msblossom

I'm glad this chapter is finally coming to a close. I agree that the Duggars will desperately look for other networks or mediums to blast their religious and family values. I hope TLC puts the speculation of a Jessa and Ben spinoff to bed as well. So long, Duggars.

I'm a little sad to see Heather go, but it's probably the right thing to do. Yeah, she's a pita at times, but I generally liked her, Carole, not so much. I hope Carole takes a page from Heather's book. I think she's not cool with the way she was edited this season, but that's the way Andy rolls. Eventually they'll all get a not so good edit, it's par for the course -- if she can't handle that then it's good for her to move on. Being on the show this season and last didn't exactly showcase her Yummie business, so why bother. Good luck and goodbye.

Heather is a pit bull. She gets so aggressive and confrontational over EVERYTHING. I can only imagine how miserable it would be to be married to her, no wonder her husband comes across sorta weak. Sheesh. Take it down a couple notches, woman. I actually appreciate LuAnn not taking the verbal beat down Heather gives. I think Heather is quite skilled at being confrontational and practices it regularly in her real life that it's no real stretch for her and is her go-to behavior whenever she's unhappy with someone or something. She would drive me crazy in real life. If someone came at me the way she did with Dorinda, Ramona and LuAnn, I would tell her to back off and shut her down until she CALMS THE HELL DOWN. Barging into their bedrooms? Shouting at people when they're sleeping? Yanking open the bedroom drapes? Back off, bitch!! Lu has a banging body -- wow! More than any other HW in any franchise. Loved her in this episode. Kristen annoys me. I hope this is her last season. Tattle Tale. I don't have a lot of respect for women who sleep with married men, but I have even less for Kristen who made that public knowledge. She brings zero to the table. Go away. Carole is a fence rider. Go back to your fabulous life before Bravo and load a bowl. You bring nothing to the table either. Sonja nailed everything on the head this episode from Ramona to Dorinda. I'm glad Sonja was actually lucid and made sense, more of this please. Dorinda's an ugly, sloppy drunk. Limit your alcohol consumption, lady!! And YOU back it up, bitch!! For someone who likes to remind us she's an Upper East Side Socialite, you come across crass and a bit mob wife-Ish. Not enjoying you too much, although you can stay. Okaaay, Bethenny is finding her groove again and doesn't really bother me anymore. I like her impressions, she nailed Dorinda. Ramona, [eyeroll]. Bethenny is 100% right about you, you can say or do anything you want and then sorta apologize and throw compliments at someone and be all cute and charming and get away with shit.

This was fairly low key and realistic, so I wasn't bothered that the howlers or Jessa & Ben were missing, they said their goodbyes earlier. If TLC had been filming, the whole family would be present along with endless flashback clips we've seen numerous times, and everyone piling into the stink bus to drop them off at the airport check-in counter. Don't they normally do the SOS trips around the holidays? Jill & Derick need to be on their own w/o the Duggars for awhile -- I was pleasantly surprised that they weren't horning in on their trip. Joy choked me up...

Sometimes I forget the battles people fight of mental health or the ones of just having a really hard day. Thinking of you today, CofCinci.

Good, thanks for the correction.

I don't see how we're supposed to overlook all the crimes Victor has committed against Jack without Victor doing at least some prison time. Not jail time, prison time. The viewers are owed that much retribution. He should be sent up the river without a snowballs chance in hell for parole, but then we'd have General Hospital (ugh!). At the very least, the Abbotts are owed their company back. I would love to see Nicki and Neil romantically involved, I just doubt it has any longevity given Neil's young son. I don't see Nicki raising a kid at her age, bummer, because of all the people you could pair these two with, they actually make me think it could work, plus the dramz with alchoholism.

HFC, my heart goes out to you and your dear friend and his wife. It's really unfair. I'm sorry.

Ha! That seems like something Jessa would do, throws the scent off.

IIRC, he went apeshit crazy about it too, and I think he forbade his daughters to be filmed. Nah, I don't see him going along with this at all unless she keeps the kids off camera, then what's he gonna do? She's a whole lot better at parenting than himself or ex-wife Brooke.

^^^BUMPING THIS UP Seashell's GOFUNDME Account Number has been corrected if you tried earlier & it didn't work.

I've seen it. I also watched a bit of the reality show Tammy Faye was on before her passing. She was very likable, compassionate and fun. I believe she deeply regretted all the lavishness and reckless spending. I don't know to what extent she knew of the embezzlement, but I think she genuinely felt remorse. My point with Jessa is that she will uplift Ben to the highest heights to ensure his success in his theological pursuits and she naturally shares this interest herself. She seems pretty determined to get a spin-off in her faux disinterested way. She's been bitten by allure of easy money, the spotlight, the perks, trips, speaking engagements, and the fame. I'd love to read some of the books you've authored, I'll pm you. :)

I agree that Derick, up to this point, has taken on the values espoused by Jill & the Duggars. I think by putting some mileage between themselves and the Duggars will be helpful, but it remains to be seen how they will forge ahead and develop their own family norms. I'm not sure we know or have seen Derick enough to even suggest he has "deep-seeded mommy issues".

Poor Derick, this guy just cannot catch a break with getting a flattering photograph. His appearance has really been altered. https://instagram.com/p/4vMdo1rs99/

I haven't seen the movie, but he does resemble Steve Carrell. I agree. Hopefully these two will not go that far and fleece the sheeple like Jim & Tammy Faye.

My mom was the "wait til your father gets home" type, which was never too long since he arrived home from work about an and fifteen minutes after I got home from school. Fortunately, I didn't get spanked very frequently. Our grade school principal gave "hacks" with an old Converse tennis shoe. I never got one. Funny thing is, he was extremely popular and well liked by all the students and parents. I don't think Mr. Brown resorted to giving too many hacks.

I think Ben & Jess are well suited for each other. She is just as zealous, if not more, as Ben in their pursuit of God and their passion for hellfire and brimstone and the judgment of God. Two peas in a pod, actually. Ben gets those beady eyes from his father, Michael. Along with his hyper-Calvinistic beliefs.

I'll bet Michelle is going bananas over that photo with Ben -- wet t-shirt, bulging biceps, sheer white swim trunks...

^^^I think we're in agreement, Kokapetl. Gunne Sax had formal dresses, like the one you posted Brooke Shields wearing, and the less formal cotton dresses. I had both styles growing up. I wore Gunne Sax formal dresses (which later became Jessica McClintock) to school dances, in weddings, prom, and in my senior pictures.

Looks like Simplicity was the largest purveyor of Gunne Sax patterns: http://www.serendipityvintage.com/images/patterns/Simplicity_5828.jpg http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/7/7/5/3/9/6/webimg/597393984_o.jpg Yes, the kind of prairie dresses the Duggar girls wore were the shapeless dresses we saw on Little House on the Prairie worn by Mary, Laura. and Carrie. They were sort of jumper-ish looking, and not at all form fitting.. The Ingalls' girl's Sunday dress was more fitted like the Gunne Sax style with the high collar. I always loved Laura's braids tied up in a loop with a ribbon on Sundays and special occasions when she wore that dress. Lol

^^^Me too, GEML. They were made by Gunne Sax. They were maxi skirts and maxi dresses with tiny floral print, and some had more of a Victorian look to them with puffed sleeves and lace collars. Yes, I was a child of the 70's & 80's too. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/188/477926058_a40c0460d2.jpg https://clothesshrink.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/gunne-sax.jpg

Doesn't work for me either, Seashell.

And Jill & Derick wear those ugly chacos that run $100 a pair.

Thanks for recommendation, Wellfleet -- I'll have to watch it. Oh yes, the roadside fruit stands are all around. We ran into one that used the honor system on the road to Hana (which is paradise by the way) in Maui and they had a locked box that you slid the money into and you selected your fruit. The weather is nearly perfect every day, 85 degrees and breezy. It might rain in the afternoon and then it clears up. If you can swing it, I highly recommend making the trip.

I'm okay with this. Better this Richards than the alternative.