Gifts for Mr. Jones

I know Mr. Jones' birthday was quite a few days ago, but he received gifts and cards throughout the week and I want to share them with you! I even took a couple of pictures so that you could see for yourself! Isn't technology so much fun?

Since Mr. Jones and I both have our birthdays in August, we decided to pool our resources (!) and buy each other a laptop. Mr. Jones has talked about purchasing one for years, but never made up his mind about which one to get. And then I started doing this blog thing which he says I am addicted to (I am!), and he began working on a very complicated computer program that regulates the signals and some other stuff at his good friend, Thom's, train layout. Well, we started thinking about our upcoming travels and the fact that we will be away from home for extensive blocks of time, and it just made sense to purchase a laptop so that BOTH of our addictions could be satisfied ... a definite win/win situation, don't you think? A huge bonus with the laptop is the built-in web-cam; and if we ever get it figured out, we'll be able to talk face-to-face with anyone else who is smart enough to figure it out on their end -- including, half way around the world in Iraq ... but we won't talk about that right now ...

Our Hewlett-Packert laptop

My b'day card for Mr. Jones

the accordion mini-book designed by Sabrina

Sabrina's card for her dad

Aunt Peg's musical card (plays the theme from The Pink Panther)

Adam and Emily's gigantic "60 Sucks" sucker

(subtitled, "Guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again)

An Over-The-Hill Safety Vest (also from Adam and Emily)

"This Train is Bound for Glory" book

from Nicolas and Rachel

Mr. Jones happily scanning his book ...

Mr. Jones also received other cards and well-wishes throughout the week. Turning 60 is kind of a big deal, so thanks to all of you who put out the effort to remember him. It's also kind of fun to receive stuff before and after the actual date of your birthday. Emily actually delivered the giant sucker and safety vest a week or so before the 3rd because she was here in town. The sucker remains unsucked, however; and the safety vest is still unopened. It says it is the senior citizens secret to survival, and "Don't leave home without it!" so perhaps it will have to come on our road trip with us ... just in case!

Sabrina's beautiful book arrived shortly after the 3rd, but she had it all ready on the 3rd -- it just had to be mailed! That's how most of the stuff I make ends up too ... it's hard to make something that takes creative effort, have it turn out how you want it to, and still get it mailed to arrive on the exact date. I applaud your efforts, dear; and the book is just beautiful. It's a cool accordion style so that you can open it up and read both sides. One side contains vintage pictures of Sabrina and her dad, and the other side has pictures of Grandpa Jones with the Rauch grandchildren -- a definite treasure!

And then young Mr. Jones (Nathan Paul) actually delivered the gift from Nicolas and Rachel when he arrived last Sunday. They found a great book titled, "This Train is Bound For Glory" subtitled, The Story of America's Chapel Cars. I had never ever heard of chapel cars before, but this book traces the history of this phenomenon. I've been looking through this book and I love it so much I'm going to have to dedicate a separate posting just to tell you all about it! Perhaps tomorrow ...