FINALLY

SOMEONE WHO LISTENS

Judy and I had our Monday night dinner date. Went back to AROMA D'ITALIA RISTORANTE. She had the cheese ravioli and I had my usual spaghetti and meatballs. We shared an antipasto salad. As usual, the meal was excellent. As is par, we explained about Judy's allergy and got a surprise from our server, Robin. She was the first server that actually had a brain running on all cylinders. As she started to explain what the specials were for the evening, she paused and said, "I guess I can skip all the ones that are seafood then." Normally we explain the situation and then listen to the server rattle off the specials, including all the seafood ones, and Judy and I just look at each other. Didn't anything we just said make an impression between their ears? Robin was great and I gave her a $20 tip (on a $50 tab) at the end of the meal. She was also our server the last time we ate there.

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We had Kona winds throughout most of the day, gusting above 50 mph at times. Passing rain showers made the streets a bit slick. The winds didn't help the firefighting efforts up on Haleakala. These Kona winds were blowing the fire in the opposite direction from the previous week. The rain showers did little to retard the fire. On my way home, I could see how much larger it has become. I would guess it has charred over 3,000 acres by now. No structures are threatened and since fire burns uphill faster and easier than it does downhill, there just isn't that much to endanger. Very little construction above the 7,000 foot level. In fact, above 8,000 feet, there is very little fuel to feed the fire. No trees, scarce brush. Before the winds, the news reports said that the fire was 70% contained but not under control.

This is the latest news, from our local rag, The Maui News.

Here are the images they posted:

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You may have noticed that I have added some new blogs to the sidebar. All are unique but one I would like you to take special note of is Nains Bay. Located a distance outside of Goose Bay, Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada. Brian Willams is a native of Australia, Brisbane via Sydney, and writes about life in the far north, with beautiful pictures of the stark grandeur of his part of the world.

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

THE BIG ISLAND

Kailua-Kona

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"Let's all be careful out there!"

TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN....

MY 39th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Happy Anniversary, sweetheart, whatever you are doing today.

Lola

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Here is a view of the Polipoli forest, before the fire.
Looking down the mountain from Polipoli
The fire continues to consume the forest.
Latest news story.

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I know there was a Sunday this week, its right there on my calendar. I missed most of it. Slept all day, until about 2:00am Monday morning. Still can't get rid of the cough but the stuffed head is finally gone. I hope.

For the first time ever, we are going to have a drug sniffing dog in our local schools.

Since I can understand "dog-speak", I thought I would give you the canine's POV on his new occupation.

"It's just a job man. I like kids. Uh, you want to take me to M^cDonalds? I got a serious case of the 'munchies'."

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Tropical Flowers

The Wilder Side Of Hawa'i

Only In The Tropics

Napali Coast On Kaua'i

North Shore Of Kaua'i

Large North Shore Surf In Hawai'i Now

Fresh Garden Colors

A Lovely Hawai'ian Beach

A Pair Oof Dolpins In Hawai'ian Waters

Dynamic Coastline
On The Big Island

THE BIG ISLAND

St. Benedict's Painted Church
South Kona

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"Let's all be careful out there!"

"WANNA SEE MY TITS?"

"DO YOU MIND IF I TAKE A PICTURE?"


Picked this couple up about 3:30am. She had imbibed enough to become frisky. Constantly flirting and seeing just how far she could push me to get me flustered.

I don't get flustered, ever.

Her companion obviously did though.

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The fire on Haleakala continues to burn. Probably over 1,000 acres by now. They are only fighting it during the daylight hours, since the MFD feels it is too dangerous to run operations after dark. They need to bring in some CDF (California Division of Forestry) consultants. When they have those huge fires in California every year, CDF runs their operations 24/7, regardless of the terrain. I doubt if there is any fire agency, anywhere, more qualified to fight this type of conflagration.

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The price of gasoline has dropped again this week by two whole cents. I read this week that Saudi Arabia wants to stabilize crude oil prices at $50 a barrel. They feel that when prices are above that, the world economy suffers too much and that they actually end up selling less oil on the world market. I can remember when crude was $10 a barrel and even when it was $5 a barrel.

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Dollar-wise, the saving grace for last night was a 5:00am OGG run.

We are having an unusual situation with the driver who dispatches on Saturday nights. On any given night, one driver will be "top dog" and over the long term it pretty much evens out between all of us. It is strange that this one driver always seems to get every "cherry" run when he has the phone. I don't mean occasionally, but EVERY single Saturday night. The law of averages preclude this from happening, yet the pattern continues every week. Those of us who work nights are reaching the end of the line with him and as they say, "Payback is a bitch".

I had 8 fares between 7:00pm and 2:00am and 5 more from 2:00am to 5:00am.

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Whatever it is that I have been fighting this past three weeks is slowing beginning to spread. A half dozen, or so, hotel employees have come down with it also. Mostly at The Grand. Obviously one of the guests contaminated me and some others. The latest outbreak seems to be second generation. People here seldom come down with colds. We aren't in enclosed areas, except a cab, and almost every location is "open air", which greatly reduces the opportunity for a viral infection. Obviously, this particular bug is more resilient than most.

Oh, the rumor that Henry's was going to close was just that. A rumor or rumour to the rest of the English speaking world. [wink].

It is Sunday morning and my days off have commenced. Talk to y'all tomorrow.

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

THE BIG ISLAND

Waipio Valley

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"Let's all be careful out there!"