Back At Bearcat Country, And All Is Well!

Happy New Year, Everybody—and greetings from Bearcat Country!

That’s right, y’all—I am back at Rust College, and I am ready to take it to… a whole nutha level! Now, I would like to state for the record that I had a great New Year’s Day celebration with my family… and of course, it was a double celebration, what with my Cousin Vanessa turning 26 and all (she’s a New Year Baby, don’t’cha know). And of course, there was my last Sunday at St. Matthew Baptist Church, where Pastor Clark asked me to give my church family a brief oratory. Well, never one to back down—especially nowadays—I walked up to the podium and said, “Well, all I have to say to you, my church family, is this: We are literally three months and counting until that great day that I, Natasha Renee Stewart, receive my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.”

And I trust that 2016 kicked off in a big way for each and every one of you… shoot, just by the mere fact that this is Day #4 of a brand-new year is a great testimony for all of us. Millions didn’t make it, but I’m so grateful that I’m one of the ones who did.

So, as I am typing up this blog post, so many thoughts are running through my mind. For starters, I was totally thrown for a loop when I saw the results of the tornado that touched down just a few weeks ago. I couldn’t do anything except say a prayer for those who lost lives and homes, and then I thanked God that he spared my girl Ruby—after all, I’ve looked at Ruby as the sister that I never had, and her mom and dad have become my second parents lo these four years.  I am also grateful that Rust College is still standing strong, and that Ruby and I are this close to graduation.

And speaking of which, I got preregistered this morning, and much like I figured, I have only one class left that pertains to my studies, and it’s not until the fourth module. What am I gonna do with all this time on my hands? I mean, the last thing I need is an idle mind—and we all know who uses that for a workshop! Well, I’ve got plenty ways to keep busy, so I’m be pretty darn occupied until the fourth module.

Well, y’all, I really hate to cut this blog post short, but I gotta do so. Besides, it’s my first day back, and Ruby, Azalea, and I are having our first girls’ night since summer school… and y’all know that they wanna know what happened when I met up with Ray the other day!

Until tomorrow, y’all be good.


Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha

The Latest News Stories, with Natasha Renee Stewart

Hi, Everybody!

Notwithstanding my internship at Carter Elementary, there is so much going on that I feel like I should be a newscaster on the KTLA Morning News.

First and foremost, the countdown is officially on! We are literally one week from celebrating my Gramma Jewel’s fourscore birthday. That’s right, y’all—in exactly seven days, my Gramma Jewel will be eighty years old! This past Saturday, my family and I had our last meeting, and we tied up any and all loose ends in order to put together a great celebration for our beloved matriarch. Now, I still can’t tell y’all what we planned, for fear that even the tiniest bit of information may get back to Gramma Jewel, but I can say that she will really love what we have in store for her.

In other news, I got another email from “he who shall not be named” yesterday evening, but I didn’t read it until I got home.  He begins by saying that Rust College must be keeping me pretty busy on account of he hadn’t heard from me in over a month. Just for the record, I love that he still thinks I’m back at Rust—I want that jackass to keep thinking that, too! My plan is working all too well, and that’s a good thing, because I still won’t allow myself to contact him until I feel damn good and ready. Now, check this out, y’all: He also decided to quote Tyrese’s new song and say that he is ashamed of himself for doing me wrong... and when I read that bullshit, I instantly holla’d. If he thinks that singing songs from Tyrese is gonna win me back, then he really needs to go and come again. Besides, my women’s intuition is still cuttin’ up sideways. Like I said a month ago: I was smart enough to forgive him, but I am not stupid enough to trust him. And yes, eventually I will make contact with him, but on my terms—and seeing as how he still believes I’m at Rust, I’m gonna see to it that his ass waits until mid-December.

Well, that’s all the news I have for this evening, but until next time, y’all keep it here for the latest updates… hahahaha!

 

 

Smooches,

Natasha

The Ball is in MY Court, Now!

Hi, Everybody!

Friday couldn’t get here quick enough. I’m gonna tell y’all right now—a sista is beat down!

Don’t get me wrong—this was yet another great week of my internship, and I enjoyed every moment with the little ones at Carter Elementary, but I’m just worn out, is all, and I think I know what happened: Labor Day threw me off earlier this week, and then I had to bounce right in it and hit the salt mines the very next day. I was some kinda discombobulated on Tuesday morning, but the kindergarteners were my rocket fuel, as always.

And now, on to the real reason behind today’s blog post.

So, I’m checking my email, and I see that I’ve gotten a reply from one “he who shall not be named.” Just listen to this:

Hi, Natasha,

It sure was great to hear from you again. This lets me know that you don’t hate me, but I don’t know why I would think that because there isn’t an ounce of hatred within you. Nevertheless, I do thank you for forgiving me—I really do appreciate it.

I sure would like to hear your voice again, because I need to talk to you. I’m almost certain that you deleted my phone number—and again, I don’t blame you one iota—but seeing as how you’ve given me another chance, I’m sending you my number again. I realize that the ball is in your court, and I cannot force you to call me, but I do look forward to hearing from you. If that means waiting until the Christmas vacation, then so be. I’m willing to wait until then, but in the meantime, you have a great time in this, your final year at Rust.

--Ray

Well, for starters, I am glad he realizes that I hold the power, per se… yet for some reason or another, I get the feeling that he’s just saying all this shit just to play with my affections. What if he’s trying to manipulate me into his deceitful game? What if he’s trying to get me to let my guard down, just so he can hurt me again? Let’s just be honest here: I forgive him, but I ain’t said shit about trusting him! Experience has made me a touch wiser, and he’s gonna have to start all over again and regain my trust…

Oh, but I just thought about something: He thinks that I’m back at Rust! He doesn’t know that I’m out here in Southern Cali fulfilling my internship commitments.

HOT DAMN—THE BALL IS SHO’ NUFF IN MY COURT!!!

I can be the sweet little girl with the big heart, or I can be the vindictive little Vipress that can strike without warning… (insert evil laughter right here—hahahahahaha)!

I’m really gonna need y’all to pray for me.

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

Looks Like I'm Way Ahead of Schedule, Y'all!

Good Tuesday Afternoon, Everybody!

 

First thing’s first: I want to wish a Happy 28th Birthday to my sister-for-life, Miss Rebecca Ann Morgan. I know that you’re killin’ em back home at Chamberlain University… academically, that is! Keep on doin’ whatcha doin’, and watch your dreams come true. Celebrate your day in style, because it is yours after all!

Y’all, I find it quite ironic that I left chilly California to come back to cold-ass Mississippi… hahaha! Seriously, y’all—it’s 12:30pm CST, and it is somewhere between mid 30s and upper 40s out here in Holly Springs! And what’s so bad about it, it is to my understanding that it is warm and sunny back home in Los Angeles.

Such a cruel twist of fate.

Well, anyway, I figure that I had some time to update my blog and give y’all a heads-up on my classes for this semester. For the third module, I’m taking Social Science for Teachers, and Science for Teachers—and no, that is not a typographical error. Now, if you ask me, I think that the two classes should be combined, seeing as how they both are discussing science in some kinda way. Heck, I think it makes sense to combine the two classes—I mean, am I wrong, or am I wrong?

In any event, for the fourth module, I’m taking Methods of Middle School Instruction, Integrative Teaching Seminar, and Educational Technology. I’m kinda interested in the last class, mainly because I’m intrigued by the name—educational technology. I’m almost certain that it’s no walk in the park, and seeing as how this class counts towards my Bachelor’s Degree, I’ve got no choice but to take it.

Yet and still, the title alone has really piqued my interest, and that’s not a bad thing—that’s a good thing!

And I just took a look at my catalog, and… oh my goodness, y’all! Let’s just put it this way: Not counting my internship, I’ve got two classes left, and I am officially done! And speaking of my internship, I need to get that in order real soon—like yesterday! I reckon I’ll set up an appointment or a meeting with my academic advisor and get my internship squared away. I also need to call Principal Wilson at Sapp Elementary and let her know that we’re approaching the due date. Just as a safety precaution, I had better call my kindergarten teacher Mrs. Martin and keep her in the loop as well.

Wait a minute—I just realized something else: My internship is for fourteen weeks, and that means that I’ll be home for longer than the summer… YIPEE!!!

Of course, this means that I’ll be away from Ruby Red and Neo Theo, but I’ll be back in time for my commencement… y’all, it is definitely on and crack-a-dack-a-lackin’ up in this piece!

Well, I gotta close up today’s blog post, but I’ll holla at y’all later with a status update.


Peace Out,

Natasha

My Future Looks Very Bright, Y'all!

Hi, Everyone!

Wow! This is my third consecutive blog post in a row—THAT’S PHENOMENAL!!!

I want you all to know that this here final module of my sophomore year is truly bringing out the best in me. I really don’t recall the last time I was this busy, but I still say that it’s all worth it. And besides, this is the only time I have had to cut down on blog posts, so this is actually a rarity.

Nevertheless, let’s get on down with the getdown!

In yesterday’s blog post, I made mention of the upcoming Class of 2014 commencement, and it got me to thinking about my own graduation. You see, this module is coming to a close in just two and a half weeks, and once I take my final “final exam” (I really tried to avoid redundancy… LOL), I will officially become an advanced junior. Then again, I’ve been taking a lot of junior classes this semester, so I’m probably gonna be an advanced senior. But anyway, the point that I’m trying to make is this: Summer School is right around the corner, and seeing as how I won’t be home until May 31, I’m gonna knock out all the classes that I can, just so I will be able to walk that aisle in two years’ time.

Y’all think I’m dreaming, but I’m not the only one—Ruby and Theo are totally with me on this one. The three of us have made a promise to one another that we ain’t gonna be caught slippin’ come to the big day. I know my graduation is not for another two years, but I’m still ultra-excited! I can clearly envision my entire family watching with awe and glee, as the announcement is made: “Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, Miss Natasha Renee Stewart!”

And the crowd goes wild—heck, there might even be a “Vipress” chant… hahaha!

Okay, now that I’ve officially had my silly moment, I can close up today’s blog post; besides, I’ve gotta get mentally prepared for my Psychology of Exceptional Students class in a few hours. Did y’all catch that inside joke I made? I actually used “mentally” and “psychology” in the same sentence… hee-hee-hee! I’ll holla at y’all later.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Last Blog Post... of January 2014!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

So, as y’all are aware, today is Friday, January 31, 2014, and that brings to mind a certain someone who is celebrating their 78^th Birthday today…

Happy Birthday, Great Aunt Donna—and please don’t try to sing… hahaha! Seriously, though: Celebrate your #78 like I know you can. I love you lots!

Well, seeing as how we have reached the last day of January 2014, it’s time to do some celebrating. As you know, I’ve got a birthday coming up in literally ten days—if The Lord allows me February 10, 2014, then I will have lived two decades on this earth. Yes, in ten days’ time, I will officially hit the big 2-0! Hey, this is a big deal for a little lady like me; it means that I will no longer be in my teens, but I’ll also have a year before I’m legal… hahaha! Now, I don’t know if my mom and dad are gonna pay a surprise visit like they did last year, nor do I know if my peeps in Memphis and Nashville have something in store, but I do know that they love me a whole lot. Truthfully, I don’t want to do anything special for my birthday—if anything, I would be satisfied with a double cheeseburger with chili cheese fries, and some chocolate cake and butter pecan ice cream… y’all forget that I’m a simple gal.

In other news, I did write and mail off my letter to Mrs. Martin, my kindergarten teacher. I forgot most of what I had written to her, but I do remember mentioning that I would be out of school in about three months, and that I would be more than delighted to speak to her kindergarteners when I make my return this summer. As I may have mentioned in yesterday’s blog post, I didn’t get a chance to meet up with my favorite (and only) kindergarten teacher on account of some personal and family-related stuff—and I did apologize to her for my absent-mindedness, but hopefully there’s an opportunity for us to meet up for once. I also mentioned yesterday that, sometime soon or in the not-too-distant future, I will dedicate a blog post to Mrs. Ingrid Martin, the lady who helped shape me into the woman that I am today.

Okay, y’all—that’s it for today, but I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow. Until then, y’all have a great one!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Early Preparation for Summer Vacation, Tho!

Hi, All!

So, I’m sure y’all read the title of today’s blog post and thought to yourselves: “Natasha know she be on it!” And I bet that’s exactly how y’all said it, too… hahaha!

Well, anyway, I figure that there is no time like the present to plan ahead for my upcoming summer vacation. Yes, I am aware that my summer vacation officially starts on May 31, 2014 (immediately after summer school ends), but y’all know how I like to plan ahead!

The biggest news in my family right now revolves around our family reunion, which will take place in about seven months’ time. I know that I mentioned this on more than two occasions, but considering that our last reunion was around Gramma Jewel’s 76^th Birthday, it’s time to get excited all over again! I’m already excited because I’m finally gonna get a chance to visit the birthplace of my Gramma Jewel and my Great Aunt Reesie… that’s right, y’all—our family reunion will be held in Ruleville, Mississippi! Seeing as how Gramma Jewel and Great Aunt Reesie (also known as Double-Double Trouble, and that’s another story for another day) are the matriarchs of the family, they decided upon their birthplace as the setting for our gathering. We’re gonna start in Nashville, Tennessee, then meet up in Memphis, and finally caravan to Ruleville, Mississippi. Y’all may hear me talk about this some more until this grandtastical event finally comes to pass—and by then, I’ll be talking about in even greater detail!

My family reunion notwithstanding, I’m also excited about going back to Cali, but this time for an even better reason: You see, I got a letter from my kindergarten teacher Mrs. Ingrid Martin last week, and she explained that she is looking forward to me showing to talk to her class once I’m out of school. Upon reading her letter, I got to thinking how Mrs. Martin and I were supposed to meet up this past December, but my schedule was a little discombobulated. Therefore, if The Lord allow us the opportunity, we can meet up this summer. And while it’s fresh on my mind right now, I had better start writing a reply to my favorite (and only) kindergarten teacher. Oh, and yes, y’all—one day soon, I’ll be dedicating a blog post to Mrs. Martin, just so y’all can really get to know her.

 

So, as you can see, my summer vacation is shaping up real good… not only that, but thinking about the summer has kinda warmed me up mentally, given that it’s still freakin’ cold out here!

Until tomorrow, y’all have a gooden.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha