Manners & Decency Archives ⋆ L.J. Diva

#cockygate is over, but there may be a new legal war on the horizon with Bonds

09/08/2018 by L.J. Diva Filed Under: Business & Legalities, Manners & Decency, Websites & Social Media Leave a Comment

Let me tell you a little something about IP, trademarking and plagarism…

A few months ago I wrote about #cockygate, the trademark hooha over Faleena Hopkins trying to stop every other writer using the word cocky in their book series.

Thankfully, the law has prevailed and Faleena has given up. You can read my blog post here, and the results of the lawsuit here.

But now there may be another issue lurking on the horizon.

Bonds, the undies company, has made a new little film for their new undie range. Directed by actress, and fashion director, Gracie Otto, the ad agency Leo Burnett was responsible for the commercial.

The models are called Queens, their community, the Queendom, and Bonds has worked hard to make this work.

You can read more about it here.

However, blogger, and self-proclaimed author, Constance Hall, and her followers who call themselves Queens, have taken to Instagram criticising Bonds for their ad campaign and blatantly ripping off Constance’s already ripped off boho look.

Here’s BondsAus on Insta and some of the comments her followers left.

And her Insta

Of course, as usual, Constance makes the bullets then steps back to let her followers fire them, then comes along and claims she never meant for anyone to be hurt or didn’t mean to cause any issues, trolling or bullying online.

Yeah, right…

One of the artists who worked on the campaign was lambasted by her followers…

SO.NOT.COOL!

Constance claims she’s against bullying and being nonjudgmental, yet all she does is judge and lie about people. Stating that a store Santa was a paedophile without any evidence to back her up whatsoever was just one of the accusations and lies she has posted about on her social media. Once criticised, she will delete and block people or pull down the post because, quite frankly, she knows she was wrong. Why else would you delete your own post?

I’ve seen various claims that she’s sold 125,000 to 150,000 copies of her first book that she sold through Facebook and her website, yet there seems to be no legal proof of this. Magazines and websites claim she was the best-selling author of 2017, again, no legal proof to back that up. She’s also being sued by several people for money they are owed and she is blowing through the money she made from her so-called book. I just hope the tax department scrutinise her taxes with a fine tooth comb.

Talking of legalities, it would seem Constance’s followers have no real comprehension of legalities, such as IP, copyright etc.

As a disclaimer, I am not a lawyer, I just know a fair bit.

You can legally trade mark a name, word or phrase, a logo, a design whether jewellery, fashion, electrical item etc. You can even trade mark materials if they are specially designed and one off.

You cannot copyright or trade mark a general fashion look, such as boho, flower crowns (unless made a particular way with particular items then it would come under design), fringing, unwashed unkempt hair, looking like a bogan, etc.

Bonds was accused of plagiarism. This is not possible since Constance did not come up with the idea or fashion look herself. She did not create the boho, unkempt look she exudes on a daily basis. She did not invent or design it, hence, Bonds did not plagiarise it.

They also cannot be accused of IP theft since she did not copyright or trade mark the boho look. The boho, unwashed hair, unkempt style has been around for decades, if not centuries.

Constance has not trade marked any of what Bonds used in their ad, she has not trade marked ‘queendom’, nor the word queen on its own.

By the way, gay men from the 70s and 80s called, they want their moniker back.

Let me tell you what she has trade marked. The phrases –

Like A Queen in classes –

Class 16: Books; Printed matter; Printed material

Class 25: Apparel (clothing, footwear, headgear); Clothing; Footwear

Class 41: Weblog (blog) services (online publication of journals or diaries); Entertainment; Cultural activities; Cultural information; Education information; Education services; Publishing of printed matter; Book publishing; Publication of electronic books and journals online; Entertainment information; Sporting activities; Sporting information

Class 9: Animated films; Cinematographic film (exposed); Films bearing video recordings; Films being magnetically recorded for use with video; Films being optically recorded data for use with video; Films for the projection of images; Films on video tape; Films prepared for exhibitions; Films, exposed; Recorded film; Television films; Video films; Discs bearing video recordings; Interactive video apparatus; Pre-recorded videos; Records bearing video recordings; Sound records in the form of pre-recorded video tapes; Video apparatus; Video cassettes; Video compact discs; Video game programs (software); Video recordings; Videos; Audio recordings; Computer programmes (programs), recorded; Data recorded electronically; Disc records; Music recordings; Pre-recorded discs; Programs (recorded); Recorded data files; Records (sound recordings); Sound recordings; Digital music (downloadable) from the Internet; Computer apparatus; Computer data in recorded form; Computer databases; Computer game programs; Computer game software; Computer modules; Computer programs (downloadable software); Computer software; Interactive computer software

God knows why she needed all of the above but 9 is an inappropriate class for what she wants.

Queens Of Constance in classes –

Class 38: Provision of hyperlinks on a website; Provision of hyperlinks to other websites; Electronic transmission (uploading, posting or displaying) of data, information, pictures, images, audio and/or video via online forums

Class 41: Weblog (blog) services (online publication of journals or diaries); Entertainment; Cultural activities; Cultural information; Education information; Education services; Entertainment information; Sporting information; Sporting activities; Electronic publication of information on a wide range of topics, including online and over a global computer network; Providing information, including online, about education, training, entertainment, sporting and cultural activities; Publication of electronic books and journals online; Book publishing; Publishing of printed matter

Why she would need to trade mark a phrase for the provision of hyperlinks I have no idea why. Same with sporting activities. Personally I think whoever filed the trade marks was batshit crazy.

Queen the Label in classes –

Class 9: Optical apparatus, instruments and devices, including eyewear, spectacles, sunglasses, eyeglasses, glasses cases, chains for glasses, cords for glasses , frames for glasses, lens for glasses, skiing glasses, sports glasses, sun visors, goggles, eyeshades, fashion accessories for eyewear in this class, including parts and accessories for the foregoing goods

Class 14: Badges, brooches, bracelets, jewellery chains, watch chains and bands, watches, clocks, earrings, key rings, cuff links, jewellery pins, rings, straps for wrist watches, watch bands, fashion accessories in this class

Class 18: Bags, belts, straps, handbags, beach bags, garment bags, travel bags, key cases, shoulder belts, wallets, purses, backpacks, chain mesh purses, suitcases, umbrellas, fashion accessories in this class

Class 25: Clothing, footwear and headgear, women’s, men’s and children’s outer clothing and underwear, sports clothes, casual clothes, resort wear, belts, rainwear, shoes, boots, socks, hats, scarves, gloves, coats, jeans, shirts, skirts, dresses, headbands, sweaters, T-shirts, singlets, leather clothing; clothing accessories in this class being scarves, belts, headwear, footwear and gloves

Class 35: Retailing, wholesaling and distribution of optical apparatus, instruments and devices, including eyewear, spectacles, sunglasses, eyeglasses, glasses cases, chains for glasses, cords for glasses, frames for glasses, lens for glasses, skiing glasses, sports glasses, sun visors, goggles, eyeshades, fashion accessories for eyewear in this class, including parts and accessories for the foregoing goods, precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or jewellery coated therewith, horological and chronological instruments, badges, brooches, bracelets, buckets, chain mesh purses, jewellery chains, watch chains and bands, watches, clocks, earrings, key rings, cuff links, jewellery pins, powder compacts, rings, straps for wrist watches, watch bands, fashion accessories in this class, leather and imitations of leather, goods made from these materials, bags, belts, straps, handbags, beach bags, garment bags, travel bags, key cases, shoulder belts, wallets, purses, backpacks, suitcases, umbrellas, fashion accessories in this class, clothing, footwear and headgear, women’s, men’s and children’s outer clothing and underwear, sports clothes, casual clothes, resort wear, belts, rainwear, shoes, boots, socks, hats, scarves, gloves, coats, jeans, shirts, skirts, dresses, headbands, sweaters, T-shirts, singlets, leather clothing, clothing accessories

MumTums is still in the process –

Class 25: Apparel (clothing, footwear, headgear); Clothing; Maternity clothing; Footwear; Maternity wear

Some of those classes actually seem wrong for what she’d want them for, but then, she doesn’t seem to understand legal matters because she doesn’t understand why she’s being sued. Her sheer arrogance alone made her basically dictate to Bonds that they should donate to the charity she supports, instead of letting them do what they want.

Her arrogance came through true and clear in her Insta post – I highlight the parts in red.

Dear @bondsaus. You completely forgot to ask me to model in your new Queendom campaign?? So fucking weird man, I even checked my junk emails. I’m getting slammed with messages from Queens wanting to know why the hell my vibe is all over bonds but I’m not…. I’ve forgiven you. I don’t hold grudges and I’m too old to waste time with feelings of rejection. I suppose I’m never actually going to be an underwear model.. However my brand Queen The Label supports the real Queens of this world, sexually abused young kids in Kenya through the worlds most kick arse charity called @rafikicastle How about your Queendom campaign does the same??? #bondsforrafiki And I’ll even throw in some free modelling for you???? #bondsforrafiki Message them Queens!! Let’s see if we can get them on board!!

Yep, the arrogance…

Let’s break her comment down.

She said she’d forgiven them…

WTF?

What for? Bonds didn’t do anything except use a concept that has been around for decades long before you were even born.

She doesn’t hold grudges and is too old to waste time with feelings of rejection…

You actually made a social media following out of it. I feel sorry for her husband, the first one, the one she’s probably still legally married to unless she’s actually gotten a divorce because all she ever did was complain about him to garner attention and followers. I wonder if he got half her money since he’d be legally entitled to it?

She had to get a mention of her clothing label in by saying “my brand Queen The Label supports the real Queens of this world,” which is such a sarcastic dig at Bonds because apparently only she and her followers can do it and no one else. Her label supports the real queens? You mean the gay men of the world or Queen Lizzie and her European and Asian counterparts?

my brand Queen The Label supports the real Queens of this world, sexually abused young kids in Kenya through the worlds most kick arse charity called @rafikicastle

They’re supporting a cause which, just like her “look”, was never hers to begin with. She just latched onto it because of someone blogging about it, but she clearly thinks she’s the one who came up with it.

THEN she had to gall to tell Bonds they should donate to her charity because, you know, she’s a queen and has the right to tell them what to do?

How about your Queendom campaign does the same??? #bondsforrafiki And I’ll even throw in some free modelling for you????

Argh, no thanks. Ironically, she claims she’ll never be an underwear model, yet I’d say a good half of the world has seen her in her underwear via her social media, cause, you know, she loves to post stuff like that.

Seriously! What has the world come to to allow such arrogant narcissism to reign with such free abandon?

Bonds, I hope you see this post and stand your ground. Do not give in to her on any level. You did not steal in any way, shape or form from her and I will watch with amusement and a bucket of popcorn if you get taken to court. Which I doubt, cause, you know, she has no idea about legalities and such and wouldn’t have a leg to stand on anyway.

Why #cockygate could be an issue for authors who do and don’t trademark

17/05/2018 by L.J. Diva Filed Under: Authors & Books, Business & Legalities, Manners & Decency Leave a Comment

I’ve read a lot over the last couple of weeks about author, Faleena Hopkins. She trademarked her book series, just last year, which is fine, however, it’s been her attack on authors using the word she trademarked that has soured the community against her.

She trademarked the very banal word, cocky.

Her series is technically The Cocker Brothers, but she also trademarked the word cocky.

The US trademark system allowed her to do so, which, again, is fine, albeit idiotic, but that is not the issue.

Since obtaining the trademark, she has gone after every author using the word cocky in their book titles, series, or even keywords.

That is what has riled the author community against her. The legal letters she has sent to all of these authors asking them to change their book titles. When they didn’t, she then emailed Amazon to complain and Amazon stupidly removed any and all romance books with the word cocky in the title or description, causing many authors to not only end up in tears, but to lose out on money, have their books banned, and/or are unable to do anything about it.

Of course, that means that Amazon has had a whole barrage of letters, even from the Romance Writers of America who sought legal advice from a trademark attorney. One author, Kevin Kneupper, an ex-trademark attorney himself, filed an opposition against her to stop her from being able to trademark the word and thus to stop her from harassing all of the authors she’s been harassing.

Faleena went on a rant at her website, Facebook and YouTube where she posted a video of her basically mentally falling apart over the issue. It went for over an hour and a half.

She has alienated the community she claimed she belonged to, she lied through her teeth about being bullied. Sure, she may have been by some, but when you’re sending legal letters to authors over something so banal, and then attacking them via their sales pages, that is absolute shit. And yes, you should be taken down for it.

I have not watched the video, but have read multiple blog posts. Quite frankly, it sounds like this woman is arrogant beyond belief and quite the narcissist.

It’s one thing to want to protect what you have created, another to attack wantonly left, right and centre. No one had heard of you before this, and now all you’ve done is made people never want to hear of you again.

It’s sad that she stooped so low, or felt the need to. It’s also sad that she had no advice whatsoever on trademarking such a common word. She attacked others for using the word and demanded they change their titles, yet claimed she could not change her own when people rallied against her and said that marines never call themselves soldiers and she should re-title her own book before she insulted all of the marines out there. On top of that, she seems to have trademarked the word in a certain font, which, is illegal since she did not have permission to do so from the creator of the font, or the place it was sold. And Creative Market prohibits their goods being resold or trademarked. So Faleena Hopkins could be in quite a lot of trouble.

There seems to be many contradictions where this woman is concerned. I doubt she had decent legal advice, if any, and it seems to me that she should not be the one sending anyone a letter to cease and desist, it should have been her lawyer. To be personally involved makes things worse for her.

Since the whole saga blew up, she shut down her social media channels and presumably went into hiding, especially when the hashtags #cockygate and #byefaleena turned up.

I’ve added some links below from websites still talking about it. They can be found on the first two pages when you google cockygate, and this one is where I first read about it – Pajiba – and this awesome review of the whole saga with awesome gifs – NastyGal book Reviews

Vox – Buzzfeed – Reddit – Reddit #2 – Slate – Kevin Kneupper – Myriddn Publishing – The Digital Reader – The Guardian – Electric Literature – Jenny Trout

There are also a massive pile of satirical e-books gone up on Amazon, all very short, proceeds going towards the fight, all hilariously titled. Such as this, this, this, this, this and this.

On one hand I get it, I do.

As someone who has trademarked a whole bunch of names and titles I know where she’s coming from, but shake my head at the bullshit she stirred up.

For the record, here in Australia you can trademark author names, series titles, blog names. Hell, you could even trademark your own name if you wanted to.

I have trademarked Porn Star Brothers, Jewels Diva, Lady Jewels Diva and L.J. Diva, all in the class of 41. It covers books, audio, production, radio, TV, websites etc. Pretty much covers everything you might ever need it for.

But, it’s only for the country of Australia. Sadly it would cost way too much at this point to trademark world wide. At least $30,000 AUD for each trademark, which I seriously cannot afford.

But at least I have the legal backing behind me.

I have also been opposed. And it’s not something you want to happen. They bring up all sorts of ridiculous absurd things to oppose you with, such as, people would not be able to tell the difference, and you’re not currently using it.

And you can read about that over at my style site, Jewel Divas Style.

Oi!

I get that an author wants to protect their work, but seriously, if it’s putting you on the outer of the groups you claim to be a part of, yet no one has ever heard of you, and you’re seriously pissing everyone in the world off, don’t do it. Just don’t. And if you absolutely have to, then do so through a lawyer and do it properly and not some random hack job because you’re pissed off and some sort of stupid insane bitch.

Seriously, Faleena, man up and grow a fucking pair. Stop being arrogantly narcissistic and learn to do things properly. You don’t email someone to take it down and then email Amazon instead and have them pulled without giving them adequate time to do anything. Everything has a due process, of which you have not bothered learning. You also have clearly not bothered learning any freakin’ manners when it comes to how things need to be administered.

As one trademarked author to another, get fucking real, pull your head out of your narcissistic arse, grow a brain, build a bridge and then get the fuck over yourself.

Fucking seriously!

Sexual Assault and Double Standards, and Why Studio 10 Made Excuses For it.

17/08/2017 by L.J. Diva Filed Under: Humans & Behaviour, Manners & Decency, Movies & TV 2 Comments

There was a contestant on our version of Survivor, who appeared on channel ten show, The Project, and spoke of how she had met co-host Tommy Little at one of his comedy gigs a few years back.

She laughed and joked like an idiot (in fact, she reminds me of an even dopier Amy Schumer) and the others urged her to tell her story then pissed themselves laughing at it.

Turns out, years ago she was dared by a friend to grab his crotch backstage at a gig.

He promptly called security and had her thrown out and blocked her on Facebook.

The next day on another channel ten show, Studio 10, they talked about the incident and whether it was a double standard. If it was a man grabbing a women’s crotch, would they all be laughing and thinking it’s okay. Donald Trump’s pussy comment was brought up.

Apparently it wouldn’t be, but you can laugh at a woman grabbing a man’s crotch because it is. The woman who was on talking about it made all kinds of excuses for Aimee and said it wasn’t a double standard in this case because of context.

LET ME GIVE YOU FUCKING CONTEXT.

1 – Tommy did not ask her to grab him.

2 – He did not encourage her to do it.

3 – He had security throw her out and

4 – blocked her on Facebook.

The definition of sexual assault according to google is –

Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape.

So the moral of the story is…regardless of what sex you are, you DO NOT GRAB ANOTHER PERSON’S CROTCH.

Oh, and guess what they forget to mention in their haste to excuse her behaviour and not pass it off as assault…

The fact that we teach our children, that if a stranger touches your private parts, that it is wrong and to tell your parents because it is assault.

So…once we’re an adult it’s perfectly okay to grab someone’s privates and that if a woman does it it’s funny?

Anyone see the double standard, incredibly sexist and massively screwed up view of laws and society here?

Adults can’t grab a kid’s crotch, a man can’t grab a woman’s crotch, but it’s perfectly okay if a woman grabs a guy’s crotch?

So fucking not correct!

And no, it has NOTHING to do with her being ocker!

It’s wrong, plain and fucking simple because it’s called SEXUAL ASSAULT!

People in glass houses…

27/10/2016 by L.J. Diva Filed Under: Humans & Behaviour, Manners & Decency 4 Comments

The recent Billy Bush (I don’t know the full details but I think he made derogatory remarks along with Donald Trump) case made me think of something.

He was penalised for something he did 11 years ago.

Can you imagine what would happen if we were all penalised for stupid shit we did years, if not decades ago? We’d all be out of a job and no one would be working.

Apparently these days you can lose a job over something stupid you did before even being employed by your current employer. Something that has absolutely nothing to do with them.

No one has a perfect life. We’ve all made stupid dumb mistakes. But to hold it against someone over a decade later is stupid in itself. And I doubt the people who run these companies who are sacking everyone have such perfect lives of their own and have never done stupid shit. Coz, yeah, you’d get the sack too.

I remember hearing about the sports reporter in America who got the sack for incorporating Prince song titles into the sports report. He got the sack for that! He wasn’t rude, he didn’t offend people, but he got the fucking sack because he didn’t abide by the “network rules”.

Are you fucking kidding me!!!!!

People in glass houses…peeps…people in glass houses…

ME, ME, ME! The arrogant air of entitlement in today’s society.

18/08/2016 by L.J. Diva Filed Under: Humans & Behaviour, Manners & Decency 2 Comments

I’ve been watching a bit of tv of late, Housewives of Jersey, and the one thing I’ve really noticed is the arrogant air of entitlement.

Every second person believes they are entitled to whatever they want.

If you win lotto, they believe they’re entitled to it.

If they give you a scratchie for your birthday, if you win, they believe they’re entitled to some.

If you become a celebrity they believe they’re entitled to ride on your coat tails.

If you get a new house, they believe they’re entitled to just come on over.

If you get a new car, they believe they’re entitled to drive it.

If you dare to mention what you think of something on social media, they believe they’re entitled to call you every name under the sun, plus racist, sexist, fat shamer, weight shamer, hater, troll, bully, etc, while they’re actually doing all of that to you, because they can’t discuss a subject like normal people, they have to attack you just for having your opinion.

Now we all know my view on Gen Ys and how many have been raised to be entitled, but I have seen many a Gen X and some Boomers of the same entitlement lately. And it’s incredibly suffocating and makes me want to punch a few people in the head.

We currently have our version of The Bachelor going on and the girls are in their mid to late twenties, Gen Y, and the amount of insecurity, immaturity and entitlement going on is disgusting. They all believe they’re entitled to attack if you get more attention, entitled to call you names, entitled to bitch and whinge about you.

Some older people think that because they’re older it entitles them to push ahead in lines, not follow rules and generally be as big a pain in the bum as Gen Ys. It seems rules are not meant to be followed any more, it’s just all about doing what you want to do and to hell with everyone else.

Well I say a big fat NO!

You are NOT entitled to my stuff, to use it, abuse it or wear it.

You are NOT entitled to my money if I win any, or my home if I get one, or my car if I buy one.

You are NOT entitled to borrow my things, copy me, act like me, or try to be me.

And most importantly, you are NOT entitled to treat me like shit and walk all over me just because YOU are a bitch and don’t agree with me! I don’t care if you don’t agree with me, but I will smack the crap our of you if you attack me for it.

Have you guys seen this crap going on?

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I call it copycat-ism and I’m sick of it.

12/05/2016 by L.J. Diva Filed Under: Humans & Behaviour, Manners & Decency 4 Comments

When you go through your life buying, wearing, using things, you know full well that because those items are available in stores that there are going to be other people buying, wearing, using them as well.

I get it, the world is a big place and other people will be wearing the same clothes, shoes or jewellery I wear. That’s why I’ve bought so much online. Ebay has provided me with a massive amount of kaftans, kimonos and jewellery that no one else around me will have. So have my handy jewellery making skills.

Which is great. It means I get to be an individual and not look like a million other people.

But!!!!

The problem I have is, what happens when family start buying, wearing, using the same things you do?

The rest of the world I can deal with, my family I can’t. I call it copycat-ism and it gets really bad when it’s your family.

We all want our own place in our family. We all want to do our own thing unless we’re raised in a family where the family business matters. How many families have we seen where everyone joins the police force, or become doctors?

But that’s other families, not mine.

In mine I am the creative. My clothing personality is creative, my brain is hyper overdrive creative and all of my life I have drawn, written and made things to keep my brain active.

Now I have my books for one half of my brain and jewellery for the other. Everything that comes with those two things also come along for the ride, such as fashion, styling and designing, not just jewellery and clothing, but book covers and social media headers and pictures as well.

I have been making jewellery since I was sixteen and I’m 42 on May 21. I have been writing since primary school in the 80s and I’m still writing now.

In the last year I found out my sister-in-law is doing, or wants to do, the same things as me.

I’ve had enough of my four sisters copying each other the last 30 years, with their hair, their animals, their clothes, their furniture and everything else. And for the last few years sister #2 has been throwing paint on canvases. That’s her creativity. She calls it abstract, I call it paint on a canvas. And I certainly don’t call it art as animals and kids can smear paint on something and call it art. Now I have my sister-in-law copying and it makes me want to scream (see the above picture).

We didn’t seen her and my brother for fourteen years, since 2001, because he threw a tantrum and stormed off because mummy didn’t sign his little piece of paper. We only started seeing them in Feb of 2015 after sister #2 harassed mum into calling him. I found out that she was also making jewellery. Now when we last saw them in 2001 I’d only made a few bits and pieces and only owned a few more. Now I own over 2000 pieces and have my own company and now she’s making copper wire jewellery. Of course she knew about my jewellery business because sister #2 told her as I clearly hadn’t.

Back in December I find out she’d just gotten a computer and wants to write a book. Now, every time I write, I burn inside about her doing that. Why in God’s name can’t I be the only one in this family to do that? Sure, millions of people in the world write a book, and sure, millions of people in the world make jewellery. But the world becomes very, very, very small when it’s your family doing the exact same thing as you and you are no longer the only individual in your family.

I guess I can thank God I’ve got 26 years of jewellery making experience and know stuff she doesn’t. I guess I can thank God I’ve got 10 years of novel writing and experience and know stuff she doesn’t. But now I’m busting my butt trying to get all of these books out of my head as well as look after mum and try and run a household, and all I’ve got in my head is her wanting to write a God damn book.

Just once, just once, I want something for myself in this bloody family of mine. Something to call my own. I’m 10-15 years younger than them and just want something for myself.

I’ve never told my family I write books. Mum knows I wrote one or two, but now I’m up to 22 and have more in my head that needs to be written, and I still have not said anything. Why do I need to? But I knew whoever saw my Facebook style blog page (I’m friends with sister #2), that she would see it and it would possibly get around. She’s known as someone who cannot keep shut her mouth and stay out of other people’s business and then one day last year mum told me sister #1 knew. And I’m like, “why didn’t you tell me”, she’s like, “it slipped my mind”. I’m like, “I never said anything to any of them how would they know?”

Well, it’s my family, they can’t shut their traps for anything.

Just once, just once, I want something for myself, and now I can’t even have that. I have thought of being a know it all (I do love putting people in their place when it comes to them having a lack of knowledge) just to see the looks on their faces as it would give me some sort of weird satisfaction over them. But that would be letting the cat out of the bag, so I’ll say nothing for now.

So, do you guys have copycat relatives and how does it make you feel?

And what do you think about it being Friday the 13th? Superstitious?