#vegasdriver

Every day is a new day to create new memories and learn something new from my passengers. Today was no exception. My first ride was gal, who is a manager at Pinkbox Dougnuts at 5am. There are 5 Pinkbox locations in the Valley, and they do custom orders. I will have to try one someday. It was a nice ride with some conversation and not much traffic on the road. Another ride was a gal in Henderson who needed to pick up her car from dealership. This gal has lived in Vegas since 1968 and originally was from Japan. She asked if she could sit in the front seat, and I always say YES. Easier to talk to someone when they are right next to you. Great conversation, and one of many topics we talked about, she mentioned she had just sold her house , which she bought in 1994 or $70,000 and sold it for $500,000. After listening to all her stories, her and her husband still married after 53 years of have bought/sold many properties in those years. Her generous tip at the end of the ride made me smile, and she told me she enjoyed the ride too. Always makes my day when I hear that from a passenger that they "enjoyed the ride." I had a drunk guy, short ride, and no issues. All rides were good, lots going to work, and it was there Monday, not much to talk about as they seemed like they weren't excited to go back to work.

Thank you for reading.

Before I get into my wonderful day, I first want to mention that today is 4 years since the horrific shooting that happened in Las Vegas. A night of terror, sadness, and why, that would change the outdoor music festivals in Vegas and beyond cause of this act of madness from one man. I worked that night and was shocking that someone could do such a thing. I didn't personally know anyone that passed away but as a local it sent shock waves thru our community. Prayers to all.

My Lyft rides today were few compared to other days but all rides were fun and full of conversation. There are at least 4 rides I want to mention and one particularly. Her name is in the photo above, Sukesha Ray (click her name for link to her artwork) she is here in Vegas for a convention at World Market Center, open to public, this weekend. If you are into Marvel and/or comic books this is a MUST. Early part of the ride, she mentioned she was worldly famous, I blurted out "who are you?" LOL. She laughed and told me, I then went on to ask her several questions as those who know me, I am always curious and care for others. She answered them all, thank you Sukesha. Her art work is amazing and a great singer as well. Another ride was a couple that got married in Vegas on Tuesday and staying here for their honeymoon as well from NY. Great conversation and I gave them some insight on places to go and YouTube videos on my website to checkout as well. He instantly followed me on Instagram as this was their first time to Vegas, they'll be back in future as everyone always comes back. This other ride, were 2 professional poker players here for the WSOP (World Series of Poker) which started today at the Rio, one of the guys has a WSOP bracelet which is amazing. Great conversation and fun ride. Lastly was a ride to an area in Henderson I've been wanting to checkout but just needed away to get pass guard gate. :) I love looking at amazing houses (dreams/goals, to be in one someday). This ride took me to McDonald Ranch and as I pulled up to their house there was a Bentley in front of the house and a Rolls-Royce in garage! Great conversation and the lady was asking questions about my website during the ride (I have it posted in backseat). Fun ride, thank you Grace.

The best parts of my day are picking people up, not know who they are, what there story is and as the ride goes conversation follows until we make it to their location. Life is short and I live to make mini friendships throughout the day, where some turn into lasting friendships.

Life is all about the choices you make every single moment of every day. This morning, I almost didn't work all because of what happened on my last ride on Saturday night. I love driving, I love talking to others, I live smiling and asking questions as I feel that a simple smile can change a person's day and by asking questions it shows that you care for other which can also change a person day. From driving taxi, limo, party bus, and Uber & Lyft, the best part is always not knowing who you are picking up and where they are going; I always love the adventure. But on the flip side of not knowing can be dangerous as well because you do not know who they are, what mental state they are in, or what is going on in their lives that could possibly harm you.

With all the above being said, my last ride on Saturday night was my 2nd of 3 rides in a bonus streak for an extra $30 where you can't cancel or else you lose the streak $. So, after waiting full 5 minutes for this particular pickup, I came close to canceling but before I did, I saw a guy walking out of his apartment, i asked if he was Brandon, and he nodded his head, after repeating and confirm address without response another 3 min goes by he finally says yes. Red flags are going up in my head, but we proceed to the destination to CVS 5 miles away. As we got to the first light, there was a CVS to my left. he says, "Go there," I say, "that isn't on the app." He says,"I want to go there then to another address" (more red flags). He seems to be troubled, but he won't answer any of my questions. As I wait for him to come out of CVS, I start thinking ahead on an exit strategy because my gut is always right, plus best to be safe, then sorry. When he got back in the car, he told me he didn't want to go to the other CVS but rather to meet a friend down the street. I say, "I need an address," he says. "it's just 2 minutes away on Charleston." As we started driving and coming up on where he said it was, he then said "no, It's a little further up," then a gas station comes up, and I said "I am not comfortable with this ride anymore", I pull into gas station and ended the ride without any altercation (thank goodness). He said he was sorry and understood how I could perceive all the miscommunication.

Sunday came, and as always, a new day means new opportunities to meet new people and see where the day leads me. All rides were amazing, lots of laughs, insights, advice, information about Vegas, and then one particular ride stood out more than others.

I picked this couple up from a hotel just off the strip going to the airport. As I always do, I ask my passengers where they are from; this couple said, "Spokane, Washington." I replied,"Go Zags!" So, then we started talking about them for a while. Then, I asked, "What brought you to Vegas?" The wife answers, "To watch my daughter WIN THE TITLE IN UFC!!" They were so happy, such excitement the rest of the ride!! As I dropped them off, they gave me a very generous tip and thanked me for a fun, talkative, and safe ride to the airport.

All in all, one ride isn't going to stop me from doing what I love, but it will make me even more aware and be more cautious to everything, plus that extra money isn't worth saving your life from a what if.

Lots of exciting things on the horizon for me and my website RideWithJohnny.com If you haven't looked at all the Vegas Deals lately go ahead and look. I have Show Tickets, Concerts, Sporting Events, ATV's, Hoover Dam, Helicopter Rides, Other Vacation places besides Vegas, Hotels, Cruises, and so much more. Monthly newsletter will start December 1st so make sure you sign up for that from the home page. Also, other fun stuff you'll see over next few weeks I'll be doing during my Uber & Lyft Rides. Along with soon you'll be able to reserve me to be your Driver, going to test the waters sometime in December see how it goes.

Saturday, Nov 6th was an amazing day. Started at 930am and worked til 530pm with a 30 min lunch break. All passengers were fun, amazing, and very talkative. Lots of peoples first time in a Scion xB and then complimented that spacious of the inside and a few noticed the paint color changes as well. One ride was a couple from Orange County, they come out often to Vegas and said congrats on my new business plans to start my own car service and said they would subscribe and buy stuff off my website as well. Love hearing encouraging stuff like that and it happened often throughout the day.

The ride that stands out the most was a couple from Brazil, who also have a house in Texas. They mentioned they had to get their 4th PCR Test to see different shows and get back home to Brazil. They were seeing Sting at Ceasars tonight and Sting wanted all guest to have a PCR test done if not vaccinated. After sharing my views of this wild flu strain and my beliefs, this couple was constantly shaking their heads up and down in agreement. Just as we pulled up to Venetian he mention he has been a DOCTOR in Brasil for over 30 years and believes the these Doctors, CDC, WHO and these state govenors who impose mandates all should be prosecuted on national television for there crimes on human beings.

Ask yourself this, how many people in last 2 years have died from a heart attack, died of phenomena, died of anything besides Covid??? Wake up World. My life, My Choice!!

Wednesday Oct 20th was a great day. I ended up doing 16 rides in which all were fun conversation and cool people. One guy I picked up at a mechanic shop where he was dropping his car off. As we started talking he highly recommended the place to go to and made a note of that to checkout in near future when/if my car starts to have problems. Another rider was from Panama, former poker player but not anymore as he realized that life isn't all about making more money but rather to just be happy and help others when you can. Great conversation, Bolivar. Another ride was a couple from Houston here for a convention, we did a round-trip ride to Plasma Printing shop to pickup his business cards for his convention this weekend. Great conversation, learned lots.

All rides were amazing and fun. Reminder the Turnt Up Tours, sells out FAST. So, book early to enjoy a night in the Top Vegas clubs without waiting in line or paying cover charges. Use my Promo Cod e: RideWithJohnny from Turntuplv.com

Thursday, Oct 14th started off with a long nice ride to Henderson, NV from West Las Vegas. After that ride my next pickup was literally in/on side of mountain in deep Henderson. It was an area I've always wanted to go and it happened. The passenger ended up being a retired LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department). Awesome car ride and conversation, talk about a whole lot of stiff on our 25 min journey to North Las Vegas. From there bounced around all over town to car rental center to hotels on strip until I picked up a couple from Toronto out here for a friends 40th Birthday. I had to take them to get a PCR Test so they can fly back to Canada. This test cost them $150 each and they have already been vaccinated. We agreed on every topic we talked about. I would say 90% of my rights are on same page I am, which makes it more reassuring of my beliefs of this chaos created by others. My last ride was a couple on their honeymoon and they were going out to The Summit Club in West Las Vegas in Summerlin Area to watch the CJ Tournament part of PGA.

All rides were fun and exciting. Thank you all for being so thoughtful and polite.