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1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE

1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE

“The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on.”
-Barack Obama
President Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue surprised me. It was more of a festive radius of fun, tourists and security than a tight, tensed up secure neighborhood.

Let me just quickly mention that downtown Washington, D.C. is a clusterfuck of traffic, crazy road signs and tourists walking everywhere. You have to be very careful how you drive and where you park. I arrived on a Sunday so it wasn’t too bad but I cannot imagine being in this city during peak hours. NO THANKS! Los Angeles is bad enough.

First observation. The Secret Service outside the White House, Dwight Eisenhower Building, the United States Treasury building and other areas were very friendly. I didn’t expect that at all. There were a lot of them but for the most part, they were very courteous to anyone who had questions or just wanted to say hello.

Second observation. There were a group of young guys playing street hockey ON Pennsylvania Avenue. It’s just a big, wide, very well-paved street with 1000s of tourists trying to catch a selfie with the White House. How about some street ball out there? Would the Secret Service be ok with that?

Third observation. The Washington Monument resides in what looks like a huge park and was not too far from The White House. The place was gigantic and super fun. Kids playing everywhere. Softball games. Picnics. Tourists taking pictures. I lived on the East Coast for 14 years and never once thought of going down in that area to inhale the ambiance. It was great. I am very happy I went there. Minus the clusterfuck, well done downtown D.C.

Here’s a slideshow of my visit.
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South Carolina. The ‘You’ll probably get pulled over’ state.

South Carolina. The ‘You’ll probably get pulled over’ state.

“The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.”
-Viola Davis

South Carolina #selfie
Fanta selfie at the South Carolina Welcome Center.

South Cakalak.

I didn’t spend much time in South Carolina. Didn’t need to. Quite frankly, it’s the drive-through state. Other than cheap gas and working freeways, there’s not much there for a brother like me.

In the late 90’s, I worked for IBM in North Carolina and had my share of being stopped while driving through The Palmetto State. It was probably my fault. I was young. I was a green, yet anxious driver. And I’m pretty sure I was speeding.

South Carolina State Trooper
South Carolina State Trooper

But the attitudes and the way the state troopers pulled you over were different. They were more intense. Calculating. Those experiences made me hyper-aware whenever driving through South Carolina and perhaps that was the lesson I needed at such a young age.

Another golden nugget I remember about South Carolina was the sound of the drawls. We’re talking crazy, unintelligible accents comparable to Jamaicans, Scots and Irish folks. One of my buddies, Ren, who worked with me at IBM, was a South Carolinian. Sometimes, it was like talking to a hardcore, patois-spewing, native Jamaican. You couldn’t understand diddly squat. And there was no app to help you with that.

One time… in band camp… sorry I couldn’t help myself.

But seriously, one time I found myself in a Wendy’s drive-thru in South Carolina and couldn’t understand one word from the female attendant. I think my order ended up being something completely different but I didn’t dare go through that drive-thru again or ask for clarification. I ended up eating what I was given. And then went on my merry way.

I guess it was nice not to be stopped by any law enforcement this time around but that’s probably because I was driving the speed limit. Minus 1 mph.
Hello and Goodbye Kentucky

Hello and Goodbye Kentucky

“What I suffered physically was worth what I’ve accomplished in life. A man who is not courageous enough to take risks will never accomplish anything in life.”
-Muhammad Ali

From Chattanooga, Tennessee, I drove to Red Ash, Kentucky. Sounds like Red Ass, doesn’t it? Boy, what a name!

WHOAH - GOOD ONE!
The drive took about 3 hours. I spent maybe 30 minutes in the state of Kentucky. Once again, in the spirit of time, I was just tagging her. I wish I had more time to explore Kentucky, especially because I had a friend living there but it was off to North Carolina for some nostalgia and fun.

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Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga, Tennessee

“I don’t have to work. I could stop and never have to worry about paying the rent. I’m working for the joy of doing it.”

“If you live a life of make-believe, your life isn’t worth anything until you do something that does challenge your reality. And to me, sailing the open ocean is a real challenge, because it’s life or death.”

“Stillness. It’s what I learn from the actors I work with. That’s all, and that’s the hardest thing.”
-Morgan Freeman

An old friend from Penn State University in my college days was from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gamaliel Young. This dude was super smart. Engineering major. Competitive as hell. He carried a 3.8 GPA his entire college career. Impressive.

CHATTANOOGA
In the lobby of Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Lookout Mountain

Chattanooga served as a great breather for me after having been through 5 states (Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and Georgia). I stayed at my usual Holiday Inn Express & Suites and this one was located in the Lookout Mountain area.

Lookout Mountain is a mountain ridge located at the northwest corner of the U.S. state of Georgia, the northeast corner of Alabama, and along the southern border of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Lookout Mountain was the scene of the “Last Battle of the Cherokees” during the Nickajack Expedition, which took place in the 18th century, as well as the November 24, 1863 Battle of Lookout Mountain during the American Civil War.

(Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lookout_Mountain)

I don’t have much to say about Chattanooga since I only spent the night there but if you are ever in this city, visit the following sites: Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee Aquarium, The Walnut Street Bridge and Tennessee Riverpark.

Chattanooga, Tennessee is a beautiful city even if you’re just passing through. There’s plenty of eye candy to see, including lakes, rivers, waterfalls and mountains.

Peace out Gamaliel!

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Georgia Peach.

Georgia Peach.

“It’s funny, a lot of people think I take myself seriously because I come off so serious sometimes. But it’s not that I take myself seriously, I take what I do seriously. I came up around people who took acting seriously, who cared about acting, cared about the theater and, in the ’70s, made movies that said something that mattered. I came up with those people, and I was a kid. Their ethos and credo became mine.”
-Laurence Fishburne

image-sand-clock-hourglassSometimes, time is not on your side. You wake up one day and decide, hey, I have a dream of driving across the country and I’m going to do it. I’m not sure how long it’s going to take but I’m going to plan for it and execute it to the best of my ability. And then, you’re doing it and while it’s happening, life happens. Time happens. Things happen and your goals have to be adjusted.

My original goals still stand true. Drive across the United States and visit all 48 contiguous states. Do some comedy along the way. Visit old friends. Make new friends. Write a blog about each state, even if it’s one sentence like, “I was here. I ate some grits. I left.” And have fun.

But at times, life does intervene with your plans and that’s pretty much what happened with Georgia. I partied a little too much in Vegas. I needed an extra day to decompress in New Mexico. And I had to catch up on some well needed sleep in New Orleans. My brother’s birthday get together was coming up for the weekend and I needed to get to Philly in a reasonable amount of time. Consequently, Atlanta had to be removed from my itinerary but I still needed some way to quickly visit the state without losing too much time.

The original plan was Alabama to Atlanta, GA to Tennessee to Kentucky to South Carolina and then North Carolina before driving up my favorite freeway; the 95 North (to Philadelphia).

Something magical happened though. As I was plotting my Google Maps route from Alabama to Tennessee, I noticed a piece of golden goodness. A very small but significant Northwest portion of Georgia was in between Alabama and Tennessee.

meme-saywha

Yes, to save some time, I could drive from Selma to Chattanooga AND pass through Georgia, without visiting Atlanta. A savings of 1.5 hours. It doesn’t seem like a lot. But I had been on the following path since 9am (and not trying to drive late at night): New Orleans to Biloxi to Pensacola to Selma to Chattanooga (10.5 hours).

Check out the golden gem:
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I stopped at a McDonald’s in Georgia and the ladies behind the counter had some sexy accents. One thing about me: I LOVE ACCENTS! And Georgia is full of them!

I bought some food to eat in my hotel room in Chattanooga and left the establishment just a tad smitten by their Georgian voices. I took this pic in the McDonald’s just near the state line. Can you tell how sleepy I am? I desperately needed some rest. Including Atlanta in the trip before Chattanooga would’ve probably been a detriment.

McDonald's in Georgia
Tired and hungry as hell in a McDonald’s just past the Georgia State Line.
Sweet Home Alabama

Sweet Home Alabama

“The more you try to look sexy, the lamer it is, so you just have to commit to the comedy.”
-Channing Tatum

Welcome to Selma, Alabama.
Welcome to “Bloody Sunday”.
Welcome to History.

closer selfie with bridge
It felt like I drove through Alabama for days upon days upon days. After Florida, I was determined to head to Selma and walk over the Edward Pettus Bridge where “Bloody Sunday” occurred. And that’s what I did. It was beautiful. And eerie.

During January and February, 1965, Martin Luther King and SCLC led a series of demonstrations to the Dallas County Courthouse. On February 17, protester Jimmy Lee Jackson was fatally shot by an Alabama state trooper.  In response, a protest march from Selma to Montgomery was scheduled for March 7.

Six hundred marchers assembled in Selma on Sunday, March 7, and, led by John Lewis and other SNCC and SCLC activists, crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge over the Alabama River en route to Montgomery. Just short of the bridge, they found their way blocked by Alabama State troopers and local police who ordered them to turn around. When the protesters refused, the officers shot tear gas and waded into the crowd, beating the nonviolent protesters with billy clubs and ultimately hospitalizing over fifty people. “Bloody Sunday” was televised around the world.

Martin Luther King called for civil rights supporters to come to Selma for a second march. When members of Congress pressured him to restrain the march until a court could rule on whether the protesters deserved federal protection, King found himself torn between their requests for patience and demands of the movement activists pouring into Selma.

King, still conflicted, led the second protest on March 9 but turned it around at the same bridge. King’s actions exacerbated the tension between SCLC and the more militant SNCC, who were pushing for more radical tactics that would move from nonviolent protest to win reforms to active opposition to racist institutions. On March 21, the final successful march began with federal protection, and on August 6, 1965, the federal Voting Rights Act was passed, completing the process that King had hoped for.

Yet Bloody Sunday was about more than winning a federal act; it highlighted the political pressures King was negotiating at the time, between movement radicalism and federal calls for restraint, as well as the tensions between SCLC and SNCC.

(Reference: http://www.blackpast.org/aah/bloody-sunday-selma-alabama-march-7-1965)

Those Alabama back woods are some of the most beautiful and creepy you will ever witness. You can drive for hours in the midst of trees, lakes, forests and more trees. I thought Arkansas so far had the most trees but Alabama wins by a long shot.

My imagination loves to travel and I couldn’t help but think … this was the best and worst place to be a slave. The best, because if you tried to escape, you could use the trees as a shield and hide. But the worst because there’s no one in the back woods to help you. I saw a few houses within hours of each other, traveling along the town roadways. Can you imagine being in those woods, trying to escape to freedom and not have any navigation?

The Emancipation Proclamation could’ve happened and the Alabama back woods would’ve been the place where, as a slave, you would’ve never found out. It was freaking creepy. I tried not to think this way but it was tough. I know my history.

Alabama. Beautiful. Sweet. Tainted. Historical. Creepy.

After a long, quiet drive, I finally got to the Edmund Pettus Bridge where Bloody Sunday went down.

The Edmund Pettus Bridge is a bridge that carries U.S. Route 80 across the Alabama River in Selma, Alabama. Built in 1940, it is named for Edmund Winston Pettus, a former Confederate brigadier general, Democratic Party U.S. Senator from Alabama and Grand Dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan. The bridge is a steel through arch bridge with a central span of 250 feet (76 m). There are nine large concrete arches supporting the bridge and roadway on the east side.

The bridge was declared a National Historic Landmark on March 11, 2013.

(Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Pettus_Bridge)

I walked over the bridge and then back to pay my respects. I also took some photos and tried to imagine what it was like back in 1965. If you visit these two towns, you would shake your head immediately. There’s hardly anything going on. They are both super quiet. Quaint. It doesn’t seem like anyone living there is trying to hurt a soul. Just live their lives and provide for their families.

I salute the men and women who were brave enough to stand up for what was right and fight for the voting rights of blacks.

Racism is ignorant. I think it’s the worst disease this country has. It’s up there with greed.voting rights act approved At least they keep getting close to a cure for HIV. And they’re working diligently to battle cancer. But racism? It is a part of the foundation that built this country. A poisonous foundation. It’s tough to cure that kind of ill but all we can do is keep trying.

Florida. The Sunshine State.

Florida. The Sunshine State.

[his advice to aspiring actors]
“They should be very versatile. Versatility is what’s going to give them the longevity. The world is opening up and a lot more stories and a lot more interesting scenes to portray in film. Versatility will help them. They must be able to see the world, learn the world, and bring it to their craft.”
-Wesley Snipes

Florida is a great state. A big one as well. It has many interesting cities and endless activities you can do once you arrive there. Among them:

  • Attending Spring Break in Panama City Beach
  • Hanging out on the coast of Pensacola
  • Watching a sports team in Jacksonville
  • Having fun at a theme park in Orlando
  • Sun-bathing in South Beach
  • Golfing
  • Cruises
  • Quick flights to the Caribbean, Mexico and Dominican Republic.

It’s a wonder that Florida is called: The Sunshine State.

It’s too bad that on this trip, I could not take advantage of her beautiful amenities. I’ve visited Florida many times in the past so I didn’t feel too bad.

I literally tagged the state of Florida for a few minutes and then headed to my next stop: Alabama. Typically, from what I have seen so far, there is a Welcome Center for every state once you cross theselfie state line.

That’s where I headed once I arrived in Florida. Consequently, I took my Fanta selfie at the “Welcome” sign and then left immediately.

A friend of mine from New Orleans suggested visiting Pensacola, FL because of a beautiful lighthouse that existed on the coastline but in the interest of time, I needed to head North as quickly as possible. So Pensacola was off the list.

Just in case you were wondering about the swiftness for this particular part of the trip, I had a rule that I wouldn’t drive at night. Perhaps one or two hours after sunset but never too late at night. Too many unknowns in places I had never been. It’s a rule that has worked pretty cool so far (except Grand Canyon National Park) but in that case, I didn’t know the park was one way in and one way out.

For this blog, instead of writing about Florida, I created a top 10 list of things that have helped me to stay focused, awake and healthy while embarking on this 48-state journey.

Top 10 List
10. Stay hydrated and drink lots of water.
09. Always buy gas with the Discover card so I can get cash back points.
08. Always keep fresh fruits in the car (bananas, apples, oranges, grapefruit).
07. Get a massage at least once a week.
06. Always keep a cup of ice in the car.
05. Travel with a cooler that can keep certain items cold and others warm.
04. Stay in the moment.
03. Get a good night’s rest.
02. Stretch everyday.
01. Drink lots of water.
Florida. Don’t worry. We’ll see each other again very soon.
Biloxi, Mississippi. Short and sweet.

Biloxi, Mississippi. Short and sweet.

“One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can’t utter.”

-James Earl Jones

mississippi-selfie
After peeling off the weekend of sin in Louisiana from my flesh, I happily drove to Biloxi, Mississippi, my next stop. Biloxi is a great word, right? As I was driving into town, I couldn’t help but think of the movie, Biloxi Blues, with Matthew Broderick. There’s nothing else in the world that has the word ‘Biloxi’ in it.

biloxi-blues

What a cool, little town. It’s on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and has your regular known casinos like Hard Rock and one I have never heard of: Beau Rivage. Imagine a mini Las Vegas but with much more humidity. Much more. And southern people. With drawls. And accents. And kids. Lots of kids. Everywhere. Okay, you get the point.

My plan was not to stay in Biloxi very long but I did find a place to eat. Waffle House! When I lived in North Carolina in the late 90s, Waffle House was my go-to breakfast establishment. The memories came rushing back as I walked into a busy room packed with customers. Before you knew it, I sat at the bar and sank my teeth into some good ole fashioned grits, eggs and orange juice. Don’t forgot the waffle. I also had a waffle. From Waffle House.

I really wanted to spend some more time in Biloxi. I really did. Between the casinos, the Coast and the feeling of a getaway city, it was hard to leave but I was determined to get to my next stop: Selma, Alabama.

Bye Biloxi. Thanks for the waffle.

Bourbon Street Louisiana. With 3 Whiskey shots.

Bourbon Street Louisiana. With 3 Whiskey shots.

“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is.”
-Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres - born in Louisiana

WELCOME TO LOUISIANA: THE PELICAN STATE

New Orleans. New Orleans! New Orleans!! Why did it take so long for us to meet? Wait, don’t answer that. Let’s just enjoy the fact that we did meet and now have a prosperous relationship to build on.

I arrived at my Hotel just outside of New Orleans at around 6:30pm on Saturday July 2nd, 2016. The plan was to attend a concert sponsored by the Essence Festival at the Mercedes Superdome from 8pm – 2am. I had tickets. And I was excited. Super excited! But I fell asleep. For 11 hours. Oops.

ren-and-stimpy

Sometimes, it’s not what you want, it’s what you need. All that driving (from Texas to Louisiana) had caught up to me and boy, did my body need some rest. I’m glad I didn’t fight it. There was another concert that Sunday night anyway.

Well… I bought a ticket for the concert at The Superdome for Sunday night and guess what? I didn’t make that either. Mariah Carey. Kendrick Lamar. Tyrese. I didn’t get to see one performance. My friend, Amber, picked me up from my hotel and drove us to the infamous Bourbon Street. On the way there, we went to a place where they served margaritas at the drive-thru.

HAPPY! HAPPY!
HELL YEAH!

I thought it was a dream but the margarita drive-thru happened. I ordered the Jungle Juice. And then, the adventure began.

I had a feeling that the night was going to get ‘turnt up’ so before we arrived at Bourbon Street, I cancelled my hotel in Atlanta for the next day and booked another night in NOLA. Boooooy, was I glad I did that!

We bar hopped for what seemed like forever, met super cool peeps, took some pics, shot some videos and went to a strip club. It was a lot of fun. Bourbon Street is a very dangerous place because yes, it is a lot of fun but if you forget where you parked, it can be a maze to navigate. Especially if you’re drunk.

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One of my favorite activities for the night on Bourbon Street was throwing beads down at folks. I’ve seen it done countless times in movies and on television but the fact that we did it from a strip club made it even more special. Top that!

New Orleans is a wonderful place for food. My favorite place was a sushi spot called Akira Sushi Hibachi. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was top notch. Go here if you are ever in NOLA. It’s not on Bourbon Street. Maybe 10 minutes outside that area but well worth it.
Akira Sushi Hibachi - New Orleans, Louisiana

 

I’ll be honest. I didn’t want to leave New Orleans. It’s a wonderful city. Everyone is very nice and it seemed like there was so much more to do and I was missing out on a lot because my time constraints were limited. It’s ok though, I’ll be back.

To add some icing to the adventure cake, I watched July 4th fireworks with my friend Amber and her friend, Loisel. We all had an awesome time and it was a perfect way to end my trip.

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The United States of Texas

The United States of Texas

“I’ve found that every time you stand up for something and open your mouth, you alienate someone. I spent a lot of time wanting to become rich and famous, then when I got there, I found it was hollow. What is important to me is my connection with family and friends, and to nature, and to stand up for what I believe in. It really makes you feel good to follow through with your convictions. Granted, between opening my mouth and some of the movies I’ve chosen to do, I’ve alienated a lot of my fans, I’m sure. Hopefully I’ll make better movies, but I’ll never stop opening my large, prominent mouth.”
-Woody Harrelson

For many years, I’ve heard Texas referred to as: The United States of Texas. I guess their culture exhibits the kind of confident mentality that makes Texans think they can be their own country. It’s definitely in the air. Texas is different. It looks different. Feels different. Tastes different. The people are different. They love their guns, their burgers and their hometown.

On our way to the city of Dallas from Oklahoma, Patrick gave me history lessons on everything from buildings to butterflies to burgers to skylines to cows to real estate (butterflies is a minor embellishment). I kept thinking, damn, these folks are really proud of where they come from. You have to respect that on a certain level. I mean, why wouldn’t you be proud of where you came from?

My only regret during my visit was not trying this place called, “WHATABURGER”. whataburgerFrom what I’ve heard from different Texan natives, it is probably THEE best burger place ever opened. Of course it is. They say the same about In N Out burgers in California and Philly cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. “Oh my god, these are the best. You have to try one.”

Okay, Kemosabe. I got it.

Honestly, over the past few years, I’ve removed burgers from my diet. Not completely! I love burgers but try to only eat them once a month. I stay closer to Turkey Burgers. Burgers are great every now and again but having them as a steady part of my diet as I get older is not smart. Still, I should have eaten at least ONE on this trip. Next time.

Patrick had booked me a guest spot on a comedy show at a Caribbean restaurant called, “TASTE OF THE ISLANDS” in Plano, Texas. It was a pretty big establishment. Bar. Restaurant. Dance floor. I liked it.

Before performing, I had the chicken roti and a Vita Malt. I felt like I was back home in the Caribbean again. The food was delicious and our bartender, Bryttnie, was courteous, hospitable and exotically attractive. That’s a nice Texas combo.

Patrick killed during his comedy set. I had not seen him perform in person in probably 4 or 5 years. Man, it was nice watching him stand there and slice through his material. Even if the crowd was mediocre. It didn’t matter and as a comic, it shouldn’t. It’s our job to find the pulse of the room and deliver. I had a good set. It’s always cool doing comedy in a totally different place and trying to see if your material works there. Good times.

Moving on, I was thinking of giving a shout out to the Holiday Inn I stayed at in Cockrell, Texas but the bathroom smelled like sewage. The rest of the room was great but I kept that bathroom door closed. I was only there for one night, thankfully. And what else would you expect from a hotel located in a city with “Cock” in the name?

SIDE NOTE:

Dallas has one of the most beautiful skylines in all of America. If you are ever in Dallas, stay the night and head into the city. Minus all the annoying construction, it’s a beautiful sight.

On my way to Louisiana, I met two ladies at the Louisiana Welcome Center (just outside the border of Texas): Christi and Tina. Texans. They both possessed sincere southern hospitality to go with their beautiful southern hearts. They offered to take a picture of me in front of the Louisiana sign but I had to refuse so I could take my selfie the way I had done it for the past 8 states.

IMG_0451 Of course, I took the opportunity to tell them about my journey and they were immediately interested and wished me safe travels. I gave them some business cards and within an hour (while I was on the freeway), I received a Facebook friend request from Christi.

We had some fun Facebook messaging each other and then the Universe took over. They stopped at a Cracker Barrel and wouldn’t you know it, Tina found a Fanta shirt in Alexandria (between the Louisiana Welcome Center and Baton Rouge) and insisted I had to have it.

11 MILES LATER…

FANTA FANTA FANTA FANTA
Can you believe that?!! What are the odds?

Big thanks to Christi and Tina.

That’s not all. I asked them, why the hell they would go to a Cracker Barrel in the middle of nowhere on purpose and as it turns out, Tina was picking up the cutest white chow dog of them all. I had a chance to play with him for a short time. Check out “Samson”.

By the way, don’t google “white chow dog” … you’ll be in a rabbit hole for quite some time.

Bye Dallas. Thanks for such a good stay in a short amount of time.

By the next time I come to Dallas, perhaps they will be their own country?

#TEXIT