Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad Day.

Since arriving in Philly it has been a nightmare of a day. I’ve been excited for months about coming to FNCE (Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo). It’s like candy land for dietitians. Well maybe I should use another analogy? 🙂

The flight went smoothly and landed in Philly at 8:15am. And since it’s been a cascade of bad events. I’m surely not in Orlando anymore…

My last text message to Eric before I got out of the cab was “Orlando is a shrimp. Philadelphia is so big!”

I only thought I was a city girl. I made my way out to find my taxi, and was directed by the airport staff to “the first cab on the end”. It was a shabby cab, but I obliged; trying not to discriminate.

It was a smooth drive into downtown, and as I was getting out of the car. The driver hustled me to pay him a higher tip. I firmly told him that I didn’t have to, and proceeded with payment which he abruptly cancelled. I swiped my card again as he continued to push my buttons. I noticed that as he was hurrying me out of the car my wallet slipped down into the floor board. Thank the good Lord I noticed it and picked it up.

Unfortunately as I walked into the hotel I found that I did not have my i-phone with me. 🙁 I tried to chase down the cab. The hotel was so accommodating and placed a phone call to the taxi service to discuss retrieval.

I also called them myself and spoke with the lady managing the cabs. I told her that “They can’t steal my phone!”, and she responded sharply with a, “Well why can’t they?” She said it’s ethically not correct but has witnessed them taking, selling, or discarding of personal belongings that were left in the cabs. To say the least I’m pissed and was scared to be without my phone. I made it to the closest AT&T store and am now carrying this bad boy… not so much. I don’t even think it does text messaging.

Lessen learned. Never get in sketchy cabs, trust your gut, always get receipts, and cab driver’s business card with cab number when traveling in the city. It’s rough out here. Do any of you have advice on staying safe in the city?

As I sit in Starbucks with my latte in hand to be reconnected to the world and check emails. I read my dear friend Tara is losing her husband. He’s been in a tough battle with cancer this past year and he isn’t doing well. My heart breaks and soul cries out with her for the pain she has been experiencing. Please pray for their family and their two sweet little boys today.

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