Aaaaaand.. Straight outta Compton! SO I started the day with getting my last ride's phone back to him from last night, he made me 45 min late picking up my daughter but it was OK, we still had a blast playing some games, Lazer Tag and some Mini Bowling... we then just drove around and talked... She's one of my best riders, she likes to be in the front seat and she even put her phone away so we could chat... Love my PNut!
Decided I was craving some sustenance so I went to Meat Up to grab the Oden - a crazy good Brat - today it was only So-So for some reason, but there is a underlying funny story... I was seated next to a couple and I needed a knife to cut the sammy in half so I pardoned myself and asked the lady if I could borrow hers, she obliged and I ate my meal... I headed out shortly there after and debated whether or not I felt like driving tonight... Ran to the smoke shop for some cigs and realized I was still pretty wide awake and bummed that I'd be going home to an empty house... Driving it was.... Flipped my signs on and headed to my SBux... Didn't even come close! Ping in Placentia...
Fare 1 - Uber - A gentleman and 2 ladies hop in and an instant of awkward silence... "Didn't you just borrow my knife at Meat up?" Same girl, different guy! I couldn't make this up if I tried! Turns out the dude at Meat Up was her brother and this was her husband... "Im glad I saw you drinking soda after tasting those 2 new beers" - I assured her I wouldn't be driving now if they were any good - I'd be sitting home with a growler of one of them! Oddly enough we were headed to Bootleggers Brewery in Anaheim - I was very tempted, especially with them inviting me to join them, but no...
I sat there for a few minutes but had to pee, ran to Shell where there were 3 other Uber drivers just chatting in the lot... I came back out and asked why they were here and not closer to Taboo or Bootleggers - they said "Taxi Drivers" - this didn't make sense at first, I was just at bootleggers for 15 min and didnt get hassled... I saw a few Taxi drivers but no hassle, the it dawned on me... I looked at all of our cars parked next to each other, when my signs aren't on, they dont reveal what they are very well, the Uber and Lyft signs are reflective... I didn't say a word realizing I could get close and not hassled... Pulled back into Bootleggers parking lot and just chilled....
I sat and people watched for about 15 minutes when a gorgeous BMW 750IL pulls in next to me - I'm out having a cig and the black tinted window rolled down - It was the dude I talked to in week two... He recognized my car and stopped to say Hi! He had done what I was thinking of doing, buying a 750 to drive it as an Uber Select - he still drives Uber X too but was doing quite well in YL and Anaheim Hills... After a short chat he said Bro, it's time to head to Anaheim Stadium - supercross is about to end... I didnt even know or see it - there was a 10x surge only 5 miles away thanks to Supercross... I followed him until my Lyft wen off...
Fare 2 - Lyft - A couple off Lincoln that wanted to go to Supercross but couldnt afford the $80+ tickets - decided to have me Battle the traffic to go to McKormicks and Schmidts (SP) - the area was no left turn, no right turn - I decided to turn on my signal to go left anyway - the traffic control officer moved a cone for me... I'll be damned! dropped the clients right in front - they rewardedme with a $5 cash tip...
At this point I had no clue where to go - I went into the Transportation corridor and chilled with several frustrated Taxi drivers... I got out of my car and had a cig with Josephine - She drives for one of those repetitive number taxi companies - something like 800- 999-9999... She was tweaked as she had 3-4 fares requesting a ride that she simply could not get to... I believe now this is the difference between Uber/Lyft and a Taxi - we try, they do not... I got a call to the other side, by the grove, I rolled there and pretty much forced a U turn - I was blocking traffic but an APD car simply rolled by - I had my Fare on the phone and they had no problem finding me in the mass of cars...
Fare 3 - Supercross to Compton...I have to say, this write-up gave me heartburn over writers block... I decided to let your mind wander on the neighborhood... I never felt uncomfortable and the young man who I was driving was a stellar rider... Let's focus on him... Pickup was difficult with everyone leaving Anaheim Stadium... I stayed on the phone with him so I could do a grab and go... I picked up this young kid and his Grandmother - traffic was horrible so I asked if we could take a longer route to get there faster - she chimed in and said I'm going to fall asleep anyway, just do what you need to do, just stop as he (her Grandson) needs to pee! LOL - we got out of the area and stopped real quick for him to use the facilities, the proprietor said they were out of order, I walked in, the guy knew me and suddenly it was open... While he peed I grabbed a $5 redbull and said, if you open for me but not for my rider again, I will file a complaint and write you up on my blog... He apologized and I grabbed the kid a Snickers... Grandma was asleep so the kid (never did get his name) asked to sit up front, I totally encouraged it... Dude was 15, my Son's size, about 5"11" 200 lbs, and very well spoken... Handed him the snickers and a water, he said "Thank you sir" - I asked him to call me Jeff and we were on our way... This kid amazed me, he knew every rider in every class, what bike they rode and who sponsored them... he then pulled out his pit pass - he had to have had every rider possible autograph it, there was literally no space left... as we drove he detailed the races, I felt like I was there watching with him... I asked him about school, he's a Sophomore in Advanced Placement classes - he hopes to graduate next year - he has a 4.5 GPA and has already completed a few CC courses that would allow him to have his AA... Now you understand my heartburn... He asked me to turn off the EL glow on my sign, he said you need them up but not glowing... I obliged and we rolled through a few neighborhoods I grew concerned in. He said you dont have to worry, "Its not like the movies...." Sure as hell was... but this kid talked me into a calm - we pulled up to his house and he told me a route out that would get me out quickly and safely... He woke his grandma and hopped out, but before doing so he said, "Thank you, I've been dropped off a few blocks away and have never had someone chat w/ me as long as you did" I told him "do me a favor, keep at your schooling, be strong, love Supercross and remember there are guys like me that dont fear this area..." He shook my hand and said a quick prayer that I couldn't hear...
I did shut down every app, cranked the music and got out as fast as I could... that day was cool enough, I decided to go home and reflect a bit... Great day!
#UberOn
~Jeff
Sounds like a nice evening.
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