My Official Last Day of My Internship

Hi, Everybody!

Well, here we are—Tuesday, December 1, 2015… and while it’s yet on my mind, I would like to wish my Cousin Calvin a Happy #24 today. That’s right, y’all—it’s Calvin’s big day, and I’ve got a funny feeling that I know what he would like for his birthday… hahahaha! All kidding aside, Cousin Cal, I do hope that all of your birthday wishes come true, especially your one particular heart’s desire. Love ya lots!

So, today is the last day of my internship here at Carter Elementary, and I gotta tell y’all: I truly enjoyed working alongside one Mrs. Ingrid Martin! I learned so much from her lo these past three months. I am really gonna miss these little ones… but then again, it’s not time for me to head back to Rust just yet. And besides, just because my internship has officially completed, that doesn’t mean that the fall semester has ended, especially considering that I’ve already volunteered to help finish out the last couple weeks. Of course, like I mentioned a couple days ago, there’s the added incentive of playing the guardian angel in the upcoming Christmas play. We start rehearsing our parts tomorrow afternoon at around 2pm… and yes, I will be sure to give y’all an update.

Well, that’s all the news I have for today, but I shall holla at y’all tomorrow. Until then, though, y’all take care and be good.


Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha

From the Frying Pan and Into the Fire!

Hi, Y’all!

Yes, it has certainly been a good minutes since I last holla’d at y’all, but as I mentioned in my last blog post, business has picked up at Carter Elementary, and I am loving every single last minute of it!

Check this out, y’all: Mrs. Martin has decided that we will take turns teaching the kindergarteners—she will teach on Mondays and Wednesdays, I will teach on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we will alternate on Fridays. We actually implemented this plan on last Friday. While I loved the idea, I actually suggested to Mrs. Martin that we both share Fridays; she could teach in the morning and I could teach in the afternoon, or vice-versa… and I’ll be doggone if Mrs. Martin didn’t say to me: “I was hoping you would say that, Dearie.”

Great minds still think alike, y’all!

Well, since today was my day… oh, y’all already know what I’m gonna say: I had so much fun teaching the little ones today. My lesson was all about the true meaning of friendship. While I didn’t get too deep into the subject (these are little children after all, but I still didn’t want to give them too much too fast), I like to believe that I taught them what they needed to know at the moment. Of course, I had to mention my peeps at Rust… hahahaha! And why not—I mean, it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t mention Ruby and Azalea (I left Theo and Craig out for a specific reason). Some of the kindergarteners were curious as to which of my friends I liked the most, and I explained that there is no such thing as “who I like the most.” I was quick to point out that I am closer to Ruby than I am Azalea, but that doesn’t make Azalea any less my friend. I further explained that my friendship with Ruby is totally different from my friendship with Azalea, but they are both a huge part of my life, and I love them equally.

I actually marveled with delight when I saw the little ones actually nodding in approval—they understood the little that I gave them, and I was quite thrilled. In fact, I was so thrilled that I looked over at Mrs. Martin, and she simply smiled and nodded.

And yes, y’all already know what I’m gonna say, but what the hell—I’m gonna say it anyway: All of this hands-on experience is helping me reach my goal of becoming the best damn kindergarten teacher in history. I am also aware that I don’t have to be like my Grampa Clark, nor do I have to be like Mr. D, and I definitely don’t have to be like Mrs. Martin, but I can sure take their lesson and examples, alongside with that which I’ve learned at Rust, and I will definitely make my mark in history.

Until next time, y’all take it easy, and I’ll holla at y’all later.

 

 

Smooches,

Natasha

Results of Mrs. Martin's Dream Theme

Hi, Y’all!

 

Well, I’m back, and y’all have waited long enough, so let’s get right on down to the nitty gritty.

 

As you may remember from yesterday evening’s blog post, I talked about how Mrs. Martin came up with an idea for a “dream theme,” but she put me in charge of the whole assignment. Now, check this out: Usually, I’m full of ideas and brainstorms, but believe it or not, I was up until eleven o’clock last night, and my mind was absolutely blank—I mean, I ain’t have not nann one idea. I felt so ashamed of myself that I didn’t know what to do.

 

Well, it goes without saying, but the “Dream Theme” was a major success today!

 

After we said our morning prayer and had our greetings and salutations, Mrs. Martin let the kiddies know that I would be teaching for the entire day. As I walked up to the front of the classroom, the little kiddies gave me a sweet applause… and from out the corner of my eye, I saw some half sheets of blank green paper and a small box. Just like that, I received a miraculous idea! Instantly, I handed out the half sheets of paper and asked the little ones if they remembered what we talked about yesterday. When they all said yes, I instructed them to write down their names and what they wanted to be when they grew up, then put their paper in the box when they were done. After the last child placed his paper in the box, I let the kiddies know that we were going to pretend that I was a talk show host and Mrs. Martin would be the camera crew. I promised the little ones that I would interview each and every last one of them, even if we had to use the whole school day to do so.

 

As Mrs. Martin looked on, I pulled a name out of the box and called the chosen child up to the front so I could “interview” them on what they wanted to be when they grew up. All thirty-five darlings interviewed very well, but I gotta be a little partial right here—I got excited when I interviewed Max, mainly because I remember his answer about how he wanted to be rich… and incidentally, Max was the last child (save the best for last indeed). Well, Max explained that he wanted to be rich because his mom’s favorite song is “I Wanna Be Rich” by Calloway, and his mom sings the song so much that he made up in his mind to save all his money when he grew up, just so he can split it with his family.

 

Bless his little heart—I promise y’all that Max is gonna see to it that his dream comes true!

 

Well, with ten minutes left in the school day, my project was complete, and I turned the class back over to Mrs. Martin, who asked the little ones to give me another round of applause. I couldn’t help it—I started blushing, and then I did a bit of a curtsy. Afterwards, Mrs. Martin let the little ones know that their dreams would indeed come true, so long as they keep the faith and hold on.

 

After the dismissal bell rang, Mrs. Martin and I both wished the little ones well, and then she turned right to me and gave me a big hug for a job well done. I thanked Mrs. Martin for the compliment, but I also let her know that I literally thought of that idea at the eleventh hour. She looked at me and said, “But the bottom line is, Dearie, that you persevered to the very end, and that’s what being a real teacher is all about. I could tell that you didn’t have anything planned until you saw that stack of paper, but you played it off so well—you were quick on your feet and you didn’t miss a beat. Plus, you proved to yourself that you definitely have what it takes to be a kindergarten teacher. Kudos to you, my dear.”

 

Okay, y’all—do I really need any more affirmation and confirmation? I mean, it’s all but etched in stone… hahahaha! But seriously, that was really sweet of Mrs. Martin to say.

 

Until next time, y’all take care.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

The Internship Saga Continues...

Hi, Everybody!

 

So, much like y’all would expect me to say (at least for another three months), it certainly was an interesting start to Week Three of my internship at Carter Elementary.

 

Mrs. Martin had a fun assignment for the class today; she went around the room and asked the little ones what they wanted to be when they grew up. I gotta admit—I kinda got a little giddy when she asked that question, and that’s because she asked me that same question when I was a wee little one… hahaha! Before I knew it, I started jumping up and down like I was five years old again, and then I cut off my excitement and sat back down… LOL!

 

In any event, the kiddies had some very interesting answers. Of course, there were the usual responses like doctor, teacher, and police officer, and then there were some responses that I didn’t expect—lawyer, judge, singer, and chef.

 

And then there was this one little girl named Alice, who I believe has walked this earth once upon a time—when it was her turn, she stood right up and boldly declared: “I wanna be like my mommy when I grow up. She takes care of me, my brother, and my daddy, and she’s her own boss at her job. She’s got it goin’ on!”

 

Before I could catch myself, I shouted, “Go ‘head on, Girl!”

 

And just when I thought that I had heard it all, along comes this one fella named Max… and there was no shame in Max’s game, either! He had an answer that made me and Mrs. Martin look at each other and almost holla. Max stood up and said, “I want money, lots and lots of money—I wanna be rich!”

 

Mrs. Martin chuckled a bit, but she was able to keep a straight face… I on the other hand wasn’t so fortunate. Matter of fact, I looked at Max and said, “I hear you, Buddy—I wanna be rich, too. I tell you what: We can both help each other out with that goal.”

 

Would y’all believe that Max smiled, winked at me, and said, “It’s a deal, Miss Natasha!”

 

I tell y’all—these little ones continue to prove Mr. Linkletter’s point in saying just the darnedest things!

Now, check this out, y’all: After the school day ended, Mrs. Martin said that I showed the mark of a true teacher by encouraging Max’s answer. I responded by saying: “Well, Mrs. Martin, when I heard Max’s answer, it reminded me of when I was in your class, and I told you that I wanted to be like every woman in my family, from my Gramma Jewel to my mommy, and you smiled and said to me, ‘Go for it, Dearie—you can achieve that very dream if you hold on and keep the faith!’”

 

Mrs. Martin smiled at me and said, “Yessiree, Bob—I know within my whole heart that you will make a darn good kindergarten teacher. I tell you what: Tomorrow’s class assignment will be a ‘dream theme,’ and I want you to teach the class tomorrow. As a matter of fact, I want you to spearhead the entire assignment.”

 

I simply looked at Mrs. Martin, shook her hand, and declared: “I accept that challenge!”

 

So, with that said, let me close up this evening’s blog post and do some brainstorming. I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Startling Revelation Regarding the Sciences

Happy Wednesday, Y’all!

First of all, I want to wish a Happy 44th Birthday to my Aunt Glo! I trust that Uncle Gregory, Cousin Matt, and Cousin Trisha are treating you like the queen that we all know you are. Keep on celebrating the entire month, Aunt Glo—love ya lots!

Before I delve into the topic of today’s blog post, I want to state for the record that I have never claimed to know everything. Sure, I may act like I know everything, but the truth of the matter is that I can pretend very well… okay, I have to fix that lie, too! I’m not that great of a pretender.

I said all of that to say this: Today was the first day of classes here at Rust, and I was given a rather startling revelation when I discovered that science and social science are two separate entities. Do you recall in yesterday’s blog post when I mentioned that both classes should be combined on account of the science? Well, y’all should’ve seen my face when I discovered the dichotomy of the two. First of all, they are similar in that they use the same scientific model in order to obtain information. They also have general laws that each science apply in their respective applications.

Now, here’s where we come to the differences: For starters, science (or natural science, as it is commonly called) is more familiar with the study of the physical and natural behaviors and phenomena without the social, cultural, or the human context or aspect. In other words, natural science deals with nature. As for social science, it pertains to the behavior of humans as a people, human societies, their production and operations. Social Science also deals with the cultural and human context, and tries to explain how the world works. Its main aim is to study the complex and changing phenomena that occur in human and social life and their interactions with one another.

And now that I think about it, I should’ve known that social science dealt with people, mainly because it is… well, social! Nevertheless, I learned a great deal in both classes today, as is evidenced by today’s blog post. Oh, and I forgot to mention yesterday: I’m taking regular science at 8am, and I’m taking Social Science at 1pm. I’m actually thinking about taking an elective at 10:30am, just for the hell of it, but I’m not so sure if I want to do so just yet. Besides, I only have so many more classes until I have completed my Bachelor’s Degree. I’ll probably take an elective during summer school.

Okay, y’all—that’s gonna do it for today. I’ll holla at y’all later.

Peace Out,
Natasha

More Profound Knowledge About Rust College

Hi, Everyone!

My great-great grandmother Bernice Brown was once quoted as saying: “The only way you stop learning is when The Heavenly Father calls you from earth to Glory.”

Well, as y’all know, we are in Black History Month, and as an aspiring teacher, I have gained this thirst for knowledge and trivia… you know, I really don’t know where I’m going with this introduction, so I’m just gonna cut right to the chase: Do y’all remember a blog post from September, in which I talked about the history of Rust College? I had made mention of and further explained why Rust was first to give some learning unto those who were set free… well, special thanks to a fellow Rustite who graduated Class of 1999, I learned something else.

Check this out, y’all: Before the Civil War, higher education for African Americans was darn near nonexistent. Those who did receive schooling, such as Frederick Douglass, often studied in clandestine and oftentimes hostile settings. Some were even forced to teach themselves, period! I was also surprised to learn that most historically black colleges and universities (or HBCUs for short) were established after the Civil War, and most are located in former slave states and territories. It’s no secret that HBCUs are the backbone of higher education for African Americans, and continue to produce present and future leaders, doctors, and educators.

And, in addition to everything else mentioned, Rust College is the oldest HBCU in the state of Mississippi—I’m talking about the overall state of Mississippi.

The NBC theme still rings true to this day: The more you know…

Until tomorrow, y’all have a gooden!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

In Loving Memory of Russell "The Professor" Johnson

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

As you can see, today’s blog post is dedicated to the loving memory of Russell David Johnson, whom we all came to know and love as Dr. Roy Hinkley—a.k.a. the professor from Gilligan’s Island.

Mr. Johnson was 89 years old when he passed away in his sleep this past Thursday at his home in Bainbridge Island, Washington. When word got out about his passing the other day, I immediately went to Google so I could find a decent picture of Mr. Johnson portraying the lovable professor… and this was the best picture I could find! The reason why I don’t particularly care for this picture is because of the episode itself. You see, Professor Hinkley was trying to convince his fellow castaways that voodoo was nothing more than silly superstition, and while he was explaining this, he wound up being hypnotized by a voodoo priest.

Ironic, ain’t it? Well, here’s some more irony for you: I actually love that episode!

My other favorite episode is where Mr. & Mrs. Howell explain to Professor Hinkley that Gilligan and Skipper somehow found themselves pasted to the S.S. Minnow, thanks in part to some glue that Gilligan had made. Well, Professor Hinkley explains to the Howells that the glue is permanent and there is nothing on the island that can dissolve it. Professor Hinkley then goes on to say: “Do you what that would take? It would take a polyester derivative of an organic hydroxide molecule.” Well, upon hearing this, Mrs. Howell looks away in disgust, while Mr. Howell scolds Professor Hinkley: “Watch your language! You’re in the presence of a lady!”

The whole scene is funny to me, all things considered—and check this out: Professor Hinkley actually apologizes for his “language” (such as the case was)… hahahaha!

And speaking of his language, it was reported that Mr. Johnson requested that the scientific jargon and intellectual lingo be legitimate in order to play the role of such a knowledgeable character. Now, that is what I call true passion for developing one’s character.

Now, I am aware that Mr. Johnson was in various movies and dramas, and even some westerns; however, he will forever in my heart be known as Professor Hinkley. I surely hope he’s having fun up there with Gilligan, the Skipper, too, and the millionaire and his wife.

Thanks for the knowledge, Professor Hinkley—and thank you for your great acting skills, Mr. Johnson!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Twenty Trivial Tidbits

Photo credit: sweetfudge.com

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

Today’s blog post is like none other I’ve ever written. Seeing as how I am studying to be a teacher, and also it is common knowledge that no one ever stops learning, I’ve decided to dedicate today’s blog post to an email that I received from fellow aspiring teacher Nikki Douglas.

The following is some trivial tidbits—some of which I knew, and others that I only learned since reading Nikki’s email:

·         The “Dogs Playing Poker” series of sixteen paintings were done by C.M. Coolidge in 1903, commissioned as cigar ads. Two sold at an auction for close to $600,000.

·         The Code of Hammurabi, which was written around 1750 BC, included a provision for the death penalty if a tavern owner watered down the beer.

·         Tulips are actually native to the Middle East, and were first brought to Europe by the Dutch ambassador to Iran in the 16^th Century.

·         Not only do fingers have unique prints, but so does the tongue (I can imagine a court case: “Officer, I can prove that he’s the one who licked the spoon!”).

·         The largest individual flower on earth is the Rafflesia Arnoldis, which grows in the jungles of Southeast Asia. It can grow to be three feet wide.

·         New York’s current Grand Central Terminal opened in 1913 and has forty-four platforms—this is more than any other train station in the world.

·         Major League Baseball began in 1869, which is the year that the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings was established.

·         In the first episodes of Sesame Street, Oscar the Grouch was orange as opposed to green. He has a pet worm named Smiley, and a pet elephant named Fluffy.

·         The tallest point in the continental United States is California’s Mount Whitney, which is just eighty miles from the lowest point in the U.S., Death Valley.

·         The longest chairlift in the world is the Magic Mile, on Oregon’s Mount Hood. It takes skiers about six minutes to ride for 5,500 feet.

·         The geographic center of the 48 contiguous United States is in Lebanon, Kansas. The geographic center of North America is in Rugby, South Dakota.

·         The trademarked Tiffany Blue color is officially known as “Pantone #1837.” Not coincidentally, 1837 is the year that Tiffany & Co. was founded.

·         The Cat in the Hat, the iconic children’s story that was published over fifty years ago, contains only 236 words… and some great pictures.

·         During the height of the Beanie Baby fad in the 1990s, the most prized animal was a dark blue Peanut the Elephant, and Bongo the Monkey.

·         The guy with the top hat in the Monopoly game is known as “Rich Uncle Moneybags.” His first name is supposedly Milburn.”

·         In order to run the length of the Great Wall of China, one would have to run 171.8 marathons—consecutively!

·         The Wal-Mart chain began with one small store in Bentonville, Arkansas; it was called Walton’s Five & Dime.

·         The tallest cactus species is the Pachycereus pringlei, which is native to Mexico and can grow to be 63 feet high.

·         A cranberry can be tested for ripeness by dropping it on the ground. A fully ripened cranberry should bounce like a basketball.

·         The Guinness Book of World Records is actually in the Guinness Book of World Records, for being the most often stolen book from public libraries.

These are but twenty trivial tidbits. There are more, but I’ll save them for a later blog post. Until then, y’all have a good rest-of-the-weekend.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

My Humanities Paper Is Complete!

Good Saturday Afternoon, Y’all!

I think I went to bed around two o’clock this morning (Mississippi time)—oh, I’ve been gettin’ it in on these papers, I tell ya what!

In this go-round, I dedicated all my time to my Intro to Humanities final exam paper. As I mentioned in an earlier blog from this week, I had to write a five-page paper about my favorite work of art, my favorite literary piece, or my favorite musical piece. Well, I kept my promise and I remembered my paper from my Fine Arts class where I wrote about God’s sunsets. Now, whereas I did copy and paste, I also remembered what I learned in my English classes from my freshman year, and I cited my very own paper as a reference.

In terms of my favorite musical piece, I mentioned The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II, and Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss… I don’t think the two gentlemen are related, but then again, anything’s possible. Anyway, apart from the reason that these two classical pieces are my favorites, I may have mentioned in my paper that I’m actually a fan of classical music; as a matter of fact, it is because of these two legendary classical pieces that I’m contemplating joining the Rust College Band before I graduate. The only caveat is that I need to learn to play an instrument, but that’s another story for another day. And don’t worry, y’all—I was very careful not to mention my added incentive for choosing Also Sprach Zarathustra… let’s just say that I relate that classical piece to a gentleman named Ric Flair! Hahaha!

And finally, as it relates to a literary piece, I chose a poem by Langston Hughes, entitled Mother to Son. The first couple of lines are quite interesting, as the mother drops some knowledge and wisdom on her son with the following line: “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” She goes on to explain the deformities and blemishes that encountered while climbing her personal stairs. And yes, y’all—while I admit that I am no poet, I dug deep down into this particular poem, and I have a newfound respect for it. You see, this poem is basically pointing out that life ain’t as easy as we think. A perfect example of that would be the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis. He had a dream that he would be a ruler, but he had to go through some stuff in order to get to that level. The same could be said for me; I desire to be a teacher, but even I gotta admit that the journey is a rather lengthy one, full of detours and roadblocks, and all kinds of distractions.  It sho’ ain’t easy, but at the same time, I acknowledge that it’s very rewarding so far.

Okay, y’all—I gotta take a little break and walk around the track to clear my head before I work on my final paper. I’ll holla at y’all later.

Peace Out,
Natasha

Words of Wisdom from Auntie Gladys, Tho!

Hi, Everyone!

So, Auntie Gladys and I just had a hearty breakfast—blueberry pancakes, bacon, sausage, hash browns, fruit salad, and scrambled eggs with shredded cheese. I’m pretty full right now, yet I keep sneaking in and getting another piece of cantaloupe or honeydew melon… hahaha!

By the way, Auntie Gladys is a hoot and a half. She’s been entertaining me with stories from her college days, and almost all of her stories involve some kind of adventure with my Gramma Jewel. I believe I mentioned this once upon a time, but Gramma Jewel and Auntie Gladys were roommates in their freshman year at Rust—and that was in 1953. She was telling me a story last night about how she and Gramma Jewel had this weekly track and field competition. Here’s how it went down: They both claimed to be the fastest runner of ‘em all, so they decided to have a race. The winner would have bragging rights, and the loser would pay for the other’s lunch. Auntie Gladys said that more often than not, the races would end in a tie, so they would race again. If the second race ended in a tie, they would race again until someone fell out… and Auntie Gladys said that there was one particular time where Gramma Jewel said: “The hell with this—I forfeit, now let’s go to lunch!”

That does sound a lot like Gramma Jewel, especially when she’s had enough… hahahaha!

And I just noticed something amazing: Here we are, about 60 years later, and I have a roommate who I consider to be my best friend… y’all already know that I’m talking about my girl Ruby Red (that’s Ruby’s nickname). And would you believe that Auntie Gladys pointed that out? As a matter of fact, her exact words were: “Tasha-Honey, you betta hold on to Ruby, and don’t let go of Theo, either. When y’all came over for dinner a couple Saturdays ago, I could tell that y’all would be as tight as superglue and titanium steel. Trust me when I tell ya, Tasha—after y’all graduate from Rust in a couple years, y’all gon’ redefine the phrase ‘best friends forever.’ Watch what I tell ya!”

 

You know, I was always taught to listen to my elders, in particular those who are willing to share their wisdom. Well, much like my Gramma Jewel, my Auntie Gladys has such wisdom in her words. She ain’t 77 years old for nothin’; she’s seen it, lived it, and done it.

I’m thinking now—when I get back to the campus, I’m gonna challenge Ruby to a race… hahahaha!

Anyway, I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow. Take care!

Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha

Droppin' Some Knowledge at Rust College

Hi, Everyone!

So I’m leaving class, and on my way to my dorm, I hear some guy yelling out for someone named “Li’l Mama.” I kept on walking, because quite honestly, I didn’t think he was talking to me, until he said, “Oh, so you gon’ act like you don’t hear a brotha, huh? Why you actin’ all sidity?”

I saw that he was with his buddies, so to keep from embarrassing him, I paused for a moment, then I asked him, “You were talking to me?”

“Yeah, I was talkin’ to you,” he answered, as his buddies looked on. “I kept sayin’ ‘Hey, Li’l Mama’ like, three or four times.”

“But that’s not my name. My name is Natasha—Natasha Renee Stewart.”

His face dropped as his buddies began to laugh at him.

“I didn’t mean nothin’ by it; I was just sayin’…”

“I knew what you meant, but just to let you know, I’m more accustomed to being called ‘Miss.’ These other chicks may respond to that other rigmarole, but I’m not one of those chicks.”

And as I walked away, I heard one of his buddies say, “Damn, Dawg—that girl just straight clowned yo ass!”

I kinda giggled when I heard that, but it really was not my intent to clown the brotha or make him look bad in front of his buddies. And I meant what I said, too: If he had referred to me as “Miss,” then I would’ve given him my full attention. Call me old-fashioned—and yes, I know I’m only 18 years old—but that’s who I am.

Until next time, take it light!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha