NPR's Morning Edition was on the car radio several Friday's ago reporting not so encouraging employment news. Obama's spokesman was next, trying to spin on the subject, and at eight in the morning one had a real sense of squirm---both of us.

He spoke of a few positive things, by the administration's reckoning, and as he mentioned gasoline prices dropping I was closing in on a station in a chain we'll call "Frugal". $4.55 for regular and then up by tens, and while a small manned car wash was on the property there was no discount connection with same. And this station is not particularly strategic to a freeway onramp, so = ? It felt more like a Monday, and the station's price stayed for quite a while.

Across the intersection was the self-serve market where, as usual, I pick up my Friday New York Times.

Gas prices were going lower elsewhere, and when I came by the market for the Sunday NYT last weekend now this station was commensurate with dropping prices. Well, later I was heading out to the lake for the first '12 summer outing, which I do by bus but drive 15 miles to connect. Get gas now and that trip and Monday's band practices won't have the distraction.

Good, no price increase for credit so we got set up. It appeared the pump wasn't responding to my choice of grade, so like magical thinking people who pound "walk" buttons at the intersection and nozzle not yet in the receptacle I gave it another reminder. Out came a gusher which sprayed Blue Bossa, myself, and my current solar satellite watch, the longest lasting one I've had now the grit and jarring of work are gone.

The watch and finish have turned out all right, a positive after the all too common experience of being hosed.