#TrueStory: I couldn't hail a limo or taxi, but we did get a ride in a Benz!

Jan 2

Oh New Years, you never disappoint. There's always something exciting isn't there?

Alrite, a few weeks back I got hit up by my buddy Mo who works over at the Nerdist Theater at Meltdown. I LOVEEEEE all the Nerdist guys, btw. They're NUTS and all super super smart.

I'll deny it til the cows come home, but it's mostly PTSD that keeps me from kicking it with them more often. (I was walking to Meltdown the night I got hit in the head with the brick.) I try to tell myself that it didn't bother me that much, but it did. A lot in fact.

Either way, when I got the invite for their New Years party I decided to just brush it all off putting on my big girl pants and commit to a night of awesomeness.

I then gathered the troops and everyone met at our place to pre game.

I picked up the alcohol (tequila, champagne, white wine, and OJ and grenadene to make tequila sunrises) and my roomie Julie picked up the food.

We gabbed and munched on Crispy Crust (BEST.PIZZA.EVER.) coating our bellies before our night of drinking.

What playlist is this? Asked Justin (Julie's boyfriend)

Oh? You mean the FABULOUS 90s playlist bumping from my Jambox? I said with a smile. That's Songza!!! My current obsession.

What's Songza? He asked.

Well, since you asked, let me tell you ...

I then went to show him the app and how amazing and emotionally curated the content is. It's not like Pandora with their genome algorithm, these are specially made lists from tastemakers and DJs curated for the time of day and your mood. This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for and had hoped someone would one day make.

Very cool, he said.

After we were done eating, Amanda tried Taxi Magic to get us a cab.

See, New Years is NOTORIOUS in LA for being ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE to get a cab. You can hire a car service but they're not cheap, and since we're all on a budget the best we could do was hope and pray to just hail one.

After multiple failed attempts at securing a Taxi Magic, and no less than 20 calls to our local taxi dispatch, I decided to just put on a coat and show some leg on the street to see if I could get us a car.

Stay here, I said to the group. I'll have better luck alone.

I then walked a couple blocks down to a major street.

I stood on the corner for a few moments and taxi cab after taxi cab went by.

I attempted to raise my dress up a little more to show some more skin.

Car after car still went by with no luck.

Damnit, I thought. This isn't going to be easy.

I then explored my immediate options and saw the valet dudes across the street. They are all SUPER nice to me, and complimentary so I figured I could at least ask them if they knew any drivers we could call for a quick ride.

Hi guys, I said approaching the group of 15 valet. Happy New Year to you all! I was wondering if you guys had any drivers available for the evening?

You need a car? Asked one of the valets.

Yes please. Anything you have available.

Not a problem, he said.

TAXI, he screamed putting his hand in the air.

... and just like that. One of them came to a screeching hault.

WTF?! I thought. As a female showing leg I get nothing, but the valet dude gets it with one yelled out word?

So not fair, I lamented.

Thanks so much, I said giving the valet a tip.

I climbed in the cab and called the rest of my friends asking them to come down and to bring the alcohol.

We then drove back to the house and everyone climbed in.

They were all extremely grateful they didn't have to wait in the cold.

We then all had an AH-mazing time at the party. I was disappointed for the 5th year in a row I didn't get a NYE kiss, but considering how my last one went it might have been for the better ...

click the screenshot to view comments on Facebook

Either way, by like 1:30 our tired and drunky mcgee bones were ready to beat feet.

I attempted to call a taxi, and again, we couldn't get through.

Shit, shit, shit, I thought. We were on side street, and not in an area that hailing one seemed feasible. Our options at this point were limited and didn't look very good.

I then called a limo driver that I had the number for after he gave me a ride home a few weeks back.

I'm booked all evening, he said. I'm really sorry.

Not a problem, I said. I'll figure this out.

I then called taxi dispatch over and over and over and somewhere around busy tone number 15, I finally got through.

YES!!! I said to the group. We are saved!!!!!

I gave them the address, and told everyone we have to go outside and wait for it.

They said it'll be here in 5 minutes and we CAN'T miss this taxi cab or we're going to have to spend the night here.

I then said my good bye's to everyone as we all ran outside to catch the cab.

I stand in the street trying to see the cab.

Nothing.

5 minutes becomes 10 and 10 quickly becomes 15.

This isn't looking good, I thought. They're never past their expected time.

Shit.

I then see a limo drive by. I stick my hand in the air and try to hail it.

It drives right past me.

I do it again with the next car that I think is a limo.

Ah crap, you're not a limo! I say as the car drives by.

The passenger had his window down and started laughing.

I then see the car pull over.

Huh! Well, maybe this could work, I say to the group.

I then approach the vehicle and it's an all black unlabeled Benz. (It looked like an S class, but wayyyyyy more fancy. I've never seen such a sleek looking Benz.)

Hi, I say approaching the vehicle.

How are you this evening, ask the very interested men.

I'm great thanks!! We're kinda stuck here though. It's impossible to get a taxi on NYE.

Who's we? asked the guy in the passenger seat.

Oh! Just me and my friends over there.

I point to my three friends standing by the house.

I'm not a prostitute I say laughing. I know they're super common in LA. So just throwing that out there.

The guys start laughing.

What do you do?

I run a website.

Very cool, said one of the guys. What's your twitter handle?

Not wanting to spell out my name out of sheer exhaustion, I just said "oh, I'm verified on twitter."

The passenger then looks at his friend putting his phone down and says, "get in."

I smile and say THANK YOUUUUU as I shout to my friends that we now had a ride.

The four of us then piled in the back. (We fortunately were going only about a mile or so.)

I can't thank you enough for this, I said to the guys.

What do you guys do? Can I help promote any of your companies or twitter accounts?

They both start laughing.

I run a clothing store, said the driver, and I'm a musician, said the passenger.

That's AMAZING! I said super excited. Anything I may have heard?

Naw, he said. Not yet. We are going to an after party tonight if you guys want to join?

Knowing that after party is code for drugs and sex, I politely declined but thanked them again for the ride.

Let me get your email address, please. Email me the names of your companies. I'm going to be writing about this and I'll include it in the piece.

He then told me his email and I sent it from my iPhone.

Great! Now we're connected, I said.

He then approached our street and I instructed him to drop us off on the corner so that we could walk the rest of the way.

I can't thank you guys enough for this. You totally saved us this evening.

Not a problem, they both said.

Have a great New Years!!!

You too, they both said in unison.

We then got back to our apartment and I couldn't stop laughing.

I told everyone the story and I couldn't stop laughing that it was my verified twitter account that got us that ride. The SECOND I said I was verified he just said "get in." It truly fascinates me the power of social media and the value add it can have in situations like this. Had it not been for those guys we would have been TOTALLY screwed. YAY social media and YAY life!!!

Now if only my verified account would get me a boyfriend ....