I pumped my own gas!

[Susannah]

This might not seem like a big deal to many of you, but I hail from the land of the full-service gas station, and I never had a car when I lived in Philadelphia. I'd never done it before, but I just did it now! Yes!

Congratulate me!

[Denim Gremlin]

congratulations!

as someone from NJ let me say, it is a big deal.

[Emily]

It's a HUGE deal. When you come back home you'll feel like such a slug waiting for the attendant. Sometimes I cross the border just to regain that feeling of independence.

Congrats Susannah!

[GetOffMyBone]

I have never been to a full-service station. You and I are from different worlds.

[bruce]

I have never been to a full-service station. You and I are from different worlds.

I'm with you getoffmybone

[buffcoat]

Oregon's like that, too, or at least it was.

Freaks.

[Laurie]

What a bunch of weirdos!

By the way, some pumps have little clippy thingies in the handle that you can lock into a groove in the handle, allowing you to pump gas WITH NO HANDS! This is a move for advanced gas pumpers. You can smoke a cigarette or something whilst you wait for the tank to fill up and bankrupt you.

[TL]

Oregon is definitely still like that - I always forget until I get there, and, uh... then I remember.
But Laurie - one of the more frustrating things I've noticed lately is the rapid disappearance of those grooves in the handles!  What gives?  I've taken to jamming my money clip (which, as you know, is HUUUUUGE) in there so I can swig from my flask and talk on my cell phone while pumping.

[Chris L]

What a bunch of weirdos!

By the way, some pumps have little clippy thingies in the handle that you can lock into a groove in the handle, allowing you to pump gas WITH NO HANDS! This is a move for advanced gas pumpers. You can smoke a cigarette or something whilst you wait for the tank to fill up and bankrupt you.

Most of the stations where I live have these.  The freedom of no-hands pumping (eww) is exhilerating for about two seconds, but then I usually end up standing around and staring at mundane objects.   And posting mundane posts.

[John Junk]

What a bunch of weirdos!

By the way, some pumps have little clippy thingies in the handle that you can lock into a groove in the handle, allowing you to pump gas WITH NO HANDS! This is a move for advanced gas pumpers. You can smoke a cigarette in the middle of the gas station and put yourself and everyone around you in danger of exploding in the meantime.

Filthy Laurie, this is a new low!

Congrats Sarah!

[Laurie]

I know, JJ! 

[Sarah]

Congrats Susannaharah!

Fixed.

[venison88]

I'm also from NJ, but i pump my own gas anyway, cause i dont feel like waiting for them. Also because i know it'll be done right. 

[johnfgillson]

I have never had somebody pump my gas. Up near Bemidji, MN where my in-laws live my mother in law went to a full service gas station and I felt guilty to have some guy pumping the gas while I sat in the car. What's next, having some guy shine my shoes? I know there are tips involved but I still feel guilty.

[John Junk]

I have never had somebody pump my gas. Up near Bemidji, MN where my in-laws live my mother in law went to a full service gas station and I felt guilty to have some guy pumping the gas while I sat in the car. What's next, having some guy shine my shoes? I know there are tips involved but I still feel guilty.

I pretty much gave up on tipping in NJ gas stations.  There's not really any point.  It's not like you have the option of pumping your own gas.  Or at least I didn't think so.  However this venison88 character seems to think otherwise. Is there a choice?  I thought there was a law against pumping your own gas in NJ.