So its about to begin, but where?

I have been in IT for years, I worked tech support for a major tri-state ISP which wasn't as bad as it sounds, and have been running my own computer business for years. So what the hell am I doing writing a blog about driving a NYC Taxi. I've been bored out of my mind with computers for a while now so I decided to take a semi-break driving a Taxi. I don't even know why I decided to blog about it or if Ill even keep up blogging for long. I guess it depends if anyone is interested in reading the ramblings of a computer guy driving a taxi.

It wont be my 1st time driving for a living but it has been a while. Years ago I drove car service in Queens and limos and black cars for a few years all over the tri-state area so the thought of being on the road for a living isn't alien to me. The thought of letting strange people off the streets in my car is a bit odd. With car service there's a call made to a base, and there's the perception that its safer. I don't believe that but who knows, it is definitely pot luck driving a yellow cab in NYC.

I started the process to become a NYC taxicab driver in August. Its a process that is much easier in recent years. Last time I went for a TLC license I had to wait outside in line from early morning hours to get in when they opened at 8 am. If I remember correctly I was out there at 4 am and not even close to he front of the line back in the early 90's. Now you can get there close to 8am open and wait like a human being indoors out of the weather. It sorta went like this, pay money to TLC, pay money to LabCorp, pee in cup, pay more money, go to taxi school, pay more money and finally take the test.

I fulfilled all the requirements except the taxi school within a week of applying. I then made the decision to go to Master Cabbie in Long Island City and take their 24 hour course. I regret this decision now because the 24 hour course they offer is inadequate unless you know the city well already and I got the impression this is so they can upsell you to their $700 class. The yellow book they give you has many errors and all the questions in it are not in the same format as on the TLC test. From what I have heard the taxi school at LaGuardia College is better and there is nothing they upsell there, just the 24 and 80 hour classes. The only real benefit of the $700 class at Master Cabbie I could see was the coveted red book, which is just a book full of 1000 or so questions that have appeared on the TLC test which would've been helpful but whatever. I know the streets of NY well, not as well in some places as others but I knew I'd get by just fine and I wasn't spending $700 for a freaking book and a few free sample tests.

So 2 weeks ago on Friday I took the test and had to sweat through until Wednesday for the result. I don't know why I was nervous but I've always been that way with tests, even when I know Ill do fine. I found out I passed and was happy to say the least. Now I just have to wait for the license in the mail. I did get a thrill today when I looked at the TLC website and downloaded the list of all licensed taxi drivers and saw my name on it. I figure it should be any day that I get the license in the mail but with NYC agencies you never know.

So now I just wait to start working. I have to admit there's a certain amount of excitement over this turn in my life. Its not a glamorous job but I get to play an integral part in keeping NYC moving at the insane pace it seems to keep up. Plus, I've always been a people person so I'll enjoy the wide array of people I come in contact with most of the time. And I figure I have a distinct advantage being an American who speaks English as my 1st language in communicating with the people in my cab. Well that's what everyone keeps telling me.

I guess I'm just gonna leave this as is for now because I feel as if I'm rambling already. Maybe Ill write a bit about who I am in the next post.