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Yes....the Award-Winning Author.

if you haven't heard by now....

I won!!!!

On Saturday, November 25 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, I, Rashid Darden, was part of the Class of '06 for Clik Magazine's Clik Honors: Elite 25!

But you know how I do..... I can't just tell a story nice and easy.... I gotta give you all the details....cuss words and all. So sit back, grab a juice, and read....

I flew out of DC via Delta Airlines. Honestly, it was a very smooth flight. And pretty quick, too. I always get nervous when I fly, but over the years I have learned some good techniques to calm myself. A mixture of reciting Invictus, prayer, and self-hypnosis never hurt anyone, lol.

I was escorted the whole weekend by my fraternity brother Matthew, who very graciously drove me wherever I needed to go. He also accompanied me to the event itself.

I don't know why, but Atlanta seemed smaller to me than it did when I was last there. We were in Downtown Atlanta in no time. And your bruh was HONGRY, too. I was like we need to get to a McDonald's post haste! So we checked in at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta and then walked up the block to McDonald's. Right as we crossed the first street, who should we see but....

Keith Boykin! It was so nice to see a familiar face so soon.

We turned into the Peachtree Center Mall and immediately found the food court and subsequently Chick-Fil-A! I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I loooooves me some Chick-Fil-A!

Took it back to the hotel, ate it, watched the Jessie Spano drug freak-out episode of Saved By The Bell, got the 'itis, and fell asleep.

Woke up, changed into a loose button-down black shirt, jeans (I gained weight y'all, argh! lol), and my white Adidas with black stripes. My frat brother took me out to dinner at some Brazillian steak house caled Fogo Degaga. Sike, it was called Fogo de Chao. That food was sooooo good, and the style in which they served it was unique to me.... basically, you go to the salad bar first, fix your plate, and go sit down. Then all these servants with these gumboots come up to you with these huge skewers and offer you meat. I only ate the chicken and pork, and my frat didn't know I didn't eat beef, lol. But it was all good! Literally.

At some point, we went to the infamous Lenox Square mall. It was big. It was crowded. But it was, in all honesty, a really nice mall.

EXCEPT the glaring omission of a Borders Books & Music, which I was determined to find the next day.

There was a reception that night for the nominees held at a loft in midtown. I was thoroughly impressed with the place. I had never considered loft living until that moment.

Now, I am kind of a shy person.... in new places, I need a little time to observe, to get acclimated. Not a lot, but a little. I don't usually just butt my way into people's conversations, and I can't always just strike up a convo with an equally quiet person. So, I don't think a whole lot of people walked away "knowing" me after that evening....

BUT..... I did finally get to meet Jasmyne Cannick! If you are black and gay, then at some point you've probably received her emails. She is just as cool in real life as she seems through her writings. And beautiful, too!

Keith was there, as was Nathan. Wilson Cruz rolled through -- slim as my pinky. Heffa. LOL. But he looks good, though. H. Alexander Robinson from the National Black Justice COalition was also there.

Two other gentlemen were there who my fraternity brother hit it off with, but I was off talking to Merrick and Ron in the other room....Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear, creators of The DL Chronicles. I didn't know a whole lot about their project before this weekend, but I can tell why they've come so far. They are the most energetic and passionate people I've seen in this community in...well, ever. They just seem so genuinely friendly and kind.

Now.... you know how on The Wonder Years when every time Kevin Arnold would see Winnie Cooper, her little theme music would come on? You know it....da-dun-da-dun-dunnnn.... dah dah daaaaah dahhhhh.

That's how I felt when I met Dwight Powell, Editor-in-Chief of Clik Magazine. I was like "Are you fucking kidding me? How can one man be so...soo.... CUTE????"

lol

He was a great guy, too. He seemed very humble about the whole Clik Honors thing, which was good. I would have been really put off had he been all cocky about it. I really was glad to have the little bit of time chatting with him as I got.

THEN we went to Bulldog's. Yes, Bulldog's. I liken it to the Delta in DC. Not really much to look at as a venue, but great music and a pretty friendly atmosphere. Didn't drink, just danced. But the cigarette (and other) smoke got to me and my fragile respiratory system, so we went back to the hotel and crashed.

And so ended Friday.

Saturday:

Had breakfast at American Roadhouse with Matthew, his friend Bobby, and my friend Yarnell. Jokes and good times all around! I swear we had a poltergeist at the table. Food was flying everywhere, and it wasn't our fault! lol

Somehow we ended up back at Lenox Square. We also finally found a Borders where I spent some money.

Back to the hotel....short nap...long shower....black suit, red shirt, new red and black paisley tie. Fresh hair wash...and some hair grease to make sure my naps ack right, lol.

The Show:

When we got there, the Fox Theatre was swamped with a bunch of grungy white kids who all looked the same. I say that not because they were white, but they LITERALLY all had on dirty-looking clothes, dreadlocks, clogs, long gypsy dresses, etc. Apparently, there was a concert going on by a band called the String Cheese Incident. I was freaked the fuck out -- I was like oh hell no, this is entirely too many people acting all rowdy don't MAKE me have to be in Race War 2006 up and through here.

Finally, the gay black people line started moving, and we went to our venue. I got interviewed on the red carpet by Maurice Jamal like I was special, LOL.

Okay, so I am tired now, I'ma have to continue this in the morning. I know, I suck! LOL

Posted by Rashid on November 28, 2006 11:02 PM

Comments

Commented by Zoila on November 29, 2006 2:08 AM

Commented by annie on November 29, 2006 9:01 AM

Commented by Shawn on November 29, 2006 10:50 AM

Commented by milt on November 29, 2006 5:15 PM

Commented by milt on November 29, 2006 5:16 PM

Commented by Frederick Smith on November 30, 2006 1:03 AM

Commented by Leona on December 1, 2006 10:43 AM

Commented by Yarnell on December 5, 2006 12:07 AM

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