Paradise Driver

Monday, January 01, 2007

HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As I drove home from Judy's, the smoke in the air was so thick that you could only see maybe 100 meters. Both of our cats spent most of the evening hiding under their respective beds.

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A lot of you are waking up with some massive hangovers. When the synapses in you brain start firing correctly check out the following:

Most of us have an idea of the relative size of the planets and sun,
but it's rather dazzling to see it presented this way.

I certainly thought this was enlightening.
And I thought it was big to THIS point.....

Antares is the 15th brightest star in the sky.
It is more than 1000 light years away.

Today's PICTURE GALLERY is from my new 2007 calendar.

THE PICTURE GALLERY

JANUARY - IANUALI

Long, Golden Sand Of Big Beach
Makena, Mau'i

FEBRUARY - PEPELUALI

Popular Snorkrling Site
Honolua Bay, Mau'i

MARCH - MALAKI

Peaceful Ka'anapali Beach
Mau'i

APRIL - 'APELILA

Sunset Over Ulua Beach
On The Southwest Shore
At Wailea

MAY - MEI

Lush Forest Surrounds 'Iao Needle
Mau'i

JUNE - IUNE

Palms Swaying At Wailea Beach
Mau'i

JULY - IULAI

Beautiful Molokini
Just Off Mau'i's Coast

AUGUST - 'AUKAKE

Glowing Kapalua Beach On The West Shore
Mau'i

SEPTEMBER - KEPAKEMAPA

Colorful Sunset On The West Shore
Moloka'i

OCTOBER - 'OKAKOPA

Lahaina Harbor
And Distant West Mau'i Mountains

NOVEMBER - NOWEMAPA

Mother And Calf Share A Tranquil Moment
In Waters Off Of Mau'i

DECEMBER - KEKEMAPA

Wailea Beach
Fronting The Grand Wailea Resort

To get your own copy of this calendar, and other items, go to:

WelcomeToTheIslands.com

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Sunday, December 31, 2006

AND THUS ENDS

ANOTHER WEEK, MONTH, YEAR

Did some finanglin' and have enough to cover my obligations on the !st. So that means that for the first time since I moved to Mau'i, 13 years ago - next month, I will not be working on New Year's Eve. I am also off New Year's Day.

I can't express how happy I am. No amateur drunks, no pukers, no drunk "jay-walkers" (dressed all in black), no screaming passengers who crank the stereo up to maximum volume,. no dodging "Roman Candles" and "Bottle Rockets" fired at "ONE-NINE".

I am going to have a couple of drinks at Judy's, watch our time adjusted view of the ball dropping in New York and listen to the hours of fireworks that are an annual tradition in Hawai'i. I have been in active free-fire combat zones that were quieter than Mau'i on New Year's Eve.

Of course, I live at the end of the world's day. It is already 2007 in Kiwi and Oz and other points in the far east.

If anyone should happen to drop by here today, you can go here to watch the show, activities and "ball drop" in NYC live on the internet. I think the webcast begins around 9:00pm New York time (UTC -5). Check it out.

AND FINALLY...

I wish each and everyone of you
that 2006 be the worst year of you life.

THE PICTURE GALLERY

O'AHU

Territorial Office Building

Tomb Of King William Lunalilo

U.S.S. Arizona And U.S.S. Missouri

U.S.S. Arizona Memorial
As Seen From Bridge Of USS Missouri

U.S.S. Missouri, BB-63

U.S.S. Missouri, BB-63
16-inch Guns

U.S.S. Missouri, BB-63
Insturment Of Japanese Surrender

U.S.S. Missouri, BB-63
"Mighty Mo"

U.S.S. Missouri, BB-63
Plaque Commemorating Japanese Surrender

USS Arizona Memorial
Honor Roll
Pearl Harbor

USS Arizona Memorial
Pearl Harbor

Wai'anae Mountains
Central Oahu

Waikiki
As Seen From The Top Of Diamond Head

Waikiki Beach And Diamond Head

Waikiki
Looking Towards Diamond Head

Waikiki Rainbow

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"Let's all be careful out there!"

Saturday, December 30, 2006

FINALLY!

SOMETHING RESEMBLING "NORMAL"

I have had a pretty decent week, so far. While the mileage has varied quite a bit, the meter has been consistently in the mid-$200's This is about 20% below what I normally got for a night on prior Holiday periods (adjusted as necessary for the rate change on January 6th, this year).

Looks like I'll meet my obligations this month by working New Years Eve. I am so close to meeting my goal, just not close enough. Feces occurs [sigh].

The only lull period last night was between 11:00pm and Midnight. Before and after that break we were "Rockin' 'n' Rollin' ".At some points the wait for a cab did pass 30 minutes, but that was not too frequent nor long most of the shift. While we often had no available cabs, the call frequency was varying enough that we had one "clearing" when the next call came in. That makes it easier for me to dispatch. Waaay easier.

The tourists finally started going out for dinner and bar hopping last night. It was the first night this season that the volume of tourist business exceeded the "local" runs. $10 to $15 fares typically hand you a Twenty and "keep the change". For the $5 to $7 fares it was a Ten with the same instructions. Of course there were exceptions. $13 on a $12.80 and $20 on a $6.50. Hate the former. Love the later.

Not one unusual nor obnoxious passenger the entire shift. Now thats rare!
Even the callers were pretty much intelligent. Only had to [click] one call.

A profitable but boring night.

THE PICTURE GALLERY

O'AHU

Skylight Of The Territorial Office Building