PSTA

Oh what fun. 
Had to take Kaleb to his "intervention" in regards to his moronic run in with the law a couple weeks back.  This is how it goes, they sign the kid up for "intervention"  which means a slap on the wrist, probation, community service, an SA about "What you learned" from the whole ordeal, and 4 hours of "classes" which is really nothing more then an excuse to inconvenience the parents for a month.  AND he has to go before a judge for the Judge to say "OK, this is what you are going to do, that  the other branch of the same agency told you you are going to have to do, but now WE are telling you you have to do it as we are the ones that make it OFFICIAL that you are going to have to do what the other agency (of the same agency) told you you have to do that we say you have to do....
(it's called JOB SECURITY...keep up)
So boy, and howdy We're in for some more fun (yay)
But at least it gave me the all to rare opportunity to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of Florida's FINE public transit system!!
(OH don't beat me to the funny part)
Anyone who has enjoyed  the wonderful vistas and panoramic views of the lovely rt 52 can attest to the FINE sights and sounds to be heard by all!  Starting off from the wonderfully barren streets of downtown Clearwater, Where the wonderful work of the city planners resulted in the happy and blissful death of (almost) all downtown businesses as they wisely rerouted beach traffic AWAY from the established city center, to quickly and effectively WHISK all potential patrons to the awaiting tourist traps of Clearwater Beach! The wonderful picturesqye abandoned buildings and "out of business" Businesses, line the street sides as you are carried aloft by the heady sent of trapped stale air and the festering stench of rancid body odor, standing FAR to close to your assailed senses.  And as the gentile docile tones of loudly disputed cell phone conversations and vulgarity spewing "gangsta" and the incessantly pervasive whines of overtaxed mothers cradling unruly infants waft you away to a dreamlike trance, you veer east into the joyous realm of "social services"!  where you are treated to the  Glorious enchantment of Trailer parks, and drug rehabilitation centers,"parenting classes", half way houses and group homes !  JOY! Until sadly your adventure must end as you depart amongst freshly released inmates from the Prison complex and move on to your final destination!
So..that was my morning.
NOW on to beating an already thoroughly thrashed horse (all do respect to my equestrian sister) and that is the current state of oil and the Cuban situation.
Yep, you guessed it, I was bored  I bought a newspaper.
ALL RIGHT, first gas:  I won't bother to recap my projections for gas prices nor the general population continued determined self delusion about it all.  But more the article I read "Gas Prices Shoot toward $4 a gallon" and within it the "personal quotes" from the person on the street!  For her 2 year old son "no more McDonald's.  For her husband "no more premium for his priced BMW. The family cooks more meals at home. "no more Starbucks kind of stuff" .  Rethinking that trip to Disney World,  And the like.
Here's my take on that: As much as I applaud the desire to STOP eating at McDiabetis (ESPECIALLY a two year old)  the whole "Stop having a personal life, and stay indoors attitude is just plain wrong.  Spending your paycheck on keeping your gas tank full so you can go to work so you can by more gas to keep your tank full so you can go to work....Is VERY reminiscent of that old anti drug cocaine commercial, you know the one where the guy is pacing in circles (like how I made that connection between drugs and oil again...it's called an analogy) saying I use cocaine so I can work more, so I can earn more money so I can by cocaine so I can work more...
(OK...am i being redundant?)
DROP THE HABIT!
Here is a SERIOUS challenge.  Figure out how much gas you use in a week.  Divide that by 7. then DON"T drive your car for three days, any three days in a week. Take a bus (forget what i wrote earlier)walk or ride a bike to get to the places you have to go, and on those days you Don't drive take the money you WOULD have spent on gas and stick it in a piggy bank.  Wait until the end of the week, take out and count the money, and go and do something for you and yours WITH the money.  See a movie, go out to your LOCAL restaurant (not a corporate owned chain) do something different or buy yourself something nice.  Support you LOCAL economy!  If we all did this not only would our communities be cleaner and healthier but more financially sound!  SEE, by just doing a little you will help cure ALL that ails us!
I know, perhaps a little polyannish of me, but it sure beats being eyoreish.
Oh and on the Cuba thing. 
'bout time!

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