Tinton

My name isn't Tinton. I've no idea why Maria picked that name for me. Maybe it's cos it sort of halfway rhymes with my last name.

A reader asked about my geological studies. I received my BS at the Univ of Nebraska, my MS at the Univ of Utah and my PhD at UCLA. I've published several papers on Hugh Miller and will be traveling to central Mexico in September to work with a geo crew looking into Quaternary-age volcanic vents. This will probably be at least a year of work. My field was mostly specialized in igneous and metamorphic petrology, but as you can see, I have become greatly interested in volcanic ash recently.

The most fun I ever had was several years ago, I believe that Liv was about 6 or 7 when I studied igneous rocks from several Apollo projects. I also have a hobby interest in ore deposits. I'm on a waiting crew to study the dating of lower crustal creep with deformed zircon in South Africa.

Currently, I'm teaching several geology seminars at The Universite de La Reunion in France.

That's probably enough about moi as we say in France.

I'll try to answer the questions I received.

3 things that I love about Maria are: 1) Our daughter and her contribution to that work of wonder. 2) Her laugh which is now Liv's laugh. Bing has a photo of Maria that says it all. She is sitting at her desk wearing her white coat and one bare foot resting on the desktop and her head is thrown back. She's laughing. It's a beautiful representation. 3) Her fairness in letting me play an active father role in our daughter's life. Considering that I signed away all parental rights at the age of 23 she could have made my life miserable and been legally within her rights.

Favorite memory of her: The night we met. There's something true about the Irish stealing your heart away.

Favorite memory of Bing: I don't have one yet. Our relationship is a work in progress.

Favorite memory of Liv: Way too many to name. I suppose all of our funny talks on car rides. Liv's a little scientist and that makes me very proud. She also has a pretty singing voice but she's shy and won't show it much. She can do math in her head better than most.

Favorite memory of Socks: None. I like animals, especially canines but I don't know Socks well and he's only marginally friendly. He's a very loyal dog, though. He's protective of Maria and Liv. He just tolerates Bing. I think that hes somewhat jealous of her. He only shows his belly to Liv or Maria, doesn't trust the rest of us with his vulnerable stomach!

3 things that may surprise you about Maria: I'm confused as to why you think that I know her so well. I believe that only Liv or Bing really know her. She is difficult to know. I do read her blog and I must say that she comes off as much more accessible and open in it. In real life, she is very guarded and doesn't share much. I do know one thing that may surprise you: She's not good with money. I believe that she thinks she is, but she isn't. Bing is the financier in the family. She invests a lot of their money and is very smart about it. Bing and I have suggested many times to Maria to take advantage of her blog market. She has a high voltage of readers from diverse places. She has a contingency of readers from Iceland! She has Mormon readers, Christian readers, Atheist readers. Most of her readers are much like her though, quite liberal. She should take advantage of that and have contests and the like to encourage readers to participate. She could look into publication. She could advertise and actually make money from her blog. But she won't. When we try to talk to her about it, she won't go there. She says the blog is for Liv when she is older, in case she is not around to be with her. She says that she finds ads in blogs to be annoying and tacky. I understand this, but she's foolish not to at least advertise. With her love of high end shoes like Farragamo and expensive beauty creams like La Mer, she could make some money with advertisements.

Three things that I have in common with Maria are: 1) Our daughter. 2) Gardening. 3) A weakness for coffee ice cream.

I have several Maria stories that are worth writing about but I think she'd be angry if I shared them. I'll just say that the night that we met will go down in history as the one and only time that I was bewitched by a woman. She was alot older than me and I fell like a load of bricks. I think it was an Irish spell!

Mme B asked if I plan to marry and how that will concern Liv. I've no plans. I'm in a long term relationship with a wonderful woman who is understanding of my constant traveling. I never saw myself as a family man and thats why I took so long to come around to parenting Liv. Now that I'm firmly entrenched in the business of fathering Liv as best I can from afar, I vow that I'll do what is best for her at all times. Liv's the perfect gift that I never knew that I needed until I met her.

And Mme Benault, may I say that I miss reading your blog? I'm not a blog reader, except for Maria's but I enjoyed yours and also a blog by a man named Dive, which I still read from time to time. I think that British and Australian humor/insight is much more to the mark than ours.

Maria is fine. Bing babies her. She rubs her feet and brings coffee and tea. Liv and I'll be leaving for NYC soon so she won't have to worry about her. She does tend to worry about Liv. I tell her this is foolish and it is. Liv is one of the happiest people I know.

The end!