August 1, 2007
BlogHer Adventures Part III: Taxi Drivers and Luggage Attendants
Through all the crazy happenings on my trip to Chicago, I managed to stay in touch with my roommate on the bus to make sure she could check-in to our hotel and meet up with the two fab ladies also rooming with us.
When I hailed the cab after my arrival at the bus station, Very Nice Cabby, with a thick accent (maybe Indian or Pakistani?) told me he’d be happy to take me to the W Hotel, but the trunk of his taxi was not able to be used.
Due to my own paranoia, my first thought was, he’s an axe murderer and his last victim is probably in there.
I had to mentally talk myself down from the ledge.
No. No. No. Dana, stop being so freakin’ irrational. He’s not going to kill you. He’s just going to safely drive you the 15 blocks to the hotel.
I piled my luggage and my body into the back seat and Very Nice Cabby pulled into traffic before my door was closed. Safety my ass. I was going to die in a taxi cab accident before I ever got to meet Lisa Stone in person.
I remember saying the Hail Mary in my head as Very Nice Cabby was weaving in and out of several lanes, through tunnels and over bridges.
I rolled down the window to get some air as the taxi smelled like clove cigarettes and that’s when I felt like hurling. Thank the Heavens it didn’t smell like body odor or I would have jumped out of it while still moving.
Very Nice Cabby said something and I responded, “I’m sorry, what?”
“No. Not talking…you. On head phone. Very sorry.”
(It sounded more like “veddy soddy” and I nervously giggled at how cute his accent was.)
“Oh. Okay. Can you slow down just a tad? I feel dizzy.”
“First time in city? Bah. You be fine. I drive good.”
“Oh that’s good. Where do you keep your axe?”
“Sorry?”
“Nothing. I’m just nervous.”
“No be nervous. I drive good. I drive good.”
Yes, yes, you mentioned that. Did I mention I feel like tossing my cookies in the back seat?
Twelve dollars later, and a huge thank you to Very Nice Cabby for not killing me, I arrived at the hotel.
The Really Cute Bellhop (do they even call them that anymore? Is Luggage Attendant the PC term?) helped me out of the cab and I wheeled my luggage to the door when I practically bumped into Elizabeth.
“Dana! How are you?” she asked.
“I’m having a nervous break-down but I’m here and I need a drink.”
Might as well get down to the important stuff, right?
She helped me get to our room (On the 29th! Floor! Nauseous! Elevator!) and told me that our roommates were delayed by airlines due to bad weather or rain storms or something. At this point I was zoning out, trying to remember where I had to be and at what time.
The hotel room was very trendy. Two double beds that you needed a running start to jump into, and very strange shutters in the bathroom.
I figured out that this was probably so you could watch television and do a number two at the same time. A man must have designed this hotel. The last thing I’d wanna do is watch television while sitting on the toilet.
After I dropped off my bags, Elizabeth and I cabbed to the Chicago City Center with Gingajoy for speaker training and I attended a focus group for the new website Revolution Health (more on this later).
After all the “business” was taken care of we had some great cocktail parties to attend.
This is when everything got hazy. I met so many wonderful women! My brain was fried trying to remember names and blogs and I’m certain the 2 glasses of wine, 2 AOL cocktails, screwdriver and two cosmopolitans I had didn’t help.
Speaking of cosmos, I convinced Elizabeth to try one and she loves them.
When I finally went to bed Thursday night (Friday morning?) I realized I had been up for 24 hours straight. I could have slept for years…
Tune in tomorrow for Adventures in Conferencing!
Posted by Dana @ 6:34 AM • BlogHer,Travel Mama
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August 1st, 2007 at 7:06 AM, Elizabeth Says:
I forgot you took that photo of me while you were standing in our bathroom! Don’t forget to tell your readers about how much you loved the 29 floor elevator ride-you poor thing. Is your stomach settled yet?
I forgot how good that AOL Spritzer was-yummmmy!
August 1st, 2007 at 8:19 AM, Dana Says:
Yes! I realized I forgot that part so I just put it in! My stomach is fine now…but my brain is still not back to normal.
Hah. As if it was in the first place!!
August 1st, 2007 at 10:13 AM, yoshi Says:
Wow, 29 floors…that’s pretty high. sounds exciting, but i know you must have a really great time. NOT!
The cab ride… LOL you’re too funny. “Where do you keep your axe?” lol Did you really ask him that? LOL
Oh and personally, I like to read when I go poop, but that’s just me.
August 1st, 2007 at 10:31 AM, dana Says:
Oh my goodness! Yoshi, you’re cracking me up.
yes, I really asked where his axe was. I still wonder if he heard me and just pretended he didn’t.
And yeah, 29 floors. Every elevator ride made my stomach twist and flop. I got extremely dizzy!
August 1st, 2007 at 1:26 PM, Believer in Balance Says:
I hate cab rides! NYC taxis are the worst, but Chicago ones are a close second. I’m glad you finally made it!
August 1st, 2007 at 1:31 PM, dana Says:
Me too! I’m so glad because I got to meet so many wonderful bloggers!
August 1st, 2007 at 2:06 PM, LawyerMama Says:
It was so nice to meet you at BlogHer! That is too funny about the template – don’t worry, I’m changing mine as soon as I ball up and move to my own domain. I also have that template on my review site, but I changed the colors. Gotta love Zoot!
P.S. I think all cab drivers are certifiable.
August 1st, 2007 at 2:11 PM, dana Says:
Oh girl! Not to worry! I’ve decided to create my own template. It’s been fun to do today! I’m loving it!
August 1st, 2007 at 2:56 PM, jennster Says:
wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh- are we all doing blogher next year!!?!??!!! ia m LOVING The pics in my honor! I OWE YOU SOME GRABBING HOT MAMA! RAHR
August 1st, 2007 at 3:18 PM, dana Says:
I’m going to do my best to get my ass there next year. I think I have to start saving money now, though!
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:27 AM, jenn in holland Says:
Oh, Dana, your escapades to the conference are just mind-boggling! And, totally hilarious!
I am glad you enjoyed it all, you deserved that, after all it took to get there!
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:39 AM, dana Says:
Thanks Jenn! I only wish you were there so we could finally meet! But Holland is kind of far away, huh?
August 3rd, 2007 at 12:00 AM, Leslie Says:
Wow, what an adventure. I’m glad the cabby wasn’t an axe murderer. Your room is very hip.
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 AM, Dana Says:
Leslie, I’m happy he wasn’t a murderer, too!
And while the room was indeed hip, in the bathroom you could hear everybody’s everything. Not so much a good thing. Heh.