If you're going to be a hardcore cabbie, New Year's Eve is the night to do your thing. Even in the desert town of Albuquerque, a cab with a plan can go from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. with barely a moment to realize what's really going on. So let's take a quick rewind cruise around the town, and relive last Friday night one more time.

Five o' clock in the evening, and it's on. I'm in good ol' Yellow Cab 239, and I'm off to the Citadel Apartments. The guy is going to work at the TA truck stop. We're both working the night. That's how it goes for the working class. A fast five buck ride, but the guy gives me ten. Right on, have a good night.

The sun goes down, and the early crowd makes last ditch runs. Can you stop for cigarettes? Can you take me to Wal Mart? Can you stop right here? We can go whatever you want. Can you pick me up here at 12:30? Not a chance in Hades.

No one's at the door at 1515 Columbia NE. Oh, you meant 1515 Columbia SE. Those are two completely different places. Quick ride to Smith's Supermarket. Hey, there's Hardman & Robyn. Say a quick hi to my theatre buddies, and they tell me to be safe. Tell me about it. Although I'm the sober one, people tell me this all night.

There she was waiting at Presbyterian Hospital, going up to some apartments off Eubank & Southern. Her four year old girl was in the hospital recovering after open heart surgery. The little girl still had fluid around her heart, and no one knew why. The mother went to her brother's place just to get away for a night. A silent ride for the most part. Here's hoping for a better new year for many.

"What's up, Dog? We got some more people coming." I can't believe how some people work the slang. Six folks crammed into my cab in the Student Ghetto going to the Rio Grande Yacht Club. Just one away from my record of seven drunk Indians. Some records are hard to beat, Dog, even on New Year's Eve.

No show at 4849 Gibson. No show at 1500 Central SW. The lady at 3015 Mountain, space 9 swears she didn't call for a cab. You people suck. Playing with my emotions like that. No, no. Easy Action. Just play it cool, boy. It's still early. The fun doesn't really start until it's oh-four-no-more.

Minutes to midnight, and a couple Denver boys are quitting on the Pulse early. "Albuquerque is sooooo ghetto." This is true, and they were shocked at my agreement. This town is salt of the earth, but there's more honesty and gritty inspiration here than anywhere else I've been. They said they would make it worth my while if I got them to the Radisson-Carlisle by midnight. I did. They gave me three five-dollar bills, and an offer to share a $300 bottle of champagne in their room. No thanks, fun boys, I've got to keep working it. Believe it or not, it was the best flat out offer I got all night.

There was no ball hitting the ground. No dramatic countdown. I don't even know when the crossover officially happened, but I was in the parking lot of Grand Central Station at San Mateo & Montgomery. The crowd began streaming out within minutes of the new year. A guy and a girl came up to the cab. Then another girl got in. "Where have been?" "Have you been outside this whole time?" Then silence. A long ride up to Tramway & Lomas. An outburst in the middle by the guy clued me in that his girl had not been happy and fled the scene much earlier in the night. Not-so-happy new year for the amateurs.

Another couple gals and a guy trio at Retros on Wyoming & Constitution. You can listen to music popular from way back in the 90s. The trio was drunk, and one women wanted to watch a marathon of "My So Called Life" episodes. It dawned on me that these people were my age but had the social mind set of ten years ago. 2005 may be the future, but some folks will always be stuck in the past.

Club Rhythm & Blues at Carlisle & Central. Rachel & her man. They were wasted, and she wasted no time getting it on in the cab. Dress hiked up and straddling the guy as we cruised down to the Hyatt. Up & down, side to side. The windows steamed up, and Rachel told me I should put on the defrost. "Oh yeah, is it getting hot back there?" The guy was grateful for my driving and grateful for Rachel getting a hotel room. If you plan it right, you can be grateful on New Year's.

At the Hyatt, I picked up two girls from El Paso, and a guy and a transsexual from Phoenix. The girls were fascinated to no end with the transsexual, and it gave them sex advice. "If you want your man to moan like a bitch, you have to lick his balls and lick his ass. Toss some salad." A girl asked me if that was true, and I replied "We never say no."

Work the Caravan. Those Country Western folks sure can swing. Two quick rides to nearby hotels, and one long ride down Central with a wetback who couldn't say anything recognizable except "Centrale." Still got him home off of Coal & 14th with no difficulty. I've been a pro hack for almost two and half years.

Picked up a black guy freaking out at Silver & 4th. Let him catch his crazy breath, circled the block, and dropped him off at the bus station. "You're not going to charge me for this, are you?" I shook my head. It was my only free ride of the night.

Pile in a military gaggle of three guys and two girls. Took them inside the Truman Gate of Kirtland AFB. Cell phone shouting, telling the MPs to fuck off, and leaving their cell phone in the cab (typical). But hey, I support the troops.

Four kids at Denny's on Central & Columbia going to the Far Northeast Heights. Lots of Gollum imitations, a little smooching and some giddy conversations. They kept teasing each other about naked twister. What can I say? The kids are all right.

The night went on, and the folks got more desperate. A flag at Lomas & San Pedro, a bum going to the Loma Verde, and on and on until I gave a ditched couple a long cruise from the University 7-11 to Academy & Tanoan. Gas it up, and turn in 239 at 5:15 in the morning. Tipped the mechanic well, tipped the cashier well, tipped the phone operators well, and I still took home $323. Best money shift I've ever had. Me and the Yellow Beast did it to perfection.

What does it mean in the long run? Not much. Some folks did the celebration right, some did it wrong. New Year's Eve is all about survival. All I really know is that I'm still alive, and it's now 2005.

Chris Jungle vows to get his first kiss of the new year by April.