School 'scool

Wow - I'm bushed. I mean physically and mentally tired, and the reason is, I think, that I may be trying to educate myself beyond reasonable limits.

In an effort to "find money" to ward off the IRS who were hounding me for some strong disagreements about positions on taxable income, I decided to go back to school. I know - you are probably a little confused. Really, it is simpler than it sounds.

I sign up for school - in this case an MBA program offered by the main on-line university 'round here. I apply for Student Loans. I get the money up front. Tuition is deferred - I will pay it later. I give the money to the IRS and they are off my back.

Friends - it is this kind of thinking that got me in trouble in the first place. Nothing works like I think it will. The money does not come to me. It stays in a "holding tank" until needed. I borrow from my Mother to pay Uncle Sam, and then I am still enrolled in school. Sheeeeesh.

Well school is tough. It is a lot of work. I am a perfectionist - must get all 'A's. I do. Seems like it will take forever. It doesn't. Exactly 21 months later as advertised, I am walking across the stage at Constitution Hall in Washington DC and collecting my diploma for a Masters in Business Administration. How cool is that?

So cool, that I immediately enroll for a doctorate in organizational management. I have completed 1 of 3 years for this degree, and the really hard work is yet in front of me. I wake up tired. Go through the day tired. Go to bed tired. You see, I manage dynamic family relationships, life activities, a full time job, and a 2.5 hour one-way commute to work each and every day. (That's right - 5 hours commuting every day).

So I have a right to be tired. But one thing I recognize is that the degree will come, and the sense of achievement, and the increased self and marketplace value. I will have accomplished another goal in this journey of life, and will rub my eyes in disbelief that this late-bloomer has been able to do it once again.

I keep saying to anyone that will listen that once done with this I "will never go back to school. Not no how, not no way." But the reality is that as long as I want to learn of something or how to do something, I will continue to seek education. I think that I am simply a perpetual student.

And that's OK. School's cool.

Getting Gas Over Gas

What is this new indigestion? Good LORD, I have never been denied cash on my ATM card before, and yesterday while trying to fill up my gas-hog Dodge Ram pickup, the card "quit" at $75, but I had not yet topped out.

Now, I'll freely admit that driving a 12-mpg vehicle in today's climate is not exactly Harvard-quality thinking, but let's be friends and say that if I have the money and want to spend it that way, then I should not be artificially constrained by the bank!

You know what? I have my ideas about what is causing the high price of gasoline, as you, no doubt have yours. To avoid an argument, I will only stipulate that "It is NOT Bush's fault".

Beyond that, you may conjecture what you wish. Speculation, demand/supply, refining limitations, gas-guzzlers, conspiracy, etc. Maybe they are all true. The end result is painful, nonetheless, and appears to be severely holding back our economic growth.

I have noticed that our area restaurants are sparcely populated, and some have even closed. A very popular pizza parlor near me has been open in my county for over 15 years. Yesterday while I ordered a couple large, delicious, fat-loaded pies (before they are banned) the waitress told me that she didn't think they could survive a year with current business. She said everyone says the same thing: "gas is eating up all the spending money".

I would like to see movement on all fronts to try and reduce the price of gas. I will not be partisan here - this is what I hope for:
1 - open ANWR ASAP
2 - invest in alternative energy R&D ASAP
3 - build 10 new nuclear plants - buy them from France and install them - French technology has surpassed our own, and is well tested - we just need to determine geographic location
4 - build 2 new mega-refineries ASAP
5 - Give the owner of every car that will agree to switch to partial hydrogen conversion or alternative diesel conversion (i.e. restaurant waste oil) $400 immediately - ensure that they DO convert
6 - offer a $1 million prize to the first person that demonstrates total-efficiency fuel-cell technology
7 - open ethenol production to use beets and cane sugar as well as corn - let's help these food prices a little!
8 - Issue a 1-year federal and state moratorium on gas taxes (Hey - this is an immediate reduction of $0.50 to $1 per gallon)

Start all these today. I bet gas would be around $2 per gallon within the year, even though most of these actions would take much longer to generate any concrete results. The idea that we were taking fast and forceful action itself would drive speculation lower, in my opinion.

Instead, if we sit around with our thumbs up our rears and whine and cry, then we deserve what we get - higher prices, and a resulting change in our way of life.

Many people doubless welcome this change, and would be quite happy if we all had to walk, ride bicycles, or use mass transit.

All respect due to each preference, I enjoy an energy-abundant, independent, and mobile way of life. In my mind there is little if any reason to believe that the current astronomical fuel prices are sustainable.

That is, unless we will it so.