BckpckFullaNinjas

I came really, really late to this franchise, and the first scene that I saw was Luann and Ramona at lunch together apparently not long after Luann's divorce was announced. With no background on either woman, I saw a lady trying to keep her composure while the other lady kept repeating, "My husband, my daughter and I are a perfect trifecta. We have a perfect life. And now you don't!" - without ANY acknowledgment of the first lady's emotions. Luann even murmured something along the lines of, "I know you do, and I'm happy for you" but Ramona would not shut up. Perfect trifecta and you ain't got it, neener neener. Now tonight I see a snippet from Ramona being similarly cruel and coldly insulting to BF and I am through with her. I don't care that she was blindsided and is hurt. I don't believe in karma because I haven't seen it work, but the flat-out meanness of the woman has made her unwatchable for sure. $7,100/month for that 1B/1b and Doris's upstairs hallways have as much square footage as my entire house -- these truly are financially wealthy women and they act like this ON TV for tout le monde to see in perpetuity ?! To semi-paraphrase Doris's "Money talks, wealth whispers," I say, "These women are wealthier than I'll ever be, as nuts as I am, but I got MY crazy under control!"

...or a 5150. She should host them at a public park. With no structures they could tear down or deface, and porta-potties they can't jam up with toilet paper. Given Rano-no's newfound super strength, they better have the aforementioned potties semi-permanently anchored to the ground lest she decide to tip one over...?

...Never mind how I know, but some people refer to one-night stands and other quickies as "affairs."

I've watched a few of the oldies today and I'm amazed at how boring they are -- and how human Bethenny seems! I didn't start watching 'til CR's first season, so all this is curious stuff. If a little dull!

Same here, I think I have Fixer Upper fatigue. Thanks! So it's not just me. I think I've tired of Chimp's (no typo) antics and the way the homeowners just nod and coo at everything Jo shows them reminds me of the skit about Oprah going ballistic when someone answers her in any way other than, "Absolutely, Oprah!" Its funny to imagine a client demurring and Jo flying into a fit of indignation. "NO one questions Joanna Gaines! I AM MAGNOLIA!" You know she could do it. ;-D

As it happens, a friend had business in Waco and I asked if she was a FU fan. She said she doesn't have cable (sometimes I wish I didn't!) but said "the shop was pretty and mmMMM the bakery!!" This gal likes her food, so I take her at her word. Because I ain't going to Waco any time soon ... heck, not any time. My ancestors come from around the US/Canadian border. NOTHING in my DNA prepares me for TX Hill Country weather! Which brings up another something that has me agog: how Jo deals with all that beautiful thick long hair in that horrible heat & humidity. She said, "product! Lots of product!", before Chimp cut her off, but to me that just makes the hair denser and heavier and hotter. I started out liking these people. Not that much, anymore. Dunno why.

I'm very new to the Ho's, but would it seem that a version of the old field test applies here-- Q: How can you tell if BF's exaggerating? A: Her lips are moving.

I promise this is not going off-topic: this weekend I was involved in a scenario that directly paralleled this! I played the Lu part and my very-unBethenny-like friend was the one discounting every good comment, or honest comment, or positive bit of advice I had to offer. I've been trying to grasp what she could possibly think she's gaining by this attitude and considered in light the Lu/Beth scenario I seem to understand: She gains attention, a lot of petting and sympathy, and she doesn't have to even think about changing her attitude or behaviors as long as the rest of us nod and cluck and pet and agree that she's the victim of all victims. Like Beth, she comes from money and a badly broken home. Unlike Beth, she's a good friend when her friends are in need. Who would think I'd find Life Answers on a previously.tv board -- and in a discussion of BF, at that! (If I have overstepped the bounds of the board, please let me know and delete my comment but please oh please don't ban me. I have come to *love* this joint!)

And may I bold, ital, underline and all-caps FRENEMIES? With the possible exception of Dorinda, who of these women would be invited to a Nadeau family picnic in some undistinguished town in Connecticut ? The Ho'wives are Lu's co-workers in a sh*tshow on TV. They play slightly scripted roles for the cameras and receive (a lot of) remuneration for it. Lu knows she's marrying an imperfect man, and his peccadilloes on the DL don't mean divorce. She's said they are soulmates. Would I have known she boinks guys at bars if she weren't on TV? I know of marriages that have survived way worse because the spouses think it's worth it. Lu & Tom can travel happily into their sunsets if they want. Their actual friends and families may have opinions the couple care about, but I'm suspecting when the HWs cease a season's filming, all but Doris are out of sight and out of mind -- as long as they're also not on SM stirring trouble.

Just thinking this same thing! Here and on FU, you occasionaly see apartment buildings, parking lots, commercial-looking structures, etc., in very close proximity (or even in sight lines) and I have to wonder if the property values on the re-done homes are going to keep up as well as they would if the homes were in a neighborhood of similar dwellings. Then again, for all the extras the lucky participants no doubt get for free, or at a greatly reduced rate, a little less appreciation is probably not a terrible trade-off.

Indeed, it would be miraculous for her - several others - to simply & sincerely say, "I made a mess; I'm sorry; can I pay to have it cleaned?" Sometimes I think Andyvo have in mind a morality play in the RH world: "See, children? The rich are *not better than you! Revolution!" Perfection!

I'm still a little amazed that Carole was the reason I tuned into the show to begin with , when I found out she was the widow of a notable Polonian (I'm Polonian but thankfully, not a notable one). She was sly, witty & lent an outsider's POV with her THs. In BF's first season back, Carole befriended her because she could tell BF was wound tight. Well, lie down with dogs and rise up with fleas! Bethenny either pulled Carole down to her level, or Carole was really already there and it wasn't much of a fall. i cringed at her arrogance and complete unconcern for the physical chaos she caused at Dorinda's.

Because I hate the idea of people being lonely, I hope she does have good friends IRL. And, if that's so, I wish she'd lean on them off-camera and well....get off-camera and stay there. Watching her express her bottomless rage (tm @film noire) is exhausting. Yes, she has a quick wit and can be sarcastically funny. If anything, that's why I wouldn't mind watching her. But this constant martyrdom and endless vindictiveness make for FF TV for me.

Eh, he's what, 28, 30? If they're as mutually fond as they seem, they could last another 20'years and upon her demise, he'd 48, 50 and find a younger woman and become a daddy. Lots of males are able to do that because of The Biology. One of my fave actors, Alfred Molina, has been married for decades to a woman 2 decades his senior IIRC. He has a child or two from earlier flings but she *is the love of his life. I would think Sonja would win that honor hands down. Her many misrepresentations about Madonna being at her fashion show, John-John, P Diddy are just total fabrications. Do you believe the poll results reflect viewer votes? I don't. Mileages: they ALL vary .

I know right? Last year somebody had a name for that paint -- it's some kind of enamel and is hecka pricey. But it's Doris's personality and if makes me wonder how much she's really changed since Richard's death if he co-signed on it all those years ago. I seem to recall the aesthetic they told the decorator to go for was something like "Hollywood meets Goth Tarzan" !!!

Ok, I'm new to the HW world, but what products are Ramona, Carole, Dorinda, Tinsley and Sonja hawking? I honestly didn't know about Lu's clothing line on Evine 'til I read about it here. Bethenny has SlatsGirl and her TV efforts. Those are the only merchants at this point, am I missing something ? And am I off-course in thinking Lu doesn't mind her Chickenman being the main SL? She's basically the centerpiece of the show, seems to me.

Precisely! She's used to acting natural on-camera, he's not. I saw way more awkwardness than malice. But then I'm a little quick to give the benefit of the doubt.

Last night's was the first one all season I watched as it was broadcast. Like you, MissMissie173, I am back to reading here and then *maybe catching the episode on rerun, next week!

If so, I promise to let you know!!

Luann has never presented herself as a virginal violet with high-minded ideals about co!tus. She graduated nursing college and went on a whirlwind tour of Europe with a variety of friends after the ennui of working in Connecticut for awhile. She'd lived with one rich fellow for two years (IIRC) and eloped with the Count, leaving a note (again, IIRC) for her jiltee. When she (allegedly) called TD after BF showed her the photo, her concern was that he'd been public about the kissy face, not that he'd done it. My point: she's played/playing the fidelity SL for all it's worth, but at the end of the day, she'll accept his peccadilloes - sexual or otherwise - as long as he doesn't embarrass nor bankrupt nor physically harm her (or her kids), and as long as he keeps his promises to provide, share, and support her in her social life, etc., per their agreement. People get married all the time to partners they know to be deeply flawed. In many cases, they've just decided that those flaws are worth the positive things the marriage brings, and many such marriages last til death do 'em part! Some songwriter said it along these lines: "faithful to you, darlin', in my fashion!" Lots of people live that way.

@KungFuBunny, makes some sense, thanks. I'm disappointed, had hoped to get some insights to encourage the friend. Well, life c'est la vie, to misquote Luann Dagostino! ?

Anybody know what caused the sea change in Hannah's attitude toward John? From recent snapshots it seems as though she's. Is drlighted to be hanging on him, not just in the same room. (Yes, I might be asking for a friend whose otherwise-sensible daughter is acting a fool w/regard to her mother's new guy...)

ITA. Is subway tile the cheapest there is, maybe? Were I lucky enough to get a home makeover I would make it conditional on NOT winding up with WST!

I'm hoping Home Town has an ending point before it gets to that kind of thing. Funny, I was wondering/worrying about whether the show was going to succeed, last week. Now, it'd be okay with me if they had a couple great seasons and then quit. i know, I know --- make up my mind, already! I

I still watch pretty regularly but if it came down to this or Home Town, I'd pick HT. Anyhow I caught the "behind the scenes" episode on a replay and I've now added FU Staging to laws & sausages as things I don't want to watch being made. I mesn, somebody here already snarked on the ridiculous shelves over the island, but Joanna herself had to climb on a counter stool to adjust a tchotchke up there -- what mom of 4 under 4 is going to be going to that much trouble? And the concrete down the sides of the island, and the metal brackets protruding from the wall for bookshelves, right at toddlers' height? Ay yi yi, of all the designers/artists who should be more mindful of hard and sharp in a house with babies, you'd think it would be Joanna, a mother of 4 close in age! I felt for Jo's design assistant who suggested wood grain shelves to flank the stainless vent hood. Jo stayed with white and to my eye, it was boring. But she did have those inexplicable black shelves over the island to consider. Yeesh.