Cereal.

it seems like the ridiculous prices of private colleges are finally affecting enrollment, except at the really top schools

And it's not just the private colleges, either. Students at my state university alma mater today pay more for books than my family paid for tuition, fees, and housing when I went. Among other things, state contributions to the university have declined precipitously.

Someone sent them an email from the Dean.

Pardon my phrasing, but fuck that shit. I have noticed things becoming more conservative there over the past few years. I completely agree with that alumnus. I had no issue with Prof. Destro while I was there, but then again I wasn't aware of how dogmatic he could be. For crying out loud, Fr. O'Brien taught me family law, which includes divorce and children out of wedlock issues. And there was never a problem. I'm sorry to see the place take a much harder line than previously. It just reaffirms my decision to donate my money elsewhere.

I agree, but $25,000 + books (to use the example of Ohio State, which is pricey as in-state flagships go) is still a lot less than $54,000 + books (College of Wooster, which is a nice Ohio SLAC that some friends attended). At the very top schools, our (very healthy) income is still low enough that we'd get need-based aid, but a lot of private colleges don't have the deep pockets that the Ivies do.

My grandmother, Radcliffe 1933, paid $300 a year (actually she was a scholarship girl). My aunt, Radcliffe 1961, $600. If I'd gone to Harvard, 1994, $20,000. Now, class of 2015, $60,000.

I'm pretty sure my father literally paid for the University of Chicago with his summer job, and I know that was at least theoretically possible at that point.

In kind of random news, I saw a story that Sweetbriar is closing because enrollment is too low to support the school.

I enjoy paying bills. I take great satisfaction in seeing I have enough money to cover them, and I like having proof of successful adulating. I tap the box on my To Do list, and the due date rolls over to next month, no longer a worry this week.

Aw, one of my co-workers came by to talk to me about csomething else but incidentally complimented my outfit and said how she likes that I wear different colors together (today is a bright blue sweater with brick red jeans). It's something I'm not entirely secure doing but like, so it's nice to get the reassurance that someone else appreciates it!

I want to kiss the woman who's assisting this customer. She understands logic and software licensing, and the guy she's working for is utterly lost but has the sense to listen to her as she explains things.

Is it bad of me to think it's a little weird that my cousin's parents are having a family dinner for his 18th birthday, on a Saturday night? Might he want to celebrate with friends?? Maybe that's for Friday -- I'll see if he's hungover.... And then he's also graduating from high school this year, so do I actually need to get him much of a gift? (NB: I like my family! This is just confusing for me....)

Jesse, is it possible the dinner will be over early enough that he would still go out with friends later? And I'd say a token gift would be nice but not necessary (like, a $10 iTunes card or whatever). Especially if you'll be giving him a graduation present.