Went through the day and knew as I drove home that I needed to get some gas and the car needed a wash badly (normally its green, but it had a nice brown-grey film on it, plus its more water efficient than washing it myself at home, but that a story for another day). Pulled into the local Chevron, ugh, its $3.99 a gallon (thanks Wall Street). Swiped the ol' credit card and started pumping.

As soon as I started pumping gas, a young man with dark curly hair, short in stature, emerges from the mini-mart, donning a Chevron shirt, no doubt an employee. In his right hand was a step stool and in the other hand, numbers. He marched towards the price sign as if it were a routine by now, no doubt sometimes twice a day as of lately. Places the stool down, climbs, replaces the $3.99 with $4.07 a gallon for the lowest grade unleaded (yikes, $4.99 for diesel!). Ugh and double Ugh. The moment he places the last number on the sign, I hear the familiar "click." "Oh no," I thought did I just pump $4.07 a gallon gas? Reciept prints, whew, $3.99 a gallon, just under the wire.

It was a little surreal, like watching New Year's countdown in 1999. Also strange being thankful for $3.99 a gallon gas. Weirdest of all and eight cent jump per gallon in prices , just like that. The gas gods treated me well, if just for this moment. $4 a gallon a gas, things as we knew it are going to change.

Sean