Our First Prancing Pony

^ That's milder than our winters. We average maybe 5 - 10 C in winter, if I had to guess, for daytime highs, but overnight can be close to 0 - 5 C. Our biggest issue in the winter is if we get frozen precipitation. Dallas drivers are not used to driving in snow and sleet, so it is chaos! Not safe for nice cars. Only the pickup truck goes out in that weather, or better yet, work from home. I hope you get those new MPSSs on your pretty baby soon and are wearing them out!
T

 

Finally!! A mission worthy of the Cali. Cruising around, wife texts me, she's out of her favorite shampoo & conditioner. 😱

Quick Google on the iPhone - closest store with her preferred brand is 20 miles away from me.

I'm not sure why, but as I hopped in the Cali, I thought of this song! 😀 I like to think I was channeling my inner Dr. Dre.
https://youtu.be/YVkUvmDQ3HY

Rolled up.


Secured the goods.


Packed them in the Cali. Crisis avoided. 😇


Random pic of my Cali with what looks to me like a 458 Speciale. Sounded great pulling out of the lot at Boardwalk.


T

 

^ LOL. Mario, your wife has impeccable taste in Ferrari color combinations. Please run some errands for her when your steed is out of the Ferrari hospital, and put everyone else on ignore.
T

 

Stressful day in the Cali. Yes, it's true. A bird pooped on my car! 😫😫😫 I thought about flatbedding it to the dealer immediately, but cooler heads prevailed. I poured water on one of the micro fiber towels I always carry with me (doesn't everybody?). Car clean. Fun drive in the country resumed. Whew!

I also discovered two new features of my Cali thanks to my lovely wife. Apparently, it has a radio. I did not know that. 😉 And, it has a cup holder! I seriously did not know that!



I also did my first DIY - attached the front plate frame I bought from Carbonio. Thanks to those guys for hooking me up. Took literally 5 seconds for me, Mr. All Thumbs, to install. Like a gorgeous woman, padded in all the right spots. 😀 Came off lickety split. Here's a pic of its usual resting spot...



at least until Johnny Law says otherwise. Sturdy construction. I recommend this if you live in a place that requires a front plate and you don't want to drill holes in your Ferrari...T

 

Yes, I know all about bird droppings. Being a scientist myself, I like that video! Have to see if the gent posted a follow up. Do you think the dealer would attach one of these garden decoy owls on my Cali? Do they come in carbon fiber? 😀

T

 

Went joy riding with the wife today. Stopped by Texas Motor Speedway for a photo opp. Those are condominiums in the background. Would be cool to live at the track.

Alas, could not snap a pic next to the big can of Whup A$$. They need a little roadside pull out there.



This past weekend, booze run in the Cali! 😀
T

 

That first pic is taken by my wife, who used to work in photography. She has a much better eye for composition than I.

My princess was safely at home enjoying cool air conditioning while my wife and I were driving around in 100 F heat. 🔥 🔥 In another month or so, it'll hopefully cool off enough to put the top down on our Cali.

Tito's was one of the pioneering companies that started the movement for micro-distilleries in Texas, which continues to this day. I'm more of a beer and wine guy, but people who know tell me it's quite good. By the way, that's a mixed box, in addition to Tito's, there were a few bottles of these. 😀


We keep them in the refrigerator so they stay cold and then pour over frozen fruit, usually strawberries or peaches, so they don't dilute the wine when they melt, but keep it icy cold....T

 

Another milestone. 7000+ miles. You'll note it was a toasty 40 C that day. And, yes, the check engine light did go off! 😀 Pic was taken just after start up.

We've put 2K miles on it in the past few months. It's a great ride.
T

 

Next time, I'll check the "manufacture date" sticker. I would be more afraid of a car made at this time of year, with all the workers looking forward to their August holidays...T

 

Thank you very much for your kind words. I cannot take credit for the color choice as that was my wife's decision! The number of friendly comments we get on the avorio exterior is almost matched by those for the cioccolata interior. We love it and are blessed to own such a great car. The dog rides in it, but in truth, I think she prefers my wife's pickup truck. 😀 More room and less exhaust noise...T

 

More routine chores made more enjoyable by the wizards from Maranello. Costco run for eggs and cheese and such, after a fun back roads romp in the Cali.


Parked in the furthest reaches of the lot while the missus shopped. Not sure how I got that wrinkly effect. Maybe it was the heat?🤔


Our goodies, ready for their luxury ride home.



Some photos I took while waiting for the wife. I still pinch myself sometimes when I see the cavallinos.


This confirms my Cali was not built near to the August holiday. Hopefully, that's a good sign. 🤗

T

 

^ LOL. It's hot in Texas, but not hot enough to melt a Ferrari. 😀 Must be an iPhone thing...T

 

From today's drive. Red, white and blue! Sort of. Think the car to the left of mine is a 612? Didn't look close enough.


The small town of Weston, Texas. Cute. Was nice early in the day for top down driving. Got toasty later on.


I just like this pic. Car looks like it's smiling. 😀


T

 

The weather has cooled from roasting (~40 C) to toasty (~30 C), so hopefully, the worst of summer is over down here, & we can enjoy more top down driving.

Thanks for confirmation on the 612. It was a lovely blue, TdF if I had to guess. The 458 cracks me up since it's so low to the ground compared to my Cali. Makes the Cali look like a pickup truck in comparison. 😀

A week to go. You must be ecstatic. I'll be traveling on business on the 3rd (someone had to pay for all these toys!) but will send positive vibes your way...T

 

Just had new "shoes" installed on Dave (yeah, I know, I gotta get the wife to stop calling my Cali that! &#128512. Following up on the recommendations here, I went with the Michelin Pilot Super Sports (K2). Put about 200 miles on them the last few days. They're awesome! Can't wait to try them on the track.Thanks to Steve, Paul and the Boardwalk Ferrari folks for taking delivery of & installing the tires , plus fixing a wonky valve stem...T