My brother and I got back some estimates on things needed to be done to the house to get it up to par versus comparable rental houses. The list is long and quite expensive and thus very intimidating.
Demo-Removal $3500
Materials $4500
Plumbing Fixtures $750
Plumbing Labor $3200
Electrical Fixtures $1200
Electrical Labor $12600
Electrical Permit $750
Appliances $4500
Drywall $3500
Roofing $19750
Carpentry Labor $22000
Windows $18750
Floor Covering $8000
Painting $10000
WTF? The house is so f*cked up, a flippers dream. So I ask you, my friends, since I have nothing keeping me in Las Vegas, except my job, should I move back to Hawaii and try and fix up my childhood home? You guys would be welcome to come out and stay for a week or so.
9/26/08
9/20/08
Peter Schiff on Anderson Cooper
The shit hit the fan this week my friends. Is the Greatest Depression coming? 15% unemployment? Hyper-Inflation?
9/18/08
TAXI NEWS
This dude died last week. I would see him around the yard from time to time... one of the old timers.
FOTD XL - Roxanne S.
Most weekdays, coming out of the yard at 345-405, I'm able to pick up an open call. I'm willing to go to any part of the county, except the east side, for a ride. Yesterday was the first day in awhile there wasn't any open calls. blah blah blah anyways... I drive towards the strip and here a 'call out' (a call where anyone can respond, and the closest usually gets it) at the Tahiti Village for a van and I was only 5 minutes away and I go an grab it real quick. Knowing they're going to the airport , I hear another call at flamingo & durango ... so I ring in and get that real quick .. so anyways .. I get $50 on the book in the first hour ...
It would be 3 1/2 hours before I get another ride. I took 3 rides however they were all no go's. I'm very flippity floppity, when things are going well and I'm getting rides it's great, but when there's just a little bit adversity I get down quick... feeling like I want to quit working for the day. LOL
Which brings us to Roxanne, I got her call around 845, coming right after 3 consecutive no go's ... I call her cell and it's voice mail ... I call again, leave a message .. same thing. So I call dispatch and tell her no way I'm going down there... Anyway this lady doesn't call back for over 2+ hours, wondering where her cab is.
I've picked her up once before. She was at the Seven Hills Surgery Center in Henderson, she was out there to get her cataracts removed? and to be able to see again. She was really depressed, yo - she went there thinking that they'd cut her up real quick and that she would be able to see again. The Doc declined to do the surgery due to her blood sugar count and she was sent home blind as a bat. And then she has to wait 150 minutes for a ride!
UPDATE: So the point of this story is that up until I gave this chick a ride I was feeling like crap. But there's not much worse than going into the doctors assuming that when you get out you'll be able to see again after many months and years --- only to be told that you're still going to be blind. Imagine getting your hopes up like that!!!!!!!! AND THEN having to wait for a fucking cab for near three hours.
So after chit chatting with her I began to feel better. :( = :)
It would be 3 1/2 hours before I get another ride. I took 3 rides however they were all no go's. I'm very flippity floppity, when things are going well and I'm getting rides it's great, but when there's just a little bit adversity I get down quick... feeling like I want to quit working for the day. LOL
Which brings us to Roxanne, I got her call around 845, coming right after 3 consecutive no go's ... I call her cell and it's voice mail ... I call again, leave a message .. same thing. So I call dispatch and tell her no way I'm going down there... Anyway this lady doesn't call back for over 2+ hours, wondering where her cab is.
I've picked her up once before. She was at the Seven Hills Surgery Center in Henderson, she was out there to get her cataracts removed? and to be able to see again. She was really depressed, yo - she went there thinking that they'd cut her up real quick and that she would be able to see again. The Doc declined to do the surgery due to her blood sugar count and she was sent home blind as a bat. And then she has to wait 150 minutes for a ride!
UPDATE: So the point of this story is that up until I gave this chick a ride I was feeling like crap. But there's not much worse than going into the doctors assuming that when you get out you'll be able to see again after many months and years --- only to be told that you're still going to be blind. Imagine getting your hopes up like that!!!!!!!! AND THEN having to wait for a fucking cab for near three hours.
So after chit chatting with her I began to feel better. :( = :)
9/13/08
Overslept
My one day off became two when I woke up 9 minutes after I'm supposed to start. My friends, this is pathetic, watched 8 movies, ate 2.25 lbs shrimp, 1 steak, whopper combo, 4 candy bars, 12 cans coke, bagel & lox, and about to get some chicken nuggets... what a waste. FYI
Rambo (2008)
Baby's Mama
Fool's Gold
Definitely, Maybe
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
There Will Be Blood
August
The Forbidden Kingdom
The surprise of the weekend was that Rambo kicked some serious ass.
Rambo (2008)
Baby's Mama
Fool's Gold
Definitely, Maybe
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
There Will Be Blood
August
The Forbidden Kingdom
The surprise of the weekend was that Rambo kicked some serious ass.
9/11/08
FOTD XXXIX - Handi Van III
"This guys is in a wheelchair and he has tons of crap and I don't feel like helping him move." I pull up and this guy in a motorized wheelchair is waiting for me by the street. I stop and park and he says that he has some stuff to put in the van and he points near the front door. There is so much shit I was like WTF WTF WTF WTF. Easily six plastic storage bins, a dresser, plus three duffel bags plus untold other shit that I can't see. I'm like, "yo, I am not in the mood to carry all of your shit and load it into my van for you." And he's like, "there's really not that much stuff" and I'm like "yo, I can see the shit right there in front of the door, son, and I ain't moving it" and he's like "I can walk a little bit" (LOL) and I'm like "hold on" so I called it into dispatch and asked for permission to leave this moFo "Hi&Dry".
I hear back, "we're not a moving company, if he wants someone to help him move he can call U-Haul", and with those words, I got out the cab, told this young man to call "A-Cab", after all they specialize in "West" Vegas and they too have handi vans... but there was no way in hell that I was helping him move.
The End.
I hear back, "we're not a moving company, if he wants someone to help him move he can call U-Haul", and with those words, I got out the cab, told this young man to call "A-Cab", after all they specialize in "West" Vegas and they too have handi vans... but there was no way in hell that I was helping him move.
The End.
9/10/08
FOTD XXXVIII - "We Make It Rain"
Maybe I'm bored, but it is definitely rare that I come across three somewhat memorable fares in one day. Today was the day. Coming out of the airport I took a call at Pecos and Wigwam, in Henderson. I'm looking to snag a ride either back to the strip or the airport. I get over there quick and he is indeed going to the "strip", but first by WaMu first. He gets back in the car and he's like "ok, I have bad news for you". I'm like "let's hear it, friend" and he says he wants to go to the Rhino but that he's a VIP so I need to drop him off in the back.
He goes on to say that he's somehow associated with Harrah's "upper-management" and that he's meeting his boss and a client over there for drinks. He tries to drop some names of the GM's and bouncers at some of the strip clubs around town but they don't mean anything to me and all I can do is say "really" or "oh". In response to him saying that he's a VIP, I remark that he's must of had "a few" dances over the years .. and to my surprise he says that he's not into it and that he treats these clubs like other clubs (drinking and meeting gUrls).
"You see in Las Vegas you go to these clubs like Tao, or Pure and you have to pay a lot of money to the bouncer outside just to get in, and these fucking bouncers have such an ego and an attitude, then you have to pay $18 for a drink or thousands to get a table and bottle service. You buy women drinks and it's too noisy to talk to them, you end up spending a lot of money and going home alone. You see at these strip clubs (in the afternoon when it's not busy), you can hang out get some drinks, it's not crowded and the women come up to you. They sit down and you can bullshit with them and have some laughs... now don't get me wrong I've had sex with strippers before but I don't go there trying to pick up on them, I just go there to hang out and entertain clients. Now personally I don't like to get lap dances, they don't do anything for me, but I will always buy some dances for my clients... think about it, how many memorable dances have you had?"
me: "I can think of one, she had like triple F's"
"so you ever go sit down by the stage and throw some dollars at them?"
"Oh, we make it rain, yeah we make it rain"
-Anyway this guy has me drop him off on the side of the building, which is neither the back "vip" entrance or the front. He did pay $55 for a $42 ride, however something tells me he just didn't want to pay the $30 cover for arriving in a taxi. Not quite sure though.
He goes on to say that he's somehow associated with Harrah's "upper-management" and that he's meeting his boss and a client over there for drinks. He tries to drop some names of the GM's and bouncers at some of the strip clubs around town but they don't mean anything to me and all I can do is say "really" or "oh". In response to him saying that he's a VIP, I remark that he's must of had "a few" dances over the years .. and to my surprise he says that he's not into it and that he treats these clubs like other clubs (drinking and meeting gUrls).
"You see in Las Vegas you go to these clubs like Tao, or Pure and you have to pay a lot of money to the bouncer outside just to get in, and these fucking bouncers have such an ego and an attitude, then you have to pay $18 for a drink or thousands to get a table and bottle service. You buy women drinks and it's too noisy to talk to them, you end up spending a lot of money and going home alone. You see at these strip clubs (in the afternoon when it's not busy), you can hang out get some drinks, it's not crowded and the women come up to you. They sit down and you can bullshit with them and have some laughs... now don't get me wrong I've had sex with strippers before but I don't go there trying to pick up on them, I just go there to hang out and entertain clients. Now personally I don't like to get lap dances, they don't do anything for me, but I will always buy some dances for my clients... think about it, how many memorable dances have you had?"
me: "I can think of one, she had like triple F's"
"so you ever go sit down by the stage and throw some dollars at them?"
"Oh, we make it rain, yeah we make it rain"
-Anyway this guy has me drop him off on the side of the building, which is neither the back "vip" entrance or the front. He did pay $55 for a $42 ride, however something tells me he just didn't want to pay the $30 cover for arriving in a taxi. Not quite sure though.
FOTD XXXVII - "Burnt over 95% of his body"
My second call of the day was to pick up a company charge and take them to the airport. I get out there early and meet up with a young kid (in a wheelchair) and his grandmother. They are flying to Reno to go to the Shriner's Hospital. This young eight year old kid was burnt over 95% of his body in an apartment fire when he was three years old. He was such a delight to give a ride to. He has no right hand, no toes and the scars from those severe burns all over his face and body.
Imagine the pain he has felt over the years, yet this dude was laughing and interacting with me along the way. He likes to sit by the window in the airplane. A quick story his grandmother told was that when this guy woke from a medically induced coma (immediately after the fire), the first thing he said (three years old) "can I have some water please.", "thank you" -Imagine a three year old saying that in their adorable voice (as mimicked by his grandma) saying that shit to you yo... It'll make one cry... so she said that the nurses there have taken great care of him ever since.
They were going up to Reno to get his new leg braces.
Imagine the pain he has felt over the years, yet this dude was laughing and interacting with me along the way. He likes to sit by the window in the airplane. A quick story his grandmother told was that when this guy woke from a medically induced coma (immediately after the fire), the first thing he said (three years old) "can I have some water please.", "thank you" -Imagine a three year old saying that in their adorable voice (as mimicked by his grandma) saying that shit to you yo... It'll make one cry... so she said that the nurses there have taken great care of him ever since.
They were going up to Reno to get his new leg braces.
FOTD XXXVI - Triplets From Poland
Yes. It is true. Today I gave a ride to triplets from Poland. I haven't felt inspired recently to write these ... it takes something like this to "wake me up", something truly inspirational. With 15-25 fares a day, six days a week, each and every week ... all these fares kind of melt together and become a blur. NOT THIS ONE FRIENDS.
It's funny, I got the call to go out there, I called them up to confirm and see what their destination is, and 'Alexandra' answered and told me the airport. I tell em like 12 minutes, and get there in 15. When I arrive, I call again to have her come out and she doesn't answer. So I go knock on the door (which I rarely do) and the door opens and KApOw! A true knockout..Tall, racked, blonde, beautiful, I grab her bag and she follows me to the car, I put her bag in the trunk and she says two others are coming out also .. "We're triplets"
It's funny, I got the call to go out there, I called them up to confirm and see what their destination is, and 'Alexandra' answered and told me the airport. I tell em like 12 minutes, and get there in 15. When I arrive, I call again to have her come out and she doesn't answer. So I go knock on the door (which I rarely do) and the door opens and KApOw! A true knockout..Tall, racked, blonde, beautiful, I grab her bag and she follows me to the car, I put her bag in the trunk and she says two others are coming out also .. "We're triplets"
"WHAT????? REALLY?????"
ZOMG WTF JGTFO
And out they come. To keep it short and sweet, they're going to San Diego for a corporate gig.. they play the violin. We had plenty to talk about I guess, me being from SD and also liking the violin and as I put it ... "especially when triplets are playing the violin." But obviously they've heard it all. I knew immediately that for once, instead of writing FOTD's filled with hatred and rage I was going to bust it out ... so after a quick google search (triplets violin) I discovered the mysterious trio and am now ready to reveal their identity to the world via this blog... Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you for your viewing pleasure The Alizma Triplets.
On Carson Daly. . .
. . .And them singing their own remix song. . .
Scene from one of my favorite movies, "The Red Violin"
This is Kasper Weiss
Gypsy Scene
9/2/08
FOTD XXXV - Freeway Fatality
I'm cruising down the I-15 just like we did back in the day in San Diego County... EXCEPT this I-15 is in Las Vegas and I'm going to pick up a ride. It's kind of funny cuz I felt nada for this dude (I'm jumping ahead). I guesstimated driving near 35K miles and not seeing different random acts on the road. Back to it, I'm in the fast lane going around 75 when I see a shoe in between the first and second lanes... I say to myself "That's strange. . . a shoe in the middle of the freeway. . .I wonder where that came from HOLY SHIT!!!"
WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE CENTER DIVIDE I SEE A HUMAN BODY. HE'S LYING ON HIS LEFT SIDE WITH HIS LEFT ARM STRETCHED OUT AND HIS HEAD LYING GENTLY ON HIS OUTSTRETCHED ARM. HE'S NOT ALL FUCKED UP AND I DON'T SEE ANY BLOOD SO MAYBE HE'S SLEEPING I THINK.
And then he disappears as I fly by him... for a split second I think of stopping but as I drive by I see other cars that have stopped and are backing up to possibly assist or look through his pockets before the ambulance comes. My first impression was that he was some kind of homeless guy but for the life of me I couldn't figure out how he'd of gotten into the center divide.
I call it into dispatch and go on to pick up my customer. They end up closing most of the freeway down for two plus hours as well as the Tropicana and Flamingo on ramps. I remember remarking that it was a shame that all this traffic was due to some "dead homeless guy". So by the time I get home it's all over the news, that this dude was on a motorcycle, trying to outrun the police, when he crashed off the Tropicana off ramp,falling fifty feet to the freeway below. It's amazing that I came up on him within minutes of him landing on his face. Seeing him flailing through the air is not a visual that I'd like to have for the rest of my life.
Which brings me to my old friend and roommate Russ who too drove off an overpass like this and fell fifty feet to the center divide, shattering every bone in his lower half of his body. Luckily he had the rest of his work truck "surrounding" him to "protect" him from death. Something tells me though that Russ would of survived this one too.
PS: Oh yeah, I forgot the ride I was going to pick up ended up waiting outside of an apartment complex, sitting on some type of utility box, at 930am wearing her club clothes from the night before. She and her bestfriend/girlfriend came out to Las Vegas to meet up with a guy she knew. They were hanging out with him for the last four days and she had sex with the dude multiple times and as she put it "enjoying the total Vegas experience." At 730am the guy asks her friend if she wants to go on the balcony and have a cigarette. Her friend and this dude end up having sex on the balcony! This poor chick all dressed up and feeling like shit with a plane leaving in three hours and having to check out of the Hard Rock in ninety minutes just saw her "bestfriend" and her "man" having sex on the balcony.
I tried to "comfort" her but was DENIED no less than five times.
WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE CENTER DIVIDE I SEE A HUMAN BODY. HE'S LYING ON HIS LEFT SIDE WITH HIS LEFT ARM STRETCHED OUT AND HIS HEAD LYING GENTLY ON HIS OUTSTRETCHED ARM. HE'S NOT ALL FUCKED UP AND I DON'T SEE ANY BLOOD SO MAYBE HE'S SLEEPING I THINK.
And then he disappears as I fly by him... for a split second I think of stopping but as I drive by I see other cars that have stopped and are backing up to possibly assist or look through his pockets before the ambulance comes. My first impression was that he was some kind of homeless guy but for the life of me I couldn't figure out how he'd of gotten into the center divide.
I call it into dispatch and go on to pick up my customer. They end up closing most of the freeway down for two plus hours as well as the Tropicana and Flamingo on ramps. I remember remarking that it was a shame that all this traffic was due to some "dead homeless guy". So by the time I get home it's all over the news, that this dude was on a motorcycle, trying to outrun the police, when he crashed off the Tropicana off ramp,falling fifty feet to the freeway below. It's amazing that I came up on him within minutes of him landing on his face. Seeing him flailing through the air is not a visual that I'd like to have for the rest of my life.
Which brings me to my old friend and roommate Russ who too drove off an overpass like this and fell fifty feet to the center divide, shattering every bone in his lower half of his body. Luckily he had the rest of his work truck "surrounding" him to "protect" him from death. Something tells me though that Russ would of survived this one too.
PS: Oh yeah, I forgot the ride I was going to pick up ended up waiting outside of an apartment complex, sitting on some type of utility box, at 930am wearing her club clothes from the night before. She and her bestfriend/girlfriend came out to Las Vegas to meet up with a guy she knew. They were hanging out with him for the last four days and she had sex with the dude multiple times and as she put it "enjoying the total Vegas experience." At 730am the guy asks her friend if she wants to go on the balcony and have a cigarette. Her friend and this dude end up having sex on the balcony! This poor chick all dressed up and feeling like shit with a plane leaving in three hours and having to check out of the Hard Rock in ninety minutes just saw her "bestfriend" and her "man" having sex on the balcony.
I tried to "comfort" her but was DENIED no less than five times.
FOTD XXXIV - JGTFO II
I usually get the cab between 345-410 and I'm out hitting the streets. Usually I hit the radio looking for calls and most days I can pick one up coming out of the yard. On the days that I can't I'll go down to the strip and stage at one of the hotels and 'zone in' that area.
So I'm at the MGM and am 10th up or so when I get there, I go ahead and stage in the 230 (number 2) while I wait for a ride. When I get 4th up I get a call from a new personal named "Sierra", she called and said she and three of her friends are waiting for me at Orleans and they want to go across the street to Seamless (strip club). So I'm like MAN THAT'S THE SHIT! As I get across the strip, I get a call from dispatch that there's a call for me right near the MGM, now at first I decline saying I have a call to go to, but for some reason (being greedy, or never wanting to turn down a call) I take the call and flip a bitch and pick this chick up.
She, as all potential hookers do and say, when you pick them up they say let's get out of here FAST. She's going to Harrah's .. so we head over there and we pull in and the fare is $8.07 ... at the same time Sierra calls and says where are you??? We're waiting ... how long does it take??? ... so this hooker says she's meeting someone by the valet and I quickly realize that this HO might not have money?
DO YOU HAVE MONEY FOR THIS RIDE?
-No, The person I'm meeting is going to pay for it, can I use your phone to call him?
(I hand her my '619' phone and she calls and gets no answer)
WHAT'S THE NUMBER I'LL CALL HIM ALSO?
(I call from the '702' and he does not answer for me also)
LOOK WHAT KIND OF BULL SHIT IS THIS? YOU GOT INTO MY CAB WITH NO MONEY? I HAVE TO GET OF HERE, I'M IN A HURRY? HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE?
-I don't have anything.
(now i'm calling this chick a hooker cuz i'm still pissed at her, her 'look' was hippy chick that will suck your dick! LOL) anyways...
YOU'RE FUCKING LUCKY I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT OTHERWISE I'D HAVE YOU ARRESTED! JUST GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY CAB YOU SLUT!!
-I'm sorry, i'm sorry.
DON'T EVER GET IN ANOTHER CAB WITHOUT MONEY TO PAY THE FARE. JUST GET THE FUCK OUT!
--------------------------------------
Okay friends, in hindsight this is crazy behavior by me. Next time it'll be more controlled.
-I'm sorry that you don't have the money for the fare ma'am. This is your lucky day, I have another pick up that I have to do so the sooner you get out of my cab the quicker I can pick up my next ride. Have a nice day!
ALSO - I call sierra back and the total wait time from when she first called me to when I pick her up is 21 minutes. When it should of been 7 minutes. Plus Sierra is so hot beautiful etc... she just moved into town from Cali. no friends etc.. I picked her up - I gave her good taxi - she called me back and I risked it all. Long story short, I pulled up and she and her friends were waiting where they said they were, they got in she sat in front (and she was smoking!!!!!) I literally drove them 250 feet across the street to seamless, they got out and got in the club and I got $80 for dropping them off.
JGTFO II
So I'm at the MGM and am 10th up or so when I get there, I go ahead and stage in the 230 (number 2) while I wait for a ride. When I get 4th up I get a call from a new personal named "Sierra", she called and said she and three of her friends are waiting for me at Orleans and they want to go across the street to Seamless (strip club). So I'm like MAN THAT'S THE SHIT! As I get across the strip, I get a call from dispatch that there's a call for me right near the MGM, now at first I decline saying I have a call to go to, but for some reason (being greedy, or never wanting to turn down a call) I take the call and flip a bitch and pick this chick up.
She, as all potential hookers do and say, when you pick them up they say let's get out of here FAST. She's going to Harrah's .. so we head over there and we pull in and the fare is $8.07 ... at the same time Sierra calls and says where are you??? We're waiting ... how long does it take??? ... so this hooker says she's meeting someone by the valet and I quickly realize that this HO might not have money?
DO YOU HAVE MONEY FOR THIS RIDE?
-No, The person I'm meeting is going to pay for it, can I use your phone to call him?
(I hand her my '619' phone and she calls and gets no answer)
WHAT'S THE NUMBER I'LL CALL HIM ALSO?
(I call from the '702' and he does not answer for me also)
LOOK WHAT KIND OF BULL SHIT IS THIS? YOU GOT INTO MY CAB WITH NO MONEY? I HAVE TO GET OF HERE, I'M IN A HURRY? HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE?
-I don't have anything.
(now i'm calling this chick a hooker cuz i'm still pissed at her, her 'look' was hippy chick that will suck your dick! LOL) anyways...
YOU'RE FUCKING LUCKY I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT OTHERWISE I'D HAVE YOU ARRESTED! JUST GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY CAB YOU SLUT!!
-I'm sorry, i'm sorry.
DON'T EVER GET IN ANOTHER CAB WITHOUT MONEY TO PAY THE FARE. JUST GET THE FUCK OUT!
--------------------------------------
Okay friends, in hindsight this is crazy behavior by me. Next time it'll be more controlled.
-I'm sorry that you don't have the money for the fare ma'am. This is your lucky day, I have another pick up that I have to do so the sooner you get out of my cab the quicker I can pick up my next ride. Have a nice day!
ALSO - I call sierra back and the total wait time from when she first called me to when I pick her up is 21 minutes. When it should of been 7 minutes. Plus Sierra is so hot beautiful etc... she just moved into town from Cali. no friends etc.. I picked her up - I gave her good taxi - she called me back and I risked it all. Long story short, I pulled up and she and her friends were waiting where they said they were, they got in she sat in front (and she was smoking!!!!!) I literally drove them 250 feet across the street to seamless, they got out and got in the club and I got $80 for dropping them off.
JGTFO II
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