100,000

I've received some emails recently from readers trying to figure out if I plan on continuing this thing I've started here. First off, let me say I appreciate you taking the time to inquire about the status of this thing. Personally I think that speaks volumes about what we've been able to accomplish here so far. And it's flattering to say the least. Fans were not really a potential byproduct that I had considered when I started this thing. So allow me to dispel any thoughts that I've given this thing up, in fact quite the opposite is true.

However much like Trey said about Big Cypress, when I finally got that Christmas story done it did kind of feel like the whole blog was done. From the onset, I had no intentions of that being the case. But I feel like the wave that is this blog had been building and building, higher and higher, finally crashing into the shore with the completion of that story. Part of me felt like I am unable to "top" that story, and if that's true than what's the point of going on? After I finished it it just felt like a natural time to stop, although I've never had or have any conscious plans to.

That said I am thinking of taking things in a completely different direction. I've been brainstorming a lot lately and have many ideas that I'd like to try and execute at some point or another. But before I start there, I wanted to try and get some feedback from you guys.

Basically what I'm thinking is this: Let's make this blog, an actual blog. What once was merely just an archive for my cab adventures could become much much more. Of course, I would still include the notable cabbie adventures as they occurred but other possible cab related topics could include things such as:

-Prior cab stories that were omitted for content. A "from the cutting room floor" of sorts
-Day to day happenings in the cab world. (Otherwise undeserving of their own story)
-General Cab driver concerns and all things pertaining to the business itself.
-Stories about tips or lack thereof.
-One Liners. Generally just quick quips that I use in the cab all the time and they generally kill. However they really have no place in a story. None that I have yet found anyway
-General Las Vegas information/concerns/issues

...and even broader still

-General societal issues. (Actually had planned another site for these but am now thinking I should just add them here)
-Tales of my existence prior to cab driving, life story of sorts, anything else I've experienced that was funny or interesting. (I really hate this idea, but it is just that)
-Anything pop culture related. (I'll probably point out that Ashlee Simpson doesn't know what the terms "sharp" and "flat" mean early and often)

..These are just a few of the ideas, unfortunately I take issue with most all of them for various reasons. I mean, I've had some of these thoughts for a while and generally dismiss them as bad ideas. Here's why:

From the beginning I really wanted to make every story/post a strong one. I'd often choose saying nothing over saying something if I had concerns if it would work or not. A long time ago a reader named Eric commented: "...One of the few blogs I actually read since most blogs are done by self important assholes instead of people with interesting stories to tell." This was a comment that has really stuck with me, and thank you Eric for that, mostly because that's exactly what I was trying to do. I mean, I read a lot of blogs myself and it just seems that many bloggers fall into the pitfall of either feeling like they should or are supposed to blog about something, or to Eric' point, are just people who like to hear themselves talk. I remember reading a post on a blog once where the first sentence read something like: "Well nothing really interesting has happened lately..." It's like, dude, the first thing that you decide to tell me is that you have nothing interesting to say? Am I really expected to continue reading? These are things I consciously try to avoid and only posting the best of events as I saw them was how I attempted to do that. Initially I tried to loosely model this blog after the HBO Taxicab Confessions show. If you think about that show, the only thing you get to see is from the time that door opens and a passenger gets in to the time they get out. Nothing else. And you know what? That's all that's interesting in my opinion. That's all that should be interesting. The main attraction is the person in the backseat. Nothing more, nothing less.

That said this really isn't a blog at all is it? At least to date. It's a memoir. I think it might be high time to turn this thing upside down. And I'd like to know what you guys think about this. Or even better if there are topics you would like to see covered we can try that too. I'm really just brainstorming right now. Any ideas are good ones.

My only fears are simply that broadening the scope might be synonymous with lowering the standard. Furthermore I also fear that by saying a lot more it's only a matter of time before I'll say something completely moronic or self incriminating. Nonetheless I think I'm ready to play some jazz. What do you think?

...and all this on the day this blog achieved 100,000 unique visits (and just short of 200,000 page views). A very big thank you to all of you out there that for some reason or another, find this voice entertaining. So far I have not made a dime off of this en devour, save a few very generous gratuities from readers who managed to track me down while they were in town (and huge props and thanks to you guys you know who you are). And for the record I am perfectly fine with that. In fact that is by design. My payment was received when you finished reading this....

Cheers - Andrew