7/20/06 Today With Patty ...

by Patty

This morning Kipp and I met with David Rani of the News & Observer at the Mecca Restaurant in downtown Raleigh. The Mecca must be 100 years old. You have to be a true Raleigh-ite to appreciate its classic diner kitsch, red cracked leather chairs, and down home food.

David’s beat is marketing and PR, and I was nervous because I was trying to be on my best behavior. But they don’t have decaf coffee at the Mecca, so I was drinking the real stuff, and you know me and caffeine. After more than 3 cups of real coffee, I turn into a Walt Disney cartoon chipmunk chattering at speeds that can only be comprehended by slow playback on a recorder.

Frank Norton, the N&O’s business and finance reporter, was innocently sitting at the counter and we snagged him to come over and talk with us. He seemed a little bewildered. I wonder if he understood anything I said.

At the office this afternoon, Nicole left to go eat lunch with her roommate, May, at Wendy’s. She didn’t come back on time, and we all started to worry. Finally she comes in the door, looking a little sheepish, and soon has all of us laughing about her story.

“I got into my car to leave Wendy’s,” Nicole says, “and halfway into the intersection my car stopped. I didn’t know what to do, but these four nice guys came to the rescue. They couldn’t get my car to start, and thought it might be the battery. So one of them goes back to their car and gets jumper cables. The jumper cables didn’t work, and everyone is standing around scratching their heads, when one of them finally realizes that what’s wrong is my car is out of gas. I felt like an idiot while these four guys pushed me out of the intersection to a nearby gas station. Not only did they push me, but they felt so sorry for me, they offered to pay for my gas!”

Nicole sends this post script to her parents: “Mom and Dad, please don’t be mad at me. Send money. Donations for gas are always welcome.” Gotta love Nicole!

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Public Relations for the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) U.S. 1/64

MMI Associates was contracted to handle media relations and to organize various efforts to open the communication lines between the construction entities on the project and motorists. The firm developed a strategic public relations campaign to ensure that local motorists and those passing through would be aware of the most up-to-date traffic patterns.