Drabble by Kevin Fagan for January 16, 2024

I’ve heard worse. At some point a gasoline company here announced that they would lower the price at a few gas pumps for an hour, but they would only announce the correct time half an hour or so in advance. One guy just waited all day at one of the pumps, to be first in line when the time came. From 8 am until they announced it, which was at about 17.00 hrs.

Or, he could take a magazine.

Ralph…your wife is trying to tell you that 30 is greater than 20…

Often thought this while seeing folks lining up for carpool long before school is out. Why? I used to pull up at the end of the line when there were only 10 cars left. Of course timing is everything.

He should take a smartphone or an iPad.

Ever see people lined up at a cell phone store before opening?

My work place was at the end of road, a dead end. There was a light about 1 1/2 miles up at a ‘T’ intersection. I would leave early and get there about 30 minutes before work. Later it was a giant traffic jam and it could take 20 minutes or more to get down that road. I’d be reading the paper as everyone came in grumbling each day about the traffic.

I’ve only had to go to the post office twice in the last four years. Went around 2 pm and no line.

The boy got a D in math on school, didn’t he?

That’s how the DMV works.

Last month I went to the UPS store to ship a few boxes, and was astonished at how ill prepared some of the other people were. One person was wrapping the gifts they were shipping – while standing in line. Another person was returning an external computer drive, and wanted the worker to document the serial number and take a picture of it.

Dumb. But Norman is Dumber.

Take your cellphone. Get on GoComics while you wait.

This is similar to the old expression “Spend a dollar to save a dime.” I had a boss like that once.

He would prefer to stand outside in the snow and cold.

I’m trying to get the lay of the land in “Drabble-ville.” The letters in Ralph’s hand are stamped. Can’t he just mail them from home?

I found myself arriving at work 30 minutes early so I could have a parking spot by the door. I stopped that when I realized I was saving a minute’s walk, Unless the weather was brutally cold like today.

probly also buys things on sale that he doesn’t need so he can save money!

He’s a classic moron. You married him!

It’s the principle of the thing.

That’s a complete waits of time.

He can talk to all the other old farts while waiting in line!

With our flight at about 7 am we need to be at the airport by about 5 am to allow time to get thru security. At that hour the lines are very short & we get thru quickly, but if we wait until 6:30 am the lines are much longer & we’ll probably miss our flight.

Isn’t the DONUT SHOP on the way to the P.O. ?

I always have my handwork, usually tatting or knitting, with me. Since I am almost always early to wherever, I make a lot of progress on these projects.