This was not as bad as what the rag tag bunch on the taxi stand at Amtrack does, but it sure was irritating. I cruise by the Tu-Me every shift after midnight, in a big circle that covers the Limelight, Raven, Bon-Lair, Tu-Me, Chargin's, Clubhouse 56, Socal's, Hilltop, and Cheater's. If there is already a cab parked at any one of those places, I keep going.
The Amtrack guys all line up, and stay there for hours at a time, waiting for trains and buses. One guy will start directing traffic, as if we can't see who's first, second, etc.
I drove up to Amtrack one night to find no one there, but 3 minutes later they were arriving en mass, surprised to see me, and that I was first. A train soon arrived, and all those drivers were at the end of the tunnel where the passengers come out.....directing traffic. The big boss asked each passenger their destination, and directed each to a taxi, careful to send the one who was going to the Vagabond around the corner to me. I don't like to argue around tired travellers. I took the lady to the Vagabond.
So the night I noticed a Yellow behind me as I headed past The hospital toward the Club Tu-Me, I didn't think much of it. Maybe it was Taxi Dave. He wouldn't race me to it. He would pull up 2nd in line, blaring his radio to attract party types away from me, or any other cab. But at a red light, here's the cab next to me. It's not Dave. He tells me out his window: "We have 3 taxi call at Tu-Me". "Really?", say I. "Tu-Me calls Co-Op". He jumps the light and speeds up into the right lane in front of me. There's another red light ahead. He has to stop, and I zoom past him as I see the yellow on 47th half a block away. I pull up in front of Tu-Me just a second before he does. He jumped out of his cab and ran in the bar. Three people were right behind the door, and explain that they are going in two different directions, to McKinley, about a mile away, and to Arden Park, a 25 dollar ride. He directs the locals to me, and I object . One guy seemed to be in charge, and in fact paid for me to take another fellow to Arden Park after I explained that I was first in line, and didn't appreciate the guy behind me directing my business. They understood. I always get the classier people out of that place.
Well I don't know what Mr. Yellow thought of the whole thing: But I notice that the rag tag bunch who monopolise the downtown stands get pretty bent out of shape when I pull up in the right lane, next to the first in line, and pick up anyone who recognises me. Hey! They want to ride with TaxiLorraine, they can ride with TaxiLorraine. Those guys want to sit for hours as their method, I use my reputation, Taxi Dave uses his music. Let the market decide.
News travels fast. After the Tu-Me thing happened, I cruised the western part of J. Street. There was a lot of jockeying for position at the stand a block before the Sheraton. The valets at the Sheraton blow a whistle to summon the first in line a half a block before the door in front. Sometimes I have a customer call me from there, so I just pull up to get them. And sometimes a regular person just flags me down as I drive by. So I drive by often. So here I come in the right lane between 11th and 12th, when I see the guys lined up along Sheraton stand looking at me with alarm. One is standing to the left of the first cab in line. The light is red, and I'm slowing down. The light is green now! The first cab is pulled out slightly, but stops. They all look like bunnies looking at headlights. I'm 3 cabs away, and Mr. Director waves his hand at Mr. First and yells: "Go Mousa! Go!". Mousa looks so young and timid. I slowed down. He went. I went around the corner. Sometimes there is someone flagging at Ella, or Ghallager's. Sheraton had blown their taxi stand whistle anyway, and the valet would have held onto the passenger until Mr. First got there.
Now every time I drive by a stand downtown, They all look at me. They keep looking until I'm gone. One of these nights I should wear devil horns and draw pointy eyebrows on.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
What kind of person tries to prove he's better than a cab driver?
Well I try not to set them off, because it's irritating as hell to be told every turn to take 'after' the ride has told me where they want to go, and I've confirmed it: "Let's go to R and 17th". I'm puzzled, as that place is all train tracks, asphalt, and winos. "Uh. What bar are you going to?" "Hanger 17". "Ok, Hanger 17, at 17 and S". "Ya; turn here. Now go all the way to S. and I'll show you". "Ok".
I really do appreciate it when a drunk passenger is able to tell me, turn by turn, how to get to his house. I have to drive to the nearest corner after I drop him off, to look myself up in the Thomas Guide, but everyone knows where he lives.
There are a couple dozen Marriott Hotels in and around Sacramento. A very serious looking 40ish couple I got out of the Raven, wanted to go to the one on Gateway Oaks, in South Natomas. There is one there, and another on what seems to be the same street, just a block up the road, and a Hilton Garden in between.
Mr. Serious wants to stop at a small store or gas station on the way. I figure the closer the better. There is a 24 hour Safeway in the same block as The Raven. No.......He wants a little store. It's after midnight. I explain that all that's open are a few gas stations, with their doors locked, and security windows for purchases, Went 7 blocks to P Street where there is a well stocked mini mart at the 76 Station, Could have gone 1 block to Chevron first, but this guy was so intense, I just wanted for him to be able to get whatever he wanted so I could get him and his silent wife to their destination quickly. He seemed to be looking to find fault with me. Well they didn't have what he wanted. So we stopped at Chevron on the way to I Street. They had it. He got it. It was in a little bag. On to I-5 and up to Garden Highway. He told me I should know all the stores, etc, because I'm a cab driver. Cab driver's are supposed to know everything. I know we didn't pass any more open stores on the way to Gateway Oaks. Each criticism he offered was followed by a week, "ya" from wifey. I'm on Gateway....and there is a hotel to the right, up a little access road. I slow down, and ask: "This one"? He says nothing. He has his arms folded over his chest. On to the next one. He says his is the Courtyard. I think we just passed it, but he didn't say anything when we did. And there is another Marriott up the street. But although I don't know for a fact it's the Residence Inn, I think it is. I pull into the Hilton Garden, seeing only the "Garden" part. Sometimes people are confused about which hotel they are in, till they see it. So I asked him if this was his hotel, and he says: "Let's just put a stop to this right now"! I stopped, turned around, and asked him whatever he meant. There was almost 25 on the meter. He informed me that I had driven right past his hotel. Wifey managed a slightly louder: "ya". I asked him why he let me drive right on by, when he knew all along that was the one. Wifey utters: "Noooo"! I just drove them over to the Courtyard, and told them I only wanted 20. I guess they wanted to prove they were smarter than a cab driver.
I know when I'm in the presence of someone smarter than I am. They don't have to tell me. And so far, none of them has. copyright 2011
I really do appreciate it when a drunk passenger is able to tell me, turn by turn, how to get to his house. I have to drive to the nearest corner after I drop him off, to look myself up in the Thomas Guide, but everyone knows where he lives.
There are a couple dozen Marriott Hotels in and around Sacramento. A very serious looking 40ish couple I got out of the Raven, wanted to go to the one on Gateway Oaks, in South Natomas. There is one there, and another on what seems to be the same street, just a block up the road, and a Hilton Garden in between.
Mr. Serious wants to stop at a small store or gas station on the way. I figure the closer the better. There is a 24 hour Safeway in the same block as The Raven. No.......He wants a little store. It's after midnight. I explain that all that's open are a few gas stations, with their doors locked, and security windows for purchases, Went 7 blocks to P Street where there is a well stocked mini mart at the 76 Station, Could have gone 1 block to Chevron first, but this guy was so intense, I just wanted for him to be able to get whatever he wanted so I could get him and his silent wife to their destination quickly. He seemed to be looking to find fault with me. Well they didn't have what he wanted. So we stopped at Chevron on the way to I Street. They had it. He got it. It was in a little bag. On to I-5 and up to Garden Highway. He told me I should know all the stores, etc, because I'm a cab driver. Cab driver's are supposed to know everything. I know we didn't pass any more open stores on the way to Gateway Oaks. Each criticism he offered was followed by a week, "ya" from wifey. I'm on Gateway....and there is a hotel to the right, up a little access road. I slow down, and ask: "This one"? He says nothing. He has his arms folded over his chest. On to the next one. He says his is the Courtyard. I think we just passed it, but he didn't say anything when we did. And there is another Marriott up the street. But although I don't know for a fact it's the Residence Inn, I think it is. I pull into the Hilton Garden, seeing only the "Garden" part. Sometimes people are confused about which hotel they are in, till they see it. So I asked him if this was his hotel, and he says: "Let's just put a stop to this right now"! I stopped, turned around, and asked him whatever he meant. There was almost 25 on the meter. He informed me that I had driven right past his hotel. Wifey managed a slightly louder: "ya". I asked him why he let me drive right on by, when he knew all along that was the one. Wifey utters: "Noooo"! I just drove them over to the Courtyard, and told them I only wanted 20. I guess they wanted to prove they were smarter than a cab driver.
I know when I'm in the presence of someone smarter than I am. They don't have to tell me. And so far, none of them has. copyright 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
The town gets a mood
The town gets a mood, and the sooner I pick it up, the better. I guess the young curly haired Yellow driver hadn't figured it out yet. 3 Asian chicks flagged me down in front of Mikuni at about 11pm. They were chatting about how Yellow had taken too long. I guess thier driver was right behind me. He was so worked up about it, he blocked the right lane, so I couldn't get onto J. Street. I pulled up next to him in the middle lane, and waited for him to turn or go straight. He just sat there blocking me, and said: "You can't turn from that lane, bitch". I said right back: "I know, bitch". He drove straight up 16th, and the car behind him waited to let me make my turn in front of him. Saved my passengers two blocks of fare. Thank you, midsized white sedan.
Well: About half of my radio dispatched resturaunt and bar calls are not there when I get there. Mr. Curly hair needs a chill pill. People are all excited and in a hurry to get from one bar to another on Friday nights. It's all very neat and orderly untill about 11ish, and then it's every cab for himself.
So after the fickle females get out at Level Up, I get flagged by several fly boys in glistenning garb. They look like a military boy band: Each one has a different colored sequined suit. They go to the Park. They are old enough to be military pilots. Got thier suits custom made in Korea. Thier lovely ladies explained it all to me while they waited at Golden One. I'm sure they had lot's of fun at the Park.
Oh gosh! Eric called, and I'm actually relatively near. I still had to take about 20 minutes to let off Micky and her girl, while Eric texted twice, "Hurry Darling! I'm falling asleep". Guess he was tired. He fell off the fold down seat, and had to climb back up, red faced, while everyone wondered what I had run over. And Chad was so pretty! His dark features are adorable anyway, but his lashes were so noticeable Saturday night.
Oh I love hungry people! Couple wants to go from 26th and J, to 25th and L. But it's not raining.....Oh: They want to go to Del-Taco first. Makes it all worthwhile. And Del-Taco at Alhambra and K is open 24 hours, so I got to use the can while they went in and ordered food. A win win during bar rush.
Sacramento is usually not a place where you can let people out of your cab, and have others waiting to get in right there, but it's happening more often now. Right there at 25th and L, I let the fast food couple out, and another couple in. They just went to the 6 at 30th and N, but my dispatcher had been trying to get someone to go get a flag there, and bingo! got another load. Made 20 on that one, but it turned out to be a drug run. I would turn down drug runs if I knew in advance that it was what it was, but then, how could I know, unless I'd driven that person before? On the semi rare occassions when I get along well with the druggie, they ask for my card. I give em my card. And when they call, I make an excuse, and program that number into my phone as: "I don't think so". So these two go to another motel, run upstairs, and I'm left wondering if it's drugs or prostitution. It only takes a minute and a half, and I know the tricks are often quick, but this was way too quick for that. So off to another location, where they run into a dark house, two houses up from where they had me park, and the guy comes back to tell me to keep the 20 he already gave me, as they are staying here. "Okeedokee", thinks I.
I picked up a nice young narcotics officer Saturday night. He told me I should radio in to my dispatcher to call the cops when I'm waiting for a passenger outside a drug house. I think he doesn't know how little time these people spend inside the "place". I'd still be explaining to my dispatcher when they were on thier way out. Most of them are paranoid as it is. I suppose I could report it after the fact, but I am actually trying to make as much money as possible in the time I have during my shift. I should'a got his cell number.
Well: About half of my radio dispatched resturaunt and bar calls are not there when I get there. Mr. Curly hair needs a chill pill. People are all excited and in a hurry to get from one bar to another on Friday nights. It's all very neat and orderly untill about 11ish, and then it's every cab for himself.
So after the fickle females get out at Level Up, I get flagged by several fly boys in glistenning garb. They look like a military boy band: Each one has a different colored sequined suit. They go to the Park. They are old enough to be military pilots. Got thier suits custom made in Korea. Thier lovely ladies explained it all to me while they waited at Golden One. I'm sure they had lot's of fun at the Park.
Oh gosh! Eric called, and I'm actually relatively near. I still had to take about 20 minutes to let off Micky and her girl, while Eric texted twice, "Hurry Darling! I'm falling asleep". Guess he was tired. He fell off the fold down seat, and had to climb back up, red faced, while everyone wondered what I had run over. And Chad was so pretty! His dark features are adorable anyway, but his lashes were so noticeable Saturday night.
Oh I love hungry people! Couple wants to go from 26th and J, to 25th and L. But it's not raining.....Oh: They want to go to Del-Taco first. Makes it all worthwhile. And Del-Taco at Alhambra and K is open 24 hours, so I got to use the can while they went in and ordered food. A win win during bar rush.
Sacramento is usually not a place where you can let people out of your cab, and have others waiting to get in right there, but it's happening more often now. Right there at 25th and L, I let the fast food couple out, and another couple in. They just went to the 6 at 30th and N, but my dispatcher had been trying to get someone to go get a flag there, and bingo! got another load. Made 20 on that one, but it turned out to be a drug run. I would turn down drug runs if I knew in advance that it was what it was, but then, how could I know, unless I'd driven that person before? On the semi rare occassions when I get along well with the druggie, they ask for my card. I give em my card. And when they call, I make an excuse, and program that number into my phone as: "I don't think so". So these two go to another motel, run upstairs, and I'm left wondering if it's drugs or prostitution. It only takes a minute and a half, and I know the tricks are often quick, but this was way too quick for that. So off to another location, where they run into a dark house, two houses up from where they had me park, and the guy comes back to tell me to keep the 20 he already gave me, as they are staying here. "Okeedokee", thinks I.
I picked up a nice young narcotics officer Saturday night. He told me I should radio in to my dispatcher to call the cops when I'm waiting for a passenger outside a drug house. I think he doesn't know how little time these people spend inside the "place". I'd still be explaining to my dispatcher when they were on thier way out. Most of them are paranoid as it is. I suppose I could report it after the fact, but I am actually trying to make as much money as possible in the time I have during my shift. I should'a got his cell number.
I am not the only female cab driver on the face of this earth!
At least once a shift, a passenger will tell me they have never seen a female cab driver before. I can only guess that person doesn't take cabs much. That observation only bothers me when guys get a suspiciouse manner and start questioning my motives. That doesn't happen often, but I get a little more alert when it does.
I began driveing a cab in 1987, when I was suddenly a solo parent. I had to support my guys. It turned out to be a rather good occupation for my situation. Cab drivers can take a break whenever, to do whatever. I could check on the kids at the sitter, at school, at home, whenever it occurred to me to do it. Or whenever I got a call to. People who punch a time clock don't have that luxery.
I left taxi driveing from 94 to 07. The boys are men now, and I can do whatever I want. I had considered myself a cab driver all those years I wasn't. So now I'm back in Sacramento, doing what I am.
I began driveing a cab in 1987, when I was suddenly a solo parent. I had to support my guys. It turned out to be a rather good occupation for my situation. Cab drivers can take a break whenever, to do whatever. I could check on the kids at the sitter, at school, at home, whenever it occurred to me to do it. Or whenever I got a call to. People who punch a time clock don't have that luxery.
I left taxi driveing from 94 to 07. The boys are men now, and I can do whatever I want. I had considered myself a cab driver all those years I wasn't. So now I'm back in Sacramento, doing what I am.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
OMG! Michelle!
Agh! It's 2am. It's so busy out here tonight, people are outside the just closed bars, trying to flag cabs, or still trying for the last minute hookup.
I'm tired. I really did make enough money to just go home right now.
Oh there's one at Charmer's! "Hey just a minute, OK?", says a guy talking to two women. "OK". I sit there in my car while a dyke fiddles with the lock on a bike chained to a pole. It looks like the guy and girls all know each other. The dyke is looking right at me. OK, I've seen her before. She has her salt and pepper hair in a low tail; not making a lot of progress with the bike. I give her the eyebrow raise. I think I took her and some drunk chick home once.
I start to edge away, because no one is paying attention. "No. Hey wait, I just need to find out where these girls are going. Thanks." "Hey how much would it cost to take these girls to Elk Grove?" "Where in Elk Grove?" "Sheldon." "I'll do it for 40 flat." I just want to get this last one, and go home.
They all pile in; girl in front, guy and smaller girl in back. Now they want to go to West Sac. I flip on the meter. "I thought you lived in Auburn!" "I do: I'm staying with someone in West Sac. I don't want to drive all the way to Auburn tonight." "Well, we have to go home tonight." "I know. I need to get home first. I already paid the cab driver to take you home, as soon as she drops me off." "k."
It gets so very quiet. I have the radio on, but barely audible.
I'm hearing fabric moving over the seats. Little tiny giggles. I flip my mirror up. I don't want to see something that will make me grin. They can see me grin from the back, if they look up into my mirror.
I'm driving over surface streets, stopping at it seems like every light there is from here to there. The girl in front says a few words to her friend, and gets no response. She won't look back, just sort of turns her head a little, and stops. She looks at me..... And I'm not gonna look. She finally asks: "Michelle?, Are you OK?" No answer. She asks again. Michelle says she's fine, but front chick won't look back.
We get over the I Street Bridge, and front chick slowly turns her head to the back. "Oh my god! Michelle!". Then she turns her face forward again, and repeats it. No sound at all from the back, till I get to an intersection, and the guy starts to give me detailed directions.
So we go through a coded gate, with the girls totally silent, and the guy leading me up onto a levee, with huge newer houses on one side. We go all the way to the end of the row of houses, and guy tells me to turn around and park in front. There's a motorcycle in front of the garage. I guess that's what he didn't want to drive to Auburn. Suddenly front girl yells: "Oh my god Michelle! He's married!" Guy says he isn't, and Michelle says nothing, till she comes up with: "We have to go home! How are we going to get home? I don't even know where we are!" I had to tell her her ride to Elk Grove was paid for. So they both jump in the back seat, and tell me to get them out of there, and to find them a place to pee. I said I would find them a gas station, but they want to stop right now. So I did, A house and a half from Auburn guy. They both got out and squatted right next to the right back door, Their skirts were short enough they didn't even need to move them up. Auburn guy comes running back exclaiming that he'd never seen a woman pee before. I'm skeptical. He looks about 30. They finish peeing, and I hand the guy my container of baby wipes. They did have to pull the skirts back down once they were done.
I made a mental note not to forget the Lysol dousing at shift's end. And a good vacuuming too.
Wondering if I should be surprised they talked about their latest stalkers all the way to Elk Grove.
And I shouldn't have been surprised the dispatcher had a deep south for me once I told him I'd cleared in Elk Grove. Someone needed a ride home from the hospital. No drama............They're mellow when they're medicated.
copyright 2011
I'm tired. I really did make enough money to just go home right now.
Oh there's one at Charmer's! "Hey just a minute, OK?", says a guy talking to two women. "OK". I sit there in my car while a dyke fiddles with the lock on a bike chained to a pole. It looks like the guy and girls all know each other. The dyke is looking right at me. OK, I've seen her before. She has her salt and pepper hair in a low tail; not making a lot of progress with the bike. I give her the eyebrow raise. I think I took her and some drunk chick home once.
I start to edge away, because no one is paying attention. "No. Hey wait, I just need to find out where these girls are going. Thanks." "Hey how much would it cost to take these girls to Elk Grove?" "Where in Elk Grove?" "Sheldon." "I'll do it for 40 flat." I just want to get this last one, and go home.
They all pile in; girl in front, guy and smaller girl in back. Now they want to go to West Sac. I flip on the meter. "I thought you lived in Auburn!" "I do: I'm staying with someone in West Sac. I don't want to drive all the way to Auburn tonight." "Well, we have to go home tonight." "I know. I need to get home first. I already paid the cab driver to take you home, as soon as she drops me off." "k."
It gets so very quiet. I have the radio on, but barely audible.
I'm hearing fabric moving over the seats. Little tiny giggles. I flip my mirror up. I don't want to see something that will make me grin. They can see me grin from the back, if they look up into my mirror.
I'm driving over surface streets, stopping at it seems like every light there is from here to there. The girl in front says a few words to her friend, and gets no response. She won't look back, just sort of turns her head a little, and stops. She looks at me..... And I'm not gonna look. She finally asks: "Michelle?, Are you OK?" No answer. She asks again. Michelle says she's fine, but front chick won't look back.
We get over the I Street Bridge, and front chick slowly turns her head to the back. "Oh my god! Michelle!". Then she turns her face forward again, and repeats it. No sound at all from the back, till I get to an intersection, and the guy starts to give me detailed directions.
So we go through a coded gate, with the girls totally silent, and the guy leading me up onto a levee, with huge newer houses on one side. We go all the way to the end of the row of houses, and guy tells me to turn around and park in front. There's a motorcycle in front of the garage. I guess that's what he didn't want to drive to Auburn. Suddenly front girl yells: "Oh my god Michelle! He's married!" Guy says he isn't, and Michelle says nothing, till she comes up with: "We have to go home! How are we going to get home? I don't even know where we are!" I had to tell her her ride to Elk Grove was paid for. So they both jump in the back seat, and tell me to get them out of there, and to find them a place to pee. I said I would find them a gas station, but they want to stop right now. So I did, A house and a half from Auburn guy. They both got out and squatted right next to the right back door, Their skirts were short enough they didn't even need to move them up. Auburn guy comes running back exclaiming that he'd never seen a woman pee before. I'm skeptical. He looks about 30. They finish peeing, and I hand the guy my container of baby wipes. They did have to pull the skirts back down once they were done.
I made a mental note not to forget the Lysol dousing at shift's end. And a good vacuuming too.
Wondering if I should be surprised they talked about their latest stalkers all the way to Elk Grove.
And I shouldn't have been surprised the dispatcher had a deep south for me once I told him I'd cleared in Elk Grove. Someone needed a ride home from the hospital. No drama............They're mellow when they're medicated.
copyright 2011
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