Pedro Say Hay

Pedro was a special of Larry's for years. I picked him up today and he wanted to say hi to Larry. He is a good ride. $20-not bad. Today reminded me of what it was like in 'the good ole' days.'

I Saw James Riley Today!

I was sitting on stand 23 late this morning when a guy pulled up in a Toyota. He looked familier, but Iwas not sure. He pulled up next to me and I could see that it was James Riley. Holly Hell! I have not seen James in about eight years. He used to driver for us but ran into some trouble after he hooded up with a crazy women. He says he has been living in New York and he was doing ok. He was short on details, so I don't know exactly what is going on with him. The reason he is in Florida is because his parents have passed and he is here to sell their home which he inherited.

I got a call and had to leave. I gave him my number and told him to call me. Somehow, I don't think he will. Just a feeling.

Ice On My Taxi Cab!

It has been so cold for so long, the sight of ice on car windows is now common. Check this out. Ice in Tampa Florida. Global warming. Even with all the snow and ice and cold up north, no tourist are in sight in Florida. I guess they have seen the images on tv and figure why bother. We are in a warming trend, and the temps will be back up in the low '70's by Friday. Maybe that will drive some business our way.

Snow And Ice In Tampa Florida

Here is evidence that it was below freezing and that the arctic air mass is in Florida. Snow and Ice in Tampa Bay! Crazy man, crazy

Baby Its Cold In Tampa Florida!

There was sleet/snow/rain Saturday morning January 9th, 2010. I saw it with my own eyes at three in the morning. It will even be colder tonight. I hope the snow piles high on the palm trees.

Hoping 2010 Will Bring Renewal

It rained New Years Eve like a Summer thunderstorm. It came down hard and roads were flooded.

At least it waited until after the ball dropped before the cats and dogs came down. People were on their way home, and they seemed motivated to quickly get into my cab.

I work more nights than I ever have since our day business has slowed down ‘till a shadow of its former self. I don’t really like hauling drunks at 2 in the morning but don’t seem to have much choice.

Moments like this remind me of how little time off I actually have. A cab driver friend of mine used to take the holidays off and go to the Mountains of North Carolina. Like most drivers, however, the length of that trip was dependent on how much she had booked in the weeks leading up to the trip, such is the life of a taxi driver. I used to go camping on the holidays. I haven’t done that in a couple years.

I am looking forward to this new year. Like most people, 2009 was a miserable year. It left me broke, spiritually dead, destitute, hungry and dependent of other people to help me with some basic needs. Things I needed to do, I could not even bring myself to bother. Such is the way of depression.

Poor economies don’t just delay trips to camp sites, they take away from you. Friends have died that could not keep on under the stress and uncertainty of these times. I know when you get my age you say good by to people and things. I guess that’s normal, but this period of time has been especially difficult.

What really bothers me the most is how we have allowed our political leaders to lie to us, and how so many just went along with “shovel ready jobs” that were going to flood into society and make life a little better for all.

Sure, I would like to head out to the campfire and chill for a few days in a state of nature, and if that was all I had to bitch about, that would be ok. But its not. Things have been beyond bad.

I have been able to maintain a roof and an internet connection, and now have my cell phone service back up after six months down. Hell, that ain’t bad, I guess.

I can deal with the mud puddles on New Years Eve, but lets not make a habit of this. May 2010 be a year of renewal and growth. It has to be. Many cannot just keep going on.

Cyrano Chess

I have gone back to playing chess on the Gameknot website. I do this to take my mind off off how bad our business sucks and that it is 83 degrees in Tampa in the middle of December and freezing up north, and we have no tourist in town. What would it take? Ice age? Anyway, back to chess.

For the last three years this guy called Cyrano (Afro) has been the dominant player on this website and currently has a rating of 2643. He received a FIDE Masters rating twenty years ago but disappeared from competitive chess. He is rarely beaten by players that I am sure are using the strongest computers in the world but he crushes them. This guy is a real gentleman in correspondence I have had with him. On the chess board, he is an enigma.

Florida Gulf Coast Sunrise

I got an early morning trip out to Treasure Island near St. Pete Beach and took advantage of it. I shot this video and put it up on YouTube. I hope you enjoy what a wonderful place this is in the Tampa Bay Area in December.

Tiger Woods: Poor Self Esteem?

“You’re a racist” my fare (a black man) accused me of after I pointed out the billboard on Cypress Ave in Tampa that had a Tiger Woods ad on it. I was surprised to see a Tiger ad, since I had been told that all of Woods ads had been pulled.

My fare told me that Tiger was just doing what every man would do if he could, and there was nothing wrong with his behavior. “After all,” my fare said, “Hugh Heffner has had bevies of babes all of his life.” True, I thought, but Heffner never claimed to be something other than what he was. Tiger has claimed to be something much more than what meets the eyes.

Are people being racist about this issue?

I ask this because of the racist responses I have been getting on this topic. White people clearly believe that Woods is a scumbag. Black people believe that Tiger is doing what is “human” and “natural” He cannot be faulted for this. It is as if he is simply a “player” out of a rap video.

I have been saddened by the black response, if not shocked, until I realized where it is coming from. What is going on with Tiger is a combination of addiction, poor self esteem, and deep rooted insecurities caused by an infection from modern Black Culture, an infection as deadly as H1N1. Let me explain.

Beyond the base instincts of man, we have what is called civilization and morals. It is not normal for a man in the modern world to simply screw any women that comes his way when he has a wife and children at home. What is normal is for a man to remain with his women and be a provider and father to his children.

One fare told me that his actions go back to slavery when the Master forced the slaves to breed. That behavior has been carried on to modern days, as this logic goes, by black men who sire 10-15 babies from various women. They cant’ help themselves. Apparently Tiger just can’t help himself because of Nineteenth Century Plantation owners.

It is a fact that the majority of Black Men in this country are not married. The percentages are decreasing to the point that a traditional marriage is now rare among black people. That is sad and detrimental to their own community. This was not caused by slavery. It has been caused by open ended welfare implemented by the Democrat party in the 1960’s The black family was eliminated, and fathers were substituted with a monthly check. This apartheid of warehousing Negros in projects insures future votes for the Democrat party. Hence, promiscuity results in a payday!

I don’t believe this promiscuity excuse for Tiger, but I do know what poor self esteem is all about. When a black man limits himself to white, blonde, blue-eyed women, there is something going on. Clearly he is trying to elevate himself with his conquest, to alive deep rooted insecurities. Black Culture is all about "us" and "them." Blacks need to overcome Whites. One of these ways is to bed thier women, but not just any women.

There are many beautiful women in the world of all sizes and colors. Tiger, true to form, goes for the kill. The Playboy Playmate White blonde type is the modern standard of beauty. I don't even think he is aware of what he is doing. How could this be Black anyway, he ignores his own people.

Does this guy need help?

Counseling would be difficult. He has more money than the Emperor Nero. His attitude would be for everyone else to go screw themselves. Sad. I don’t see his future being bright at all.

Girls, Football, And A Good Weekend

At least one Tampa football team has a winning record. The Tampa Breeze is one of the best teams in the Lingerie football league and they sell out! I was picking up people this weekend that where in Tampa for the Clemson v Georgia Tech ACC Championship, and they said the lingerie football game at the St Pete Times Forum had sold out! Does that mean it will be on TV? One mans 13 year old son was very disapointed about that. Thats a good father who would take his son to this event.

I guess it was good that the Bucs where in Carolina. How 'bout those interceptions... Remember Vinny?

A lot of people came to Tampa this weekend and it was one of the best couple of days that I have had in years. Maybe, things are starting to turn the corner. I can only hope.