I realize I haven't posted in a while. Partially due to having to leave town for two weeks on a pretty last minute trip to Florida. And then the few times I have worked since being back, things were kinda mundane. Nothing really interesting to speak about. I did have a few nice people last weekend. Had a very sweet family from New Zealand who I wanted to join their vacation. They sounded like they had the most fun week planned. And they were really sweet. Also had another family from, I think they said Philly. Drove them from midtown down to Ground Zero. Had a nice conversation with the father who sat in the front. It really makes a day go by much faster when you have nice conversation to get you through.
I drove yesterday, and then promptly got home and passed out. So my update is coming a day late. But overall, yesterday was pleasant with the exception of the end of the day, but I will get to that in a minute.
Started my morning off with a fare as soon as I was pulling off the Manhattan bridge. Picked up a young couple headed to Wall St. From there i caught another gentleman headed up to Mid Town. As I was dropping him off on 34th street, I see the hoards of costumed people headed over to the Javits Center. Comic Con! I really wanted to pick up some costumed people all day. Or at least pick up a fair to the Con so i could get a better look. But I dropped off the guy and ended up going up town.
Picked up a lady on the Upper West Side looking to go up to the commuter train station on 125th. She was really nice. Had a nice conversation with her about art, summer camps, and Connecticut. Really, a very nice ride. And as soon as she got out, I picked up a guy headed almost exactly back to where I had just picked up the previous lady. It amused me.
For a while I bounced around, picking up a fare here and there. Nothing really remarkable. But I didn't feel like I wasn't picking up anyone, so that's always a nice feeling. Nothing is worse than driving around for ages with nobody hailing you.
Eventually I found myself in the Midtown West area and thought i would try and head over towards the Con and maye pick up a fare of people leaving. As I headed down 41st street, I look out my window and walking down the street in full costume, I see a familiar face. One of my co-workers from my other job! I roll down the window and yell her name and pull over to say hi. Her costume was amazing(the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland) and I was very impressed with her handi-work. We chatted for a minute or two, but then I was off.
In front of the Con, I picked up a couple headed downtown. I asked them how the Con was, and they said it was cool. They seemed like they just went for the expreience rather than being big comic fans. We talked about it for a little while when they offered me their passes since they were done with them for the day and thought maybe I could use them after my shift. Awesome! Really sweet of them.
I picked up a few more fares before deciding to call it a day. But by the time I went off duty, I was uptown and had to race to get downtown and back to Brooklyn. This is where my day went south. I managed to get downtown very quickly and was thankful. But then I hit Canal St. It was a PARKING LOT! AND I got stuck in the middle lane and couldn't maneuver my way out. Although I don't think it would have done me any good if I had. The Brooklyn Bridge was closed one way all weekend, so a lot of the traffic is diverted to the Manhattan Bridge. Which means all approaches to the bridge are screwed. I just happened to be in an awful position and not much I could do about it. It took me over an hour to get down Canal. And the traffic cop who let every other lane pass thru the light except the one i was in, did not help. It was hell. And every other person on the street kept trying to hail me despite me having my "Off Duty" lights on and doors locked and clearly on my way to the bridge. Also, WHY would you want to hail a cab in the middle of a traffic jam? So you could pay to sit where you were? People are nuts.
Just for Reference, my TAXI SNAPSHOT of the day illustrates my frustration.
By the time I got out of the jam and back to Brooklyn and my garage, I was over an hour late with my car. Thankfully, they were understanding of the traffic situation and didnt charge me for having the cab late. Which is good. Because even though i felt like i had people all day, I didnt have any big fares and didnt make all that much. So a late charge would have not been good.
Also, I need to make myself a map or something of lady-friendly bathrooms with parking nearby. I have only a small handful of places where I know I can make a pit-stop and sometimes those places are far away from me. Any NYC ladies, when you gotta go, where do you go?
I am driving later today, doing my first ever evening shift. Sunday evenings are supposedly good to drive. Light traffic, no turning rules and lots of people coming back from the weekend, so its busy. I'll be sure to not leave you all hanging for as long.
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