THERE'S A BAD MOON ON THE RISE

FULL MOON MADNESS

All the signs pointed to a good shift.

The Shops at Wailea had more people than I had ever seen.

The weather was dry and the temperature was 75f/24c. A very light breeze.

A full moon was rising.

It was so slow that the usual "die hard" day drivers didn't even stay late, trying to earn that extra dollar.

By 2:00am, I had only had 6 runs. Normally I have 15-20.

The most fun run of the night was at "bar close". Two young ladies from Danville, CA, USA. A town, now city, that I patrolled a long time ago.

Their names are Natalie and Monica

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GAS PRICES

Still on the rise

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DIE HARD

I worked until almost 8:00am.

We had 4 cabs scheduled to be on-duty by 6:00am, but we had 4 scheduled runs between 6:15am and 6:45am. That would mean no coverage for all those unscheduled walkouts that want to go golfing, etc.

Picked up the 6:15am run from the Mau'i Coast to OGG. It was my biggest $$$ run of the night.

The sunrise caught me as I was leaving Kahului.

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MOONSET

Yesterday, the 13th, was the "full moon" and the moonset was gorgeous.

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"wanna take a ride?"

This video was made on my ride home from OGG. It starts just before I enter Wailea and takes you to THE GRAND.


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Later.....

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

I'VE HAD WORSE NIGHTS, BUT NOT MANY

WALKING INTO HEAVEN

When you enter the Grand Wailea you are greeted by some beautiful sculpture.

Just past the foyer there are two displays of native Hawai'ian dancers.


Three lifesize kanes (men) are on your left.





Three lifesize wahines (women) are on your right.




Just a few steps further and you are greated by the grandeur.

A mermaid awaits your beckon, while the Botero Bar behind her is ready to serve you whatever exotic drink imaginable.

Then you glance skyward to embrace the splendor.

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KINDERGARDEN CAR

Remember when you were in your 1st and second year of school?

Remember drawing and painting different scenes and images about your life?

Remember what the cars you drew looked like?

I bet it kind of resembled this:


It is a Scion xB


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THE MOON

All night long the Moon danced with the clouds.



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LAST NIGHT

At "bar close" (2:00am), I had a total of 3 runs. Thats pretty sad. The other drivers hadn't done any better and went home to "lick their wounds".

I managed to eek out three more runs during my solo hours of the night.

The most interesting, and most $$$ (this run doubled what I had on the meter for the night) was the result of a head-on traffic collision.

My passengers were the four people riding in this pickup truck.


The drunk driver of this vehicle crossed the center line of the road.

Thankfully, no one involved was seriously injured.
I took the victims home to Lahaina, about 25 miles away. The police made other arrangements for the drunk.

And wouldn't you know it. The phone rang three times within 5 minutes after I had started this run. Other people wanting a cab. Since I am the only cab in south Mau'i after 2:00am, they were S.O.L.

Ended the shift with 6 trips. The "take home" was actually decent.
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MOONSET/SUNRISE



They sort of play out Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicals.
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Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be%

INTERNET EXPLORER

MY APOLOGIES

For the first time I have been able to view my blog using IE.

It is really "screwed up!"

I will try and find out where there is a "code" error in the template that causes the "sidebar" to drop way off to the bottom of the page. It may take a while.

Time to hit the shower and head off to work. :)

==============================================

Later.....

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

TUESDAY "TV" TEST

TEST VIDEO

This is a TEST.

This is only a TEST.

In the event of an actual emergency,
bend over and kiss your ekole good-bye.

I am experimenting with the use of video at Paradise Driver. A very amateur effort.

"click" the arrow in the center of the screen to start the video.


Mahalo's to "gnightgirl" at This Just In for the concept.
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Later.....

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

MONDAY MADNESS

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT WOMEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:

1. She is not a "BABE" or a "CHICK" -
She is a "BREASTED AMERICAN."

2. She is not a "SCREAMER" or a "MOANER" -
She is "VOCALLY APPRECIATIVE."

3. She is not "EASY" -
She is "HORIZONTALLY ACCESSIBLE."

4. She is not a "DUMB BLONDE" -
She is a "LIGHT-HAIRED DETOUR OFF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY."

5. She has not "BEEN AROUND" -
She is a "PREVIOUSLY-ENJOYED COMPANION."

6. She is not an "AIRHEAD" -
She is "REALITY IMPAIRED."

7. She does not get "DRUNK" or "TIPSY" -
She gets "CHEMICALLY INCONVENIENCED"

8. She does not have "BREAST IMPLANTS" -
She is "MEDICALLY ENHANCED."

9. She does not "NAG" you -
She becomes "VERBALLY REPETITIVE."

10. She is not a "TRAMP" -
She is "SEXUALLY EXTROVERTED."

11. She does not have "MAJOR LEAGUE HOOTERS" -
She is "PECTORALLY SUPERIOR."

12. She is not a "TWO-BIT HOOKER" -
She is a "LOW COST PROVIDER."


HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT MEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:

1. He does not have a "BEER GUT" -
He has developed a "LIQUID GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY."

2. He is not a "BAD DANCER" -
He is "OVERLY CAUCASIAN."

3. He does not "GET LOST ALL THE TIME" -
He "INVESTIGATES ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS."

4. He is not "BALDING" -
He is in "FOLLICLE REGRESSION."

5. He is not a "CRADLE ROBBER" -
He prefers "GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS."

6. He does not get "FALLING-DOWN DRUNK" -
He becomes "ACCIDENTALLY HORIZONTAL."

7. He does not act like a "TOTAL ASS" -
He develops a case of "RECTAL-CRANIAL INVERSION."

8. He is not a "MALE CHAUVINIST PIG" -
He has "SWINE EMPATHY."

9. He is not afraid of "COMMITMENT" -
He is "RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED."

10. He is not "HORNY" -
He is "SEXUALLY FOCUSED."

11. It's not his "CRACK" you see hanging out of his pants -
It's "REAR CLEAVAGE."
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GOING TO DINNER

My friends, Dave and Judy, have invited me over to their house for dinner tonight. As I have mentioned before, having a "home cooked meal" is a real treat for this bachelor. Oh, I am a very good cook, also, but I just hate to cook for myself. Usually 2+ hours of preparation and then 15-30 minutes to consume the meal. Also, I have trouble just cooking for one person (me). I tend to make enough to feed 4 to 6 people and then have to eat the same thing for the next week. Boring.

Judy is my unqualified best friend. We have known each other for over 26 years. We have never been a "couple", have never been "involved". We have suffered and shined through our marriages, our divorces, helped raise each others kids and always have been there for the other when facing "trying" times or sharing joyous events. I love her very deeply.

After Judy and Dave married, in 2001, it took him a while to understand that I was not a threat to their relationship and we have become friends.

BTW - he's the one cooking tonight and he is a great chef. He actually was a chef in one of the better restaurants, now out-of-business, on Mau'i for a long time.

Aloha, 'til tomorrow. :)
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HAWAI'IANA:






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Later.....

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

TRANSLATOR UPGRADED

You may have noticed that I have changed this blog's translator.

Increased the number of language capabilities from 8 to 12.

The languages now available are:

CHINESE - traditional
CHINESE - simple
DUTCH
FRENCH
GERMAN
GREEK
ITALIAN
JAPANESE
KOREAN
PORTUGUESE
RUSSIAN
SPANISH

If anyone would like to add this to their english language blog, just send me an e-mail for the code.
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Later.....

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

WHERE ARE YOU?

ADDRESSES

Bob, over at TAXI TALES, posted about the difficulty in locating addresses. There were a lot of comments from readers relating their difficulty in the various locales in which they live.

Obviously, this is a worldwide problem.

It's no different here on Mau'i.

First, we have street names that most people really "butcher" when trying to pronounce them.

When you finally determine where they are at , you hope that the address is easily readable from the street

If not this:

Then at least this:

This is what you usually get












MY MAILBOX

It also has reflective numbers on the side of the box.

I wonder if King Kamehameha-I had this much trouble locating people?

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GOOD NIGHT

Do to unforeseen circumstances, I didn't have to start dispatching until 9:30pm. Great way to start the shift! 2-1/2 hours of peaceful driving with no phone!

Everybody stayed busy and made money.

The most notable ride of the night was a 3-pax from Tsunami's to WorldMark about 12:30am.

The two ladies were very nice. Their male companion was a loud, obnoxious, overly intoxicated boar (bore?). He had been escorted from Tsunami's by hotel security.

As he entered my cab he was yelling "Take us to 'Trend West'", repeatedly. I was busy on the phone and was involved in radio traffic with two of my drivers, trying to organize their runs. I had to tell him to "sit down and shut-up."

During the ride, we diverted to FoodLand for one of the ladies' needs. Repeatedly, I had to admonish the male that it was not necessary to yell, since he was seated next to me, on the front passenger seat. He took umbrage to my statements, but the ladies in the backseat told him to "shut up" and that he was the one being rude, not the cabbie (me).

The ladies apologized profusely for the man's belligerence and tipped me very generously at the end of the trip.

After 2:00am, the town died and I spent the next few hours photographing mailboxes.
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Later.....

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

GET LEI'D ON MAU'I

LEI GIRL

Daniella

We have a unique occupation on Mau'i. A "Lei Girl." These young ladies circulate the restaurants and bars during the night with their baskets of beautiful flowers.

A great way for comely new arrivals to earn an income and begin "networking" for better job opportunities.
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HOT ROD

The affinity for "hotrods" and classic cars even extends to Mau'i.
This is the first time I have seen this one.





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LEASON LEARNED

The following two pics are totally useless. I am only posting them as examples of being careful when using a "flash" near reflective material. My "from experience" little camera lesson for the day.


Its a shame that last one didn't come out. It showed MPD's latest weapon on crime. The ATV patrol. Pictured are Officers HINCKLE and BROWN starting patrol of Kalama Park and the "Triangle". I'll try for a better shot down the road.
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LAST NIGHT

Looking back over the recent posts, I've noticed that I have been in a negative mood about business. I really shouldn't complain. I am making money, more than enough to cover my needs, and I am having a good time doing it.

So, I'll just let last night fade away by noting that there were no interesting fares or incidents.
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MOON SET


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Later.....

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