When I spotted this U-Haul van in Park Slope on Sunday, I just had to snap a photo. There was a young couple unloading their stuff from the van as it looked like they are moving in.  Later I googled and found this on U-Haul’s site. U-Haul is commemorating the Underground Railroad’s history in Canada.  It appears that the campaign started in August 2009.

The story of the Underground Railroad is one of individual sacrifice and heroism among the enslaved, and the people helping them gain freedom. Abolishing slavery decades earlier than the U.S., Canada became a haven for enslaved people seeking freedom. “Conductors” such as the Reverend Josiah Henson and Harriet Tubman assisted many aboard the Underground Railroad, and more than 40,000 fugitives made it to Canada, the Promised Land.

In fact, this Underground Railroad graphic series is a part of U-Haul’s “Super Graphics”.  U-Haul trucks and vans can have anything from birds to flowers on the side. It’s kinda like a moving postage stamp.

Why I am writing about this?  Since becoming editor of Pepsi We Inspire, I am looking for examples of how major brands are connecting to African American market. In this instance it is the African Canadian market. It’s good to remember our history.  BTW, I hope that the Canadians who just moved to Brooklyn enjoy their new home.

Don’t ever wear a long dress, wedge heels and walk down a steep hill unless you are a supermodel, drag queen or someone who is not as clumsy as me. What happens is that you fall, sprain your ankle, shatter the glass on your Zune HD and rip a hole in a brand new dress that you probably could not afford in the first place. That is what happened to me Thursday evening, and it has a big drain on my wallet and spirits. The good news is that the Duane Reade Walk-in Clinic is great. The doctor is nice and the fee for the visit ($135) for an uninsured person like myself is affordable.  I was afraid I would have to create a Kickstarter for my medical bills, so that was a relief. Today my ankle is less swollen, so that’s good. Also good is the interview of me in the Atlanta Post.

I have attended many conferences, organized many events but this is the first time I have co-produced a conference.  Babette and I have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback from TechMUNCH attendees.

It was nice to meet so many smart creative people.  I was starstruck to see Jacques Torres as an attendee. All of the panels were informative. The panelists were generous with their expertise.   Read  Josh Unseth’s SEO presentation and Sarah Evans’ FTC Guidelines.

Thanks to sponsors which included KitchenAid, Robicellis, Tupperware and Valrhona.

Read blog posts from TechMUNCH attendees:

Eric of Garden Fork TV

Frani Lieberman of MBooth PR

The Ivory Hut

Hilary Allard from The Castle Group

Photo by Kelly Samardak, MediaPost’s Just An Online Minute.

I will not promise recaps of everyday of Internet Week, but yesterday was pretty good. I got to Metropolitan Pavilion yesterday to see Yahoo Provoke. It was cool to listen to Ze Frank’s presentation. He has a lot of projects,and it made me feel better about juggling so many things at once. All of his stuff seems to revolve around PLAY.

Afterwards, there was a panel that included Bre Pettis, Seth Goldstein, Matthew Szymczyk and Nick Parish. Their panel, “Pixels That Provote Emotion” talked about humans, QR codes and robots. Bre said something I really like-”Intellectual property is dead”. He also encourages us all to SHARE online.

Later, I hung out at the opening night reception. I talked to Michelle Shildkret, Dennis Crowley, Kelly Samardak, Jose Mejia and David Dundas.

Months ago, I heard the Lee Brothers talk on The Splendid Table about their low country cooking from South Carolina. When I heard about their shrimp and deviled egg salad rolls, I had to make them. I didn’t use bacon. Instead, I added a tablespoon of Bacon Marmalade. Also, I used potato rolls instead so they are more like sliders. Yum!

I decorated this cake today at the Duff Goldman/Gartner Studios event. Duff said that he doesn’t hate cupcakes.

Where you can see me talk about blogging in June.

I am co-producing TechMunch NYC which is next week, June 10. I will speaking on a panel about curating content.

Saturday, June 19 I will be at Blogging While Brown in Washington, DC. I will be speaking on a panel with Donna Maria Coles Johnson of Indie Beauty called, “The Business of Blogging: Beyond Ad Networks”.

On Sunday, I overheard this young musician tell a fellow musician about the book Life Doesn’t Frighten Me.   I smiled to myself as I remember the book by Maya Angelou and illustrated by Basquiat. It is a children’s book, but I think I need a copy.

In some many ways, I am fearless. I am gregarious at parties. I meet a lot of people. I have been on TV, done a wee bit of stand-up  and burlesque.  Lately, I get fearful over silly things like opening emails from people that require action from me. I am fearful of being away from email for more two hours. I fear that I am not doing all I can with my blogs.

Yesterday, I went to the TDBank Flip event at the Trapeze School.  It was fun and scary. There was no way I could have climbed up the shaky ladder and fly into the air.  I would have had a panic attack. I got on the trampoline and that was a little scary for me. I am a not of fan of shaky ground. I’m glad I went to try. It was good to see other people try and succeed, and it was also good to see people try and decide not to do trapeze.  It’s good to know yourself well enough to know what you can or cannot do.

Anyway, I don’t usually do the personal introspective stuff because it’s not what I do.  One thing I am not afraid of is what people think of me. I may not respond to every tweet, facebook message or email. If that bothers people, then so be it. I can’t talk all day online and get stuff done.

Sunday, The Boy and I went to the Hester Street Fair which open earlier this month. There are some nice jewelry, and accessories vendors, but we came for the food. I talked to DJO from Mama O’s and he gave us some kimchi salsa. Luke’s Lobster was there, and we had to share a lobster roll an a shrimp roll. Also, we ate lamb bunnychow from South African restaurant Bunny Chow.

We ran into our friend John who biked down to Hester Street because he heard there would be pie, but there was none. Also, I  thought that DB Sweets would be there as well selling cupcakes.  Maybe it was an off weekend or maybe the vendors rotate.  I will visit again in the next couple of weeks to try Malbon Brothers pulled pork.

I spotted the van while drinking wine at Pinkerton, a new world wine bar, the only place where I am the mayor on FourSquare.

Yesterday, I spent a wonderful afternoon at Brooklyn Bridge Park. My friends and I sat on the grass right under the Manhattan Bridge.

Heidi came prepared with a parasol.

I came prepared with shrimp with lime and cilantro.