2025-12-11 - The All Day Day!!
We began at noon at the Elks and ended up getting home at 10:00 pm from the Laguna Playhouse. We traveled about 200 miles across OC.
Just us!
Tis the season!
2025-12-11 Noon - Girls Night Out Return to top
We hopped on the carriage and dashed away to the Santa Ana Elks for our normal Thursday luncheon with the gang/
I was not sure if the creaking sounds were from the rig or in my bones!
The Ash's joined us today along with Bill Capps, George and Lupe plus
Bob always says that Donna will not buy him Peanut Brittle so....
Did You Know? - Peanut brittle is an American classic with Southern roots, often made by accident when baking soda replaces cream of tartar in taffy, creating a crunchy treat instead of chewy. Legends link it to lumberjack Tony Beaver stopping a flood with molasses and peanuts, while others say it's an ancient candy adapted with peanuts, first appearing in print in the 1890s, with National Peanut Brittle Day celebrated on January 26th. It's known for its long shelf life and variations worldwide, using nuts like pistachios or sesame seeds.
"Break a Tooth" was NOT a proper way to say goodbye.
2025-12-11 2:00 PM - Boeing Party Return to top
While we are no longer Boeing, Robin put on their Ground Systems Christmas Party at Marnie's in Seal Beach, adjacent to Patty's Place. She invited us to go and we said, "Sure"! I knew Robin's boss so we talked to him for quite a while.
The Silver Fox flew across the freeway thinking it was Santa's sleigh. We made it from Santa Ana to Seal Beach in about 25 minutes!
We had never been to Marnie's, it was quite nice.
A snapshot of me modeling my thong after the Christmas Party twenty-five years ago.
I have no idea who the Elf was (the person in green).
Now we concentrate on Santa.
Robin joined is taking a break from her hostess duties.
We are a happy group!
Very happy!!
"Oh oh.... What did I do?"
2025-12-11 4:00 PM - Off To The Garage Return to top
Robert Escalonte throws a Christmas Party at the Packard restoration facility in Santa Ana. We have been going there for five years now and know almost everyone. The fun part is walking around to see what the latest restoration projects are and their status.
The Silver Fox got us from Seal Beach to Santa Ana with one minute to spare.
We met up with Fast Eddie and Dianne at the door.
Unwrapped presents are put under the tree to donate to the needy.
The tree filled up pretty fast!
Check in and name tags!
Dig those running boards!
Did You Know? - Here is some trivia about running boards:
Origin: The first running boards predated automobiles, appearing on carriages as early as the 17th century. The origin of the name itself is obscure.
Early Use: In the early 20th century, all automobiles had running boards because cars were designed with high ground clearance to navigate unpaved roads and ruts. They served as a necessary step into the cabin.
Versatile Platform: The running board was wide enough that an adult could sit or even lie down on it. People also used to "hang on" to them if the car was full.
Canine Carriage: A patented accessory from 1925, called "The Bird Dog's Palace," was a specialized cage that clamped to the running board to transport hunting dogs externally.
"Mother-in-law" Seat: Some antique cars in the 1910s and 1920s could be fitted with an extra, external seat on the running board, known informally as a "mother-in-law seat".
Decline: The need for running boards largely disappeared as car designs became lower to the ground and more aerodynamic in the 1920s and 1930s. The 1929 Ruxton was the first car designed without them, followed by the high-production 1936 Cord.
Modern Feature: Today, running boards are popular accessories for trucks and SUVs, often for style or to help passengers access very tall vehicles. Electric versions are available that automatically deploy when a door is opened and retract when closed.
Would you like to drive this puppy down the street??
This car is getting is last finishing touches before delivery.
1930s specials!
One had to show off that you had a spare tire! (Actually, it had to be put here because the "truck" was really a rumble seat!)
The inside was getting some serious upholstery done!
My car was here this evening. It is a 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible.
Did You Know? - (1953-1956), Packard's glamorous answer to Cadillac Eldorado, known for its style, power, and tri-tone paint options. Key trivia: It was inspired by the Pan American concept, came standard with Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, featured a powerful V8 (sometimes supercharged in later concepts/special builds) and Ultramatic transmission, offered features like power options & air conditioning (rare in '56), and was famously not pronounced "Carib-ee-an," but "Carib-bean".
Simply WOW!!
The cockpit was pretty advanced for the mid 1950s
We love those bench seats! Much more romantic!
We skipped dinner as we had dinner plans in Laguna at 6:00 pm!
We visited our friends before shoving off to the next adventure.
2025-12/11 6:00 - Dinner And Snow White Christmas Return to top
Like magic we flew from Santa Ana to Laguna which took about thirty minutes thanks to Paul getting off at the wrong offramp!
We met up with Jim and Vicky at the Lumberyard and had a nice dinner. It's a historic building, formerly the Laguna Lumber Company, a key part of the town's development. The cuisine is known for American comfort food like chicken pot pie and meatloaf.
We departed for the playhouse about 7:03 pm thinking it was a 7:30 performance. Oops, when we arrived a few minutes later, it had started already but we missed maybe two-three minutes.
"Hurry! It was started!!!"
When I took off my jacket, my "World's Ugliest Christmas Sweater" was visible.
Mary went into hiding... "I DO NOT KNOW THIS MAN!!"
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With Muddles the jester guiding the fun—complete with zany audience banter—and a wicked Queen to boo and hiss, every moment is a riot of song, slapstick, and sparkle.
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The play was funny and quite entertaining!
It's been almost twelve hours since we departed from home so we were ready to let the Silver Fox gallop to Orange so we could hit the sack. By 11:00 pm, we were both counting sheep!
