Showing posts with label Taxis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taxis. Show all posts

Friday, March 20, 2026

The Tomaso Files: More Blind Travel Escapades



Two Space Age Whiz Kid Coyboys’. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

Ran into Sasquatch’s cousin, Not Me! Resplendent in Seahawks colours, before making the Patriots Black ‘n Blue! Now if only the Space Age Fuel Depot had been off of Exit 51 instead of 52, Oh Never Mind!

 

“Just a song before I go
To whom it may concern
Traveling twice the speed of sound It's easy to get burned”

 

I’m always amazed at the Universe’s synchronicity. Since the day I was packing for my trek to thee Valley of the Sun. Turning on the local Old fogey’s radio station, Crosby, Stills and Nash’s Just A Song Before I go started playing on my ancient transistor radio…

 

VIDEO: Just A song before I go

 

Whilst its funny how I was madly type-type-typing away on various, riveting No fenders Blog stories like this 12 Hours before departing.

 

Yeah, I chose the number 12 on purpose. And not because of the Seahawks 12‘s, but for DJ WillyP’. Say What! He doesn’t drive the No. 12 anymore?

 

Have I mentioned that I spent half of February traveling to Warshington’ and Arizona lately, Yall? Meaning that my No Fenders posts will be a Wee Bitamyte’ sporadic and somewhat dated. Since as typical, I’ll be busy playin’ Ketsup on Ye Blob’, just Sayin’. And having caught my first cold in several years isn’t helping matter either. Since isn’t that what vacations are for?

 

Thy trip started off swimmingly, since Southwest Airlines didn’t send the “Memo” (email) until 15mins after my Taxi driver had called to say He’d left Eugene. Informing me that my flight had been delayed by two hours, Crap!

 

And then my Cabbie’ called again warning me He’d most likely be somewhat late since it was snowing really good at the “Pass”, albeit the Ralph A. Petersen tunnel’s elevation is a whopping 990 feet MSL. (Mean Sea Level) With Cougar Pass being situated at some 715 feet. Which for Mwah, a former Warshingtonion Skier isn’t exactly what I call Mountainous! But I digress…

 

Naturally, we’d be having our very first day of snow the morning I was trying to travel to the warmer climes of Arizona, Ya Sure Yuh Betcha!

 

And although the snow had stopped, the sky brightened and the road was virtually dry. With the exception of the overhead trees dripping, making the windshield wipers scratch in protest. After we’d passed a Fed Ex “Box” truck in a ditch, and I mused out loud those packages will be late! Traffic came to a complete halt on Highway 126 and we sat still for 15mins. Before traffic moved again and we passed a further two deliver Box-trucks off the road, with another in a ditch…

 

Standing in the check-in line and waiting for assistance. Melissa, a TSA employee said She’d take me to my gate since She wasn’t busy at the moment. Telling me things were a bit slow that morning.

 

Huh? I’ve never had my own, personal TSA escort agent before. Informing Her of my mechanical Heart valve, we suddenly went down a long hallway into a private “screening” room where She said Her co-worker George would pat me down.

 

Melissa mentioned George was one of Her good friends, and as He was explaining how His hand would go over my buttocks and groin area I couldn’t resist. And said George and I are going to be “Good” Friends too, Hya!

 

Although this TSA Airport screening “Pat-down” wasn’t any worse than last year’s in Arizona…

 

The Perks of being A Blind Traveler

 

Seated at my gate, a further announcement was silently made, as a friendly woman in a wheelchair said they’d just texted Her saying our flight wouldn’t depart now until 3:37PM; a further hour and twenty minutes plus, and three an one quarter hours later than originally slated, Urgh!

 

Reportedly the weather in Denver, with winds Ah-Blowin’ Almighty was causing all of the delays. But what became mondo annoying was the departure time kept playing Whack-ah-Mole! Since after a kind Airport employee had escorted me to the bathroom and we returned to the gate at 2:06PM. The gate agent said we’re boarding now!

 

And then we sat on the tarmac forever before finally departing for Denver.

 

Funniest bit for Mwah was riding in a golf cart to my connecting flight’s gate. As it still blows my mind there’s no direct flights from Eugene to Phoenix, Ack!

 

As we slowly made our way through the concourse, Tom Petty’s I’m Free, Free Falling wailed upon the concourse’s speakers. Which I mused to myself they shouldn’t be playing that song in an airport!

 

Hey, I like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and like the song also. But Free, Free Falling isn’t something I want to be hearing at an airport or doing on an Aeroplaine, Hya!

 

As the arrival time for Phoenix apparently constantly rubber-banded before four hours later after our scheduled arrival, we finally arrived! And so much for arriving at dinner time. Which it really doesn’t help just having the airline employees apologize for our being late profusely…

 

Returning home was a relative “Breeze”. As there were no flight delays and TSA was “entertaining”, after they told me to look at the camera. Hmm, I’m Blind Sister!

 

Then another friendly TSA worker said He’s walk me thru the Ronald Dumbsfeld Bodies R Us (Body) Scanner. Asking me if I knew how to do the YMCA pose?

 

As He helped me walk sideways up the ramp, spread my feet and then positioned my arms being splayed backwards with my elbows out. Or something to that effect, which apparently was the aforementioned YMCA pose…

 

What, you mean no full body Pat-down, say what?

 

After collecting my suitcase, it was outside into “frigid” 43 degrees damp weather across the street to the designated Taxicab pickup area. Where two “enterprising”, Cabbies’ worked me over good trying to steal another’s fair. With both men telling me countless horror stories of how my cab company never shows up, Yada-Yada-Yada…

 

As my cab was 20mins late, but I stuck with the company I’d already made a reservation with. Which ironically turned out being the exact same driver who’d driven me to Eugene a week earlier.

 

And although I didn’t “get to climb in the back with the Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes”. The road was completely empty and we made excellent time home, with another day’s Madcap journey over!

 

Partial song lyrics from: Crosby, Stills and Nash Just A song before I Go; 1977 CSN Album. 

Thursday, May 16, 2024

INDY 500: It’s A New Taxicab Record!

Although I wasn’t overly excited setting it!

 

Every year I tend to find myself taking longer ‘n longer to get excited over what laughably is called the Month of May. Since it’s only nine days total duration, providing Mother Nature doesn’t wish to Rain on it’s Parade…

 

Yet apparently motor racing and the Indy 500 corses deeply thru my veins. Since this Tuesday, as I sat upon a bench at the library, awaiting my taxi cab to pick me up, many thoughts ran thru my head.

 

After the Dispatcher had told me that it would be awhile, little did I know I’d be setting A New Taxicab Record today! And Arse-sumably wouldn’t have sat outside for so long! Since although supposedly it was a whopping 59deg-F outside, the winds were Ah-Blowin’ steadily at 18mph and gusting to 30mph, BURR-RRRR!

 

Sitting in the muted sunshine, I was happy to hear the continuous sounds of songbirds cheerfully chirping away. As I think one was a Junco, with it’s very distinctive sound. Whilst I kept telling the Crow to Shut-up! And I’m not sure what the other few birds were?

 

Yet the Songbirds soundtrack was continuously interrupted by the nonstop traffic whizzing by. Which stretching my imagination sort of sounded like the voom-voom-voom of IndyCar’s streaking by on some ‘lil ‘Ol Oval at 16th and Georgetown…

 

Although when a Delivery truck rumbled by, or the occasional PickemUp’ Truck with a really bad radio, Err No Mufflers trundled by, the IndyCar “Audio-track” definitely disappeared! For which I noticed that the Junco quit singing also.

 

So a half hour’s wait is nothing’ unusual, and then it was 45mins. And I was wishing I’d left my extra long sleeve shirt on this morning, since I was starting to get cold. And then 55mins came ‘n went. Which is when I began musing to myself “It’s A New Track Record!”

 

As an Hour had passed me by, and I was getting tired of sitting on the wooden bench. And you always know you’ve been waiting a really long time when somebody comes out of the library and asks you if you need Help? And is your ride coming? Which is just one of the “Perks” of being Blind! And depending upon public transportation. Especially when two of it’s remaining Cab drivers have just retired and quit!

 

Thus I began musing more about it being A New Track, Err Taxicab record as I neared One Hour and ten minutes, before I heard my Cabbie’s voice saying Taxi, Taxi, Taxi out loud. As little did I know that there was a car blocking the entrance…

 

So I ski-dattled down the sidewalk towards my cheerful Cabbie’s voice All the time thinking was I sitting in the wrong place? Before He explained how somebody was taking Thar sweet time with their vehicle parked at the entrance…

 

Before saying that’s not right. Waiting an Hour for a two minute taxi ride! But since they’re the only “Game” in town, I didn’t say nothin’, and just smiled the whole time. While thinking Uh actually, it was 70mins since I’d called, but who’s counting!

 

Thus naturally I was quite amused when tuning into IndyCar Radio at High Noon to hear a very muted Mike King talking, with Jake Queiry saying something about Bruno Junqueira having crashed or something? Hmm, it must be raining at Indianapolis once again on Opening Day!

 

As why did this make me think of The Who’s great song Rain Over Me? And can it really be over a Half century old? As talk about feeling Old, eh? Speak up Sonny, Who?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhLsC2FpDZk