I can't feel my hands when I pump gas, but I do it, but I do it…read more..
Now that I've unsuccessfully ripped off The Weeknd (though I doubt his lack of facial feeling is not due to the winter snow like mine is), let me state the obvious. Pumping gas in the cold, sucks. You want to wear your gloves so your hands don't turn colors, but you don't want to risk tainting your beloved piggy gloves. Okay, maybe that last part is just me.
Usually I like to use my gas points at Tops to fuel up. But I was headed home from work when I noticed my tank was looking too empty for comfort, and Mobil was conveniently right there, so why not? Well, a few reasons.
Turns out they aren't as conveniently placed as my eyes led me to believe. This may be to my lack of courage when it comes to driving, but trying to whip out of the lot back into traffic takes careful timing being so close to the traffic light. Maybe it was the chunk of ice I had neglected to scrape off my windshield giving me a blind spot, but I've tried exiting during the summer too, and I always feel like someone is going to barrel down the street at me to make the green light. Getting in can be a hassle too, because people are addicted to Tim Hortons and the line pokes out sometimes.
But hey, if you need gas, and are prepared to pay a higher price (I may be spoiled by those Tops gas points) then yeah, it gets the job done. They even offer a car wash. Which from what I've heard isn't great, but if you're trapped in an apartment like I am, it beats giving your car the ol' spit and scrub.
I slid my card into the slot and it asked the usual questions like debit/credit and for my zip code. My numbing hands worked the pump as I dreamt of the days where manned stations were a thing. I was pulled out of my reverie by voices. The pumps have video screens that tell you the weather (forecast: cold) and show you GSTV, which I misheard as JesusTv. Don't worry, they're not selling you God, just everything else, because, and yes I looked this up on their website and quote "consumers spend +1.7x more following a fuel transaction." So go ahead and allow yourself to head inside to buy that box of Timbits, because you can always blame the manipulative gas pump. Which surprisingly today actually gave me a receipt, as I've had issues with this in the past, so hooray for minor miracles and full gas tanks!
They've got gas and get you where you've got to go, but it's just middle of the road, despite its street corner location.