Sunday, January 27, 2019
1/26/19
Really late start tonight at 9:45pm. Worked out okay with a finish time of about 2:30am. The night felt a little off all night and the riders were unique.
1/25/19
A young college girl filled me in on how she begin to find beauty in rap music. I guess she noticed the tattoo on my forehead that says "RAP SUCKS!" In all fairness, she presented a very intellectual and interesting case. I enjoyed the conversation.
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
1/23/19
We were talking about the hospitality business and the rider actually said, "If I wasn't rich and didn't have an inheritance and had to get a job, I think I would like working in hospitality."
Picked up a large group of riders and dropped them off at the Omni Hotel. As they were about to get out the man in the passenger seat yells back to one of the other men, "hey, was this your Uber?" "Im gonna make sure you get a 1 for a rating." He then starts carrying on about the "piece of shit driver" while I am laughing through it all. The other guy makes it up to get out and leans up to me and says that he has no idea who these guys are. The passenger side guy is still standing at the door broadcasting about the piece of shit Uber driver but then leans in right before closing the door and says that he is just kidding. "Pffft, I know that", I said and wished them a good night. Good time.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
1/19/19
It finally happened. A ride request from a friend, through the Uber app of course. After almost 1,000 ride requests from Uber and an undetermined amount from Fare and Get Me, it was going to happen sooner or later. Made for an even better ride having a good conversation with good friends.
Had the highest earning Uber ride to date. Picked up at South Congress hotel immediately after dropping off a group at the South Congress Hotel. It was my LUX ride for the month. After dropping off in The Hills I actually had a ride request from the same general area (10 miles away) that took me closer to home. Immediately receive another pick up request from the Austin Country Club that got me even closer to home.
Then there was the strangest one that I have had. Picked up a young female at the Extended Stay America near Oak Knoll Road. The trip was to Cedar Park and upon arrival at the address it was not where she wanted to go. Turns out there was a "0" missing in the address that would have put us at the 7-11 on Highway 183 and RM 1431. She had a round trip programmed into the request. There was an odd phone call that she received that I am not sure what was about. Something about some guy that was laying on the floor and doing something. First question that may have a good answer but, why travel from Oak Knoll all the way to Cedar Park to get to a convenience store? After being in the store for a little longer than anticipated, she came out and walk past my vehicle and got into the passenger side of a black BMW that was at the gas pumps. She wasn't there long when she got out and went back into the store. As she was coming out of the store, a male had gotten out of the car and was approaching the store. He held the door open for her in a gentlemanly fashion and she walk out without looking up at the guy. He was a neatly dressed white guy and didn't look like anybody that was up to anything suspicious. She got into the vehicle and apologized for the extra time it took. She explained that the cashier did not have change for a $100 bill and she had to call a friend. I was able to read the lips of the cashier when the passenger was in the store the first time and the cashier had said "I'm sorry". We headed back to Oak Knoll and all ended as well as it had started. I had to roll down all of the windows and air out the cigarette in dirty clothes smell.
A thought provoking conversation that had to do with human progress causing skills and events to become extinct. The thought was that every generation has probably gone through a stage where they felt like important things were being left behind and forgotten and by complaining, one was just being labeled as an old fart. But when does it become something that someone says, "hey, this is really a problem that needs to be addressed."
Calculations for the night show earnings averaging out to $32.71 per hour and there will be more tips that come in throughout the day on Sunday. Interestingly enough I was talking to my wife about how it is so easy to tell who is going to tip and who is not although I have been fooled by the Poolers from time to time.
Had the highest earning Uber ride to date. Picked up at South Congress hotel immediately after dropping off a group at the South Congress Hotel. It was my LUX ride for the month. After dropping off in The Hills I actually had a ride request from the same general area (10 miles away) that took me closer to home. Immediately receive another pick up request from the Austin Country Club that got me even closer to home.
Then there was the strangest one that I have had. Picked up a young female at the Extended Stay America near Oak Knoll Road. The trip was to Cedar Park and upon arrival at the address it was not where she wanted to go. Turns out there was a "0" missing in the address that would have put us at the 7-11 on Highway 183 and RM 1431. She had a round trip programmed into the request. There was an odd phone call that she received that I am not sure what was about. Something about some guy that was laying on the floor and doing something. First question that may have a good answer but, why travel from Oak Knoll all the way to Cedar Park to get to a convenience store? After being in the store for a little longer than anticipated, she came out and walk past my vehicle and got into the passenger side of a black BMW that was at the gas pumps. She wasn't there long when she got out and went back into the store. As she was coming out of the store, a male had gotten out of the car and was approaching the store. He held the door open for her in a gentlemanly fashion and she walk out without looking up at the guy. He was a neatly dressed white guy and didn't look like anybody that was up to anything suspicious. She got into the vehicle and apologized for the extra time it took. She explained that the cashier did not have change for a $100 bill and she had to call a friend. I was able to read the lips of the cashier when the passenger was in the store the first time and the cashier had said "I'm sorry". We headed back to Oak Knoll and all ended as well as it had started. I had to roll down all of the windows and air out the cigarette in dirty clothes smell.
A thought provoking conversation that had to do with human progress causing skills and events to become extinct. The thought was that every generation has probably gone through a stage where they felt like important things were being left behind and forgotten and by complaining, one was just being labeled as an old fart. But when does it become something that someone says, "hey, this is really a problem that needs to be addressed."
Calculations for the night show earnings averaging out to $32.71 per hour and there will be more tips that come in throughout the day on Sunday. Interestingly enough I was talking to my wife about how it is so easy to tell who is going to tip and who is not although I have been fooled by the Poolers from time to time.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
1/14/19
I thought the 8:45pm start was too late for anything. I was wrong. A restaurant pick up frenzy broke out.
A large group at Fonda San Miguel got it started and I ended up picking up from there another time a little later. Three of the rides ended at the Renaissance Hotel included the 2 from Fonda San Miguel ,and 4 of the rides were XL. Pickups were also from Roaring Fork, Siena Ristorante Toscana, Olamaie, and Coopers BBQ.
I have got to remember that Whitis Street has been closed for a long time now and the app keeps sending me that way when going to AT&T Conference Center.
One group was talking about a female friend of theirs that was engaged to a useless guy that does not treat her well. The passenger continued talking to me about it and stated they were trying to figure out a way to break them up. He said she was a beautiful women both mentally and physically and did not know how she had ended up with that loser. He went so far as to show me a picture of her and sure enough, she was indeed a beautiful brunette.
6 rides, at least 25 people and $72.00 in 1 1/2 hours. Only 51 more trips to hit 1,000 trips for Uber. That is not much for those drivers that go at it all the time but it is a lot for it to be just a hobby. That is at least 2,000 people that have been in and out of my car. Out of those there have only been a handful of riders who were repeat riders with me. Three maybe four.
A large group at Fonda San Miguel got it started and I ended up picking up from there another time a little later. Three of the rides ended at the Renaissance Hotel included the 2 from Fonda San Miguel ,and 4 of the rides were XL. Pickups were also from Roaring Fork, Siena Ristorante Toscana, Olamaie, and Coopers BBQ.
I have got to remember that Whitis Street has been closed for a long time now and the app keeps sending me that way when going to AT&T Conference Center.
One group was talking about a female friend of theirs that was engaged to a useless guy that does not treat her well. The passenger continued talking to me about it and stated they were trying to figure out a way to break them up. He said she was a beautiful women both mentally and physically and did not know how she had ended up with that loser. He went so far as to show me a picture of her and sure enough, she was indeed a beautiful brunette.
It always strikes me as odd to hear an older lady use the "f" bomb. I don't know why.
6 rides, at least 25 people and $72.00 in 1 1/2 hours. Only 51 more trips to hit 1,000 trips for Uber. That is not much for those drivers that go at it all the time but it is a lot for it to be just a hobby. That is at least 2,000 people that have been in and out of my car. Out of those there have only been a handful of riders who were repeat riders with me. Three maybe four.
Friday, January 11, 2019
1/11/19
Dammit! Fridays are usually good for trips to the airport.
The second rider of the day had a severe speech impairment and intrestingly enough after a few seconds we were able sufficiently communicate. It reminded me of a couple of my employees at work that I initially had trouble understanding. Taking a moment to understand the context and surroundings helps to begin to put the pieces together.
I accidentally overwrote the rest of this awesome post but I did end up with a ride to the airport.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
1/9/19
3 quick rides after work. Picked up a couple at Chez Zee. First time picking someone up from there but I have been there myself and love the place. So did they. With that as a starting point for conversing, I had one of the most engaging conversations ever with a rider/riders. Even better, the drop off was on 620 in the direction of my home. Once I dropped them off, I headed for home then set in the driveway trying to fix the second rider of the night where only the tip showed up as fare for the ride. As always, once I got a message off to Uber, the issue was immediately taken care of.
Speaking of rider number two, he seemed surprised that there were In-N-Out Burger restaurants here.
Speaking of rider number two, he seemed surprised that there were In-N-Out Burger restaurants here.
1/6/19
Finished up at work at about 1:00am and turned on the app to see what was going on. Immediately received a request from a rider that was leaving the event that I had just been working at. After that there were no requests until I was almost home.
Picked up a rider at the Sunset Bar and Grill in Cedar Park. Out of the good conversations we were having he asked what my preference was regarding riders setting in the front passenger seat. He stated that he had not been riding with Uber for very long and he had asked each rider about their preference. Three out of three had told him that they preferred that the rider set in the front seat. I confirmed that making it four out of four. He asked why and I explained that it allows for more engaged and personable conversations.
The Post Tavern once again. A couple had decided to take an Uber instead of driving. Good choice. Not just because they were both drunk but if they had not requested an Uber, I would not have had the great conversation with the guy (while the girl was passed out).
Picked up a rider at the Sunset Bar and Grill in Cedar Park. Out of the good conversations we were having he asked what my preference was regarding riders setting in the front passenger seat. He stated that he had not been riding with Uber for very long and he had asked each rider about their preference. Three out of three had told him that they preferred that the rider set in the front seat. I confirmed that making it four out of four. He asked why and I explained that it allows for more engaged and personable conversations.
The Post Tavern once again. A couple had decided to take an Uber instead of driving. Good choice. Not just because they were both drunk but if they had not requested an Uber, I would not have had the great conversation with the guy (while the girl was passed out).
Saturday, January 5, 2019
1/4/19
For some reason when the first riders asked how long I had been in Austin, I answered 3 years. I immediately corrected myself to say 8 years and we laughed about how there could be a relation between 3 and 8. I didn't know but it just struck me that many people ask how long I have been driving for Uber and the answer to that is 3 years. Great conversation about having a second language. When they asked what my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant was, my answer was Lupe Tortilla.
The passenger revealed that he was going to Round Rock Tavern to see a band that would be playing all '80s music. That ignited a great conversation that turned into an 80's themed Uber experience. I quickly found the Everybody Loves Eileen song by Steelheart and when that was finished I put Sirius XM onto Hair Nation and told him the hairy armpit lady story (6/21/16). We ended up talking about electronic dating sites and how meeting someone has changed so much over the past 10 years. He in fact was meeting someone for a second date and it had turned out to be a lady that he knew from when they were kids in Houston. He got out at the destination and thanked me for the "themed" ride.
This was the second time this week that I have dropped someone off at the Canary Roost. Up until this week I had never heard of it although I would not have had a reason to have heard of it.
The rider was in the military, the Marines I believe. We talked at length about long term versus short military careers. He believes that military is the answer for those youth coming out of high school and not knowing what they want to do. I had read an article about how some military personnel are offended by civilians telling them that they appreciate their sacrifice because it is an empty gesture in most cases. I agree with this and have often thought, who am I to say to a soldier that I appreciate their sacrifice when I don't or possibly can't have an idea of what that is and therefore a gesture my gesture would be purely superficial. With that in mind, I geared my conversations in a manner that expressed appreciation from the heart for what he was doing.
"Get your hands off of the driver" said one of the ladies in middle row. Yeah, the lady in the passenger seat was rubbing my arm and telling me how good looking I was. Yes, she was drunk, although I am good looking. I could have took that situation anywhere I wanted to and the lady was attractive. The mood changed once I let her know that I was married and had a young daughter. I did not take offense to the aggression and as always, I enjoy the interactions with the passengers.
The passenger revealed that he was going to Round Rock Tavern to see a band that would be playing all '80s music. That ignited a great conversation that turned into an 80's themed Uber experience. I quickly found the Everybody Loves Eileen song by Steelheart and when that was finished I put Sirius XM onto Hair Nation and told him the hairy armpit lady story (6/21/16). We ended up talking about electronic dating sites and how meeting someone has changed so much over the past 10 years. He in fact was meeting someone for a second date and it had turned out to be a lady that he knew from when they were kids in Houston. He got out at the destination and thanked me for the "themed" ride.
This was the second time this week that I have dropped someone off at the Canary Roost. Up until this week I had never heard of it although I would not have had a reason to have heard of it.
The rider was in the military, the Marines I believe. We talked at length about long term versus short military careers. He believes that military is the answer for those youth coming out of high school and not knowing what they want to do. I had read an article about how some military personnel are offended by civilians telling them that they appreciate their sacrifice because it is an empty gesture in most cases. I agree with this and have often thought, who am I to say to a soldier that I appreciate their sacrifice when I don't or possibly can't have an idea of what that is and therefore a gesture my gesture would be purely superficial. With that in mind, I geared my conversations in a manner that expressed appreciation from the heart for what he was doing.
"Get your hands off of the driver" said one of the ladies in middle row. Yeah, the lady in the passenger seat was rubbing my arm and telling me how good looking I was. Yes, she was drunk, although I am good looking. I could have took that situation anywhere I wanted to and the lady was attractive. The mood changed once I let her know that I was married and had a young daughter. I did not take offense to the aggression and as always, I enjoy the interactions with the passengers.
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