HW is a marine geophysicist and is flying out Monday to Mexico to head out to the East Pacific Rise. She is piggy-backing on a cruise, and they will try and collect their pressure sensors which have been sitting on the bottom for a year or 2. These pressure sensors, should they be recovered, will record inflation or deflation of the spreading ridge, as well as the odd tsunami (Samoa, for example). The submersible Alvin will be on board and used...not sure for what, so HW's grad students may get to head down 2 or 3 km and check out the great dark seafloor.

So, we are opening presents tonight. Happy Holidays.
Chris