Waiting for Normal: Slow Rides and Airport Madness

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Sunday in Miami kicks off with me feeling a little under the weather and trying to shake off the sluggish vibe that’s hanging over the city. The airport scene sets the tone with a traffic cop threatening me with a ticket while I’m just trying to pick up a rider—talk about starting the day with stress. The rideshare game is eerily quiet, and I can’t help but blame the post-holiday blues, maxed-out credit cards, and a strange fog hanging in the air. Even YouTube and podcasts feel off their usual schedule, adding to the weirdness.

I hit the car wash and gas up at BJ’s, debating whether keeping the car spotless is worth the effort when the rides don’t pay enough to justify the elbow grease. The slow rides continue, mostly short trips and riders who rarely use Uber, making me wonder if regulars are still out of town. Meanwhile, the airport remains a chaotic mess with surges and delays caused by storms up north. A private ride saves the night, but traffic and desperate Uber drivers keep the stress levels high.

As the night winds down, I reflect on how hard it is to make even $100 these days. With the hope that students return to the city and normalcy resumes, I wrap up this vlog feeling tired but optimistic. Maybe next week will bring better luck and more rides—or at least fewer traffic cops with notepads.

Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Sunday starts—feeling off and congested.

0:00:26 - Recap of Saturday’s slow rides and early start strategy.

0:01:08 - $5 Lyft ride leads to airport drama and a traffic ticket threat.

0:03:13 - Balancing a ticket scare with trying to locate the rider.

0:04:18 - Slow Saturday recap—barely made $50.

0:05:19 - Weird vibes and unaligned days of the week.

0:06:18 - Heading to BJ’s for gas and a car wash.

0:06:47 - Theories about post-holiday spending and sickness.

0:07:42 - Is 2025 the end of rideshare as we know it?

0:08:39 - Feeling unkempt but pushing through.

0:10:08 - Observations about YouTube channels being off schedule.

0:11:16 - Reflecting on cleaning the car daily despite lower pay.

0:12:26 - Cheap rides make investing in cleanliness feel pointless.

0:13:16 - Activated and ready for the first ride.

0:14:04 - Observations about riders not being Uber regulars.

0:15:22 - Avoiding the airport after Saturday’s bad experience.

0:16:14 - Strategy for radar rides—playing Uber’s acceptance games.

0:17:33 - Dropping off at Flanigan’s—random rides continue.

0:18:53 - Hoping for students to return and revive rideshare.

0:19:36 - Accepting a $6 ride to the airport despite hesitation.

0:20:23 - Reflecting on slow Saturdays and quiet Sundays.

0:21:04 - Spotting a new Outback Steakhouse by Magic City Casino.

0:22:13 - Diamond transition—barely scraping $13.50 in two hours.

0:22:57 - Taking a break to reset and recharge.

0:24:06 - Private ride booked, avoiding the airport madness.

0:25:01 - Students returning signals hope for better rides.

0:26:21 - Cleaning ladies as signs of student housing prepping.

0:27:35 - $9 ride keeps things moving—hoping for consistency.

0:28:35 - Feeling drained but pushing through.

0:29:16 - Conspiracies about fog and drones—are we being sprayed?

0:30:03 - Small rides continue—still waiting for a boost.

0:31:33 - Airport chaos revisited for a private ride pickup.

0:33:14 - Reflecting on desperate Uber drivers and traffic madness.

0:34:49 - Mission to hit $100 by the end of the day.

0:35:50 - Looking forward to Monday and a return to normalcy.

0:37:12 - Stressed Uber drivers making traffic worse.

0:38:21 - Private ride complete—$30 cash boosts earnings.

0:39:15 - Chasing the last $10 to hit $100 for the day.

0:40:39 - Full circle at Flanigan’s—local rides dominate.

0:41:00 - Wrapping up the vlog with hope for a better week.