Here's Looking at 2008 in the "Couve"

The Pacific Northwest is a great place to live and play!!


as presented by the Columbian, January 27, 2008

Jobs: in 2007 employment grew by 3,000 jobs, or 2.2 percent. 2008 looks for slower growth, around 1,600 jobs.

Chip Production: expansion that began in 2007 is expected to continue, growing 9.3 percent.


Housing: It is an excellent time to buy and sell. There will be a small amount of appreciation, up possibly 4 to 5 percent.

Energy: In 2008 there should be little upward pressure on electricity prices int eh Pacific Northwest. With the possibility of a warm winter gas prices in 2008 could lead to reductions in natural gas prices.

Retail: New retail space will add 821,000 sq . ft. to the market. New national apparel stores will commit to Clark County retail developments.

Mortgage Banking: All indications are that mortgage loan rates will stay as they have in 2007 with possible increases toward the end of the year.

Travel: Visitor spending in Clark County reached an extimated $400 milling last year. In 2008, at least an 8 percent increase is projected.

For more details go to: http://www.columbian.com

Tips To Save At The Pumps...

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the
ground temperature is still cold Remember that all service stations
have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the
more dense the gasoline, when it ge ts warmer gasoline expands, so buying
in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon
. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of
the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products
plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal
for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature
compensation at the pumps.

When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast
mode . If you look you will see t hat the trigger has three (3) stages:
low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed ,
thereby m inimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All
hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast
rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those
vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so
you're g etting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF
FULL . The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the
less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you
can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This
roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it
minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work,
every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon
is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage
tanks wh en you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline
is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up
some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

Hope this will help you get the most value for your money

Garden Thoughts

If you are beginning to think of your garden already, check out these spots...

http://naturallybeautifulbackyards.org/

http://naturescaping.org/

http://berrybot.org/

2008 Resolution for your Home

Make your home more comfortable in 2008...Your home should be a refuge, so make it comfortable...

Try one or all of these ideas:

• Add a comfy couch and seating
• Add a splash of color with a splash of paint, fabric or flooring
• Get rid of clutter and organize closets and storage
• Create a place in the garden for a retreat. Add a water feature, it can be very therapeutic.