In response to an outcry from consumers, Gov. Mike Easley declared an "abnormal market disruption" under North Carolina law, which prohibits stations from charging "unreasonably excessive" prices and gives the attorney general the authority to investigate claims of price gouging. Well, this is just dandy! Walking across my lawn is like a stroll through the grasses of a savannah plain. Walking in knee high weeds is tantamount to a hike in a jungle. Aggressive fire ants looking for higher ground with mounds everywhere. I can not see them, but they are out there- snakes!
I am feeling sorry for myself, but I have it easy. I am glad that I am not in Galveston, TX or areas in the path of Ike. With reports of power outages that my last two weeks, my thoughts reflect to Hurricanes Fran, Floyd and Dianne-- just to name a few that damaged my home in in Chadbourn, NC over the past decades.
So, as soon as the dew dries, I will head out on my trusty lawn mower, with it dull blades, and steer across the mounts of fire ants and thrash the twelve inch tall "grass" and whatever else is in my path. The price of gas is near $4.00 per gallon in the wake of a government declared "abnormal market disruption" under North Carolina law, which prohibits stations from charging "unreasonably excessive" prices and gives the attorney general the authority to investigate claims of price gouging. I will take my camera with me to document the "price gouging" attempts in our small town. The last time this happened, after Katrina, there was a station in town that was forced by a court to sell gas at cost until their "gouging" was refunded to customers. At least that was the gossip. That is what I heard...
