In My Write Mind

Anybody that knows me personally knows that I love my job. Ask me anything about the Urban League and I can run it off for you in a heartbeat. Guess that’s just the PR person in me.

Also, if you know me even a little bit, you are well aware that there are stretches during the year when I am a traveling fool.

This … is that time of year. And the last couple of days — crazy days in Raleigh, NC and Lawrenceville, VA — are further proof that the Urban League is in my blood.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way (although a raise would be nice, Mr. President, if you’re reading … I’m just sayin’)

Before I get into the post, let me give you some back story. On Thursday of last week, while at the office, I contacted a friend of mine that lived in Cary, NC (which borders on Raleigh) to make sure that they remembered that I was coming to town on Monday. This friend promised to drive me the hour or so from Raleigh to Lawrenceville, VA, where Saint Pauls College rests. (Saint Paul’s was having an League function and I was the representative from the national office.)

The friend (wait, here is where I will start using quotes around the word … Oy), the “friend” started hemming and hawing, saying how they wouldn’t be able to take me. [insert blank stare here] This is weeks after I made arrangements to fly into Raleigh specifically to hang out with “friend”, who I hadn’t seen in a while.

Yeah. Gotta love black people. lol

So this left me kinda stuck. It would take too long for the rental car paperwork to clear with my job (they need at least a week … don’t ask), and ahem, payday wasn’t until Wednesday, and since I only use my debit card, I wouldn’t have the funds to rent a car on Tuesday, the day I needed to be there.

But still, I thought, it’ll work out. It had to.

(Aside # 1 — I live by the self-promoting motto, “Where there’s a Will, there’s a way,” which has now been joined by “Real friends don’t flake out on friends from out of town.” That’s like, like … well, I dunno. But best believe I will be consulting my friend Bronzie’s sister on this. She fashions herself a metaphor queen. Quick example: One time, she and Bronzie went out to eat. Bronzie thought it OK to “double dip” in its truest form — dipping a piece of food in a sauce or dip, eating a portion … and then dipping again. Her little sister never let her hear the end of it. Us, either. I swear she spent a good portion of Friday happy hour coming up with disgusting things that compared to double dipping. And lemme tell you, nothing ruins a buzz like the phrase, “Double dipping is like using the same condom twice.” So, yeah … ummm, she’s the people’s champ. Sigh. OK, back to the story …)

Day One

Fast forward to Monday night. Got to the hotel. Started to get a little anxious. My attempts at renting a car while in Raleigh weren’t successful once I got there (thanks Adri and Golden for your help) due to lack of vehicles or too much of a deposit held on a debit card (up to $500 held on a $175 rental).

What would I do? Who knew?

I decided to sleep on it. Surely, the morning would bring some answers, right? Right??????

Day Two

First, shout out to the Raleigh Courtyard with its warm cookies upon arrival and free internet access. As you could probably tell, a computer addict like me with a weakness for sweets almost forgot allllll about Lawrenceville and was ready to stay there an extra night, even if I had to don a green vest and sweep the front walkway. But I digress.

I placed a call to my contact at Saint Paul’s — the wonderful Ms. Jolley. We’ve maintained a great relationship since last year when I was able to find a sponsor for two of her students, enabling them to attend our annual conference. I love my job.

And this is where the corporate network the League has pays off. Turns out one of the corporations that was attending Saint Paul’s was none other than ENT.ERPRISE. Yes, the rent-a-car company! One phone call to the Richmond, VA area manager and voila!, your boy had a way to Lawrenceville. The airport Ent.erprise had one car available … yup, a family caravan.

Now, being the family man that I am, what with my kids Tiffani, Andrew and Nia forcing me and the wife to buy a caravan YEARS ago, driving this vehicle was like second nature to me. [Can you see the imprint my tongue is making inside my cheek? No, seriously, it’s firmly in there]

Yeah, so I had a caravan. Which was fine. I had to get to VA and any type of vehicle would’ve done. I was on my way! But first, because I told her I would, I had to head over to Honest’s alma mater and yell “HEEL PRIDE!” Consider it done. (I’m soooo easy … LOL)

So I’m on the road. And let me just say, What a ride! It was an absolutely gorgeous day — 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky.

And best of all, no traffic! It may have been Tuesday, but let me tell you … the ride was easy like Sunday morning. Loved it. And since I didn’t have to worry about much else, I listened to the radio. An hour-plus of Ne-Yo and Chris Brown. Seemingly on a continuous loop. Oy.

(Aside # 2 — I think these kids are talented. I really do. In fact, I love the song “So Sick.” Glad Ne-Yo saved that for himself and didn’t give it away like he gave “Let Me Love You” to Mario two years ago. Just a solid song. The only problem is, I’m really not sick of love songs. I love love songs. In fact, Musiq’s “Love” song is one of my absolute favorite love songs. Or, to be more accurate, songs about love. So, in good conscience, I couldn’t sing along with dude. Couldn’t co-sign. Which means I had to make a remix. LOL One that was more in line with my way of thinking at that point and time. Naturally, my remix started off with the chorus, “I’m so sick of airports … so tired of planes …” Yeah. I’m a little delirious from the travel. LOL And just one note about Chris Brown, who has a bigger upside than Usher, by the way, if only because he doesn’t resemble a turtle. I must ask the ladies: When is it EVER appropriate to approach a lady with Yo?!?!? I mean, sure he follows it up with “excuse me, miss”, but still … does that make the Yo OK?!?!?!? Is that like eating shit with a sugar chaser?!?!? Just questions …)

Oh, and let me just say, having so much time to think isn’t a great thing all the time. I found myself wishing I had a caravan in New York, where I could possibly supplement my income on the weekends driving around picking up strangers in Queens and driving them to the subway. I mean, seriously, how long do you think I could get away with it before one of three things happened: a) I get jacked for my caravan by a Queens thug, b) I get stopped by the cops for not having [edit] the proper [/edit] license, or more likely c) I get randomly shot by “official” van drivers whose customers I’m stealing?

Yup. These are the things that run through my mind. Shoot me now.

I’m gonna take a break now and come back with a Part Too before it reaches Panama-ic proportions. (Go check out my brotha’s site as he breaks down his feelings on Flavor of Love, Grey’s Anatomy and sooooooo much more … lol)

The next post will cover the rest of Day Two and Day Three, including Saint Paul’s walls, Rebbie Reb and The Return.

Stay.tuned.