Statia Day Review: The Social Media Version part 1

I am grateful that I was able to follow Statia Day's events via social media. Really, the internet is God's mercy on me. The problem with social media is that imortalizes mistakes. This may or may not be very controversial but someone has to provide feedback in order for us to move forward. In this blog and the next, I am going to share the good the bad and the ugly. Try not to be offended if you're in this blog. I tried as much as possible to offer tips for improvement.

Let's start with the fabulous, dancers in the student performance! I don't think many understand exactly how difficult it is for interpretive dance to incite emotion via a computer screen but they did that. Their outfits were also beautiful. The clean, pure look worked for the song.

Now everyone with ears knows that Statian children have golden voices but I missed hearing more of them. I was told that the live version was much better but for future reference microphones need to be positioned in a way that allows the audio on cameras to pick them up over the soloist. I would have loved it if the kids were all dressed in the same clothes. I am aware of the uniform issue so maybe robes could be an option? All in all very well done!

Rosabel Blake's poem? My EXTREMELY biased opinion is that is was fantastic and that she nailed her performance by being comical but also very real. You can read the poem on yesterday's blog.


There were other musical performances that I missed so I can't speak to their greatness. I heard parts of  Felistas' rendition and I thought it was beautiful and raw. I really hope that she gets some coaching because she could be the next big thing! She also has a YouTube channel so if you have time check it out.

I don't know if I am the only one who thinks that the uniform groups looked sloppy this year. The Brigades looked as if they were over the entire march before the salute (that the didn't make) at Cool Corner. The Pathfinders looked good in their uniforms but they were few in numbers and there was but a handful of Adventurers. With no Eager Beavers to rescue us with their cuteness the entire thing it was a painful ordeal. Also why are there two Statia flags heading one parade? Statia please learn protocol and get it together. If the Pathfinders are forever doomed to the back because of a BS rule THAT DOES NOT EXIST (I fact checked) tell them that they can't march with the flag or better yet put law enforcement to carry the colors. I'm sure you guys can figure something out.

 

There was a cake decorating contest and the cake that won was beautiful and truly depicted our island. The July tree flowers with the golden Statia was everything. Everything screamed Statia except for the iguana. The endangered Lesser Antillean iguana is usually brown and the one on the cake resembled a Green Iguana. Yes I am aware that I am nitpicking now but I just want our island to improve in every aspect!

As much as I want to talk about the clothing, makeup and speeches I will leave it here for now. Come back tomorrow for part two!

XOXO,

IslandGyal

If I were a Statian

My mom Rosabel Blake is a visionary and she came up with a very cool poetry concept for Statia Day. Since I enjoy meddling and improving greatness I helped her write this.  So enjoy a mother and a bit of a daughter's labor. Happy belated Statia Day to all!

 

 

If I were a philosopher what would my philosophy be? Would it be about being average or par excellent?

 

What if I were the ombudsman? Would I listen to Statia's cries or would I turn away and continue letting them be denied.

                    
If I were the CFT would I give Statia a chance or would I supervise to the end and continue the same old dance with our government. What if I were the government would I keep playing on the river on the bank? Would I keep talking so that the teacher would have too much grammar to correct?

What if I were the calypsonian would I sing and give social commentary? Would my song be of the investigations at the harbor and airport? Or would I sing about the birds and the bees and the black-eyed peas?

If I were in charge of culture would we be here today? Would we be raising the flags right side up or would we already be on our way?

I wonder if I would choose July 1st instead and celebrate our emancipation and not a day that was the idea of an old white man who has long been dead.

Maybe I should not talk about freedom because truly not much has changed. We're still ruled and governed by a group of men across the ocean and we for our shortcomings we constantly blamed.

Really? You think much has changed? The Antilles broke up and a new form of colonialism began with Den Haag setting up shop on Bonaire making it the new Curaçao.

I wonder what will happen in the next few years but really I wonder what will happen now.

Truly the most important question is what if I were a Statian. How would I move forward? Wait, I am Statian! Aren’t you? By joining hands and hearts and voices to be one community not some from North South, Pleasures or White Wall. But one people under God striving for a better tomorrow working towards liberty for all. Standing against injustice and helping one another grow. We are Statians and we will stand together until the whole world knows! Happy Statia Day!

 

XOXO,

 

IslandGyal

Hillary Lost :(

I was going to write a speech about what it means to be a woman in 2016. I was going to talk about how far we have come. I had plans! Unfortunately Hillary Clinton lost the USA presidential election to Donald Trump and I just can't. Dis goin be short cuz I still pissed. Leh we start see.

So I was convinced that Hillary would win the election. I had no idea how she could lose to her opponent. For as long as I can remember I have seen Americans as a less evolved species of the human race and on November 8th they proved my theory to the world. I will not go into detail as to how a bigot won the election because I don't want to talk about this. I will say that the results of this election shows the world that United State citizens are mostly racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, ethnocentric and really every other word that describes asshole-like behavior.

Today I worry about the people who did not vote for Trump. I worry about my family members who live in the States and unfortunately share my pigmentation. I say unfortunately not because black isn't beautiful rather because elevated levels of melanin in the human body have been known to lead to death by police. Really death by races lacking said chemical in general.

I have very little to say except good luck America. The red in your flag is about to take on a whole new meaning. The world and I will watch you bleed and pray that you all become smart by 2018.

Fuck Donald J Trump,

IslandGyal

I'm so Inconsistent

I took a long ass break from my blog after breakup week in September and I apologize. I have gotten lots of requests for different topics and I will get right on those but first my speech on Hillary Clinton's presidency. See you on the 9th of November.

Until then.

XOXO,

IslandGyal

This is What Love Feels Like

We made it through five day of bitterness. Are you ready for the last one? Enjoy some poetry. XOXO, IslandGyal

The House
Warsan Shire

I
Mother says there are locked rooms inside all women,
kitchen of lust, bedroom of grief, bathroom of apathy.
Sometimes the men they come with keys,
and sometimes the men they come with hammers.
II
Nin soo joog laga waayo, soo jiifso aa laga helaa,
I said Stop, I said No and he did not listen.
III
Perhaps Rihanna has a plan, perhaps she takes Chris back to hers
only for him to wake up hours later in a bathtub full of ice,
with a dry mouth, looking down at his new, neat procedure.
IV
I point to my body and say Oh this old thing? No, I just slipped it on.
V
Are you going to eat that? I say to my mother, pointing to my father who is lying on the dining room table, his mouth stuffed with a red apple.
VI
The bigger my body is, the more locked rooms there are, the more men come with keys. Anwar didn’t push it all the way in, I still think about what he could have opened up inside of me. Basil came and hesitated at the door for three years. Johnny with the blue eyes came with a bag of tools he had used on other women: one hairpin, a bottle of bleach, a switchblade and a jar of Vaseline. Yusuf called out God’s name through the keyhole and no one answered. Some begged, some climbed the side of my body looking for a window, some said they were on their way and did not come.
 VII
Show us on the doll where you were touched, they said.
I said I don’t look like a doll, I look like a house.
They said Show us on the house.
Like this: two fingers in the jam jar
Like this: an elbow in the bathwater
Like this: a hand in the drawer.
VIII
I should tell you about my first love who found a trapdoor under my left breast nine years ago, fell in and hasn’t been seen since. Every now and then I feel something crawling up my thigh. He should make himself known, I’d probably let him out. I hope he hasn’t bumped in to the others, the missing boys from small towns, with pleasant mothers, who did bad things and got lost in the maze of my hair. I treat them well enough, a slice of bread, if they’re lucky a piece of fruit. Except for Johnny with the blue eyes, who picked my locks and crawled in. Silly boy, chained to the basement of my fears, I play music to drown him out.
IX
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
No one.

X
At parties I point to my body and say This is where love comes to die. Welcome, come in, make yourself at home. Everyone laughs, they think I’m joking.

Songs to Listen to After a Breakup

Because sometimes the brokenhearted need to cry, get angry and be free. The songs are actually in that order so by the time you get to number nine you should feel amazing.

1. What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flats

 

 

This song has a way of breaking your heart and the video does not help in the least. If you have left your relationship with regrets then this is for you.

 

2. You're not Sorry by Taylor Swift

 

 

 

Sometimes things were bad from the start and we just didn't know it. :( 

 

3. Grenade by Bruno Mars

 

 

 

Choosing this song was actually difficult but this song makes more sense than his 'It Will Rain' which is also a complete heartbreaker. If you were willing to do everything and anything for your ex and they've left you out in the cold I feel your pain. Let's cry together.

 

4. Take a bow by Rihanna

 

 

For that lying, cheating, dirty son of a bitch. Give him his award and tell him to take his shit out of the box in the left corner. He's not even getting the box!

 

 

5. Resentment by Beyoncé

 

 

Bet you didn't know that this isn't even her song. It doesn't matter though because this soulful tune is what you need to tell him bye. There is absolutely nothing wrong with rage, hold on to it for a while. 

 

6.

 

7.  Stronger (What Doesn't Kill) by Kelly Clarkson

 

 

This is literally the F it all anthem! Whenever you start feeling low get up and realize that this will get much better because you are not dead!

 

8. Skyscraper by Demi Lovato

 

 

Do I really have to explain this one?

 

9. Love Myself by Hailee Steinfeld

 

 

Loving yourself is the most important thing in the world. Scream your own name and shout out the lyrics 'gonna love myself no I don't need anybody else!' Be fierce and understand your worth babe.

 

10. RISE (Katy Perry Cover) by SUPERFRUIT, Mary Lambert, Brian Justin Crum, Mario Jose

 

 

This song was originally done by Katy Perry and I have yet to hear that version. This song gives me all type of life! You are strong, talented and powerful and you have the power to rise from everything that life throws at you! This will not keep you down, you will still rise.

 

 

XOXO,

 

IslandGyal

 

 

8 Not So Simple Rules to get Over him

In the spirit of being an angry bitter bitch let's keep this thing going. How exactly do you get over a breakup, especially a bad one? Here are 8 simple (not really) rules.

1. The best way to get over one guy is to get under another one. Okay I know that sounded super sleezy and I learned this rule from Cinemax's A Girl's Guide to Depravity but listen for a second. Sleeping with a new guy is probably not the healthiest choice but putting yourself out there is. I am not telling you to go out and get in a new relationship but definitely go out with your girls looking amazing. Beat that face, put on your freakkum dress and slay! Your self-esteem will thank you.

2. Start reflecting and meditating. Listen booboo there is reason that your relationship went wrong and you were most likely a part of it. Start reflecting on your negative actions and think about how to change in the future. Then meditate! Whether you start praying or just have quiet moments with the universe this is essential. You need to be spiritually grounded in order to deal with whatever is coming next.

3. Shop with that mad money. Now this tip is not for everyone but if you got gifts go out and pawn them. you do not need them as painful reminders but that new Taraji P Henson MAC collection is not cheap. Go get your life babe!

4. Reorganize your life. If you don't, you will miss your ex and might become really tempted to call. Calling your ex is like calling Satan, why you playin' wid the devil? If you all don't have kids then cut that person off COMPLETELY. How else are you planning to move on? If you guys did movie nights on Sundays start going out to dinner with a friend in that time slot. Become too busy to notice your ex's absence.

5. Do what you couldn't before. I hate zoos I think they a cruel and that the animals are suffering. I would hope that my ex-boyfriend is in a zoo right not living it up (before being eaten by a tiger). It's time for you to do you.

6. Buy some batteries and coconut oil. If I have to explain what you need to do with these things then you're not grown up enough to be reading my blog! Go to the library and read a book.

7. You do not want to be friends with your ex as yet. If you have to unfriend, unfollow, block and delete then that is what you need to do because you are number one.

8. It is really okay to cry. You are not a robot and if in two months you feel like crying do not beat yourself up. Have some Ben and Jerry's ice cream and then jog it off. You are stronger than you know and you will be great in time.

XOXO,

IslandGyal