What Did Santa Bring You?

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Around my house we don't wait for Santa. We get and Santa takes care of the bill.

This year the wife baked each family 6 dozen cookies and I added cash to the box for each grand child. I bought the wife a new smart phone, a food processor, a new watch, and added some cash.

The kids send me gift certificates. I used my GCs to order a dozen books, bought a decent pocket knife, ink for my printer, a new calculator, and sundry crap including good quality ink pens.

 

[Que]

Do they still make calculators?!??

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Do they still make calculators?!??

Yes, indeed. Back in 1979 I paid $50 for my first calculator, the same exact model now sells for $3.50 at WALMART.

 

[Que]

Yes, indeed. Back in 1979 I paid $50 for my first calculator, the same exact model now sells for $3.50 at WALMART.

I was the envy of my friends I had a Sperry-Remmington from Granddad's office in about 1975. I remember it saying Univac somewhere on it. I remember my dad being reluctant for me to take it to school. It was quite expensive when Grandad bought it in 1972.

http://www.vintagecalculators.com/assets/images/Sperry661D_3.JPG

I think mine was thicker than this.

M favorite was my HP 12C with Reverse Polish Logic.

http://pgpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/hp12c.jpg

I am about 5 years too young to have been taught to use a slide rule, but there was still a model of one hanging on the wall in math class. I recently bought a really good slide rule. Learning to use it to re-engineer civilization in the post zombie-apocalypse era is on my to do list.

The local library has been closed for remodeling. I am told they will have no actual books when they re-open.

 

[Riles]

We wait for Santa because there are wee ones in our family. This year the adults agreed to forgo gifts between ourselves other than my mum. I know she got me a gift card to the uniform store so I can restock my scrubs and I need a new pair of nursing shoes - back up pair really. And towels, she bought me the really plush towels I said I wouldn't spend hard earned money on even if I really wanted them. Seriously, $25.00 for a towel? Anyhow, my kids are getting spoiled and I am totally overcompensating for the changes to their life this year, but I don't think their dad will have anything for them. I am contemplating if I should send a few gifts for them home with him so they have something to open. The boys have bought him a trappers hat and a self heating cushion for on the tractor.

I still have the boys teachers to buy for and I need to get a little something for the one man I am seeing. I don't know what to get that isn't overly personal but still says I thought of him specifically. I am thinking a bottle of sambuca and espresso beans because he always has that after dinner when we go out. Not sure yet.