Sorry folks, meant that last as very private.  As for Mark's twisted
sense of humor, I hope he keeps it around on Conch-L.  We tend to take
ourselves a bit serious at times and forget his off repeated "they are
just lumps of calcium."

Well, later when I can figure out how to do this without embarrassing
Mark, I'll let everyone know about some of the unbelievable shells he
has sent me as gifts.  I don't really know why, as he has plenty of
problems without trying to be nice to some New Mexican -- but the heart
of gold deal is true and he has done some really gracious things for me
-- beyond anything I could repay.  So, I apologize if I have embarrassed
you Mark, not about the abrupt or twisted humor -- heck you know all
about those, but about your gifts.  So if you don't want to be
embarrassed, stop here.

Most of you will remember a really nice Conus excelcus offered on the
Bret Raines auction a while back (it was Mark's).  Well among other
shells Mark has sent me is that excelsus!!  Yeah, a Conus excelsus.

Tom in New Mexico, USA