Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Le Pouvoir de Surprendre


We've all had a whop upside the global head in the past few days that tends to help us put things in perspective.  With the unrest in the middle east, the unknowns of the Japan catastrophe and the general squeeze felt by oil prices that always seem to increase as the weather warms up and people hop in their cars to get outta Dodge, here's a little something to consider when you find yourself complaining about paying $3, $4 or even $5 a gallon.  Yes...a gallon!

On the days I do consulting hither and yon, I rent a car. Lucky for me, all of my travel expenses are paid for by my contract.  But check this out!


That's right!  You're reading that correctly.  1,545€ per liter.  L.I.T.E.R.  Think water bottle.  Think wine bottle - which is 3/4 of a liter.  If my calculations are correct, one gallon is 3.785 liters which would put a gallon at that price at about 5,85€ per gallon.  At today's conversion rate, that would be $8.15 per gallon.

Ch-ch-ch-chinnnnng!

And get this:  In parts of Paris, prices are being reported at 1,81€ a liter...putting the cost of loading tigers in your tank at...wait for it...drum roll, please...$9.54 a gallon. 

As prices rise, you might ask yourself a couple of questions:
  • Is it possible to modify my current gas consumption?  
          and 
  • Aren't I fortunate to be living in a place where gas is so inexpensive?  (Until of course, your prices match our prices...and then we just need to leave it at the first question, non?!)

Still wringing out my curly locks and soggy boots from today's wind and rain and hail!  Yes, dear readers, we are having some serious weather here in the 'hood. (And though I rent a car for the 45 minute distance, I walk about a kilometer to retrieve and drop off the car...sometimes in the rain.)

Film at 11...errrr...tomorrow.

Hope you are all staying warm and dry on this mid-march day - and appreciating your gas prices!

À demain,
Leslie

3 comments:

Deborah said...

You know, France is cheap compared to the UK - £1.48 a litre diesel today. Yes, sterling! It's all the tax they whack on; don't get me started...

Looks like we timed our Provence trip this month to perfection - it was fine when we left this time last week!

Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog, Leslie - much appreciated.

donna said...

appreciating gas prices, health, life, and assorted other good fortunes....praying for those who are struggling with all of the above....and again for those in japan who don't know from hour to hour what will happen.....

la fourchette said...

Deborah, I'll not get you started...I hear ya, girlfriend! Your timing was good on many fronts: gas prices, weather, and *film opportunities*!

donna, you and me both. Not knowing from hour to hour is heartbreaking. Looking out over an extended unknown is painful beyond measure. Our prayers are joining on their way to Japan.

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