Hello everyone! Sorry for the absence last Friday. My wife and I were taking a much needed vacation to Maui. Yes, it sucked but somebody had to do it. As a matter of fact, we just got back tonight. I'm taking tomorrow off as well but she has to go back to the grindstone. More about Maui later....

I was out of the Internet, and consequently X5world, loop for a while there. I just spent a little time perusing The Lounge and it is really amazing what one misses after even a short absence. There is so much activity and from many different members. It's hard work sometimes to keep up but it's so encouraging to see how vibrant it is. I haven't even gone to the main forum. I'll have to set aside some serious time to catch up there.

This is a bit late but I want to start off with a big thank you to SANguru, Autoxer, and Quicksilver for meeting up with me for dinner when I was up in the Bay Area for a conference. Autoxer picked me up in his 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo. (See below for pics.) What an awesome car! It's that stunning Pearl Yellow metallic that suits that raging bull so well. The Gallardo is a great package. It was strange to look at the controls and switchgear and see Audi staring back. It was a treat to be chaffeurred around in that beauty. Autoxer and I met up with SANguru and Quicksilver, both of whom arrived at the restaurant in SANguru's Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale. That car is a beast! It is a race car with license plates. No radio, no carpeting, carbon fiber interior door panels, and a very angry exhaust note. Whoa! I got a ride up to SAN's house in that monster and we had to deal with a driver in a Z4 try to show up the 360CS. Needless to say that Z4 experienced the proverbial "brought a knife to a gunfight". Actually, it was more like the Z4 brought a plastic spoon to fight a 105mm Howitzer. It was just silly. Anyway, Quicksilver and I spent most of the time feeling inadequate. We got over it though when we reminded each other of just how awesome we are even without Italian exotic cars in our garages. It was a very nice dinner and it was great seeing the guys again. (All three attended WestFest IV.) Thanks also to Mrs. SANguru for joining us.

Maui was incredible. For those who have not been there, I highly recommend it. It is so choice. I have attached a few Maui pictures. One is of the beautiful lush hills of Maui's west side. People think of beaches when they think of Maui but it is a gorgeous green island too. The other are of beach shots, including a Maui sunset with Lanai in the background. My wife and I had a great time just hanging out and relaxing. My family met up with me and my neices and nephew were there. The oldest is 12 so I got to be a big kid. We built some sandcastles, or something like them. Okay, they were big piles of sand but it was so much fun. I can't remember the last time I did that and I also highly recommend it no matter how old you are chronologically. It will bring out the kid in you. It's a simple kid's activity but I think it's good for you. I got to talk about cars and the various versions of clutchless automatics with my 10 year old nephew while we kicked back in the jacuzzi. He thinks DSG is the best and that SMG is the worst because it's too jerky. It nearly made him "barf" during a test ride. I can't really argue with him since he has ridden in a couple of F430's, Z8's, and other cool cars I haven't ridden in. I did some snorkeling and saw a couple of sea turtles but no sharks. Oh well. All in all, a great trip but it is nice to be home.

Being away from the holiday frenzy is so nice. We were reminded that it was Christmas by some decorations we saw but we were blissfully free from the possessed drivers rushing madly to their next store, preoccupied and dangerous. We missed having to go to work Christmas parties. Darn! It was just a great time to get out of Dodge. We both enjoy the holidays but hate the stress and craziness that comes with it. There wasn’t much of that going on in Kaanapali, Maui. I think that the holidays can bring out the best in people and you can find some people being extra polite and extra friendly but on the other hand, you can find those people who go totally insane and turn into ruthless maniacs. Just watch a mall parking lot around this time of year. It’s not pretty.

Since this is the Friday Files before Christmas, I would like to extend my holiday wishes to everyone here at X5world. May you all have a blessed and happy holiday season.

Some quick stories for you:

This was not me. I swear. I did travel through LAX but not until today.

In "Who Really Gives a Flying F" news: Make up your dang minds!

Immaculate conception: Doubtful.

WTF??? Perhaps it's a stupid question but how does one fail this test?

We've all done things to shock our spouses but this takes the prize.

Boy oh boy, this guys hated the Lincoln Navigator. Remember this story when you got to test drive the E70.

A sign that our society has gotten too sensitive.

Have a great weekend and a Merry Christmas.

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