Fergus Falls Forum

And let’s not forget the blood shot eyes. Ah yes, the swimming season is here. When I was growing up it went like this: school’s out, Vacation Bible School begins. After a week VBS ends and swimming lessons begin. This would all take place at the end of May, the first part of June.

As I write this, June 7, 2008, I am wearing a sweatshirt. It’s a bit chilly here in the mornings, sometimes the afternoons, and sometimes the evenings. Sweatshirts are my friend.

From what I remember, we were in the lake almost as soon as the ice went out. Well, I know my sister, Laura, was, but she was always the, “I dare you,” person. And I was usually right behind her.

What were we thinking? For the love of freezing cold what were we doing out in the water? Swimmin’. Having fun. We couldn’t wait until the Lundstroms put out their raft; which was usually the first week of June. Cold water didn’t have nothing on us and Mother knew she couldn’t depend on a lifeguard. We were on our own which was a-okay with us. We had learned our lessons well. Laura earned her Senior Life Savior badge and the rest of us earned our Juniors. And yes I mean Savior.

We were fish, raised to be fish. Although our Mother did not know how to swim, she made sure that all of her tadpoles took swimming lessons. She did have ulterior motives. All through the summer months, we dug the worms and made the peanut butter sandwiches and the koolaid so we could go fishing with Mom. She always took one of us with her. We learned early how to row the boat, aiming at the best fishin’ spots. And if for some reason a malady of some sort would occur, at least one of us knew how to swim. There is nothing like sunnies for supper.

Which takes me back to the weather and how cold the water really is. Why didn’t it bother us when we were kids? Why didn’t the transparent skin, blue lips, and bloodshot eyes bother us when we were kids? We could stay in that cold drink forever and it never seemed to bother us. I guess kids have an advantage that I certainly do not have now. Must have lost it somewhere along the way because the last thing I want to do right now is to jump into Pebble Lake or any other lake for that matter. Yikes! Lifeguard or no, I want that water about 68 degrees. Does that ever happen anymore? But still, I would rather swim in a lake than in a swimming pool. Minnesota should not have swimming pools. That’s just my opinion.

Article written by OhYou, a member of FergusForum.com

Not only has E85 been oversold as a clean fuel, but if you insist on filling your vehicle with the 85% ethanol blend, you’ll also be losing money at the pump. This is because while E85 costs less than regular gasoline, your engine doesn’t burn it as efficiently. As of Friday, AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report puts the average price of E85 at $3.284 a gallon (well below the price of gas, which was $3.962 on Friday), but it adjusts the price based on the fuel’s lost efficiency compared to gasoline.

The actual average price when you factor in E85’s poor fuel economy? $4.321 per gallon. Hardly a deal, right?

Of course, some Midwestern states, like Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota, have taken to not only subsidizing corn production for ethanol, but also subsidizing the fuel at the pump, thus lowering the cost further. Still, according to E85Prices.com, the greatest spread between ethanol and gasoline prices right now is the 28% difference in South Dakota. This is one of just two states in the country where the adjusted average price of ethanol ($3.794) is lower than the average price of gasoline in that state ($3.890). The other is Colorado, where the difference is 26%. The next closest is New York with a 24% spread, so while gasoline’s average cost is $3.87 a gallon there, ethanol’s adjusted price comes to $3.98.

This article has been re-published, with permission from Kicking Tires at Cars.com

When people ask me why I don’t drive, I usually respond by saying, “You should be thanking me for not driving.” I have not driven a motor vehicle since 1989 and there’s a reason for that. I am a terrible driver and truthfully, I hate to drive. Even as a teenager I never got the thrill that most kids do. It used to scare me to death. But I felt that I should drive, I needed to drive. Afterall, it is a privilege and I should feel privileged to be able to do it. When I got into a car accident in 1989, the words of my former Driver’s Ed teacher came back to me. Pale-faced, with his white knuckles clutching the dashboard he said, “You know, driving isn’t for everyone.”

And so, since that time, I have relied on public transportation to be my chauffeurs. In larger cities public transportation is no problem. In smaller communities such as Fergus Falls, it can be a problem. The biggest problem here was that there weren’t enough choices of who to ride with, plus the fares, understandably so, were rising and rising. One week when I paid almost as much in transportation fare as I made in wages, I thought, I am doomed.

Then someone suggested Otter Transit to me and I have been commuting with them since November. They are fantastic. Accommodating, courteous, clean, and affordable, they have been this non-drivers dream.

After getting to know a couple of the drivers for Otter Transit, there seems to be a few misconception about what they really are. Because they are affiliated with Productive Alternatives some people think that they only transport clients of Productive Alternatives. While they do drive the clients to and from their jobs, they also will accommodate the general public. Which brings to light another misconception: that Otter Transit only picks up senior citizens. Yes, they do give the seniors rides, anywhere they want to go. However, the working public has priority over the weekly wash and curl or the Whist game down at the Center. The drivers always make sure the workers get to their jobs first and they are very good at juggling times, people, and places. They are here for everyone, whether you need a ride to work or a ride to the store. You should call them. They’re in the book.

I asked one of the drivers if he would mind if I wrote about this in the Forum and he was delighted. By getting the word out it helps Productive Alternatives, our community, our economy, and the Fergus Falls drivers who certainly wouldn’t want me on their streets and highways. I’ve heard that there are enough drivers like me out there all ready.

This article was emailed to Fergus Forum.