Travel is the theme on this Chat Day
Yo, it’s Chat Day, my friends ...
And I’m still stuck in Kansas City while a gaggle of surgeons decides what to do with my back.
In truth, they’re just examining it from plenty of angles with various devices, and will ultimately figure out that simple injections will do just fine for the next few months.
That’s my diagnosis.
And to learn all this, I have to be conked out with some serious anesthesia a couple of times — which is not my favorite pastime.
For whatever reason, though, coming around after a half-day of anesthesia always reminds me of a famous quote from Winston Churchill ...
“Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result.”
Now then, enough about my “holiday.”
Let’s see what’s going on ...
ITEM: Here is some seriously good news for folks who live in Kootenai County, but fly out of Spokane with any frequency.
It seemed for a while as though Jeff Hall, who has owned and managed Pay-Less Shuttle for nearly two decades, was going to sell the business and put his feet up.
I promise you, I’ve traveled a lot in a zillion years of journalism, and Jeff’s operation here is the best and most reliable I’ve found.
So ...
That made the notion of a new owner, perhaps someone not as efficient, just a bit unpleasant.
Ah, but not to worry.
“We’ve decided to keep the business in the family,” Hall said. “My son (Charles) is going to run it, but I’ll be there if he needs anything at all.
“It just felt like that was the best way to go.”
On behalf of North Idaho travelers, I say...
Bravo.
ITEM: There’s no question I want to get home.
I can think of plenty of reasons to depart the Midwest for Twin Lakes Village, but unfortunately, the price of gas won’t be one of them.
Just a couple of days ago, I checked prices at home and in Kansas City.
The latest I’ve heard was in the $2.70 range around Kootenai County, while prices here are falling through the floor.
Kansas City is split by the two states, and on the Missouri side of the border, gas was $1.97 in some spots.
Now, could someone explain to me how prices are so incredibly different, depending on where you happen to fill up?
Taxes, I understand...
And that would make up the small difference between Kansas and Missouri.
But 70 to 75 cents per gallon?
I mean, it’s not like the Saudis deliver gas straight to Kansas City.
I’m sure there are economics involved here that I don’t understand, so if some professor from NIC or the University of Idaho wants to take me through Econ 101 on this thing, I’d be happy to listen.
Meantime, I doubt they’ll let me bring a load of gas home on the plane.
ITEM: It probably won’t shock you to hear that I’ve received plenty of feedback from last week’s column on the fear of Kootenai County turning into Boise North.
My favorite response so far has come from Marcia Stroup, who moved here from Oregon and thus knows all about hoping that Californians might decide to stay home.
“In the 1970s, yes, we did tell Californians they were welcome to visit and spend their money,” Marcia wrote, “but then please go back home.
“One particular incident came about after Salem built a new city hall. The old one, a massive brick edifice, was to be razed.
“Question was: What to do with all that fine brick?
“One suggestion was to use it to build a wall across I-5 at the Oregon-California border.”
Apparently Oregonians thought of a wall long before President Trump.
I don’t think we’ve reached that point...
Yet.
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Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press.
A Brand New Day appears from Wednesday through Saturday each week.
Steve’s column on Gonzaga basketball runs on Tuesday.
Email: scameron@cdapress.com
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