"ARE YOU 'PARADISE DRIVER"?"

NOWHERE TO RUN TO
NOWHERE TO HIDE

Alex & Joe
About 3:30am, I received a request for a cab just a couple of blocks from my house. I recognized the address as being where my friend Jaison lives. Made the pick up and the destination was just a short distance away, in a new subdivision next to the Maui Hill condos.

Doing the usual "chit-chat" when Joe asks,

"Whats your name?"

"Wil."

"Are you 'Paradise Driver'?"

This was a first!

"Yes, that me."

"What cab company is this?"

"Royal."

"Oh. Wow. My mom isn't going to believe this. She reads your blog every day. She really enjoys it."

"Gee, thanks. Whats your mom's name?"

"Lori."

I gave him one of my cards, with a brief note on the back, for his mom. Took the pic above to prove to Lori that Joe and Alex actually were my passengers.

Oh, and per Joe's special request,

"HI LORI"

*** *** ***

A normal Friday night. Started and finished the shift with runs to OGG. That makes a neat set of bookends for the night. Money was above average and the best feature was that, due to some phone shuffling prior to my log-in, I didn't end up having to take the phone until after 10:30pm. By that time, everything had settled down to the normal bar run routine.

Hardin was the one stuck with the phone and when he passed it over he commented on how much heavier the call volume was on a Friday night compared to his Sunday shift.

Uh - duh! LOL!

*** *** ***

At 12:01am on Thursday morning, the new anti-smoking laws went into affect throughout the State of Hawai'i. That day was also the annual "Great American Smoke-out" campaign.

These new laws are pretty restrictive and as I passed by the "Triangle" on various occassions, The sidewalks outside of the bars were packed with people, just puffing away. In fact there were more people outside than inside. I wonder how bartenders will determine whether a person has just stepped out for a smoke or have actually left the bar for the night. I can foresee many instances of drinks being cleared that were still in the process of being consumed.

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HERITAGE GARDENS

The Chinese and Japanese Influence

(to be continued)

A Wyland masterpiece

"Let's all be careful out there!"

A WEEK FROM TONIGHT

AND EVERYONE WILL BE COMPLAINING ABOUT EATING TOO MUCH

For my non-USA readers, we celebrate our Thanksgiving Holiday on the 25th. It happens on the fourth Thursday of each November.

The traditional fare is roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, corn (usually on the cob), dressing, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and an assortment of "goodie" to much on while smelling that delicious turkey cooking. It is also a day of American football, the gathering of friends and family, usually at the grandparents house. It is a wonderful, festive day. This is the traditional start of the Christmas season.

It celebrates the first harvest by the Pilgrim settlers, from Plymouth UK, in
present day Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. It is a day of mourning for native Americans. The beginning of their "end", sadly.

What am I doing on Thanksgiving? Why working, of course. I do have Christmas and New Year's Eve/New Year's Day off. That hasn't happened in a long time.

It is also a day I hated as a cop. Family members who have an ingrained hatred for each other are forced to endure the presence of of their displeasure. Add alcohol and viola! This is the day of the worst family disturbances (aka - brawls/mini-riots). Besides the fact that I was missing dinner with my family, I was having to referee some drunkards' version of "Ultimate Fighting".

*** *** ***

LOL

"June in Florida" commented about me being in the sun this week. All I can say is that it was pure hell and thank goodness for SPF-1,000,000 sunblock. Did get a little crispy around the edges, though. [wink]

*** *** ***

UNUSUAL WAVES

Wednesday's 8.3 earthquake in the Kuril Islands of Japan did generate some small tsunami activity in Hawai'i. Mau'i News story. It did delay some harbor traffic at Kahului. The tsunami warning sirens were not activated.

*** *** ***

AS GOOD AS IT GOT

About 2:20am, this morning, I get a call. Someone at LAB (Life's A Beach) needing to go to a residential condo about 1/2 mile south. I tell the caller to wait by the side door and I would be there in less than 5 minutes. Find out that the cab is not for him, but for his roommate. He tells me to just look for a guy that looks like Charles Manson. I found him:
B. Christan
Looks more like Gallagher to me

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HERITAGE GARDENS

The Filipino Influence

The Portuguese Influence

(to be continued)

From Monday's Tour Of The Art Galleries

"Let's all be careful out there!"

A WEIRD AND

WACKY DAY

Wednesday actually started on Tuesday night, for me. Judy called aas I was headed into work. Our favorite agency of the Federal Government was being annoying. She needed to go to their branch office in Wailuku and needed a ride. Her car is misbehaving. Picked her up at 7:45am and arrived with enough time to spare to allow us to go to M^cPuke for a "scarf & barf" breakfast.

As she went off to take care of business, One, maybe two, hours at the most. I headed up the I'ao Valley to get some pics for all of you.

Deep into the valley is Heritage Gardens - Kepaniwa County Park

This park honors the heritage of the peoples of the island of Mau'i, with representation of cultural structures and gardens.


Spent over an hour there and I was rushing to grab images. Arrived back in Wailuku and started waiting for Judy.

2 hours

3 hours

Just as it was approaching 4 hours since I had seen her and I was nearing the dregs of my energy reserves, I called her. No answer.

She called back shortly and we were headed home. The bloodsucking agency only has one employee on this island. What should have been a 30 minute ordeal turned into 4 hours of agony, while Judy had to wait whenever the phone rang or someone walked in.

Finally crawled into bed about 2:30 pm. And couldn't fall asleep. Too much coffee.

I think I got about 45 minutes of shut-eye before the alarm discharged its assault on my auditory system.

It wasn't going to happen. Called Kimo, at home, and told him that I would not be working the early part of the shift, but would be in to cover the "graveyard" portion. If I didn't, he would have to.

Reawoke at 12:15am on the alarm's second assault.

Only had three runs between 1:30am and 5:30am but metered $75. Thats not bad at all.

Then I come home, write this post and push the wrong !@#$%^&* button. Having to start all over from scratch.

GRRRrrr!!!

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Nature will always rule the island

Then came Man.
The seafaring cultures of Polynesia.

Their way of life evolved untouched until Captain Cook stopped by for dinner. Followed by whalers and finally missionaries. The latter settling into the land.

(to be continued)

*** *** ***

Here's Lookin' At Ya

"Let's all be careful out there!"