My trip to Myrtle Beach

Howdy! My annual "save my sanity" beach trip was a success! I am still sane...I think.

I went to North Myrtle Beach the week of September 1st for some sun, surf, R&R and seafood. All of which I achieved. Know what's funny though? In previous years I was all about getting a tan. Last year I went for the 40 proof sunscreen. This year? Coppertone sweat-proof, water-proof, sunproof, almighty blocking 70 proof sunscreen. At 36 years old, getting a tan is not my agenda. Keeping as few wrinkles as possible is my agenda. On top of the 70 proof? I had a beach umbrella providing shade.

I read the entire book "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyers. Wow...what a great book! I'm completely hooked on this series now. Like I don't have enough books to read.

I went to Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach. Sorta cool, but more for kids. Not much there for an adrenaline junkie like myself. I love roller coasters and scary rides. They have roller coasters there, but they aren't that scary or fast. I'm not saying don't go there. It IS a neat place. But if you are going just to ride rollercoasters? Skip it. $50 is a high price for not much.

There are two restaurants I recommend. For excellent, fresh seafood? Bimini's. It's by Kroger in North Myrtle Beach. For a good, high quality steak? Thoroughbreds. Get your steak coffee-style. You'll love it. ;)

Gas Prices? Why are we even dealing with this?

Maybe I'm naive, but I was completely shocked when I woke up last Friday morning and saw what was happening with our gas prices. What started out in the $3.60 range, topped out at $4.99 per gallon by the time my show ended at 3pm. I spoke with many of you on the phone and e-mail about what we could do about it. We were all left scratching our heads. Why would our local gas station owners DO this to us? Hurricane Ike hadn't even hit Texas yet and we were already raising prices. Regardless of the hurricane, we've had hurricanes every year for hundreds of years and all of a sudden they affect gas prices? I am totally perplexed by this. I'm not sure WHAT to think. On one hand, I just can't believe that every single gas station owner across East Tennessee was laughing at us behind our backs as they raised the prices on the road signs. On the other hand, would they? Do you believe it was price gouging? If you do, there is a petition that you can sign. It's http://www.petitiononline.com/knoxgas/petition.html. Will it help? I doubt it.

Something has got to bust open here with the gas prices. It wasn't a problem before Hurricane Katrina. Why now? What REALLY happened? I'm hearing so many "experts" saying so many different things it gives me a headache.