Let me preface this entry by saying I never get sick. Seriously. Last time I was sick was on my 20th birthday – and that was a stomach virus, not a cough-cough-pass-the-Kleenex type malady. No biggie. I just wish it didn’t happen during Spring Break.

But on Thursday, it began. A sniffle here, a light cough there. I thought “No biggie – weather’s changing so I’m just probably going to have to adjust as well.” That was just the beginning. I went to the store after work and got some chicken noodle soup, some VapoRub, some cold relief pills, and a fifth of Crown Royal. You know, in case the other shit don’t work.

I woke up Friday feeling like someone mule-kicked me in the chest. My nose was stuffy, my throat was scratchy, and I sounded like Patty and Selma from the Simpsons. I fixed breakfast, popped two pills, and checked my e-mail. No relief. Taurean popped over around 1pm. I wanted to say “no thanks, I’m sick”, but I did feel like I needed to get out and about and maybe I would feel better.

That conjecture ended up being only half true. There were traffic snarls everywhere. On Fridays in Atlanta, the rush hour typically starts around…oh, I’d say 2pm. It doesn’t abate until around 8pm, then it picks right back up as everyone rushes to Buckhead to take part of the night life. But this was ridiculously worse. Traffic on every street, even the side ones.

Taurean turns to me and says “Is there something going on this weekend I didn’t know about?” I nod. “Yep, the Atlanta Football Classic.” That meant most of downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead would be debilitated by traffic. Again. It almost felt like All-Star Weekend all over again.

We were scheduled to be at DIC around seven, so we figured setting out by four was a good idea. It was – we ended up getting stuck in traffic for two hours. Combine that with blaring sun, a busted A/C, and breathing in exhaust fumes from the gridlocked streets and you can imagine I felt like dying right there. But we made it after stopping at a Starbucks and recharging.

Now there ain’t too many words that can describe DIC. Only one comes to mind for me. Palatial. We’re greeted by the mistress of the house, Miss Anna and EJ upon our arrival. We met Prime and Boom also. I really wanted to meet J., but he was asleep. And I know how I hate to be awaken when I’m dozing off, so I didn’t sweat missing him. Next time Gadget…next time! We got to see the backyard waterfall, the home gym, the state-of-the-art kitchen, and the home theater (which I instantly fell in love with). MTV Cribs, why in the hell ain’t y’all been here yet?

I think Miss Anna and I hit it off immediately; this was particularly a surprise to me because I don’t normally like dogs. But she was extremely playful and personable (even when she went into Attack Mode as Taurean and I went downstairs to retrieve our shoes). Prime and EJ are a beautiful couple with an even more beautifuller home. And Boom is quiet. But y’all probably already knew that.

So Taurean jetted me home (fifteen minutes without traffic from Cascade to Buckhead – a new record!) and I went right to sleep. Spent all of today nursing myself and watching my cooking shows.

Oh, don’t laugh. You do it too.