hi its mariah just making sure this is the right number kkkkkkkk
from a 609 phone number, Friday, January 23, 3:22 PM

hey are you going skating tonight text me back
from a 609 phone number, Friday, January 23, 7:01 PM

No this is not the right number. No I am not going skating tonight. Striking out on all counts, Mariah.

FWD: She sleepn.il b home at 1030
from a 313 phone number, Wednesday, January 21, 10:22 PM

313 must be pretty close by, if she thinks she'll be home within the next eight minutes. Unless she's in a different time zone. Always a possibility.

Im gonna wear my black shirt tommorow wit m dolce and gabbana belt wit my black high tops converse jus so u kno wat r u wearin CHILLAX....ITS AJ
from a 281 phone number, Tuesday, January 20, 10:39 PM

Probably, like... jeans. I feel underdressed.

We r at the town well b bck
from a 774 phone number, Tuesday, January 20, 3:12 PM

hi mom has bought two ice creams for you and your friends. don't forget to call cathy no need to pickyou
from a 909 phone number, Tuesday, January 20, 4:53 PM

The Inauguration was so major, so absolutely inescapable on Tuesday, that it boggles my mind that there were people in this country just calmly living their lives, being at the town, being back again, buying ice creams... It feels so disjointed to me, like these Leilas live in a different America than I do.

Happy Birthday baby! I hope you have a great day. I love you so much. Daddy
from an 865 phone number, Tuesday, January 20, 9:21 AM

I would have called Leila's dad back if it hadn't been ELECTION DAY and if I hadn't been standing outside in THE BITTER COLD for hours on end. Leila's birthday was just not top of my priority list on Tuesday. This text is still sweet, though.

Stop complainin you woowoo!
P.S. Your a woowoo
from a 218 phone number, Monday, January 19, 8:22 PM

Could mean any number of things. Don't thank me, thank Urban Dictionary.

Im so excited for obama.
from a 703 phone number, Monday, January 19, 11:41 AM

You should have been with me in DC earlier this week, 703! Oh, wait-- 703 is Northern VA. So I guess you were with me in DC earlier this week. With me and three million other people. I wonder if we ran into each other...

Hey watcha doing
Keepn' It Sexy!
from an 831 phone number, Sunday, January 18, 8:32 PM

Yes. That is exactly what I am going. I am Keepn' It Sexy. Actually, I'm mostly spewing snot all over everything, since I have a cold. But I assume that is Sexy.

Sorry it's been so long since last I updated this blog. I have been in DC for the Presidential Inauguration! I was staying with my lovely and generous friend Emily, who has many things, including loveliness and generosity, but not including "the Internet." Thus the lack of blog posts. Let's now get caught up, shall we?

why were u not talking 2 me
-Twilight Fan
from a 408 phone number, Saturday, January 17, 11:25 AM

Uh, maybe because your primary defining feature is that you're a fan of Twilight, which is a fine book, but, really, I've read better.

Hey baby. I tried to call you but you must have had your phone off. I hope you guys are having lots of fun. I love you. Good night sweetie.
from an 865 phone number, Friday, January 16, 9:43 PM

Oh, I wish I were this Intended Leila! I hope she and 865 stay together forever.

Hi sweetie mollys number is 651 261 xxxx if u need it_-lybb
from a 952 phone number, Friday, January 16, 9:57 AM

I am a little tempted to call that number (the x's were actual digits in the text I received) and say, like, "Heyyy, Molly, it's Leila! Yeah, Lybb gave me your number. So... what's up? What's the dealio?" And just see what happens. Molly would not be able to hang up on me, am I right?

Im gonna head to bed so i look pretty tomorrow
from a 781 phone number, Thursday, January 15, 10:04 PM

Yes! I am a huge believer in beauty sleep. I rarely GET my beauty sleep. But I believe in it nonetheless.

FWD: Sorary was asking if we want to newyork with her feb 20th what u say
from a 703 phone number, Thursday, January 15, 9:45 PM

I say yeah! Give me a call. Let's hang out, 703, Sorary, and Leila. Just text me and I'll show up wherever you are, so long as it's below 14th Street. I think you know how to reach me.

Hi how r u? U r so lucky u left and went back 2 school. It is getting ugly @ work.
from a 765 hone number, Thursday, January 15, 4:31 PM

Coincidentally, my former co-worker Kathryn showed up at the office on the day this text message was sent. Kath, like this Leila, left work to go back 2 school. I kind of wanted to show her this text and pretend like it had been sent to her. But things aren't actually ugly @ my work. YET.

sunday would work better for me. are you free then?
from a 510 phone number, Tuesday, January 13, 10:36 PM

Ahhh, alas, 510, I will be in DC on Sunday. But thank you for the invitation, whatever it is you were inviting me to.

FWD: In 23 minutes someone will say "I'm sorry babe" "I love you" or "wanna go out"? Send to 9 people or bad luck!
from a 719 phone number, Tuesday, January 13, 5:53 PM

FWD:FW: Fwd:Fwd: Msg: If u believe in jesus send this to ten people and add a cross. If u dont u will b sorry!
++++++++++++ +++++++ *100%
from a 719 phone number, Tuesday, January 13, 5:59 PM

Fwd:
--
Today is hottie day and baby u bangin! Send to all ur hot friends(even me) if u get 1=ugly,3hoti 4bangin 5hoe (J O R D A N)
:)ASHLEIGH.NICK
from a 719 phone number, Tuesday, January 13, 5:59 PM

For Christmas, my former boss Lara got her 10-year-old daughter a real cell phone with actual texting capabilities. I said to Lara, "I just want you to know that text messages like these are the only ones your daughter will be sending. That's cool with me if it's cool with you. But I thought you should be aware."

"In 23 minutes..."? "If u believe in jesus..."? "5hoe..."? Again, it's none of my business. But really.

RE: FWD: you will be kissed on Jan. 16th by a person who thinks you are perfect, and the 17th will be yo
--Cow girl--
from a 386 phone number, Monday, January 12, 9:51 PM

The 17th will be what? Can it be something good, I hope? I guess this means I'll have to leave my house on the 16th, after all. I was thinking about coming straight home from work and changing into my pajamas at 6pm and not emerging until the following afternoon. But that might make it less likely that a person who thinks I am perfect will kiss me. So I guess I need to change my plans.

FWD: FWD: Sometimes she 4gets what she is worth. Pass this on 2 every beautiful woman u know. I did :)
from a 651 phone number, Monday, January 12, 8:22 PM

Answer me honestly: Would it boost your self-esteem to receive this forward? Because I feel like, if it were a personalized text, if it were, "Leila, I think sometimes you forget what you're worth, and I wanted to remind you that you're beautiful and you're worth it"-- I think then this would be a very reassuring text. But when it starts out with two "FWD"s, then, I don't know, I just have trouble believing that 651 really means it.

leila its faith. ure leaving this wk and didn't tell me? i want to meet up with u tomorrow. let me know what timme.

love;
kristin(:
from a 609 phone number, Monday, January 12, 7:21 PM

Sometimes I (like this Leila, it seems) try to skip town without telling my friends. This gives me an illusion of control over my life. But then my friends (like Kristin, it seems) feel slighted. It's hard not to be beholden to people.

Wat web do u go to put music onb ur uipod Xoxo-ANJANAE!!!!
from a 281 phone number, Sunday, January 11, 10:19 PM

There is only one web, and that is the World Wide Web, and that is also not how I put music on my iPod, so honestly I just don't know how to answer 281.