Paradise Driver

Sunday, February 25, 2007

DOG AND DUCK

OUR NEW IRISH PUB

And the competition for the $$$s begins at the "Triangle". Dog and Duck had its Grand Opening on Friday. and was packed all of Saturday night. The old Neptunes looks like it will re-open as Ambrosia this coming weekend. Bada Bing's, our New Jersey style Italian restaurant, is going to be hosting Willie K. and Company every Wednesday night.

So, the "Triangle" will be the "hot-spot" for pub crawling.

Lulu's
Bada Bing's
Life's A Beach
Kahale's
Tiki Lounge
Tastings
Ambrosia
Dog and Duck
Sansei, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. While not technically part of the "Triangle" because it is in the FoodLand shopping area, it is just a half block away.

The outlying bars will be:
Tip Ups (formerly Bocalino's) in Azeka Shopping Center. About 1 mile north of the "Triangle"

Henry's in Lipoa Center. Also 1 mile north.

The Sports Page, about 1 mile south

Moose McGillicuddy's/Fred's, about 1.5 miles south.

And

Mulligans, way down in Wailea.

*** *** ***

Two interesting fare last night. The first was a 47 year old woman who moved to Mau'i last Sunday. Divorced and an "empty-nester", she is being emplyed by a local business firm. She was bored, and scared. She wanted to have a "knosh" and a drink. and get to learn some of the local nightlife.

A nicely aged former "trophy wife", she too had been traded in for a newer model. She kept asking questions about how she was dressed. Was her make-up okay? Was a tank-top and mid-thigh shorts too casual? Are my "boobs" too big? What bar would have people in my age group? Do you want to come home with me later? How much will this cab ride cost? That much!?

I don't know if we took her home or not, because my other interesting fare took me to the Sheraton, in Ka'anapali and I didn't get back to Kihei until 1:15 am.

The owner of Dog and Duck had his sister and brother-in-law arrive on the island about sunset. He immediately brought them to his new Irish pub. Tired, having been traveling all day, they were ready for their hotel when I picked them up at 11:45 pm. A sweet couple, probably early 50's, from the Isle of Jersey, which is part of the Channel Islands, located in the English Channel, between the UK and France. Great conversationalists, they made for a very enjoyable 50 minute ride to the "West Side". They tipped nicely, too.

Obviously, last night was a good one. Lots of people partying. By 2:05 am, everyone, cabbies and fares, had faded into the veil of darkness and the phone never rang again the rest of my shift. There wasn't even any traffic on any of the roads after 3:00 am and the vast majority of the cars, between 2:30 am and 3:00 am, were bartenders, cocktail waitresses and bouncers headed home.

It's the end of my work week. But I might go out for a few hours tonight, since the budget is still very tight this month. I would only work through bar close, at the latest, and probably not that late even. Depends on how long it stays busy.

Won't work on Monday night though. That's my time to spend with Judy, the most enjoyable part of my week.

I'll let you know what happens, tomorrow.

Thanks for coming by.

Aloha!

THE PICTURE GALLERY

KAUA'I

Na Pali Coast

Miloli'i Beach

Zodiac Raft

Sea Cave

Waterfall

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Saturday, February 24, 2007

A NICE ACTIVE SHIFT

AND ONE HELL OF A "BAR CLOSE"

Logged on at 7:10pm and was immediately dispatched to the far northend of Kihei for a pupu run. That was the only time I was in Wailea until the end of the night. Constant movement from one part of town to another. It was my night for dispatch but I couldn't hook up with TMR, who had the phone, until 9:30pm. By that time, the only two dayshift holdovers had faded into the night. We had 4 night cabs working, Tina is off, and nobody really sat still for very long. While I was working Kihei, the others were snagging OGGs out of Wailea. grumble-grumble On Thursday night I had a "No-Pay" at about 3 am. Following an idea from Freddy Beach Cabbie, I took her pic and gave her the info for making restitution on Friday. I told her that if I didn't hear from her that I would file a police report with her pic attached. She called and I was paid about 10:30pm on Friday. Kewl!!

Bar close was hot & heavy. Poor TMR made a pickup just about 1:30am and was about 90 seconds into the trip when he called 10-2 (end of shift - off duty) and said he would call me on the phone. Turned out that the poor guy had a projectile puker. He dumped the entire van load in the middle of nowhere and made them walk home. That'll teach them. Took him almost 2 hours to clean the interior.

I had a 2:00am fare from Makena Surf to OGG for a delayed departure. The flight had originally been scheduled to leave at 11:00pm, then was delayed to 2:00am and again to 4:00am. We arrived at the airport to find out that the plane had actually left at 2:00am. That meant I had a roundtrip.

With me running OGG and TMR dead in the water, that left just Hardin and Crazy Brian to clear the "Triangle". I finally reached the point that when someone called I would just tell them to stand on the curb and grab a cab as it came by. It took them until 3:00am and the vast majority of the runs melted away as time passed. Have to hand it to them, though, they kept going until they couldn't find anyone else.

As the shift crawled towards dawn, I was waiting at The Grand to turn over the phone and reservation sheet to Flor. Just as he is pulling down the drive I get a call from a guy at Safeway wanting to go to Wailuku. That was a great way to start his shift. Just before I handed it all over to him, the phone rang again. A driver with La Bella Taxi, out of Kahului/Wailuku, needed assistance with a 2-cab fare from Wailea Point Condos to OGG.. I knew that my co-driver should almost be in Wailea, it was 4:45am, so I told La Bella that we would assist. Now, Murph had a great start also. Flor kept getting more calls but no other drivers had checked in. When Murph showed up, I told him what was going down and then beat feet for home. I was/am tired.

How good was last night?

4 times better than Wednesday!

See y'all tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping by.

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Sunrise Over Mau'i

Loving That Hawai'ian sunshine!

Classic Hawai'ian Beach Scene

Hawai'ian Papaya

Rainbow With Windward Showers

Riding The Trade Wind Breezes

Nice

Riding Waves Offshore From Honolulu

The Beauty Of Kaua'i

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Friday, February 23, 2007

HALLELUJAH!

I BEAT LAST YEAR!

Of course, the 22nd last year was the slowest day of February but it was still over $200 and I beat it. Not by much, but still.....

Picked up, and later returned, a very vivacious 4-some from the Kea Lani last night. Took them to the "Triangle". From Austin, Texas (State Capitol), USA. The lady who rode "shotgun" was in standard Texan "going out on the town" garb. Western-cut blouse, Levi mini-skirt, cowboy boots. She saw my cowboy hat as she entered ONE-NINE and took an instant liking to me. The others were also surprised to find a bearded, gray pony-tailed, old fart wearing a cowboy hat on Mau'i.

I hope I get them again tonight.

Just outside of Austin, on the road to San Antonio (Home of the Alamo), is a city named KYLE. It was named after a very, very distant relative of mine. From what I have read, he was not one of the nicer people to have walked on this planet. KYLE STADIUM, at Texas A&M University (GO AGGIES!), is also named after another lineage of my family name.

*** *** ***

Check this out:

INTERNET TV

I've singed up for both of them. Now on their waiting lists.

I'll be able to watch television again.

FROM EVERYWHERE!!

THE PICTURE GALLERY

KAUA'I

Sunrise
Sheraton Kauai Resort