CompuServe Messages

Phil, Wonderful to hear from you, and so much to respond to!! I appreciate your comments on McPhee. I really like his writing as well as the points you mention–bringing me into the world of geology by giving me certain specific "people" to look at and to watch do their job. One thing I also really like about McPhee (coming from someone with a master's in English) is that he is a WRITER. He really knows HOW to WRITE!! One of my favorite chapters is in Basin and Range, the second chapter I believe, in which he talks about the wonderful "language" of geology–the descriptive words, their impact on him, the sensory impressions he gets from them. A local cave diver/hydrologist and I have discussed this aspect of McPhee, and this friend also has taught me quite a bit about local geology. I have just started In Suspect Terrain. Will keep you posted on my impressions. Was amazed about Hutton. I'd like to read more of the "original" material, once I feel a little more comfortable about terminology. I like your assessment of the "ancient storytelling" of McPhee–well put. The Scottish connection, however, I hadn't made until reading your post. I love Scotland, and your suggestion of Scotland as some sort of organizing concept around geology strikes me as accurate. I do have the Springs guide to Florida, and also recently stumbled upon a book also put out by FL Dept of Nat Resources called "Rivers Assessment" guide to Florida, which of course includes the springs. I have a photocopy of the springs book (no-one has seen a real copy of that around for sale in a long time) although I have seen the original. My cave diver/geo- hydrologist friend also recently recommended I drop by the tallahassee bureau to pilfer thru their stuff–I"ll be in west Fl next weekend and will do so then. I was thinking of getting topo maps and some of the yearly geo books. I do have a FL geo book specifically on the Karst of FLorida, but it is old (and is being updated–due out next year, I believe). What sort of work did you do as a hydrologist? Where are you located? What is the new job, and why the "sniff" about your first love? Isn't hydrology a form of geology, or do you love something else more specifically about geology that hydrology doesn't let you do? (questions, questions!!!) Agreed on the sea level change being a great topic. I'm just now seeing portions of what McPhee has called "the big picture" (I believe) in regards to the formation of Florida and the sea level changes' impact on the state and on our caves. Basically I'm just visiting a lot of Florida museums of Natural History and paying a lot of attention to my friends who have been diving/studying for such a long time. Look forward to "talking" again soon. Shannon