Load It Up

Load it up and drive it over to the newTaxi Vignettes.


Yes, I have moved and I will no longer post here, but will continue on the new blog. Please bookmark it and visit often.

Her Meter is Running

Melissa, a female Yellow Cab driver, better known as "New York Hack" has a book coming out August 28th. It can be pre-orderd at Random House or Amazon.

Driving a taxi takes a certain amount of guts. Being a lady cabbie in New York City must take it all and then some. I have enjoyed her blog and I am looking forward to her book.

Big Yellow Orange Taxi

While my taxi was in for its yearly inspection I had the fun of driving what looked like a giant Reese's bar. Of course I had to buy one...it was yummy.

This morning I asked my passenger where she was going on her trip with her two very large bags. She was going up to Vancouver, Canada to visit her daughter. Her daughter had been shot in the leg. When I asked how that had happened, she said it all began when her daughter had first gotten married.

Her daughter was never alone with her new husband because her father-in-law moved in with them. When her daughter filed for divorce it wasn't her husband who was upset, it was the  father-in-law. He came to her begging that she not leave 'him' all the while pointing a gun at her. She pushed the gun down, it went off hitting her leg, but she still managed to flee out of the house.

The police found a note stating that the 75 year old was going to shoot her, his son, and my taxi passenger too.


For some good news:
One of my blogroll buddies, Shavar, has a DVD that was just released. Picking up a copy of  “Lord Help Us” is on my to do list.

Driver of the Year

My first fare of the day took me up to San Francisco. After I let her out on 4th at Market Street, out came my camera. On this day the traffic was barely moving so I had many opportunities to take photos.


My second trip of the day started in Saratoga and ended at the San José airport. Somehow our conversation during the trip wound up on the subject of awards. The customer told me that he had a whole wall of plaques, but he was receiving one in June that he was really excited about. He then fell silent.

After a few minutes I said, "I'll tell you about my award if you tell me about yours." He said, "Oh sorry, I am getting something from the Pope." He proceeded to tell me most of the awesome details, and then asked about my award.

His was a tuff act to follow, but I let him know that he was riding with the taxi driver of the year for the state of California. He congratulated me, and I him.

I bet his award won't have a clock and say Made in China on the back - or will it?

Not Much Stress

Will Sullivan, a reporter with US News & World Report working on a cover story for the magazine about traffic congestion, interviewed me about traffic and driving a cab in San José. His story, Road Warriors, is featured in the current issue. No, my interview was not part of his final story.

Yes, traffic can be bad here in the South Bay, but I think we know how to adjust to it. We all know traffic will be slow on 280/680, 101, 237, and 17/880 in the morning, and then again for the ride back home. We just deal with it.

Mr. Sullivan wanted to know if I got irritated when stuck in a long wait. I told him, "No, not really, only when I thought my passenger might miss a flight or some other appointment."

I do not mind the time on the road. Being held captive is not all that bad. There is no obligation to do anything but sit. I turn the radio to my favorite talk show or music. I have an iPod for heaven's sake! (plugs into the radio) It is a good time to do some uninterrupted thinking, and planing. Driving does not stress me all that much.

Anyway, my boring view of traffic congestion was left on the cutting room floor.

You Better Think

John Wilder, over at Wilder By Far, tagged Taxi Vignettes with:



I'm not sure why I make Mr. Wilder ponder, but I guess any ponder is a good ponder.


My choices are . . .

Back Home Again

The Journey

CABLOG

The Pure Investor Blog

TUFFENUF

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.

I was going to add: Web Strategy by Jeremiah as he is on my Blogroll, but I thought he might object. Look anyway.

All-Purpose Glop

I thought the taxi was all fixed. But nooo. With every start of the meter the new fuse would blow. The meter bone is connected to the toplight bone - Ah-ha! The taxi toplight was the problem. So they got rid of the wire to the light and so far, so good. I now have taillights.

But, I now have rain water dripping into the cab. It will be back to the cab yard for some 'all-purpose keep the rain out glop' under the toplight.

Or, I could trade it in for a donkey.



I may have my problems, but poor Rodney has it bad.