First day of school. Isabella is now in the third grade. Saturday was the busiest day I've had since Xmas, but it doesn't even come close to break even for the month. This week I'll be working my tail off renting instruments until they run out. It's my fourth school season. Depression is mounting. Why am I working my tail off? I've got no economic incentive to do so. Four years working for free. Well, that's not entirely true. In fact I've been paying to work here...

Once again the government is considering tapping into the strategic oil reserves because of emergency needs following hurricane Katrina and also the continuing price hikes. One has to wonder how much of this request is based on fear factor and how much is based on the simple fact that the hurricane is rolling right over the top of the underground storage caverns. Oil and water don't mix. [Oil and politics? Oil and money? Different story...]