Gas shortage in Charlotte (no not THAT kind it is still in high supply and very low demand in our household due to the larger volume of male occupants. Niels and the boys think it is hilarious and Calinda and I do not!)
Some of you may know that there is NO GAS in Charlotte. And not just Charlotte, but everywhere else around here. Hurricane Ike that hit Texas supposedly took out some refineries and so production has been greatly limited. I haven't ever seen this happen in my lifetime. Niels was around for the gas shortages of the '70's and said it is similar to that. After several days it is turning into over a week now gas has become increasingly difficult to find (not to mention the .80cent jumps in price to well over $4/gallon in ONE DAY preceding the hurricane). It doesn't look like it is going to get any better anytime soon although the politicians keep claiming it should be resolved within a couple of days. See, politicians are all flack and NO action but that is another subject! Bags over every pump, price signs down indicating no gas available. As it is when you CAN find gas it is $4 or more a gallon. But it is getting increasingly scarce and when you do find it, there are long waits up to several hours in some places. It got so bad near Asheville that one college cancelled classes this past Wednesday. I think it is just CRAZY but like everyone else I have places to go and things to do that I NEED gas for. It is just now it is WAY more limited what I will be doing. There was even someone that pulled a gun on someone else while waiting in line for gas, need I say more?
So we went to get gas so Niels would have enough gas to commute to work this week and these pictures are the result.
Pictures from the top: Gas station sign. See how the premium and diesel signs aren't there. That means they don't have those kinds. Regular only. Next the line at the gas station. Yep you are seeing right it extends out into the road! And this wasn't as bad as some that I have seen. There have been reports of them having to divert traffic because of long lines that extended WAY into traffic. We were lucky we only had to wait 1/2 hour. Next the boys and I while waiting for gas. Niels actually had to back his way into line because the way everyone is in line our gas tank on the Subaru is on the opposite side.
Next Niels and Christian while waiting. Hey what else is there to do but take pictures while waiting in line for gas? Lastly, the boys standing up out of the sunroof! Gotta love the boys they will always find a way to entertain themselves!
I will say that since moving to North Carolina a year ago it has been interesting. Starting with our apartment, hailstorm/tornado with golf ball sized hail followed by weeks of severe heat, drought and water restrictions only to get flooded out a few weeks ago and now a gas shortage too. It has been interesting living here. Not always pleasant, but definitely not dull!
Check out this video too:
