I Guess What They Say Is True...

You can't keep a good man down... I'm still in the game, though I had to put my taxi in someone else's name to keep working. Wow, it's been awhile, I've been a little lazy about posting...

Well, to update, I took a mini-vacation this summer, which is to say I saved enough money to pay basic bills over the summer before before the frat brats left. I worked weekends for a little extra money, but basically took the summer off...

I decided last year that I had spent my last summer making peanuts, arguing with morons over $4.00 fares in the blazing heat, 14 hours a day. Seems to have worked out well so far...

I also was fortunate to pick up a client that will make me much less reliant on spoiled college kids, penny-pinching project folks, and other general cheapskates. People are too stupid to realize that what they are used to paying for taxi fare here is based on 2001 rates. Get over yourselves, people, gas is $3.75 a gallon and vehicles cost money to maintain.

And In Other News....

I realized I have not mentioned the situation with the girl I met up with over the summer, mainly because I have been sifting through the wreckage for about two months now. We'll call her Mary.

The trouble is, it's not even "Mary" that really has me down. There were signs that things were not going to last long with her even before she started asking me for a relationship. I've come to find that sometimes age DOES matter, from a responsibility and maturity standpoint.

She destroyed my trust not long after she asked me for a relationship, and despite giving her some time to get my trust back, she failed. Not long after, I found that someone else I had wanted in the first place, had told me she wasn't interested, when she really was. We'll call this girl Jill. Jill then told me she was interested but couldn't go further with me because of my involvement with Mary. I can only vaguely understand this position, because she had every chance to tell me how she felt, and it never would have happened.

However, being the type to never say die, I tried for awhile to convince Jill to overlook Mary's prior involvement. On one or two occasions, I thought I might have changed her mind, but both times, she let me down.

Maybe she didn't intend to, but Jill got my hopes up and crushed them twice more. I have now given up, and feel like a fool for even trying, but my feelings for her were much stronger than I thought, and I'm torn between believing her apology and thinking that it was all a game. Once, I can forgive. Four times is much harder.

Bob Marley, aside from his music, is famous for saying, among other things, "Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you. You just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." But how can you know if ANYONE is?

One of my favorite quotes is from the 2004 remake of "Flight Of The Phoenix". One of the best lines is, "I think a man only needs one thing in life. He just needs someone to love. If you can't give him that, then give him something to hope for. And if you can't give him that, just give him something to DO."

As of now, I am heartbroken, my dreams of scoring a recording/publishing deal are all but dead, and I am jobless. So what do I do now?

Sometimes No Matter What You Do....

It's never enough. I have found myself in the unique position of the Department of Motor Vehicles telling me that I can not work. Yes, you read that correctly.

In the summer of 2010, I had a vehicle with transmission problems that I hadn't driven in a few months and decided to junk. I got stopped on the way to the junkyard with the vehicle, and found that I had been sold a 6-month insurance policy, which was out of date.

I was not notified of any problems until the DMV had already suspended my license. It seems they had sent two notices previously that I had somehow not received, so in addition to a $500 fine, I had to pay $145 to reinstate my license. $645, $195 of which I'm proud to say I paid in loose change.

Now, as if THAT wasn't enough, they are now requiring that I have SR-22 filing on my taxicab. The problem here is that a built-in filing is actually better than what SR-22 does, and I simply cannot get SR-22 on the taxicab at all.

So, I had to turn in all permits and licenses last weekend. Way to go, DMV! You've successfully sent someone to skid row with your stupidity! I knew I should have left this state when I had the chance.

End Of An Era?

A fellow driver, who worked the airport line with me, recently sold his taxi and tried to make a fresh start in Arizona.... Apparently, it did not go well, as he called me a couple weeks ago asking if I wanted to sell my van complete with its airport permit.

I have seriously lost interest in serving the airport, mainly because of the politics and double standards. Example? So many rules, hoops and hurdles that make us spend more money than is really necessary to comform to ridiculous standards (this is a regional airport with less than 15 flights per day, down from 24 two years ago).

As previously explained elsewhere in my blog, taxi meter rates are unregulated in this area, and when people discovered that I was charging more than others (about $10-12 more for a 10-mile ride), a great deal of whining and moaning started. Seriously? You're paying $150-$250 more to fly into a local airport and you're bitching about a $10 difference on a taxi ride?

The airport began singing their song by posting a sign advising passengers to shop rates, even those that might not otherwise have. This is simply not fair when the average fare takes 5 hours of waiting in line, and the standards the airport cabs must meet and remain in compliance with mean spending much more than is really necessary.

Add to this the fact that flights have been getting cancelled, delayed or overbooked more and more often, and I don't know about you, but if I pay $350 to fly on an airplane, I'd get a little heated about being shoved into a cab at the last minute I could have booked myself for half the price, and then don't make my connection. We have often been given the impossible task of transporting passengers 95 miles in 75 minutes. It just isn't going to happen. People are starting to use this airport less and less because of the customer service issues and flight reliability.

Anyway, I saw my chance to rid myself of these problems, and possibly recoup some of the perhaps $8,000 I've spent in the three years I've served the airport. So I agreed to sell my van with equipment and airport permit for a fair price, and I must say, I feel liberated. As far as I'm concerned, I was wasting my time and money there.

I am currently exploring other options, including Class A OTR driving, other types of freight driving, vo-tech school, college, and relocating, among other things.

Just in case, I have lined up at least one replacement van for a taxi. I found two more tonight.

A Reminder Of What "CAB" REALLY stands for...

Ooookay... It's been an interesting week / weekend, mostly due to personal situations.... Early Monday morning dispatch informed me that a fellow wanted a non-smoking cab with a GPS to go out-of-town. Most larger companies run low-ball rates to keep people calling, which gyps the driver a bit, as anyone who's read my blog before knows.

So, naturally, this trip was quoted at a somewhat ridiculous rate, which worked out to less than $1.50 per mile, netting me, the driver less than $40 for a five-hour round-trip. I don't have GPS, but I managed to Google Map directions to the address he supplied.


Naturally, the directions were inaccurate and got us a bit hung up. The guy fusses a bit, even though we weren't far from the destination. I got him to his destination 30 minutes ahead of schedule, and the guy gives me exactly the price quoted -- NO tip.

"CAB" has been said to really stand for "Cheap Ass Bastard", and this guy lived up to it to the letter. For someone who doesn't tip, he was pretty damned picky to want a non-smoking cab with GPS...

A New Beginning?

After 14 years of veritable silence, I had a long overdue and much-needed conversation last night. I don't think I have all the answers I need yet, but I did get the major one I needed.

Going back to 1996. (Yeah, that's a long time) Certain individuals (mostly parents on both sides) were interfering with my relationship with someone I really cared about, up to and including making both of us feel like we were doing wrong. When she moved several states away for a job after only asking if I minded her going, I felt cheated out of what I wanted, simply because someone else didn't want me to have that.

Even though I suspected at the time that she might feel the same way about what was happening to us, I never knew for sure until last night. There was always the thought in the back of my mind, that perhaps I did something wrong, or there was something wrong with me.

Now I know that this isn't so, and I think the uncertainty was keeping me from moving on. I've been talked down to all my life by various people. That I wasn't good enough. That I didn't belong. That I don't deserve to be happy. That there's something wrong with me.

Perhaps this isn't really over with, just a means to start healing. I don't fault her for any of it. She did what she needed to do, and I just wanted her to be happy. She didn't do anything wrong except forget to say it wasn't me. When someone that makes you happy leaves you without explaining that it isn't you or anything you did, it will make even the strongest person doubt themselves.

Unbelieveable....

You know, it's a hard thing when people don't believe in you. But worse still, when your parents don't believe in you. Take this for example.....

I was trading war stories with a fellow driver recently, who regaled me with this story....

A fare of his from the airport to the university here was a mother and her daughter. They asked him to take them around various places getting the daughter registered for classes at the university.

During these little jaunts back and forth, it became apparent to my friend that this girl was more than a little ditzy.

After dropping her off at her dorm, the mother asked to be returned to her hotel. After a few blocks, my friend asked the woman what her daughter was majoring in.

She simply replied, "Oh, we don't really care." To which my friend asks, "Well, what is she interested in?"

"Well, we don't really know," she says. My friend is flabbergasted at this. Out-of-state tuition has been known to be $40,000 a year at this college!

The woman finally understands what my friend is getting at and says, "Sir, I have no delusions about my daughter's ability. She's here to do two things, get screwed and get knocked up, and I just hope it's by the right guy."

Unfuckingbelieveable. I've said it for years that the rich have some screwed-up values. But this takes the cake......

The Delusions Of Idiots Are Truly Amazing...

And amazing furthermore that they are usually college students! Tonight was a night I NEVER want to repeat, but it will from time to time.... over and over. I had a string of three orders that didn't show up, cancelled when I got there, or worse still, call a friend at the same time and cancel while they were getting IN the cab!

So, seeing as most of my in-town dispatch orders were eaten up with stupiditis, I opted for an order outside of Charlottesville, which only went three miles.... Now, I'm starting to get disgusted.

Coming back into town, the dispatcher is calling for a van on the far end of town the entire fifteen minutes I'm driving back in. The order is dispatched to me, and it becomes a Mongolian clusterfuck.

The phone number is not right, so I can't call them. After three attempts circling the building, I give up and leave.

When I am 15 blocks away, the dispatcher asks me to return because these idiots are "coming outside now". I return, and after calling these morons back, they are NOT at the address given, they are around the corner at the other end of the lot!

Now, I'm getting pissed. Surprise, surprise. Same group of silly bitches that cancelled the cab because their friend showed up right after I did. They get a message that the party they're going to is getting shut down, and say something about getting out of the cab (the meter was only around $2.30 by then). Now I'm going nuclear. Then they ask the STUPID, stupid question, "What do you do when that happens?"

I finally lost it. I simply replied, "I do my level best not to try to answer their call again."

Again, a STUPID, stupid question. "Why is that?"

I replied as calmly as I could, "Because I buy my own fuel, upkeep my own vehicle, and I don't have time, money or patience to drive across town to pick someone up that isn't worth wasting it on. I've made two trips across town for you tonight, one of which you cancelled when I got there, one of which you made me make two trips and then want to stop before you get two blocks."

Needless to say, after dropping these idiots off, I asked dispatch to note in their computer system to NEVER send me for that phone number again.

There's One In Every Crowd....

Gotta love this one just for the irony...

First, let me start out by saying last night was rough. Steady, but rough. Seems like most of the drivers for this company went home at midnight. I guess they were going to turn into a pumpkin...

Anyway, after a string of bad luck, I was sent to a "prestigious" bed and breakfast east of town. People that stay at this place are notorious for being cheap, at least in my experience.

I arrive for the pickup at 3 am. I should have started the meter when I got there. Despite calling their front desk and being informed that the customer had been told the cab was there and waiting, it was 3:25 before we actually got moving, because A) one of these morons had an open beer, which is against state law to transport, B) another of these morons couldn't find her purse, C) once she found her purse, she couldn't find her phone. Are any of these MY fault? NO.

Even though moron #3 was in the cab around 3:15, she asked that I STILL not start the meter. Figuring they would make up for it in tip, I stupidly did not, costing myself $10.00 in wait time.

Long story short, these morons kept me waiting 25 minutes and tipped me less than a dollar. What kept me from giving it back and saying they needed it more than I did, I'll never know. I think I was just resigned to the fact that the night was going to suck.

Where am I sent once I dropped these idiots off? Right back to the same "prestigious" bed and breakfast. Turns out the couple I was picking up that time were supposed to have caught the ride with the idiots I had just dropped off.....

Once I heard that, they got a FULL report, and they were embarrassed by the way their friends had acted. I'm sure they mentioned it to their friends.

I found out that these people were here for a wedding, which was costing them nothing. And they want to fuss about paying for wait time holding up a taxi?! My new rule is: If I come to pick someone up, they get two minutes. Meter starts at that point, and I don't care how much you whine or bitch about it, because I can't count on you tipping that much.

People, when you call for a taxi, it's not the driver's fault if they arrive before you're ready. It's your fault for calling for a cab before you're ready. Every minute you hold us up is time lost from another fare, especially when you're stupid enough to keep a driver waiting nearly a half-hour. You're keeping us from making our living. Get over yourselves.

Wow, It's Been Awhile...

Well, to update.... I have shut down my own trade name and put my van into a larger company to use their dispatch service.... the money is only marginally better, but it is more consistent...

I find it interesting that some have called me a sell-out in doing so, when they were the very people trying to torpedo me in the first place!

I have an interesting dilemma now, and not quite sure what to do with it....

After the fiasco of a long-distance relationship going south, I decided that relationships in general just are not in the cards for me. Therefore, I do not plan to pursue one with anyone. I simply feel I am too damaged to contribute usefully to such an arrangement.

A girl nearly 14 years my junior and I have been seeing each other recently, and I believe she is starting to want more than I can give her right now. Not sure what to do with this, because I do not want to hurt this person, she has been hurt many times before.

*sigh* Why does life have to be so damned complicated?

The Sheep Mentality......

After taking a good, hard look at the way this business has changed in the past few years, it is clear to me that sheeple are much more concerned about price than service. Completely stupid, but never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. It amazes me how many people say they are outraged at the Supreme Court's decision that big business may bribe and buy our politicians as much as they like, but they empower these bastards by supporting big business, starving out the small business owner until there is no choice left between small and big business.

It has also become clear to me that you don't make money DRIVING a cab. You make money owning several and making money off of those dumb enough to do all the work while you make all the money.

Therefore, I am considering putting a few cabs into one of the big companies and do exactly that.

Everyone Is Entitled To Be Stupid, But Government And Other Authorities Abuse The Privilege.....

Okay, this all started when I discovered that my van seats one passenger more than allowed on a taxi permit. Simplest solution I could come up with was to remove the front passenger seat to stay within that limit.

I discussed this with Motor Carrier Services, AND not one, but TWO state troopers, who saw no problem with this. I removed the seat a month ago. Nothing was said until two weeks ago, when the local airport authority did a surprise inspection and took issue with the seat being removed. They demanded I reinstall the seat and said I would not be allowed back at the airport until I did so.

I informed them that by doing so, they were requiring me to violate code and go against what the state told me was okay to do, and that the two authorities were going to have to work it out, as I had done as the state said was doable.

Now, Motor Carrier Services is agreeing with the airport authority, when THEY allowed this vehicle to be registered as a taxicab in the first place! Virginia's state government is full of shit. They can't even be consistent.

Of course, they wait until I have spent $200 having the van re-lettered. I figured, okay, throw the seat back in to please the airport, and just don't let anyone ride in the front seat.

Apparently, this is STILL not good enough for the airport authority. I thought the part of the seat belt that attaches to the floor was mounted to the seat, so it was forgotten when the seat was reinstalled.

Even though another driver running a 10-passenger limo was allowed to run after simply removing seatbelts, the airport is now taking issue on this. I am convinced that some people are a pain in the ass just to be a pain in the ass. And most of them have government jobs!

I think I am going to simply transfer my airport permit to another vendor who wants it. I am quite fed up with jumping through hoops for the "privilege" of waiting 10 hours to make maybe $40.00. Some might say that I have allowed those who want me gone to win, but I beg to differ. Just how much aggravation is it worth to make $40 a day after expenses?

I am working on offering service to the airport in the next city..... more info at the following link....

Taxi Service From Charlottesville To Richmond Int'l Airport For As Little As $30

The Costs Of Doing Business....

People wonder why I charge $3.90 per mile for taxi fare. Here's one very good example why.

A lower ball joint was making some interesting noises (sounded like something hitting the bottom of the van). Parts and labor to replace: $175.00. While that was being repaired, the mechanic showed me that my brakes were severely worn. $45 for brake pads (good ones that don't squeal like a pig). It is also overdue for oil service. Oil, filter, and a good additive to extend oil life and further protect the engine, $37.00. Then $20.00 to actually change the oil.

Even being lucky enough that the mechanic cut me a break and adjusted the labor, I still spent a hair under $250 on maintenance and repairs today. Any more questions?

Getting What You Pay For....

Funny story that arose out of an experience I had the other day.....

It seems that a local tire shop is offering a $19 special on an oil change. During the course of which, obviously, they tell you your car is falling apart and give you an estimate to fix nonexistent problems....

Okay, so this all started when I got back from Richmond the other day.... Someone I know had dropped their car off there for the oil change special, and was shopping while waiting, and since I was overdue for service, I decided to give it a shot.... What a mistake.

The service writer met me coming out the door and didn't even seem to want to speak to me. Another man was waiting at the counter to be helped, and after being basically ignored for 10 minutes or more (another person came to the counter and didn't even so much as look at us), the service writer comes back in.

The man ahead of me was also a cab driver, owning his own vehicle in another company. Seems that he had a problem with a tire that he bought from the place. The service writer promptly told him that because it was a commercial vehicle, it would not be covered. HOLD THE PHONE.

First off, a defective tire is a defective tire no matter WHAT it is installed on. I could see if he had an issue with an aligment done by the shop, or something like that. But tires have been known to be defective. Looking at the tire, it was obviously defective. One particular spot on the outer edge of the tread was wearing badly, the rest of it was fine.

This is indicative of separation of steel belts in the tire, causing a wobble as it rolls. My van needed new tires recently, and one of the tires I purchased did exactly this. I had just returned to the place I bought my tires from the previous day, and been given no trouble at all, just a replacement tire and an apology for the inconvenience. And yes, they knew it was a taxi when the tires were installed, and it is still a taxi.

So I simply looked at the other driver and recommended the place I went to for tires because they would take care of him and service what they sell. The service writer's jaw dropped open and said, "You can't do that."

"Oh, really?" I said. "I'm just a customer having a conversation with another customer. I was going to get this oil change special you guys are offering, but it sounds like to me if the oil filter is bad, you won't honor it because I have a commercial vehicle. Think I'll head on over to Jiffy Lube. Have a nice day."

The funniest thing about this? My friend's car had been at this place for at least 45 minutes at this point. Jiffy Lube had me in and out in 15-20 minutes, and checked a great deal of things in the process. When I got back to the first place, my friend was STILL waiting for her car! Looking in the open garage bay doors, the mechanics didn't seem very hard at work at all. Interestingly enough, she was given an estimate of work her car supposedly needed, with a promise to "beat everyone's price". What's the point of saving money if the service sucks?

To summarize, Jiffy Lube got me in and out in 15-20 minutes for $15 more. First, time is money, especially in my line of work. Secondly, the people were much nicer and more appreciative of my business. Thirdly, they checked all fluids, tire pressures, air filter, and yes, they do recommend extra services, but they didn't take an hour to do it.

Going Forward In Reverse.....

Well.... The day has finally come..... If anyone actually follows this blog, you may remember that I bought a Sony Vaio laptop about a year or so ago...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but after a year owning a Sony Vaio..... I have come to three conclusions.

1) I will never buy from Best Buy again.

2) I will never use Windows Vista again.

3) I will never buy a Sony computer again.

The sales girl I talked to at Best Buy was very nice, but wound up talking me into a pricier machine that I almost immediately did not like. Best Buy's return policy makes you wait 2 weeks for a refund, which is, for lack of a better word, utter bullshit.

I found quickly that if I were in advertising, my Windows Vista commercial would have been, "I'm a dumbass..... and Windows Vista was MY idea." I have had nothing but problems with Vista. Perhaps it's because I'm something of a power user, but no matter. I will never use it again. I also found that Sony is very proprietary, which I have never liked.

Therefore, I have sold my Vaio and bought an older HP Compaq N620 with Windows XP. Your results may vary, but don't look for me to recommend Best Buy, Sony, or Windows Vista.