<p>Hi, ITSTOOMUCH. My D in her sophomore year now. Just got back from Parent Weekend…YES…we did attend and my D was annoyed that we tried to spend so much time with her. SHE HAS PLACES TO GO…PEOPLE TO SEE…THINGS TO DO!!! We did make it to a JAZZ Evening at the Carnegie Music Hall sponsored by UPitt. My D made sure we had tickets…Of course, I fell asleep after the intermission and slept through the whole second half. I must have lost at least 5 lbs marching back and forth from the Holiday Inn to her dorm at MaryBelle apts to campus and beyond. I might add the MaryBelle apts look nothing like they sound…there’s nothing “merry” or “bell ringing” about them. They appear to resemble tenement housing in Brooklyn NY although I must admit that the impoverished in NY seem to live better than this. At any rate, she loves it. You wonder sometimes why you’ve spent so much money on fancy shmancy vacations at the Ritz Carlton, the Four Seasons, and dined in 5 star restaurants around the world when she thinks the MARYBELLE is a “PALACE” and a tuna casserole made with frozen peas, condensed soup, and rice is to die for. And for dessert? Frozen grapes. </p>
<p>By the way, she was a little dismayed at her midterm grades…although upon speaking to her Chem advisor KAren Stumpf ( isn’t Stumpf a perfect name for an advisor?) she is doing very well in spite of the fact that she is carrying two lab courses and pulling a B in Organic Chem…the great divider of those who will continue to advance in chemistry and those who move on to lesser majors…like Physics…chuckle, chuckle. </p>
<p>So I attempted to encourage her and assured her that a B and a C for that matter at CMU has no equal in any other rinky dink university. That feeble remark appeared to allay her concerns for about 5 minutes… when she realized that she had to complete an experiment on the iodine properties of various types of table salt…SOOOO we proceeded to head to Squirrel Hill where we purchased 5 different varieties of salt from the Giant Eagle…I didn’t even know there could be that many varieties…kosher, sea, iodized, regular table, and salt sense…to name but a few, the latter prolly not being salt at ALL!</p>
<p>Oh well…she might not be able to come home on Thksgvng as cannot afford the outrageous airfare to either Philly or NY. She will have to rely on the pity of FRIENDS she has made in the Pittsburgh area…</p>
<p>Talk soon</p>
<p>Sgiovinc</p>