MY DAY STARTS

AS THE SUN SETS

AND ENDS WHEN THE MOON GOES "PAU HANA"

***

Well, we now accept credit cards. This apparently took affect on Tuesday. Being the "graveyard guy", nobody remembered to tell me. There was a memo, I read another drivers copy of it last night. Somehow it didn't get to me. Its one of the consequences of not having an accessible bulletin board.

"Crazy" Brian gave me the "heads up". Then he later discovered an extra imprinter in his vehicle and passed it on to ONE-NINE, along with some charge slips.

4 hours later I had my first charge fare. We had arrived at her hotel, from the "Triangle", and she asked if we took cards. She had no cash and I would have to wait while she went to her room. I think I got a bigger tip because of taking the card.

The fare was $17.30 and most people would just hand you a $20 and "keep the change". When I was filling out the charge slip I asked her if she would like me to include the tip on the bill. Ah, moment of truth. She could say "NO". Maybe "make it $20". But most people when asked this question will state an exact dollar amount. And since they have to say it aloud, they don't want to sound chintzy. She told me to add $5. Almost double the aforementioned normal gratuity.

I process the paperwork the same way as I do a voucher. The company is going to absorb the fees and, since we have no way of getting an authorization number, will not pass charge backs down the line. Thats a sweet deal.

Overall it was a decent shift. One OGG to start the night and then a few dinner returns and the rest of the night was all bar related. Did 2 more fares than Wednesday but metered $20 less.

Some type of roadwork closed south Kihei Road, at the Kihei/Wailea boundary, about 9:30pm last night. The required detour added about $2 to any fare transiting between the two communities. That helped.

The first 2 day cabs were in Wailea by 4:00am and I was home by 4:30am. Need my beauty sleep. Its Friday and I have to !@#$&*% dispatch tonight.

Come back tomorrow and find out how brain dead I am at the end of the night.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

HACK

This is the cover for Melissa Plaut's (New York Hack) new book. It goes on sale on August 28th.

I plan on buying it. I hope you do too.

---

HAWAI'I'S "TWO-BITS" WORTH

The series of new quarters (25-cents) will end with the minting of the 50th and final State of the Union. Here is what it will look like.

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Waimea Canyon
Kaua'i

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

I MAY NOT BE WINNING THE RENT RACE

BUT I AM SURE AS HELL GIVING IT MY BEST EFFORT

4 shifts to go. Its gonna be very tight.

---

Sunset

The Shops At Wailea

Wailea Lookout

My first fare of the night was at 7:22pm. A couple of very nice guys that I picked up from the Kea Lani and took to the Maui Coast Hotel. They were my passengers twice more through the shift. I was advised that I had another run pending as soon as I cleared.

A nice couple from Minnesota, Took them from Sansei to the Kea Lani. A paid round trip! Or, in this case, a "bounce back".

My third run, an hour later, was another couple running Sansei to the Kea Lani. Each of those trips were exactly $17. Odd how that can happen.

Half an hour later, the guys at The Coast called and wanted to go a bar across the island, in Kahului. A private party was being held in the Manana Garage.

Things really got busy about 90 minutes later. #27 (TMR) and #11 ("Crazy" Brian) were just returning from dropping in Lahaina when when I started my night. About 11:00pm, they got called for the return. That left just #22 (Kimo) and myself on the southside. I got a pupu "flag" and Kimo made a pick up from the "Triangle" to Wailuku, across the island. I was now the only cab in south Mau'i.

I "ping-ponged" up and down south Kihei Road until 1:00am.

At 1:30am, the two guys called from The Coast. Somehow they had returned without the need of my service. Damn! Anyway, they were hungry so I took them to Denny's. It was closed. In fact the entire parking area was roped off. Who knows? Ended up going by Minit-Stop. A "stop'n'rob" with some halfway decent munchies.

Met Kimo back at The Coast and took the phone.

Had my last fare of the night at 1:58am, taking one of LAB's baristas home.

Did some paperwork for today's reservations and refueled ONE-NINE. Prim (#22) came on board at 3:44am. Wally (#05) was next at 3:47am and Flor wished me a "Good Morning" at 4:12am.

Mrs. Kyle didn't raise a dumb kid.

I was home by 4:30am.

Made some decent money. For a change.

***

The Seawatch Restaurant. Located at the clubhouse for the Wailea Emerald and Wailea Gold golf courses had something going last night. A nice 10 minute display of fireworks about 9:00pm.

Here are some shots I captured from the parking lot of the Wailea Blue golf course, which is about 1 mile north.

---

The "Golden Rule" but so much easier to say.

---

This is beginning to be serious.

Fuel is the biggest slice of the budget in the cab business.

***

As always, I appreciate you taking a part of your day and stopping over.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Kilaeua Lighthouse
Kaua'i

Plantation Style House
Kaua'i

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

THE ONE IN THE VEIL

IS GETTING MARRIED THURSDAY


These kids are from Vancouver, BC, CA. I never did get their names.

Look VERY closely at the photo, and then leave your caption for it in the "comments".

***

Never left town but I did pretty good for a slow Tuesday night. Better than the last few Tuesdays have been. Still scratching and fighting like a wildcat to make the rent on the 1st. I am also beginning to really dislike pb&j.

The ladies above, along with their friends in another cab, had wanted to go to Bada Bings but it closes at 9:00pm on Tuesdays. Dropped them at Dog & Duck instead.

Started my night with a "special". One of my regulars called, as I was headed in to work to pick up ONE-NINE, and wanted to make a roundtrip from her place in Maui Meadows to The Shops At Wailea. Not a bad way to start the night.

My next fare was a roundtrip from Menehune Shores (a vacation/residential condo in north Kihei) to Taco Hell Bell. I found out later that she was an underage member of the above wedding party and was compensating for not being able to get smashed with the other girls. At least she won't wake up with a hangover today. Can't say the same for the others.

Stayed relatively active (not busy) for the first three hours. Had a newlywed couple from The Prince to the Maui Oceanfront Inn. They had attended the luau and had enough "jungle juice" in them that they actually were persuaded to attempt doing a hula during the show. They laughed and giggled the entire ride.

After them, it was just "bar runs", either to or from.

My 12th, and final, run was taking a "floor host" home about a quarter til 3.

1900 - 1959 = 2 fares
2000 - 2059 = 2 fares
2100 - 2159 = 1 fare
2200 - 2259 = 2 fares
2300 - 2359 = 0 fares
2400 - 0059 = 3 fares
0100 - 0159 = 0 fares
0200 - 0259 = 2 fares
0300 - 0359 = 0 fares

The first day cab checked in at 4:00am and I was home by 4:30am.

Just looking forward to that pb&j sandwich.

I wonder what cat food tastes like?

Naw, thats too much of a stereotype.

A shapely lass having a smoke outside of LAB

Another "Mau'i Cruiser"

***

Tune in tomorrow, same "Bat-Time", same "Bat-Channel", for another episode of

MAKE THE RENT

Mahalo for stopping by.

Aloha!

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Samoan Fire Dance

Akaka Falls
Kaua'i

The Way To The Fern Grotto
Kaua'i

Haleakala

Hawai'ian Royal Seal

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

HAPPY 443rd BIRTHDAY

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Yup, ol' Bill was born on April 23rd, 1564.

I enjoyed Shakespeare in high school. My favorite was "A mid-summer's night dream". In the late 1930's, the contract "Child Stars of Hollywood" were forced to make this into a film. They hated the idea but were obliged to perform. The kids decided to play their roles as "over-the-top" as they could. What they didn't realize is thats how ol' Bill wanted it done. He was a master at farce. I think its available on DVD.

***

As much of a kick back day as is possible. Slept. Watched TV. Played on the computer. Went to Judy's for dinner, we had artichokes again. Watched the new episode of HEROES. Visited. Relaxed.

Exciting, huh?

***

I hope each and everyone of you have a great week.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

West Maui Mountains

A View From The Summit
Haleakala

Central Maui
From
"Upcountry"

Windward O'ahu

Wailua Valley
Kaua'i

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"