Everybody I know is convinced we're about to run out of diesel.

A buddy sent me that picture this week and told me I ought to go stock up. I think he wanted me to be as worried as he was.

I've now heard some version of this from about six different people. At the coffee shop. At the hardware store.

From folks on the left AND folks on the right, which almost never happens. Those two can't agree on what day it is, but they have both decided the pumps are going dry by Christmas.

So I did what I do. I poked around a little. Understand I'm a retired man with a laptop and too much time, not an expert.

Here's what I found.

Diesel is expensive as hell. That part's real, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise. Texas hit a record $5.96 a gallon on Thursday. National average is $6.40.

First time in history it's cleared six bucks. If you drive a truck for a living, you already knew that and you didn't need me to tell you.

But expensive and gone are two different animals.

We're still making about 5.2 million barrels of the stuff a day. The supply cushion is thinner than normal, no argument there. But last week it actually went UP.

And those pictures everybody's passing around? Most of them nobody can confirm. Come to find out, when a station runs dry, the apps show $9.99. That's not a price. That's the station saying "the truck didn't come today, try tomorrow."

Something's going on overseas with the shipping lanes, and I'm not touching that with a ten-foot pole.

I told my wife I wasn't going to lose sleep over it. She said that's exactly my problem. I don't take anything seriously until it's sitting in my driveway.

Then she reminded me I said the same thing before that ice storm, and I spent three days in a dark house eating cold beans out of a can.

She may have a point.

So I'm asking you. What are you hearing where you live? Have you actually pulled up to a station that was out, or is everybody just forwarding the same photo?

Enjoy your Sunday!

3 Interesting Articles

Bust a nut they said, it'll be fun they said

I might have to give rose quartz a try.

Well, I guess that kinda sucks.

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