Taxi business is REALLY slow

Generally, January and February are the slow months of the year around here, so I don't think I can complain too much, but if it doesn't come back in March, I don't know what I'll do. I enjoy cab driving too much to give it up easily, but if I can't at least make my basic expenses, reality may take over. So far, I've been able to make my expenses and bills (barely), plus, I'm sitting in a coffee shop with a latte right now, so I guess I'm not totally busted (Ray Charles, 1963). As long as the tourists and business travellers keep coming to LA, It'll be ok.

Otherwise, driving cab in Los Angeles is still the mellow work it always has been. After all, slow traffic is only frustrating if you have to get somewhere on time. I've got all day but my passenger probably doesn't.

The New Year

Happy New Year and I hope your Christmas was Merry. The new year has started out on a good note, I moved into a more comfortable and more affordable place. However (and there has to be a "however") today I was literally shit upon. At least my cab was. This morning I went down to the underground garage to find my cab covered with water, a janitor on a ladder next to it, and a foul odor in the air. He told me a "water" pipe had burst onto my cab, but he had "hosed it all off." He didn't speak much English, so I didn't ask WHAT he hosed off, but it didn't smell like drinking water. So today had a shitty start. It's getting better.

Investment advice from a cabbie

When you start getting investment advice from cab drivers, you know we are all in big trouble. Well, here's today's advice from a cabbie:

If, one year ago, you put $1000 in AIG, today, you would have $00.00 left.

If, one year ago, you put $1000 in Honeywell, today, you would have about $19.00 left.

If, however, you invested $1000 in beer in aluminum cans, drank all that beer and recycled the cans, you would have over $200 left.

So, today's advice is, drink heavily and recycle your cans.

Phone calls I have heard

Seems the first thing passengers from LAX want to do is get on the phone, either to business associates, family or whomever.

The assumption of privacy is almost as if I'm not there. I guess they figure I either don't speak English, or I just don't care. It's the latter... Usually. The other day, there was a casually dressed man talking about his million-dollar investments who seemed really calm about things, as opposed to the overly tense business people I usually encounter. I generally don't pay any attention to their phone calls and forget them as soon as I drop off. But one Saturday morning recently, a very beautiful lady, appearing to be in her late 20's, starts her conversation,

"Hello baby, what are you doing?"
Boyfriend or husband I figure.

"Whatcha wearing, baby"
Hmmmm, now this might be interesting, as I start to concentrate on my passenger's call.

"You wearing the Superman jammies or the Spiderman jammies?

Yeah and it's Saturday morning watching cartoons. Maybe it is her husband and they have something kinky going on, but it turns out to be her child, of course.

Like I said, most conversations my passengers have are forgettable.

If the NSA (National Security Agency) needs help for their warrantless wiretapping, I've got lots of experience listening.

I'm just finishing lunch as the Hare Krishna Temple; Great vegetarian food, really cheap, and it keeps me regular. (Watseka Ave. just off Venice Blvd near Culver City).

Next time.

My Daughter's Wedding

Monday, My beautiful daughter, Elizabeth, got married on a 100 year old tallship named the "Spirit of Dana Point," in the Catalina Channel. Pretty cool, huh? It was a most unique and wonderful ceremony, on the open sea.

We all were drafted to help hoist the sails, before any drinks were served.... Anyway, my little girl is all grown up and married.

Hello to anyone reading.

I am Jerry, a taxi driver in Los Angeles, California and Cabs and Palm Trees are what I see from my air conditioned window office, a Yellow Cab. I will try to update this as much as possible, but, the really good stories generally come from the night drivers. I drive days. Maybe I am getting less adventurous as I get older, but this seems more like a normal job than driving nights. The passengers are more normal as well. There are glaring exceptions, and I will pass those on for anyone interested.

Stay tuned.

First post

More soon.