Gas pains

Think about it:

During the election season, gas prices were under$2 a gallon. On election day, the gas stations didn't have the courtesy to wait until the votes were counted; the price geysered up over $2 a gallon again. Then when I figured I might as well fill up because the prices aren't going to go down again, the next day they were under $2 again.

So, yesterday the weather forecast calls for freezing rain and snow. That means two things: 1) clean all the grocery stores out of bread and milk and 2) fill your gas tank. Gas prices go up in inverse proportion to the outdoor temperature.

Am I the only one to be suspicious of the way gas prices yo yo in response to demand, never mind supply. There's gas to be had; for the right people, there's also money to be had.

Speaking of gas, whatever happened to gas stations? When did convenience stores take over? Used to be your car did something funny and you could pull into a service station and ask a mechanic to look at it and fix it. Where did all those gas stations mechanics go? Remember full service gas pump islands? I'd rather have a mechanic who can check my tires and clean off my windshield than some kid behind a counter who knows only how to pump cappucino that costs as much as a gallon of gas into a paper cup.