Week 9--What next?

Which of the latest ramifications of the oil shock have you personally seen? What actions are you taking in response to these developments?

There are a number of gas stations in the area that have closed down.

The ride share parking lot at

Niwot Road

off 287 is now overflowing with cars.  The farmer that owns the field just behind it has actually partitioned off part of his space for additional drivers to park there.

I understand that several major local businesses have either cut if not stopped production.  For example, the Butterball turkey plant right in South Longmont on

Main Street

has closed.  Workers have not lost their jobs, but it is unclear when the plant will open up again.

My husband’s employer insists that individuals carpool if possible.  Certain segments of the company that can are also now coming into work only a few days a week.  My husband now bikes to work two days each week, but is doing the rest of his work through telecommuting.  He uses his laptop to complete his tasks and has two to three daily Skype conversations with his colleagues, boss, and/or the Marketing Director.  His company has pulled out of several national trade shows they typically attend to avoid the cost of travel.  A number of trade shows have actually been cancelled.

The St. Vrain Valley School District has held several emergency meetings to discuss the benefits/possibility of online coursework for certain schools and courses.  They are trying to determine whether proximity to school, type of course, or access of online resources should be the main factor in determining who should be required to attend school to learn, and who can accomplish it from home.

We have planned to not see out-of-state family now for Christmas as well as Thanksgiving.

How quickly our world has changed!...