Impact Award

Daily writing prompt
When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

I did feel grown-up when my book won an award that made an impact.

Death Monsters, as a native San Franciscan bike rider can attest, known as cars or automobiles by most folks, have become outrageously over-priced and no are longer filled with the simple promise of freedom to turn the ignition and go wherever we want to go on-demand from our driveway or garage.

We taxpayers paid 50 billion of the 800 billion T.A.R.P. money to bail out General Motors–which then took our latest state of the art duel-engine strategy an high-mileage EV tech to the SAIC corp in China. The money was supposed to help domestic car production, but all the Buick’s and Chevy Bolts went to China–along with our proprietary engineering. The only thing GM on these cars was the logo or sticker–and they can be found driving on the roads of far-flung countries–except the US.

The CEO of GM just sold 40 percent of her shares recently. She knows what any recent owners of the Escalade, Silverado, and Yukon platforms know. GM no good. Truth be told, the delicate nature of these complex power plants needed extreme care with first mile driving and the understanding of changing-out the oil that was placed in these vehicles from the factory–to avoid burnt and clogged engine pistons and inside cam moving parts, which could not only fail in cold weather, but destroy the guts of an engine with the zero-twenty oil inside–from the factory–if the engine was started and left idling before pulling-out. Knowing that a slow ten to fifteen m.p.h. in the first two miles of driving–could have save a lot of troubles at the 30,000 mile mark.

Anyway, one of my side missions is to plug mass transit–and even reduce student pickups by parents after school–and use a fast pass. I find it hard to believe that more people don’t see the freedom offered by a fast pass–with money saved for other stuff.

The cost of gasoline is going up to over 8 dollars a gallon this summer for Cali, Arizona, Hawaii, and Nevada–maybe $12–due to the loss of two more refineries, one in LA–Philips 66–and one in the Bay Area–Valero– in Benicia. Another 200,000 barrels a-day, gone. Which means that two more tankers must float from S. Korea or India, traveling thousands of miles, burning up more hydrocarbons in transit, than at the facilities already in California–and no talk about cancelling the boutique version of refined gas in California–no action taken to remove The Air Quality Board or CAFE and CARB laws and the CA Department of Energy. I guess as long as the air pollution comes from outside California, it doesn’t matter.

The cost of buying a new car costs as much as a house did before Proposition 13, and everyone keeps mentioning inflation–but on sound money–silver–no talk, no mainstream media coverage.

Guys, it’s time to add a fast pass to your budget curve and know how to ride the bus and save money. Money you can use to stack Bitcoin, commodity stocks–including miners of gold, silver, and Bitcoin. Our dollar is dying–and mass transit is the best way to save money. Pick up a copy of my book, and hang some art!

No more surcharges here!

Walking Around with my iPhone Camera is a Perfect Way to Share

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

Moving slowly enough to get the sun out with the right angle and amount of light.

Late afternoon is always good.

Shadowing with a bright light in darkness from an unexpected angle creates extra perspective.
Back to the awesome Waikiki Sunsets!
And Rainbows!

Check out my latest photos and create your own custom design!

Intentionally showing my hand should be a no-no— but not for me!

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/douglas-griggs

Renewing my Commercial Driver License Certification

What are you most proud of in your life?

I decided to move out to Honolulu and pass the CDL certification test(s) to get qualified to drive a city bus. The courses here are very good—the instruction is definitely worth the time. I’m definitely a better driver than when I started—because I had to change the bad habits I had developed over the years I worked in San Francisco.

Tres Bien

https://www.daoofdoug.com

Less is More

What’s your #1 priority tomorrow?

De cluttering feels so good when I make the drop off. The hardest thing is to decide what to donate.

I’m familiar with the idea to get rid of anything I haven’t used in year, but I want to argue with myself about whether or not I’ll need it in the future. I’m glad that this prompt asked me for my highest priority tomorrow! Thanks. Cause that means I have a day and night to sleep on it!

Oh, well my bed is in use—so I guess I’ll just have to fill up the blue bag now—lol. But look! An empty bin. YeeHah!

My next project will be to redesign my Dao of Doug website which shows off my art and books:

http://www.daoofdoug.com

Check it out!

Another day opens.

What brings you peace?

Walking around in the morning or evening.

City Hall
Ala Wai
Queen’s Beach

Walls

I post these on my Facebook page as my story. The true benefit is the peace my walks bring to my day.

Go for a walk?

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/colorful-catamaran-moored-by-the-shore-douglas-m-griggs.html

More landscapes for you.

My Muniverse my Multiverse

Describe your life in an alternate universe.

Gemini season is here!

Good question: What do I think about myself? How much time do I spend wishing about a change in myself tomorrow? Example: I’ll write them a thank you note next year cause I’ve missed their birthday last week. I’m going to go on a diet after the holidays. I’m going to try to get to the gym after finals. Blah, blah, blasphemy.

Am I in my own skin now? Am I living my life for today? We call this “the present” because it’s a gift!

Take that walk today!
The best things in life are free!
Make an Impact!

More Art

What would you change about modern society?

Sightseeing locations!
Lassen framed print of Waikiki at night!
Quilting counts too!
Surf the curl!

Claim your art here at my digital art website:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/douglas-griggs/shop/canvas+prints

Mmm Mmm Good

What’s your go-to comfort food?

Like Resentment Remover, these products aren’t available at Target!

The food that gives me comfort is Spiritual in principle. Secret is—prayer in preparation and putting love into the making and serving food— actually increases happiness and satiation within the body that receives it!

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/2-calm-strength-gratitude-douglas-griggs.html

My Authorship Authority

Why I Wrote This Book


I was asked about why I wrote a book about being a bus driver in San Francisco. The first reason was in answer to why I am here. “We are all here to do what we are all here to do,” as the Oracle tells Neo in the matrix trilogy. Being of service, was and is, my first motive to get what I learned, down on paper: As a guide for those who follow me, at the job, to have a higher vantage point with which to see what lies on the road ahead. And not just with the drive-cam evidence at a disciplinary hearing! To get us on the same page. And for the public at large to get an understanding, a wake up call, to learn how to smooth the ride.

Where we place the door seems to baffle most intending passengers. The distraction of showing a transfer at an awkward, unsafe moment, also causes complaints to arise, from our tone of voice, with a complete lack of understanding about why. Our passion about safety is a first priority, and the challenge is in trying to relay much experience in a very short attention span. This relay is what this book is all about. We have reasons for why we do what we do, and if this is understood, another angel can be with us on the bus, and not in the complaint cue.

When a patron rushes to the door, they are just as unsure about what to expect from the bus driver, as am I, of them. If anything written here stirs controversy, though not my intent, it would be to get in to a conversation about what has worked, and that which has not: To see through eyes of interconnectedness, not isolated in our car, with the windows up, except only for an arm with a hand sticking out with the single middle finger in the air as it passes by the bus: Over the double line, at an unsafe speed, just missing a head-on with an oncoming car, or a person in the next crosswalk up ahead!

It is the “caution and re-instruct” love letter from our superintendent, after an incident, without a hearing of the necessary clarity about our part, and their part, in causing the conflict. Or the solution for next time and our Zen-like mastery to state our needs for safety without an angry or harsh tone. Preconceived notions or attachment to something else is usually behind a service complaint. Usually it is not what is said, but the tone in which it was said. In the flash of the pan moment, this becomes almost impossible; but on the pages of this tome, a “space cushion” remains.

This space cushion, with which we are trained, to keep around our bus at all times, goes a long way in explaining why we are splitting the lane, driving down both lanes of traffic in the Mission, or on Van Ness. We are avoiding car doors, skaters, bike riders, and the person with the door open at their parked car. We can’t answer your question right now, because we are busy looking at the show in front of, and up to, one to two blocks ahead! Now sit down and shut-up, please. Or as you sometimes say to us, “Shut-up and drive the bus.” and “Just do your job.”

Surprise surprise. We are, and you’re not helping!
I am continually returned to the state of abashment: to destroy the self-possession or self-confidence of: my integrity and experience of my job: Someone that enters and alights before I have a chance to answer, and complains of discourtesy. A motorist that rushes ahead only to block the lane to wait for a parking space. A “fixie” on his bike that passes on the right only to block a right turn on red. An assigned penalty in a love letter that proposes no solution: The other reason for this book is to respond to the continual bombardment from the press, the public, and those in “authority,” of our operators’ response, “Try a week, a day behind the wheel, and then tell me what you think!”

In the past year, I have received feedback from passengers, co-workers, and other newer operators, and I hope this follow-up sequel answers the questions I still get about issues or topics not in “Finding Zen.” The glossary in the back of book one, and here in this sequel, helps in understanding words with which you may be unfamiliar.
Fortunately, there are classes on a regular basis in the training department that keep the information fresh: we have CAC training (Collision Avoidance Class); VTT class (Verified Transit Training); and Re-qualification, after not having been behind the wheel for 60 days. This Line Trainer’s Guide is just another point of information to get us on the same page. When I see the small coincidence of right action and joy around me on the bus and on the street, I get such a smile and a laugh and realize I am in the right place at the right time.

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Dao-of-Doug-2-The-Art-of-Driving-a-Bus-Audiobook/B011DMMUXI?asin=B011DMMUXI

My mission in writing about the art of driving a bus is to create a willingness to take public transportation and give up the car—at least for many trips that could reduce traffic and live cheaper.

That this book, and the story within its’ chapters, are from intense passions released in the never dull moments of driving a ten ton vehicle on overhead wires in San Francisco. The life of a trolley operator contains so much challenge I don’t ever need look elsewhere to stay on my toes. Thank You for Reading! Thank You for Riding!

Check out my latest on Amazon!

A National Treasure Chest

Daily writing prompt
What notable things happened today?

I walked through the Marriott hotel lobby and passed by a Ukulele Store imagining the history of this interesting string instrument.

Then I passed by the Queen’s Songbook in another store across the walkway.

I called up a friend for lunch and had a burger at the Elk’s Club right on the beach.

And then went to an art store to get ideas to put some carvings on the walls of my new apartment.

So today, the most notable thing for me is putting the finishing touches on my move from the mainland.

HI !