"LIfe's Fine But It t'aint easy"

Today is the one day I try to forget my problems and just remember how tough things were for the early Pilgrims. Face it, they had no Publix supermarket to shop at like I did today.

President Obama wrote an editorial about giving thanks for our blessings. He wrote about how the Pilgrims believed in providence and understanding thier blessings. You have to look to see miracles and perhaps the benevolence of the Indians was a gift. Their own survival was cause for thanks.

That is truly how I feel today.

A feast of spiral ham, turkey breast, green bean supreme and mashed potatoes with gravy await me while I watch the Dallas Cowboys lose to the Oakland Raiders. No Thanksgiving would be complete without that.

The Pilgrims had to go out and hunt. They looked for Tom Turkey or a large buck to feed their family. Hunting is still popular as sport. I hope it is still allowed beyond 2012.

Anyway, I'm alive; I made it another year. Things should get better.

Mackerel Sky And Mares' Tails

"Mackerel sky and mares' tails make lofty ships carry low sails. "

The unmistakable herringbone pattern of mackerel sky and the long, wispy cirrus which is mare's tail are all high-altitude indicators that a moisture-bearing low pressure system is moving in from the west. This usually means an increase in wind speeds, a shift to blustery easterly winds, and increased cloud and precipitation within the next 24 hours or so. A wise captain avoids torn sails and damaged spars by taking his sails in.

I saw this cloud pattern Friday Morning. I predicted that by Sunday we would have a front move thru the Tampa area. It did, but it did not bring any cool weather with it. I am still running the air conditioner. Man, I really would like to see some cooler weather by Turkey Day.

The Individual vs The State

The issue of individual liberty will be settled in the 25th century

A Black Cat, Friday The Thriteenth, UFO's And Water On The Moon

I knew something like this would happen. Today was Friday the Thirteenth and on my way to my first call after sunrise, a black cat shot out of the bushes on Palmetto street and ran under the fence going into the Arbor Ponds apartments. Man, I did not need that.

You see, luck is vital to a cab driver. We are not paid a salary or an hourly wage. It is pure commision. If we get bogged down with short fairs, we are screwed. We owe our company a lease not matter the quality of our fares. I was a little nervous after this very black, without any white chest hair, made his dramatic move in front of my cab. He seemed to bring me luck, however, I had a very interesting day despite the cat. I also made a little bit of money.

The only weird thing that happened was I had a time call going to the airport and when I got there, I could see the customer had a vanity license plate. It dealt with the subject of UFO's. Never seen that before.

The customer explained that he was part of the UFO community and that he had been abducted 20 years ago in North Florida. He did not seem nuts, he lived in a nice south Tampa neighborhood and his story seemed credible.

Considering that NASA just announced that the missile fired into the moon last month did, in fact, find water on the moon, and lots of water. I think that pretty much nails down that the potential for life elsewhere in the universe is limitless. The mans story seems less nutty than it would have been yesterday.

Why Free Taxi Cabs, why Now?

This is not the time for taxi companies to offer complimentary cab service in the vital downtown Tampa and So Ho areas. Most taxi drivers are broke and struggling in this economy. We cannot offer free rides. It would not be practical and we are regulated in this part of town at $3 a head from 2 to 4 riders. I guess Minartti (the owner of Yellow cab) got Keven White to let him do this for a kick back. White is a very corrupt County Commissioner and he should be voted out of office. Oh, he likes mixed-race ass by the way.

I saw a group of "hybred" green cabs at what is left of the old Yellow Cab compound on n. Oregon ave in Tampa. They were locked up behind a chain fence. Just keep them there.