Pay to Exercise?

When a person gets out of shape, he decides to do something about it outside of changing his daily habits.

He joins a health club at a big cost. He inspects all those impressive machines in the facility. He envisions himself getting healthy working all those contrivances. Evercise is what he wants.

The first day comes. He drives to the club. He frantically searches for a parking spot close to the entrance. After all, he's paying for exercising in the club. A long walk in the parking lot is not part of the curriculum.

Some people won't exercise unless they pay for it.

Letter in the Maui News Aug.28, 2011, and Lahaina News Sept. 1, 2011

Stop Server Abuse

We were at a restaurant having dinner recently with friends. A nearby table had a noisy group of people who were having fun singing Christmas carols. They were also very demanding on the waitress. They finally left singing and dancing out of the restaurant.

I'm sure they paid a large check. the waitress continued working at the other tables. Our friend noticed that she was in tears. He asked her what happened.

She told him that the group left no tip. Nothing at all. Our friend felt so sympathetic that he gave her an extra tip to compensate for that unthinking bunch of people. Those people were Americans.

According to a recent report, almost 3,000 workers in Maui county have their primary occupation working as a waiter or waitress. This does not include the many workers who work second jobs in this occupation and depend upon tips for subsistence.

Stop server abuse - tip generously!

Blackie Gadarian

(Letter published in Maui News Dec.14, 2011, and Lahaina News Dec. 22, 2011

Haircuts at Sea

I was on the aircraft carrier Nassau during World War II. It was a smaller carrier, called a jeep carrier. On a ship of 900 men there were no barbers. No one volunteered.

Our executive officer made a rule: anyone put on report for a wrongdoing would have to be the ship's barber for a month. Each month's barber had a different version of what a haircut should be. They were even ruining my butch haircut.

The sailors could hardly wait to go ashore to get a decent haircut. . . among other things.

Strollers a nuisance on planes

Some of us have noticed modern-day baby strollers at the airport or various public places. Baby strollers are getting as large as Volkswagens. They seem to be large enough to have stereos, auto-bottle feeders, cell phones, diaper containers, toy boxes and room for a friend.

We can live with them most of the time, except when frantic parents find out the stroller won't fit in an airplane. They clog the entrance to the plane, then end up stuffing the content of the stroller in the compartment over our heads. It's like stuffing a marshmallow into a ketchup bottle.

My solution: have certain airplanes for adults only. I'll even pay extra for that.

(Letter published in the Maui News March 22, 2010 and Lahaina News March 25, 2010)

Ships at Sea in Storms

Regarding US Navy ships headed to sea ahead of Hurricane Irene: It is safer at sea than near shore due to storm surge and wave damage.

However, during WWII our fleet got caught in a typhoon off New Guinea in 137 knot winds. Two ships turned over and sunk.

I was almost lost off our carrier the Nassau (CVE-16). I was trying to tie airplanes down on the flight deck. I fell over the side and landed in the cargo net.

It was always exciting on the flight deck.

Nothing is Free

We are all aware that airlines are charging for any little service that was previously offered free.

Of course, hotels are doing it also.

As far as I know, restaurants haven't started charging for napkins yet. But they will.

The crowning blow was while traveling, I ordered my favorite drink, vodka on ice, at a hotel bar. They charged me $1 more for the ice.

It's more than a drinking man can bear.

Blackie Gadarian
(Letter published in the Maui News Aug.13, 2011, and Lahaina News Aug. 18, 2011)

Fancy signs, dim lighting can lead to confusion

As we get older, little things become large obstacles when we go out for dining or cocktails.

The doors leading to the men's and women's restrooms were obvious in the past. But now artists have exhibited their talents by making the doors works of art rather than simple signs.

Then the entrance is in a dim light as well. After a meal or drink, barging into the restroom can be embarrassing.

Ladies, if you find me in the wrong place, it's not my fault. I say, "When you gotta go, you gotta go."

Blackie Gadarian.
(Letter published in The Maui News July 22, 2011 and Lahaina News July 28, 2011.)