7-7-7

DO YOU FEEL LUCKY?

I am off sick, but I wouldn't abandon my loyal readers. Enjoy!

Should be back at it again tomorrow.

***

Brisk "Trades" and a south swell have made for some excellent surfing conditions in south Mau'i.

Images courtesy of
Maui Action Photos
Mahalo, Van!

***

LIFE AFTER BIRTH

An unborn set of twins' conversation in the womb of their mother...

"Say, do you actually believe in life after birth?" the one twin asks.

"Yes, definitely! Inside we grow and are prepared for what will come outside", answered the other twin.

"I believe that´s nonsense!" says the first. "There can't be life after birth - what is that supposed to look like?"

"I don't exactly know either. But there will certainly be much more light than in here. And maybe we will be walking about and eat with our mouths?"

"I've never heard such nonsense! Eating with the mouth? What a crazy idea. There is the umbilical cord that nourishes us. And how do you want to walk about? The umbilical cord is much too short."

"I am sure it is possible. It´s just that everything will be a little bit different."

"You are crazy! Nobody ever came back after birth. Life is over with birth. That's it."

"I admit that nobody knows what life after birth will look like. But I do know that we will see our mother then, and that she will take care of us."

"Mother???? But you don't believe in a mother, do you? Where is she?"

"She is here, all around us. We are and we live within her and through her. Without her we couldn't exist at all!"

"Nonsense! I´ve never sensed a mother, consequently she doesn´t exist."

"Yes, sometimes, when we are very quiet you can hear her sing, or feel how she caresses our world."

***

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

***

AN ARTICULATE ENGLISH VIEW OF ISLAM:

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Lahaina

A Condo View

Haleakala

Beautiful Skies

Halloween - 2006
Front Street
Lahaina

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

"DOCTOR" HOLLY MUPPET


She is 3 years old today!

Oh, did I mention that PINK is her favorite color.



"Let's all be careful out there!"

IF ITS GOING AROUND

I'LL PROBABLY CATCH IT

Thats one of the drawbacks. Being in such intimate contact with people in the confines of a cab means whatever bug they are carrying, the driver is exposed.

I haven't been feeling too perky of late. Nothing to do with the teeth issue, just an ever increasing soreness in all my muscles and joints. Congestion, etc. A summertime cold. I almost called off last night. The spirit was willin' but the body was belly-aching. Mind over matter and off we went. 3 hours later, the body counter-attacked. I came home until 1a. Fretfully cat-napped for a bit. Made it through the graveyard segment. I am NOT going in tonight, though. E-mailed the owner to let him know. Included a suggestion to have Hardin dispatch and I will do his Saturday night shift with the phone. Cajoled my morning relief to come in 2 hours early tomorrow morning to cover the dog-watch. Since it will be Friday night, he'll probably make some decent money. This takes the pressure off of the owner, trying to find someone to cover those hours.

Last night had an aborted start. Checked in and am immediately sent for an OGG. Pulled up and the bellhop advises me that the people had panicked. Forgetting that they had made arrangements with another company to pick them up. My consolation prize was a Renaissance to The Shops. A whopping $5.60! Covered 4 more fares before 10p. Got one bar close and 2 dog-watch, one of which took me to Kahului.

8 fares / 98 miles / 2nd quarter of $100 bracket

***

I have a special photo spread planned for tomorrow. Courtesy of Maui Action Photos. Stop in and check it out.

Mahalo

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Lahaina Waterfront
Facing The Harbor

Halloween - 2006
Front Street
Lahaina

Lahaina Cemetary

Haleakala

***

93172



"Let's all be careful out there!"

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

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

A Mau'i Sunrise

Haleakala

Rainbow

Halloween - 2006 Front Street Lahaina

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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!

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Halloween - 2006
Front Street
Lahaina

Rainbow

A Beach In Kihei

Haleakala

Shouldn't You Be Here?

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92891





"Let's all be careful out there!"