pricey air, hot air

Earlier today I noticed that one of my car's rear tires looked a bit flattish. I checked it out, it needed air, so I pulled into the Exxon near the office.

Here's what pissed me off: They wanted 75 cents for air.

Furthermore, I didn't have the three quarters needed. So I wandered in and asked for change. Thankfully the chick behind the counter punched some button so I didn't have to pay. On my way out, I noticed that the new Race Track station across the street wanted 75 cents for air, too.

Perhaps you have to be my age to be annoyed about this sort of thing, but my father and grandfather both ran gas stations, and it would have never have entered their heads to charge anyone for air.

On to equally depressing things. While putting together an online portfolio of my work, I realized that I had better ask Dismissed Date if he minded if I included some of the work I did for his business last year. A fair few writers will try to pass off another's work as their own - I've caught one interviewee in the act, and so have a couple of bosses of mine.

So I composed a shortish email to DD asking permission to put the ads in my book, saying that if he didn't mind, he didn't have to even answer the email. "Just let me know if there's a problem, okay?" Might as well let the emotional coward off easy.

But he answered in just minutes, giving his permission and saying how dreadfully busy and swamped he'd been over the past weeks. I mean, geez. He's just not that into me, and I've not argued with him. Why is he putting up this goofy facade?

I stewed, waited a few hours, then answered him with a "no problem, and I'll try to return your humidifier in a week or two." He let me a very expensive humidifier/vaporizer a few months ago and my ridiculous sense of honour demands that I return it.

He then promptly wrote back, said no hurry with the humidifier, and made a joke about our rainy weather. Then a couple of minutes later, he sent me a link to a web site with some admittedly cool graphics. I hope he wasn't expecting a response from me, as he didn't get one.

Ack. I really want his stuff out of the house, but I'll wait until I know he's gone and then discreetly dump them at his front door. I still know the gate codes at his condo - not that I've ever had to punch it in, as there was always someone wandering in or out who not only let me in, but held the gate open for me. A high security place.

Comments

[SEH]

Filling stations and the like, over here, used to charge for air AND water!! It all became free after a test case in which a motorist sued a company, following a motor accident / crash. He successfully claimed / proved the gauge on the air machine was inaccurate and which contributed to the crash. It was held that if the garage etc charged then they were liable for the efficiency of their equipment - so they all, promptly, removed the PAYF (pay as you fill) mechanism.