IF ITS GOING AROUND

I'LL PROBABLY CATCH IT

Thats one of the drawbacks. Being in such intimate contact with people in the confines of a cab means whatever bug they are carrying, the driver is exposed.

I haven't been feeling too perky of late. Nothing to do with the teeth issue, just an ever increasing soreness in all my muscles and joints. Congestion, etc. A summertime cold. I almost called off last night. The spirit was willin' but the body was belly-aching. Mind over matter and off we went. 3 hours later, the body counter-attacked. I came home until 1a. Fretfully cat-napped for a bit. Made it through the graveyard segment. I am NOT going in tonight, though. E-mailed the owner to let him know. Included a suggestion to have Hardin dispatch and I will do his Saturday night shift with the phone. Cajoled my morning relief to come in 2 hours early tomorrow morning to cover the dog-watch. Since it will be Friday night, he'll probably make some decent money. This takes the pressure off of the owner, trying to find someone to cover those hours.

Last night had an aborted start. Checked in and am immediately sent for an OGG. Pulled up and the bellhop advises me that the people had panicked. Forgetting that they had made arrangements with another company to pick them up. My consolation prize was a Renaissance to The Shops. A whopping $5.60! Covered 4 more fares before 10p. Got one bar close and 2 dog-watch, one of which took me to Kahului.

8 fares / 98 miles / 2nd quarter of $100 bracket

***

I have a special photo spread planned for tomorrow. Courtesy of Maui Action Photos. Stop in and check it out.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Lahaina Waterfront
Facing The Harbor

Halloween - 2006
Front Street
Lahaina

Lahaina Cemetary

Haleakala

***

93172



"Let's all be careful out there!"

ANOTHER "FOURTH"

HAS COME AND GONE

Our friend Dogbait made a comment on a post over at g'nightgirl that got me thinking.

From birth, we in America are indoctrinated with national pride. Our national folklore ingrains the qualities most admired in an individual.

Does anyone really believe that Washington threw a Dollar across the Potomac River? Lincoln walked 5 miles, 1 way, to return a few pennies? Forget about the "cherry tree".

Our fervor about America being NUMBER 1, always, is distasteful to even our "friends" around the world. Probably obnoxiously funny, also.

Don't get me wrong. Being born, bred, and also from a career military family, I've been brainwashed more than most. Age has given me the ability to take a few steps back and see the facts from a different POV.

DB, for most people, the Fourth is a day to sleep a bit late. Take the kids to a parade. Burn some animal flesh on a grill. Burp. Get drunk. Watch fireworks. And go back to work the next day. But always in the background are songs, TV shows and advertisements that focus on our national theme and mindset.

Pride suffered greatly after Vietnam. Hollywood put a different "spin" on the facts in movies and TV to bolster our bruised egos. The "godfather" of this movement was the Hollywood "B" movie second lead male, Ronald Reagan. The second worst Governor of California and soon to become the second worst President of modern times, come January 20, 2009.

(Thats gonna get a lot of negative feedback)

Its something we are infused with, DB. Please understand that nothing offensive is meant by it. Its just a part of what makes us, U.S.

***

A decent money night but , again, not really that busy. It was also very muggy last night and each of the drivers were in a crappy mood. Little cooperation amongst each other.

The fireworks at the street level were pretty tame, mostly of the "Safe & Sane" variety. Even though there was almost no wind, the smoke dissipated rapidly. It usually lingers for hours, obscuring the roadways.

This Fourth was about as tame as a new born kitten.

13 fares / 138 miles / 2nd quarter of $200 bracket

***

We are over the "hump day" of an abbreviated work week. It all downhill from here, folks.

Hope to see you tomorrow.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

A Mau'i Sunrise

Haleakala

Rainbow

Halloween - 2006 Front Street Lahaina

***

93074



"Let's all be careful out there!"

INDEPENDENCE DAY

FOURTH OF JULY

"click" to play

Music Video:GOD BLESS THE USA (by Lee Greenwood)

Music Video Code provided by Video Code Zone

Considering that today is a major holiday, you would have thought that we would have been overwhelmed with business last night. Yeah, you would have thought....

It wasn't "dead" but it just wasn't "busy". Not like I thought it would be. I actually did pretty fair for the shift.

• 3 Dinner runs
• 3 Dinner returns
• 0 Bar rush
• 6 Bar close
• 3 Overnights

I have been reviewing my trip sheet for any one fare that "stood out" last night.

Nada.

I told my stupid jokes. Napped. Fretted through my "pet" peeves. Just generally watching the clock the entire shift. Just waiting for my day-shift relief to check-in.

15 fares / 115 miles / bottom quarter $200 bracket

***

While it has been toned down quite a bit since I moved here in January of 1994, the 2 big fireworks days are today and New Year's Eve, with NYE being the more impressive of the 2. Today, permits are required to purchase "true" fireworks/firecrackers but the "Safe & Sane" ones have no restrictions.

Also available, illegally, are bottle rockets, roman candles, skyrockets, right up to commercial display quality and size.

If ya gots de bucks, ya can get da bangs.

The law says you may discharge pyrotechnic devices between the hours of 9p-1a. As dry as the island is, we are currently in drought conditions with voluntary water restrictions, one blown spark could easily ignite a conflagration.

Tonight is a night that you keep your car windows rolled up. Every year, ONE-NINE becomes a target for all types of explosive projectiles. I've lost count of the number of bottle rocket and roman candle hits we've taken over the years.

Check in tomorrow and have a great holiday, today.

DON'T
DRINK
AND
DRIVE!

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Halloween - 2006
Front Street
Lahaina

Rainbow

A Beach In Kihei

Haleakala

Shouldn't You Be Here?

***

92891





"Let's all be careful out there!"

NOT FEELING TOO HOT

SO I CANCELED DINNER

Which is a big disappointment. Monday is the one day I have all to myself and I relish the time I get to spend with Judy. But I broke a rear molar last night and the pain is incredible. Plus it left a needle sharp pinnacle that just loves injecting itself into my tongue.

Ouch!

If I had insurance, I'd see a dentist but, alas, that isn't the case. So, endure until the body makes its necessary adjustments to this new situation. And it will.

***

High School "Coolness" Test

Take it and find out if you are as "cool" now as you were in high school.

***

PAINT JAM

Pump up the volume and enjoy.

***

Enjoy the pix and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Halloween - 2006
Front Street
Lahaina

Kailua Beach
O'ahu

Last Swim Of The Day

Haleakala

Rainbow

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

SUNDAY DISPATCH

SMOOTHING OUT THE EDGES

Started with a 6-cab fleet, 1-reservation and a very nervous owner. It was another high $$ value weekend for everybody. I am not a gambler by nature but I am a very adept tactician. I triage good runs from the bad and try to utilize and maximize each driver's capability. I know that some drive faster than others, thus making it easy to anticipate when they will become available for another call. My goal, when dispatching (mobile on Friday / fixed on Sunday), is to earn the most that I can for the company. I give the hotels honest answers as to time estimate for pickup and am seldom wrong. Yes, I do pad it a bit to allow for unexpected contingencies, but when we show up early, it makes me and the company look good. Never panic and never let the bastards see you sweat. Good street rules that translate well to business.

I also don't accept fares that I know that I cannot cover in a reasonable amount of time. Had to turn down a Four Seasons to OGG, couldn't get a cab there in 15 minutes and I also had other conflicting requests. Likewise with a Speedi-Shuttle hand-off.

Speedi-Shuttle has a major problem with their dispatch procedures. Their vehicles are tracked by GPS, so they know where each one is at any given moment yet they always call in a panic because one of their nit-wit operators can't figure out in advance that they don't have a van to pick up that flight crew. My analogy is watching a butcher with missing fingers. Yeah, they do the job but they don't do it well.

When I do screw up, and I do at times, I don't fret about it. Thats just a waste of time and energy. Its the proverbial "spilt milk". Correct the problem and move on. As any General will tell you, the first casualty of war is the "battle plan". Its what you do to adapt to the fluid events that determines the winner.

90 phone calls / 247 radio calls

I was glad when it was over though. I was wearing down rapidly. Calls diminish rapidly on Sunday night and there are quiet periods. The bar close is the final death rattle of the shift.

Dinner with Judy tonight.

See you tomorrow.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Upcountry Mau'i

Halloween - 2006
Front Street
Lahaina

Keawakapu Beach
Kihei

Haleakala

Ka'anapali

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

I WONDER IF BMW COULD

ASSIST THIS POOR LASS?








"Let's all be careful out there!"