I'm getting a new job. I'll be driving cabs in San Francisco. There should be lots more to write about. I find it hard to blog about a small town where everybody knows everybody. changing he names or the places just isn't enough. Tomorrow is the orientation class. so check out my new blog. I should start writing that one in the next couple of days.
http://www.SFTaxiTales.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
My narrow escape from puke
Well i've been gone so long i don't even know where to start........ as you know i moved. i no longer had access to a computer. i was attempting to save money to buy one, but lucky for my fans i got a roomate with a computer! yay!!!
it would be impossible to remember every thing that's happened....... i got a story for you about Karma........but first, let's talk a little bit about taxi driver etiquette when in a small town.
when a customer needs a ride, they call us and give a pick up point and a drop off point. the dibatcher has 3 cabs to work with and he organizes everything so that the customers get a ride in a timely manner, and the drivers aren't driving back and forth waisting gas and time. the disbatcher calls the driver, gives them the customer's phone number and location. we then call the customer and tell them we're on the way and to keep a lookout for the taxi.
a most recent friday night, this drunk guy calls at 1:30am and says he needs a ride from the saloon downtown to a residence in the flower streets. i was sent on the call. i Called the guy and as i picked him up i was informed of some other people who wanted to go to the flower streets as well, we try to acommodate everyone. so i load up my van and start driving east on first st. about half a mile down, the drunk guy says "you're going the wrong way! i need to go to pleasanton!" i was confused for a split second and asked "did you tell my disbatcher that?" "yes i did BUUURP!". ok even though our disbatcher is new, he knows better than to screw me up like this. so i calmly said "sir i'm sorry there's been a sort of mix up, and if you wouldn't mind riding along while i take these other people home i could get you to pleasanton after that." he was furious drunk and felt like he had been wronged. if he wasn't so smashed, he might remember talking to the guy and telling him he was going to Daisy st. BUT NO!!!! drunk people have the shortest memories, and the shortest fuses. this guy got so mad at me that he started cussing at me, and i don't put up with that shit. i could have dropped him off right where we were, but i was feeling nice and i took him back downtown where i found him and where he could maybe find another taxi. he sat on the curb in front of the saloon looking green. i drove away. i pulled in to the blue bar parkinglot right after that 1 block away. i see this other taxi guy who is independent and sometimes we share buisiness with him. nice guy named Bill. i said "hey bill there's this guy over there that needs to go to pleasanton if you're going that way" i was thinking bill could make some money, that drunk asshole could get home, and i can have a clear concience. unfortunately bill was going the opposite way and was happy with the fare he had. as i look in my review mirror, i can see the drunk guy tossing his cookies in the street.. just then MARTINEZ CAB pulls in.... martinez cab is an independent taxi that comes around on the weekends and steals our business. he poses as our affiliate, and mistreats the girls he picks up. THIS GUY IS ON HIS WAY OUT I ASSURE YOU!!! .. this fucker has scabbed so many fares from us that i thought this could be a way to get back at him. so i sent him to get the puker. I said "There's this guy in front of the saloon that wants to go to pleasanton!" i load up my cab once again and start heading to the streets named after famous colleges. BAM 50 bucks right there!!!! multiple fares! disbatch ROCKS!!!
then i get sent back downtown to get some pleasanton calls!! hell ya! friday is good! i contact my customers in the saloon as i pull around the corner, and right in the middle of the crosswalk, blocking a one way street is martinez cab...... and he is not in the driver's seat...what a bozo! never leave your cab when you're in the way like that!! so i call my customer again to ask him if he could walk around the corner to meet me, and he says "your driver is right here in the bar with me. he says you sent him to get me" then martinez get on the customer's phone and says "there are two in here going that way" i was SOOOO PISSED!!!! i said "no! those are my passengers who called ME!!! i wanted you to get that other guy about 15 minutes ago! he probably took off!" instead of causing a scene and acting like a selfish bitch i just took off and called in for the next one. is this guy so stupid that he mis-understood me? or is this Karma telling me that vengance is hers? maybe both. this guy overcharges everybody, and is a pervert. about 5 minutes later i called my customer back and apologized for the mix-up i said "we normally don't do business with that guy, and we would NEVER send him to a good customer of ours." the customer was very understanding, and still ours. the next night i heard from a guy who saw it, that someone beat the shit out of martinez. in his cab with the doors locked, the alarm going off, and about 4 guys pulled him out of his chair and just started poundind on him! DIDN'T EVEN ROB HIM!!!! just beat his ass!! might have something to do with a sexual harassment charge or two. fucking perverts don't belong driving people around! thats what the police background check is for!!!
the guy was able to scab 60 bucks off me, because i tried to get back at him for bieng a jerk.
so when you start thinking about getting back at someone for the things they've done to you, think twice. just let Karma do the job or she'll get you too. and then you're the jerk.
it would be impossible to remember every thing that's happened....... i got a story for you about Karma........but first, let's talk a little bit about taxi driver etiquette when in a small town.
when a customer needs a ride, they call us and give a pick up point and a drop off point. the dibatcher has 3 cabs to work with and he organizes everything so that the customers get a ride in a timely manner, and the drivers aren't driving back and forth waisting gas and time. the disbatcher calls the driver, gives them the customer's phone number and location. we then call the customer and tell them we're on the way and to keep a lookout for the taxi.
a most recent friday night, this drunk guy calls at 1:30am and says he needs a ride from the saloon downtown to a residence in the flower streets. i was sent on the call. i Called the guy and as i picked him up i was informed of some other people who wanted to go to the flower streets as well, we try to acommodate everyone. so i load up my van and start driving east on first st. about half a mile down, the drunk guy says "you're going the wrong way! i need to go to pleasanton!" i was confused for a split second and asked "did you tell my disbatcher that?" "yes i did BUUURP!". ok even though our disbatcher is new, he knows better than to screw me up like this. so i calmly said "sir i'm sorry there's been a sort of mix up, and if you wouldn't mind riding along while i take these other people home i could get you to pleasanton after that." he was furious drunk and felt like he had been wronged. if he wasn't so smashed, he might remember talking to the guy and telling him he was going to Daisy st. BUT NO!!!! drunk people have the shortest memories, and the shortest fuses. this guy got so mad at me that he started cussing at me, and i don't put up with that shit. i could have dropped him off right where we were, but i was feeling nice and i took him back downtown where i found him and where he could maybe find another taxi. he sat on the curb in front of the saloon looking green. i drove away. i pulled in to the blue bar parkinglot right after that 1 block away. i see this other taxi guy who is independent and sometimes we share buisiness with him. nice guy named Bill. i said "hey bill there's this guy over there that needs to go to pleasanton if you're going that way" i was thinking bill could make some money, that drunk asshole could get home, and i can have a clear concience. unfortunately bill was going the opposite way and was happy with the fare he had. as i look in my review mirror, i can see the drunk guy tossing his cookies in the street.. just then MARTINEZ CAB pulls in.... martinez cab is an independent taxi that comes around on the weekends and steals our business. he poses as our affiliate, and mistreats the girls he picks up. THIS GUY IS ON HIS WAY OUT I ASSURE YOU!!! .. this fucker has scabbed so many fares from us that i thought this could be a way to get back at him. so i sent him to get the puker. I said "There's this guy in front of the saloon that wants to go to pleasanton!" i load up my cab once again and start heading to the streets named after famous colleges. BAM 50 bucks right there!!!! multiple fares! disbatch ROCKS!!!
then i get sent back downtown to get some pleasanton calls!! hell ya! friday is good! i contact my customers in the saloon as i pull around the corner, and right in the middle of the crosswalk, blocking a one way street is martinez cab...... and he is not in the driver's seat...what a bozo! never leave your cab when you're in the way like that!! so i call my customer again to ask him if he could walk around the corner to meet me, and he says "your driver is right here in the bar with me. he says you sent him to get me" then martinez get on the customer's phone and says "there are two in here going that way" i was SOOOO PISSED!!!! i said "no! those are my passengers who called ME!!! i wanted you to get that other guy about 15 minutes ago! he probably took off!" instead of causing a scene and acting like a selfish bitch i just took off and called in for the next one. is this guy so stupid that he mis-understood me? or is this Karma telling me that vengance is hers? maybe both. this guy overcharges everybody, and is a pervert. about 5 minutes later i called my customer back and apologized for the mix-up i said "we normally don't do business with that guy, and we would NEVER send him to a good customer of ours." the customer was very understanding, and still ours. the next night i heard from a guy who saw it, that someone beat the shit out of martinez. in his cab with the doors locked, the alarm going off, and about 4 guys pulled him out of his chair and just started poundind on him! DIDN'T EVEN ROB HIM!!!! just beat his ass!! might have something to do with a sexual harassment charge or two. fucking perverts don't belong driving people around! thats what the police background check is for!!!
the guy was able to scab 60 bucks off me, because i tried to get back at him for bieng a jerk.
so when you start thinking about getting back at someone for the things they've done to you, think twice. just let Karma do the job or she'll get you too. and then you're the jerk.
Monday, December 24, 2007
WAKE UP!!!!!
Ok, so i haven't written for a week or two, sorry fans i've been working WAAAY TOO much!
saturday night 2 weeks ago, or should i say sunday morning, i came upon a car that was flipped up on it's driver's side. I looked behind me.....no one... i looked all around, nobody was there but me. it was quarter to four in the morning, so i immediately stopped my van and called 911. the dispatcher asked me to stay until the cops came, i agreed even though i was on my way to pick up a good customer. i knew he'd understand. i ran over to the car to see if anyone was hurt. i don't know CPR (i should learn) and i know that you aren't supposed to try to move someone who's hurt. i didn't know what good i would be. maybe the last kind voice a person could hear before dying. i thought the worst! i couldn't see anyone through the wreckage, but i could hear someone crying so i just started talking " hello are you hurt?" i said. a girl's voice said "no" then i asked "is there anyone in there with you?" she said "no i'm alone. I fell asleep at the wheel!" I replied "oh i'm so sorry! i'm glad you're ok. the ambulance is on it's way" she had been sitting there for over half an hour alone and scared.
HOLY SHIT!! i can relate........working 12 hour shifts is hard. sometimes if i want to do something other than work, i have to sacrifice sleep for it. then towards the end of the shift i'm getting really tired, almost on auto pilot. VERY DANGEROUS! this was an "awakening" for me, because i was feeling like that ALOT this night. i didn't get to sleep for 3 hours after i got home. just layed there thinking about her and what it would be like waking up out of control about to hit a tree. FUCK! from now on i go out of my way to get at least 7 hours of sleep. I believe everything happens for a reason. there are 2 reasons I came down that road.... to save her, and to WAKE UP!!!
Merry Christmas everyone.
saturday night 2 weeks ago, or should i say sunday morning, i came upon a car that was flipped up on it's driver's side. I looked behind me.....no one... i looked all around, nobody was there but me. it was quarter to four in the morning, so i immediately stopped my van and called 911. the dispatcher asked me to stay until the cops came, i agreed even though i was on my way to pick up a good customer. i knew he'd understand. i ran over to the car to see if anyone was hurt. i don't know CPR (i should learn) and i know that you aren't supposed to try to move someone who's hurt. i didn't know what good i would be. maybe the last kind voice a person could hear before dying. i thought the worst! i couldn't see anyone through the wreckage, but i could hear someone crying so i just started talking " hello are you hurt?" i said. a girl's voice said "no" then i asked "is there anyone in there with you?" she said "no i'm alone. I fell asleep at the wheel!" I replied "oh i'm so sorry! i'm glad you're ok. the ambulance is on it's way" she had been sitting there for over half an hour alone and scared.
HOLY SHIT!! i can relate........working 12 hour shifts is hard. sometimes if i want to do something other than work, i have to sacrifice sleep for it. then towards the end of the shift i'm getting really tired, almost on auto pilot. VERY DANGEROUS! this was an "awakening" for me, because i was feeling like that ALOT this night. i didn't get to sleep for 3 hours after i got home. just layed there thinking about her and what it would be like waking up out of control about to hit a tree. FUCK! from now on i go out of my way to get at least 7 hours of sleep. I believe everything happens for a reason. there are 2 reasons I came down that road.... to save her, and to WAKE UP!!!
Merry Christmas everyone.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Good hospitality
ahh i love saturday night... i picked up three young guys going downtown. i saw this lady flaging me down. it was cold. i said "what do ya say boys should we give her a ride? it's up to you" they're like "is she cute?" i don't know let's see...we pull up and i could see her adam's apple. a mans voice comes out of her "oh nevermind" sorry boys.
then i picked up this older lady dressed like a movie star. when we ppulled up to a light and she noticed in the car next to us was a very attractive guy about my age, 20 something. she flings her window down and says " you are so cute i want to pinch your cheeks" he was in dis belief and thought she was talking to his girlfriend. no honey its you...i love it when cute guys don't know they're cute.
i have to say hello to one of my readers, so i'll say it by reminding everyone that "chevy out pulls everything" thanks cowboy.
it was almost the end of my shift when i picked up this girl and about 5 guys. she rode shotgun. one of they guys was trying to convince these two chicks to go with them and they declined. he was really cute and they were missin out! i thought i might help him out by saying out loud "oh goodie! all for me!" girls work off of jealousy and challenges. he thought i was hitting on him. common mistake for a young guy. "no i'm tryin to get ya laid hon!" too bad for him it didn't work. perhaps NEXT time he sees her. cruisin down the freeway listening to some good tunes with a full load of drunk boys and this really nice chick who was engaged to one of them, when they invite me in for a hot cup of herbal tea! that sounds really nice!! how often does someone offer that on a cold nite to a cab driver?!? it was the end of my shift so of course i went in and stayed a spell. and they tipped me VERY well. nice kids. thank you!
then i picked up this older lady dressed like a movie star. when we ppulled up to a light and she noticed in the car next to us was a very attractive guy about my age, 20 something. she flings her window down and says " you are so cute i want to pinch your cheeks" he was in dis belief and thought she was talking to his girlfriend. no honey its you...i love it when cute guys don't know they're cute.
i have to say hello to one of my readers, so i'll say it by reminding everyone that "chevy out pulls everything" thanks cowboy.
it was almost the end of my shift when i picked up this girl and about 5 guys. she rode shotgun. one of they guys was trying to convince these two chicks to go with them and they declined. he was really cute and they were missin out! i thought i might help him out by saying out loud "oh goodie! all for me!" girls work off of jealousy and challenges. he thought i was hitting on him. common mistake for a young guy. "no i'm tryin to get ya laid hon!" too bad for him it didn't work. perhaps NEXT time he sees her. cruisin down the freeway listening to some good tunes with a full load of drunk boys and this really nice chick who was engaged to one of them, when they invite me in for a hot cup of herbal tea! that sounds really nice!! how often does someone offer that on a cold nite to a cab driver?!? it was the end of my shift so of course i went in and stayed a spell. and they tipped me VERY well. nice kids. thank you!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Un-Lucky
I was sent on a call to the Lucky Buck. a place where they play texas hold-em. Two guys going to pleasanton, the next town over.I don't think they even knew eachother. two different stops. I explained to the men that it was $20 for each fare. they were drunk and thought i was trying to take advantage of them. they said "no you can't charge us double...we're both going to pleasanton" i simply said that is the price. take it or leave it. the men agreed that they would both be dropped off at the same location. that works for me so it's only $20 and i decided to collect up front since these guys were giving me problems and i didn't want to get burned. On the way there they started talking shit to me saying i was gonna rip em off, calling me all sorts of names. I NEARLY PULLED OVER ON THE FREEWAY AND KICKED THEM OUT!!! i wish i had because when we got there one guy got out but the other one stayed in and said "take me to hopyard rd." "ok that'll be $20" he said "i'll give you $10" "no sir that's not the price" he wondered what would happen if he called me right back to start a brand new fare. I said "sorry sir i can't pick up outside of livermore i can call you a pleasanton cab though" with a pity smile. he did not want to wait for another cab and insisted i take him around the corner now. i wasn't going anywhere without $20 in my hands. the man was very argumentative and so i asked him to get out. he refused. i threatened to call the police. he still didn't get out. while on the phone describing the man who wouldn't get out, he reached over and SLAPPED ME!!! i told the girl on the other end, and he slapped me again and bailed!! i followed him in my van until the cops came. i think he spent the nite in the drunk tank........asshole.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Who's awake at this hour? Tweakers and me........
Tonite I picked up two couples with thick english accents and took them downtown for dinner. They were amazed at how many houses put up christmas lights. I guess it's not that big a deal on that side of the earth. I told them about all the neighborhoods that really do it up, and suggested they take a drive around our town one night and see them. Later when i picked them up they had had a couple of drinks and loosened up a bit. they said "take us to see the lights before you take us home please" it was a slow night, nowhere i had to be, and i was kind of in the mood for a nice relaxing drive around the residentials. "sure thing" i said. and so we did. I was a bit dissapointed as we were cruising the hood off college ave. when i was a kid we used to pile the whole family in the station wagon to see he lights there and every house in the area a good display. this year not so bright :( only one in about every fifth house did their yard. pooo.. so we went on... i said they sould check out deacon dave's place on Hillcrest, thousands and THOUSANDS of lights, it's so bright you can probably see it from space! you can walk through his yard and it tells a story about christmas, every year is different. and every year he breaks his own record for the number of lights. SPECTACULAR! They wanted to go there now so i took them.
Too bad it doesn't open till tomorrow! i really hate it when you talk something up so much and then it turns out to be a dissapointment. I hope they see it sometime.the fare came to around $30. they gave me $40 :) excellent tip! thanks!
FINALLY the end of my shift! the middle of the night, i'm gassing up at the AmPm on S. Livermore ave., and this guy, totally tweaked out of his mind walks up to me and asks for a ride, i didn't make that much money tonight, so an extra 10 minutes for a couple bucks?? WHY NOT??
i took him to a street off Rincon ave. we just drove by, the house was dark. we stopped at another AmPm on Rincon and Pine. I don't know what he did in there, but it took a long time. the time is now 20 after and i'm tired and pissed because this fuckin tweaker is cutting into what little sleep time i get. he comes back, tells me i'm pretty (buttering me up) and we continue down rincon ave. to another street just off the main road. all dark. I don't think this guy realized it was the middle of the nite and that most people sleep. he said "take me to the motel 6" so i got him there as fast as i could looking forward to going home. when we get there, the fucker says "i ain't got no money" WHAT???? FUCK YOU!! i just waisted 45 minutes and about a gallon of gas on your ass!!! and you ain't got no money????? do me a favor.....next time take a walk.
Too bad it doesn't open till tomorrow! i really hate it when you talk something up so much and then it turns out to be a dissapointment. I hope they see it sometime.the fare came to around $30. they gave me $40 :) excellent tip! thanks!
FINALLY the end of my shift! the middle of the night, i'm gassing up at the AmPm on S. Livermore ave., and this guy, totally tweaked out of his mind walks up to me and asks for a ride, i didn't make that much money tonight, so an extra 10 minutes for a couple bucks?? WHY NOT??
i took him to a street off Rincon ave. we just drove by, the house was dark. we stopped at another AmPm on Rincon and Pine. I don't know what he did in there, but it took a long time. the time is now 20 after and i'm tired and pissed because this fuckin tweaker is cutting into what little sleep time i get. he comes back, tells me i'm pretty (buttering me up) and we continue down rincon ave. to another street just off the main road. all dark. I don't think this guy realized it was the middle of the nite and that most people sleep. he said "take me to the motel 6" so i got him there as fast as i could looking forward to going home. when we get there, the fucker says "i ain't got no money" WHAT???? FUCK YOU!! i just waisted 45 minutes and about a gallon of gas on your ass!!! and you ain't got no money????? do me a favor.....next time take a walk.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
DON'T FUCK WITH LIVERMORE POLICE!!!!
Anyone who takes a cab in our town knows about the "town car". No stickers, Kick ass stereo, tinted windows and a smooooooth ride. It always feels like a privelige when i get to drive the town car. I guess around the holidays livermore hires some out of town cops to help them out and they didn't know the car or me.
Well on one saturday night, I picked up some "grown adults" from chili's who little did i know had caused a disturbance. i packed em in. I was the only one belted. A little ways down the road RED AND BLUE LIGHTS!!! pulled my ass OVER!! they thought i was part of the disturbance. After I explained to them I was a "designated driver" and had nothing to do with it, they wrote me a ticket for no seatbelts.... desperate.
On the following wednesday night I got pulled over AGAIN!! This time I was in a marked taxicab......speeding, wich is nothing new to us drivers. nothing new to the police either!! wierd! they usually just let us do our jobs. well the uniformed jack-ass(not his real name LOL!!) wrote me a ticket!! :( I like to fight my tickets, but this is different...i could lose this one and ruin it for others. i guess i'll just pay. Traffic school here I come!!
So for however long it takes to get them off my back, I must only BEND the speed laws not drawing attention to myself. No more town car. Amber is a good girl.
The cops are EVERYWHERE and they're pulling EVERYONE over this season. even one beer will get you a wet and reckless, wich i've heard is just as expensive as a DUI.
drive the speed limit and if you're drinking, call me...i'll get you home a little slower than unual, but home is better than jail. AGREE???
Well on one saturday night, I picked up some "grown adults" from chili's who little did i know had caused a disturbance. i packed em in. I was the only one belted. A little ways down the road RED AND BLUE LIGHTS!!! pulled my ass OVER!! they thought i was part of the disturbance. After I explained to them I was a "designated driver" and had nothing to do with it, they wrote me a ticket for no seatbelts.... desperate.
On the following wednesday night I got pulled over AGAIN!! This time I was in a marked taxicab......speeding, wich is nothing new to us drivers. nothing new to the police either!! wierd! they usually just let us do our jobs. well the uniformed jack-ass(not his real name LOL!!) wrote me a ticket!! :( I like to fight my tickets, but this is different...i could lose this one and ruin it for others. i guess i'll just pay. Traffic school here I come!!
So for however long it takes to get them off my back, I must only BEND the speed laws not drawing attention to myself. No more town car. Amber is a good girl.
The cops are EVERYWHERE and they're pulling EVERYONE over this season. even one beer will get you a wet and reckless, wich i've heard is just as expensive as a DUI.
drive the speed limit and if you're drinking, call me...i'll get you home a little slower than unual, but home is better than jail. AGREE???
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)