Dear Conchlers,
 
     Its unfortunate that avid new or young shell collectors think they have
something when they find a super-polished (blue/purple) cowrie, or carved
shell.  Its a rite of passage and learning from it is the best policy.  In my
younger (cone) days I had a shell with the most perfect lip, that I was
naturally proud of...I later found out that lips could be filed, and this one
was.  The same with painted Cypraea hirasei- I know I would be inconsolable.
 
(Yes a second paragraph)  I must join my friend George Sangiouloglou in saying
that I too tweaked my page, and added a preliminary garden page as well.
Please view it at your leisure
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Mattgrote/matt.html">Matt Grote</A> .  I will
be in Orlando on July 22- and hope to see some of you there.
 
Sincerely,   Matt