Feast at the Elliots'

Two years in a row makes it a tradition, right?


We went down to Lauren and Paul's tonight for a visit and Holiday dinner. Paul and Lauren wouldn't let us do anything but eat. It was a lot of fun, and we had some great food.

Paul made these great potatoes, that try as I might, I can't replicate. He boils them, then shakes them around in the pot, then bakes them. So they come out crispy but soft on the inside. And parsnips. I would never think to cook parsnips. And they were delicious. For dessert, we had vanilla ice cream with a little Bailey's and ginger snaps that Lauren made.


And we got home safely.

We added a few things to the Hotel Yorba Courtesy Car. And I learned how to use a pop rivet gun. Nifty tool, that! So we now have a rain (and to some extent cold) enclosure and a new tinted windshield. We also got a dash cover which allows the dash cubbies to be locked to secure valuables. But I couldn't get the darned steering wheel off, and I am considering using a Sawzall to cut a slit and slide it over the shaft. Oh, and then there's step 4 in the directions that says, "The ignition and light switches will need to be relocated."

I see. Where and how? They don't say. So I am seriously considering leaving them where they are - you'd just need to remove a cup holder to access them. And it would be something of a moron anti-theft device as well.

Anyway, it looks pretty cool, and it will be nice to drive around on Christmas Eve and not freeze like we did last year.

I'm for bed. Jake's having a Christmas party here tomorrow for some friends and there's a lot still to be done in the morning.