Windys in Town

Picture taken out of my cracked windshield.

Cab Calling

Got me a smart phone yesterday. Got an iPhone for 49 bucks but with all the gadgets I needed (cover, bluetooth and car charger) with it the total was $177. The protective cover cost more than the phone.

I have to make sure I grab a cab that the lighter works!

Good Cabbie Coffee

I usually get McDonalds coffee, its hot and cheap. A medium coffee with 3 creams is a $1.62 including tax in Wasilla. $1.60 in Anchorage. Every once in a while I splurge on an espresso. A 2 shot Americano with half and half is my order,

Big Lake Ice Road

Take a drive on the lake that is the start of the IRON DOG snowmachine race Sunday.

A Day at the Office

The Glenn Hwy between North and South Birchwood exits. Winter driving advisory today!

Tundra Cat

It would be cool if this was my cab!

Moose Lights

Too bad moose are not lit up at night like this when they are crossing the road.

Stepping Out

Cabbies are always in contact with each other via radio. We take turns dispatching, usually 2 hrs each depending on how many drivers are rolling. When not in the office you let the dispatcher know you are stepping out and when you are back in. You broadcast when you pick up, where you are going and when you are clear. We all help each other out with directions if needed. When we get backed up and say so on the radio other cab companies monitor our frequency and send their drivers out to our pickups that are waiting more than 15-20 minutes. Thats the business.

I can see for miles

Long day for the FishTaxi today. Went in an hour early for a pickup in Wasilla to the Anchorage airport at 5:30am. Thats a flat rate of $65. Nice to start the day almost paying the lease. After we get to the airport the ride asked for a military discount so I knew there would be no tip. Oh well, I was off and running. Almost burned through a tank of gas and covered ground from Settlers Bay (pictured above) to the Butte out past Palmer. Wanted to get off early so I could go swimming in the Wasilla pool but that didn't happen. Not when money was being made. Don't want to miss out on that. But I don't want be a fat cab driver either sitting on my ass all day and eating ice cream every night. I want to swim so I can eat ice cream.

Dumb Ass

At shift change tonight I'd gassed up and was heading back to the yard with my ears on listening to the night shift first dispatcher. I had just snagged an early morning Anchorage run that nobody wanted when a call came in.

Dispatcher: Alaska Cab

Caller: One of your drivers in Car #31 is tailgaiting me.

Car #31: hey dumb ass! Your going 25 in a 45 mile an hr zone!

Caller: wow.

(hang up)

The caller guy expected to tell on the cabbie...not get immediately yelled at.

Beautiful sunset tonight.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel

One of the cool things about driving a cab is helping old people with their groceries. One 89 year old lady who drove up the Alcan in 1952 painted these beautiful oils. The cat below is the cat that rode up with her in the back seat of her chevy coup. She invited me in to see the cat hanging on her wall. I asked her what the cats name was and she couldn't remember so just called him cat.

Day Tripper

Driving day shift I get to the yard in time to check the fluids and warm up my cab to be rolling by 6am. It starts getting light out about 8:30 and this is the sun setting at 5:30. Soon it will be daylight my whole shift.

Fish Shack

This is a small tourist information place thats closed down for the winter. It sits in the Chevron parking lot on the corner of the Parks Hwy and Webb Street. Chevron is where all the taxi cabs pump their gas. Today's gas price is $3.50 a gallon. We lease the cab for $70.00 a day and always leave a clean cab (inside and out) for the next 12 hr shift. We drive Crown Vics with studs all around in the winter. They handle great and are fun to drive. After driving them all day I get in my Toyota van and feel like I'm driving a bus.

Fiddler Crab

New look for the FishTaxi Blog. Things have changed once again for me. Moved to the valley 3 weeks ago when I got a job for the good local cab company. Staying with a friend in Big Lake and the picture is of the Fiddler Crab in her community fish tank.

Stay tuned for daily updates and pictures of the adventure of driving a cab in the Last Frontier.

Buddah Hands & Key Limes

I live close to the New Sagaya City Market in Mid-Town Anchorage. I remember when it was a little store on Spenard. I still have the teapot I bought there way back when. Now there are two wonderful full-fledged markets. I figure if I'm going to live in the city I might as well take advantage of all the good things a city offers. (Went to a movie theater the other night and saw the new True Grit.

It was a fantastic remake of the old movie. If you get a chance Go See It!)

Now Buddah Hands are a fruit I'd never seen. I googled them and found out they are edible and how to eat them. They cook up great with fish, chicken and vegetables. They make great tea, marmalades and liqueurs. Best of all they make great natural air fresheners! After reading about them now I want to buy one. They were a little freaky to me when I saw them but being a lemon freak now I have to my hands on a Buddah Hand.

The key limes surprised me. I did not realize they were so small until now. Not much more to say about them except they took a nice bright picture. Oh, and Key Lime pie is good!

Fun with Fireworks

Thank-you Anchorage Assembly for allowing fireworks in Anchorage's city limits NYE. The dark winter skies were lit up and it sounded like a war zone around here. Way to bring the New Year in with a BANG Anchorites! I thoroughly enjoyed the free show! Lots of ooo's & aaah's!!

By 2010

Dawn broke for me this year
Secrets to life's riddles answered
Harmony achieved and savored daily
An appreciation of my reality gained
With unmasked truths accepted at face value
Gratitude given for the stormy as well as the calm

Like a wave washing over me
I felt the changes inside emerge
I felt youth fade and maturity appear
I traded seeking something for finding everything
All the treasures known yet unseen
Already possessed but not purchased

I know the light of wisdom
Wisdom only gained through the years
The trick of letting go and holding on
The balance between sharing and taking
The power in wanting to give more
The payment received in expecting nothing

These are the things I realized in 2010
The gifts age has bestowed me
Gifts not meant for those still seeking their rainbow
Destined for those who learn they must create their own
I am now on top of the world
Having conquered my mountain
Enjoying the view towards my future
I could not see before.

By Cindy Butherus
August 30th, 2010

THE DIGITAL STORY OF NATIVITY - ( or Christmas 2.0 )

Plant an Amaryllis

Sure brightens things up!

Angels are Amongst Us

And I got picutures to prove it!

Upside Down Christmas Tree

FAKE!!

Lookout for ICE

Still alive and well, so far...

Neverfind Apartments

When I first moved to Anchorage 30 years ago I lived in the "Neverfind Apartments" owned by some folks with a sense of humor from Finally Found, Colorado.

My new apartment reminds of that place. Except this apartment building has no name.

Reefer Madness gets a musical makeover

Anchorage Press > Arts & Entertainment > Smoking - Reefer Madness gets a musical makeover

Going to see this Saturday night!

Gary Hoey Live on The Johnny Dare Morning Show - "Carol of the Bells"

Happy Thanksgiving! Time for CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

Coat of Ice

If you look through the trees you can see a guy riding a bike on a sheet of ice. He's pulling a trellis type wheeled wagon. That helps steady him I think. I've seen him going both ways on the one-way frontage road. Once when I was driving it. He was in the middle of the road going the wrong way. I gave him plenty of room. He smiled and waved as I went by.

Fish Earrings

I picked these out. I don't have peirced ears but a friend who does would also like these. With Christmas coming soon I've got to get busy shopping. I don't have any of my canned salmon left to give away as presents this year. Hopefully that will change next year!

Open Snow Sleigh

Hop on board!

Alaska Cactus

An early Christmas cactus that is.

Big Lake Pumpkin Family

I had a great couple of days off. Went and visited friends in Big lake. They got their outside Christmas lights up and the inside getting ready for Thanksgiving. I'll be working Turkey Day making 8 turkeys! That will be a record for me.

Ran Out Of Beer

Good thing we had Munchie Trays!

Miss Fish

Mr. Chief

One of the perks of living in Alaska is the diversity of the land. I've lived here 30 years and have only seen 1/90 of the "Great Land". And it still amazes me. I'm in the largest city now where I lived and worked 30 years ago. Since then I've been on any accessable road from Anchorage.

They don't call me the FishTaxi for nothing. Okay, I'm getting on my high horse.

Come along for the ride.

The Works

The day went off without a hitch. NO casualties.

Google Veteran

I am always a day late in posting, clocked in at 11:29 pm Alaska Time and Google shows up on my homepage with what every American should know.

I did my part and volunteered to get the bbq going! Shopped for the ribs, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob and made the pot salad while the cutup ribs were baking in the oven soaked in coke. They are now out of coke and are resting quietly, in the cooler, to be qued on this Veterans Day.

My View Today

In the top pic I photoshopped out the New Seward HWY and frontage road. The bottom pic is from inside my apt.

I block out the noise of highway by telling myself its a waterfall while listening to Radio Paradise.

Skinny Scarecrow

Picture taken on 10/2 in Big Lake. Going through my pictures I took this past summer/fall.

Pansies in November

Pansies in November in Anchorage!

Grown from seed this is a hardy plant!

Took this pic on my friends deck today.

Cute Little Raider Fan

Took this pic last Sunday at the American Legion where I work as a cook. On Sundays we do a killer breakfast brunch for football fans. Then after breakfast I put out a big spread for the Texas Hold 'Em crowd. So far they like my cooking, only complaint is it isn't "enough". I'm learning fast how to cook for crowds. Don't want to lose this job! I enjoy it and I signed a year lease on my new apt. I've never been Head Cook before. I do all the ordering, shopping and menu planning. And take the flack if its not done right. Its fun though and I'm meeting new people in the big city. Oh, and GO PACKERS!!!

Brain Food

Thanks for the wakeup/job call! I had a great summer off from blogging, missed it a lot. Took a lot of pictures when I could charge my battery and had my camera in hand. When I had internet connection I joined facebook and hooked up with family and long lost friends. I love it! I no longer need to send a birthday card to my mom or my grandma needs to send me the bd card every year with 5 bucks in it. Its the frugal way now. We are all connected some way.

This is a pic I took out of my hotel window in Spenard. Thats the top of my duffle bag propped up. I came into Anchorage to get my 1999 Toyota Sienna get worked on. Took longer than I thought and in the meantime since then landed a job, got an apt and here I am blogging again.

From Anchorage and beyond!

Sail on Sailor

Unless anything good comes up I'm taking a break from blogging for the summer.

Sail on Sailor

April Bluff

No drug test today. Hoping it was an April Fools joke.