Saturday
Dear Pat,
The pictures didn't come out so well. I am going to try printing them again tomorrow. These were the first ones I tried drying glossy, that is facing the drum. As far as the drier is concerned, it works fine. But I followed the suggestion of rinsing in Foto-Flo solution first. That solution got very foamy when I stirred it and I'm afraid some of the bubbles prevented the gloss from forming an even coat. The solution is supposed to insure an even gloss, not prevent it.
I also ordered a proper darkroom light. I believe that the red lamp you always used is all right for contact printing but the enlarging paper is faster and therefore more sensitive to light. Kodak recommends the OA safelight filter for their enlarging paper and DuPont recommends another so I ordered a light with both filters. Hope our prints will so [sic] some imp rovement. [sic]
I got the speedlight last week but they failed to send the adapter to connect the sync cord to our camera. I wrote about it last Saturday and finally received a letter from them today saying they were out of the adapters and were ordering one special for me. They thanked me for my patience. Who's patient?
The two $10 checks attached [no longer with the letter] are to bring your budget cards up to date. We decided to pay $10 permonth [sic] toward your personal expenditures. That is,t he ones I have been charging up as personal, such as meals and refreshments (other than traveling between York & Holyoke) admissions, gifts, special trips to New York, etc., personal purchases not considered necessities. You can discontinue listing these items on your budget cards if you want. Just show re-imbursable items. If you're in doubt, put 'em on. I can always blue pencil anything I consider personal. The twenty dollar checks cover the allowance thru February.
I am enclosing copy of an adv. in Pop. Photog. [no longer with the letter] Judy's mother may be interested in knowing she can bypass Willoughby's now. The enlarged transparenciences [sic] we had made of the club member families were well received. Peg was so disappointed she didn't get the baby out of bed to be on theirs.
Grandma is all hopped up about taking you on a Florida trip. the last week in June. It's one of those Bailey things.
Higgins made Theatre Arts this month with his critique of YLT's Crucible. I'll tell mother to send it along with your clothing. Gave your black slacks to Widebottom today to have cleaned. He says we can p ick [sic] them up on Monday so I suppose we'll get them off Monday or Tuesday. Seems to me it would be a lot less trouble to have your drycleaning done locally.
With all this Theatre work, I suppose the rest of your subjects are suffering. We got a notice from the big cheese (Ham, that is) that tuition is up another $100 next year. He says that scholarship students won't suffer because the scholarships will be increased accordingly so be sure to land one.
Love,
DadP.S. Grandma Fry's Birthday is Feb. 17.
P. S. S. Mine's Dec. 2