All Episodes Talk: Small World, Big Lives

[readheaded]

2 minutes ago, floridamom said:

There is absolutely no reason why Amy shouldn't have hired professional organizers to sort out the 'junk' and 'keep' piles for her. They would have forced her to work with them in those decisions. A few days and the junk would have been weeded out. THEN, for $2,000 she could have hired professional packers and in one day, that whole house would have been packed up to move it all. She could afford it; no reason to drag this on and on for months. Any pro would have had Amy decide what's keep and what's toss. Amy, who seems to be disorganized, can't do this all herself. She's be ready to move in one week.

Except that she didn't want to hire professional organizers.  She probably needed to go through the exercise as part of the grieving and closure.  

3 hours ago, bichonblitz said:

On a previous episode Chris referred to the new house as their "starter home". I don't get it. These people are in their late 50's. Why on earth would they want to move yet again? I was getting irritated about Amy showing the exterior of the new house and how "small" it was with the lack of land. That's what you get in Oregon for half a million dollars, get used to it, Amy, and be thankful you could afford that.  I thought the backyard was awesome, had enough lush landscaping and privacy, nice water feature and fire pit. Of course she had to whine about the fire pit not being as good as the one at the farm. Honestly,  she needs to get over herself.  

Caryn's comment about not caring to get married was interested. I have a feeling she said that because Matt is the one not wanting to get married again and she knows it's not going to happen.  He like the relationship just the way it is. 

And, by the same token, Matt's talking about building another "big house."  Should he get over himself, too?

[MargeGunderson]

I’m assuming that according to the sale agreement Amy has to be out of the house by a specific date. If Matt doesn’t like how long it’s taking her, too bad. 

[sATL]

16 hours ago, Dustbunny said:

yes on an earlier episode (or it might have been during a chat) Amy said that they plan on living in her house for 10 years until they retire and then they plan to buy a 1 story rancher type house together.

 

retire?? Sorry - I need a little more clarification of what Amy is retiring from and to what....

People do retire in their 50s - isn't she already at retirement?  Amy is involved in a business whose best revenue period and hustle is 2 months out of the year. Please don't tell me it takes her 10 months to plan out the annual pumpkin season.

And as much as Chris appears to be lovable - he doesn't strike me a the high and mighty real estate broker and hard negotiator, where he needs to retire from the daily stress grind.

10 more years of working on the farm ? 10 more years of the show?  10 more years of bickering with Matt over farm related (or not) business concerns ?

Edited October 22, 2020 by sATL

[EllaWycliffe]

4 hours ago, readheaded said:

And, by the same token, Matt's talking about building another "big house."  Should he get over himself, too?

Interesting question, isn't it? Matt owns the double wide and was VERY loud in recent seasons on how he was perfectly happy with it (when Amy expressed an interest in switching sides, Matt suddenly LOVED the DW). Matt also owns a lovely home in AZ. AND he owns a completely customized for his disability McMansion and as of late he's very proud to say none of this is good enough and he wants his dream house too!

Funny how when it's Matt, there's never any tongue wagging on how maybe its excessive. Personally, while I have my doubts for several reasons on whether ground will be broken for his new house, I will be amused if he does start throwing his money down the hole of another customized McMansion on the farm.

2 hours ago, MargeGunderson said:

I’m assuming that according to the sale agreement Amy has to be out of the house by a specific date. If Matt doesn’t like how long it’s taking her, too bad. 

Agreed. From a sanity standpoint, I think she would have been smart to hire some organizers but considering the sheer nothing in plots in these episodes from other family members (Matt's storyline is "I'm bitching about Amy being slow and Zach and Tory's is "we exist!") I honestly wonder how much production was involved in order to have *something* to film. For all the talk - I've already seen the previews of the empty house so you know what? Amy moves out. And Matt isn't suing for breach of contract for it taking so long which he'd be well within his rights to do if she didn't move out by the agreed upon date. 

 

1 hour ago, sATL said:

People do retire in their 50s - isn't she already at retirement?  Amy is involved in a business whose best revenue period and hustle is 2 months out of the year. Please don't tell me it takes her 10 months to plan out the annual pumpkin season.

People do retire in their 50s but it's certainly not *required*. 

Also quite frankly Matt goes on and on about how indeed, he's always planning for pumpkin season, whatever month it happens to be. 

1 hour ago, sATL said:

10 more years of working on the farm ? 10 more years of the show?  10 more years of bickering with Matt over farm related (or not) business concerns ?

If she is still part of the business of the farm, why not? The show is Little People Big World not The Matt Roloff Hour. And is it an issue why no complaining that Matt continues to work? He's older than Amy yet there's no insistence that regardless of what Matt wants, its time for Matt to retire. 

[sATL]

30 minutes ago, EllaWycliffe said:

Interesting question, isn't it? Matt owns the double wide and was VERY loud in recent seasons on how he was perfectly happy with it (when Amy expressed an interest in switching sides, Matt suddenly LOVED the DW). Matt also owns a lovely home in AZ. AND he owns a completely customized for his disability McMansion and as of late he's very proud to say none of this is good enough and he wants his dream house too!

Funny how when it's Matt, there's never any tongue wagging on how maybe its excessive. Personally, while I have my doubts for several reasons on whether ground will be broken for his new house, I will be amused if he does start throwing his money down the hole of another customized McMansion on the farm.

Agreed. From a sanity standpoint, I think she would have been smart to hire some organizers but considering the sheer nothing in plots in these episodes from other family members (Matt's storyline is "I'm bitching about Amy being slow and Zach and Tory's is "we exist!") I honestly wonder how much production was involved in order to have *something* to film. For all the talk - I've already seen the previews of the empty house so you know what? Amy moves out. And Matt isn't suing for breach of contract for it taking so long which he'd be well within his rights to do if she didn't move out by the agreed upon date. 

 

People do retire in their 50s but it's certainly not *required*. 

Also quite frankly Matt goes on and on about how indeed, he's always planning for pumpkin season, whatever month it happens to be. 

If she is still part of the business of the farm, why not? The show is Little People Big World not The Matt Roloff Hour. And is it an issue why no complaining that Matt continues to work? He's older than Amy yet there's no insistence that regardless of what Matt wants, its time for Matt to retire. 

I don't see 10 years of new material and continuity  , to keep an audience and sponsors , for the show. Sad to say, series do have an end date. Many series have a finale more memorable, than the final last season. 

Amy's retirement shouldn't be tied to Matt's retirement.  he already snow-birds in AZ, so why can't Amy take a few months off and do whatever, which is close to being semi-retired..

If Amy wants to retire - I guess I am not understanding what is the hold up that will take 10 years to resolve and how her recent  decisions is moving her towards that point. Too much good and bad can happen in 10 years.  If she wanted a ranch, why not move to one initially ?

Edited October 22, 2020 by sATL

[Absolom]

9 minutes ago, sATL said:

Too much good and bad can happen in 10 years.  If she wanted a ranch, why not move to one initially ?

Apparently she didn't want to do that.  Which it might not be how some people would do it, but this house is what works for her in the moment.  Maybe she only wanted to downsize so far and then plans to downsize again later.  Who knows?  Why does Matt want to build yet another monument on the farm?  It's what they want to do.

[EllaWycliffe]

 

23 minutes ago, sATL said:

I don't see 10 years of new material and continuity  , to keep an audience and sponsors , for the show. Sad to say, series do have an end date. Many series have a finale more memorable, than the final last season. 

I don't disagree and frankly LPBW is already well past it's prime but they keep getting renewed. Plus, there's now little ones to exploit so...

 

23 minutes ago, sATL said:

If Amy wants to retire - I guess I am not understanding what is the hold up that will take 10 years to resolve. If she wanted a ranch, why not move to one initially ?

Does she want to retire? It sounds like no, she wants to continue working.  And a guess, she wanted a house near the farm and the grandkids because of *filming* and Matt was throwing increasing hissy fits for her to move off the farm so she didn't have the luxury of waiting for a ranch property in the right locale to appear. 

 

12 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Why does Matt want to build yet another monument on the farm?  It's what they want to do.

Made worse that this is Matt so you know he won't be happy with it.

Edited October 22, 2020 by EllaWycliffe

[sATL]

Let me ask the question a different way: What is Amy's  job title and responsibilities, as it relates to the farm? Is it full time or part time ?

Edited October 22, 2020 by sATL

[EllaWycliffe]

You'd probably need to address that to Amy and or Matt. For Amy, I think filming of the show is likely the bigger job attachment. But if they're going to continue to market as the Roloff family farm, Matt still needs *some* family to show up. I admit curiosity on what her level of involvement is as far as business ownership goes, but I think filming the show is the bigger business industry for all the Roloffs.

We kid about Zach and Tory not working but realistically filming the show is a full time job for all the Roloffs being filmed.

Edited October 22, 2020 by EllaWycliffe

[EllaWycliffe]

21 hours ago, BrownBear2012 said:

I thought the scene where Matt, Caryn and his parents were snarking on Amy was disgraceful. For people that are supposedly devout Christians, it wasn't exactly very Christian of them to make the comments they did with such a heavy dose of snark on camera no less.

Yet Matt is completely over Amy and never ever thinks of her, right? I mean, thats what I keep hearing - Amy is obsessed and probably still in love and Matt is DONE and NEVER gives Amy a thought and is never ever thinking of Amy and never has a passing thought about his ex wife that isn't "aw well, wish her well since I am done"?

Funny how Matt having yet another bitch fest over how he's pissed off over Amy is somehow not Matt still obsessed with his ex wife. I tend to agree with Caryn, his current lover, it's like he's still married to Amy, the way he carries on. I mean, his parents came to visit and Matt's still bringing up the wife he divorced actual years ago?

[Jeanne222]

7 hours ago, floridamom said:

There is absolutely no reason why Amy shouldn't have hired professional organizers to sort out the 'junk' and 'keep' piles for her. They would have forced her to work with them in those decisions. A few days and the junk would have been weeded out. THEN, for $2,000 she could have hired professional packers and in one day, that whole house would have been packed up to move it all. She could afford it; no reason to drag this on and on for months. Any pro would have had Amy decide what's keep and what's toss. Amy, who seems to be disorganized, can't do this all herself. She's be ready to move in one week.

Amy would never hire professional anything!  She's cheap.  No movers, no landscapers and no painters.  Certainly no interior decorators.

Amy wants what she had with Matt.  A money tree.  She keeps trying but failing miserably.

Amy s second act was to feather her nest.  So far it not working.

Her only avenue of income are those sad cooking show videos that she gets from having the Roloff name.  Then she sold a couple dozen face masks and a few putrid looking boxes of Lemon fudge.

Chris is her hired help.  Nothing more nothing less.

Matt might be a lot of things but he did profit from his ideas and personata!   

Amy slugged along bitching all the way.

I think Matt talks about Amy because her so happy it's over and sometimes finds it hard to believe it ever happened!

Amy has small unprofitable ideas.  Matt has huge moneymaking ideas.  Amy burns with anger that if and when Matt makes more money half of it won't be hers.

She has the consolation prize.  Nice guy, gofer Chris.  Great second act!

[EllaWycliffe]

7 minutes ago, Jeanne222 said:

Her only avenue of income are those sad cooking show videos that she gets from having the Roloff name.  Then she sold a couple dozen face masks and a few putrid looking boxes of Lemon fudge.

So now she's not making money off the cooking videos? I thought one of the big gripes was how awful it is that she's making money hand over fist by calling herself Amy Roloff in order to be showered with ill gotten sales? Now she's NOT making money? Which is it? Are we mad she is making money with the Roloff name or mad she's failing to make money while under the Roloff name?

 

[Jenny8]

20 hours ago, LucyEth said:

The scene with Chris showing up at the house was more telling than I originally thought.  She gets mad and tells him to go away that she is pressured enough and not sitting around eating BOM BOMS (LOL), he immediately says “I’m sorry”.  Then in the talking heads session, he says how he tries not to push her too much and she said  “He knows not to push that red button too much”.   I really don’t get what Chris sees in this woman at all, best of luck to him.  

Years from now, we'll read about what a controlling and passive aggressive jerk Chris really was, and did he not know all the trouble she'd had in her youth, and good for Amy for putting him in his place!

 

/sarc.

[readheaded]

3 hours ago, Jenny8 said:

Years from now, we'll read about what a controlling and passive aggressive jerk Chris really was, and did he not know all the trouble she'd had in her youth, and good for Amy for putting him in his place!

 

/sarc.

We'd have to read about it as opposed to witnessing it with our own eyes like we can with Matt.

[EllaWycliffe]

Did anyone else catch how, when Matt and Caryn were living together in AZ, that she at one point was talking about how she wanted to surprise Matt by being naked like she saw on Tiktok?

That's pretty racy and randy if Caryn is really just Matt's paid companion and helper as he's too disabled to have sexual relationships anymore like some folks have been suggesting. Sounds like Caryn is indeed Matt's lover. 

[DonnaMae]

Don't know if they're having sexual relations, but I'm sure she's his girlfriend, not a paid companion.

[Scarlett45]

2 hours ago, EllaWycliffe said:

Did anyone else catch how, when Matt and Caryn were living together in AZ, that she at one point was talking about how she wanted to surprise Matt by being naked like she saw on Tiktok?

That's pretty racy and randy if Caryn is really just Matt's paid companion and helper as he's too disabled to have sexual relationships anymore like some folks have been suggesting. Sounds like Caryn is indeed Matt's lover. 

Plenty of disabled people who need assistance with daily tasks are still sexually active. It could be both. 
 

I don’t know- it may be that she’s fine taking on caregiving duties as well as being a girlfriend, and if he’s paying for the trips etc more power to her. 

[EllaWycliffe]

I don't know many caregivers getting paychecks who make plans to get naked for their clients. 

I mean, honestly I just think Matt and Caryn are sexual and there's no reason to think two people who are dating and maybe planning marriage aren't. Point - not sure Matt would find the discussion of his probable sexual dysfunction with Caryn flattering. He's certainly never hinted about any problems with the little tractor.

[floridamom]

I would think that the main income for Amy are her appearances on the show. With the capital she already has, combined with her age at this time, she doesn't have to worry about money for the rest of her life.

[Jeanne222]

I think Caryn and Matt have an agreement that fits both of their needs.  They seem quite comfortable with each other.

I do agree with what Caryn said about them both acting like they're still married with all the bickering they do!

She's probably as sick of it as we are!  New storyline please!

[EllaWycliffe]

On 10/22/2020 at 10:35 AM, Jeanne222 said:

Amy s second act was to feather her nest.  So far it not working.

Really? She got 667k for the wedding barn side of the property. She got 975k for the big house side. She's still pulling a salary for doing the show. Her recently purchased 4 bedroom home was what 600k? I personally doubt the cooking videos make a lot of money but some people seem to think they do. Likewise the stupid fudge business. And due to the length of marriage, Amy's social security will be enhanced by Matt's. So a nice hunk of property, a sizeable wad of money for the farm, her own endeavors making whatever, the show income and I bet they get at least one or two more seasons, and a share of Matt's SSN.

I don't see what's not working here. Especially if she is as cheap as people claim.

[LucyEth]

1 hour ago, EllaWycliffe said:

Amy's social security will be enhanced by Matt's

There is certain criteria that she may not meet.  Not a given she will get a share of Matt’s  SS.

[Wollstonecraft]

On 10/22/2020 at 10:16 AM, sATL said:

Let me ask the question a different way: What is Amy's  job title and responsibilities, as it relates to the farm? Is it full time or part time ?

Amy's job is moaning and complaining.  How much more do we need to hear about how hard it is to leave.  It's hard for anyone.  At least she has a new home and a fiance.  Maybe her main duty at the farm is pumpkin season host.

Just now, LucyEth said:

There is certain criteria that she may not meet.  Not a given she will get a share of Matt’s  SS.

That's interesting and if she remarries, does she not forfeit Matt's SS?

Edited October 24, 2020 by Wollstonecraft

[LucyEth]

2 minutes ago, Wollstonecraft said:

That's interesting and if she remarries, does she not forfeit Matt's SS?

I believe one of the terms is that she has to stay unmarried until age 60, who knows that may happen at the rate they are going!

[EllaWycliffe]

4 minutes ago, LucyEth said:

believe one of the terms is that she has to stay unmarried until age 60, who knows that may happen at the rate they are going!

You're thinking of survivor benefits, which are different. Here's a link. https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/081815/can-divorced-woman-collect-social-security-her-exhusband.asp#:~:text=Depending on eligibility%2C a divorced spouse may indeed,they were married for at least 10 years.

And the more official website that is a bit more formal. https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/4388

 

[LucyEth]

 

Eligibility for divorced spousal benefits

In order to receive benefits, an ex-spouse must either remain unmarried until age 60, or the  second marriage must have ended by death, divorce, or annulment. The rules for claiming benefits as an ex-spouse are slightly different than claiming benefits as a person reaching retirement age versus as a survivor whose former spouse has died.

[Wollstonecraft]

On 10/21/2020 at 7:41 PM, SunnyBeBe said:

You know the saying about marrying for money....? You must earn every damn dollar. Lol. 

She isnt worth it.  A trial of living together would be beneficial.  I'd like to see their house after a few months of them nesting and see if the clown collection multiplies.

[EllaWycliffe]

Hey if you're right, Lucy - then Amy has a great reason to put off the marriage for a bit.

And she still seems to have feathered her nest quite well, hasn't she?

[1011101010001]

On 10/20/2020 at 8:37 PM, SunnyBeBe said:

Too bad that Amy has to tough it out in that 2 story postage stamp house. 😢 

Will she ever stop comparing her new house to the old one? I love that goldfish pond. Just lovely. I don’t think I’d complain about it.

How did she pronounce koi lol?

[1011101010001]

1 hour ago, LucyEth said:

There is certain criteria that she may not meet.  Not a given she will get a share of Matt’s  SS.

Do self-employed people always participate in SS?  If they haven’t been paying in they won’t get it.

[sATL]

33 minutes ago, MrBuhBye said:

Do self-employed people always participate in SS?  If they haven’t been paying in they won’t get it.

That is what I was thinking. I thought self employed determined what they paid into SS. Matt could have paid $0 in the past and/or $0 since divorce.

 And isn't there a max on SS - I didn't know people get a major monthly windfall from it... I wonder if Amy has pulled a SS statment to see just how many pennies she is planning on filing for.

 keeping this dragging on until 62 to claim SS...wow...

I didn't think SS was that much of a jackpot...the financial commercials kinda proclaim not to depending on it solely.Even Suze Orman preaches not to claim SS until 67 or 70. One key is that people are living longer and the higher your payout will be ( source )  the longer you wait to file

Edited October 24, 2020 by sATL

[1011101010001]

32 minutes ago, sATL said:

That is what I was thinking. I thought self employed determined what they paid into SS. Matt could have paid $0 in the past and/or $0 since divorce.

 And isn't there a max on SS - I didn't know people get a major monthly windfall from it... I wonder if Amy has pulled a SS statment to see just how many pennies she is planning on filing for.

 keeping this dragging on until 62 to claim SS...wow...

I didn't think SS was that much of a jackpot...the financial commercials kinda proclaim not to depending on it solely.Even Suze Orman preaches not to claim SS until 67 or 70. One key is that people are living longer and the higher your payout will be ( source )  the longer you wait to file

I think the general rule is that it should be a third of your income and you should have something else to draw the other two thirds from if possible.

[Joan of Argh]

1 hour ago, MrBuhBye said:

Do self-employed people always participate in SS?  If they haven’t been paying in they won’t get it.

I really doubt that Matt has been participating in SS

I have a couple relatives and a few friends that are self employed and none of them contribute to SS, they seem to think that they can invest their money elsewhere and get a better return on their dollars.

I'm not so sure about that but time will tell, they're convinced that they're doing the right thing. 

 

 

[EllaWycliffe]

14 minutes ago, Joan of Argh said:

I really doubt that Matt has been participating in SS

From leaving high school to about 2001, Matt worked for others at various software companies. From about 2003 until now, Matt has worked for production companies associated with TLC.  Sorry, don't believe he's being paid under the table. 

Now the pumpkin business? I mean, it seems unlikely Matt's been ignoring payroll issues and just not paying into SSN. 

[Joan of Argh]

38 minutes ago, EllaWycliffe said:

From leaving high school to about 2001, Matt worked for others at various software companies. From about 2003 until now, Matt has worked for production companies associated with TLC.  Sorry, don't believe he's being paid under the table. 

Now the pumpkin business? I mean, it seems unlikely Matt's been ignoring payroll issues and just not paying into SSN. 

MrBuhBye wasn't talking about his entire employment history

Mr BuhBye said "self employed" and I was replying to his comment with my own experience involving "self employed" people and contributing to SS

The people I've known didn't contribute but obviously other people do contribute.

I just have a feeling that Matt wouldn't.

 

 

[sATL]

6 hours ago, Joan of Argh said:

MrBuhBye wasn't talking about his entire employment history

Mr BuhBye said "self employed" and I was replying to his comment with my own experience involving "self employed" people and contributing to SS

The people I've known didn't contribute but obviously other people do contribute.

I just have a feeling that Matt wouldn't.

 

 

Agree. Self employed have the legal option of not paying into SS. 

I thought TLC pays gross wages - which leaves the stars to pay their own taxes and into SS. Reality stars on Bravo have a running theme of who owes taxes..

How long have they owned the farm ?

SS uses 35 years of employment history. I wouldn't put too much financial faith into Matt's jobs right after HS or even college.  Yes  - SS $$ went in, but still not talking about a major windfall that is going to change Amy's life in her 60s b/c he-she-they didn't earn that much at 19 or 22...

And I guess it is too much for Amy to get a 9-5 to start paying more into SS, if the plan is to max out $$? I've heard quite a few  doing just that - they were stay at home mom's . When kids were older/grown, they went back into the non-self-employed workforce.

From : ( link ) 

 

Edited October 24, 2020 by sATL

[Jeanne222]

Amy’s getting pretty regular checks from YouTube sponsors for her videos. 
 

Not sure how taxes and social security are handled there. 

[EllaWycliffe]

I mean thats fine but TLC paid Matt's salary and Matt got a salary from his prior work places so he's in the system. He's worked enough at traditional jobs.  Technically, so has Amy as she also gets paid by TLC and has for years and has held other jobs.

3 hours ago, sATL said:

SS uses 35 years of employment history. I wouldn't put too much financial faith into Matt's jobs right after HS or even college.  Yes  - SS $$ went in, but still not talking about a major windfall that is going to change Amy's life in her 60s b/c he-she-they didn't earn that much at 19 or 22...

They have owned the farm since the early nineties. Matt was working in the software industry from the mid eighties to the early 2000s - Matt was making enough to indulge in cocaine at parties per his book Against Tall Odds.  The TLC employment history on top,... I happen to agree its not a windfall but if Amy is as desperately greedy as some claim, why wouldn't she go for it? Amy's own wages means her own SS is likely much less even with the TLC money.

[1011101010001]

Someone on this board was explaining that her SS is much lower than she expected because she was a teacher or professor for many years and typically those positions are not covered because they get a pension instead.  She only has credit for the years that she participated in the system.  I think if someone is classified as an independent contractor instead of an employee there may not be FICA withholding either.  But we are getting in the weeds here lol.

[Caracoa1]

I believe Amy is a hoarder, too sentimental and suffers from FOMO.  Along with her own crap I think the kids left a bunch of their stuff at the "Big House" because they wanted it but they didn't want to deal with it and thought hey let's just leave it at Mom's.  The farm will always be a big draw for the kids and grand children...Amy feels she may "miss out" on family moments when she leaves for good.

[sATL]

5 hours ago, Caracoa1 said:

I believe Amy is a hoarder, too sentimental and suffers from FOMO.  Along with her own crap I think the kids left a bunch of their stuff at the "Big House" because they wanted it but they didn't want to deal with it and thought hey let's just leave it at Mom's.  The farm will always be a big draw for the kids and grand children...Amy feels she may "miss out" on family moments when she leaves for good.

Agree. This is an example of where I hope Amy would have a true friend that could give her honest suggestions. A friend who has been in similar situations and can give honest and tried-true suggestions as to what to do with kid-adult belongings.  I'm keeping a running list myself that I am collecting from friends..

In Amy's case - the first big opportunity, was when the kids-adults closed on their permanent location. Zach and Jeremy has moved at least twice.  The second big opportunity, was day she closed on her new house, as she no longer lived there. One of my friends have marriage (or house/joining the service, which ever is first) on her list - ie be prepared to collect things.

Amy's personality probably enjoys calls from the kids like "Mom have seen my xxx.. Did I leave xxx over at your house".. which gives her a reason to rattle around looking for things.

I am not saying she has to depart from every memorabilia that the kids made/collected/earned/bought, but there is a line. Less is more. I wonder could she handle one of the kids telling her that they no longer need something and asking her why is she keeping it (story from a friend who produced a house-found violin from elementary school...)

How about using one spare room at her new house as a shrine for all 4 kids?

Edited October 24, 2020 by sATL

[missnoa]

We've also seen that Matt has an issue with "collecting things" too, can you imagine how much sheer crap was on the farm in total for all of those years? Amy just took some of it with her but that still leaves everything else. And Zach has started his own collection in his house too (the garage and office that we saw), so I imagine he left a lot of crap at the farm and in the big house that probably either went with Amy or got shifted to elsewhere on the farm.

[ginger90]

[Irate Panda]

To me Amy seems like a hoarder, while Matt seems more like a compulsive shopper.  Matt seems to organize his junk or allow others to do it for him and would part with most anything if it turned him a buck.  Amy seems like she would need to sort through used pieces of aluminum foil because one of the pieces was used the first time she made cookies for her kids and since she can’t remember which one it was she will just keep them all.

 I also think Amy’s standards of a clean/uncluttered house are just very low.  I’m not sure how much of it is because of her general nature, how much of it was as a rebellion towards how she grew up, and how much of it was a F U to Matt.  I don’t think she started doing this to “screw Matt”, but I think she enjoys that it did.  It’s sorta like Matt saying his work would be doubling by letting Amy know about when the contractors are coming out.  I don’t think his work would actually double, but I do think Amy would bitch about it everytime she received a text.  I, also, think Matt somewhat enjoys getting a rise out of Amy by not telling her this things although it’s hard for me to feel sorry for her because how many times did she change this deadline of moving her shit?

We can already see Chris tiptoeing around asking Amy to clean up or put away her stuff.  I think Amy has control issues (Matt obviously does).  Pure speculation on my part, but I think Amy grew up in a very rigid household and this disarray and chaos she had everyone living in was her way of knocking Matt down a few pegs.  

On a side note, for the life of me, I can’t see what Tori sees in Zach (other than the show/farm and I don’t particularly think she’s a gold digger).  He seems incredibly lazy and does not seem to make good decisions.  I don’t know if she’s bossy and he is easy to control or he acts completely different off screen or she is as dimwitted as he is, but hides it better. Jeremy and Audrey seem to be the same type of pontificating dolts, so I can see why they are a couple.

 

[LucyEth]

2 hours ago, Irate Panda said:

On a side note, for the life of me, I can’t see what Tori sees in Zach (other than the show/farm and I don’t particularly think she’s a gold digger).  He seems incredibly lazy and does not seem to make good decisions.  I don’t know if she’s bossy and he is easy to control or he acts completely different off screen or she is as dimwitted as he is, but hides it better.

I don’t get it either, he isn’t even good looking, just my opinion of course.  She seems to enjoy making an ass out him by putting up stories on instagram where she asks him to pronounce words or if he knows the meaning of certain words as she laughs continuously and of course he doesn’t know.  Does she realize it’s mean?

[EllaWycliffe]

1 hour ago, Irate Panda said:

To me Amy seems like a hoarder, while Matt seems more like a compulsive shopper.  Matt seems to organize his junk or allow others to do it for him and would part with most anything if it turned him a buck.  Amy seems like she would need to sort through used pieces of aluminum foil because one of the pieces was used the first time she made cookies for her kids and since she can’t remember which one it was she will just keep them all.

My small disagreement is that I think Matt is a hoarder and we've NEVER seen him in a position where he's being told that his stuff has to go and never come back. I'd also point how that Matt is very much "pitch it" about *other peoples things* but was, for example, pitching a righteous fit that some of his metal toy cars (not in good shape) ended up in the garage sale. 

 

1 hour ago, Irate Panda said:

 I’m not sure how much of it is because of her general nature, how much of it was as a rebellion towards how she grew up, and how much of it was a F U to Matt.  I don’t think she started doing this to “screw Matt”, but I think she enjoys that it did.  

Oh completely agree. I also think there's annoyance on her part because Matt gets on his high horse over a mess... and does nothing but bitch about it and wander off and eat salami and cheese. "I want the upstairs cleaned and now I have *important things in my office to do* so I have given orders!" is Matt's way of dumping off a chore. Then add in how the office is generally *messy* and his house had a hoarded up bedroom and Carol seems to do all the chores and basically I don't think Matt lifts a finger to keep things neat. 

I also think some of the very recent episodes were trash staged in that stuff was clearly being sorted but somehow there was bags of papers and trash strewn about the dining room and living room when frankly those rooms have been relatively neat since the kids moved out.

2 hours ago, Irate Panda said:

 It’s sorta like Matt saying his work would be doubling by letting Amy know about when the contractors are coming out.  I don’t think his work would actually double, but I do think Amy would bitch about it everytime she received a text.  I, also, think Matt somewhat enjoys getting a rise out of Amy by not telling her this things although it’s hard for me to feel sorry for her because how many times did she change this deadline of moving her shit?

I think they're very much in "screw you" mode with each other and this is actually another example of how Matt is NOT completely over Amy and just wishing her well and not giving her any headspace. I don't think his work would double either and considering the major fusses Matt has made over security on the farm, its not unreasonable on Amy's part to ask to know what days he expects contractors out, but Matt made darn sure to pitch a fit over how he was NOT going to do it because its such a waste of his precious time and he's too busy to send a text message to AMY because it's JUST TOO MUCH. Matt clearly enjoys getting a rise out of Amy - yet another sign he's not over the relationship - but I also agree Amy never seems to see the traps he's laying for her. She also really needs someone in her life willing to be a good enough friend to lay down some harsh truths to her. Namely, she's 100 times better off than most divorced women and she's not helping herself at all by this endless mourning of the house and marriage. I'm convinced some of this is production enhanced but really. 

 

2 hours ago, Irate Panda said:

On a side note, for the life of me, I can’t see what Tori sees in Zach (other than the show/farm and I don’t particularly think she’s a gold digger).  He seems incredibly lazy and does not seem to make good decisions.  I don’t know if she’s bossy and he is easy to control or he acts completely different off screen or she is as dimwitted as he is, but hides it better. Jeremy and Audrey seem to be the same type of pontificating dolts, so I can see why they are a couple.

Tory wants to rule the roost and has been raised to cede to her man so she picked a man who lets her be the one in charge as long as she waits on him like his mom did. Jeremy and Audrey frankly have a similar dynamic - Audrey rules the roost all but in name, and Jeremy gets to piddle around with hobbies while she markets their image for funny and runs things. 

[Irate Panda]

19 minutes ago, LucyEth said:

I don’t get it either, he isn’t even good looking, just my opinion of course.  She seems to enjoy making an ass out him by putting up stories on instagram where she asks him to pronounce words or if he knows the meaning of certain words as she laughs continuously and of course he doesn’t know.  Does she realize it’s mean?

I don’t watch a lot of their social media besides Amy’s, but I did notice Tory correcting Zach when he said biblical? cord instead of umbilical.  I mean I thought it was ok if she just said the correct word but the way she said it and laugh really made him look like a moron, which maybe is.  It did make me wonder if he and Amy just have no idea what the actual words of things are or if they have some sort of hearing issue or some other medical issue and had a hard time hearing or learning words. English is not my first language, so I always think, this must be pretty bad if I’m noticing it. 

[AZChristian]

21 minutes ago, Irate Panda said:

It did make me wonder if he and Amy just have no idea what the actual words of things are or if they have some sort of hearing issue or some other medical issue and had a hard time hearing or learning words. English is not my first language, so I always think, this must be pretty bad if I’m noticing it. 

There are a lot (too many) Americans who seem to have a "close enough" philosophy when it comes to using correct words and/or grammar.  Amy's mangling of both are embarrassing, given her background as a pre-school teacher.  She was teaching a whole generation of her students that they shouldn't be "fustrated" when the "parmesian" cheese falls over and gets the "spring foam" pan on the counter dirty.

[Irate Panda]

1 hour ago, EllaWycliffe said:

My small disagreement is that I think Matt is a hoarder and we've NEVER seen him in a position where he's being told that his stuff has to go and never come back. I'd also point how that Matt is very much "pitch it" about *other peoples things* but was, for example, pitching a righteous fit that some of his metal toy cars (not in good shape) ended up in the garage sale. 

 

Oh completely agree. I also think there's annoyance on her part because Matt gets on his high horse over a mess... and does nothing but bitch about it and wander off and eat salami and cheese. "I want the upstairs cleaned and now I have *important things in my office to do* so I have given orders!" is Matt's way of dumping off a chore. Then add in how the office is generally *messy* and his house had a hoarded up bedroom and Carol seems to do all the chores and basically I don't think Matt lifts a finger to keep things neat. 

I also think some of the very recent episodes were trash staged in that stuff was clearly being sorted but somehow there was bags of papers and trash strewn about the dining room and living room when frankly those rooms have been relatively neat since the kids moved out.

I think they're very much in "screw you" mode with each other and this is actually another example of how Matt is NOT completely over Amy and just wishing her well and not giving her any headspace. I don't think his work would double either and considering the major fusses Matt has made over security on the farm, its not unreasonable on Amy's part to ask to know what days he expects contractors out, but Matt made darn sure to pitch a fit over how he was NOT going to do it because its such a waste of his precious time and he's too busy to send a text message to AMY because it's JUST TOO MUCH. Matt clearly enjoys getting a rise out of Amy - yet another sign he's not over the relationship - but I also agree Amy never seems to see the traps he's laying for her. She also really needs someone in her life willing to be a good enough friend to lay down some harsh truths to her. Namely, she's 100 times better off than most divorced women and she's not helping herself at all by this endless mourning of the house and marriage. I'm convinced some of this is production enhanced but really. 

 

Tory wants to rule the roost and has been raised to cede to her man so she picked a man who lets her be the one in charge as long as she waits on him like his mom did. Jeremy and Audrey frankly have a similar dynamic - Audrey rules the roost all but in name, and Jeremy gets to piddle around with hobbies while she markets their image for funny and runs things. 

Your theory on Zach/Tori and Audrey/Jeremy makes sense.  I guess I just thought Tori could have had better options like a non-lazy passive guy or a smart passive guy.  I might say the same of Audrey but I think she better at presenting Jeremy as whatever brand she’s going for.  Jeremy seems equally stupid as Zach to me, but incompetent rather than completely lazy.  

Matt might also have hoarding tendencies, I don’t know the exact medical definition of one, but Matt has always given the vibe of he’s buying crap to sell or to turn into the latest farm “sensation”.  He didn’t seem attached to the things as much as he seemed attached to the buying or obtaining of them. He was invested in the chase, so it would be easier to let things go because there’s newer things to buy; whereas, Amy seems emotionally invested in every potholder in her house.    I still think they both have too much crap.  

Im not sure how your defining being over someone, exactly, again this might be more my ESL translation skills than anything.  I think Amy is still not over the affair she thinks Matt had.  I understand that, whether it’s true or not, it’s what she believes, so until she lets go of that anger she will never be over Matt.  It’s also one of the reasons I think she drug out the moving.  The hoarder tendencies didn’t help.  I think she lashes out at Matt, but it does her more harm to her than him.  I really think she obsesses in a way over it and because of it, isn’t really getting to enjoy her “second act”.   The only thing I think Matt is not over is having complete control over the farm/businesses.   I guess the best way I can say it is that if Matt got all the farm, money and businesses, he’d be on that farm with Caryn and trot around on the mule expounding on all the great things he will do next (even if they are not that great).  If Amy got all the farm, money and businesses, she be on that farm with Chris talking about how Matt is such a jackass.  

 

Edited October 25, 2020 by Irate Panda

[Absolom]

Yet Matt is the one who talks about Amy when she isn't around.  He can't let hardly anything pass without getting in a dig about her.  They're both enmeshed and it probably won't be until the show is over that they mostly give it up except for family celebrations.  I know dozens of divorced couples who still have arguments over the grandkids' birthdays.  Divorce is something many people never completely get over.