Drives Me Crazy

I can’t complain about the weather, because inland San Diego County scorched today. Here in University Heights, which is closer to the coast, temperature reached toasty 30.5 degrees Celsius (87 Fahrenheit). As I write, it’s cooler 25 C (77 F) and best reason for the evening walk recently completed.

For days, I meant to document gasoline prices on the rise, after something of a decline that nevertheless was ghastly high compared to other states. According to AAA, the national average, as of this very day, is $3.83 per gallon. What a break. My local station at El Cajon Blvd and Texas Street is only $1.77 higher. Average for all California is $5.41 per gallon, which, by the way, is highest price for any state—even Alaska and Hawaii.

AAA’s gas map makes me laugh, for its odd color reversal. Highest dollar amounts are red, while lowest are blue. The traditionally Blue, or Purple, Western states—for being liberal or left-leaning—are red or pink on the gas map. Meanwhile, across the Southern Red states—meaning more conservative—are blue. Perhaps you aren’t amused, but I am.

The Featured Image, captured using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, reveals the price on this fine Saturday night: $5.60 per gallon. Ouchy. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 400, 1/125 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 8:30 p.m. PDT.

This post’s title pays homage to Fine Young Cannibals 1988 song “She Drives Me Crazy“. California gas prices do just that, with emphasis on drive because that’s what you do with your car. Oh, am I overexplaining?