Life or Something Like It

My final fare on Monday night was an interesting one indeed.

He had missed his train and so decided to have dinner and then take a taxi home. The service was apparently horrible at the restaurant including being served the wrong food. He talked about a cleaners where he had dropped his laundry to be washed and folded but they only ran it through the dryer without washing it.
"None necessary" i said when offered an apology for his rant.
He went on to tell me that he just does not like people at this point in his life. He had just gotten out of jail where he had to stay for a long time, more than four years.
My first reaction was to want to know what he had done to deserve such a fate but it didn't feel right to ask. If he wants to tell me he will and that's it that's all there is.
I continued on toward his home which is in a particularly run down section and as we drove he told a horrific story of losing a daughter to a drunk driver. After that, in his words he "lost it."
This drunk driver actually killed 2 girls in that accident and was released from prison after only around two years, less than half of his own sentence. He never said what he was convicted of but at this point that seems a minor detail.
Now he's involved in helping drug addicts to get their lives turned around and plans to make a career out of it.
I salute this man.

gary crimble and many rudolph

I trust all had a Happy Crimble and got lots of great crimbo pressies and such.
The days and weeks leading up to the holidays sap almost all of whatever energy I have to begin with. It seems like some twisted crewel joke perpetrated upon us by God himself as we chase the happiness and joy of our childhood like a dog chasing its tail. Our financial resources and our sanity are drained as we walk around like zombies. Our love for humanity is tested as we sit in endless traffic in horrible weather searching for parking and just the right gift for Aunt Millie. Normally sane people are seen tearing through stop signs and red lights screaming and gesturing obscenities, shoving people out of their way in store after store full of screaming babies and cashiers that are so emotionally drained that they can barely speak.
Well the great day came and went and looking back it wasn't so bad at all, in fact it was a gas. It was nice to see family and friends and hear all the stories and jokes and eat all the great food and cookies and pies.
[Just as I dare to smile, New Year's Eve and the great omnipotent time keeper begins to laugh]

revealing

They shut down at work this afternoon because of the snow storm, frankly I was hoping for that to happen. Counting on it so I could do absolutely nothing all day today. I did accomplish this task.
Someone is outside shoveling the walkway. Isn't that nice.
I just watched Jerry Seinfeld on Letterman. He was a little rusty but very funny. Earlier Paul Shaffer mocked Jerry's unique delivery style [what's the deal with....] [....who are these people?] and trademark whiny voice. And that was funny. Now there is a lady singing, she's pretty good.
I haven't done any Christmas shopping because I haven't yet found the motivation. I'll get it all taken care of and straightened away though soon. You'll see. No worries.
From my apartment I can hear an army of snow plows out on I-95. The highway is about 40 yards from where I am sitting now. I know this because I used Google Earth to measure the distance. I wonder how bad the roads are.
The boss wants me to work tomorrow. I should but probably wont. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life but tomorrow never gets here.

upward

Man i gotta get back on the Zoloft.
I was all upset tonight driving around being mad about making no money. Started getting wicked depressed. I really hate December and you may say bah humbug if you're into silly little cliches. I don't dislike Christmas, rather I find it and Christians in general quite amusing little people.

I was talking to the boss today and I asked him, "Hey Assface, why do you keep on hiring so many new drivers when the pie is already way to small for us what have been here all along?" He suggested that if I was uncomfortable with the current situation that perhaps I should leave and find something else. Seventeen years of showing up every day means nothing. Should I get any preferential treatment over someone who has been here for 3 weeks? Nope.

Well, the night proceeded as usual with almost no work. No one has any money. Nobody is taking any cabs unless they have absolutely no choice.
I grabbed 2 fares from the mall just going locally.
Took a pimp to the store for cigarettes and right back to the hotel. He's been 'set up' there for a few weeks. Nice guy.
Drove a nice lady from the airport shuttle bus for a twelve dollar ride. She gave me fifteen.
Two more tiny-weenie local runs and then finally an airport pickup, but they were cheap bastards.
I don't know what's gonna happen man but I do know I have to stop tomorrow and pick up the meds because Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat and by then I'll be so happy Ill be whistling zippity do dah out of my...........................

Chicago Cab

Happy Thanksgiving

jai guru deva om

The work week has always seemed to me to be the most accurate measure of the passage of time. Lately they seem to be flying by faster than ever, picking up speed. Emptiness kept at bay by medication. Thoughts meandering like a restless wind inside a letter box.
I took Thursday night off to go to the Patriots game and it was a great game but the Pats lost a heartbreaker. Friday night I went back to work and did exactly ten calls in nine hours and made exactly enough money to survive another week.
Tomorrow begins week number 2,619.