What I like are the "dowager Nasdaq queens"
HLH

At 04:14 PM 9/12/99 EDT, you wrote:
>a friend of mine who shall remain nameless ; asked me aboard his 52 foot
>fishing boat; to fish the coasts and rips of Nantucket; and sallie the shore
>for the late night parties at the salons of dowager Nasdaq queens for blue
>claw crabmeat on on small toasts; with splits of champagne;
>it was there whilst boasting of my good fortune of taking on blues and
>strippers that I was engaged in conservation regarding the preservation of a
>large magnificent early anchor of the industrial revolution.
> The anchor is of the large hook type;and it was taken some months ago from
>the deep clam shoals nr Martha's Vineyard.It is some 20 ft in height and is
>about 20 inches in diameter at its narrow; it is estimated to be 150 to 200
>yrs old. Conditions are such that it is now gracing the manicured lawn of an
>neighbor who bought it from the clammer for a princely sum;
> it has since fallen on the hard times of neglect; and is failing at a
>miserable rate. conditions are such the rust is a 1/4 inch thick; and the
>massive oak surrounding it is splitting badly; and meybe lost entirely if
>action is not taken; Being a erstwhile member of the pinheads; I like to
>think I know stone; my mastrey of metal is something else again;
>and the owner asked me to come up with a simple plan to arrest the situation;
>and due to his kind generoisty on other matters I said I would try to oblige
>him ; through  my fellow lodge members .... fellow pinheads;
> do we  1. grind off all rust? and paint black in rust perventative; and soak
>the oak in oil?        while failed banding is replaced to match the
>orginal?. I feel that this is radical but I have suggested nothing...any
>suggestions?
>..he is looking for solutions he can do on site...ps I can get mail on the
>road but will be unable to send any for a week as Im on my way to  Nebraska
>many thanks...Best Michael
>
Hilary Lambert Hopper

"If I seem unduly clear to you, you must have misunderstood me."  - Alan
Greenspan