Vlogmas: Driving Uber During Christmas Party Season

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It’s December 22nd, and Vlogmas rolls on as I hit the road for another day of Uber driving during Christmas party season. The rides are a mix of holiday shoppers, partygoers, and the occasional odd request—like someone trying to turn a Lyft ride into a food delivery. Spoiler alert: I didn’t do it.

Along the way, I picked up an Uber Pet passenger (thankfully well-behaved) and grabbed a quick McDonald’s meal, which led to an unexpected rant about their new clear straws. Seriously, what happened to the red-and-yellow stripes?

I also talk about Amazon strikes, pee bottles, and how gig work feels during the holidays—hint: exhausting. By the end of the night, I managed to make $180, reflect on the grind, and power through to start my Vlogmas 2024.

Timestamps:
0:00:00 – Kicking off Vlogmas—December 22nd grind begins.
0:00:15 – Chasing a $9 surge in Pine Crest.
0:00:46 – $200 Saturday earnings recap and sticking with Uber today.
0:01:07 – Traffic chaos and dealing with impatient Dodge Rams.
0:01:49 – Uber score jumps to 96—ranting about CMT score adjustments.
0:02:33 – TikTok trends: Amazon strike and drone sightings.
0:03:22 – Holiday surges and scoring a $19 surge ride.
0:04:38 – First ride—a $10 airport run to get the day rolling.
0:05:43 – Airport drop-offs and playing the rematch game.
0:06:33 – Bird Road traffic and weird car energy—holiday stress in the car.
0:07:33 – Awkward family drama during a ride—dinner cost debates.
0:09:41 – Drunk teens in the car—hoping no one pukes.
0:11:06 – Coral Way closure and changing gas plans.
0:12:06 – Dream passengers vs. chaotic families—holiday moods in rideshare.
0:13:47 – Grueling holiday shifts and Uber gripes.
0:14:44 – Uber’s unpredictable surge algorithms.
0:16:50 – Working into the night and the exhaustion of rideshare life.
0:17:21 – Comparing Uber drivers to Amazon workers—holiday hustle struggles.
0:18:44 – Holiday tips—or lack thereof—and Christmas frustration.
0:19:37 – Diamond Transition overload—resetting the night at 6:06 p.m.
0:20:27 – Grabbing McDonald’s—the $5 meal deal ritual.
0:21:24 – McDonald’s fumbles—clear straws ruining nostalgia.
0:23:20 – Fast food tastes better solo in the car—Taco Bell vs. McDonald’s debate.
0:24:44 – Planning the night—aiming for $200 and working past midnight.
0:27:03 – DoorDash flashbacks—Wingstop orders and soda dilemmas.
0:28:22 – Lyft scam alert—someone tries turning a rideshare into food delivery.
0:30:00 – Uber Pet pays off—dog passengers in bougie bags.
0:32:38 – Reflecting on rideshare scams and Lyft frustrations.
0:34:31 – Debating the audacity of passengers who bend the rules.
0:35:45 – More Uber Pet thoughts—comparing payouts and passenger types.
0:37:12 – Handling passenger complaints about prior drivers—customer service tips.
0:41:41 – Rejecting rides to Fort Lauderdale—avoiding long trips.
0:43:21 – Ride refusals and balancing profitability in Uber’s pricing system.
0:45:40 – Advice on handling rider complaints without adding drama.
0:47:26 – Avoiding Brickell traffic traps—ranting about congestion nightmares.
0:48:44 – Staying local—short trips in Kendall and Pine Crest.
0:49:24 – Airport ride debate—low fares and rider cancellations.
0:50:30 – Supply and demand gripes—rideshare frustrations.
0:51:38 – Final earnings count—$180 on December 22nd.
0:52:18 – Wrapping up Vlogmas—closing thoughts and outro.