theTonster , thanks for the reply, yep do not think i will be moving anytime soon, volcano erruption makes hurricanes sound like a piece of cake. i remember when mt st. helens errupted it was terrible, funny we have oil rigs all in the gulf but our gas prices are very close. i knew the chinese were very close to boeing. my brother retired from boeing in north alabama, said they were very arrogant, but thanks for the great compliment of our great city.  it is growing, maybe patty murray will consider us part of the united states. i think there are some great people in washington who need to speak up more about that chinese train deal. welcome to l.a. (lower alabama)

Rosepetal, I told Carl earlier the cheapest gas is Arco, in Kent and Auburn, currently $4.12 a gallon.
Seattle & Tacoma benefit from China trade, and every day I see several Trainloads of Chinese Containers rolling south out of Seattle. People here can see why China is sucking up more gas; we feel the hurt, but anger? I haven’t seen any.
As for Mt St Helens—NONE of the eruptions threatened Puget Sound, where Millions of people live. Downwind from each big eruption, day turned into night and ash (heavy dust, bad for lungs) fell until the mountain quit barfing.
The Johnston Ridge Visitor Center is open again, and safe to visit, as Mt St Helens has gone back to sleep again. Mt Rainier is worrisome to us, as several Glaciers drain to Puget sound, but we have Volcano Evacuation Routes set up and Alarms for the expected Lahars mudflows. On the low-lying Ocean beaches, there are Tsunami Evacuation Routes and Alarms also. Brown sand and Freezing Surf, btw. I like the Redneck Riviera better.

theTonster, i hear washington is beautiful, i am watching sleepless in seattle, i have purchased 2 excellent dogs from washington . i love the rain there, no hurricanes, but mt st helen would keep me to busy watching first sign of smoke and i would be gone.  what are the fuel prices now in your fine state, is every one angry up there?

Rosepetal, My daughter lives there. She flew up in early 2005 with my newest Granddaughter, and I drove them back down via my Missouri birthplace. Found the Middle-Deep South to be pleasant country & nice people, so I try to get to Tillmans Corner once a year. This year, coming for Pecan Harvest, I hope; or as the Pentecostals say it, Insh’Allah! {God Willing}
Topical relevance? Well, high gas prices sure put the kibosh on driving down. Exxon means zilch to me, but Mobil once had the best free road maps, and I have missed their freebies for a long time. Gas in aught-five was $2.35 here and $2.07 at the Racetrack there. Then it was $2.45 back here, springing in the spring and falling in the fall, like a Free Market should.
I do notice the States of Alabama & Mississippi have many place-proud people; The West mostly has people who come from Somewhere Else, so the State Loyalty runs thinner. Still, I invite all Southerners to come to the Northwest; you’ll like the scenery here.

e85 left mobile in the late 80’s when it became just as expensive as regular gasoline and the demand left, also cars ran better on reg gas. now with the devasting flooding in iowa, i doubt it will be any cheaper for sure. i wonder if you could get as many gas miles per gallon with e85 as with regular fuel. if not you would still be better off with regular.

Yea,I know what you mean, about the Proctoscpoe and putting that motion lotion in the vehicle. That Proctoscope tends to put you in motion. I used to have that done and a colonoscopy every year, I sure did dread seeing a new year come around, about the same with filling that gas tank. I’ve got one of those green cars, flex-fuel vehicle, and the only thing it flexes is the wallet or pocket book and the reason it’s called green is because of all the greenbacks I’m pokeing in the tank. Not a drop of E85 ethanol any where around.

theTonster, that is a long way from here, may i ask what brings you into our neck of the woods.

LOL, Carl! Apology not needed; Boeing’s not hurting that much for the tanker job. They’re a great company to work for, and I miss ’em.
Back on topic, note that picture heading this article; it’s not a nozzle, that thing is a Pocketbook Proctoscope. We dread the doctor who wields the real one; and our vehicles ought to holler every time that thing gets inserted as well. Never mind, we do the hollerin’ for them!
Seebiscuit, $70 gas a week for a car?? My old V8 pickup needs 30 gallons about once a Month. Next fill-up looks to suck about $120 if the price doesn’t rise before Tuesday. $4.11 point 9 at the local Arcos yesterday, btw. I sit here gassin’ off about gas with you folks, spare the truck another spin, and put downwards pressure on the price of gas. Ahhh, the Market. Ain’t it wonderful?

PUGET SOUND HUH? Watch it ROSEPETAL, he might be a BOEING spy! Just pulling your leg again TheTonster. Sometimes people don’t get my sense of humor and I end up having to apologize. Been over 40 years since I’ve been in that neck of the woods, a really pretty area.

theTonster, i think credit cards are a bigger problem than higher fuel prices almost, but the atms at cstores are charging to pay for the machine, trips to the bank to get the cash, and the extra phone line, i would not have one again to much of a hassle. i do have a problmem with companies giving out debit cards for payroll. if fuel keeps going up pretty soon people will need lines of credit cards, on their home to fill up. very few mid size cars in europe, but still gas is 8 dollars a gallon, smaller cars while saving some will not help with fuel cost.