Train "Cab"

In the pre-Uber and Lyft days, you entrusted something called taxicabs to take you places. Taxis (or "cabs") are yellow-colored clunkers that usually smelled of Drakar Noir cologne thanks, in part, to the drivers (known as "cabbies"). On at least three occasions, I gleefully rode in a cab while the drivers started to fall asleep at the wheel. When I questioned the cabbies, they would usually laugh and say that they're fine and not falling asleep. This usually ended with the cabbie falling asleep yet again. The most recent occasion happened after a concert a few years ago. Fed up, I contacted the city of Chicago who sent me paperwork to detail my experience. I filled out every requested document and then received a letter from the city that said (and I'm paraphrasing): "Thank you for calling this to our attention. We will put this complaint in the driver's permanent record."

Billy Joel "Piano Man"

After slipping into a taxi outside of an all-inclusive resort in Cancun, the cab driver peered into his rear view mirror and noticed me and the handful of fellow Americans. He quickly grabbed a compact disc and slid it into his player. Moments later, the Eagles "Hotel California" came blaring out of his crackly speakers. With Don Henley and company introducing us to the place you can check out but never leave, the driver continued his drive into the bustling downtown area. Similar to cabs in America, he didn't run the air conditioning during this hot and humid March night -- is this some sort of universal rule among cab drivers? Other songs we heard on his CD included "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Piano Man". My guess is the driver had a special "gringo mix" of popular sing-along tunes for whenever he chauffeurs American tourists. I could also be wrong, but I don't think I am...