In "Farm bill unfair to the little guy," November 4, 2007; Fort Wayne The Journal Gazette, Sylvia A. Smith reported these excerpts-
For 30 years Sen. Richard Lugar has politely and cerebrally made the case that opening the spigot of taxpayer money and thoroughly watering the U.S. agriculture industry is misguided.
Politeness hasn’t worked. We still have a program that is neither fair nor logical, and Congress is about to obligate taxpayers for five more years of this multibillion-dollar idiocy.
It makes payments to the owners of farmland – not necessarily the farmers – which means rich city dwellers and Purdue University collect hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It encourages giant corporate farms that do nothing to keep alive the romance of the family farm and rural-town values (whatever they are). In fact, rural America is worse off now – in income and population size – than at any time in U.S. history, except maybe during the Depression.
In short, it is a pathetic excuse for national policy. If we want to make sure U.S. agriculture never goes the way of, say, the auto industry, why not keep all farmers afloat?
Lugar has been asking these sorts of questions for years and has been brushed aside.
The complete report is at this link.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The Food and Energy Security Act
Senate debate on its version of the 2007 Farm Bill is expected to begin Nov. 5. Farmers, ranchers, and other ag-business operators as well as community leaders can start planning now their requests for Title IX Energy grants or loans for the following types of farm energy production.
The Farm Bill Energy Title drives investment primarily in the following technologies, which form the basis of the study's analysis and conclusions:
Wind power. A one megawatt (MW) wind turbine, which generates no greenhouse gas pollution, can displace approximately 1,600 metric tons of CO2 each year. [We enjoy 1,030 billion kWhs of wind power blowing through each year.]
Anaerobic Digesters. An average anaerobic digester that processes livestock manure waste can capture methane and generate up to 2,900 megawatt-hours of electricity, thereby potentially displacing about 4,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
Corn Ethanol. Corn- and grain-derived ethanol has the potential to reduce relative greenhouse gas emissions by 18% to 29% compared with gasoline.
Cellulosic Ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to displace 85-90% of the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with gasoline.
Biodiesel. Biodiesel has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 80% compared with petroleum diesel fuel. [Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) from cafeterias, restaurants, and other meal preparation kitchens can be converted by an organic chemistry process named transesterification to produce BD. Communities from Bristol to Custer can make BD for local use.]
Energy Efficiency. Improving on-farm and rural business energy efficiency can avoid carbon pollution by reducing use of diesel fuel in farm equipment and by reducing electricity, natural gas and propane use.
Biomass and Geothermal. These systems generate thermal energy for heating and cooling purposes, displacing greenhouse gases primarily from natural-gas fired systems.
Solar technologies. The sun generates electric power and thermal energy without pollution.
The Farm Bill Energy Title drives investment primarily in the following technologies, which form the basis of the study's analysis and conclusions:
Wind power. A one megawatt (MW) wind turbine, which generates no greenhouse gas pollution, can displace approximately 1,600 metric tons of CO2 each year. [We enjoy 1,030 billion kWhs of wind power blowing through each year.]
Anaerobic Digesters. An average anaerobic digester that processes livestock manure waste can capture methane and generate up to 2,900 megawatt-hours of electricity, thereby potentially displacing about 4,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
Corn Ethanol. Corn- and grain-derived ethanol has the potential to reduce relative greenhouse gas emissions by 18% to 29% compared with gasoline.
Cellulosic Ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to displace 85-90% of the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with gasoline.
Biodiesel. Biodiesel has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 80% compared with petroleum diesel fuel. [Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) from cafeterias, restaurants, and other meal preparation kitchens can be converted by an organic chemistry process named transesterification to produce BD. Communities from Bristol to Custer can make BD for local use.]
Energy Efficiency. Improving on-farm and rural business energy efficiency can avoid carbon pollution by reducing use of diesel fuel in farm equipment and by reducing electricity, natural gas and propane use.
Biomass and Geothermal. These systems generate thermal energy for heating and cooling purposes, displacing greenhouse gases primarily from natural-gas fired systems.
Solar technologies. The sun generates electric power and thermal energy without pollution.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The Courage to Change
1,030 Billion kWhs: South Dakota's Wind Fields is your handbook to successful wind farming. 1,030 Billion was developed to spur wide-spread "aericulture" as a companion to traditional agriculture practices. The handbook will be available in print (134 pages, 4.25" x 5.5") on 3 November to farmers, ranchers, ag-business operators, and rural communities. (The table of contents was posted in this blog on October 10.)
In addition to ten steps to wind farming, the handbook has web addresses at the end of each Step that complement the content in the step.
Before we can profit from- rather than curse- every windy day, we have to develop wind with as much desire as we raise crops and livestock.
In The Wall Street Journal, 15 October, p. A1, is "Northern Vintage: Canadian Wines Rise with the Mercury," Gary Kennedy, a farmer in Tappen, British Columbia, told TWSJ "We've literally bet the farm that this is going to work," said . He sold his dairy cows to raise Pinot Noir grapes on his farm.
The borders of the world's grape-growing regions are shifting north, as global warming encourages vintners to press even futher north. At Mr. Kennedy's winery- Granite Creek- a heavy snowfall in the mountains meant a possible early frost when the grapes needed another two weeks of sun for the best harvest.
Mr. Kennedy spent two years studying the region's climate data after learning his children didn't want to continue operating his dairy farm. Once he was confident about his business change, he sold the livestock and took out a hefty loan to start Granite Creek.
[South Dakotans have a similar choice to make in the face of climate change and the growth of marginal ag land. Wind farming, like deciding to raise grapes, also requires "doing your homework," with the understanding that electricity consumption continues to grow nation-wide. In SD alone, consumption by a typical household has increased from an average of 780 kWhs per month to 900 kWhs of electricity.
266 lbs. of coal had to be burned each month to generate 780 kWhs of electricity. Now we burn 307 lbs. coal each month to generate 900 kWhs. That's pounds more of ash settling on our lakes and land, and more mercury and radioactive cadmium in our wildlife.]
In the 19 October issue of The Wall Street Journal, on p.A13, "Builders get energy goals in California," the California PUC and the California Energy Commission proposed energy efficiency improvements for new homes and buildings. The report highlighted
In addition to ten steps to wind farming, the handbook has web addresses at the end of each Step that complement the content in the step.
Before we can profit from- rather than curse- every windy day, we have to develop wind with as much desire as we raise crops and livestock.
In The Wall Street Journal, 15 October, p. A1, is "Northern Vintage: Canadian Wines Rise with the Mercury," Gary Kennedy, a farmer in Tappen, British Columbia, told TWSJ "We've literally bet the farm that this is going to work," said . He sold his dairy cows to raise Pinot Noir grapes on his farm.
The borders of the world's grape-growing regions are shifting north, as global warming encourages vintners to press even futher north. At Mr. Kennedy's winery- Granite Creek- a heavy snowfall in the mountains meant a possible early frost when the grapes needed another two weeks of sun for the best harvest.
Mr. Kennedy spent two years studying the region's climate data after learning his children didn't want to continue operating his dairy farm. Once he was confident about his business change, he sold the livestock and took out a hefty loan to start Granite Creek.
[South Dakotans have a similar choice to make in the face of climate change and the growth of marginal ag land. Wind farming, like deciding to raise grapes, also requires "doing your homework," with the understanding that electricity consumption continues to grow nation-wide. In SD alone, consumption by a typical household has increased from an average of 780 kWhs per month to 900 kWhs of electricity.
266 lbs. of coal had to be burned each month to generate 780 kWhs of electricity. Now we burn 307 lbs. coal each month to generate 900 kWhs. That's pounds more of ash settling on our lakes and land, and more mercury and radioactive cadmium in our wildlife.]
In the 19 October issue of The Wall Street Journal, on p.A13, "Builders get energy goals in California," the California PUC and the California Energy Commission proposed energy efficiency improvements for new homes and buildings. The report highlighted
--homes are to be capable, by 2020, of generating as much energy as they consume; new buildings are to meet the same standard by 2035
--new homes are to be 35% more energy efficient by 2020 than now; buildings are to be 35 more energy efficient by 2035 than now
--with these new standards, the two agencies may be establishing a foundation for community-, subdivision-, and commercial-level energy self-sufficiency.
--utilities are required to develop proposals to motivate builders to voluntarily meet the goals.
--achieving the goals could save California consumers $10 billion in energy costs and cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to taking 1.8 million cars off the road.
[In addition to fossil fuel or biofuel-fired micro steam turbines, mid-size to sub-1 megawatt wind turbines may play important roles in helping to achieve better energy efficiencies. Community- or subdivision-level generation will also help the state achieve its Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) goal.
California, Minnesota, and other states are taking steps to reduce the impacts of burning fossil fuels; South Dakota wind farmers can deliver the "green" power they want in their RPSs.]
The Watertown (SD) Public Opinion, 19 Oct., p. 10B; "Farmer [turns to] wind energy," the report observed "squeezed by higher energy prices and more overhead costs, some small farms are exploring ways to increase their energy efficiency and lower costs. These efforts by small farms are becoming more common."
[Farm energy production methods such as wind turbines and biodiesel production were mentioned along with looking into energy effieciency. Solar panel use and biomass converstion were not discussed.]
A disappointing report on environmental activism was provided by the Farm Forum Green Sheet, 12 - 17 Oct., p. 74F. "Ill winds for Montana wind power project" highlighted
--two years of discussing and marketing didn't sway environmental groups opposed to the original 500 MW wind development
--political will, tax breaks, and good to excellent wind were not persuasive
--in an unsuccessful attempt to appease the groups, the project was cut from 500 MW to 170 to 50 MW. Completion of the minimalized wind farm is in doubt.
U.S. Jon Tester (D-MT) offered a realistic appraisal of wind development: "We need to figure out a way to make these [wind power] projects work. Or we all start riding bicycles."
[Environmentalists want the luxuries of modern life- electric lights, central heating/cooling, refrigerators, cars to take them dozens (if not hundreds) of miles to their next rabble-rousing-while preventing power generating projects that sustain modern life with the least negative impact on the environment.
Such environmentalists have not fully thought through how society changes to meet needs and the pace at which people change. Environmentalists have become as rigid as ultra-conservatives; both hinder rather than help their causes.]
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Suggestion to Fox Business Network; Wind development service
If Roger Ailes, Kevin Magee, and Fox Business Network intend to "broaden the pie that watches business news," they will address wind farm development and other renewable energy developments that generate electricity which can be purchased for meeting Renewables Portfolio Standards mandates around the country.
FBN will package electricity rate data in different metro areas of the U.S. with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 24-hour wind speed measurements (such as here, and here) on wind farm lands. Energy brokers and power company managers as well as wind farm operators and investers can make smart buying decisions based on "green power news" that can limit climate change, reduce electricity rates, and achieve energy self-reliance.
For example-
North Dakota (wind resource map) is the most-windy state
Texas (wind resource map) is the second most-windy state
Kansas (wind resource map) is the third most-windy state
South Dakota (wind resource map) is the fourth most-windy state and
Montana (wind resource map) is the fifth most-windy state.
(Here is a list of windy states was developed by the American Wind Energy Association.
Electricity rates, wind speed (which influences transmission line electricity-carrying capacity), and federal "clean energy" legislation (presently more than 1,000 Bills) are part of the "green power" environment.
Just as in offices and businesses everywhere, "information overload" is status quo as well for farmers, ranchers, and rural community leaders. Members of Congress have the Library of Congress and the Congressional Research Service to call upon when they have questions during decision-making.
Farmers, ranchers, and rural community residents would benefit from a Farm Energy Production Service/Library that would be modeled on the CRS and the National Agricultural Library. By slashing farm energy production, marketing, and management "information orverload," America's agriculture professionals will be best equipped to product power as efficiently as they now produce foods and fibers.
A portion of disaster relief funds could be earmarked in an "if, then" situation for various forms of farm energy development. Wind power, solar power, and waste vegetable oil to biodiesel production equipment purchases with the funds would lead to four important results-
1) financial aid to farmers, ranchers, and other agri-business operators during critical times
2) invigorate farm energy production as "perennial crops" when seasonal crops and livestock are stilted by weather or diseases
3) establish and maintain farm energy production to rival the "world's bread basket" as America's "energy basket" and
4) spur local innovations by citizens and students that inevitably lead to intense learning, business startups, job opportunities, and retention of young people.
All of the states' Rural Electric Co-ops, partnering with farmers, ranchers, and other operators, can use relief funds to upgrade transmission line capacity, capacity that will benefit all farm energy producers.
Food for thought and action?
FBN will package electricity rate data in different metro areas of the U.S. with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 24-hour wind speed measurements (such as here, and here) on wind farm lands. Energy brokers and power company managers as well as wind farm operators and investers can make smart buying decisions based on "green power news" that can limit climate change, reduce electricity rates, and achieve energy self-reliance.
For example-
North Dakota (wind resource map) is the most-windy state
Texas (wind resource map) is the second most-windy state
Kansas (wind resource map) is the third most-windy state
South Dakota (wind resource map) is the fourth most-windy state and
Montana (wind resource map) is the fifth most-windy state.
(Here is a list of windy states was developed by the American Wind Energy Association.
Electricity rates, wind speed (which influences transmission line electricity-carrying capacity), and federal "clean energy" legislation (presently more than 1,000 Bills) are part of the "green power" environment.
Just as in offices and businesses everywhere, "information overload" is status quo as well for farmers, ranchers, and rural community leaders. Members of Congress have the Library of Congress and the Congressional Research Service to call upon when they have questions during decision-making.
Farmers, ranchers, and rural community residents would benefit from a Farm Energy Production Service/Library that would be modeled on the CRS and the National Agricultural Library. By slashing farm energy production, marketing, and management "information orverload," America's agriculture professionals will be best equipped to product power as efficiently as they now produce foods and fibers.
A portion of disaster relief funds could be earmarked in an "if, then" situation for various forms of farm energy development. Wind power, solar power, and waste vegetable oil to biodiesel production equipment purchases with the funds would lead to four important results-
1) financial aid to farmers, ranchers, and other agri-business operators during critical times
2) invigorate farm energy production as "perennial crops" when seasonal crops and livestock are stilted by weather or diseases
3) establish and maintain farm energy production to rival the "world's bread basket" as America's "energy basket" and
4) spur local innovations by citizens and students that inevitably lead to intense learning, business startups, job opportunities, and retention of young people.
All of the states' Rural Electric Co-ops, partnering with farmers, ranchers, and other operators, can use relief funds to upgrade transmission line capacity, capacity that will benefit all farm energy producers.
Food for thought and action?
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A South Dakota wind farming handbook
Now in Microsoft Publisher is 1,030 billion kWhs of wind power- A Farm Energy Production Handbook, First Edition; booklet format, 134 pages. Being printed for in-state sale.
The Table of Contents (Web addresses follow, or are in, every Step) is
Section 9006 details (2002 "Farm Bill" Section 9006 is Title IX- Energy) on page NS-1
Step 1 (know the wind quality at your site(s) ) on page 1-1
Step 2 (know the “lay of the land” ) on page 2-1
Step 3 (understanding wind economics ("aerinomics" in the handbook)) on page 3-1
Step 4 (finding electricity purchasers ) on page 4-1
Step 5 (know the transmission infrastructure) on page 5-1
Step 6 (ensure heavy equipment) on page 6-1
Step 7 (know about manufacturers of turbines) on page 7-1
Step 8 (learn about operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts) on page 8-1
Step 9 (understand the time-lines of regulatory and other constraints) on page 9-1
Step 10 (developing a great business plan) on page 10-1
Appendix (hilltop Wyoming gasoline station started my "wind chasing") on page A-1
As the South Dakota wind wind resource map (a computer estimate) shows, nearly all South Dakotans and their communities can be wind farmers. Gold areas are where wind farming (aericulture- cultivating the wind) becomes economically viable. (Some of those same areas are marginal for agriculture.) The remaining colors are increasingly high-yield areas.
The market for wind power continues to grow rapidly, as suggested in yesterday's (9 Oct Tuesday) The Wall Street Journal report on page A7 that may serve as a springboard for widespread SD wind farming. (By-the-way, here in Watertown we enjoyed 11 hours of 16 - 21 mph wind having 600 - 800 W/sq. meter of swept area per hour at 50 meters (purple/red on the map.)
"Big Firms to Press Suppliers on Climate" describes the efforts by Proctor & Gamble, Nestle, and other companies to reduce the emission of CO2 and other GHG throughout their respective supply chains.
The report observes- Companies are increasingly touting their environmental strategies as a marketing tool because consumers are more aware of and concerned about climate change. One of those strategies is the Supply Chain Leadership Coalition; the companies are working with the Carbon Disclosure Project (London) to spur suppliers' improvements in energy efficiency and
reducing CO2/GHG emissions. ["Carrot and stick" arrangement, undoubtedly.]
[South Dakota land owners and communities can build wind farms using sub-one MW turbines for fastest installation and proven reliability to contract with the Supply Chain Leadership
Coalition and its suppliers for wind power and "green credits." Our wind farms are a long-term (100-year) response to a business demand; the Coalition and their supply chains could be the leverage we need to secure funds for buying the turbines and for construction of the farms and transmission lines. "Big Firms" justify a "Giant Vision," don't you agree?]
Food for action.
The Table of Contents (Web addresses follow, or are in, every Step) is
Section 9006 details (2002 "Farm Bill" Section 9006 is Title IX- Energy) on page NS-1
Step 1 (know the wind quality at your site(s) ) on page 1-1
Step 2 (know the “lay of the land” ) on page 2-1
Step 3 (understanding wind economics ("aerinomics" in the handbook)) on page 3-1
Step 4 (finding electricity purchasers ) on page 4-1
Step 5 (know the transmission infrastructure) on page 5-1
Step 6 (ensure heavy equipment) on page 6-1
Step 7 (know about manufacturers of turbines) on page 7-1
Step 8 (learn about operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts) on page 8-1
Step 9 (understand the time-lines of regulatory and other constraints) on page 9-1
Step 10 (developing a great business plan) on page 10-1
Appendix (hilltop Wyoming gasoline station started my "wind chasing") on page A-1
As the South Dakota wind wind resource map (a computer estimate) shows, nearly all South Dakotans and their communities can be wind farmers. Gold areas are where wind farming (aericulture- cultivating the wind) becomes economically viable. (Some of those same areas are marginal for agriculture.) The remaining colors are increasingly high-yield areas.
The market for wind power continues to grow rapidly, as suggested in yesterday's (9 Oct Tuesday) The Wall Street Journal report on page A7 that may serve as a springboard for widespread SD wind farming. (By-the-way, here in Watertown we enjoyed 11 hours of 16 - 21 mph wind having 600 - 800 W/sq. meter of swept area per hour at 50 meters (purple/red on the map.)
"Big Firms to Press Suppliers on Climate" describes the efforts by Proctor & Gamble, Nestle, and other companies to reduce the emission of CO2 and other GHG throughout their respective supply chains.
The report observes- Companies are increasingly touting their environmental strategies as a marketing tool because consumers are more aware of and concerned about climate change. One of those strategies is the Supply Chain Leadership Coalition; the companies are working with the Carbon Disclosure Project (London) to spur suppliers' improvements in energy efficiency and
reducing CO2/GHG emissions. ["Carrot and stick" arrangement, undoubtedly.]
[South Dakota land owners and communities can build wind farms using sub-one MW turbines for fastest installation and proven reliability to contract with the Supply Chain Leadership
Coalition and its suppliers for wind power and "green credits." Our wind farms are a long-term (100-year) response to a business demand; the Coalition and their supply chains could be the leverage we need to secure funds for buying the turbines and for construction of the farms and transmission lines. "Big Firms" justify a "Giant Vision," don't you agree?]
Food for action.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Cut-in (conclusion)
The prior installation of Cut-in left me leaving the Wyoming hill-top gas station thinking Willie Nelson's “on the road again.”
Into South Dakota a few hours and still no “What to do?” answer. Fine. I'd rather drive in peace and quiet. Plains and utility poles, poles and plains; the miles passed.
Somewhere between Rapid City and Pierre: “Windmills.”
“What? What do you mean 'windmills?'”
“In all this wind, use windmills,” was the reply.
“To do what, pump water?” (The nag said no more and was going to make me figure it out.)
After mulling for the subsequent 23 miles, I “saw” a wind turbine paired with every utility pole, generating electricity and using the existing wires to carry the power to where it was needed. The “Big Picture” gelled during the remaining miles to Watertown.
Manufacture the machines for installation throughout the state, perhaps as a “state concrete plant-like” organization.
Transportation, installation, maintenance, and repair all can be done by South Dakotans.
(Wind farming isn't “rocket science;” its been done world-wide. Transmission might be a problem. Hmmmm. Shouldn't be a "show-stopper.")
From that point it was a matter of going to the Watertown Regional Library for a couple of hours every day after the "day job" (with a few weeks at the Lake Area Technical Institute library) to learn “what to do.” Now I have to act to achieve the "Big Picture."
Into South Dakota a few hours and still no “What to do?” answer. Fine. I'd rather drive in peace and quiet. Plains and utility poles, poles and plains; the miles passed.
Somewhere between Rapid City and Pierre: “Windmills.”
“What? What do you mean 'windmills?'”
“In all this wind, use windmills,” was the reply.
“To do what, pump water?” (The nag said no more and was going to make me figure it out.)
After mulling for the subsequent 23 miles, I “saw” a wind turbine paired with every utility pole, generating electricity and using the existing wires to carry the power to where it was needed. The “Big Picture” gelled during the remaining miles to Watertown.
Manufacture the machines for installation throughout the state, perhaps as a “state concrete plant-like” organization.
Transportation, installation, maintenance, and repair all can be done by South Dakotans.
(Wind farming isn't “rocket science;” its been done world-wide. Transmission might be a problem. Hmmmm. Shouldn't be a "show-stopper.")
From that point it was a matter of going to the Watertown Regional Library for a couple of hours every day after the "day job" (with a few weeks at the Lake Area Technical Institute library) to learn “what to do.” Now I have to act to achieve the "Big Picture."
Friday, September 21, 2007
Cut-in (installation)
Cut-in describes what spurred me to edit this handbook on harvesting some of the 1,030 billion kWhs of wind power South Dakota enjoys (but not all South Dakotans) each year. With electricity and water rates going up here in Watertown, we should have 5 megawatts of windfarming to counter-balance those increases. (I can be "the squeaky wheel" so locals will act.)
All through grade and high schools in Watertown, I disliked the wind; it made riding a bike into town work during summers and numbed fingers during winters. Those memories and dozens of others resurfaced as I drove from Des Moines, Washington to Watertown that howling August day. The gas gauge was close to “Empty” as I exited I-90 near the Wyoming-South Dakota border to fill the tank.
“What an odd place for a gas station,” I grumbled as the winding secondary road led up to a broad, flat hilltop where the pumps were, along with a heavy-truck repair depot and a restaurant.
My mood was further soured by having to struggle to open the car door against that “God-forsaken wind” (a long-unused, but not forgotten phrase). It almost made me forget about the $3.10 per gallon gas I was burning- almost.
Gasoline prices mushroomed into crude oil prices which mushroomed into energy. Costs are a problem; problems mean opportunities for earning money; and other random thoughts bounced around in my head as the gasoline/money flowed. What can I do here, in this situation? Pieces of paper flew, clumps of tall grass were bent nearly flat, a stop sign jiggled, and my partially-open jacket billowed and strained at the zipper. Energy was all around me, “as plain as day,” but still untappable in my “forsaken” mind-set.
“Oh crap! Thirty-four dollars!” my penny-pincher screamed, jerking me back to the here-and- (painfully expensive) now. As I “swam” through the gusts in to pay, “What can I do?” continued to nag, as troublesome as a slow fly in mid-September. Of course returning to the car was a case of being hurled, one stride becoming 2 and a-half, clutching for the door handle like grab-bing a handrail during a stumble.
Safely at the door, once again I fussed with the door, stewing “What can be done with this shtuff?!” Still no answer (apparently it's easier to nag than to solve, I mocked.) Returning to I-90, the view from the hilltop was exquisite: lower hills softened by golden grass, purplish valleys, and a few puffy clouds overhead. I continued to gawk at it all, eventually finding the interstate ingress (I've always wanted to use that word instead of “entrance.”) without taking too many “scenic routes,” and was, as Willy Nelson might say, “on the road again.”
[Continued in next post.]
See current wind speed and direction at the Watertown Municipal Airport.
All through grade and high schools in Watertown, I disliked the wind; it made riding a bike into town work during summers and numbed fingers during winters. Those memories and dozens of others resurfaced as I drove from Des Moines, Washington to Watertown that howling August day. The gas gauge was close to “Empty” as I exited I-90 near the Wyoming-South Dakota border to fill the tank.
“What an odd place for a gas station,” I grumbled as the winding secondary road led up to a broad, flat hilltop where the pumps were, along with a heavy-truck repair depot and a restaurant.
My mood was further soured by having to struggle to open the car door against that “God-forsaken wind” (a long-unused, but not forgotten phrase). It almost made me forget about the $3.10 per gallon gas I was burning- almost.
Gasoline prices mushroomed into crude oil prices which mushroomed into energy. Costs are a problem; problems mean opportunities for earning money; and other random thoughts bounced around in my head as the gasoline/money flowed. What can I do here, in this situation? Pieces of paper flew, clumps of tall grass were bent nearly flat, a stop sign jiggled, and my partially-open jacket billowed and strained at the zipper. Energy was all around me, “as plain as day,” but still untappable in my “forsaken” mind-set.
“Oh crap! Thirty-four dollars!” my penny-pincher screamed, jerking me back to the here-and- (painfully expensive) now. As I “swam” through the gusts in to pay, “What can I do?” continued to nag, as troublesome as a slow fly in mid-September. Of course returning to the car was a case of being hurled, one stride becoming 2 and a-half, clutching for the door handle like grab-bing a handrail during a stumble.
Safely at the door, once again I fussed with the door, stewing “What can be done with this shtuff?!” Still no answer (apparently it's easier to nag than to solve, I mocked.) Returning to I-90, the view from the hilltop was exquisite: lower hills softened by golden grass, purplish valleys, and a few puffy clouds overhead. I continued to gawk at it all, eventually finding the interstate ingress (I've always wanted to use that word instead of “entrance.”) without taking too many “scenic routes,” and was, as Willy Nelson might say, “on the road again.”
[Continued in next post.]
See current wind speed and direction at the Watertown Municipal Airport.
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