WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY

GORGEOUS DAY!

This morning's sunrise
My "Silver Trumpet" in the first rays of sunshine

***

The shift started off slow, as is the norm nowadays. Did 5 runs by 2:00am and then did 5 more between then and 6:30am. 75% of my meter came from those last 5, during my solo hours. Finally arrived home just before 7:00am. A 12 hour shift.

My last 2 fares were from the Maui Coast Hotel to OGG. The first was a scheduled 4:45am run and the second was to cover for another taxi company that had failed to make a 5:30am pickup.

The construction still continues on the Mokulele Highway (SR-311) and those bright lights that I have mentioned before still blind you as you approach the transition from the old road to the by-pass detour.

***

The "Triangle" was pretty quiet. This is looking across the FoodLand parking lot towards LAB.
A good example of what we affectionately term a "Maui Cruiser".
Just after I started my shift, I rolled over the 80,000 mile mark on the odometer. You might also note that whoever the previous driver of ONE-NINE was left me with 1/4 tank of gas. Thats chicken-shit.
And gas prices continue climbing.

***

Those 87 flags that I have at the top of this blog are shown on this map. That represents 38% of the nations on this planet.

***

Not a lot to write about today. After 12 hours, I am bushed. Hope the above pics suffice to replace my normal drivel.

I did leave work a very "happy camper".

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Napali Coast
Kaua'i

Garden Of The Gods
Lana'i

West Mau'i Rainbow

Haleakala

Lush Hana Coast
Mau'i

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

MONDAY NIGHT MEAL

WAS AT FRED'S

Woke up early yesterday afternoon. Unlike most of you, Monday is the only day I actually look forward to during the week. While Judy goes to Fred's every Tuesday night for their "$2 Taco Tuesday", I only make it by every month or so.

As I left my home, this is what the tree in the front yard looked like. All resplendent in golden blossoms. I have no idea about what kind of tree it is. My knowledge of trees is limited to "some have leaves" and "some have needles". I also discovered that is was very overcast, with brisk "Trade Winds". Wasn't cold, or even cool, by any stretch of the imagination

My Front Yard

"Fred" Has Been MIA For Awhile
Finally Found His Way Home

Traci

Traci is the cutest "lil'ol'thang". The first time I met her I asked how tall she was. "Not very" was her response. She stands 4 foot 11-3/4 inches. Just a quarter inch shorter than Judy. She is also another smart server. She knows about Judy's seafood problem and always brings her food separately from the others. She is vivacious and very outgoing. Should you go to Fred's, try to get her station and tip her very well, or else.

Judy's View

My View

The South Side Of Fred's

Looking Towards The Kitchen

After dinner, it was grocery shopping on our way back to her house.

"What do you need?"

I asked.

"Everything!"

She replied.

Saturday night I am taking her to Ruth's Kriss Steakhouse. Saturday is her birthday.

Want to help me surprise her?

Send her a birthday greeting, on Friday, to

Judy

***

Have a great week and thanks for stopping over.

See you tomorrow.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Lahaina Rainbow

Haleakala

Kaua'i Taro Farm

Lana'i's "Shipwreck Beach"

Kona Coast

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

WATER, WATER ALL AROUND

BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK

One of the major drawbacks to driving a cab is dehydration. It is a delicate balancing act to keep enough fluids in your system to prevent kidney damage and yet not drink so much as to cause excessive "pit stops" during the shift. We have very few open public restrooms at night and not really that many in the day, either.

I usually have a 12oz (355ml) Pepsi with me, just to "wet the whistle" during the shift. However, when I finally get home, I'll consume up to a gallon (4 liters) of iced tea in no time flat. Of course, that means that I have to get up every 90 minutes or so during my sleep time. After "taking care of business", I usually drink another quart (liter) of tea before crawling back into bed.

***

"QUEEN" NORA AND "FAMILY"

After Bath "Snuggle Time" With Mommy

Not A "Happy Camper"!
But A Great Set Of Lungs.

Chloe & Hula Girl, "Queen" Nora's "Big Sisters" and bodyguards.

You are more than welcome to TRY and get by them without permission. Just leave a note with the contact info for your "next-of-kin" on it. It makes the Medical Examiner's job so much easier.

***

My good buddy, Van, from Maui Action Photos was taking some "stock shots" earlier this week and, when he uploaded them, found a whale waving "good-bye". April 15th is generally considered the end of "Whale Season".

***

All of today's images (except the last one) in THE PICTURE GALLERY are courtesy of Mike W., who sent them to me along with the following wonderful (edited) e-mail:

Wil, if I may call you that, sir, I greatly enjoy your blog. I was a real kick to find it, as my wonderful wife Stacy & I were in Kihei in Sept. I wish that I had found you before then, but alas, we'll just have to make it next time. I planned the trip surrupticiously, even calling Stacy's boss to secure good dates that wouldn't impact the operation (she is the plant controller - in charge of all things accounting in an aerospace facility). This turned out to be a brilliant move on my part (not my opinion, she told me this) as there was no guilt on her part for taking off. We did the condo thing, and it could have been a bit dicey.... the Kihei Surfside was being remodeled, and the damn elevator was out! I felt bad for the folks above us on the 4th floor and up, but heck, we ended up liking it pretty well. The view was excellent, and we were on the go most of the week anyway. We discovered LuLu's and really liked the cocoanut shimp, so that was cool to see the story about you and Judy trying them out. We like to get a car and explore places on our own, but when we return (and we will) I am going to try and get you on a slow night when you need a fare to fill in a slow spot, just to show us around.

Thanks, and please keep up the good work & stay safe.

Mike

Mahalo, Mike. Looking forward to meeting you.

***

As always, I truly appreciate you taking some of your precious time to stop in and peruse my drivel.

Hope to see you again real soon.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Zodiaks At KBR
(Kihei Boat Ramp)

A Beautiful Flower
Garden Of Eden

Near Ho'okipa Beach

Ma'alaea Bay
From Just Below The Clouds
On Haleakala

Sunset
Kihei Surfside

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

YA GOTTA KNOW WHEN TO HOLD'EM

KNOW WHEN TO FOLD'EM

The "Professor" returned to Saturday dispatch last night. My first run wasn't until 10:20pm. My second, and also last, run was a "flag" at 10:55pm. I "pulled the pin" at 11:40pm. It just wasn't worth it. Now he had to cover the graveyard shift. I kept being maneuvered out on runs that canceled prior to my arrival. After buying some necessaries at the grocery store, I came home with less in my pocket than I had started with. Oh, well. Feces occurs. At least I get to start my weekend early.

***

The State has been in the center of a huge Pacific "high" pressure all this past week. This has made for some great sleeping weather in the day for me. Humidity is very low, with very light breezes and temps topping out in the upper 70's to low 80's (25c - 27c). In fact, it has been such great sleeping weather that I actually snored through until my alarm clock went off at 5:50pm a couple of days. Thats very rare. Usually I am awake, not necessarily fully conscious, between 3 and 4 pm. Even those days where I awoke normally, I still just wanted to roll over and return to the "Land of Nod". Bear, my kitty, wasn't enthusiastic about getting up either.

***

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter.

Hope to see y'all again real soon.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

MIDWAY ATOLL

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

DEFINITELY...

A (VERY) GOOD FRIDAY

~ Sue & Ian ~
Newcastle, England, UK
As soon as I logged on, the phone was transferred to me. Thus starts another Friday night. 14 paid runs and one "no pay", only 2 of which were below $10. In other words, one hell of a great night.

Drove 207 miles By 10:30pm, I only had 3 cabs on the road. Myself (ONE-NINE), TMR (#27) and "Crazy" Brian (#09). We never stopped moving. At one point I went around the drive-thru of one of the all night "choke & pukes" and got a burger. 2 hours later I was able to take the first bite out of it. Thats B U S Y!!

The lovely couple above, Sue & Ian, are on Mau'i to visit with their son and his family from Australia. It was easier to meet at a nice "mid-way" point. So it was either Hawai'i or California. Not a difficult choice.

The "high" points of the shift were Sue & Ian's fare, my first trip of the night (to OGG), a "Triangle" to the Harbor in Kahului and a late night trip from the "Triangle" to a private residence in Kahului. By the time I turned ONE-NINE over to "Murph" at 5:00am I was beyond exhausted.

***

Today's PICTURE GALLERY is from the Midway Atoll (Midway Island). Midway is not part of the State of Hawai'i but is part of the Hawai'ian Archipelago. The Hawai'ian State boundary abuts it on the west and south. It was once a U.S. Naval Base but is now administered as an insular area by the U.S. Department of Interior. It is a National Wildlife Refuge. It is the home of the Laysan Albatross (Gooney Bird)

***

Thanks for stopping in. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter Sunday or had one, for those who live where Sunday is over. I hope you can make it back tomorrow.

Mahalo

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Midway Atoll

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"