Well, it happened!!
Sitting in the office one night, twiddling my thumbs (playing Pinball on the 'puter as we don't have 'net access) when I get a call.
Me: Trixie Cab, this is Trixie.
He: Hey Trixie, this is Habib. (NOT his real name)
Me: Hey Habib. What's shakin'?
He: I'm locked in my car.
Me: Yeah, right. What's really going on?
He: No. I'm serious. I'm locked in my car.
Me: thinking this guy has never really joked with me before so he might be serious Um, your cab?
He: No personal car.
Me: ... Seriously?
He: I'm not kidding you.
Me: Dude ... you're locked IN your car??
He: As silly as that sounds, yes.
Me: Well hell. Is the top down?? this is the one I've had stored up for years, I'm sure you've all heard various blonde jokes about this situation.
He: Um ... what?
Me: Sorry, American humor, you wouldn't get it. So, where you at?
He: In the parking lot.
Me: What kinda car you got? he told me And what is it you're expecting me to do? I'm guessing your keys are in there with you, yes?
He: Yeah.
Me: Can you roll the windows down? I couldn't help it ... this was some funny shit!!
He: Come on now Trixie, I have no power to my car. The doors are locked, no windows, etc. Can you come out here, please?
Me: Sure, but what do you want me to do ... break a window?
He: NO! I have a set of spare keys in the cab, it's still running in front of where I'm parked. Just come get them and let me out.
Me: Hunh. All right. Be right there.
As I was walking out there he came running up, apparently the back door was unlocked so he crawled through the seats to get out.
This amused the bejesus outta me.
3/7/09
2/18/09
Yes, I'm fine ...
just really busy!
I'm thinking of starting yet another blog about the joys I'm having with all these drivers trying to set me up with their friends. Yup. Loads o' fun there. Ya'll remember what fun it was when you were dating, before you got married, attached, whatever? I was flying along happily in my ignorance until I started working in the office and actually dealing with people for more than just a few minutes at a time. Now I'm interacting. And apparently, pathetically single. So all these guys are trying to find me a man. This is loads of fun. Here's one:
One of the drivers is arguing with a friend on the phone about where he is at that moment. We're in the break room at work, about 10 of us, just kinda killing time, doing paperwork, that kinda stuff. He's a little loud. As I walk by him he tells me to tell the guy where he is at right now and holds the phone out to me. I lean down, real close to the phone and say:
Me: Baby, come back to bed, I NEED you NOW!!
The guy with the phone freaks out! Heh.
Me: Good thing that wasn't your girlfriend, huh?!
And I walk off.
So about 5 minutes later he walks up to me and hands me his phone:
Dr: He wants to talk to you.
Me: Who?
Dr: My friend. He thinks you have a great voice.
Me: I don't wanna talk to ANY friend of yours.
Dr: Come on. I can't talk to the guy, he won't shut up about you.
Me: Aw jeez. All right. 'Lo?
He: Hi! My name is Mike. What's yours?
Me: Your friend didn't tell you?
He: Well, yeah. He did.
Me: ... then why you asking? I don't make ANYthing easy.
He: Um. Well ...
Me: Don't work to well under pressure do you?
He: I ... wait. What?
Me: Nevermind. What's up?
He: I want to meet you.
Me: Well, let's not waste any time here. How about I get your number from your friend and call you later? I'm actually working here.
He: Yes. That's great! Call me later.
Me: All right. Toodles.
So I get Dude's number and call him about 8p last night.
Me: Hey, it's Trixie. You busy?
He: No! Wow. I didn't think you'd call.
Me: Why, are you heinous?
He: Am I what?
Me: Ugly? Deformed? Socially unacceptable?
He: Um ... I'm not ugly.
Me: snort All right. I'll let you go on this one. What's going on?
He: Where are you at?
Me: Home. How about you?
He: I'm giving a friend a ride home. Can I stop by your house?
Me: Hell no.
He: ... what?
Me: Hell. No. What part of that don't you understand?
He: Why not?
Me: Seriously? I haven't met you, why would I let you come to my house?
He: I just want to meet you.
Me: How about we decide if we like each other on the phone before we get to the going-to-your-home part, eh?
He: Ok. So ... can I stop by?
Me: I'm done talking to you.
He: What? Why?
Me: You're an idiot. And I don't talk to idiots. Unless I'm getting paid for it that is.
He: So ... that mean I can't come by?
Me: Good bye. and I hung up the phone
Jeez.
So he called me back about 5 minutes later. As if once wasn't enough.
Me: Hello?
He: Hey, it's Mike. Sorry, I just dropped off my friend. We've been drinking since about 3 this afternoon and he was getting a little loud.
Me: So this is the socially unacceptable part, right?
He: What do you mean?
Me: Not only are you an idiot for not understanding what the word "no" means but you drink and drive as well, eh?
He: Heh. Ok. Maybe. Can I come over?
Me: click
And he's called me about 10 times since then. I'm only concerned that he's going to show up at work while I'm there like the last one did. I'll tell you about that one some other time.
Gawd, I love being single. :o)
I'm thinking of starting yet another blog about the joys I'm having with all these drivers trying to set me up with their friends. Yup. Loads o' fun there. Ya'll remember what fun it was when you were dating, before you got married, attached, whatever? I was flying along happily in my ignorance until I started working in the office and actually dealing with people for more than just a few minutes at a time. Now I'm interacting. And apparently, pathetically single. So all these guys are trying to find me a man. This is loads of fun. Here's one:
One of the drivers is arguing with a friend on the phone about where he is at that moment. We're in the break room at work, about 10 of us, just kinda killing time, doing paperwork, that kinda stuff. He's a little loud. As I walk by him he tells me to tell the guy where he is at right now and holds the phone out to me. I lean down, real close to the phone and say:
Me: Baby, come back to bed, I NEED you NOW!!
The guy with the phone freaks out! Heh.
Me: Good thing that wasn't your girlfriend, huh?!
And I walk off.
So about 5 minutes later he walks up to me and hands me his phone:
Dr: He wants to talk to you.
Me: Who?
Dr: My friend. He thinks you have a great voice.
Me: I don't wanna talk to ANY friend of yours.
Dr: Come on. I can't talk to the guy, he won't shut up about you.
Me: Aw jeez. All right. 'Lo?
He: Hi! My name is Mike. What's yours?
Me: Your friend didn't tell you?
He: Well, yeah. He did.
Me: ... then why you asking? I don't make ANYthing easy.
He: Um. Well ...
Me: Don't work to well under pressure do you?
He: I ... wait. What?
Me: Nevermind. What's up?
He: I want to meet you.
Me: Well, let's not waste any time here. How about I get your number from your friend and call you later? I'm actually working here.
He: Yes. That's great! Call me later.
Me: All right. Toodles.
So I get Dude's number and call him about 8p last night.
Me: Hey, it's Trixie. You busy?
He: No! Wow. I didn't think you'd call.
Me: Why, are you heinous?
He: Am I what?
Me: Ugly? Deformed? Socially unacceptable?
He: Um ... I'm not ugly.
Me: snort All right. I'll let you go on this one. What's going on?
He: Where are you at?
Me: Home. How about you?
He: I'm giving a friend a ride home. Can I stop by your house?
Me: Hell no.
He: ... what?
Me: Hell. No. What part of that don't you understand?
He: Why not?
Me: Seriously? I haven't met you, why would I let you come to my house?
He: I just want to meet you.
Me: How about we decide if we like each other on the phone before we get to the going-to-your-home part, eh?
He: Ok. So ... can I stop by?
Me: I'm done talking to you.
He: What? Why?
Me: You're an idiot. And I don't talk to idiots. Unless I'm getting paid for it that is.
He: So ... that mean I can't come by?
Me: Good bye. and I hung up the phone
Jeez.
So he called me back about 5 minutes later. As if once wasn't enough.
Me: Hello?
He: Hey, it's Mike. Sorry, I just dropped off my friend. We've been drinking since about 3 this afternoon and he was getting a little loud.
Me: So this is the socially unacceptable part, right?
He: What do you mean?
Me: Not only are you an idiot for not understanding what the word "no" means but you drink and drive as well, eh?
He: Heh. Ok. Maybe. Can I come over?
Me: click
And he's called me about 10 times since then. I'm only concerned that he's going to show up at work while I'm there like the last one did. I'll tell you about that one some other time.
Gawd, I love being single. :o)
1/18/09
Hey now, remember me?? :o)
I got sent to a retirement facility to pick up this tiny little lady and take her to go play bingo not too long ago. I had to go to her door to fetch her, the instructions say "Be careful, 93 yo, moves slow but very independent". Okee Dokee.
I wander on up and knock on her door. She opens it and she is just the cutest, tiniest little old lady I've ever seen. She's got her hair and make up all done up, her big sparkly BINGO sweatshirt on, a big ol' smile and some strappy 4 inch heels. Nothing else.
I'm just standing there ... whooooooa.
Me: Oh. Well now, hello there.
She: Hi Honey. I'm ready.
Me: Are you sure??
She: Oh yes dear.
Me: You realize you forgot something there, right? As I'm saying this I'm pointing downwards towards her nekkid legs.
She: cackling like a biker that's been smoking 2 packs a day for the last 50 years HA! Just wanted to see if you'd notice!
Me: Well, jeez. Ok. I noticed. Now go put some drawers on, it's cold outside.
She: cackling s'more I like you Honey. I got something to show you.
Me: Something else?!
She: cackling again Hold on a second. She scoots herself and her little ol' walker around to where her backside is facing me: Now do you think these shoes make my legs look longer?? She asks as she's looking over her shoulder at me.
Me: Ya know, I think they'd look a whole lot longer if ya GO PUT SOME PANTS ON!!
She just laughs at me again and asks me to wait for her. She told me some fairly interesting stories about her life.
I like to think that if I make it to the age of 93 I'll have earned the right to wander 'round w/out my drawers. I don't plan on inflicting that on anyone, but I'll have definately earned the right.
I wander on up and knock on her door. She opens it and she is just the cutest, tiniest little old lady I've ever seen. She's got her hair and make up all done up, her big sparkly BINGO sweatshirt on, a big ol' smile and some strappy 4 inch heels. Nothing else.
I'm just standing there ... whooooooa.
Me: Oh. Well now, hello there.
She: Hi Honey. I'm ready.
Me: Are you sure??
She: Oh yes dear.
Me: You realize you forgot something there, right? As I'm saying this I'm pointing downwards towards her nekkid legs.
She: cackling like a biker that's been smoking 2 packs a day for the last 50 years HA! Just wanted to see if you'd notice!
Me: Well, jeez. Ok. I noticed. Now go put some drawers on, it's cold outside.
She: cackling s'more I like you Honey. I got something to show you.
Me: Something else?!
She: cackling again Hold on a second. She scoots herself and her little ol' walker around to where her backside is facing me: Now do you think these shoes make my legs look longer?? She asks as she's looking over her shoulder at me.
Me: Ya know, I think they'd look a whole lot longer if ya GO PUT SOME PANTS ON!!
She just laughs at me again and asks me to wait for her. She told me some fairly interesting stories about her life.
I like to think that if I make it to the age of 93 I'll have earned the right to wander 'round w/out my drawers. I don't plan on inflicting that on anyone, but I'll have definately earned the right.
12/12/08
This is an old one I never published 'cuz it's sad ...
When I worked for the other cab company (Brand X.) they didn't track how much we drove, when, where, or much of anything else for that matter. I kept my cab at home and drove whenever I got the urge, day or night, etc.
Early one morning last June I got sent to pick up the lady from the Marriott on Front St to take her to OHSU for her 'treatment'. This had been my 1st time getting her, but apparently she had a short term acct with us, she was in town for 2 wks getting some serious tests done and was going to Pill Hill to every single 4 hrs for a week so they could check the results. Her husband rode with her each time, holding her hand the whole way. She was weak, but in good spirits. I caught her on the last 2 days of her trips to the hospital and ended up readjusting my scheduled to pick her up every time so we had a lot of time to talk. They were a sweet couple. They ended up leaving the next day.
About a month later I get a call from her saying she was coming back to town for a bit and was wondering if I could pick her up from the airport and drive her around. Of course I did.
They're from Maine, long way from home. Her husband has to work and watch the kids this time, but he's calling her every couple of hrs to see how she is doing.
We have a bit more time to talk w/out her husband there. She tells me about how they were high school loves (in Texas) that lost touch, ran into each other on the street one day (in Montana) and reconnected 15 yrs later. Neither had children (and not from lack of trying) but were both married. They got divorced and married the day after both divorces were final then found out they were to be parents, to twins, a few months later. They are both madly in love with each other and their lives. It was a sweet story, and you could tell by her face she loved telling it.
She's only in town for a week and had one free day one so I took her around Ptld. Talking to her I found out she is an avid gardener and loves everything to do with plants so I took her up to the Rose Gardens, the Japanese Gardens (which, if you haven't seen, I highly recommend. It's a magical place) and out to Multnomah Falls. By the time we got to the falls she was moving a lot slower but still wanted to walk to the base and look at them. I got her back to the hospital not too long after that. She only stayed for another 2 days, but said she would call me when she came back to town the next month as the dr's said she was getting better and wouldn't have to be back for awhile. I took her to the airport one beautiful sunny day and was already talking to her about the places I would take her when she came back.
About 2 wks later her husband called me. She had peacefully died in her sleep the night before and she requested that he send me an airline ticket to get me out there and back for the funeral and that he give me a bit of money for driving her around that day as I wouldn't take any money from her then. I respectfully declined - she told me about their finances along with everything else we talked about. He also told me how she talked repeatedly about her last trip to Ptld and how much she enjoyed driving around with me, listening to my funny stories and anecdotes. She also asked that I forgive her for lying to me about getting better, but she didn't want to put a pall on our time.
He thanked me, repeatedly, for taking care of her while she was here as he couldn't be here due to work and kids. He said many, many other things that I couldn't really understand because he was crying almost as hard as I.
I'll never forget sweet Dauphine, and her incredible love for life and family.
Early one morning last June I got sent to pick up the lady from the Marriott on Front St to take her to OHSU for her 'treatment'. This had been my 1st time getting her, but apparently she had a short term acct with us, she was in town for 2 wks getting some serious tests done and was going to Pill Hill to every single 4 hrs for a week so they could check the results. Her husband rode with her each time, holding her hand the whole way. She was weak, but in good spirits. I caught her on the last 2 days of her trips to the hospital and ended up readjusting my scheduled to pick her up every time so we had a lot of time to talk. They were a sweet couple. They ended up leaving the next day.
About a month later I get a call from her saying she was coming back to town for a bit and was wondering if I could pick her up from the airport and drive her around. Of course I did.
They're from Maine, long way from home. Her husband has to work and watch the kids this time, but he's calling her every couple of hrs to see how she is doing.
We have a bit more time to talk w/out her husband there. She tells me about how they were high school loves (in Texas) that lost touch, ran into each other on the street one day (in Montana) and reconnected 15 yrs later. Neither had children (and not from lack of trying) but were both married. They got divorced and married the day after both divorces were final then found out they were to be parents, to twins, a few months later. They are both madly in love with each other and their lives. It was a sweet story, and you could tell by her face she loved telling it.
She's only in town for a week and had one free day one so I took her around Ptld. Talking to her I found out she is an avid gardener and loves everything to do with plants so I took her up to the Rose Gardens, the Japanese Gardens (which, if you haven't seen, I highly recommend. It's a magical place) and out to Multnomah Falls. By the time we got to the falls she was moving a lot slower but still wanted to walk to the base and look at them. I got her back to the hospital not too long after that. She only stayed for another 2 days, but said she would call me when she came back to town the next month as the dr's said she was getting better and wouldn't have to be back for awhile. I took her to the airport one beautiful sunny day and was already talking to her about the places I would take her when she came back.
About 2 wks later her husband called me. She had peacefully died in her sleep the night before and she requested that he send me an airline ticket to get me out there and back for the funeral and that he give me a bit of money for driving her around that day as I wouldn't take any money from her then. I respectfully declined - she told me about their finances along with everything else we talked about. He also told me how she talked repeatedly about her last trip to Ptld and how much she enjoyed driving around with me, listening to my funny stories and anecdotes. She also asked that I forgive her for lying to me about getting better, but she didn't want to put a pall on our time.
He thanked me, repeatedly, for taking care of her while she was here as he couldn't be here due to work and kids. He said many, many other things that I couldn't really understand because he was crying almost as hard as I.
I'll never forget sweet Dauphine, and her incredible love for life and family.
12/9/08
"That crazy bitch called the cops on me!"
So I've added some odd little responsibilities to my cab driving, now I'm somewhat of a supervisor for the drivers. I'm dealing with them on a whole new level as well as being a fellow driver. Interesting dynamics, lemmetellya. One of the things that happens is that I'm getting all kinds of calls asking me all kinds of questions. I get a call Saturday night, while I'm driving from a driver (who also happens to be one of the guys that I spend quite a bit of time talking to):
He: You aren't going to believe what just happened to me.
Me: Shoot.
He: I picked up this lady, to take her just a couple of miles. She wasn't in the cab for more than 5 minutes and she was ALL over me. Would not leave me alone. Telling me "I love your voice", "You smell so good", "Your voice is really turning me on". And the like.
Me: Ho boy. You expect me to believe this, right? this happens more often than you would believe ... well, I mean, to the GUYS as well. :o)
He: I'm not kidding! And it gets worse.
Me: OK, but keep to the facts, please.
He: It's all true!! So I get her to her home and she asks me to help her carry her stuff in the house.
Me: You didn't ... ?
He: No! But I carried it to her door. She asked me to come in but I said no and left. She was really freaking me out. A little scary.
Me: Yeah. So that's the end of it?
He: No! She called dispatch a little while ago and said that she had left some stuff in the back of my cab.
Me: Don't tell me ... she wanted you to come back, right??
He: YES!! I told them I wouldn't go back there 'cuz she was crazy and didn't leave anything in my cab, but she left her number and they told me I had to call her. She was begging me to come back and finish what I started!!
Me: You mean with your sexy voice and all that??
He: Yes! She's nuts, I'm telling you.
Me: So what happened?
He: I hung up on her. See what I mean? I knew you wouldn't believe me.
Me: Ah. OK. So that's where it ended?
He: Yes.
Me: Well, as long as you don't call her back you should be all right.
He: Oh, I won't. Believe that.
nah nah nah .... 5 minutes later ... he calls me again ...
He: So she called dispatch and told them she found her stuff. They sent me a message telling me I was off the hook.
Me: Then I guess you're covered. Ya might wanna tone down that sex appeal though. Just a thought.
He: Ha. Ha.
nah nah nah ... 10 minutes later ...
He: She called me back! Like ... 15 times!! I'm not answering the phone, what do I do??
Me: Oh wow. Dude, I had no idea you were THAT sexy! heh Ahem. Don't answer. That's all I can tell you. Unless you wanna call the cops and tell 'em you're being stalked I don't imagine there's much you can do.
He: She's really starting to annoy me. I just might answer the phone and tell her off, crazy bitch!
Me: Now don't be doing that. Then she'd be able to call the company and complain about you. Just keep ignoring her.
He: Yeah. I guess you're right. I'm taking someone to a bar in Vancouver, I'll call you when I get done.
Me: Toodles.
nah nah nah ... 20 minutes later ...
He: She called the cops on me!!
Me: Wait, WHAT?
He: That crazy bitch called the cops on me! Told them I stole her stuff and wouldn't give it back or answer my phone.
Me: Whoa. So I'm assuming they called you, what do they want? The police I mean.
He: I have to go back down there and show them her stuff isn't in my car.
Me: Seriously? How are they going to know you didn't just toss it in the river on the way down?
He: I don't know. What do I do?
Me: Well, what did you tell them you'd do? Did you say you'd go down there?
He: Yeah. I mean, I have to, don't I?
Me: Well, I'm guessing if you called them back and told them to call dispatch and ask them about her calling and saying that she found her stuff you'd probably be off the hook pretty quick.
He: ... I forgot all about that! Yeah, that's what I'll do. I'll call you right back.
nah nah nah ... upshot ...
They called dispatch. They were able to tell them everything about where he picked her up, dropped off, how long he was there and about her calling back. He was off the hook for that one.
People are nuts sometimes, I tell ya.
He: You aren't going to believe what just happened to me.
Me: Shoot.
He: I picked up this lady, to take her just a couple of miles. She wasn't in the cab for more than 5 minutes and she was ALL over me. Would not leave me alone. Telling me "I love your voice", "You smell so good", "Your voice is really turning me on". And the like.
Me: Ho boy. You expect me to believe this, right? this happens more often than you would believe ... well, I mean, to the GUYS as well. :o)
He: I'm not kidding! And it gets worse.
Me: OK, but keep to the facts, please.
He: It's all true!! So I get her to her home and she asks me to help her carry her stuff in the house.
Me: You didn't ... ?
He: No! But I carried it to her door. She asked me to come in but I said no and left. She was really freaking me out. A little scary.
Me: Yeah. So that's the end of it?
He: No! She called dispatch a little while ago and said that she had left some stuff in the back of my cab.
Me: Don't tell me ... she wanted you to come back, right??
He: YES!! I told them I wouldn't go back there 'cuz she was crazy and didn't leave anything in my cab, but she left her number and they told me I had to call her. She was begging me to come back and finish what I started!!
Me: You mean with your sexy voice and all that??
He: Yes! She's nuts, I'm telling you.
Me: So what happened?
He: I hung up on her. See what I mean? I knew you wouldn't believe me.
Me: Ah. OK. So that's where it ended?
He: Yes.
Me: Well, as long as you don't call her back you should be all right.
He: Oh, I won't. Believe that.
nah nah nah .... 5 minutes later ... he calls me again ...
He: So she called dispatch and told them she found her stuff. They sent me a message telling me I was off the hook.
Me: Then I guess you're covered. Ya might wanna tone down that sex appeal though. Just a thought.
He: Ha. Ha.
nah nah nah ... 10 minutes later ...
He: She called me back! Like ... 15 times!! I'm not answering the phone, what do I do??
Me: Oh wow. Dude, I had no idea you were THAT sexy! heh Ahem. Don't answer. That's all I can tell you. Unless you wanna call the cops and tell 'em you're being stalked I don't imagine there's much you can do.
He: She's really starting to annoy me. I just might answer the phone and tell her off, crazy bitch!
Me: Now don't be doing that. Then she'd be able to call the company and complain about you. Just keep ignoring her.
He: Yeah. I guess you're right. I'm taking someone to a bar in Vancouver, I'll call you when I get done.
Me: Toodles.
nah nah nah ... 20 minutes later ...
He: She called the cops on me!!
Me: Wait, WHAT?
He: That crazy bitch called the cops on me! Told them I stole her stuff and wouldn't give it back or answer my phone.
Me: Whoa. So I'm assuming they called you, what do they want? The police I mean.
He: I have to go back down there and show them her stuff isn't in my car.
Me: Seriously? How are they going to know you didn't just toss it in the river on the way down?
He: I don't know. What do I do?
Me: Well, what did you tell them you'd do? Did you say you'd go down there?
He: Yeah. I mean, I have to, don't I?
Me: Well, I'm guessing if you called them back and told them to call dispatch and ask them about her calling and saying that she found her stuff you'd probably be off the hook pretty quick.
He: ... I forgot all about that! Yeah, that's what I'll do. I'll call you right back.
nah nah nah ... upshot ...
They called dispatch. They were able to tell them everything about where he picked her up, dropped off, how long he was there and about her calling back. He was off the hook for that one.
People are nuts sometimes, I tell ya.
10/27/08
I got a phone call this morning ...
'round about 3. It went like this:
He: Is this Trixie the cab driver?
Me: Yup. Can I help you?
He: I don't know if you'll remember me but you gave me a ride home about a week ago. I was really drunk ... ?
Me: Doesn't really narrow it down for me, did you do anything specific that made you memorable?
He: You said I was sufficiently hot. That ring a bell?
Me: No I didn't. I would never say something like that.
He: You did. I SWEAR.
Me: Wait ... wait ... I'm getting a flash here ... I said you were incipiently hot.
He: You said ... wait ... what? What's that mean?
Me: You were almost hot but not quite there yet. But that's neither here or there. You in need of a ride?
He: Yeah. Can you come get me?
Me: Possibly. Where and when?
He: I'm at the Justice Center downtown. And I'm hoping soon.
Me: Ah. Gotcherfineself arrested didja?
He: Yeah. Something stupid. Can you come and get me?
Me: Sure. Be about ... 15. That work for ya?
He: Yes. Please! Oh, and ... well ... ummmm ...
Me: Spit it out. Wassup?
He: Well, I'm hoping you can bail me out.
Me: ...
He: Still there?
Me: You're shittin' me right?
He: No. I don't know who else to call. Pleeeeeeease??
Me: There has GOT to be someone else you can call.
He: No. I tried my folks, they aren't answering the phone. My friends aren't allowed to have their phones on this late. I'm stuck here and need some help!
Me: Well, I'm certainly not going to bail you out of jail BUT I will drive to your folks house and try to wake them up. You're off South Shore drive in Lake O right?
He: Really? You'd do that?! Oh wow ... that is so cool of you!
etc etc
I woke up his folks. They weren't exactly happy, but they were glad I went 'n got them up.
He: Is this Trixie the cab driver?
Me: Yup. Can I help you?
He: I don't know if you'll remember me but you gave me a ride home about a week ago. I was really drunk ... ?
Me: Doesn't really narrow it down for me, did you do anything specific that made you memorable?
He: You said I was sufficiently hot. That ring a bell?
Me: No I didn't. I would never say something like that.
He: You did. I SWEAR.
Me: Wait ... wait ... I'm getting a flash here ... I said you were incipiently hot.
He: You said ... wait ... what? What's that mean?
Me: You were almost hot but not quite there yet. But that's neither here or there. You in need of a ride?
He: Yeah. Can you come get me?
Me: Possibly. Where and when?
He: I'm at the Justice Center downtown. And I'm hoping soon.
Me: Ah. Gotcherfineself arrested didja?
He: Yeah. Something stupid. Can you come and get me?
Me: Sure. Be about ... 15. That work for ya?
He: Yes. Please! Oh, and ... well ... ummmm ...
Me: Spit it out. Wassup?
He: Well, I'm hoping you can bail me out.
Me: ...
He: Still there?
Me: You're shittin' me right?
He: No. I don't know who else to call. Pleeeeeeease??
Me: There has GOT to be someone else you can call.
He: No. I tried my folks, they aren't answering the phone. My friends aren't allowed to have their phones on this late. I'm stuck here and need some help!
Me: Well, I'm certainly not going to bail you out of jail BUT I will drive to your folks house and try to wake them up. You're off South Shore drive in Lake O right?
He: Really? You'd do that?! Oh wow ... that is so cool of you!
etc etc
I woke up his folks. They weren't exactly happy, but they were glad I went 'n got them up.
10/21/08
I walked in on the middle of a conversation this a.m. ...
while getting gas at the Shell station, and I'm sure the first part of this conversation had to have been fascinating. Two ppl behind the counter, one foreign girl and American guy and customer, a National Guard guy.
She: You know who I think should be President?? Steven Seagal. I think he'd kick ass all over those foreigners.
Color me intrigued.
He1: Yeah!! Good choice! What about Schwarzeneggar? Didn't you see "Predator"?? He would totally kick Seagal ass AND the rest of the world.
She: Yeah, too bad he can't be president because he wasn't born here. I can't believe that's a LAW.
NGguy: You know the problem is that we live in the cesspool of the world. That's what I'm here for ... to clean up this country and make it what it used to be ... SAFE for the American people.
I was just standing there smiling at them all. Apparently it didn't look like a genuine smile 'cuz the guy behind the counter had to ask me who I thought should be President.
Me: Aw hell. I'm thinking that if you ppl are going to elect another actor into office it should be Chuck Norris, 'cuz really, who has EVER beat him? No one.
All of them agreed with me. It was quiet for a second while I paid for my fuel so I had to ask:
Me: Are ya'll planning on voting next month?
Two behind the counter said no. Nat Guard guy said yes.
Me: looking at the two behind the counter It's a damned shame you two aren't voting.
And I left.
She: You know who I think should be President?? Steven Seagal. I think he'd kick ass all over those foreigners.
Color me intrigued.
He1: Yeah!! Good choice! What about Schwarzeneggar? Didn't you see "Predator"?? He would totally kick Seagal ass AND the rest of the world.
She: Yeah, too bad he can't be president because he wasn't born here. I can't believe that's a LAW.
NGguy: You know the problem is that we live in the cesspool of the world. That's what I'm here for ... to clean up this country and make it what it used to be ... SAFE for the American people.
I was just standing there smiling at them all. Apparently it didn't look like a genuine smile 'cuz the guy behind the counter had to ask me who I thought should be President.
Me: Aw hell. I'm thinking that if you ppl are going to elect another actor into office it should be Chuck Norris, 'cuz really, who has EVER beat him? No one.
All of them agreed with me. It was quiet for a second while I paid for my fuel so I had to ask:
Me: Are ya'll planning on voting next month?
Two behind the counter said no. Nat Guard guy said yes.
Me: looking at the two behind the counter It's a damned shame you two aren't voting.
And I left.
10/15/08
Yeah, well, HERE'S some attitude for ya!
Hey ya'll, more thoughts on the last post. It started out as a rebuttal, and I was just going to leave a comment, but it got to be too much and decided to post it here for ya'll to have your say.
Yes, our co is much larger. We generally have about 4-5 dispatchers at any given time and all they do is answer the phone. We have about 20 people in our office to deal w/everything else and a lot lizard to deal directly w/the drivers. They hand out spare cars, do inspections, that sorta stuff so we rarely talk to the dispatchers other than on the radio.
Our dispatchers are not given any sort of power over us because our company understands that without drivers there would be no company. Yes, there are limits, and yes, we are certainly expendable, and Lord know there are plenty of people in line to take our jobs, but for the most part the drivers really are the important part of the company.
I don't know how this person comes off on the radio but I know that most of the dispatchers I've spoken with, at all cab companies, hate drivers. We're all quite low on the human totem pole to them. For that matter, to most of the people that get in our cabs as well. And I'm trying not to generalize here, because Lord knows there are bad drivers out here as well.
Not that this is a shock to any of you. This is a service industry job and most folk don't respect those in the service industry. Just the way it is. Sadly.
Yanno what? Just to make this interesting, I'm going to throw an opinion (or two) out here.
I WORK for a living. Not in an office, but I still work. 12 hrs a day, often 7 days a week. I pay my taxes. I vote. I don't litter. I don't abuse children or animals. (Drunks are a whole different type of animal :o) I've never been to jail or prison. I've not had illegitimate children so I could live off your money just because I can.
I did not go to college to become a cab driver but I needed a job one day so I did what all hard-working, conscientious Americans do ... I took whatever I could get to pay the rent. Which is more than a lot of American people are willing to do.
People complain about foreigners coming to this country and taking our jobs. Well ...
A) Our government has always allowed this. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that how this country was started? Didn't everyone come from somewhere else? Except the Indians and what happened to them? Exactly what's happening to us now, but on a larger scale. But we are allowing it, they were overwhelmed and practically wiped out.
B) A lot of people are too LAZY to work.
C) A lot of people are too good to flip burgers. Or clean up after people. Or drive cabs.
I've never mistreated anyone while I've done this job. But yes, sometimes my attitude can be a bit much. If you're not in my cab and doing something stupid, you probably wouldn't even see it.
And just because a lot of folks don't know how the cab biz is run in Portland here's a simple synopsis: we lease our cars from the company. The only money we make is from our customers. the company gives us nothing, monetarily. I PAY for the joy of working. When you include gas, I pay out more than twice what's considered poverty level for this country in a year. (Read that again to make sure you understand). I have to CLEAR this amount, and then make more to live on. Think about that.
Other cities pay their drivers, hourly or otherwise and give them benefits, etc., and still others are run differently. I make the best of my situation/job, and sometimes even enjoy it. Can a lot of other people say that? Really?? One of the reasons I can approach this job, and my customers the way I do is because I know that - for the most part- these people can't bring me down with THEIR attitudes.
Whew. That's all I have for now. Flay away at me. I'll try n' work up some sort of enthusiastic rebuttal.
*muah*
Yes, our co is much larger. We generally have about 4-5 dispatchers at any given time and all they do is answer the phone. We have about 20 people in our office to deal w/everything else and a lot lizard to deal directly w/the drivers. They hand out spare cars, do inspections, that sorta stuff so we rarely talk to the dispatchers other than on the radio.
Our dispatchers are not given any sort of power over us because our company understands that without drivers there would be no company. Yes, there are limits, and yes, we are certainly expendable, and Lord know there are plenty of people in line to take our jobs, but for the most part the drivers really are the important part of the company.
I don't know how this person comes off on the radio but I know that most of the dispatchers I've spoken with, at all cab companies, hate drivers. We're all quite low on the human totem pole to them. For that matter, to most of the people that get in our cabs as well. And I'm trying not to generalize here, because Lord knows there are bad drivers out here as well.
Not that this is a shock to any of you. This is a service industry job and most folk don't respect those in the service industry. Just the way it is. Sadly.
Yanno what? Just to make this interesting, I'm going to throw an opinion (or two) out here.
I WORK for a living. Not in an office, but I still work. 12 hrs a day, often 7 days a week. I pay my taxes. I vote. I don't litter. I don't abuse children or animals. (Drunks are a whole different type of animal :o) I've never been to jail or prison. I've not had illegitimate children so I could live off your money just because I can.
I did not go to college to become a cab driver but I needed a job one day so I did what all hard-working, conscientious Americans do ... I took whatever I could get to pay the rent. Which is more than a lot of American people are willing to do.
People complain about foreigners coming to this country and taking our jobs. Well ...
A) Our government has always allowed this. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that how this country was started? Didn't everyone come from somewhere else? Except the Indians and what happened to them? Exactly what's happening to us now, but on a larger scale. But we are allowing it, they were overwhelmed and practically wiped out.
B) A lot of people are too LAZY to work.
C) A lot of people are too good to flip burgers. Or clean up after people. Or drive cabs.
I've never mistreated anyone while I've done this job. But yes, sometimes my attitude can be a bit much. If you're not in my cab and doing something stupid, you probably wouldn't even see it.
And just because a lot of folks don't know how the cab biz is run in Portland here's a simple synopsis: we lease our cars from the company. The only money we make is from our customers. the company gives us nothing, monetarily. I PAY for the joy of working. When you include gas, I pay out more than twice what's considered poverty level for this country in a year. (Read that again to make sure you understand). I have to CLEAR this amount, and then make more to live on. Think about that.
Other cities pay their drivers, hourly or otherwise and give them benefits, etc., and still others are run differently. I make the best of my situation/job, and sometimes even enjoy it. Can a lot of other people say that? Really?? One of the reasons I can approach this job, and my customers the way I do is because I know that - for the most part- these people can't bring me down with THEIR attitudes.
Whew. That's all I have for now. Flay away at me. I'll try n' work up some sort of enthusiastic rebuttal.
*muah*
10/14/08
Hey now, check this comment out ...
-
Your cab company is obviously bigger than mine. Maybe the division of labor is one of the reasons your dispatcher has less power. Where I work as a dispatcher that means I answer the calls, take the orders, deal w/ the customer service issues, dispatch the orders, do general office work etc etc etc and there's only one person here at a time. We have what we call a 10-x. If the dispatcher 10-x's you you are not permitted to work for however many days you are 10-x'd for. You're lucky he seems to not be able to do that because if a driver copped the attitude you present yourself as having much of the time with customers in your blog w/ me and then played that income card I'd 10-x you for a month.
For the love of Pete. Now I'm irritated. I hate when I feel I have to justify myself. Bah.
Edited to add: I did NOT scream all that. It's normal-sized in my editing screen. Blessed Blogger.
10/8/08
An older draft found in my archives, not published.
1) I get sent to outer SE Ptld to pick up a lady early one morning and take her for her daily meth dose at the clinic. I have about 10 mins before I'm due there and only a few blocks away so I stop to watch the ducks wander around the side of the road near a tiny little pond where they apparently live.
They're waddling along, being just as cute as ducks and baby ducks can be. As they start to cross the road a SUV comes from the other direction and has to stop to let them go by. The other driver and I exchange smiles and watch the ducks when I notice something ... odd. I did a double take, then got out of my car 'cause one of these poor little baby ducks has a DART sticking out of the side of it's neck!!! The lady asks me what's going on, I tell her and she gets out to try and help me herd the poor little duckie to one of us so we could do ... something. I dunno what. The momma duck hustles her babies away from the big mean people and off into the lake. I called the p.d. They said they would send someone out.
2) I had this girl get in my cab crying, quietly in the backseat. She tells me where to go, and if I could, get her there quickly. I take off. We're at 15th NE Alberta going to St. Johns. I get to MLK to go N and as I pull up the light turns red for me. I whip up to the corner and take a quick look left, there is only one car coming at me in the inside lane. So I jump on the gas and whip out into the outer lane to get out of the way. Well, turns out this one car was a cop. And he pulled me over. I turned off the meter, apologized and had a nice, loooong chat with the cop. He was angry. He didn't care that I pulled out in the far lane to get out of his way.
I ran the red light and pulled out into the wrong lane. blah blah. This guy read me the riot act. Up, down. Everything.
He: You know that if I wrote you a ticket you would lose your license, right?
Me: No chance. I've only had 2 tickets in my entire 30 yrs of driving and they were both over 5 years ago.
He: This is 2 violations in one incident. Yes, you COULD lose your license and since you drive for a living you might want to seem a little more concerned about it.
Instead of being concerned, I argued. Cuz that's just what I do. Especially when I feel someone is trying to belittle me in front of someone else. So we chatted. For quite awhile. Finally I say ...
Me: Dude, either write me a ticket or let me go. This girl has some place she has to be.
He: looks at the girl in the back, crying All right. Just because I don't want YOU to waste any more of your customers time I'm going to let you go, but you need to be a LOT more careful.
They're waddling along, being just as cute as ducks and baby ducks can be. As they start to cross the road a SUV comes from the other direction and has to stop to let them go by. The other driver and I exchange smiles and watch the ducks when I notice something ... odd. I did a double take, then got out of my car 'cause one of these poor little baby ducks has a DART sticking out of the side of it's neck!!! The lady asks me what's going on, I tell her and she gets out to try and help me herd the poor little duckie to one of us so we could do ... something. I dunno what. The momma duck hustles her babies away from the big mean people and off into the lake. I called the p.d. They said they would send someone out.
2) I had this girl get in my cab crying, quietly in the backseat. She tells me where to go, and if I could, get her there quickly. I take off. We're at 15th NE Alberta going to St. Johns. I get to MLK to go N and as I pull up the light turns red for me. I whip up to the corner and take a quick look left, there is only one car coming at me in the inside lane. So I jump on the gas and whip out into the outer lane to get out of the way. Well, turns out this one car was a cop. And he pulled me over. I turned off the meter, apologized and had a nice, loooong chat with the cop. He was angry. He didn't care that I pulled out in the far lane to get out of his way.
I ran the red light and pulled out into the wrong lane. blah blah. This guy read me the riot act. Up, down. Everything.
He: You know that if I wrote you a ticket you would lose your license, right?
Me: No chance. I've only had 2 tickets in my entire 30 yrs of driving and they were both over 5 years ago.
He: This is 2 violations in one incident. Yes, you COULD lose your license and since you drive for a living you might want to seem a little more concerned about it.
Instead of being concerned, I argued. Cuz that's just what I do. Especially when I feel someone is trying to belittle me in front of someone else. So we chatted. For quite awhile. Finally I say ...
Me: Dude, either write me a ticket or let me go. This girl has some place she has to be.
He: looks at the girl in the back, crying All right. Just because I don't want YOU to waste any more of your customers time I'm going to let you go, but you need to be a LOT more careful.
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