New Toys for the Adults

The Chief has been after me for about 6 months to get a new vehicle.  He always calculating the depreciation value by the milage verses years.  Once it hits a certain milage and age he is like a maniac trying to get me into a new vehicle.  All I heard for the past six months was if I was to keep my Lexus any longer, it will be worthless and that means more money out of our pockets.  The past three new vehicles have been the Lexus's GX 470's and 460.  I would have been more than happy to stick with the Lexus SUV's but when the Chief told me that Lexus was not upgrading their technology, that was a deal breaker for me.   I am all about technology in my trucks.  So needless to say, a new Lexus was out.  I was happy that now I can keep my current Lexus.  NO, NOT THE CASE!    He suggested the Mercedes SUV.  Fine.....I took a look at it and liked it, but they couldn't get me one with all the options and color I wanted.    I considered ordering the 2015 but they were downgrading their engine.  The Chief was not thrilled with that aspect of it.   Yay!!! I thought now maybe I can keep my Lexus.   Not a chance, the Chief was like a dog with a bone.  Now he wanted me to look at the Cadillac Escalade.  I was never interested in the Escalade because the gear shift is on the column.  I like shift on the floor.  So I thought I would amuse the Chief and take a look at it.  I got to the showroom and they had the 2015 Escalade in and I have to say it was pretty amazing.  It had all the technology  I was looking for and more.  I ordered one and it took two months to come in. We just got it last weekend.  

 The Dash is all computerized / electronic console.  No more Dials.  I can even customize it to look any way I want.  

We got the Premium Escalade with the following options.  

16 speaker surround sound system.

Active noise cancellation,

Audio system feature, CD/MP3.

Siriusxm and Hd radio + seriusXM three month subscription. 

Cadillac user experience (CUE) with navigation 8" full color display, AM/FM stereo

Bluetooth for the phone & streaming audio devices. 

12" full color reconfigurable gauge cluster with driver information center.  

Head-up display, four color.

1 year Onstar direction & connections w/ automatic crash response & turn by turn nav plus 5 year on star basic plan. 

Leather wrapped steering wheel.

Steering wheel controls.

Heated steering wheel.

Power adjustable pedals.

Keyless start.

Adaptive remote start.

Ez key passive entry system.

Seats, 12 way power adjustable.

Heated & cooled seats, driver and passenger.

Second row bucket seats, power w/heat.

Third row seat bench 60/40 split, power fold.

Rear seat entertainment system. 

Tri zone climate control.  

power adjustable heated outside mirror, w/ turn signal.

Windshield wipers, rain sense. 

Headlamp, intellibeam.

Door handles, illuminated.

Front and rear parking assist. 

Power tilt-sliding sunroof.

22" premium painted aluminum w/crome inserts.

Assist steps.

Capless fueling system.

Liftgate power, hands free, programmable.  

Stabletrack-stableity control system w/ traction control.

Tire pressure monitor system.

Rear vision camera.

Side Blind zone alert.

Rear vision camera

Theft Deterrent package.

Side blind zone alert.

rear cross traffic alert.

Driver awareness package.

Driver assist package.  

Power assist steps, retractable.    

Our second toy.  

I really needed this one, a 27.2 inch iMAC but I have been cursing this thing all day.  I have been working with windows since 1996.  I am not familiar with the iOS operating system this new computer has.   Nothing is even slightly the same.  

Florida Beaches

Off to the Beach!  We like heading to the beach towards the evening.  It's not so hot and there seem to be less people.  The Cisco Kid brought his Boogie Board and did some wave riding.  Or so he tried.  The waves were very small and he did a lot more whipping out than riding them.  I have to give him credit for his perseverance. 

 

First time on the Beach this summer.

Assessing the waves!

He is up! 

He is down! 

He is up again!

Down, with another wipe out!

Small but successful ride! 

The Chief spotted a Jellyfish.  They are out!

That did not last long. Back in! 

Two more successful rides!

 

 

Hanging in the water!

Time for digging a hole in the sand.  That seems to never get old.   

Heading home as the sun sets.
 

First time White Water Rafting

The last day of the Boy Scout Camp they all went on a high adventure activity.  The Cisco Kid had a choice between White Water Rafting or Zip Lining.  He chose the White Water Rafting.  

Before they took the nine hour bus ride back home they went on the rafting ride down the Nantahala River, through Nantahala Outdoor Center.  http://noc.com/ 
 
I have always wanted us to go on a white water rafting ride but never got the chance.  I am gad they were able to get this adventure.  

The rafting ride was for beginners.  According to The Cisco Kid, it just was not the adventure he was expecting.  He said he wanted to go down a waterfall like the movie, Emperor's New Grove. 

The Chief liked it but he said he was out to sea on waters that were rougher.  He was used to looking at waves thirty feet high coming straight towards him. 

Since I have never gone before I am looking forward to doing this adventure with the two of them.