BOY, DID I SLEEP...

ABOUT 16 HOURS WORTH

Was sawing logs by 8a yesterday morning. Rolled out of the sack around 6:30p. Read my e-mail and had something to eat. Started to watch TV about 8p and my eyes opened again at 2:30a today. Thats tired. With the return of the tradewinds last night to Kihei, all the allergins on Mau'i seemed to be blowing right at me. I made it through the shift but the sinuses were chock full of snot. And as hard as you resist, it still takes its toll on the body's energy.

I know, what a disgusting image I've created.

***

Edge Designs is an all-women run company that designs interior office space. They had a recent opportunity to do an office project in NYC.

The client allowed the women of this company a free hand in all design aspects. The client was a company that was also run by all women execs.............

The result.........

Well.....

We all know that men never talk, never look at each other....

And never laugh much in the restroom....

The men's room is a serious and quiet place...

But now...

With the addition of one mural on the wall......

Lets just say the men's restroom is a place of laughter and smiles.

***

Most everyone in the States has an abbreviated work week, with the vast majority taking off sometime after 12noon on Wednesday for a very long and calorie stuffed weekend.

Drop by when you get the chance. I'll be here, plugging away.

MAHALO

ALOHA

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

IT WASN'T ANOTHER "PAYDAY"

BUT IT WAS AN EXCELLENT SHIFT

The night had a slow start for a Saturday. By midnight I had only accumulated 5 fares. One of those was a Wailea to OGG, a wonderful couple from Alaska. Another was Kristina & Donald, my newlyweds from yesterday, They each had tattoos done last night. They went to the parlor located below Lulu's. and said that the owner/artist was extremely intense, and painful. They based their opinion on experience, since these were not their first body illustrations. Described the artist as looking, and acting, like a precursor to a Neanderthal. The said that the shoppe was highly rated on the web but this guy seemed to enjoy inflicting as much pain as possible. They would not recommend anyone going there.

If you come here and want a tat, contact me and I will give you a recommendation. I don't have any myself but I know a lot who do and there is one lady just a block north of where this guy is that no one has ever complained about.

Terry (#25) got a run from the Kea Lani to the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel about 1a, leaving just TMR (#27) and ONE-NINE left to cover everything. And we stayed steady. After bar close, he did a roundtrip from north Kihei to Waikapu, across the island, and I had a roundtrip to MMMC, our hospital. He finally logged out a little past 4a and I was able to pack it in at 5a. Flor, #27's day driver, logged on about 4:30a and immediately had a fare from the Diamond Resort, in Wailea, over to Lahaina. Not a bad start. Murph and I did a "hot bunk" change and he was the only cab available. None of the other early drivers had logged on when I left.

There were a lot of "check-ins" at the resorts last night. This is a good sign. The resorts are at the top of their premium rack rates and thus the people arriving are FITs (Financially Independent Travelers). The money should flow this next week. God, I hope so.

12 fares / 162 miles / 3rd quarter $200 bracket

I am trying to make up my mind whether to buy and cook a turkey for myself this year. I'll be working on Thanksgiving, as always, and the effort seems a bit extreme and time consuming. But I do love a turkey dinner, with all the fixin's. Of course, it'll mean that all I will have to eat for the following 2 weeks will be turkey, in all its permutations.

Decisions, decisions.

Everyone enjoy yourselves. Will you be staying home this holiday or traveling? I'd like to hear from you. Just leave a comment.

MAHALO

ALOHA

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

The first four images are courtesy of Maui Action Photos. Mahalo, Van.

Haleakala

Silver Sword

Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa
Big Island
About 100 miles away

Science City

Hana Waterfall

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

A LACKLUSTER SHIFT

THAT TURNED INTO

PAYDAY!!

When I arrived to pick up ONE-NINE, the Grand had turned on the pixie lights on the trees that line the entry and exit drives. A bit earlier than normal but always beautiful.

NEWLYWEDS!

~ Donald & Kristina ~
Oakland, California

It was an unadventurous night. The rides were short and the people pleasant. From 7p until 2a it was just dinner and bar run pu-pus. Everybody tipped nicely. We were just wrapping up the night when the phone rang at 1:55a. It was United Airlines. Their flt#46 had been canceled due to mechanical failure. 200+ people needed to be moved to the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, over on the "west-side". The lady wasn't sure if we would be needed or not. I told her that she had best make a decision real quick. I had 3 drivers scheduled to end their shift in 5 minutes and I needed to know RIGHT NOW. She called back at exactly 2a and requested everything I could send. She got it. ONE-NINE and 3 vans.

Arrived at OGG at 2:30a and immediately picked up a single passenger going back to Kihei. An island resident. Made it back to OGG and loaded 4 folks to Ka'anapali. 2 seperate couples, so I was paid twice for one trip. One of the other drivers had called 2 of our day drivers, Mary (#21) and Maui Jim (#17) and they were out of bed and on the road by 3:20a.

When I got back to central Mau'i, United called again (about 4:20a) and advised that there were still 35 to 40 people left. I wanted to go get them but my relief, Murph, was waiting at the garage to do the changeover. There were enough cabs working to cover the cleanup. To complicate things, we had a 4:30a reservation for 5 people to OGG out of Wailea and I hadn't been able to raise the other early day driver , Wally (#05), to come in a bit early to cover it. The passenger count and amount of luggage was more than ONE-NINE's capability. Radio traffic was bouncing between our east-side and west-side channels and I was able to get Maui Jim to call out another driver. who finally made the pick-up at 4:45a. I turned the shift over to Murph at the same time and headed home. There were no other vehicles to drive and I don't have keys to any of the other cabs.

I tried to get the return on my Ka'anapali trip for Murph to pick-up but the people weren't interested in scheduling a return at the time I dropped them Gave them my card and asked that they call at least 2 hours before they needed to be picked up. I told Murph not to hold his breath. Looks like we are going to be very short on cabs between 9a and 2p today, since the majority of them will be doing the returns.

It is rare that United cancels a flight. Not like USAir.

15 fares / 157 miles / 2nd quarter $300 bracket

Everyone enjoy your weekend. I'll see ya tomorrow.

MAHALO

ALOHA

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

The first 4 images are courtesy of Maui Action Photos. Mahalo, Van.

Haleakala

Hana Waterfall

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

PRETTY SOON IT WILL BE

REALLY SLOW

My first fare was 3 ladies going from The Shops At Wailea to a relatively new condo complex in Makena. Just south of Makena Surf. Was back in Wailea by 8p. Terry (#07) took over the phone at 9p and advised #1-8 and #0-9 that is was time for them to go home. "Dip-Shit " (09) was not happy. The evening dispatcher has advised, over the radio, that there was a 9:20p reservation from the Kea Lani to the Westin, in Ka'anapali. The rule is that those day drivers who will not accept their turn at dispatching must call it a night at 9p. With his departure I became first up in Wailea and got the run.

A nice young couple from SoCal. Brother and sister, they are here for a friends wedding. The nuptuals will be today. Derek (24) and Julie (22) were the type of siblings that we all wish we had. Both worked for their dad's construction/supply company. A very pleasant pair.

The trip went easily until we got to the north end of Lahaina. Traffic ground to a halt at the Lahaina Cannery Mall. Took about 30 minutes to inch our way past the problem, there are no detours available. I don't know what happened but the power poles line the mountain side of the road and, where the bottle neck was, there was a pole lying on the oceanside seawall. I couldn't see evidence of a traffic collision. I am sure that eventually our local rag will have some miniscule details to purvey. I'll pass them along when I find out.

Worked my way back to Kihei and sat.

My next, and final, run was at 2:30a, from the bottom end of Kihei into Wailea.

That was it.

3 fares / 96 miles / 1st quarter $100 bracket

***

I dispatch tonight. Hopefully there will be some activity.

TGIF!!

MAHALO

ALOHA

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

NOT HALF BAD...

FOR A WEDNESDAY

~ Jeff (San Francisco) ~ Adam (Tahoe) ~
~ Megan (Tahoe) ~ Keller (SF) ~

These four were a delightful bar close.

The sad part is that we are nowhere close to topping out yet.

OUCH!

My first fare was an OGG. Only had to wait an hour for it. Didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Around 2:45a I get a call from the Marriott. A guest wanting to go to the airport. I explained to the front desk lady, over the phone, that the airport was closed until 5a and security kinda takes a dim view of people just hanging around.

Go figure!?!

She disconnected, then called back less than 2 minutes later. Her guest was adamant about leaving. I knew immediately that this was going to be just one act of of lovers spat. Made the pickup at 2:48a. No luggage, no shoes, no cash (he had plastic). I was correct. Consoled with his bruised ego and, before we were half way through Kihei, convinced him that this was a bad move on his part and to deal with whatever issues he had when he was alert and sober. Dropped him back at the resort at 3:05a.

Never make decisions when you are tired, stressed and/or intoxicated.

7 fares / 108 miles / 2nd quarter $100 bracket

If you are west of me, Happ TGIF!
The rest of us still have another day to go. Ugh.

MAHALO

ALOHA

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

So. You Don't Believe In Mermaids, eh?

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

A VERY NICE DAY

A VERY NICE EVENING

The son, the "daughter" and the "ex" all called today to wish me the best. And then to cap the evening, Richard and Judy took me out to dinner. We spent a very enjoyable 2+ hours together. It is so nice that he doesn't drink. Judy was looking as great as ever. Her eyes usually close when a flash goes off and in the shot (above) she is deliberately forcing them open. That is the cause of the "strained" look. I had OUTBACK's new roasted sirlon. Not half bad. It comes with au gratin potatoes and steamed fresh veggies. Sadly, I passed on the veggies, can't chew carrots anymore. Substituted their chopped salad with blue cheese dressing. I can still handle that. Used to be that I could go to dinner, order the largest serving available for my entre, consume everything on my plate in just a few minutes and then finish off whatever others left behind. Not so anymore. Takes forever to eat anything and, thus, I eat a lot slower. Took about half my dinner home in a doggie bag.

It was hot here yesterday. The temp reached the lower 90's and the humidity was in the upper 80's. The NWS said that the trades would be returning in the afternoon but they never reached into Kihei. Maybe today.

Today's THE PICTURE GALLERY is abbreviated. Sorry. Haven't had a lot of time to scrounge the web for acceptable images. I'll try harder tomorrow.

Back to work tonight. We should start seeing some early Thanksgiving Holiday arrivals on Friday.

Manana.

MAHALO

ALOHA

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"