Aggie Pride

During my freshman and sophomore years of college, I spent nearly every single weekend visiting my friends at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro. We always had a blast – hanging out all night, reminiscing, going to football games…

I used to get into football games for free with them. They were all members of this group called Aggie Livewires. The Aggie Livewires wore maroon and white t-shirts and sat right beside the band in the stands. They were the best seats. The Aggie Livewires had little cheers that went with each of the songs that the band played. My friends taught them to me so that I wouldn’t look like an outsider at the games. It was so much fun. I remember screaming out the cheers and chanting “Aggie Pride, Aggie Pride!” throughout the entire game. But, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever become an Aggie…I was only pretending, right?

Have I mentioned that I have been blessed with the most supportive husband on the planet? Thanks baby. I love you too.

Away

Well, here I sit. In a hotel room. By myself. In Phoenix, Arizona. I have never been to Phoenix before. I also have never been away from Jayla for more than 11 hours at a time. Right now? It has officially been 32 hours since I saw her. She was a little clingy when I dropped her off yesterday morning. I don't know if it's because she could sense that it would be a full 3.5 days until she saw me again or if she just gets tired of screaming "No!" and trying to hit other little children all day long (Why must the new school have such violence going on in the classroom!?!? Another post. Another day.). Her daddy fed her chicken and pork n beans last night for dinner - two sources of protein with a little fiber in the mix - but, what about her Vitamins A & D and her calcium!?!? I would've made sure she had them. She talked to her grandparents on the webcam for an hour while I was taking a nap during a 3-hour flight. Not once on that 3-hour flight did I have to tell anyone to stop kicking the seat in front of them. But, I miss her. But, I slept until I felt like getting up this morning. She talked to me on the phone last night. We had a conversation. She usually just wants to push the buttons when the phone is in her face. My husband says she misses me. I miss her too.

Sorry, Luce and Cecilia - I guess the 911 post wasn't exactly worth 2.5 weeks of non-posting.

I should have brought my camera to Phoenix. I've seen several photo opportunities. But, I made a conscious decision not to bring it. I only ever take pictures of Jayla these days and since she isn't in Phoenix, I did not think I would need my camera. I was wrong and realized this as soon as I saw my rental car. It's something I can't explain with words and will therefore, be finding the disposable camera section in Wal-mart a little later today.

911 Emergency?

Picture it:

Our house. Two Wednesday nights ago. I had just come downstairs to sit with hubby after putting Jayla to bed.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! These were loudest bangs at a front door that I have ever heard in my life! I was pretty sure this person had likely just put his or her fist completely through the front door or had, in fact, hired a small army just to knock on our door.

Hubby and I look at each other like, "What the &*^%?!!?". The doorbell rings. Hubby runs upstairs to look out of the window that overlooks the front porch. It's where we always go if we aren't expecting someone at the door. Meanwhile, more attempts to knock our door off its hinges. The entire house shakes. Literally, I think.

He runs back downstairs, more confused than ever - "It's the police." I am now also more confused than ever.

He goes to the door and finally opens it.

Officer: "We received a 911 call from this house."

Hubby looks at me, "Again, what the *$(^#$*!?!??!"

Me: "It was Jayla." I step up to the door to talk to the officer. "Our daughter was just playing with the phone so she probably did it. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Officer: "That's okay. I have kids of my own and they've done it too. So, are you saying that everything is alright here ma'am?" He looks suspiciously between me and hubby as if to say "this is your last chance to tell me if he has been pouncing on you all night and you did, indeed, dial 911 on an effort to save your very life."

Me: "Yes.", in the most sincere voice as possible. "Everything is just fine here."

Officer: Pulling out a little notepad, "Ma'am, can you give me your name and date of birth?"

I oblige, feeling ever so much like a criminal and hearing the "don't dial 911 unless it's a real emergency because you are diverting resources that could be used to save a person's life at that very moment" commercials run through my head. He tells us good night and gets back into his patrol car that he had left running in the middle of the street with the driver's side door flung open.

Upon closing the door and going back to sitting on the couch...

Hubby says, "We're going to get fined."

I say, "I can't believe it took them like 10 whole minutes to get here. What if you really were trying to strangle me in a tub full of water?"