Book Junkie

I kind of liked Marge's renovations. It's definitely not to my tastes and I wouldn't want it, but it was also refreshing to see something different than gray everywhere (Jennifer), or shiplap/modern farmhouse look that's everywhere.

I completely agree and said that at the time. Sean Connery was a legend and icon. I'm very sorry Chadwick Boseman died too soon, but he should not have been the last one featured. And, it's because of times like this year, they really need to standardize the In Memoriam. Either show the deceased in the order they died over the past year, or show them in alphabetical order. That way, there's no putting someone in more of a spotlight. They finally learned to mute the live audience clapping for the TV audience during the segment.

Or, as Ricky Gervais told Kate Winslet, be in a Holocaust movie. Which she was in The Reader, and she won for that role after being nominated 5 or 6 times and losing. For me the biggest Oscar-winning mistake was for Best Supporting Actor in 1997. Cuba Gooding, Jr. won for Jerry Maguire and beat out Edward Norton in Primal Fear. I'm still bitter for Norton.

I cannot agree with all of this more. Thank you for so intelligently and succinctly saying what I didn't like about MRBB and Boseman's and Davis's monologues. While they were beautifully delivered and really showcased the actors' performance talent, they still left me a little cold because I just kept thinking, "Oscar clip!". I didn't know it was play until watching the closing credits, but that made sense. I generally don't like non-musical plays made into movies, because they almost always seem like a stage production that was videoed. MRBB was especially like that.

Every state has its own probate laws. Even then, those probate laws change in applicability according to whatever will was left. In most cases, if there is no will or stipulation that someone's assets go to a particular person or organization, then the current spouse is usually the heir. If there is no spouse, then it goes to children and whatever succession of heirs dictated by state law. If your father or father-in-law had a legitimate will that his spouse did not get anything and everything went to his beloved pet ferret, then the ferret would get everything and you and the rest of your relatives would get nothing. In D'Andra's case, she has stated multiple times there were two wills: one that left everything to her and one that left everything to her brother. The legal battle was over which will was the legit one, or what was the father's last wish of who was to inherit his money? Where D'Andra had her claim was that Mama Dee said an episode or 2 ago that she and D'Andra's father agreed that he wouldn't pay child support with the stipulation that he would leave everything to D'Andra when he died. That's the will that Mama Dee and D'Andra have. Apparently, and unsurprisingly, he had a change of heart after marrying stepmom and having a son, and he drew up a second will stipulating that his son would inherit everything. That's the will stepmom had. There must have been some sort of language in either will, or both wills, that didn't negate the other full stop, hence the expensive legal battle. It sounded out of character for Mama Dee to agree to no child support if D'Andra got everything when her father died, because Mama Dee has show herself to be extremely selfish and greedy, and it surprised me she would agree to something like this that had a higher chance of her not getting any money. Here's my theory on what went down; I'm purely speculating here. I suspect Mama Dee got caught stepping out on D'Andra's father and he had hard proof that would guarantee him not having to pay alimony to Mama Dee. Mama Dee knew this, but she had her ace card of D'Andra, in which she knew she could get him to pay through the nose in child support. Daddy Dee didn't want to pay child support, because he knew Mama Dee would spend the money on herself, not on D'Andra, so he probably initially tried to set up a trust fund where he would make the child support payments so that and D'Andra could access the trust fund when she turned 18. Mama Dee probably didn't like that, because then she doesn't get to control the money, which is Daddy Dee's whole point. Mama Dee probably fought that or the law or judge wouldn't agree to it, or something. For whatever reason, they reached the agreement (more likely a compromise after a lot of legal battling) that Daddy Dee didn't have to pay child support if he left everything to D'Andra, and probably had to draw up said will immediately and give a certified original to Mama Dee. I also suspect that Mama Dee had already locked down Simmonds by then and knew she would have his money to afford her the lifestyle she wanted to be accustomed to, which is the only reason she agreed to the will compromise. It was never about providing for D'Andra; Mama Dee wants money, and lots of it, and SHE wants to be the ONLY one in control of it. Remember: she is the trustee of the trust fund that Simmonds left to D'Andra, meaning D'Andra has to go to Mama Dee anytime she wants to access the trust. Mama Dee has shown herself to be a very selfish, vindictive, controlling and extremely greedy woman, who has no qualms about hurting her daughter if she feels like it, time and time again on the show. And, that's just what we see on the show! I still remember D'Andra saying in her first season how she had a happy and successful life in D.C. when Mama Dee begged her to come back to Dallas and run the company, because Mama Dee was tired and wanted to retire. D'Andra finally caved and completely uprooted her life, and then Mama Dee handed the company over...about 12 years later. Mama Dee didn't want to retire; she wanted to control D'Andra. It would serve D'Andra well if she got therapy and cut Mama Dee out of her life. I don't think that'll ever happen, because I think Mama Dee has manipulated D'Andra so much over the years that D'Andra probably thinks she can't function without her. While I'm not necessarily a fan of D'Andra, I absolutely HATE how her mother treats her. I can only imagine the mommy dearest she was during D'Andra's childhood and wish D'Andra would tell her to fuck off and completely walk out of Dee's life. That would be the only way to "get to" Dee, and it would probably be the only way to earn her respect. I absolutely despise Mama Dee.

Stephanie's trip was to Oklahoma, not Alabama. It's where she's from. While I agree with adding some diversity, I hope Tiffany doesn't come back; she has bored me so much with her constant mommy issues and mommy guilt. I also can't stand her vocal fry. Why did they keep saying that JR was shot at Southfork? He was shot at his office in the 80's cliffhanger version. I toured Southfork a few years ago on a Texas trip. Such fond memories of watching the show. They have a little museum part where they have the actual prop gun used to shoot JR!

What got me about Lindsey was how she kept saying he needed to be doing things for her every day. Like, what?! Who has that kind of time AND money? If she expects to find a guy who will show her grand gestures of love every day, then she may as well throw out her timeline. Also, does she not realize that if a guy does grand gestures every day, then it's no longer a grand gesture. Plus, she is constantly complaining and talking about what Stephen doesn't do for her, but does she do anything for Stephen? Relationships are a 2-way street, Lindsey. It can't be all him doing the giving and you always taking. I'm thinking the only way Stephen stayed with her for a year was because they were quarantined and he didn't have the opportunity to get away from her and she excused the lack of daily grand gestures because she knew they couldn't go anywhere or do anything.

I hope they don't put Maggie in a new relationship this soon. It wouldn't ring true for Maggie's character. She was with Mitch for more than 30 years. I can see it being true for another character, but not Maggie. I lost my husband of 16 years in September, and I can see why people jump into relationships. The loneliness is just the worst when you lose your partner. However, I still don't see Maggie going there so soon. And while the man knows her husband just died, I'm here to tell you that doesn't register with some people. Even though it's only been 4 months now since I lost my husband, I've already had people speculating about if/when I'll remarry and a neighbor who has been pursuing me romantically since the 2 month mark. I don't really hold it against them (well, the neighbor I am, because that's just uncomfortable and I still feel married to my husband. I still wear my wedding rings.) because I think for people who aren't directly dealing with the loss on a daily basis, it seems like it was a lot longer ago that he passed and don't realize just how short of a time it's been until I remind them that it's only been 3, now 4 months. It's funny: all last season, I identified so much with Zoey since my mom is in hospice and in the final stages of a disease similar to Mitch's. The way Mitch would look with that blank face last season is exactly the way my mom looks. I cried at least once every episode. This season: I identify so much with Maggie and her grief. I went/going through the work motivation issues and concentration as well, and I didn't even work with my husband, but he was still someone I could vent to and bounce things off of. Her song of "Someone You Loved" is spot on. Also, her dealing with all of the paperwork after a spouse dies. Ugh. It's always something, and I have an amazing support system, like Maggie. Speaking from experience, I hope Maggie AND Zoey see a therapist. They are both dealing with way too much on their own.