Live Taxi Daily Journal 5

November 14, 2000

Talking with a bunch of young guys coming from a bar. The driver banter's with them. They ask the driver for a good place to eat in Philly. Driver says:
What does the check look like in order for you to get laid?
Fifty dollars each, that'll guarantee you'll get your finger up her pussy. The rest is up to you. Dimitri's is a good place, the food gets you horny. The are sautéing specialists. Good getting-laid-food.

Here's a guy from Rosenbluth Travel (15 Walnut), sounds young, male, gets into the cab and hands the driver a piece of paper no words exchanged by either one. The driver says, annoyed, I can't figure out where you're going with this, you have to tell me where you're going. Oh. (So what's with this guy? The cab driver is a machine? Not worth saying hello to? In a bad mood?) So the guy goes to 30th St. Train Station, it's $4.80 on the meter and asks for the piece of paper back to add $2. (Not bad. Maybe this is a young guy with a heart.)

Next. What kind of job will this be? They won't acknowledge, bad sign. Count to 20. Oh, we called to cancel the taxi. Oh.

I started at 10, the driver is telling his next male passenger. I'm still trying to get into gear. (In Manayunk) from Center City. I got jerked around, did get a couple of dollars. Trying to wake up too. Went to sleep at 230 this afternoon. This job might jump start me. This shift might never end. Might go to Sat AM I'll be tired but happy. My week starts Thursday. As soon as I break even, I'm happy for a moment and then I'm in the profit mode. Then it starts all over again. It's always good in the beginning of the day, but when you go/drive as fast as you can, all day, you get frazzled. Tells me privately: At 330 AM 'Ill be in position at City Line for the beautiful jobs. the driver learning about himself: there was a situation where another cab driver got his job, he reflecting, I'm very sensitive, but that's what makes who I am. the driver tells me this passenger has on sweats, older person than us, could be owner? Of the bar he picked him up at. The guy asks to go to a WAWA up where he lives for some milk take advantage of the car when you have it, right?, the driver announces. No laughter of banter. As long as you don't take 10 minutes, he announces again, - no. Ok, the driver goes in with him when they get there for some coffee. the driver gets out first and watches as the guy is in line to pay for his milk. Get to the guys house way up north. 29 on meter, the driver says, that's more than I've seen before (hold it, how much more? What's that? How bout the damn store stop?) Guy give him 33. Gee what the hell dude. the driver and I agree this is a 40 job. Exposed! ( He even got to watch a movie from the back seat.)

That blank worked out. Coming back into town from 35 Haverford, was closest to the Manayunk job.

Take these girls wherever they want to go, some guy barked. GIRLS! Young, drunk, excited, out on the town girls. They ask the driver all kinds of questions. One is sitting up front, so many GIRLS.
What's your name? What's this?
the driver obliges, but this time, he is just starting out his evening and is in the I've-got-to-make-money-mode. Girls get the picture soon and talk amongst themselves, but they do proceed to ask him questions, they've been dying to talk to him: how long have you been driving? What are your hours? Is this your car? They all light up a smoke, includes the driver in. Is this your laptop? Yes. Also, the driver tells them in that monotone way, just got up, just starting my week, got to make the money, then I can relax little bit when in the profit mode. DVD plays too, they procalim: You are the Cabman. Now they want to go to Pat's Steaks but they don't have enough money to satisfy the driver.