Well, it is that time of the month again and I can hardly believe that we are offering our third issue already. It seems that it was only a short time ago that we were designing the format.

I don't have a lot to report this month. We are continuing to add feature and we hope you are enjoying them. I hope you have noted that the meteorite name pronunciations have found a permanent home in a page of their own. We look forward to a growing list of names as the months go by.

The one thing that I can report on were the two Southern California event of the past month. The Costa Mesa Gem and Mineral Show and the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference. Paul and I are long time attendees at both events. However, Paul was able to spend much more time at the gem show this year but was not able to make it to RTMC at all.

The ranks of the meteorite dealers at Costa Mesa has been dwindling over the last couple years and now it is really only Southwest Meteorite Lab, and Alain Carion. Though there are a few scattered meteorites throughout the rest of the show.

The regular group of meteorite dealers were at RTMC and that made for some fine fellowship and fun. RTMC is the only time of the year that The Meteorite Exchange come out of cyberspace to make a personal appearance. I told and retold the story of tektites and explained meteorites to several hundred interested visitors to our booth. And of course I did sell some of our specimens to those individuals that had to leave with something from space or near space. Sharon and Eugene Cisneros of Mineralogical Research, Mike Martinez of Mare Meteorites, and Space Artist Jerry Armstrong helped to represent the meteorite community to a fine group of visitors. Despite the fact that it was full moon weekend and most were avid amateur astronomers.

I was in a spot that had some shade this year and though the weather could not have been much better, that shade helped keep me from my yearly serious sunburn. Oh, I know about sunblock. Actually I use the children's SPF 30 variety. But, 10 hours a day for three days in the sun takes its toll regardless. We had an interesting solar effect for a long period of time on Saturday. The sun was straight overhead and surrounded by a halo. My camera was just shy of being able to get it all in one frame, sorry.

Next month we should have the glossary of terms up and going, and who knows what else we May think of, till then enjoy these exciting meteorite times.

jpt