IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS

DRESS CODE



This is Darryl and Samantha from Victorville, CA, USA. They are staying on the westside of the island but took a room at The Grand so that they could go to Tsunami's and not risk a DUI.

Smart move.

Tsumani's wouldn't let them in!

Why?

Because Darryl was wearing "slippers" (aka: "thongs", aka: "sandals", aka: "flip-flops", aka: "zorees"). He was here to relax and hadn't even brought any regular shoes on their holiday.

Took them to Mulligans, then later to the "Triangle" and finally back to The Grand at bar close.

He was not a "happy camper" and I can't blame him. Would you want to spend $800 for your room and then be told (in so many words) by the staff at Tsunami's that you're dressed like a "bum"?

I think they might have a case for civil litigation, since female patron's shoe styles will not cause them to be rejected from admittance.

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COPYCAT

I am borrowing an idea from London Cabby.

Here are my trip sheets from last night.

I, too, will only do this once.

The info is pretty self-explanatory.

I logged in at 7:04pm (1904 hrs) Saturday night, 29-April-2006, and logged off at 7:01am (0701 hrs) Sunday morning 30-April-2006.

Drove 194 miles (312.21 kilometers) during my 11 hour 57 minute shift and had 19 runs.



To say that this was a good shift is an understatement.
Everyone tipped very, very generously also. Didn't get "stiffed" once!

How much did I take home?

I'll never tell. ;)

But I did, finally, get that pack of chewing gum I've wanted for so long. :)

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GAS PRICE

This is what I charged on the company credit card. They buy the gas:

These are the new pump prices:

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ALOHA!

Don't forget, Monday, May 1st, is "Lei Day" here in Hawai'i and Friday, May 5th, is "Boy's Day" in Japan.
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

THE SPIRIT WAS WILLING

BUT THE BODY SAID NO!

When I awoke yesterday I wasn't feeling so great. What the heck, just go to work and persevere through it. An hour and a half later, 8:30pm, I would get vertigo when I moved my head and began seeing double. Not good when driving. I was home and asleep by 9:30pm and slept 12 solid hours. The bad thing is that last night was really busy. Better to be safe than sorry though. Feeling better now and I will take a nap before tonight's shift.

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MAHALO MARGIE

"Margie from Michigan" has become the first of my fares to ever post a comment here. Check it out!

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SPEAKING OF COMMENTS

You may have noticed that I never respond to any comments.

Don't be offended. I read and appreciate every comment.

I figure that I have the front of the blog and the inside belongs to you folks.

If you post a question, I'll either e-mail you back an answer or post a response here, if its of broad enough interest. If I don't have an e-mail for you and the question is too specific, then I am stuck without a way to respond.

You can always just e-mail me, though, and I will probably get back to you within 24 hours, do to all the time zone differences, etc.

I developed this philosophy after being involved in "the net" for over 8 years now.

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SPEAKING OF QUESTIONS

Shadow said...


Just have to tell you how much I enjoy the photos. You are in a beautiful area!

By the way, how did you get the little icons of the blogs in your list?! Pretty cool stuff!

Shadow, there are two ways of doing it, depending on whether you are using Blogroll or not.

If you use blogroll go to the "edit" area for each link and right after the "title" of the blog leave a space then insert the url for the image source of the icon being used. Don't forget to start with the opening carat (<). You must change the quotation marks around the image url from a double quote mark (") to a single quote mark ('). After the close quote of the image url but still within the closing carat (>) you add attributes such as width, height and borde.

i.e. width='20' height='20' border='0'. Adjust as necessary for the image but keep it small!!!

If you are just using traditional html links, and not blogroll, you do exactly the same but this method requires the use of the double quotation marks (") rather than single marks (').

Most of the icons I used on the links were the image provided by the blogger in their profile. When that wasn't available then I chose their banner instead. My final option was to take an image from their site that I thought was indicative, such as the overhead view of a London Taxicab that I used for London Cabby's site.

Shadow, your icon is there, next to your site link, but is really dark.

You can also add an image so that it appears in the address bar at the top of you browser. Just look up and see my "badge" icon in the address bar. To do this, just "view" page source here and you'll see where and how to place the appropriate html needed.

Hope this helps.

BTW - blogroll does offer the use of icon links, if you want to pay their premium price.

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ONE PHOTO

Since I went home early, this was the only pic I had taken.

Have a great day, everybody!

ITS DIFFICULT TO SOAR WITH EAGLES

WHEN YA GOTTA DEAL WITH TURKEYS

Started the night feeling like a powerhouse!


I was going to blitz the cab world tonight!

BRING IT ON!

First call was out to the Seawatch Restaurant,

the clubhouse for the Wailea "GOLD" and "EMERALD" golf courses.

I was told that I had two people coming back to The Grand. Saw four people there when I arrived. A good looking young couple and two golfers. The couple was standing right at the curb, so I pulled up in front of them. Oops, wrong pair. They walked away and I waited for the two golfers. They ignored me. After three minutes, I circled around the fountain

and parked across from the doorway. and waited five more minutes.

Decided that this would be a good time to grab a couple of pics. Then I approached the valet and told him why I was there. Maybe he knew something. He did.

"Dats dem righ' dere, brah". Pointing at the golfers.

The guy you see in the pic then says sarcastically, "You done taking pictures? We're getting rather impatient!"

GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

Plastered on my best "Jim Baker" preacher smile and didn't say a word.

And then I got them out of my life, rapidly.

That was followed by a dinner run into town. When I cleared, dispatch told me to stay there and rest my heels. 15 minutes later I was enroute to an "in-town" reservation for OGG.

Did dinner returns and bar runs for the rest of the night.

Made a pickup at The Sports Page (aka "Page") a little after 1:00am and rediscovered an old regular customer.

Meet Brooke:

She works as a cocktail waitress at the "Page"

and used to be a regular fare. Now she lives in Ha'iku (a fair distance away) but she was going to her mom's place in Wailuku this morning. Nice $51 jaunt.


This pic is from Waikapu (bad water) looking across Kahului towards the ESE. About 600 ft (183 m) elevation. Best viewed when enlarged.

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GAS PRICE

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

From Sansei to you,

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BOCALINOS


I like Bocalino's. Danceable music, a bit up-scale. A different breed from the "Triangle". Only bad thought about it is that this is where I picked up the guy who took a shot at me (and missed) inside the cab.

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TATTOO PARLORS

Some of us can remember when you could only find these places in the seedier sections of large cities.


"The times they are a-changin'"

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MENTIONED THESE BEFORE

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END OF THE SHIFT

Had a 5:15am "time call" from The Mau'i Coast to OGG.

This is a very nice, reasonably priced, place to stay. Across the street from 6 miles of sandy beach. A poolside bar and a pretty good restaurant are on property. About 1/2 mile from the "Triangle" and easy walking distance to many inexpensive restaurants and shops. About $150 a night. Great views of the ocean from the rooms. They get better the higher up you go.



There's my fare.



Two early day drivers were "no call/no show" this morning, so I stayed on until 7:00am, when we finally had adequate coverage. And earned a few extra bucks for myself.

It was a very good shift. :)
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

YESTERDAY

NOT SO BAD

As scheduled, I started work at 7:00pm. There were a lot of holdover drivers from day shift. They were desperate. One ended her 10 hour day with just two pu-pu runs. Everyone had been idle for at least 4 hours and some over 6 hours. If their shift set the benchmark for the day, then the night shift did pretty damn good.

While it took a bit, my first run (at 9:15pm) was to OGG. I also ended my shift with a run to OGG. First time I ever "bookended" a shift that nicely. Stocked the center with 7 decent in-town runs

About 8:00pm I went to get some "go-juice" from The Honolulu Coffee Company.

I could hear a live performance at the other end, on the lower level, of the mall. Native Hawaiian chants and drums.

That little light above my head illuminated.

Thats right, this is "Wailea on Wednesday.

The Shops at Wailea provide a very diversified array of music entertainment every Wednesday evening.

Harp

Jazz

Country

String Ensembles

Rock

Native

All of it is great, but the native shows are the most popular.

Chants, drums, rhythms, the various forms of the Hula.

Toward the end of the show is when "volunteers" are selected to "shake their groove thing" with the hula girls. All the participants suffer some mild public humiliation by their dance but a rare few are very adroit.

This was the point when I looked over the rail to see the show on the lower level. Took out my camera and started videoing. While the show was well lit, my angle of view diminished the light.

Anyway, where this video stops is when my batteries died. Walked over to the ABC Store (Hawai'i's largest "stop-n-rob"), bought replacements and by the time I reached the rail, the show was over.

Damn!

Here is what I did get. Enjoy!



==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

BEHIND THE FACADE

INSIDE THE "TRIANGLE"


KAHALE'S




Life's A Beach, Baby (aka: L A B)



Southside Tiki Lounge


Neptune's

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INTO THE NIGHT

It was a mellow night. Pacing for calls was easy without getting bored between runs.

Started the night off on the right foot with a run to OGG. After that it was the usual bar runs until 2:00am.

At 3:16am I took a couple from The Grand to the Mau'i Memorial Medical Center (didn't we use to just call them hospitals?) ER (Emergency Room) in Wailuku (our county seat). Dropped them at 3:44am. Usually, when you make a drop there, you know that they will probably stay for 2 to 6 hours. Not tonight! These folks were ready to go at 4:20am and I picked them up at 4:59am. Had to finish the run I was on, when they called, and then drive the 20 miles back to the ER.

In and out of the ER in 34 minutes! That must be a record! I'll notify the media. ;)

They are here as part of the NEXTEL-SPRINT group, currently in residence at The Grand.

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BROTHERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT


Chrissy-Max-Dave-Tiffany
Picked up this great foursome from Lulu's and took them back to their condo. The two guys are deputy sheriff's on the mainland, so we hit it right off. Max is with the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Houston, TX, USA. Dave is with the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office in Stockton, CA, USA.

With the round trip to the hospital and the airport run, plus everything else, I had a very profittable night. Great start to a new work week.
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

"THE ANSWER IS NO!"

"Okay. So what's the question?"


Thats how Judy and I greeted each other last night.

"I don't want my picture of the 'net'."

She was giving me her "I am not mad, but I am deadly serious" look.

"So, you read my blog today." I laughingly answered.

After that, we talked about "tit and tat" and then went to dinner. Had a very enjoyable evening.

Oh! For the record. This is the picture I didn't get:

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KOREAN BARS

Korean Bars are a Japanese creation and found their way to Hawai'i prior to WWII. The bars were staffed by young and nubile Korean ladies. Their purpose was to encourage their clients to spend as much money in the bar as possible. The girls received a percentage of the liquor sales. The clientele was strictly Japanese business men. Sex on the property was forbidden but clothed fondling and foreplay was acceptable.

Today, the same concept holds true. But it is not uncommon for one of the girls to develop a relationship with one of her guests that is then taken "off-property". Usually to the guest's residence or vacation condo/hotel.

As I posted earlier, some of these relationships are doomed to failure from the start. Sometimes their new friend's credit card is "maxed out".

Start a new week tonight. Always hope for the best!
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

MANIC MONDAY

WELL, NOT REALLY

Last Tuesday was Judy's (my best and dearest friend) birthday. I'll just say that she is over 18 and is not yet eligible for Social Security. ;)

Tonight I am taking her and her husband, Dave, out to dinner.

If they allow it, I will post their pic tomorrow.
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THINGS I NEED TO DO:

1. Clean Personal Car
2. Vacuum Apartment
3. Change Bear's "litter box"
4. Install New USB Board in PC (really need the ports)
5. Take Some "Daylight" Videos And Pics Of Kihei
6. Check Photo Store To See If They Have The Adapter I Need To Add Another Memory Stick To Camera
7. Buy A Gift
8. Go To Dinner
   

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WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS

I have yet to open the instruction manual for my camera. As a typical male, that option is reserved for last. I just keep "playing" with it and my technique improves every day.

Here are some new ambient light shots of the bars in the "Triangle".

Neptune's

Southside Tiki Lounge

Kahale's

Lulu's

Bada Bing's
Bada Bing's started out as a club and then became a "New Jersey Style" pizzeria and italian restaurant. They do a brisk business and no longer have to deal with the bar crowd, since they close about 9:00pm.

I want a good photo of the LAB (Life's A Beach) but the only way to get it is to stand in the middle of the intersection. Not a wise option!
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MY DREAM


I'll never be able to afford it, but I can always dream about it.
sigh
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THINGS I'LL PROBABLY GET DONE TODAY

1. Clean Personal Car
2. Change "litter Box"
3. Buy Gift
4. Go To Dinner
   

Don't want to over-exert myself.
==============================================
Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

NEW YORK HACK IS RIGHT

PEOPLE FROM NEW JERSEY ARE REAL ASSHOLES!

Okay, I realize that is a broad generalization and I have probably insulted a few of my visitors. But its TRUE. Here is yet another example.

I mentioned in the prior post about the cancelled flights. Mary M., an associate, and I took an 8-pax from OGG to the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel and we both made arrangements to pick them up at 9:00pm, Saturday night, and return their party to OGG.


Ka'anapali Beach Hotel

Mary even called them Saturday afternoon to confirm the reservation and told them that we would be there no later than 8:45pm.

We both arrived at 8:35pm, ready to go. We waited and waited and waited. 9:00pm came and went. Finally, at 9:20pm, we called it a "10-13" and headed back. These no-so-nice folks FROM NEW JERSEY had wasted 3+ hours and 75 miles of our gas, each.
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KA'ANAPALI BEACH HOTEL

The Ka'anapali Beach Hotel is designed to resemble the '30's style of hotels in Hawai'i and is located in the planned resort community of the same name.
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THE SHERATON

Another beautiful hotel in Ka'anapali is the Mau'i Sheraton.


They have this really neat shadow screen projection that can only be viewed as you depart their property.

I stopped to get a couple of pics of the street entrance to Whaler's Village


and was lucky enough to have a gentleman from southwest Montana approach me and request that I take him to Ka'anapali Shores, which is located about 3 miles to the north in the town of Honokowai, a condo community. Made a little bit of money anyway. :)
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FRONT STREET - LAHAINA

Lahaina Town was the original capitol of Hawai'i, during its days as an independent kingdom. This is the setting for James Mitchner's epic novel HAWAII.

It was also the main whaling port in the Pacific. Those whalers and the missionaries didn't mix well. One missonary's home was shelled by cannonballs from a whaling boat, in protest of the missionaries trying to protect the virginity of Hawai'ian women. From what I have read, the women were as willing as the sailors. Just visit any seaport in the world today and nothing has changed.





The streets of the town are very, very narrow, as you can see.
I took these while driving and they are a bit blurry, sorry.
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BACK IN KIHEI

Got back to Kihei about 10:30pm and took over the phone since it was my night to "dispatch".

Had the usual assortment of bar runs.


Tsunami's had some sort of problem, at their 1:00am close, requiring both the police and the paramedics. I never found out what it was and honestly really didn't care after a long week.

The other drivers were all gone by 2:15am and I stayed mildly active.

At 3:30am I changed over to cab #5 (a mini-van) and headed back to Ka'anapali to pick up four people from the Westin Mau'i for a trip to OGG. Turned out only two needed a cab.

This was a very pleasant couple from Westminister, CA, USA, a city just south of Los Angeles. We "talked story" the entire 45 minute ride.

That was a great way to end the shift and my week.

An intelligent conversation with sober, intelligent people.
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"