BrindaWalsh

Uuuuggghhhh....we are watching a mentally ill human being unravel before us. Sometimes I hate social media.

So I have been rewatching the Kardashians from sesason 1, and it is kind of amazing to binge-watch, especially the evolution of the characters. And jesus, I always knew Kris was manipulative, but holy shit seeing it all at once, it is horrible. I am on season 8 where 17 year old Kendall is really coming into her own and trying to find her place in the family and she is gravitating towards her Jenner brothers, and the gaslighting and manipulation by Kris is disgusting. Kendall is out with Brody surfing, late getting home, and Kris gives her this whole song and dance about HER feelings and how Kendall is choosing them over HER, and how she wants to spend time with HER but Kendall is rejecting HER by spending time with Brandon and Brody. I feel so bad for her. And it makes me wonder what those relationships might have been like if Kris wasn't such a bad stepmother.

I know they were such a dysfunctional and broken relationship, I know Scott has too many problems to name, I know Kourtney has too many trust issues, but I really wanted Scott and Kourtney back together.

I wondered that same thing. And according to NBC - yes. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/ex-husband-of-real-housewives-of-nj-star-hired-mob-figure-to-assault-her-boyfriend-feds-allege/2492657/ I also wonder if Dina cutting herself off from Caroline, and Jacqueline had to do with the Manzo factor and wasn't just about business, as they led us to believe.

Just in case anybody actually believed Caroline's insistence that her fambily was a squeaky clean italian family, that the alleged mob ties were ignorance at best, and that her father-in-law was a murder victim, not a mob hit...this just happened: https://www.google.com/amp/s/pagesix.com/2020/06/30/ex-hubby-of-rhonjs-dina-manza-hired-hitman-to-attack-her-husband/amp/ I can hear her now. "Horrible. He was stupid. Just stupid. But his HEART was in the right place."

Just finished Athlete A. It is a LOT to process, all over again. And I am horrified.

"I like your hair" "Thank you!" 🤩🤣🥳

There's been talk of divorce since the day they got married. I will believe it when the filing happens. Kanye taking the kids to Wyoming to give Kim a break and space doesn't mean conflict. My husband takes the kids for a few days a couple of times each year, and divorce has never crossed my mind. On the contrary, it could also be viewed as a nice thing that a father takes his kids for few days for kid/dad time together. The kids probably loved it as did Kanye, and it seemed to work for Kim too. And who isn't arguing during this time, or who doesn't argue from time to time, for that matter? Arguing is healthy. And a global pandemic is really fucking stressful.

I think Kourtney has something hormonal going on. She does not look good, physically or emotionally. She looks pale, thin to the point of looking gaunt, and she looks like she is going to have a nervous breakdown. It is probably too early for menopause for her (although not impossible), but I legitimately think there is something more than "I don't want to anymore" going on. Scott saying something "don't push her to a breakdown" was another clue that something isn't quite right. Because if you are at that point where that comes out as a legitimate statement? Something has already gone too far. Now, don't get me wrong. I think Kourtney is in it for the perks and always has been. And she could walk away easily and chooses not to because of that. But i think that is only a small piece of the puzzle. I kind of wish that we could see a convo with her and Scott. I feel like he would tell her exactly what she needed to hear. A lot of stuff happens at 40. They make it sound like it is gradual, but nope, the changes that start to happen are practically immediate - the metabolism slow down, the body changes, the changes to your cycle, a lot starts (or can start) to happen at once. Hence why I think there is something hormonal going on. I also think she is deeply lonely and hiding it with the 25 year old boy toys.

I meant the emotional relief that comes when you are no longer having the day to day anxiety and concerns about that 1 parent (Am I there enough? Doing enough to help and support and just be there? Is he/she doing enough or is he/she lonely? Is that smile genuine? Why does he/she still seem so lonely when we are all right here? Am i doing enough?) I don't think Tre avoided that. In my experience, it unavoidable.

Teresa might discover, as this passes, an element of relief. It may sound horrible, but when you are the "primary-caregiver" in the so-called-sandwich generation, as Teresa was with her father, simply due to the fact that he lived with her, there are levels of stress and anxiety that exist as a result that you don't even realize. It is an odd feeking. Losing the "last" parent is awful, losing any parent is awful, but her father is now at peace. And Tre may find some peace now as well.

That is so sad. I truly believe that man was just lonely and died of a broken heart. The Giudice family has been through a lot in recent years. Yes, plenty as a result of their own doing, but this is a lot for anybody. I don't even think they can come together and grieve and celebrate his life as they normally would and that makes it even harder. I especially feel for Audrianna. She is only 10? My own parents died within 3 years of each other and my oldest is Audriannas age. One is hard enough, but three grandparents is gutwrenching as a child.

People seem to think that "experience gifts" somehow pamper a child less than "stuff." So people have really latched on to that not really realizing that it is just as tone deaf and comes from a place of privelege, and gets more and more extravagant as people go on. Does Jackie think that hopping on a plane to Colorado for a weekend, courtside seats, staying at the Four Seasons is somehow less frivolous than an extravagant party? Probably, so many people do nowadays. But it is ultimately the same animal, different stripes. Evan was talking about how they don't spoil their kids and give them what they need. Well - what do they think kids need? That is really the distinction, not just statements about experience and not spoiling. I guarantee those kids are just as spoiled as every other kid in the upscale towns of Bergen County, NJ. So people have to put aside the stuff and the experiences as some kind of marker of who spoils their kids less and look at something else. Attitude and behavior. Right now, Jackie's kids, after 2 seasons, have been seemingly well behaved and respectful kids. So there you have it. Evan and his low sodium diet comment was disgusting. And also something you know he was just dying to say. I know a lot of people think he is hot, etc. He strikes me as a bit of a douchey frat boy. Jen came off as desperate but she is not going anywhere, the show would be pretty boring without her. But the staged eye narrowing glares, head shakes and jaw drops were a bit over the top staged. But I won't lie, I agree that Melissa is too self-absorbed for another kid.

Still working through this episode but what did Tre do to her eyes? I can't tell if she had surgery or it is a case of too much makeup

I personally thought Jen looked the best, then Dolores. Show leg, cover the boobs. Show boobs, cover the leg. Buy a classic cut dress that makes you look amazing. Marge can and should dress better for her body and wear some good support undergarments. She doesnt need her boobs flapping in the wind to look amazing. I love Margaret. But that is in spite of her fashion and hair choices, not because of. Melissa tries too hard and has been fake since season 4. We got real melissa season 3 and she was much more entertaining from a reality TV standpoint. And i agree that the photos of Jackie at her wedding were really scary. I mean, it could be that people were begging her to get help. We haven't heard Evan say anything about it yet. It seems like her parents didnt notice, maybe they did that day? And to think, she didn't get help until after her children were born. Isn't that what she said? 6 years into recovery? Her youngest two are 8? Yikes. How did she carry a pregnancy???

I can't say I disagree with Jen about Melissa and the fake storylines. But her swinging so hard in the 1st minute of the show was kind of desperate. But then again so was the eye rolling from the other couch about her surgery. Everybody there has had work done. Jackie has had a tummy tuck, her teeth whitened, lip fillers, and i would guess maybe cheek? Her face is definitely different. Subtle but different. All elective. Marge has had the facelift and I think botox? Elective. Melissa has had her boobs and nose done and anything else to morph her into JLo. These people need to stop picking and choosing their elective surgical proceedings. Going under is going under.

I remember way back in season 2, on the long gone twop page, when dina left and it was clear that danielle wasn't coming back, the campaign to get Melissa ok the show. I remember posts there and elsewhere (maybe all about the tea? Did that exist back then?) about how "they should cast Melissa Gorga!" followed by "OMG Melissa Gorga would be so perfect." It wasn't constant but I read it enough to think "Who is this Melissa Gorga that everybody is praising and why don't i know who she is??" Later it became clear on FW, AATT, and elsewhere that the casting of Melissa and Joe wasn't quite as innocent as they liked to make it seem. There was a clear campaign and effort to get themselves on, and yes that included her sisters all over the internet promoting her while causing other problems. Somewhere along the way Melissa even admitted that they pissed off the network. But that was long after she was established as a vital part of the housewives drama. I have said before that I am doing a rewatch. It is fascinating to watch given all that we know now. You can see the stress and anxiety building in Joe Giudice. Melissa's innocent "Teresa is the problem" act is total b.s as she too caused so much trouble. The hypocrisy was amazing. The tackiness of the gorgas was loud and clear. Joe Gorgas attitude towards his wife and sex was just as disgusting as Juicy, just in a different way. The Manzo's and Lauritas did PLENTY wrong towards Tre. Jacq was a complete busybody and drama whore. And the "oh so nice and careful" Wakiles were anything but. The Giudice pile-on was kind of amazing and really quite obvious. I can only assume that because we as viewers were also reading the tabloids and press about Tre and Joe, that the became easy targets and everybody earned a buck off of that. And look, I get what Tre and Joe did. But that isn't a pass for anything goes. But there are clear scenes where Teresa is desparate for anybody to acknowledge her feelings, and gets nothing but hits about how awful she is. And to quote Kim Kardashian, teresa "bought them a fucking career." The ONLY OG on this show is Tre. Not Danielle. Not Melissa. Tre. A full housewife, every season, since season 1. And for more than half of it's lifetime, the show has revolved around the Giudices. I hate to say it but if the Giudices left the show now? Or in season 3? Or 6? It would maybe squeak out a season. Like her or hate her, these bitches are nothing without Teresa Giudice.

@geauxaway Skip AC. People think one thing about AC and then are surprised at how seedy it is (at least for right now) If you want a quintessential Jersey Shore experience, with an element of yesteryear tossed into it, consider Cape May. If you want to go to where the Housewives spend their vacation, make your way further north to Point Pleasant and hang out at Jenkinson's Beach where they were this past episode, head to LBI to possibly spot Tre & the Gang or Seaside, not to far from Melissa's stomping grounds of Toms River.

Not sure where this goes but since it falls into the realm of advertising I will put this here. Driving down Route 4 west yesterdat who was smiling down on me from a bill board way up high in the sky? Dr. Bill himself in a billboard for Aydin Plastic Surgery. The best part? The placement. They put it right across from the Shops at Riverside, a high end mall in the area, probably the most high end, where the would be housewives of NJ shop for their Louis Vuitton and Bottega bags, before going into the Jimmy Choo boutique for a fab pair of heels. Brilliant placement. They know their clientele.

Oooh, that's the area where we stay (at the Windrift). Perfect spot IMO, right in between both towns, with plenty to walk to right where we are. It is my favorite spot on the Jersey shore. If I had to do LI, I would bypass the hamptons and go on out to Montauk, or skip the south shore all together and spend time in Greenport and the North Fork, which makes you forget you are on Long Island. In other words, I would just be skipping the Hamptons all together. Not a fan. Unless I actually owned Jackie's house, because that WAS beautiful.

Drama aside, I love this Jersey shore trip. This highlights the difference between the Hamptons and the Jersey Shore for those who were curious the last time. The Hamptons are high fashion, glitzy, secluded and pool parties with DJs and mixed drinks. The Jersey Shore is beach bars, boardwalk games, crowds of people, live bands and oversized frozen drinks. One you go to to party and be seen, the other you go to to party and just kick back. Strappy heeled sandals vs flip flops. (Unless you are from the southern shore towns and that's completely different too - Avalon wouldn't be caught dead at Jenks - too low brow - or Westhampton - tries way too hard). You choose your preference. OMG Tony the Turk was hysterical. And the Jen, Dolores and Tre parasailing was awesome. Mini-golf? God that was boring. I feel like Melissa and Jackie can't let loose and just be themselves because they feel they have to act a certain way, so we get stupid shit like boob golf. Seeing Jackie challenge everybody to chug was the most laid back I have ever seen her on the show. And Melissa is too busy being beige. And isn't Marge a grandmother? I really feel like somebody has to tell her it is okay for her to wear a proper bra, wear some underwear and not talk about her vagina. It doesn't mean she isn't young and fun, it just means she is smart. Oh Danielle. You are still batshit. But apparently so are a lot of others. When does that NDA Bravo agreement come to an end. I want the Danielle Staub tell-all because at the end of the day there is probably a lot we think we know and don't really. And I want her to start with the Gorgas, thank you very much.

I mean, what are seeing this season is just another example of the Gorgas using the shortcomings of Giudice to prop themselves. But Joe Gorga is equally gross. Just because Juicy is an ass doesn't make Gorga a saint. What's worse? The verbal abuse of Joe Giudice or constantly being manhandled and badgered for sex, even when you clearly aren't interested, having to apologize or make constant excuses to your angry and pissed off husband for NOT wanting sex one night, being used for an outlet for anger through sex (remember JoeGo and his statement that when he gets angry with Tre he goes home for sex with Melissa? Wth?), being denigrated for your career in front of your children, just to name a few? I could see where neither man is a gem to bring home to mom.

There are a few different ways to make kibbeh. Kibbeh nayyeh is eaten raw - ground and mixed with bulgur wheat and spices. You eat it with pita bread and olive oil and sometimes with some onion. It is generally served as an appetizer. Consider it middle eastern steak tartare. Baked kibbeh is basically the same mix as kibbeh nayyeh, maybe with some pine nuts thrown in, and baked. Pieces are usually cut into triangles. You can have it as part of a mezze course or as a main dish. The turkish "meatballs" are kibbeh balls. You take the kibbeh mixture and form into boat or half football shape, fill it with a ground mixture of lamb, pine nuts and onion and then close off the boat or other half of the football shape with the kibbeh mixture. This kibbeh is fried. I've never seen the kibbeh balls served raw, although different cultures do things differently. What i outlined are the three traditional ways of doing kibbeh from a lebanese or syrian standpoint (keep in mind lebanon didn't exist as an independent country until the 1940s)

It is really interesting to watch melissa and joe in their first season again. For one, Joe's attitude about Melissa, sex and what he is entitled to is pretty terrible. He gets really pissed when she doesn't have sex with him, he publicly manhandles her, just to kick the list offm. It is disturbing. It is also clear how the Gorgas twisted so much to make them look like victims. Joe bangs the table, calls Teresa garbage, and charges Joe (Melissa got a few punches in there too if you watch closely), yet Juicy is at fault. They surround themselves with people antagonizing the Giudices and use it to promote their victim agenda. In their conversations with Teresa, they reallh keep coming back at her over and over again despite her saying that she is sorry, they have all made mistakes, she wants things to work out, and they don't budge an inch or take any responsibility. It is masterful manipulation and really continues the entire series. I wonder if they ultimately resent the fact that despite their years of effort, the majority of the attention they get is still because of Teresa and Joe? Nobody cares about Envy or Joe's book, or Joe's poison or Melissa's failed singing career. They do, however, like to ask them about the Giudice family. That must burn. And as for Joe getting laid in the hamptons a lot when he was in his 20? Um..it's really not that hard to do. Lots of people have a lot of sex during the summer beach rental season.

What if it was a 20 year old college junior asking an 18 year old college freshman to their winter fraternity formal? Is it the age difference or because it was a college student at a high school dance? I guess I just don't see it as that odd if they are friends and "in like." I know plenty of college students who came back to go to prom with their younger graduating high school girlfriends. Most were a 1 yesr age difference, but the 2 year age difference was there too. Those same girls went to the senior prom as sophomores in high school. And why are we assuming that Frankies maturity is at play here? They are going to a dance. Socializing with Gia's friends. Eating dinner. Dancing. With faculty chaperones. Then they are either going into NYC to a club or to a prom after party at somebody's home where the parents don't care, before leaving to spend the weekend down the shore, out in the hamptons, or in the poconos somewhere, where other friends of varying ages who did NOT go to prom, will join at a weekend bouse rental. Tis the Jersey Prom Weekend Way. I thought Frankie greeting Gia was sweet. He knew the drill, let the girl come down while they all take pics, tell her she looks so pretty , take pics, hold her hand and walk her to the limo. Nothing about that screamed inappropriate to me. Not to mention, with all Gia has been through, maybe she just wanted to go to prom with somebody she felt 100% comfortable with. They have known each other forever. Dolores has been hanging around since season 1. God. Why do I care so much about this?