A FORREST GUMP NIGHT

I NEVER KNEW WHAT I WAS GOING TO GET

MPDs visible presence was limited to 5 Tac-Squad officers and more frequent patrol of the perimeter of the "Triangle" by marked units. This AMR ambulance parked for a few hours at one of the chained entrances, until they had to respond to a call. It caught the drunken reveler's attention.

"Eh, brah. Whats the ambulance here for?"

"To sew your face back on when your ol' lady bitch slaps you for being stupid."

I had a "special" last night, taking Pat & Ray to dinner for his 75th birthday. They return to London on the 17th. About 30 minutes before I was to pick them up I got a fare to OGG out of Wailea. So I had TMR cover for me. I did do their return after dinner and they asked me not to send that cab for them again. They didn't have a problem with TMR but #27 is rapidly reaching the end of its cab-life. They were seriously concerned that they weren't going to complete the 1 mile journey to the restaurant. It has spent more time over the past couple of months in the repair shop than on the road. A couple of gazillion miles on the odometer and the lack of truly qualified mechanics on this hunk of rock. It shouldn't be around much longer. It is the last of our Chevy Astrovans.

We haven't set the time yet but I'll be taking them to dinner on Valentine's Day.

The mobile radio in #14 went on the fritz. Which was a real pain, as I was dispatching. Had to scramble to get a portable radio. Until I did, I was taking calls and then having to call another driver to broadcast the assignment. That raises the tension level between the shoulder blades. I know what the problem is and sent an e-mail to the owner advising him. 10 minutes in the radio shop will fix it. That is, whenever we can get it in.

No thats not thunder. Just me grumbling very loudly.

For a Friday, things were quiet but better than the rest of the week has been. 1/3rd of my fares were "specials", so giving out my personal cell number is paying off. Every week I get more and more direct business, bypassing the dispatch system. Hey, whatever it takes to make a buck. Right? Also, 1/3rd of my fares were after bar close. Which kept me active on the dog-watch.

No obnoxious drunks, no pukers, no trouble makers. Over all, a decent shift.

12 fares / 142 miles / 4th quarter $100 bracket

One more night to go. Stop by tomorrow and see how it went.

Mahalo

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

***

Over The Limit?
UNDER ARREST!
Please don't drink and drive

"Let's all be careful out there!"

THIRD THURSDAY...

IN A ROW

There was no trouble last night. It was a bit warmer than last week and there were more people at the bars.
There was notable Police presence, but not as extensive as the last 2 Thursdays. From what I have heard, there is a gang race tribal war expected between the Tongans and the Hawai'ians. The Tactical Alert for the Police will be every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night until, at least, the end of the month. The Alert has now been extended to include the bar areas of Lahaina, Kahului, Pa'ia and Makawao. Which explains the downsized show of force. There are only so many cops available. Had to make the broth a bit thinner.

In the late '90's, there was a war on Big Beach involving over 100 individuals, Tongans vs Hawai'ians. There aren't that many police officers on the street!

This animosity existed long before the arrival of Europeans and the "Rule of Law" is overridden by "Tribal Pride", in an eye-blink.

I dispatch tonight. Each week its one day later than the prior week Every 6th week I have a "bye". I love that week!

More and more "hospitality" people telling me that reservations are up for next week. How do you keep your hopes up with out becoming too vunerable to disappointment? Thats the reason why "feces occurs" is my favorite expression.

9 fares / 74 miles / 1st quarter $100 bracket

Enjoy your weekend! I'll be here if you want to drop by.

Mahalo

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

***

Over The Limit?
UNDER ARREST!
Please don't drink and drive

"Let's all be careful out there!"

OPENING SOON...

AT A HARBOR NEAR ME

Beach Bums Bar & Grill will be opening very soon in Ma'alaea. It is going into the old Blue Marlin location at the Ma'alaea Shops. Had the owners in the cab last night. We exchanged cards. I hope it is popular, that'll get us some nice runs to just about everywhere on the island.

***

Want to win a free trip to Mau'i?

Maui: how bad do you want it?

***

Some interesting statistics. That is, if you like statistics. Scroll down a bit for the article. Poorly designed site.

***

What if everything, I mean our entire universe, is just some 6th graders science project in an alternate universe? To be discarded at the end of the school year. Or worse, an ant farm on some bedroom shelf.

***

8 fares / 59 miles / 3rd quarter below $100 bracket

To those that this applies to:

What did you give up for Lent?

Have a really fantastic day. Try to make it by tomorrow. Its Thursday "fight night" at the "Triangle". Always good for at least one story. Which is more than I could dig up for today.

Mahalo

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

***

Over The Limit?
UNDER ARREST!
Please don't drink and drive

"Let's all be careful out there!"

THE RUMOR IS...

WE MIGHT BE BUSY NEXT WEEK

<== This is Jack-in-the-Box (a regional fast food "choke & puke") when it is open.
<== Here it is closed.



How hard is it to figure out when your exterior lights are supposed to be on? Everytime I go through, I tell the shift manager that not only are the exterior lights off but so is the menu board. It hasn't done one bit of good. Feces occurs.

***

The first 3 runs I had were of my own making (and luck). The radio was dead for Wailea calls, where I was stuck. 8:30 PM a lady walks up to me at The Shops and asks to be taken next door to a resort. Only $4.40 but it broke the ice for the night and she gave me $10 and "keep the change".

As soon as 9:00 PM arrived, I moved into Kihei, where I knew there had to be some people at the "Triangle". By 9:16 PM I had another shorty "flag", a regular going home. Then my cell rang and it was one of my regulars needing a ride home from work, at a Wailea resort, to Maui Meadows, a sub-division located just east of the Wailea/Kihei demarcation line. Then The Fates smiled on me and had another fare waiting just 2 streets away. My fisrt "radio" call. A roundtrip to a convenience store about 2 miles away.

Then it died. CSI: dead.

I had one bar-rush and then the same folks on my only bar-close.

The dog-watch brought a nice surprise. Some folks at MMMC (hospital) needing to get back to their Wailea resort. I had almost taken them to MMMC, earlier, but was canceled when the resort security decided an ambulance would be more practical. When I picked them up she was walking as if she were a hand puppet being performed. I asked where they were from, he responded and the conversation died right there. The resort paid for the cab.

8 fares / 90 miles / 1st quarter $100 bracket

It rained yesterday. I didn't realize that until I opened my door to head for work. No wind nor downpours, just a nice soft steady rain. Of course that does explain why I was pretty well crippled up in muscular and skeletal pain until almost 9:00 PM. When the rain stopped.

A friend of mine, who manages one of the 4 restauants at The Shops, told me that their bookings for next week are doubled. That means that either the visitor count will be going up or there are some free-spending "groups" showing up. Hope some of that spills over to us. We could sure use it.

I am off to bed, still "achy sore" all over. Everyone have a fantastic day. Hope to see you tomorrow.

Mahalo

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

***

Over The Limit?
UNDER ARREST!
Please don't drink and drive

"Let's all be careful out there!"

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

GOOD FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Well, here is my new Taxicab Driver's Permit:
And this is the blowup of the ID photo. Getting uglier by the year

***

Frank was excited about his new rifle and decided to try bear hunting. He traveled up to Alaska, spotted a small brown bear and shot it.

Soon after there was a tap on his shoulder, and he turned around to see a big black bear. The black bear said, "That was a very bad mistake. That was my cousin. I'm going to give you two choices. Either I maul you to death or we have sex."

After considering briefly, Frank decided to accept the latter alternative. So the black bear had his way with Frank. Even though he felt sore for two weeks, Frank soon recovered and vowed revenge. He headed out on another trip to Alaska where he found the black bear and shot it dead.

Right after, there was another tap on his shoulder. This time a huge grizzly bear stood right next to him. The grizzly said, "That was a big mistake, Frank. That was my cousin and you've got two choices: Either I maul you to death or we have 'rough sex'."

Again, Frank thought it was better to cooperate with the grizzly bear than be mauled to death. So the grizzly had his way with Frank. Although he survived, it took several months before Frank fully recovered. Now Frank was completely outraged, so he headed back to Alaska and managed to track down the grizzly bear and shot it.

He felt sweet revenge, but then, moments later, there was a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to find a giant polar bear standing there. The polar bear looked at him and said, "Admit it Frank, you don't come here for the hunting, do you?"

***

Grandma and Grandpa were driving from Washington to Florida to attend their granddaughter's graduation from medical school. Halfway through their trip, they stopped to visit one of their sons in Kansas for a night. Grandpa found a bottle of Viagra in the medicine cabinet. He asked his son about using one of the pills. The son said, "I don't think you should take one Dad, they're very strong and very expensive."
"How much?" asked Grandpa. "Around $10.00 a pill," answered the son.
"I don't care," said Grandpa, "I'd still like to try one, and we'll be leaving early in the morning, so I'll put the money under the pillow."

Later the next morning, the son found $110.00 under the pillow. He immediately called Grandpa on his cell phone and said, "I told you each pill was $10.00, not $110.00."

"I know," said Grandpa. "The hundred is from Grandma"

***

Another "day" of work, tonight. Talked to some of the day-drivers and they are complaining about the drop in business also.

Hope to see you tomorrow,

Mahalo

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

***

Over The Limit?
UNDER ARREST!
Please don't drink and drive

"Let's all be careful out there!"