omg. i should really practice my message leaving skills. all those years leaving "hey it's me," has not paid off when dealing with strangers and new boys. holy shit.

this is a brief picture of what i just left on someone's voicemail:
"hi, it's natalie. hey...so thanks for calling (i know it took guts and there was no way i was making the first move). i just got your message (stopped myself from saying yesterday...calling you back a day later bc i'm fashionable like that)..... um..yea. so give me a call back (because that's what happens when we play phone tag. you're it). and um..i live in the city and dan told me you live in the peninsula (throwing up a red flag, it's a long-distance relationship and i don't know if i want such a thing or if you're prepared for it either). so i guess i will talk to you soon and we'll chat (who knows when we will actually make a date for a whole meal of food or drinks). again, my number is 415-555-5555 (if by some weird chance you had your phone off and didn't see the missed call and i never left my phone number in the first place so i don't know why i said again). bye (i have this turret-like need to yell bye like that)!

North Carolina trying to do right: Cnn refers to NC