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!"

BETWEEN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

GAS DROPPED 14-CENTS PER GALLON

I literally did a "double take" when I saw this last night. I must only presume that some form of hidden tax was eliminated. Thats going to help our "bottom line".

***

Another active (and profitable) night.

142 miles / 15 fares / first quarter of $200 bracket

My co-driver, "Murph", left me a "special" at 8p to OGG. It was my second fare of the shift. Followed by 3 dinner returns. 6 bar rush and 4 bar close. Zilch during my solo hours. Day shift was busy yesterday and are swamped this morning.

$$KA -CHING$$

***

Our favorite brain-dead blond cab pisser is back in Wailea. She's been seen in a couple of the hotels. Sporting a black wig.

A phone call from the "Twin Cities" first alerted me. Backed up by some passengers who had seen her and later verified by people in the two hotels she likes to frequent. Due to her gross misconduct, 19 months ago, she'll have to find other means of transportation. She used to use us on every visit.

I guess she needed a little R&R after her arduous 3 weeks in the Los Angeles County jail. I heard she found "religion" while incarcerated. Yeah. Right.

***

Dispatching from home again tonight. Figured out some ways to refine and simplify the paperwork and thus make it a bit easier.

See ya soon.

Mahalo

Aloha

---

THE PICTURE GALLERY
images above asteriks
courtesy: Bill Bowen
Mahalo!

Sunset Canoe
Big Island

Lava Bridge
Volcanoes National Park

Orchid
Lava Tree

Silversword
Haleakala

Tikis
City Of Refuge
Big Island

***

92523




"Let's all be careful out there!"