yesterday

a lot of unfortunate things happened yesterday. the laptop my client issued me was having issues so i couldn't take it home with me (to work over the weekend). then i was almost late for my flight because of traffic, and i was so hungry because i hadn't eaten anything since lunch (which was about eight hours before). but all that stuff is manageable, i suppose. sure i was tired, and my stomach wasn't feeling well, and i had other things to worry about, but i was coming home for the weekend and that was my silver lining. then luis pierced me with his treacherous dagger.

luis is a taxi driver whom i've used a few times. he charges me a flat fee from walnut to lax and the other way around. he didn't do so well his first time driving me around, but i used him again thinking that it was a one time deal, but last time he got lost in the airport and on the way home. but, i'm a patient guy and i like giving people more chances. so this past week, he texted me asking if i needed a ride, and i decided to let him redeem himself. let me show you the text. i cut out stuff from our previous conversation.

so i landed yesterday-a little tired and weary, but hey i was home, so it was all going to be good. i got down to baggage claim so i called him and began my soon-to-be-dreadful conversation.

me: "hey luis, this is george. are you at the airport yet?"
luis: "who is this?"
me: "uhhhh george. i texted you yesterday about a ride from lax to walnut."
luis: "george...george...george...i don't remember anything. what's your address?"
*note that i have used him for three weeks now
me: "you gave me a ride from my house (*insert home address here) to lax last week and the week before, and you picked me up last week from the airport."
luis: "oh yeah, i texted you but you didn't respond."
*hmmmmmmm
me: "mmmm i'm pretty sure i texted you because you responded with a 'thank you' after i did."
luis: "oh yes, i see it. you said you didn't need a ride."
*hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
me: "it's all right luis. i mean if you're not here, then you're not here. don't worry about it."
*i genuinely meant that. i don't usually get angry or frustrated easily with other people.
luis: "okay, yeah. i mean, you said you didn't need a ride, so i didn't come."
me: "all right luis. have a good night and be safe."

okay, no problem. cabs run around lax all the time. it's a little more expensive, but i'm not really paying for it, and i didn't really have any other options at 11:30 pm. of all the cabs i could have received, i got an old korean guy who didn't really speak english too well. time to bust out the korean like never before, and well enough to get this man to drive me from the airport to my house. it wasn't bad at all, and he understood how to get to my house. whew! praise the Lord.

we were on the 105, and he was in the carpool lane. i wasn't sure if the carpool lane had an exit to the 605 (i usually drive alone and never use the carpool lane), so i asked him in korean. then he said (in korean) "the carpool lane is only for cars with two or more passengers."

this was probably my real face: 

we got on the 605, no problem. he kept ranting on about the carpool lane and cameras that were all over the freeway to monitor cars. cool stuff.

THEN THE ENTRANCE TO 60 EAST WAS CLOSED. but hey no big deal, it was only around 12:10. plenty of patience left in the tank. he asked me if the 10 was the next fastest way, so i said yes, and around to the 57. i don't think he believed me. so this guy straight up looked down and punched stuff into his ipad gps. i don't think i ever prayed for my life so quickly. but the swerving was over, so i reassured myself by thinking: "nah no problem. we're good."

we finally got home after another 20 minutes or so. whew! i asked him in korean, "so are you taking off some of the miles since we had to go around to the 10 and the 57?" he straight up said, "that's not my fault. if the roads are closed, there's nothing i can do about it." what a tough pill to swallow. i told him i understood. i think he felt bad afterwards, so he told me i didn't have to pay tip. the service industry is tough enough as it is, so i told him not to say that and gave him his due. goodbye old korean man.

i missed california so much.



starting next week, i'm getting a partner to work with me long-term! his name is gabe. we get along well (or at least i think we do), and we're both pretty excited to start working together. we have another guy coming up for a few weeks to work on the UI, so it should be fun. hopefully i'll have more stories to share once these guys get here.

happy friday everyone.