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RebeccatheWriter

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Everything posted by RebeccatheWriter

  1. Given the over the top courtship proposals and engagements, I'm guessing that a large part of what the lord has in store is what location these girls will get to go to someday to become chattel.
  2. I wear my hair pretty short and go about every other month to get my hair cut and styled. That said, I haven't been since February. I have a compromised immune system and my parents are both cancer patients. I don't want to pass them something accidentally. However, I'm also applying for new jobs and interviewing. I have been curling my hair to avoid going to the stylist, but that only does so much. Eventually I'm going to break down and go. When I do, I'll be headed back to my regular stylist and not a new one. I don't want to have to go through the process of having to tell someone new what I want. I want a quick visit and the same style I normally get. In and out. No drama or risk.
  3. I don't doubt that Erin and Chad were among those infected. I just don't think this post had that ring to it. Her post would have been more positive if it was just about COVID and less journey/trial related. While the kids would have probably been asymptomatic, I think she would have included them in the pic to say they were facing COVID as a family, etc. There would have been thank yous and shout outs to parents, siblings, or just Chad for how they helped. They would have messages thanking Michaela for cooking and/or childcare. They would thank Lawson for cutting the grass, etc. You would have had one of Erin's patented messages about how wonderful it is to be a part of a big family. Even if it was a severe case (hard to believe all the rest of the family would have stayed quiet on that), they would be thanking G-d and Jesus for protecting them. Erin has a very specific style with her postings. Things are usually very positive with her and all part of G-d's plan. With their way of thinking, they would not see COVID as a bad thing to be overly dramatic about and worry after it was over. They would see that as "joyous" that they survived and would want to be an "encouragement" to others. Given that they did one of the FB live events before one of the later episodes, I think they would have mentioned it then even if it was just to say they were a bit under the weather and would try to answer questions as they could. I would assume it is the adult children who also contracted it. From Carson's birthday pics and other such things, we know they weren't really social distancing over the summer. From the messaging on the show, it was clear that they were only following directives and didn't do anything to further protect themselves. Once the governor lifted the most restrictive bans, they were planning get togethers and parties. Never mind that multiple members of the family could be considered higher risk than others or were more at risk to pass it along. Even Gil and Kelly Jo were traveling to places like Montana (probably by plane) for vacation. They gave it lip service on the show, but look at how Erin was about Tori's impending labor and delivery. She made mention several times that the governor might shut down the state. However, she never directly said or even considered that maybe they should limit exposure because the situation was getting worse. It was laying all of that at the governor's discretion. She was saying she didn't know what they would do if they couldn't all work together in the storage unit, but they didn't show her or Carlin actually attempting to work remotely in answering emails or ordering more product. She decorated the nursery for Tori and Michaela provided a meal, but what about after the birth? Did Erin drop off freezer meals? The show indicated that Addallee and Katie babysat for Kade. Did Erin offer to have him over with her kids to watch? That might have been a safer scenario than Katie coming into Tori's apartment when Katie was at that point rushing to finish cosmetology hours before the school closed to in person sessions. I'm assuming they didn't just say, "nice new baby...bye."
  4. Too much time has passed for it to be Carlin who gave it to her. Erin wouldn't have held out this long to send out a message about it. She could have had it, but I doubt she would wait to be totally well again before revealing that journey to the world. Plus the pics would have included more than just a dark shot of her and Chad. That would have been a family shot of them all in bed looking pitiful and sad. I'm guessing miscarriage.
  5. Plus the moody silhouetted pic of them. Those posts are simply about attention and engagement from their fans. Now they get to bask in the endless questions of what is wrong before revealing whatever happened and getting comments on that too.
  6. Season finale thoughts... 1. I suffer from acid reflux and have had to have surgery to help it. I also had surgery to relieve an issue with frequent bouts of diverticulitis. Kelly Jo and Gil are seriously dramatic about these things. Yes, there can be complications, but both were relatively minor (especially the reflux surgery). I'm seeing more and more where Carlin gets it from. (Please note that I am not discounting the seriousness of esophageal cancer and Barrett's Esophagus. Those are serious and Kelly Jo should be monitored and treated. I just remember on United Bates of America when Kelly Jo had her surgery for her gall bladder. Gil was waxing philosophical about how she might not make it through the surgery. When Gil had his colon surgery (not comfortable - I know), he and Kelly Jo were talking about what would happen without him. These people just seem very negative about medical treatment and surgery. There are risks, but the dramatics get to be a bit much. 2. I appreciate that they put the note up about Josie's miscarriage. It was super awkward last season? when they showed Whitney and Zach announce pregnancy. They were getting congratulations messages despite the miscarriage being announced on social media and in their Facebook Live. 3. Lawson is highly annoying and seems to think he is superior to everyone. He just loves the camera. 4. Chad seems like a nice person. I'm sure he has all those awful beliefs, but he genuinely does seem to like his own children and doesn't just say they are cute. 5. We got the dramatic diagnosis video from Carlin and Evan, but thankfully missed out on their sleeping in the car in the driveway of his parents house while visiting Layla though the storm door. Like her brother, she does love that camera. That was a super awkward way to have a video call with your parents. 6. Also appreciate that UP added that little note at the end that other Bates had been diagnosed with COVID and recovered.
  7. I played a drinking game on how many times she told him he got the wrong size truck.
  8. Yes, but I'm sure he is pronouncing it based on Alyssa's pronunciation. It's not like he's the one coming up with these names. He's not that into the details. While he doesn't have a southern accent, he has what I refer to as a lazy tongue like a southerner. I say this as a southerner. The soft c, s, and z sounds very similar with that speech pattern. Another example is Don versus Dawn. In many dialects that is pronounced differently. I would bet that Alyssa pronounces them the same - as do I.
  9. I have a cousin from Tennessee named Maci. Her parents pronounce Maci and Maisie the same.
  10. Evan's family seems to enjoy being on television and not worried about the cameras at all. Kelton's dad seems to be okay with it too. Bobby's parents either really don't like the Bates or they are nervous about being on camera. They seem to be religious and conservative, but not over the top.
  11. I used to assume that some of the girls' "choices when it came to makeup, hair, and clothes were based on their isolation. Alyssa would not have sported that near unibrow if she knew how and when to use some tweezers or wax. The jumpers were a result of Michaela learning to sew without knowing or being taught how to read a pattern. So every dress was a jumper that could double as a sack. Erin's hair that bordered on Gibson girl style was based on what she was exposed to musically and what she saw at a backwoods country church where women were getting perms even in the 2000s and jacking it to Jesus was the norm. Their biggest outside the cult reference would be Kelly Jo pics from her high school and college days (1980s) where the makeup was heavier and the hair was over processed. Even their choices in styling items was probably limited to drug stores and the grocery store/Walmart. I guess we should be happy that none of them tried to sport the "Wet N Wild" blue eyeshadow, mascara, and eyeliner with the pink frost at the corners of the eyes. Now they are less isolated. Erin seems to try to express her individuality with her hair and makeup - usually overdoing it. We don't see her being as expressive with her clothing. She's still rocking the denim skirts with an oversized top. When pregnant she goes for the Kelly Jo fleece vest layer too. Tori seems to do this too, but her look in terms of makeup and hair has become softer and more subtle. Michaela seems to dress more for comfort, which I can appreciate. I am not a size 2 and hate tighter, form fitting clothing. If you give me a business suit, I look like someone threw it at me. There is something about my shoulders that always make it look like I am playing dress up, plus my legs and arms are short in comparison to my torso. I'm not a slob, but I am also not a fan of spending hours getting ready. I still dress in my I'm late to class and was up to late last night look many days. When I do dress up and take time, people think someone died or I am on a job interview. The other girls are experimenting more with clothing, but also using more expensive products. While they now have that freedom, there are some real missteps. Josie's eyebrows can be way too thin and her makeup can wash her out while Alyssa's can be overly dark in comparison to her hair color. Katie needs to calm down on the bleach, as does Carlin. Most of us make these mistakes in our pre-teens and early teens. I am not sharing my pics of mall bangs and glitter peace signs I used to draw on next to my eyes each morning. The bad news is that the Bates girls - much like they are about motherhood, being a wife, cooking, being an adult - didn't get that experimental time or time to figure out who they really are in the world outside their family. They didn't even really have other girls to emulate. (I wanted Tiffany's hair and Debbie Gibson's clothes.) Even for their own weddings, Kelly Jo talks about splurging and going to the nail salon in the shopping center. Since the show likes to show the Bates kids getting to try new things, maybe a spa day with individual consultations would be a good "story."
  12. I didn't take it as disappointment any more than just not being that prepared for a live stream. They went live and apparently waited for key people to join them. It was boring and tense for them, as the camera is rolling and Alyssa was reading aloud from her tablet and trying to figure out where geographic locations were (not her skill with Kelly Jo's teaching) while John tried to keep the other girls in the shot and away from the giant balloons. They really should have prepared something to say other than if they thought the baby would be a girl or boy. It is one or the other. Not much else to say about it. Alyssa doesn't strike me as out in the open as say Carlin who can speak stream of consciousness style with nothing at all to say. I would imagine they were both feeling like they wanted to get the whole thing over with and wondering why they didn't just keep it private and release some pics later. No doubt that Alyssa feels pressure to have a boy. Her family is probably providing 80% of that pressure on her.
  13. I did a little research on that "trend." It isn't exactly trending. However, when couples go for the promised title in high school or college, they will exchange rings. However, that seems progressive for a Bates.
  14. So ridiculous. 1. Whitney and Zach are doing most of the work. Then they show Whitney answering emails. So Carlin and Erin can't manage or be bothered to do that? They can't print mailing labels and drop those off at The shed in the backyard? What exactly can they do? 2. So this episode says Lawson and Nathan just got back from Arkansas, but last episode had Lawson back and putting together shelves. 3. So Lawson is back to being in a relationship with his music. That wasn't a commercial for his new release, now was it? 4. Nathan is a drama queen. I realize that was staged for the camera. People don't spring questions like that on others without warning when there is filming going on around them. 5. Carlin is an idiot because she wants to be an idiot. She thinks it is cute or something. I feel sorry for Layla who needs to crawl right out the door and never look back. Take the baby to the doctor. 6. That off the one shoulder top on Addallee was racy for a Bates girl at home. 7. The t-shirts for all of their side businesses is getting to be a bit much. One person is wearing one in each scene. 8. A promise ring seems a bit silly for a 27 year old man. Am I supposed to guess his promised one is at home practicing writing her name with his? 9. And I still maintain the way he talked about it was not exactly promising that he has learned some respect for women. It was all about him and checking off the box of settling down before 30. It would be far better just to say, "I met someone and we are taking it slow right now. Since it is so new, we aren't really ready to make any announcements or anything. We'll see what happens." 10. He could have even tied it in with the COVID-19 storyline and said something about how it was harder/easier to get to know someone when you can't see or visit the person. They could have then switched to a talking head of Katie talking about only being able to call and text with Travis. 11. Kelly Jo, nobody in their right mind is feeling sorry for you about missing out on a picnic.
  15. They tend to announce very early at least to parents and siblings. That can mean it is harder to hide or stay private about a loss. The photos that they had taken around Willow's birthday were pretty big indications that they were about to announce. They are typical in that circle. All that was missing was Willow holding a sign saying she was about to be promoted to big sister. Then in a lot of the photos and video of them on social media, Josie would hold something over her abdomen. While she wasn't showing, she did the same thing when pregnant with Willow. Alyssa does the same too, as do many of the Duggar girls. So there were signs there and many suspected. While I don't think that Josie goes to Dr. Vick like her sisters, I think that she would have the sense enough to disclose that family history to a doctor. That said, we were greeted earlier this season with the sisters acting surprised that they could have the same disorder as Erin. So I try not to assume when it comes to common sense and the Bates.
  16. The two house renovation episodes were from 18 Kids and Counting. I believe Anna was pregnant with her first baby and there was talk about how Josh and Anna slept in a room together that was supposed to be private. However, the only way to get into the only bathroom that was operational was to walk through the room where they were sleeping. I remember feeling sorry for her, as they were sleeping on an air mattress and she had to be uncomfortable even without 40 something people tromping in and out all night long. The first one was called Do It Yourself Duggar and the second was Duggars on a Deadline. Later they came back for a visit and showed the renovations nearly complete. There were a few specials that had segments with the Bates on ABC's Nightline, including one called My Extraordinary Family. Their segment ran and then the next segment was a family with a transgender child. Most of the specials included shared footage, especially of the family when they were on their way to Big Sandy and stayed in a hotel lobby during a tornado warning. They later did one that used much of that footage and spliced in Alyssa's wedding. So part of their Nightline specials (two different reporters did filming) were shot prior to United Bates of America and some after United Bates of America and before Bringing Up Bates. While some people refer to the Nightline coverage as special episodes or specials about the Bates, they were more like feature stories that were part of longer magazine shows. These stories are like 15 minutes to 20 minutes long and placed together with other unrelated stories. The ones that were before United Bates of America were more than likely pitched by TLC to frame them as a normal family with a lot of kids. These segments included things like Lawson doing the grocery shopping and Erin attending Crown. Kelly and some of the girls took the female reporter out to a thrift store to shop. She picked out a shirt for Zach (apparently picking out a new item for each child). Gil is later shown wearing the shirt. She also shops with Lawson, wanting to buy a swimsuit that they won't freak out about because she has invited the kids over to swim at her hotel. Lawson gets very judgmental about the whole thing, But Alyssa and Michaela later compliment her on it and say it was sweet of her to want to dress like them for swimming. One segment also includes footage of Zach's first courtship proposal. This also includes Jackson's comments about ALERT being the Army of God. A later one had a male correspondent doing the story. It was mostly the same fluff, but included segments of them making snow ice cream and more singing. It also showed the CCTV system that was installed so Kelly Jo could keep tabs on all the kids. Most all of the Nightline segments can be found via Google.
  17. The renovations had already taken place by the time they did United Bates of America. The opening of the show contains all of them on the same front porch they have now. Most of the old house still stands, but is used for storage and part of the "school room."
  18. Their home is not in a high or even medium density residential area. Home businesses in general aren't discouraged for low density or even agricultural zoning, which is what I assume their street to be. I grew up in the Anderson County area and still have a lot of family in Clinton and Rocky Top (I still call it Lake City). A few notes about what I meant: Whitney had commented before she had Khloe that the house was on a street with other houses (large lots assumed) because she wanted Erin, Tori, and Carlin to all buy there and for them to all be neighbors and family. She and Erin commented that the kids could go from house to house to see each other and play. That would indicate that it is a house within sight and ear distance of other houses. The homes in that area are typically on septic not sewer. I highly doubt that Zach and Whitney had a larger septic tank installed to satisfy requirements. They might not have customers there, but they have said various siblings help out on site, as well as employees. It's a portable building. So I am assuming anyone needing a restroom has to go into the house. That can bring a strain on the public water source (if not on a well- a whole other issue). I wouldn't want to be down the road from them and down flow from a home that had a business with multiple people there all day every day. Roads in Anderson County and most of Tennessee (as well as other places) are notoriously narrow. I would get annoyed as a neighbor if all these cars were traversing up and down a quiet, country road and parking in the street (assumed). All of the Bates who are married have this issue somewhat when camera crews come to film. It's not great, but I doubt it is more than once a week if that much. Most professional crews will carpool (van) to shoot sites that are low on parking. They are also usually very conscientious about not being a problem to neighbors. I work in municipal government so when I see these sorts of things on television, I wonder. We have one woman in the city where I work who sells jewelry once a month from her carport/garage. She maybe gets 20 customers all day. I always know when it happens because the complaints are through the roof from her neighbors. "People were parked in the street and it was too narrow to get my car through to get home." "I don't want people parked in front of my house. I like my view and don't want to see some cheap car." "All the doors slamming echoes down the street and disturbs the peace we moved here to find." It may not be an issue for their neighbors, but I would be surprised. The Bates aren't really known for thinking of others.
  19. According to Carlin's instagram stories, I'm not sure she works. Apparently, she carries around Layla, flips her hair, and shoots video for social media with commentary on what everyone is doing. That is when she isn't distracted by mirrors. I have to wonder about Zach and Whitney's neighbors. I'm sure they didn't buy a house on that street to have someone with a business in basically a portable building in the backyard. If each sister drove separately, plus one or two helpers, an occasional husband, and a film crew when allowed, that is a lot of vehicles on what is supposed to be a quiet residential street. Given how strict cities and counties can be with zoning, I wonder how Zach and Whitney made that legal.
  20. My youngest cousin on my mom's side is like this. She wants family parties each month and talks on social media about how close we all are and wants to be close. To her the close family angle is the epitome of the perfect life she wants to portray. I'm the cousin who never attends. I send a card...maybe. I've been hurt by family too many times. If my cousin is the Carlin of the family, I wonder which Bates is me?
  21. Best moment was Addy answering back that she didn't know labor signs because she hasn't been with a woman in labor. I agree it makes no sense that they were talking in past tense while she had her hands like still pregnant. I think it must have been after. She looked less pregnant than in the blue dress. Kelly Jo is hilarious with the comments that they are all staying home. Addy and katie were at Tori's. Lawson and Nathan were at Duggar Homegrown Airport. Then they were basically comparing labor and delivery units in hospitals to zombie movies. On a superficial note, Bobby is getting a more mature look that is making him the bestish of the sons in law. As for the group chats during labor. Did any of these people think about a tripod or even a stick?
  22. Never been through childbirth, but doubting I would stream it live to the family either. Lawson has made the betting pool comment before with katie I think. He said he'd put money on something but the Bates don't bet. Then they acted like they were going to anyway.
  23. There are at least two hospitals in Anderson County. There are numerous in Knoxville.
  24. Carlin has always (at least since we've seen her on 19KAC and the Bates' own shows) wanted spotlight. One can certainly understand that with being in the middlish of 19 kids that she would want someone to pay attention to her and have things of her own. A husband and baby are just that. She now finally has something for Carlin. Now with Layla's health issues, Carlin gets to have even more attention. People offer advice, prayers, and even praise through her social media videos. It has to give her some sense of importance and attention that she has seriously craved. They should have waited. It wasn't in their m.o. to do that though. After months of wedding planning, graduation from Liberty, destination engagement, wedding showers, photo shoots, and a fancy wedding that got televised, She got dancing lessons that weren't just time spent with her true love but her parents too. Carlin wasn't ever going to be a wife and pursue anything other than making babies. I can't really speak to Evan other than he appears to have been coddled and treated like Carlin always wanted to be. It is doubtful either of them thought about what the real day to day life would be with a baby, bills, and adulting in general. I would hope that they would have gained more common sense and abilities, but I doubt they would have even if they waited until 30.
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