Plenty of Planning and Preparation for Tomorrow, Y'all!

Well, y’all—this is it!

I’ve got my clothes all laid out for tomorrow, and I’ve got my mini bookbag all stocked up with pens, pencils, and notebooks… hell, I’ve even got markers and drawing paper, just in case. I just have to prepare my lunch, and I’ll good to go.

For those of you who have been following me for the past three years, y’all already know what’s up. For those of you who are new to my blogs, allow me to explain: In approximately twenty-four hours, I will be starting my internship at Jefferson Carter Elementary School, where I will be working side-by-side with my former kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Ingrid Martin.

I just spoke to her a moment ago, and she is so cute! She says to me: “Natasha, I just want you to know that I am looking forward to your assistance tomorrow… or as the young people say nowadays: I am like, so amped up to the max to have you join me in welcoming a new crop of kiddies to our school.”

I holla’d laughing when she said that—I didn’t mean to, but Mrs. Martin really caught me off guard with her remarks. Up until about an hour ago, I always saw her as the quiet, reserved, and respectable teacher who taught me everything I needed to know about life. I guess I just never expected her to talk all hip… but between you and me, I think she did a pretty awesome job at it.

As far as the agenda for tomorrow goes, Mrs. Martin let me know that there is a special icebreaker section that she has for the parents and the new kindergarteners. She understands that some of the little kiddies may not be able to adjust being away from their parents for longer than a good hour, so she has the parents sit in the class for two hours, just to ease the nervous tensions that the kiddies may have—heck, I believe that also goes for the parents. Now, whereas Mrs. Martin didn’t go into too much detail with it, I have a feeling that I will be a huge part of this process.

Oh, yeah—Mrs. Martin also mentioned that she still has a Q&A session for her kiddies, in which she gets to know her kindergarteners by name and age. She also made mention of having me introduce myself to the class, seeing as how I once sat where they will be sitting… and thanks in part to my Fundamentals of Speech class, y’all already know that I loves to talk!

Yessir—Fundamentals of Speech is really gonna pay off tomorrow!

Well, I gotta tie up a few more loose ends, and I’ll be all set for tomorrow. I already know that y’all will want to know the results of my first day back at school, so I will most definitely holla at y’all when I get home. Until then, y’all have a gooden.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

The Joneses: 2-0 for Family & Friends Day!

Happy Sunday Evening, Everybody!

Y’all already know that I’ve got some good news when I post a blog on a Sunday… and here it is:

If you recall, I made mention in a recent blog post that it was Family & Friends Day at Gramma Jewel’s church, and considering that we had just celebrated our family reunion, Gramma Jewel had plans to win the grand prize. Well, I am proud to announce that my family showed up and showed out at First Baptist Church of Culver City today!

That’s right y’all—the Joneses had the most family and friends in our group, with a total of twenty-three!

What was the grand prize, y’all ask? Well, believe it or not, it was a fifty dollar gift card to California Pizza Kitchen. Now, considering that Candace, Vanessa, Becky, Trisha, and I had just eaten there yesterday afternoon, we sho’ coulda used that gift card… I’m just sayin’!

Nevertheless, this means that the Joneses are two-for two.

Now, I honestly cannot tell y’all if three times will be a charm, but I can guaran-damn-tee y’all that we’re gonna do our absolute damnedest to three-peat next year. After all, we are the Joneses, and it’s up to everybody else to try and keep up with us… hahahahaha!

I’m only kidding—it’s not necessary for y’all to keep up with us… hell, the Joneses have problems trying to keep up with our own damn selves—hahahahahaha!

(Side Note: My Grampa Clark used to say that all the time.)

Well, I reckon I’ll holla at y’all later, but I had to let y’all know that the Joneses won the grand prize two years in a row—and at two different churches, no less. Like I said: We shall see what happens next year.

 

 

Smooches,

Natasha

Explaining My Predicament to My Girls!

Hi, Everybody!

I tell y’all—there is absolutely nothing like chillin’ with your girls.

Yes, I am aware that I’m not back at Rust with Ruby and Azalea, but long before I met them, I always had Cousin Candace, Cousin Nessa, Cousin Trisha, and Cousin Becky… and I thank God for them all!

You see, considering the mood that I was in for the past couple days, I guess it was providentially planned for me to hang out with my cousins this afternoon. We hung out at the Santa Monica Pier, and yes—we did indeed have a grandtastical time! I knew that I was in great company with my girls because for a brief moment, I had forgotten all about my problems… that is, until Becky asked me about a certain problem that had me feeling some type of way.

For the record, Becky only asked me because she was with me when this certain incident happened on Thursday; she made mention of how my whole demeanor had changed within an instant. Not surprisingly, Becky’s curiosity prompted Candace, Vanessa, and Trisha to ask all kinds of questions.

Now, I want to say that I do not blame Becky at all for bringing it up—I guess it was only a matter of time before one of us eventually acknowledged the purple elephant in the room.

In any event, I explained my problem to my girls, ultimately discovering that I felt so much better after having bared my soul. Well, Cousin Candace spoke first; she explained in great detail that I had every right to feel how I felt. “He’s trying to reel you in his wicked web of deceit, just to see if you’re that gullible to fall for his game,” Candace warned. “Don’t you fall for his shenanigans, Girl.”

I assured Candace that I was a lot smarter than I looked, but then Cousin Trish reminded me about the lyrics to that ol’ skool song by the Main Ingredients—everybody plays the fool; ain’t no exception to the rule. Well, I responded in like manner with that classic Luther song: I don’t wanna be a fool ever again!

And that’s when Becky spoke her piece.

“Tasha, you know that you forgave him, but he doesn’t know,” she said. “Listen, Hon, the only way you’ll really feel better, is by reaching out and telling Ray that you do in fact forgive him. Go ahead and talk to him, just to see what he’s got to say. Now, here’s the caveat to that, Tasha: Just because you forgive him, that doesn’t mean that you trust him, nor does that give him carte blanche to try and woo you again. You’ve got to be sure to let him know that you’re forgiving, but not stupid.”

I thanked my girls for their input, but there was still one question that was left unanswered: Why did that jackass decide to reach out to me all of a sudden? Well, Cousin Nessa explained it perfectly:

“Tasha, I bet you anything that he got two-timed far worse than what he did to you. He may not ever tell you, but trust me when I tell ya—Homeboy got his just desserts!”

Cousin Nessa may very well have a point!

Well, the bottom line is this: I certainly feel a lot better than I did the past couple days, and I have my girls to thank. I will reach out to Ray and let him know that I forgive him, but considering that I’m still in my feelings right now, I reckon I’ll let his ass suffer just a little bit more… hahahahaha!

 

Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha

Assessing the Situation Carefully...

Hi, Everybody!

So, despite the shock of my life on yesterday afternoon, I want y’all to know that I’m in a lot better mood today. I managed to sleep like a baby last night—shoot, I slept so good last night that when I woke up, I felt like a brand-new gal! And on top of that, I just had a big home-cooked breakfast, and now I’m sitting here reading my emails.

And I’ll be damned if I didn’t receive an email from that same jackass who I encountered yesterday afternoon! Apparently, he sent me an email around eight o’clock last night, with the subject title: “Hi, Natasha.”

At first, I started not to read it, but my curiosity really got the best of me. Y’all ain’t gonna believe what this jerk wrote to me. Just listen to this shit right here:

Hi, Natasha:

Judging by the way you turned and walked away from me in the mall yesterday, it’s obvious that you’re still a little angry with me. I want you to know that I understand why you’re still angry, and I don’t blame you at all for that; after all, I did cheat on you.

Natasha, I am really, truly sorry for breaking your heart, and I know that I made matters a lot worse when I broke this disgusting news to you right before Christmas 2013—I guess I just wasn’t thinking clearly. But hey, at least I let you know straight up, as opposed to leaving you guessing. I gotta get some credit for that.

In any event, I really would like to change what happened, but the past is the past, and I cannot jump into a time machine and change anything—I can only live for the present. I also know that my future will not go right until I apologize to you. With that said, I sincerely apologize. If you don’t want to speak to me anymore, I truly understand. All I ask is that you forgive me.

--Ray

 

Okay, first of all: I made it known that I do forgive him. At the same time, I’m still feeling some kinda way about this whole situation. The more I think about it, the more pissed off I get. To tell y’all the truth, this fool has some kinda nerve to send me this bullshit email! I mean, let’s face it, he obviously didn’t care for my feelings at all when he was cheating on me. Yeah, sure—I was at Rust and I had no knowledge of it, but he made a promise to me when we were going steady, and I held him to that promise. And what really pisses me off is the fact that he actually admitted that he was cheating on me. I still remember those stinging words: “Natasha, you’re a good girl, and it hurts me to tell you that this happened—I mean, you were away in Mississippi, and I really did try to be faithful to you. I really had no intentions of hurting you—this just happened.”

Come on, now, y’all—I admit that I’m young and naïve, but I’m not stupid! And besides, his ass didn’t try hard enough!

And as far as his apology goes… well, it’s like my Gramma Jewel says: There’s a dead cat on the line somewhere. I’m serious, y’all—why is he so apologetic all of a sudden? What could’ve happened between then and now, to where he’s decided to contact me?

Well, the bottom line is this: Even though it took me a while to do so, I did forgive the rat bastard and I’ve since moved on with my life.

I’ve got some more thinking to do here. Please continue to pray for me, y’all.

And Then, This Jackass Returns!

Okay, y’all ain’t gonna believe this—I just bumped into from Ray Hernandez!

 

If y’all remember, Ray was the jackass that graduated from high school with me. He was the one who professed his love for me and gave me that bullshit about how there was no other girl who could capture his heart like me. And of course, like a dummy, I fell for his bullshit. We were an exclusive couple for most of 2013, and then later that year—around Christmas, to be exact—he played me for a fool and broke my heart.

And here it is, almost two years later, and I had the unfortunate luck of bumping into his dumb ass!

It happened this afternoon while I was at the mall, just chillin’ with Becky. We were in the food court laughing away, and I happened to hear somebody call my name. When I looked around to see who it was, I saw that dumb bastard with that stupid ass smug look on his stupid face. My whole attitude changed when I saw him, y’all—I immediately turned my back to him and kept talking to Becky. Well, Heaven help me if this jackass didn’t walk up to me and fix his stupid ass lips to say, “Hi, Natasha—it sure has been a minute.”

I ain’t lying, y’all—it was all I could do to keep from cussing his ass out right then and there. If it weren’t for the fact that I am a mature young woman, and also the fact that I was in public, I would’ve torn him a new one.

“Listen, Natasha, I understand that you’re still angry with me, and to be honest, I really don’t blame you,” he actually had the nerve to say.

I simply looked at Becky and told her that we needed to leave on account of I was feeling very uncomfortable.

Up until this afternoon, I actually had forgotten all about stupid ass Ray, and now all of a sudden, those feelings of anger and betrayal have returned and flooded my soul. I really should’ve slapped the hell out of him right then and there, but for some reason, I couldn’t.

Yes, I know what I said last year—how I was able to pick up the pieces of my broken heart and heal properly; how I managed to move on with my life and do what makes me happy; and how I had fully forgiven Ray, in spite of what he tried to do to me. Yet and still, I am pissed off all over again. I really feel like such a hypocrite.

I’m gonna need y’all to pray for me, because I’m very conflicted right now!

Let My Senior Year Officially Begin!

Hi, Everybody!

Well, here it is—a beautiful Monday evening, and I’m still here in Southern Cali. If I sound a little sad, then that’s only because the inevitable has already taken place: My senior year has officially started at Rust College, and much like that song from the Verve, it really is a bittersweet symphony.

You would think that I would be happy to be back home, if only until the end of the year, but considering that today would be my first day back at Rust and I’m still here at homebase… I’m gonna tell y’all the truth: I’m so thrown off that it’s ridiculous. Heck, I was so thrown off that I actually stayed up until about two-thirty this morning! All I did was open my bedroom window and gaze at the night sky. I just know that there was a flight at LAX around that same time, just ready to take off—hell, I betcha anything that the pilot even stalled the flight for about ten minutes, just to give me a grace period… hahahaha!

But seriously, y’all—I am aware that I’ve got an internship to take care of whilst I’m back home, and I really am ready to make the best of it. I Just know that I’m gonna enjoy working alongside Mrs. Martin for the next three months.

And at the same time, I left my heart—as well as my peeps—back at Rust.

I think I mentioned it once or twice, but I hate that I missed the roll call today. Allow me to explain in greater detail: The “Roll Call” is when Ruby and I spot Craig, Theo, and Azalea in the line during registration day, and we just yell out: “Roll Call, Y’all!” After we get everybody’s attention (everybody in the group, that is), we all run up to each other and talk about what we did over the summer, then we split up for a temporary period of time, and then we hook back up later on the evening outside on the track.

It’s like I said the other day: If absence makes the heart grow fonder, then my heart is very, very fond of my fellow Bearcats. But mark my words, y’all—as soon as my internship is done, the second semester will begin, and I’ll be on the first plane smokin’, back to Bearcat Country.

Speaking of my peeps, I received the sweetest phone call from Ruby; she let me know that she moved into Wiff Hall this time, and she’s saving the other half of the room for when I return in January. She also let me know that Theo, Craig and Azalea send their best wishes, and they’re gonna do all they can to hold down the fort until January.

Awwwwwwww… I’ve got some wonderful friends!

Well, that’s gonna do it for today, but I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow. Until then, y’all take care and be good.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Yet More Experience Under My Belt

Hi, Everybody!

Well, today is Friday, August 21, 2015, and I have officially completed my commitment at the Culver City Children’s Center. I would like to thank each and every staff member, leading up to and including my supervisor, Ms. Evelyn.

And of course, I must thank the little ones for making this chapter in my life so worthwhile. After all, if there are no students, then there are no teachers. So, kudos to those little boys and girls who inspired me to be the best darn kindergarten teacher in the whole wide world.

As y’all can see, I truly enjoyed having a summer job for the past month and a half—and yes, I am kinda sad to see it all end, but I’ve got so many memories to take with me. Besides, where this chapter ended, a new chapter is about to be written. It’s time for me to look ahead into the future… of course, I’m referring to my upcoming internship, which starts in a mere week and a half. I never thought I would live to say this, but believe it or not, I want to hit up the back-to-school sales! I’m looking forward to buying notebooks, notepads, pens, pencils, and even a backpack of my very own. I want to be fully prepared for what is in store for me when I work alongside Mrs. Ingrid Martin.

For the record: While I not spoken about Mrs. Martin too much, I have indeed kept in contact with her, and she is just as excited as I am. As a matter of fact, Mrs. Martin said that she is very excited to have such a mature energetic youngster like me to be her assistant for the upcoming fall semester… yep, those were her exact words!

Once again, this is proof that each lesson I’ve learned thus far is helping prepare me for my dream. I am showing great appreciation for every moment that I am able to teach a child, whether in a classroom setting or not.

Oh, lest I forget: Just as I was about to leave the Culver City Children’s Center, Ms. Evelyn called me into her office to speak to me. She said that she wanted me to know just how truly appreciative she was to have me on her staff, so she gave me the sweetest gift basket—it had apples and oranges, some peanut M&Ms, a couple of almond Snickers, a gift card to Best Buy, a gift card to JC Penney, and a letter of recommendation for when I go out to interviews. Now, I gotta be honest: I didn’t expect  any of this—I just expected the usual “thank you for your help” speech, and I really would’ve been content with that. I never imagined that I would receive such a heartwarming gift. Naturally, I told Ms. Evelyn that I was very appreciative, and she in turn said that I deserved the gift basket because—and these were her exact words: “Natasha, you are the best that I’ve ever seen thus far, and the best is yet to come.”

Wow—I am very touched, and very flattered!

Oh, yeah: Ms. Evelyn also said that I am always welcome to come back, be it on the payroll or to volunteer my services. “Please stay in touch, Natasha—we need more willing teachers like you,” she said.

And I gave her my word that I would definitely stay in touch.

Well, y’all—I reckon I’d better end this here blog post, but I cannot call it a night just yet. You see, it’s Fmaily Movie Night here in the Stewart household, and I used my paycheck to pitch in and order some pizzas, chicken wings, and submarine sandwiches. Now, as for the movie… well, my dad rented Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins, starring Martin Lawrence, James Earl Jones, Michael-Clarke Duncan, and Nicole Ari Parker. I’ve never seen this movie before, all things considered, and I’m very excited to finally have the opportunity to watch it with my two favorite peeps—Mom and Dad.

With that said, I’ll holla at y’all later.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Was He Flirting With Me?

Hi, Everyone!

So, check this out, y’all: I think I may have an admirer.

Notice that I said that I think I have an admirer. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, nor do I want to read too much into it, but judging by this fella’s actions this afternoon, I could very well be this guy’s crush. All I know about this fella is that his name is Winston, and he works at the sandwich shop that I frequent after I leave work.

Here’s what happened: After I clocked out of work this afternoon, I headed over to the sandwich shop to get my usual—turkey bacon avocado with Swiss cheese, mayo, and honey mustard. Anyway, while in the process of making my sandwich, Brother Winston was also making small talk with me… and yes, I obliged. He simply asked me how my day was going, and I merely responded that I had “a productively great day.” He then smiles and says: “Well, it’ll get better tomorrow—wink-wink!”

I actually thought that was a funny albeit corny joke, and I laughed.

So then, after ringing up my order, the fella says, “You know, Miss, I know that I just met you, but I can tell that you’re a teacher. You look like you’ve got the patience of Job, which is the most important characteristic that a teacher must have. As a matter of fact, you must be a kindergarten teacher.”

My eyes lit up, y’all!

“Um, how did you know I was studying to be a kindergarten teacher?” I inquired.

Without a hesitation, Brother Winston says to me: “Well, for one thing, you’ve got a great big heart, which suggests that you have a great big love for children. Not only that, but you’ve got to be a big kid at heart yourself. And dare I say, you’ve got an adorable baby face.”

And right then and there, I could feel my cheeks getting full and red—and believe me when I tell you: I was not the least bit embarrassed. I was very flattered!

Y’all do know that I’m going back to the sandwich shop tomorrow, right? Hahahahaha!


Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Flashback from Three Years Ago Today

Hi, Everybody!

So, I’m sitting up here in my room after a long day at work, and as I am writing this blog post, it just occurred to me that today is Tuesday, August 18, 2015.

Allow me to explain: Today isn’t just any old ordinary day for me—August 18 is recognized as a memorable moment of most monumental proportions.

Allow me to elaborate just a little more: It was on this day three years ag that my mom, my dad, and my Gramma Jewel went all out of their way to give me the greatest college send-off in history. To this very day, I still get a little teary-eyed when I think about how my family put up such a big fuss over me, just to make sure that I left L.A. on a high note. For the record, I didn’t plan on weeping like a baby every ten minutes, nor did I count on the time flying by like it did, but every moment was well worth it.

I also think back to that point in time where my personality changed for the better. Three years ago, I was a shy little gal who had just graduated from high school and was just about to enter college life—well, here it is, three years later today, and I am more confident than I’ve ever been. I still have my shy moments from time to time, but I’m more outgoing than I ever was. Also, in reminiscing over this flashback, I remember the many emotions that I had—the feelings of excitement, apprehension, and even fear… and no, it didn’t help matters that I was extremely homesick. I can sit back today and laugh at myself, how I was making such a fuss about wanting to go home. I know that I drove Ruby crazy every night, as I lamented that if it was up to me, I would’ve gone to USC or Cal State Long Beach. Ruby herself would remind me that since I chose Rust College, it was best for me to stick with the choice that I made.

And I am grateful that I’ve stuck it out thus far!

I know that I say this in practically every blog post, but it’s the truth: Looking back on it now, attending Rust has become the greatest decision that I ever made. If I had it to do all over again, I most certainly would. Y’all just don’t know—Rust College has been very good to me. I’ve got so many memories stored up already, and now with my senior year about to start in five days, I’m sure that there are plenty other memories that have yet to come to pass. Granted, I won’t be boarding a plane this Sunday on account of my internship, but that’s the price I’ve got to pay. I’ll say this much, though: It’s gonna feel weird not stepping on the college campus come this Monday. It’s gonna feel weird not breathing that fresh, clean Southern air (sorry, LA., but it’s the truth anyhow). And yes, I’m really gonna miss yelling out “Roll Call!” when I see Ruby, Theo, and Azalea.

But then again, all of this will happen in four months’ time.

 

 

Smooches,

Natasha

Griffith Park Has Officially Become My Favorite Place!

Hi, Everybody!

Well, I don’t know about y’all, but I had me a grantastical time this afternoon!

As I mentioned in yesterday evening’s blog post, I spent all day today with Cousin Keith, Cousin Jade, Cousin Erica, and Cousin Becky (that’s right—Becky’s my cousin now). We headed up to the Griffith Park Observatory, and as usual, when I saw that Hollywood sign, I was like a kid in a candy store! Cousin Jade was curious as to how I could be in such awe of the Hollywood sign, considering that I am a native Los Angeleno and I see it practically everyday. Well, I told Cousin Jade that it’s the simple things in life that bring so much joy, and in my case, the Hollywood sign brings me an indescribable joy. Besides, I can count on one hand exactly how many times I’ve seen the legendary sign up close, and today marks the fourth time. Becky then let the group know that she too is infatuated with the Hollywood sign; she also pointed out that most native Californians don’t really have a true appreciation for landmarks as such, but we do.

After all that fun in Griffith Park, we then headed to see the Staples Center and L.A. Live, which is almost always busy, and then we went over to Gramma Jewel’s for some fried chicken, fried fish, spaghetti, coleslaw, green salad, and garlic cheesy bread. There was an added incentive behind Gramma Jewel’s big dinner: You see, today is Cousin Erica’s last official full day here in Southern Cali, as she is set to return to Fisk University and begin her junior year. I believe she said that classes start on Wednesday, but she has to be registered and checked into a dorm by this Monday.

Oh, and for the record, Gramma Jewel made Cousin Erica a big ass care package to take with her… and no, I didn’t stutter—I did in fact say “big ass care package!”

Now, I’m sure y’all noticed that I never mentioned Great Aunt Reesie returning to Nashville with my cousins… well, that’s because she’s still out here for the remainder of this month. She’s not the only one—Great Aunt Donna, Auntie Gladys, and Auntie Millie are still out here as well, and I can assure you that there is a very strong modus operandi behind their stay: You see, on Sunday, August 30, 2015, Gramma Jewel’s church will be celebrating their Family & Friends Day. Granted, we will be short three family members, albeit for legitimate reasons, but… well, let’s just say that Gramma Jewel is looking to take home the grand prize for having brought the most family members. Just for the record, when we had our family reunion last year, we won then, and I do want us to win again this year. However, I’ve just noticed the conflict of interest: I gotta wonder where does Mother Davis stand. Seeing as how there is a prize involved, does this mean that Mother Davis will not be counted amongst our group? I mean, after all, she and Gramma Jewel have been best friends since 1977. And what about Brother Hawkins? Will he continue to keep up with the Joneses (pun definitely intended), or will he break from the vine, per se, and try to win the grand prize with his own family?

No matter what happens, I already know that this is gonna be good… this is kinda like that Royal Rumble, where it’s every wrestler for themselves!

Well, that’s it for now. I may holla at y’all tomorrow, but in case I don’t, I will definitely holla at y’all sometime this week.

 

Smooches,
Natasha

Chillin' in the Cut at Mr. Chuck's!

Happy Friday, Everybody!

 

First of all, I want to state for the record—I truly earned this weekend!

Don’t get me wrong—I had a great week, but it kinda dragged a little bit around Tuesday and Wednesday, but then it picked back up around yesterday afternoon.

And now, here we are on this beautiful Friday evening, further proving that good thing still come to those who wait.

And with that said, I also want to state for the record that I truly enjoyed my family this evening at Mr. Chuck’s restaurant… and vice-versa! Suffice it to say, we still know how to close down the place… hahahaha! Forget a great time—the Joneses had ourselves a grand ol’ time!

Now, check this out: Gramma Jewel is a regular at Mr. Chuck’s place… seriously, y’all! As soon as she walked in, everybody in the restaurant was all like: “Hey, Ms. V—long time no see!”

That’s right, y’all—Gramma Jewel is known as “Ms. V” to the other regular patrons.

Anyway, we all met up around six this evening, and Gramma Jewel had already ordered appetizers and everything. Come to find out, though, Mr. Chuck has a Happy Hour special—free appetizers between 5pm and 8pm on Fridays.

By the way, I made mention earlier on that Mr. Chuck enjoyed our company—that wasn’t an exaggeration. You see, Mr. Chuck was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, and he enjoyed our patronage so much that he wanted to pay for our bill. Well, Gramma Jewel insisted that she pay, and Mr. Chuck decided to take off twenty percent of the bill.

Overall, it was a great night with great food, great family, great friends, and great fun… and y’all already know that we took a couple pictures to commemorate this magical moment! Incidentally, Mr. Chuck asked if he could have a couple of pictures to put on his Delta Dinin’ Wall of Fame… and of course, we obliged him.

Okay, y’all—it’s getting late, and I’m feeling a little drowsy. I reckon I’ll close up tonight’s blog post and turn in for the night. Besides, my cousin Erica has one more full day out here before she returns to Fisk University this Monday, and she wants to see the Hollywood sign up close at the Griffith Park Observatory… YAY!!!

Until tomorrow, y’all—I’ll holla!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Sweet Homage to Grampa Clark

Hi, Everybody!

So, as y’all are probably aware by now, August 13 s a very special day in my family… matter of fact, as far as my family is concerned, August 13 may as well be a national holiday.

You see, it was on this very day, eighty-one years ago, that my legendary grandfather Clark Kenneth Jones was born.

As a tribute to my Grampa Clark, I decided to do something different this year. It’s no secret that My Grampa Clark was a big fan of Luther Vandross. Heck, I know for a fact that Grampa Clark had his own personal Top Ten list of favorite Luther songs… and then again,  I have my own Top Ten Luther list!

Having said that, I will close out today’s blog post by wishing a Happy Heavenly #81 to my Grampa Clark, and by playing his all-time favorite Luther hit: “Power of Love/Love Power.”

I love you, Grampa Clark!

 

 

 

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

My Girl Ruby Red

Hi, Everybody!

So, guess who I heard from today… and if you guessed that I heard from a fellow Rustite, then you’re absolutely right!

I’ve not long been home from work—it’s about a quarter past four in the afternoon (Southern Cali time). I’m in the middle of writing this blog post, and I see that I got an email from Ruby Jean Hudspeth. She’s letting me know that the Rust College upperclassmen have about a week and a half until registration starts. She also went on to tell me that classes begin on August 26, and she further states that “Bearcat Country ain’t the same without the California Vipress.”

I almost forgot about my unique nickname. I’ve got a feeling that when I graduate from Rust, they’re gonna write “California Vipress” where my government name should be… hahahaha!

All kidding aside, it’s always nice to hear from my girl… and yes, I will email her back, just as I soon I finish up this here blog post. I reckon I’ll also email the rest of the crew while I’m at it—I gotta keep in touch with the Neo One, Miss Azalea, and finally Brotha Craig.

For the record, it’s usually around this time where I am preparing to make my long-awaited return to Rust College. I guess old habits really do die hard, y’all—I was just about to call Auntie Gladys and let her known about my flight schedule, and I just now realized that: 1) I won’t be going back to Rust until the Spring 2016 semester, on account of my internship; and 2) Auntie Gladys is out here in Southern Cali!

But check this out: Why was I just about to call Great Aunt Donna, though? That’s also impossible because she too is out here in Southern Cali!

I’m gettin’ old, y’all… hahahahaha!

Well, let me go ahead and close up today’s blog post, but I shall return on tomorrow.

 

 

Smooches,

Natasha

What I Want vs. What I Need

Hi, Everybody!

Let me preface today’s blog post by saying that I really do enjoy my time at the Culver City Children’s Center. Yes, I’ve got about a week and a half left before it all ends, but I am cherishing every moment.

Now, having said that, I gotta admit that a huge part of me is sad right now. You see, my cousins from Nashville are still out here, and I really wanted to hang out with them today; they said something about heading up to the Santa Monica Pier, and then hittin’ up the Pacific Coast Highway. Well, as y’all can see, the beach ain’t nowhere in my present, given that I’m with these little ones. Heaven knows that I love these little ones, but yet and still, I wanted so bad to call out today, just because I enjoy spending time with my cousins, and I also love the beach. Now, inasmuch as I wanted to play hooky, I knew that I needed to fulfill my commitment at the Culver City Children’s Center—and as y’all can see, as much as it hurt me to do so, I made the right decision.

And then, the cutest thing happened to me after quitting time today: While I was cleaning up the kiddies’ play area, one of the little ones—a fresh-faced towheaded little fella who had to be no more than four years old—approached me and said that I looked sad. Well, I told the little fella about my dilemma (such as it was), and I kid y’all not—this little guy gave me a great big hug and said, “Oh, don’t be sad, Miss Natasha. You still have your family with you, and I’m sure that they love you very much.”

Out of the mouth of babes, though!

Right then and there, a lightbulb went off in my head. That little fella gave me something to think about: Granted, I may not have been able to hang out with my cousins at the beach today, but I still have this weekend to hang out with them! Well, I thanked the little guy for his words of wisdom, and I let him know that he was very wise beyond his years. He simply smiled and gave me another big hug.

So, this is what I’ve learned: Yes, I have a commitment to fulfill, and I’m gonnafulfill that commitment no matter what. At the same time, Cousin Keith ‘nim don’t have to leave until this Sunday—they’re taking Cousin Erica back to Fisk University; she begins her junior year on this upcoming Monday. And besides which, Gramma Jewel is planning on treating all of us to dinner at Mr. Chuck’s restaurant this Friday evening.

Oh, I sure do hope that Mr. Chuck is ready for the whole lot of us. After all, we are notorious for shutting down restaurants… I’m just sayin’!

Well, now that I’ve cleared my soul and spoken my piece, I feel so much better than I did. I guess I just needed to express my frustrations, is all… and now I feel like a thirty-pound weight has been lifted off of me.

With that said, I’ll holla at y’all later.

 

 

Smooches,

Natasha

And The Fun Continues!

Happy Monday, Everybody!

Well, the weekend has come and gone, and I’m on my lunch break at the moment. I managed to sneak in a little time to holla at y’all, if only for a moment or two.

Even though the family reunion festivities of this past weekend are completed, the fun is still running rampant… matter of fact, the fun ain’t never gonna stop. I have come to the conclusion that when the Joneses celebrate a family reunion, we celebrate it to the max! Ever since last year’s festivities, Gramma Jewel has made it a point to celebrate our family gatherings as if it was a combination of the World Series, the SuperBowl, the NBA Championship, The Stanley Cup, and WrestleMania all rolled up into one. You see, the Jones Family Reunion is more than just a family gathering—it is an annual summertime event!

And suffice it to say, we are still creating magical moments that will be talked about for years to come. Future generations of my family will look back on these moments with fondness and say: “Wow, our ancestors really knew how to party!”

Well, seeing as how I’ve got about twenty minutes or so left in my lunch break, I had better close this blog post, but I’ll will definitely holla at y’all sometime this week… I tell y’all what: I will see y’all right here on Friday, August 14, 2015!

Until then, y’all take care and be good.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Rebecca's Baptism

Happy Sunday, Everybody!

Well, let’s not waste any more time—let’s follow Gladys Knight’s advice and get on down to the real nitty-gritty, shalt we?

So, this morning at First Baptist Church of Culver City, where the Reverend Stanley D. Richardson is pastor, my family showed up and showed out! In addition to filling up the church to near capacity, we all witnessed our very own Rebecca Ann Morgan get baptized. I gotta tell y’all—it was truly a sight to behold. I’ve never been one to deny that I’m a big ol’ softie, and this morning in church was no different. When I saw Rebecca get submerged in the water and come out praising The Lord, I had tears in my eyes. It was as if I was right there with her… and in a way, I was with her.

I really wish that y’all were in church with us to witness Rebecca’s baptism. For one thing, she looked so cute up there in the baptismal pool with her bright but shy grin on her face… and incidentally, Pastor Rich mentioned that Rebecca was easy to baptize, which was very true; she didn’t put up a struggle or a fight—she just fell back naturally and re-emerged naturally.

And of course, Uncle Ronnie jokingly told Rebecca that, now that she’s been baptized, she is not allowed to cuss anymore—she can’t even think those bad words, much less say them. Naturally, Rebecca knew that Uncle Ronnie was teasing her, so she played along.

Afterwards, we all celebrated at California Pizza Kitchen in Manhattan Beach, and Rebecca gave a speech of gratitude. Still sporting a big beaming smile, she declared that she is the happiest that she has ever been, and she is still humbled, honored, and grateful that we took her up under our wings and taught her how to fly again. Rebecca went on to say: “Trust me when I tell y’all—this has been the best three years of my life thus far, and I have all-a-y’all to thank. Oh, and by the way, I still thinking about changing my last name to Jones—that way, I’ll finally be able to keep up with y’all!”

We all applauded and congratulated Rebecca again, then Gramma Jewel got up and spoke on behalf of all of us.

“Becky-Baby, I am flattered that you want to be a Jones, but you know that you ain’t gotta change your name for that—hell, you already are a Jones. And by the way, we are grateful that you look up to us, but we were nothing more than vessels used by God to guide you in the right direction. It wasn’t us that you saw—it was The Lord.”

And then Rebecca bounced back with quite a profound statement:

“Well, Aunt Tea—believe me when I tell you: I thank The Lord that He allow all-a-y’all to be my guardian angels.”

In the famous words of Mother Thelma Jean Davis: It’s all in a day’s work for The Lord’s children!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Jones Family Reunion 2015—Rockin' It Ol' Skool!

Hi, Everybody!

Well, as you can probably guess, it’s on and crack-a-lackin’ over here at my Auntie Cherri and Uncle Alex’s house! Our family reunion kicked off yesterday afternoon when Gramma Jewel had a chili cheese party—burgers, hot dogs, fries, and nachos. But that was yesterday—today, we Joneses kicked off this beautiful Saturday afternoon in full gear and in full force, right here in Long Beach, California! And as the title of today’s blog post suggests, we are rockin’ the party that’s rockin’ the body!

I guess you can say that the Joneses are here in Long Beach to kick ass and chew bubblegum. There’s just one problem , though: My cousin Vanessa only has one piece of bubblegum left… hahahaha!

And of course, we’ve got some very special guests with us—friends who may as well be family, if you weeeeeeeeeee… and yes, I gave a tribute to Big Dust and Hot Rod, all in one setting.

But back to the lecture at hand: My Gramma Jewel invited her friend Mr. Hawkins, who in turn brought along his family—daughter Ms. Janet, son-in-law Mr. Adam, and grandson Michael. I think I mentioned it last week, but it’s worth repeating again: If Gramma Jewel loves you, then you are automatically set for life. And that’s exactly the case with Mr. Hawkins and his peeps.

You know, I can’t seem to put it in words, but it seems as though everytime my family gets together, we seem to outdo ourselves. Y’all may recall our great big family photo that we took last year… well, per Gramma Jewel’s request, we took a family photo this year. Gramma Jewel explained that she wanted us to take a family photo every year for every family reunion, as our own special family tradition.

Uncle Ronnie’s response: “Whatever the Queen wants, is what the Queen will receive.”

Well, I reckon I’d better get back to the fun. Besides, I don’t want to miss the talent show. The Brown Sugar Trio is back by popular demand, and they’re gonna perform “Rappers Delight” again, much like they did last year. I can’t wait to hear Great Aunt Reesie perform Master Gee’s part again.

Okay, y’all—I holla at’cha tomorrow after church!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha