Don't let a guy steal your diamonds

It was THE perfect day.

As the sun danced across the palm leaves and snuck between cracks to create mystical patterns on the ground, the birds sang sweetly in the bushes. The aromatic scent of roses wafted through the air with a bee gently floating towards the pollen as mother nature took its course. The breeze caressed the silk wrapped columns, wisping strands of curled ribbons in the air. The guests were seated, some milling around to greet other persons, air kisses being exchanged, cocktail being served and everything was perfect.

The ring on her finger gave away the telltale story of the events earlier at the church. She was now Mrs.

Nothing could spoil this moment, absolutely nothing, as she was on cloud nine.

Four years later, she's battling depression, lost weight due to stress and gets frustrated at the sound of her baby crying. She sits at the table to calculate her bills that she will have to manage on her own since her husband left and started his life with someone else eight months ago. As she totaled the amount, the cash for gold ad ran across the screen of her TV and she turned her gaze to the diamond ring on her hand that just caught the sunlight streaming in through an open window.

The point of that story is to show you how men rob us of our gold/diamonds even if they don't come physically to do so.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend !!!

That statement was not made lightly years ago. It was made because it is true. Diamonds are cold, it has no feeling and it does not discriminate. But one thing is for sure, it looks damn good with black.

Women, you know your worth, you know you deserve diamonds; when you finally get them, cherish it. Don't let a guy make you lose your diamonds. At the end of the day, it's worth more than him; especially when he turns out to be the big disappointment in your life. Keep your diamonds/gold. It's better to go and melt it and make something you really want so it doesn't represent him than to sell it.

xoxo

The original DivaKnockoff

ps: for those of you in a relationship and waiting years for the diamond to come to you, more than likely it has already been stolen without you even knowing it.

Happy Birthday my best friend

Trying to outdo myself from earlier years, I racked my brain as to how to wish my best friend a happy birthday in a meaningful way. I want it to be something he will remember, something significant, something that will make a point... something ME :)

So for the past two days, I've had on my thinking cap and I must admit that all it came up with were the regular stuff. So I snatched it off and then it hit me like a cold wind on a gusty winter morning (just like the ones you see on TV where it literally HIT you), I'll blog about him.

Who is a best friend?

A best friend in my opinion is someone who is there for you 'no matter what'. A lot of us can readily jump and say that this is true (which it is); but we take for granted what that simple statement means. It means that when you are down and out, when you have been wronged, when you have been hurt and basically anything that can go bad happens to you, that person is there. A best friend puts you first, and that is not an easy task, especially in these days when everyone seems so selfish and motivated to accomplish their goals. The hardest task that that position holds is that the person will still be there even when you happen to not be there for them when they had needed you. When you have turned your back and hurt that person, they will still give you more than what you deserve.

So all the persons who have a best friend, cherish them, because our time here is not guaranteed.

Today, I lift my hat and my heart to wish my best friend Seragh Daniels a wonderful day. You have been nothing short of a miracle in my life. I've been the hardest person you've probably had to deal with and conquering Mount Everest might have been easier than dealing with me, but you were always there and you have never faltered.

Today would not have been the same if you weren't here and in my life. I will continuously give thanks for today because a guy like you came from a special mould and you can never be replicated. You are one of a kind and one of the most special persons I know on this earth. Over ten years ago you came into my life and it has changed for the better; a husband and a best friend.

Thank you for being you and I wish for you so many good things in this lifetime.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

xoxo

Antoinette Daniels

aka DivaKnockoff

Win or lose?

It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game!

HA!!!

Everyone wants to win. Who wants to be a loser?

Growing up, I've always been told to give my best and it will pay off. If it turns out that i did not win, I'd get a pat on my shoulder and encouraged to do better next time. How am i to do better when i gave my best? So that means I'm to give my bestest next time, right?

Fair enough.

Being in primary school, I've always known that I'm no runner. Unfortunately, i actually won a race in PE one day and the coach decided to put me on the team for my colour house on sports day - green house. We had training sessions in the evenings after school and i was so excited for sports day to get here.

Finally, judgement day came. It was my time to run and represent my house. i took my skinny legs onto the field with my house colour proudly pinned onto my chest and back. I went into my lane, knelt down for the signal to start. Then we're off like horses and turtles. Within seconds i was seeing the backs of three people (there are four persons in the race - including me). Sweating like a fat person with high cholesterol in a sauna and breathing like a horse on steroids who just ran a ten furlong race, i eventually made it down to the finish line while everyone congratulated and cheered for the winners. Nobody remembered the fourth person. I didn't even get a participant ribbon.

I knew i wasn't a runner, i knew running is not my cup of tea but i went out to practice and i gave my all. Why didn't i get a hug and cheer and told that it didn't matter if i had won or lost? Why did i feel like a disappointment to my team?

If i had won that race, i would have been the crowd favourite. No one goes for the losers. So the next time I'm doing what it takes to win the race (whether it's a personal race against time or trying to accomplish my goal) don't tell me it's how i get there; commend me WHEN i get there.

xoxo

your one and only original non runner DivaKnockoff

Gaza ting

Why couldn't I be a little more open minded and could sing and wine?

As recent years has passed, I've come to realize that this education/school system set up a way that just stresses you out, gives you sleepless nights and the possibility of getting fat due to staying up late and studying. Then you have the prolonged group meetings where difference of opinions give way to persons segregating themselves and the bulk of the work eventually falls on one or two persons. NOT TO MENTION THE OVER-RIDICULOUS SCHOOL FEES.

Again, I sit back and ponder on a high life I could be living, I'd be popular (everyone would know me); I could have a name beginning with Gaza... eg: GazaKim or GazaSlim, because I would be one of 'them' The Gaza Empire Family.

It's pretty easy to get in... pretty simple requirements, such as:

• not be so camera shy when giving head
• wear only false hair (doesn't have to be human hair - coloured synthetic is fine)
• be able to crow a few lines with a lot of help from studio editing take a few (or a lot of) beatings from the empire and di teacha
• ensure my skin is not stubborn so it can take the Gazacakesoap and AC easily - because bleaching is strictly forbidden
• be willing to get a few hundred tattoos
• always be on guard to represent di teach when the time is right

Even though the requirements might make it seem easy to get in, one has to understand that the main rule of thumb is that you have to be able to stomach a tall, slender, overtattooed, bleachbum with train tracks across his teeth ... because, even though every gyaal a run dung di Gaza yute doesn't mean that when you do find him in person you can bear the sight of him.

But why did my mother go through so much sacrifice to put me through school, deprive herself of some simple pleasures in life, only for me to choose the easy way out?
hmmm... the only answer I can come up with is that she never heard about The Gaza

yours truly,
the one and only original DivaKnockoff

(I seriously hope no one took me serious)

The teenage saga

My recent trip to Rockfort placed me into a temporary depressed mood that always comes on whenever I see teenage pregnant girls. Here I was talking to my goddaughter's aunt only to see a young girl estimated to be about 16 years old with an estimated 7 month old pregnancy.
She was proudly dressed in a grey knee-length tights, white tank top, yellow bra, a sports jacket tied around her waist (technically, below her tummy) and flip flops.
My peripheral vision caught onto her just as she was lifting her legs to 'playfully' quarrel with some of her colleagues.
The usual feeling that I get when I see these girls is not one of disgust or loathing, but a deep empathic feeling that have me fast forwarding a few years down the line for these girls.
Where will they be in 5 years time?
What values will they be teaching their children?
Have they considered the burden they are putting on their families and society when they reproduce without proper financial support?

Those questions lead me to wonder about the parental guidance they have at home.
Does a child that is brought up in a stable home has a greater chance of beating the odds?
Are children who are brought up in the inner city doomed by the misfortunes of an evil force that lay in wait as they approach 11 years of age?
What about self motivation? How can a child that is seeing such depression around them day in and day out choose otherwise?
When we as adults have the power to protect them, why are we the ones who exploit them?

My Air Jamaica/Caribbean Airlines travel

After many debate for my travel date, I finally decided to take the 'red eye' into New York; this is the first time I'm ever travelling at this hour on an airplane.

The flight is at 11:55 p.m. and you have to ensure that you are boarding the plane at 11:15 p.m.

The NMIA has renovated its site to a more upscale, longer walking process and I don't think this consideration is taken into account when they are blasting your name over the intercom that you need to be on the plane immediately (this is now 11:30 p.m) or else your luggage will be removed and your seat bumped.

After hearing my name, I hurriedly clip-clop my way down the halls like a plane taxing on the runway... miles of walking to get to this departure gate.

11:35 p.m and I'm in the plane walking down the aisle to find my seat and try to find space to put my hand luggage.

My first reservations about the flight happened when I realized I will be flying on a small plane in the wee hours of the morning for hours upon end. Trying not to let that deter me, I went and sat as comfortably as i could in the middle seat of the two aisle plane.

I was caught between a kid about 15 years and a man who is probably suffering from short jokes and short man syndrome.

11:55 p.m - Departure time, yeaaaa..."Good night ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain XYZ speaking. Unfortunately my copilot is not here and therefore we are running a little late. He should be here in another 15 - 20 minutes. Do sit back comfortably as we apologize for this delay".

12:30 a.m flight attendant informed an inquiring passenger that the copilot is here on the plane and is doing his final checks.

12:40 a.m - "Good evening, rather, good morning ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain XYZ informing you that we are about to take off. Estimate time of arrival will be 3 hours and 28 minutes and we'll be flying at an altitude of about xxx feet. Do enjoy your flight"

1:30 a.m "would you like biscuit or chips?" ....

"ummm... biscuit, thanks"

1:40 a.m "soda, juice or water for you?"

"pepsi please - and may i have a blanket and a pillow please?"

'oh, I'm sorry miss, this flight does not carry either"

WTF...

In an instant my brain went in overdrive... how could somebody in their right mind have a flight at this hour in an uncomfortably cold aircraft and not provide you with either of the necessities to even try and make your flight a little bit more enjoyable even after seeing you scrunched up in the middle seat?

I tried every position possible to get a nap.

I almost got whip lashed from bucking down the place when i was about to doze off in dreamland.

My legs got cramped, my arm died at some point and I'm sure my fingers turned blue.

5:20 the plane landed with the regular intercom voice announcing that you should remain seated until the seat belt signs are off...blah, blah, blah, which the passengers clearly ignored.

THEN the mile long trek began at JFK to get to immigration.

My review on my flight - IT SUCKED.

Young and foolish

Hearing the sad stories about young teens who are pregnant and the 'doner' is saying he is not the daddy is something I can never get used to.

One can get angry and wonder why these kids don't keep their legs closed and wait until they are more mature before they start having sex, but that is only one tiny spec on the mirror. We might also wonder why the men won't leave the young girls alone and give them time to grow up and experience the beauty of life before they start messing around with them, then again, they are men, what can I say?

Overhearing conversations with guys ( I'm referring to guys who have lost respect for girls and it is evident by their conversations and manner of speaking), I sometimes wonder what hope there is.

guy #1 - "differently still yuh know, my girl haffi tight and dats why me love when dem young"

guy #2 - "yuh know say a yesterday me buck a catty whey go XYZ High and me a pree har hard u know"

guy #1 - "dem gyaal yah now a days, dem body ripe... and dem flexible"

guy #3 - "unu fi look unu age man and lhow the schoolas dem man"

guy #2 - "a true u nuh know say all dem think bout is man when dem fi a go school"

guy #4 - "all dem good fah is fi fuck inna car back and buy dem a KFC"

Is it that teenagers have set up themselves to be such low characters?

How many times are we going to hear the cry of a mother saying that her 15 year old daughter is pregnant and the daddy is disowning it? When will these young girls open their eyes and realize that they are the ones with the power to break this cycle?

Having a baby that you are going to leave at home with your mom while you go to 'The Women's Center' to catch up back with your 'high school' work is NOT the in thing.

There is so much more to life than being a pawn in some low-lying-scum's game. Be the one to make a difference, even if it's you alone; Ten or so years down the line, you will remember that day you made the right choice and you will be the one blogging about it.

I am divaknockoff

motivating teens