PAGING "DOCTOR" HOLLY

YOUR CAR HAS ARRIVED

***

Every grocery store and convenience store in Kihei purveys alcoholic spirits. We only have one true "Liquor Store". Aloha Discount Liquor is located in the Rainbow Mall, which is just a fancy name for a small strip center just north of Denny's on south Kihei Road. Their window displays are always unique.
"Pau Hana" is the local term for the end of the work day.

"Where's da kine?"
"He pau hana."

LAB (Life's A Beach) also has some notices and bills posted.

Just like last night, I had a total of 6 fares. 5 between 7:00pm and 2:00am and 1 between 2:00am and 5:00am. The only difference was that I didn't get a run out of town. I metered exactly $60.00 for the shift. That sucks. I did pretty good in tips though, one gave me $20 on a $10.10 and another gave $20 on a $5.90.

Judy called me just as I arrived at The Grand to start my shift. She needed a ride home at about 7:50pm. The people she works with threw her a surprise B'day party. Smorgy food, lots of "Ta-Kill-Ya" and some really nice presents. She is a fun drunk. Doesn't get loud, doesn't get sick and after three shots she also doesn't know the meaning of the word "NO". However, she does know not to drink and drive. Got her home, had a glass of iced tea and watched her fall asleep on her couch. I closed and locked her doors as I departed. Okay, I DO LOVE HER but we both know that we are not compatible. "Best Friends" is as good as it will ever get. We are both too bull-headed and when issues arise, neither one of us is willing to compromise. She knows that she can trust me implicitly when she has had a wee bit too much to drink.

I have also passed on all the "HI's" that some of you have asked me to give her and she says "HI" right back at ya.

***

Wednesday night at Bada Bings is Mehu night. Right around bar close, some macho asshole decided that he would wander over and do a little "gay-bashing". He was at least 6'4" tall, about 230#. Very muscular. His "victim" was a little 5'6" guy, maybe 130#, who also just happened to have a 3rd degree black belt in Tai-Quan-Do. The cops responded to "pick up the pieces". The only blood on the "victim" was from the "assailant". I like it when things like that happen, don't you?

***

Stopped by the new owners house on the way into work to drop off some trip sheets and money. Larry casually mentioned that very few of my co-workers have neutral feelings about me. I am either vehemently hated or greatly admired. Thats par for the course.

LOL

***

Since it was so slow, I don't have a lot to relate. Check back again tomorrow. Okay?

Mahalo

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Double Rainbow

Ka'anapali Beach
Mau'i

Warm Trade Winds
Beautiful Days

Moloka'i
Much Of The Island Is Agricultural

Haleakala National Park

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

"SPRING BREAK"

IS GOING, GOING AND (ALMOST) GONE

~ Emily & Melissa ~
"City Of Angels"

Started the night with an unscheduled Grand to OGG. A nice guy headed home to Atlanta, Georgia, USA. About 4 minutes into the trip, Judy calls. She has dinner at Fred's every Tuesday night with her co-workers. Tuesday is $2-Taco night. I told her what I was doing and that it would be about 45 minutes before I could fetch her. The airport was virtually empty when I arrived. Its been a very long time since I have seen so few people there. Picked her up 5 minutes later than I had guesstimated. I log her run but don't (never will) collect from her. A hour later I score fare #3 and an hour after that, #4. #5 came 3 minutes later and then nothing until 3:40am, my only "graveyard" fare. #22, Prim, logged on for day-shift at 3:25am and I gave him the phone and reservations by 4:00am and "beat feet" for home. All-in-all, I was pretty lucky. Considering how quiet it was I still managed to put $80 in my pocket for the shift. As you faithful readers know, there have been many nights worse.

Took this image of the FoodLand parking lot, across from the "Triangle" about 11:30pm. You can see all the cars that AREN'T there.
Turned 90 degrees left and the only vehicles in the lot were just regular FoodLand shoppers.
Normally, this parking lot is jammed with "Triangle" patrons. My graveyard fare was Donna, a bartender at Kahale's. She said she only did about 50% of normal for her shift in sales.

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LOOKING BACK (AND FORWARD)

While Paradise Driver was one year old back on Valentine's Day, I didn't really start "tracking" visitors until April 4th of last year. So this is what has happened over the last 365 days.

Daily / Weekly / Monthly (from Stat-Counter)

I have had 27,717 unique visitors, who generated 36,536 page loads. Which is 100 page loads and 76 visitors per day, on average. The largest number of visits were when the earthquake hit back in October. Right after I activated this counter, Melissa Plaut (New York Hack), included me in her first list of other cabbies around the world. But the surge from that noteworthy event didn't last long. The holiday season really kicked this blog's ass, as you can see in the graphs.

The nice thing about doing these daily (rare among bloggers) postings is the wonderful people I have met. Many of whom I consider as friends in this virtual world.

I am still following up on a couple of ideas that my "internet whiz" suggested, so there are still changes coming down the pike.

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URBAN LEGEND

To all who have commented on the Lee Marvin story. I knew it was an "urban legend" when I published it. So, why did I perpetuate it? Because it is a great yarn. A "feel good" story. No one is/was harmed by it. All these detractors seem to have this overwhelming desire to bring icons down to their level of mundane existence. Enough already! Learn to lighten up some and enjoy life. Oh, and don't debunk our other cultural myths about Santa, the Tooth Fairie and the Easter Bunny. I'll believe in what I want to believe in, regardless of what the facts say.

***

Mahalo for coming by and I hope you can find your way back here again tomorrow.

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Wildflowers Abound

Sugar Cane Mill

I'olani Palace

Hana Highway

A Lovely Day To "Go Beach"

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

AN EVENING OF

SURPRISES!

Judy has had a very physical week. Her predecessor had never developed a filing system. Each new load of paperwork and mail would just be piled atop what was already there. At the end of each month she would dump everything from the top of her desk into boxes, which were then stored. Unlabeled. This was done over the past 20 years or so.

Judy has been going through the boxes, creating a file system. Those CSI folks aren't half as good as her.

On our way to dinner, I surprised Judy by buying her a new dress. I had seen it displayed in a nice little shop inside the Maui Coast Hotel. I told her it was an early birthday present.

She then surprised me with a gift certificate from Stella Blue's, a popular restaurant in Azeka Place - Mauka.

"Can you eat there?"
"I've had lunch there once. I'll just have to order carefully."
"Lets check it out."

We weren't impressed. The interior is very tropically pleasing. Almost an island 1920's "feeling" to it.

Service was sub-par and we'll leave it at that.

The food was adequate, both in flavor and presentation.

I have listened to their radio promos for years and the impression they had created in my anticipation was vastly disappointed.

A definite "THUMBS DOWN".

***

Thanks for visiting. Back to work, and hopefully some stories of interest, tomorrow. It's my "Monday". Sometimes I think I should have followed my H.S. guidance councilor's advice and become a ditch-digger. Of course, shes dead now and I'm living on Mau'i. LOL

Mahalo

Aloha

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WHY PARENTS HAVE GRAY HAIR

A father, passing by his son's bedroom, was astonished to see the bed nicely made up and everything neat and tidy. Then he saw an envelope propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed, "Dad".

With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:

Dear Dad,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with you and Mom. I've been finding real passion with Joan and she is so nice. I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing, tattoos, her tight motorcycle clothes and because she is so much older than I am. But it's not only the passion, Dad, she's pregnant. Joan says that we are going to be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood, enough for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Joan has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it and trading it with the
other people in the commune for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want. In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Joan can get better; she sure deserves it! Don't worry Dad, I'm 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Someday, I'm sure we'll be back to visit so you can get to know your grandchildren.

Chad

P.S. Dad,
none of the above is true .I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my desk drawer.

I love you!

Call when it is safe for me to come home.

***

EASTER IS CANCELED!

There I was, driving my cab, ONE-NINE, and I couldn't stop in time. He just ran out in front of me.

I am so, so sorry.

I thought I would give you a"heads up" so you can fall back on "Plan-B".

***

Remember that cute little Coppertone girl with her dog pulling on her blue bathing suit bottoms during the late 50's and throughout the 60's?

Well, she's all grown up now, and is living in Sarasota, Florida at Siesta Key Beach.....

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Windward O'ahu

The Moloka'i Pali

Kaua'i Taro Fields

South Mau'i
From The "House Of The Sun"

Hyatt Regency

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

ANOTHER MONDAY

DON'T YOU JUST HATE THEM

As promised, here are a couple of pics of my Grandson Zac. One is with his mom, Kellie, and the other is with his dog, Harley. Its been 4 years since have have seen him. Apparently he is very popular with the girls in his high school. He loves to play football, snowboard and he just earned his driver's license.

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NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3- and 4-star generals at Arlington National Cemetery . His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer:

I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't know the extent of his Corps experiences. In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces, often in rear echelon posts where they were carefully protected (like former President Ronald Reagan), only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher award... the Medal Of Honor!

If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.

Dialog from "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson": His guest was Lee Marvin. Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima ...and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."

"Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the bottom and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting' shot hauling you down. But,Johnny, at Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the Cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life.
That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, "Where'd they get you Lee?" "Well Bob... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!"

Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew.

The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this wimpy little man on PBS, gentle and quiet. Fred Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat

After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life. He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm.

America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did; they quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best. They've earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy.

Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst.

Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened

Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captain Kangaroo or Mr.Rogers

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Sunrise View From Haleakala
Sugar Cane Field Burning In The Lower Right Foreground

Sprouting Kona Flower

Lets Go Beach

I Am NOT Taking Any Calls
To Sleep, Perchance To Dream

Okay. You have Your Dreams.
I Have Mine

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"