Hi All,

About four years ago I made the acquaintance of a woman seismologist who used to live in Mammoth Lakes. She was terrific. Bright, full of energy and she really loved her work and she also enjoyed sharing what she knew. I learned a lot from her. We've spent time together at three fall AGU meetings and as we make the rounds I introduce her to the scientists I know and she does the same for me.

Of course being women and caring about fashion, the issue of clothing is always close to the top. We absolutely must critique the best and the worst of what is worn each day. What a hoot. The worst I ever saw was a man in charge of a large government organization who squeezed his way into a black tie affair wearing a well worn brown corduroy suit with running shoes and a 7PM shadow. (Even Don, in his cowboy boots, rhinestone jacket with Stetson hat was better dressed than he was.) On the flip side the best I ever saw was Rolff Steffanson when he delivered his award winning 12 minute oral in a blue suit, a voice that was wonderfully enthusiastic and news of a prediction program that works and is fully funded. That's as good as it gets.

While my friend no longer lives in Mammoth Lakes, we still talk on the phone. She used to be an Internet poster on another newsgroup, but she caught a bit of flack and had to give it up. Her contributions through the Internet were far more than what we've ever seen on this board and I'm sorry that some people are so small, they can't make room for others who can teach us not only about science, but how it applies to life in a place that one day may be in harms way.

There are few really good female seismologists who are out and about on the Internet and darn few of them anyway. I enjoy the lads here and wouldn't trade them for anything, but I would very much enjoy hearing about science from the feminine side occasionally. While nationally women control 51% of the wealth in America, they only make up about 40% of geo-science positions.

Life in and around the scientific community is a worthwhile endeavor if one wishes to advance their horizons on a number of subjects. My trips to the AGU have given me valued time with people who are math expects who taught me much I never knew as well as astrophysicists who answered my astronomy questions I had for many years. I truly enjoy the company we have in Roger and John and the others who have visited, especially Lowell. Not only was he open minded on many subjects, he was always ready to teach and I shall remember his Zima Chronicles forever. And yes, I did fall in love with two of them and I still love them very much.

While some of the above may seem shallow to some of you, remember, the fashion industry in America as well as the rest of the world affects everyone. I still have an interest in designing and marketing Field Clothing for those interested in geology. As far as I know, I'm the only person in the world to has designed, produced and sold "The Seismo Tie." Every one of them is an original and includes an embroidered seismogram for a specific earthquake.

Life does go on from the boring dribble of yesterday and a few days before that. Something new is on the horizon. I hope all of you will welcome the new and keep your memories of the best of times past.

Petra