Someone's happy to see the white stuff.
After a very sexy wake up call I got out of bed on the right side this morning.
Check the temps. Single digits. Sign on to the old work phone. It looks like I have a few minutes. A minutes later I've moved up significantly real fast. Guess I should get dressed and start the car. I got a ring just as soon as I stepped back inside. Nope. not going to drive that freezing car anywhere. I reject the order.
There's no one else in line so I wait a few minutes before booking back in. 15 minutes later the car is good and warm, and I'm back up to first in line. 15 more minutes and I'm out the door on my first call of the day.
My third call was pretty good. The pick up address has three major parking lots. Thank goodness the passenger spoke English. Another long trip on the elevated expressway. With the temps being lower, it's much drier. I still had to stop on the way home to clean some ice off my wipers.
I was so glad to make it home with time to grab a bite to eat.
Mid afternoon wasn't quite as busy as yesterday, but still I was always on the move.
On my way home from an order I get a call for a pickup at the hospital. The hospital would sex and lichfield be on my way, but it's going to the airport and isn't scheduled to be picked up for 20 minutes. That leaves me just enough time to stop at home and feed my cat.
After dropping off at the airport orders are backed up on the board. Instead of taking one from a closer zone, I waited till I was closer then took one from my 'home zone'. (I just had a feeling about the other zone. Unfounded I'm sure, but I will usually follow my gut.)
The order I get starts from a dialysis clinic. I've had this passenger many times before.
The parking lot is full of specialty transport vans. I find a spot and step inside for my passenger. As we're getting into the cab, another cabbie asks me if he's here for a duplicate order. (It does happen sometimes, but he must have been a newbie to ask me directly about it. The place was obviously busy.) No, I don't have 'his' passenger. Maybe he just didn't know where to park as he now has me boxed in. Vehicles slowly move and I inch my way out of the lot. It is starting to snow.
I drop my passenger off in North Omaha. I instantly get a call. What the hell, I don't like this zone, but I'm here so I might as well take it. It's not a bad order, but it's 45 minutes old. I was going to call and see if they still wanted a ride, but it wasn't far out of the way, so I pulled up before I called them. Yes, they are still going.
Some reminders on why I don't work this zone, but it was on an account, so no real worries. It was interesting to be a fly on the wall during that ride, but I also had to concentrate on the road.
I get home with enough time to nuke some chicken nuggets. Just as they're done I have a call. It's from the tipless dancer. I'll eat the nuggets on the go.
I thought I'd make it home again after dropping her off, as I was fifth in line, but it didn't happen. (almost)
The next call is a short trip home from a medical clinic. She complements my because I don't have to ask her where or which way to go. (Her address is on a main street. Just off an interstate. Why would so many drivers need to ask for directions? )
After that I'm near up for an order. I don't want one. When I pull into my parking space without getting one, I decide that I'm not going to be available anymore. I will have to leave in a half hour to take my best customer home, and I want to catch my breath first.
Oh look! There's a kitty cat on my hood. I'm sure he's cold, and has been waiting for me for over and hour. The hood is warm. We go inside, and I get to watch the nightly news and have a snack.
Then I have to brush the snow off my car before grabbing a steak and drinks from the grocery near the Golden Living Center where my customer is.
I could have taken many more calls, and I felt lazy not doing so, but I just wasn't feeling it. The streets were slick, but more than passable. I did take another look at the board and there were some orders there, but no one was buried.
Maybe I should have kept on working, but I'm a TV addict, and tonight was a night of new shows. Wednesday night is ABC night. ( To this day, I can't {for the life of me} spell "Wednesday" without a spell checker. ) Normally I'll get home around 6:55, but because of road conditions tonight I stepped inside just after 7:05pm. Over 8 hours and 110 miles on the road and I'm still kicking myself for being lazy.
I did enjoy my steak and my shows. It should get even busier as the week goes on. The snow has already stopped, so hopefully the schools will all be in tomorrow.
More drivers will be out with safety meetings and I'm sure I'll have to take it slow as the roads won't be the best.
I had an above average day. Why am I kicking myself for taking some needed "me time"? I'm sure I'll snap out of it soon. I think I'll try the poker tables. Maybe I can end the day by getting lucky. **fingers crossed** I hope my kitty is up for some snuggles tonight. I could really use some purrs.
{Insert profound closing statement here.}
Thanks for reading.
Come visit my semi-interesting blog at Journal of a Taxi Driver.
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