ATTN MOM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 111,885
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From: SoCal
Originally Posted by MrForgetable,Dec 23 2004, 11:55 AM
yep! going to a birthday party in about an hour and a half! card is written, ribbon is on!
not yet
he's not home!why wouldn't i be
first thing i did when i woke up
oh yes. wow, one week is almost over too. got to enjoy it while it lasts!
i don't think so
esp the one bout your toofies 
Now I DO wantcha to remember to tell yur Pop HI for me K he is a sweetie just like U!
Happy Holiday's to your WHOLE family
Hope you had fun at the B-day Party and enjoy the rest of your break from School!
??????????????
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 441
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From: North Potomac, MD
Originally Posted by vtecmom,Dec 23 2004, 07:41 PM
SKYDIVING 
hmmmmmmmm maybe I should learn since Im afraid to fly.........at least I'll know how to EXIT in a hurry 
Merry Christmas Sweetie
hmmmmmmmm maybe I should learn since Im afraid to fly.........at least I'll know how to EXIT in a hurry Merry Christmas Sweetie
^^^^^^^ cant wait to visit her! Tanks for showin me Tennessee 
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 38,617
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#2BACK IN FAST LANE
SILICON VALLEY AGAIN BOASTS A DEALERSHIP FOR FERRARI, MASERATI; GRAND OPENING TODAY
By Matt Nauman
Mercury News
As a young boy growing up in a ``moderately poor family'' in Boston, Art Zafiropoulo had a goal.
``Someday I'll get a Ferrari and be successful in my own eyes,'' he remembers telling himself.
The high-tech executive -- he's chairman and chief executive of Ultratech, a manufacturer of chip-making equipment based in San Jose -- bought his first Ferrari in 1987. He bought his second in 1991.
Today, he has a ``huge number'' of them. And his passion has turned into a business.
Ferrari Maserati of Silicon Valley has its grand opening tonight and opens to the public Saturday. It's in Redwood City at 2750 El Camino Real, about a mile south of Highway 84.
Zafiropoulo is part owner of and a major investor in the dealership.
``I invested a huge amount of money here, in the eight-figure range,'' he said. He'll do some marketing and client relations for the store.
But, he insists, it'll be co-owner Giacomo Mattioli, who also owns Ferrari Maserati of Beverly Hills, and Daniele Fancello, who is moving from Italy to be the store's general manager, who will do most of the work.
``I'm running a public company,'' Zafiropoulo said. ``That's my first job.''
On a tour of the 28,000-square-foot showroom Wednesday, Mattioli admitted workers were ``scrambling'' to get it finished. Painters and plumbers were on site. Crews rolled out sod and planted trees. The dealership's three espresso machines, including one for the technicians, were being plugged in and tested.
The store features a 10,000-square-foot showroom with a cream-colored Italian marble floor. Aside from the brand signs -- Ferrari in yellow and Maserati in red and blue -- the only color comes from the cars. Besides new and used models for sale, the dealership will showcase cars from Zafiropoulo's personal collection.
Rare vehicles
On this day, that meant a red Ferrari F50 (with a ``1 OF 50'' vanity plate and worth about $700,000), a red (what else?) Ferrari Enzo valued at about $1 million and a blue and white
Maserati MC12 , a new and gorgeous super-car costing more than $1 million. The factory only built 25, and this is the only one in the United States right now, Zafiropoulo said.The customer lounge is on the second floor. Those waiting can watch the large-screen TV, have a cappuccino or use the computer. Or they can look down through the large glass window at their vehicle being serviced. The shop is set up to prepare race cars as well as fix new and used Ferraris.
Opening in June will be the F1 Bistro, a 19-seat eatery that'll feature salads, pastas and such. It's designed for customers, but will be open to the public.
There's even a special driveway so those low-to-the-road Ferraris won't scrape when they pull in.
Both owners acknowledge the opening of a new Ferrari store here is a sign of confidence in the Bay Area economy.
``Absolutely,'' said Mattioli, ``we feel very strongly about Silicon Valley, the Bay Area. It definitely has a booming real estate market and the economy is rebounding.''
Zafiropoulo met Mattioli when he bought a car several years ago at the Ferrari dealership Mattioli was managing in Mill Valley. A bankruptcy and other legal trouble at a Ferrari showroom in Los Gatos forced buyers of these Italian sports cars to travel to Marin County for the last few years.
There are 34 Ferrari/Maserati dealerships in the United States, including this store and one that opened at the new Wynn Las Vegas casino this week. In all, the two brands sold 2,231 new vehicles in the United States in 2004, according to an Automotive News estimate.
Long waits
How many cars they sell will depend on how many they get from Ferrari. The popularity of the brand means buyers can wait months or years for specially ordered vehicles. But, as opposed to some mainstream dealerships that make a good share of their profits from used cars and repairs, a Ferrari store makes its money from selling its high-dollar new cars, Mattioli said. The cheapest new Ferrari starts at $170,000, while a limited-production model like the Superamerica costs more than $300,000.
Zafiropoulo said he studied the area within four miles of the new showroom, including nearby Atherton and Woodside, and found that ``hundreds of multimillionaires'' live there.
And though ``you hardly see them -- people only drive them in good weather,'' there are thousands of Ferraris in Northern California, he said.