REBOUND

THE NEXT DAY

Whenever there is a "drinking" holiday, the following day is always slow. Last night followed true to form.

That was a relief, since we were very short of cabs. Some of our drivers are off sick or on holiday and a couple of the vehicles are down for mechanical reasons. We only had three cabs on the road last night. Turned out that was the perfect ratio for the evening. The three of us stayed active the entire shift and riders never had to wait longer than 15 minutes for a pickup.

After "bar close", I only had two runs during the graveyard hours. My relief came in at 4:30am and I was home by 5:00am, asleep by 6:00am, ending another week.

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BRIAN & LAURA

Brian is a drummer with one of our local bands and Laura is a professional local model. They are "regulars" with us.

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TSUNAMI'S

Tsunami's was closed this weekend. The word from The Grand is that it will remain closed "until further notice".

That makes my job easier. They were only open on Friday and Saturday nights (my nights to dispatch) and our contract required that we have cabs available for them. Being forced to stage cabs there meant that I had to split the fleet between Wailea and Kihei. The drivers hated getting stuck at Tsunami's queue, since the money to be made was in Kihei.

In the original years of The Grand, Tsunami's was open 6 nights a week, until 4:00am. It closed in the late '90's and didn't re-open until late 2002. During that period it was a "private" club for resort guests only.

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PHOTO-OPS

How do I get people to let me post their pics on the net?

I just ask.

I always include a mention about my blog when transporting people. Its a great talking point. Paradise Driver is also listed on my business card.

Not everyone wants their pic taken but quite a few don't mind. They are here to have fun and this is just another "lark", that is free. They can call their friends back home and have them come to this blog and see how much fun they're having. Plus, I e-mail the pic to them, if they have an addy.

This little gimmick is also financially rewarding. People are starting to call and ask for me to pick them up. They have read the blog and want to meet me. Kewl! Hopefully, this will become an increasing "profit point" for me.

So, if you want to add pics of passengers to your blog, "just ask". The worse that can happen is they'll say "no".
==============================================

Later.....

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

CINCO DE MAYO

On El Cinco de Mayo, everyone is MEXICAN.

Or at least, that what all the brewers and distillers would have us believe.

South of the border, Cinco de Mayo is a minor regional celebration, focused mainly in La Ciudad de Puebla.

You have to give credit to marketers, in the US, for turning this day into the second biggest "non-holiday" in the States.

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LOS CINCO DE MAYO EN LA ISLA DE MAU'I

The night started slow and shifted into high gear about 9:30pm. From then on, all 4 cabs were swamped.

For me, I had a great start and then had to deal with the inconvenience of a dead battery, which took less than an hour to rectify. I was quietly "cursing the fates" though.

Three very interesting fares last night.

The first was also my first run of the night. A gentleman from Germany on a mission of mercy for his wife, who was having trouble sleeping. The 13 hour time shift had skewed her circadian clock something wicked. I took him to Safeway, where he purchased some OTC pills for sleeping. We discussed the different secular and non-military holidays that our countries celebrate. Apparently the American concept of "Halloween" is gaining acceptance in Europe, with the aid of their confectionary industry. Naturally, the kids are the marketing target and we all know how hard it is to resist a child's desire. Who doesn't relish the gleam in kids eyes when they get to dress up in costume and have complete strangers give them sweets and whatnot.

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The second interesting run was after "bar close". Picked up two guys from MOF and took them to the Sunset. While both of them were married, their welcomed advances on two ladies from Canada turned sour when their "bedroom talk" shifted from saying "sweet-nothings" to politics.

While "politics may make strange bedfellows", tonight all these guys walked away with was a closing door that didn't quite hit them in the ass. One even tried to wrap his failure of conquest in a patriotic cloak by stating "I could never screw a woman who hates America".

Yeah, right.

Male egos are so fragile, they always have to rewrite and justify their failures.

Word to the wise, guys:

If at first, you don't succeed.
Destroy all evidence you even tried

The third was a "threesome" that I took to Kahului, about an hour before "bar close".

The drunk male in the front seat spent the entire trip telling me why he was a drug and alcohol abuser. He made the most prothetic statement:

"I am weak, man. I am a fucking addict. I wish I could stop."

I made a couple of suggestions as to where he could get help, but they fell on deaf ears. He is obviously on an ever steepening downhill slide and is not far from the point of self-destruction.

Oh, well. Feces Occurs.

When we reached their home, I switched on the domelight and turned to awaken the male and female in the back seat. They were both passed out. His pants were down around his knees and his flacid penis was resting in the comatose female's mouth. Her skirt was above her waist. There was nothing beneath it.

Neither, thank goodness, had accomplished their mission. I doused the domelight, pulled forward about 5 feet and hit the brakes real hard. Then announced in a loud voice "Here we are!"

Waited about 10 seconds and then turned the domelight back on.

The addict started giving them his very graphic opinion of their actions. I just sat there quietly and was finally paid.

Yes, I did briefly consider taking a pic, but my "personal code of ethics" kicked in immediately.

Ever since HBO's series "Taxicab Confessions", people's public mores have definately shifted a couple of notches.

Finished the shift with a trip to OGG.

It was a very profitable night.

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My friend and former associate, Robert P., sent an e-mail informing me of the recent passing of his mother.

He asked for, and was given, permission to use a modified version of my Makena Sunset photo for a memorial card.

With my deepest condolences to him and his family, here is his rendition:

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My friend, Van, who owns Mau'i Action Photos (link on sidebar) dropped some new pics in my "in-box" recently. Here are a couple of shots and I will share more of them as the week passes.



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Later.....

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

EASY NIGHT

We had 4 cabs on until 11:00pm and then three until 2:00am. All of us seldom sat idle. Only a few runs to OGG, and divided amongst us and thus most of the trips were dinner and bar related. If you do enough of these "pu-pu" runs, you will have a pretty decent night. The tips are always better as the night glides past.

The phone never rang after 1:45am

I was relieved at 4:30am and home by 5:00am.

Not one obnoious drunk and no incidents inside or outside of the cab.

Take home was acceptable.

I did meet some rather pleasant individuals from around the world.

This 4-pax is from various areas of California, enjoying their holiday time on the island.

Kim - Randy - Amber - Denise

This couple is on their honeymoon, from Manchester, UK. She is even prettier than the picture shows. I can't explain it but she had an aura about her. Instantly "likeable".


Alice - Craig

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GOLDEN RULE

Wednesday night/Thursday morning, about 3:30am, I answered a call from 76 UnoCal requesting my services. Since I was in the middle of another run at the moment, I told the girl I would be there in about 15 minutes

11 minutes later I pulled into the station and a guy walked up and opened the right front door, where all my paperwork, etc. is laying.

"I am sorry, sir. You'll need to get in the back"

"WHAT!!??!! Thats bullshit."

He slams the door. Instantly tripping my internal alarm system.

Opens the rear door and sits.

"Let me tell you buddy. You just cut your fucking tip in half."

3 - 2 - 1 - ignition - LIFTOFF!

"Actually , sir. You've just cut it to zero. Get out of the cab. Now."

"What?! I was just kidding."

"No you weren't, sir. Get out of the cab and start walking."

"Who else can I call?"

"You're S-O-L, sir. I am the only cab on this side of the island until 5:30am. GET out of the cab.

"How do I get back to my place?"

"Try walking. We humans have been doing it for millions of years. GET out of my cab. NOW!"

"I was just joking" he moaned.

"Last warning, sir.
GET!
OUT!
OF!
MY!
CAB!
NOW! "

I lifted "Maggie" off the seat into non-threating view.

"Asshole" was his parting comment.

Geez.

"Treat others they way you want to be treated" has always been a good rule of life.

Especially when dealing with the only available cabbie in town.
==============================================

Later.....

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

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

24 LITTLE HOURS

Had a great night! Doubled the meter over the last shift.
The usual assortment of revelers

and tourists

Two of the drivers (Kimo and Crazy Brian) have b'days on May 3rd. Last year Brian had the night off and Kimo took it off this year. Two other drivers are on holiday and that left just Alex (the mad russian) and me. Luckily, Alex had the phone. With just two cabs available, we worked our asses off. Never stopped moving. The late hours continued apace. And then the day shift was short drivers, too. Finally called it a "night" a little after 7:00am.

Stopped by Makapu Beach, in Wailea between the Renaissance and the Wailea Ekahi, and grabbed some more daylight shots.

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TSUNAMI'S AND BEYOND

Here is a short photo tour. You are entering The Grand, headed towards Tsunami's and then beyond, into the interior of The Grand.












Humuhumunukunukuapuaa
The Grand Wailea's signature dinner house

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Best and Strangest run of the night

Responded to a radio call at The Grand early in the evening. A run to The Waterfront restaurant in Maalaea. Pulled up to our pickup location and the rear door immediately was opened and an attractive lady entered my cab.

"Waterfront?" I inquired.

"Capische" she replied, in a bubbly manner.

Her male companion got in and said "Waterfront. Please."

"Okay, the lady says Capische and you say Waterfront. Which will it be?"

"The Waterfront" he responds and the woman immediately starts to quietly weep.

She silently wept the entire 25 minute trip and, when we arrived, she exitted the cab and headed straight into the restaurant, leaving the man behind.

A while later I received the dispatch for the return run for them. They never spoke the entire way back to The Grand. Not to me, nor to each other. Obviously their disenfranchisement with each other extends way back before this trip. Hope thay can resolve their issues and begin to enjoy Mau'i.
==============================================

Later.....

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