Monday, April 03, 2006

Spring


Spring has officially begun in New York. All the blossoms are out and daylight savings took effect. I, of course, completely forgot about the time change and showed up at the garage an hour later than I intended. Luckily, I still managed to get a cab by 4:30 pm. The day was warm and I pulled out with my windows down for the first time in months.

And with the nice weather came the people and the cars. The traffic report kept telling me that the Holland Tunnel had an hour delay from all approaches. This meant that every street near there was utter hell and, as has been my luck lately, every person who flagged me needed to go in that direction. At one point I happened to pull next to another cabbie from my garage while we were stuck on Broadway for about 10 minutes. His passenger had given up and gotten out mid-block, and I said, "Now you get to sit in this by yourself." He replied with a smile, "That's what we do. We sit and we suffer."



With this weather also comes the OTB guys lingering outside between races. They're fun to look at while stuck at nearby red lights.

71 comments:

Anonymous said...

well its starting to get a tad cooler here in oz as we approach a late autumn.

ahh the windows down, the sun on ya face and music blaring in the background... enjoy

Anonymous said...

"You're a soldier!" - hilarious

Your Southern Belle said...

I just happened upon your blog and I read every post. It's interesting to read about something so far different than my life. I really enjoyed your blog!

Joanne said...

spring is so awesome in the city - omg and being able to have the windows down must be heavenly

my grandpa used to be one of those guys hanging at OTB - he bet on just about anything =)

enjoy the beautiful weather and thanks for the pictures

~bunnihuggles~

Chuck said...

Great photos, you should publish a book of them. If you ever get a chance, check out my blog www.chuckslodown.blogspot.com Drive safe but give em' Hell.

Anonymous said...

hello... nice blog you have here.. i'm from singapore and my dad is a cab driver... it's way more interesting in NYC... nice photos and do keep on blogging.. all the best!

elvin

Mathieu said...

I've just discovered your blog today, it's really sympathic. Spring has also begun here since some days. Photos are beautiful. I enjoy read your post today.

Anonymous said...

love the photos, true talent there. would love to see them in a book sometime as well...

yahoo

DenziL said...

Wow!!! New York seems to be a beautiful city. I wish to visit it once....

Anonymous said...

we have +10 by cecius in lithuania...but there is no leafes on the trees :(

Carl Rogers said...

Hi NYC, here on the south coast of England the sun is shining and the weather is warming up. I visited NYC for the 2000 new year celebrations, wow what a great city. The strangest thing is the missing towers, so sad. I love NYC and am hoping to visit again one day soon, maybe i'll catch a ride in your cab, who knows. So many cabs so many great people and so much to see and do, big up NYC cab drivers, L8R.
If you get time check out my blog www.spoofworld.blogspot.com, thanks.

Dumb&D said...

Wow, i really like your blog, especially those nice photos. I think becoming a cab driver is more interesting. Anyway, i have a blog too. I'm from Malaysia by the way.

Anonymous said...

Right now, the top story on netscape.com is Motorist Opens Fire on Hell's Angels. It happened in Connecticut. One biker was killed and another grazed by a bullet.

Are all Hell's Angels involved in crime? I mean besides the violation of noise ordinances.

Oh, yeah, don't forget: Tax returns are due in two weeks!

High Power Rocketry said...

Haha spring at the otb :)

R2K

Kevin said...

This a cool blog with great photos on it.
I have a question though. What is a customary tip for a hack??? Is it like 15% or 20%??

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I think I could experience different life throught your blog. I am here in Taiwan. It is spring now. Shining an flowering everywhere.
Besides, your photoes are really great. I hope I would visit there one day.

Edward said...

Great concept for a blog. I love the way you express yourself. You have me reading the archives, even.

AWE said...

Amazing how many motorcyclists are out these days.

Anonymous said...

You are a soldier indeed, driving a cab in NYC as a female. Keep up the writing, I love your stories!

Sc00t said...

I've never bookmarked a blog before... but right now I'm adding yours. Loving it =)

It's still raining in England. Bah!

Jonathan said...

as is evidence above, alot of people love your blog, and as the comments above say, consider a book deal. I remember one of your past entries saying you read a book about a female subway driver..imagine a female taxi driver. OR ANY driver for that matter!
check my blog out if you get a chance,
www.tablesidehack.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

The clocks moved up, shouldn't you have been an hour early.

Nic said...

Good to hear spring is sprung, can't wait till Saturday, when I land in NYC to meet my husband for a few days' break.

Anonymous said...

Do cab drivers enjoy driving on their free time? I mean... in their own, personal vehicles? Do most New York cabbies even have their own cars? Because I'm not so sure I would even want to own a car if that were my fulltime job. Anyone?

Nicoel said...

Like many others, I am a huge fan of your blog. I just stumbled upon it and spent over an hour reading various posts. My favourite thing however, are the pictures that accompany them.

Lito said...

This is great news for you then.

Little's Blog Things

High Power Rocketry said...

Hehe spring has sprung at OTB! :)
Bathrooms
Rockets

Andy said...

Great blog. Thanks for literary trip across NYC while I was taking a break from work. I'll have to stop by again.

Andy said...

Great blog. Thanks for literary trip across NYC while I was taking a break from work. I'll have to stop by again.

Ddot the King said...

Good blog. I like the pics.






I AM THE KING OF ALL BLOGGERS!!!

Craig C said...

Is there a less rewarding job than New York cabbie?

I think that show on the Discovery channel would be hard pressed.

Unknown said...

I have to sya that your posts are some of the most entertaining stories of new york and perhaps new way to llok at cab drivers for me!
Great job, I'll be sure to come back

Anonymous said...

I love your blog, just wanted to say thanks for the entertaining read!

Shawn said...

Noticed your blog in the "Blogs of Note" and wanted to drop a line. Since reading a few posts I'm interested and now your on the reading list. I have always had a weird fetish to be a cab driver; and always wanting to go to NY must have sucked me in. I am a jazz guitarist and often travel, in cabs when possible and your stories will greatly be appreciated!

Chelsea said...

Spring is so refreshing, isn't it? Great pix of the brightened trees. They look so much happier with leaves.

"You're a soldier!" ~ Love it!

Anonymous said...

i love your blog. i've never had to opportunity to get to NY but this is better.

Anonymous said...

I am in Michigan so I get your weather a day early, the old man is coming for one more spin. Great blog and having a relative that lives in jersey and commutes to the city everyday I'd say your accuracy on jersey drivers astounds me. Have a great day and an even better night. Jaime

Mieterse Marcy said...

coooool picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

One of my fondest memories was of springtime in NYC. Nothing so invigorating after a nasty winter as the wonderful change of season.

I live in South Texas now, no winter at all, it goes straight from autumn to summer. Now is the time to get out of the city for a nice drive upstate or to New England for the weekend.

Thanks for reminding me.

Pcyb said...

Your received a Great Medal from these bikers. Indeed you are a soldier, with a yellow shield, defending his own life and freedom, like them.

Anonymous said...

A few months ago I added your blog to the top My Yahoo News web page.
Quite honestly, reading your blog is refreshing compared to most of the stuff the news agencies shove down our throats every day.

Nice photo of Spring!

NYD said...

Ahhhh You're killing me!
Reading your posts and looking at the snapshots is making me totally homesick!
Thanks for giving me a little tatse of the city to put in my morning coffee.
$$$$

Kwin the Eskimo said...

Your photos are amazing. Keep up the good work!

meesh said...

Ah, Spring in NYC! One day it's freezing out and the next thing you know it's 70 degress and all the trees on B'way in the Upper West Side have sprouted pink flowers an dpeople are jogging in Central Park again.

I love your blog. You keep me in touch with the New York I loved and miss.

Thompson said...

i Liked your blog!

Anonymous said...

I can't even remember how I stumbled across your blog to begin with, but I'm loving every one of your entries... and the photos as well. How you can keep from posting the multiple @*#holes you must carry in a week is beyond me. I love to drive, but I've developed quite a vocal banter between myself and the many offending winter visitors to our part of se central fla. Be glad you don't drive your cab in "zero beach"... I'll keep reading if you'll keep writing!

Madarin

Spring is here too, but where you can roll the windows down, I get to turn on the a/c.

Dolores said...

love your blog and pictures are really great! I've never been to NY, but looks beautiful. I live on the west coast and it has been real lousy weather here; so your Spring looks grand......

Flora Pang said...

you are so popular, and i love ur entries!

wish u don't mind that i made a link to ur blog.

NicFitKid said...

"You're a soldier!"

Well, now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

Anonymous said...

This is a great blog.

Peggy said...

You rock! Enjoy the window opening freshness. We're not there yet in Scotland.

Anonymous said...

You hit the trifecta: killer weather, windows down & congenial bikers.

Anonymous said...

Hey
New York sounds lovely. I would love your job, you are so lucky. I would love to see Broadway and the statue of liberty.
God Bless

EverJack1 said...

You're getting famous, MP.... lol

Missed your stories. :o)

EverJack1 said...

Jack back...... by the way.... I'm an unpublished author. I have been in a writer's workshop called Funwriters for 2 or 3 years. Would love for you to join our room. We are sincere about our writing. This is no 'come-on' to buy anything..... just a simple writing room with caring members.

Jack

Anonymous said...

two gals in sweden laughing our boobs out

Tiffanie said...

This is a cool blog. Keep it up.

Anonymous said...

I think you had a great idea when you decided to do this Blog! I used to live near NYC, too and i think it's very interesting to see the city from a cab driver's point of view. I enjoyed reading your posts and must say that you have an excellent Blog!

Anonymous said...

I think you had a great idea when you decided to do this Blog! I used to live near NYC, too and i think it's very interesting to see the city from a cab driver's point of view. I enjoyed reading your posts and must say that you have an excellent Blog!

Chuck said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Chuck said...

I found your blog and I liked it, "Spring" was the first post I read. I noticed all the comments you were getting and checked your profile (not big on self info are you) and then I noticed your profile views (a butt load) so I e-mailed you and asked how come so many people read your blog? Then I go to your archives and start at the beginning and read my way forward. I guess a little TV publicity doesn't hurt. Anyway, great blog, great writing, and you have talent for telling a story, I like the way most of them end, with something witty or poignant. I will continue to read. Keep giving them Hell.

Chuck said...

Oh yeah, don't forget to check out my blog, www.chuckslodown.blogspot.com take care.

torporindy said...

Be careful out there.

Anonymous said...

Hey Girl, I love your writing and pics! However more more more. I live in Cali and i have never been to NY. I have bookmarked your blog and look forward to seeing how your night was :) Take care and be safe SOLDIER!
Peace, Dana

Anonymous said...

your blog is great!i check it everyday.how bout a picture of yourself?good day toyou!

Anonymous said...

Well, Great Blog...

Anonymous said...

Hey, my friend showed me your blog, its awesome. I'd love to go to NYC one day. Im in Austrlia. Anyway, i am enjoying reading your blog, its excellent keep up the good work man! Monique xx

Anonymous said...

WOOOOOO! way to go on the book deal!!!! frigging fantastic!! you are so my hero - enough of sucking up haha. Anyway - one of your dedicated readers from Australia is extremely happy for you, keep up the stories and stories of annoyances (grammmar?). If i were a lesbian I would have such a crush on you…

Anonymous said...

Your blog was recommended in a Swedish newspaper a few weeks ago. Have been reading every post since!! You are so bloody funny and I love the pics.
Keep on blogging and CONGRATS to the book deal!
xxx

Unknown said...

Thanks for the memories of New York in the spring - you reminded me of my honeymoon there in 2001. You have a good attitude to what must be a stressful job - you're like the happy flipside of Travis Bickle.

Anonymous said...

You are a GAY LOSER stupid