Fuel Shortages And Skyrocketing Prices

January 30, 2014

Good morning.  Brrrrr, it's cold!  It's 8F degrees at the moment, working its way towards 29F degrees later today.  The sun is shining and streaming in through my window.  It has a happy look about it, but it is still cold.

I'm watching the Weather Channel, and they are discussing the problems caused by the current propane shortage, and how the propane prices have doubled.  I realize of course, that there is this thing called supply and demand.  But I do not think it should be allowed in these severe weather conditions. 

Myself, I do not believe that we have an actual shortage of the propane.  I think a lot of the problem lies within politics and finances.  The areas needing the propane definitely have a shortage, but I believe the shortage has been created by government and/or big business.  This country stock piles all of it's products.  Dig out the stock piles and give it to the people who need it.

One reason for the reason is because there are limits as to how much propane can be transported at any one time on any highway (I heard this on the TV this morning.)  This could be solved by better planning on how and when to transport in order to insure that each area has enough propane.  However, as long as someone up there in the big business world needs more money for his pockets, this better planning won't be happening.

Because it is Winter and the temps go way down, the prices of heating fuels automatically go way up.  This should not be so.  In this country, there is no reason why our citizens need to be cold because they cannot get or even afford to get the necessary fuel to keep them warm.  Have you noticed how even the electricity costs seem to double in the cold weather season?  Hmmmm.

I almost could not believe my ears a while ago, as they were saying that the officials in one state are asking farmers and others who have extra propane that they do not need to give it back to the gas company for a credit, thus making it possible for the gas company to re-distribute it to the folks who do need it.

Are you kidding?  You get a credit of not more than what you paid for the propane, and the new recipient will pay at least double that figure to buy it from the gas company.  Here again, the gas company comes out with a financial win.  Isn't there a way to transport the propane from one customer to another for the same cost?  Food for thought.

You know how I've been saying how my little Pogo has been looking like a teeny grizzly bear?  Well now he looks more like a tiny Lion King.   I tried to trim some of the hair off his face so that he could see better, and now he has this large lion mane all around his beautiful little face. 

One of these days, when it is just a tad bit warmer, we (Pogo and I) need to get Pogo to the beauty salon for a proper trimming, and then to Town Hall for his new license. 

Here's another really adorable photo found on the web.  According to the news (where this happened in Maryland),  a person came home to find that this precious little creature had followed their family beagle in through the doggie door and had got comfortable on the sofa with it's new friend.

 God bless our animals and the trust and faith they have in each other.  However, this is one reason I could not have a doggy door.  The last thing I need in my living room is a possum, a raccoon or worse, a fisher cat.

I've been asked what was in the big box that arrived with yesterday's mail.  Well, it was an end table for Joe to put together for me, a couple of small items to put into the gift drawer, two new planters for the steps outside my door, and two more flower seed balls.  I'm trying to hurry Spring along.

Well that's it for this morning.  It's time to make a new cup of hot coffee, and maybe put a few more rows on the pink thing.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all be warm and have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.