.07 INCLUDING TAX. I also have my own cup so the ice is free and hey, that's just the way Tommy rolls) So i'm leaving work at 2:45 p.m. this afternoon (your tax dollars at work America) and stop by my store to get my drink when what should assail my eyes? This:

Now maybe you're scratching your head and saying to yourself "So what Tommy. What's so strange about that? Everybody knows the price of gas is high. Get over it." and you would be right ... almost. You see, when I drive home (it's about a 25 minute drive so say 30 miles?) I pass another gas station and what to my wondering eyes should appear? (like the way I tied this post to my holiday post below? You should read it. It's good shit) THIS:

Twenty-eight cents difference? I mean WTF? Within 30 miles of each other? I will never understand this shit so if there are any petrochemical engineers out there that can explain this business model to me, I would certainly appreciate it. I am pro big-business but dayumn! Gimme a freaking break! Add to that the fact that I was in Texas this past weekend and filled up at the cellar-scraping price of $2.46 per gallon ... all weekend long. And also, does anyone besides me find it fascinating that we have all come to regard these prices as the norm now? I'm gonna protest somehow. I don't know how yet, but damnit ... In the words of Jeff Lebowski, "This aggression will not stand, man!" [/rant]
On another note, after being near the big metropolis of DFW this weekend I have come to the conclusion that there is a decided lack of choice when it comes to radio stations in my area. I have recently dusted off the cassette player in my car and am using it to listen to audiobooks to and from work. I have "read" Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin and am currently listening to Stephen King and Peter Straub's The Talisman. I got the book back in 1984 I believe when it first came out and have read and re-read it many times. I have NOT read it lately and I am reminded daily of how good a book it really is. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something you haven't read before. Just sayin.
Oh and as far as the gratuitous pic goes, I passed this new place right outside the main gate as well and it reminded me of a friend.

No One? I didn't know you cooked Chinese! Got any discount programs for a dear friend? And most importantly, do you deliver? Hope ya'll have a great weekend. Ta-ta!