mmx

Your humble narrator did dispatch New Year's Eve and it was statistically and otherwise the busiest night of the year. Emotionally draining as that was we (I) returned Friday night to drive. Only did five runs, the first was a woman of about 35 años who was heading to a friends apartment to play Uno and drink beers.

So, she asked to make a stop at the Green Apple which is a convenience store except that it is called Red Apple.
Lady, you mean Red Apple.
She likes green apples better and likes to call the store that too.
Next up was a man on his way to work at the main Post Office in Boston. He wasn't scheduled but apparently 60 people called in sick so he figured he could use the overtime.
Then my next ride was a girl visiting her boyfriend who is shipping out in a few days to fight the, ummm, who are we fighting this time? Oh yeah the ones who believe in that other invisible man in the sky, not the real one. Right.
Got into a bit of a dispute with the next rider who thought I was charging him too much but flat rates are what they are and this ain't no swap meet. Guess he bought it, best tip of the night.
Lastly but not leastly: a couple headed out for a couple cold ones to ring in the new year. Again.
Anyway, it was very nice chatting and I'll try harder next time.

favorable

Picked up the lady going to the airport. She got three words out before I smiled and said "Minnesota!" Easiest accent to pick out on the planet.

Like so many others she is having trouble accepting Brett Farvre after routing against him so hard for so long. "Not to worry" I said, "That bag of bones will break down like last year and you won't even make the playoffs."
Later I drove Laura home from Chili's. Seems like she works doubles every day. Triples even (do they have triples?)
Then I helped some old bag lug groceries up 3 floors. Well, there was an elevator, but still. The look on her face when I grabbed all the bags at once was priceless. It probably took her seven hours and three quarters of her social security check to buy the lot and I grab it like its a sandwich (the plastic bags make it easy)

Drove a dude up to North Quincy and we got to talking a little and he asked me where I'm from so I said Sharon originally. Oh are you Jewish? No I was raised Protestant but I'm not really religious in fact I think I'm an atheist. He started getting upset and told me I shouldn't say that. Why not? Its a fun thing to say. What does he know for sure that I don't?
Lastly I grabbed a Brockton out of the T, a decent fellow, just missed his bus. Bad for him good for me.

still

Got home 'round three Thursday morning but couldn't quite sleep I don't know why. Finally got a few hours of bad sleep in the afternoon but had to go out and do some errands and stuff and then work. Home an hour now thinking about nothing old movie on.

Outside cold darkness another rush hour just starting people waking rubbing their eyes and scratching their privates. Highway will be jammed with broken heroes but it is the moment right before insanity.
That. Perfect. Moment.

I worked, drove for two hours and dispatched for three more. One fare, the dude was leaving from a trivia tournament where he felt like some people were cheating somehow.
I had to ask: Can I try? What was one of the questions?
So he thinks for a minute and he says okay then.............................. in the movie "Office Space" how many minimum 'pieces of flare' was Jennifer Aniston's character required to wear during her shift as a waitress? I said fifteen. I was right.
Then I had a Cotton Ave to the Moose Lodge. DAV to McCusker. Legal Seafood to the QAT.
Dispatched a total of maybe 5 calls. Went outside and had a smoke. Somebody spoke and I went into a dream.

One's real life is often the life that one does not lead

Well anyway, after playing night dispatcher for 2 months its back in the saddle again and not a minute too soon. I don't recall a more selfish and childish group than some of the drivers we have around these days and I wont miss dealing with them. Time and time again they would pack up and go home without even asking, leaving me short to get killed when it got busy later in the night.
I felt just like a substitute teacher but without the power even to send them to the Principal's office. The last bunch were great guys and we had fun and we got the job done. I dunno, maybe its the times we're in. Everyone is on edge.
Tonight there were only a few local unremarkable runs because I'd spent most of the evening at rehearsal for a play that I am involved in. It is only a very small part but it continues to be a wonderful experience.

mai

Do ya ever feel like just a complete idiot? Me neither but last night I really screwed up by dispatching a good call to the wrong driver. The goal is to get an even amount of work for all the drivers. It's the measure of a good dispatcher.
Well, what happened is there was one dude who was whining all night even though I thought he was doing pretty well. Someone told me that he was livid about something I had said or done wrong and that word really got to me. How often does a person become livid? Jesus.
The word, that word bounced around in my brain for a while until, finally, I gave the big job to livid man instead of the driver who really deserved it, needed it to make a decent night.
I apologized and tried to explain myself but man when you're wrong you can't hide. I should be able to make things even over the next few nights.
I feel so damn bad. But the lesson here is, well, never feel bad.

The people protesting health care reform are the same geniuses that doubt evolution. They are sure about their beliefs beyond any doubt and nothing ever needs to be debated. The insurance industry shouldn't be impeded in any way lest we risk (gasp) socialism.
Besides, hospitals can not refuse to treat anyone. And, well gosh darn it we have the greatest health care system in the world.

The next insipid twit that tries to feed me any of this crap is gonna need health care for his face. Leave your address along with any comment so that I can drop by with some flowers.