Do you remember the Wendy's commercial with the little old lady asking "Where's the Beef?" I thought that was so funny.

But recently a situation occured that reminded me a lot of that old slogan, and it didn't strike me as being very funny at all.

"Where's the water?"

I was asking myself that very question while visitng retailers here in Charlotte, North Carolina. None of the restaurants were serving water and when I asked for a water -- or even drink -- they asked me if I wanted ice with it. What was going on? After visiting three restaurants, a little old lady finally told me the answer to my question: The drought has become so bad here that they no longer serve water -- or even ice -- unless you request it.

Being from Georgia, I'm aware of our drought, but I didn't know that it was affecting the Carolinas so severely as well. I have since reconsidered my water and ice requests. I will only drink bottled water and skip the ice when I'm in the affected states.