S11.E11: Upstate Girls

[Rubyslippahz]

Ramona had some good moments this ep, her little cabaret speech and the "Cock" coaster.   I'm looking forward to her gothic tales of her upstate upbringing next week.  

Wasnt Carol Radziwill from Kingston?  I know whe was from somewhere up there.   

Team Tinz all the way.   Something about her is just likable.  

Lu was determined not to get Bethenny's point about Halloween.   And sorry Lu unless you are a moron you acknowledge having an 8 year old is different from having adult kids.  Although I remember the first season when Lu's son was upset she was missing taco night at home to go out on the town.  Anyway I thought Bethenny made her point and Luann looked like a narcissistic fool arguing with her.  

[biakbiak]

3 minutes ago, Rubyslippahz said:

Wasnt Carol Radziwill from Kingston?  I know whe was from somewhere up there.   

She’s from Suffern different part of the state and a lot closer to NYC.

[Rubyslippahz]

3 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

She’s from Suffern different part of the state and a lot closer to NYC.

Thanks! Yep that is not as upstate as I pictured 

[Juneau Gal]

2 hours ago, biakbiak said:

You can see the listing pictures here and it looks like she changed most of the furniture except for that ugly chaise thing.

I stand corrected. Thank you. I still think there is something suspicious about the furnishing though. 

[Mondrianyone]

Ramona remarked on the clear acrylic dining chairs, which look like the same ones as in the listing photo.

I haven't tried to come up with a good nickname for the house, but the signature cocktail should definitely be Roundhouse Punch.  Not that Lu would partake.  🍹

[candle96]

On 5/16/2019 at 2:04 PM, KungFuBunny said:

I'm not crazy about the house Luann bought.

She is also totally off - it has the worst Feng Shui with the furnishings she brought to the place. All of those sharp angles - the bad energy will just ping pong and chase her around that round house.

I think she bought the house as is - I don't think she "updated" or remodeled anything - whatever was built in was already there when she purchased it.

When she cooks does the smell just permeate throughout? Do her sheets smell like roast chicken?

I hope for her sake she has good flood/hurricane insurance. NY has had more and more Nor'easters in the last 10 years and we've had tons of rain - any homes near water have had severe flooding - it'll come up and flood the deck and into the house

Her bedroom screamed "Home Goods" to me. Everything in it! Nothing wrong with Home Goods, I shop there myself. But I also don't pretend I'm a countess or rich. Her going on about how "busy" she's been getting it ready - girl, you took like 3 trips to Home Goods or Marshall's. And she ripped on Ramona for the same thing with her Hamptons remodel!

And the tile floors in upstate New York? It's not Miami. How cold will that be in the winter? Her bedroom downright depressed me. Round houses may look cool on the outside, not so much inside.

So, does Luann have any type of home in Manhattan now, or is this it? Her finances are definitely a house of cards.

[candle96]

23 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

I love Luann's "Hideous Necklaces".  I don't take it personally that some of you think they look disgusting.  I actually like them.  😁

I'll join you in the statement necklace corner! Maybe because I'm tall like Lu, but I like statement necklaces and wear them sometimes. Almost always get compliments when I wear them. I think the talking head where she's wearing the light blue blouse with one of her necklaces, Lu looks stunning! (and I'm not a fan of hers at all) 

That being said, I can easily get a necklace like hers pretty much anywhere. Not going out of my way to likely overpay for a Luann cabaret "original." 🙂

[KungFuBunny]

54 minutes ago, candle96 said:

Her bedroom screamed "Home Goods" to me. Everything in it! Nothing wrong with Home Goods, I shop there myself. But I also don't pretend I'm a countess or rich. Her going on about how "busy" she's been getting it ready - girl, you took like 3 trips to Home Goods or Marshall's. And she ripped on Ramona for the same thing with her Hamptons remodel!

And the tile floors in upstate New York? It's not Miami. How cold will that be in the winter? Her bedroom downright depressed me. Round houses may look cool on the outside, not so much inside.

So, does Luann have any type of home in Manhattan now, or is this it? Her finances are definitely a house of cards.

I don't mind the things she bought for that space. She should have used that unsold inventory of Bedroom Sheets from the Countess Collection.

There are various websites that have differing information. Some say 3 bedrooms/4 bathrooms and some say 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms. Some say 2400 square feet and others say 1296 square feet, All of them say the floors are laminate. All of them say SOLD 9/28/18 995,000 and then SOLD 10/3/18 950,000.

Throughout the show Luann says Barbara is staying over and everyone else is staying at a hotel nearby. If there are 3 bedrooms - why didn't they show it and why isn't Sonja going to stay in the 3rd room? Maybe Luann only bought 2 beds?

Also the house is shaped like the Starship Enterprise - round at the top with a rectangular structure attached.

Luann allegedly rents an apt in NYC too, but I think that's a lie. If she had performances lined up in NYC at Feinstein's it makes sense for her to have some short term stay in the city. Why am I picturing that Luann sleeping on that sofa by the door at Sonja's?

Edited May 18, 2019 by KungFuBunny

[Gem 10]

1 hour ago, candle96 said:

I'll join you in the statement necklace corner! Maybe because I'm tall like Lu, but I like statement necklaces and wear them sometimes. Almost always get compliments when I wear them. I think the talking head where she's wearing the light blue blouse with one of her necklaces, Lu looks stunning! (and I'm not a fan of hers at all) 

That being said, I can easily get a necklace like hers pretty much anywhere. Not going out of my way to likely overpay for a Luann cabaret "original." 🙂

Those necklaces look Native American.  Maybe she is part of, or she just likes them.  Connecticut has/ had many tribes there, I think.  Foxwoods Casino has a display of the tribes there.

Edited May 18, 2019 by Gem 10

[biakbiak]

1 hour ago, KungFuBunny said:

why didn't they show it and why isn't Sonja going to stay in the 3rd room? M

I think Sonja did stay she didn’t appear to leave they just didn’t show her room since she didn’t appear to leave the first night. They also didn’t show the downstairs.

[Juneau Gal]

Lu's house reminds me of the years I lived AT a lighthouse (the Pt. Loma Lighthouse in San Diego. Coast Guard. Long story.). People kept asking me how I placed my furniture or put stuff on the walls. It took me quite the while to figure out that people thought I was living IN the lighthouse, with its round walls and all. Now to see Lu actually living in a round house amuses me.

[Yours Truly]

19 hours ago, AnnA said:

I agree with you. LuAnn's cabaret show is a joke.   After everyone gets their cut, there's not much left for LuAnn........especially since the ticket prices keep getting slashed.

Then she’ll be onto the next hustle. That seems to be the way it goes. From Contest winner, to TV personality abroad, to Countess, to reality show, to writing a book, to clothing line, to songs, to cabaret.... This women keeps afloat and makes it happen. These more serious issues she’s been having these last few years, I think, are putting a crack in her armor and threatens her ongoing ability to always get to the next adventure but damn if she hasn’t had a good run. Who cares if she’s rub some people the wrong way on her journey? I don’t care about that. Everybody has their bumps and their haters. Can’t love ur life worrying about that. It’s the turmoil that’s been brewing with the intimate parts and people of her life that makes things more sadder and dire to me. 

How someone’s ability to survive in different circumstances time and time again gets people Riled up really boggles my mind. To me she’s just another chic doing her and trying to love every minute of it. I’d take that approach to life (minus her current struggles) over constantly tearing someone down any day.. 

[snarts]

On 5/17/2019 at 1:21 PM, Real Housewife LI said:

I have a friend who is a housewives junkie and she and a few others went to see the countess cabaret show....her conclusion was on point....everyone in the audience was there to drink and basically laugh at LuAnn...the only person not in on “the joke” is Luann. 

19 hours ago, AnnA said:

I agree with you. LuAnn's cabaret show is a joke.   After everyone gets their cut, there's not much left for LuAnn........especially since the ticket prices keep getting slashed.

The show last Saturday was sold out, venue seated about 1000. Ticket prices ranged from $40-100.  People were genuinely enjoying themselves, singing along to the songs. No heckling whatsoever.  It's a not a musical act, it's more like a variety show.  For those of us old enough to remember, reminded me of the 70s variety shows like The Osmonds & Carol Burnett.  

If it wasn't profitable, they wouldn't keep adding dates to the tour. 

[geauxaway]

I really don’t find anything that strange about the stove in Lu’s guest suite.  It appears that is was possibly a mixed use property before she acquired it.  If the area is somewhat a vacation area it was probably used as a rental for multi families.  Or, as someone else mentioned, it could have been staff quarters.  I just don’t think it’s all THAT odd.  Especially now in the day and age of VRBO and Airbnb.  

I am sad for Tinsley and her dog.  I’ve been that girl who’s fur baby was her entire world (cat, though, not dog).  So, Sonja can shut the fuck up about all her opinions on that and Tinsley’s “sob story.”  Like Tins said, it’s not a sob story, it’s my actual life!  Sonja who lives in delusion land, and goes ballistic about some replica letters from her EX husband’s family, can take several seats.  She just doesn’t like to think others have real life things going on that actually MATTER.  

I also relate to her a lot on the bio clock and wanting to be a mom thing, too.  My path did NOT go the way I planned it to at the age of 24, but now at 41, I do finally have what I wanted.  Until I decided adopting was the best choice for me, I was kind of frantic about locking down a guy, any guy, if it meant the possibility of becoming pregnant and being a mom.  

Sonja couldn’t sit still from the moment she arrived solo at the roundhouse.  She was pacing the kitchen the minute she entered.  She was either jacked up on something or going thru DT’s from not being able to drink until the others arrived.

[biakbiak]

11 minutes ago, geauxaway said:

am sad for Tinsley and her dog.  I’ve been that girl who’s fur baby was her entire world (cat, though, not dog).  So, Sonja can shut the fuck up about all her opinions on that and Tinsley’s “sob story.

I did think it was funny that even self absorbed Lu felt much more sympathy for Tinsley than Sonja.

[biakbiak]

5 hours ago, candle96 said:

And the tile floors in upstate New York? It's not Miami. How cold will that be in the winter?

The description from the real estate site says they are radiant heated slate floors so they will be nice and toasty. Though there are like at least three different floor finishings in the house.

[Dirtybubble]

5 hours ago, geauxaway said:

I am sad for Tinsley and her dog.  I’ve been that girl who’s fur baby was her entire world (cat, though, not dog).  So, Sonja can shut the fuck up about all her opinions on that and Tinsley’s “sob story.”  Like Tins said, it’s not a sob story, it’s my actual life!  Sonja who lives in delusion land, and goes ballistic about some replica letters from her EX husband’s family, can take several seats.  She just doesn’t like to think others have real life things going on that actually MATTER. 

Sonja just bugs the F out of me!  There are times when I find her amusing but for the most part I find her rude and selfish!  She goes on and on what a good friend she is but she cant be bothered by Tinz problems she seems unworthy.  Oh and for the love of God stop talking with food in your mouth!!  Jesus she is just gross!!

I've heard thru the grape vine that Bravo takes a cut out the HW business profits for advertising; I think it's why Barbara wont talk about her construction business on the show.  So if they are getting a cut from Lu's cabaret shows then that cuts into her profits even more

[gingerella]

Sonja just bugs the F out of me!  There are 

7 hours ago, Dirtybubble said:

Sonja just bugs the F out of me!  There are times when I find her amusing but for the most part I find her rude and selfish! 

Really though, this describes pretty much all the bitches on this franchise, doesn’t it?

[KungFuBunny]

13 hours ago, Dirtybubble said:

Sonja just bugs the F out of me!  There are times when I find her amusing but for the most part I find her rude and selfish!  She goes on and on what a good friend she is but she cant be bothered by Tinz problems she seems unworthy.  Oh and for the love of God stop talking with food in your mouth!!  Jesus she is just gross!!

I've heard thru the grape vine that Bravo takes a cut out the HW business profits for advertising; I think it's why Barbara wont talk about her construction business on the show.  So if they are getting a cut from Lu's cabaret shows then that cuts into her profits even more

I think Tinsley is the biggest threat to Sonja's apple if the producers were ever forced to choose. If you think back to Dorinda's first season one the show - Sonja did something similar to Dorinda in her treatment. Saying Dorinda stole all of her friends. It was the end of “Ramonja”

Tinsley also attracts the men Sonja has to “pay” but can no longer afford. Scott spent money on Tinsley, took her on trips, bought her nice things - when was the last time we saw anyone Sonja claims to be a lover give her presents. Prince Yabba Dabba Doo gave her a brooch but we've never seen him or the brooch. It also explains Sonja's comment that Tinsley is "unfuckable" because she wants to tear Tinsley down - that is just mean.

One of the many ways the women promote their stuff is by wearing it or placing one of their products in camera sight. Barbara got away with bringing her tool kit to Bethenny's Hamptons house which Bethenny hung on a doorknob with the logo facing the door. I have a feeling Bravo cut out any other times she bought them on because she isn't paying. Wonder what was in those "blue" bags she bought to Luann's.

As for Luann mentioning Countess and Friends - wouldn't be surprised if they are one of the producers for when Luann is at Feinsteins. As for Luann's tour - travel, hotel, food, makeup, wardrobe dry cleaning are expenses that cut into Luann's cut. When she appears at a casino - I believe the casino will cover those costs but when she appears at smaller venues - I think the money comes out of her cut.

[FozzyBear]

18 hours ago, biakbiak said:

The description from the real estate site says they are radiant heated slate floors so they will be nice and toasty. Though there are like at least three different floor finishings in the house.

I actually like the house, but would have wanted to do a few things to it. First would have been getting rid of the large white tile floor in the living room. I never like those things.  They always look institutionalizations to me. I think even throwing a few rugs over them would have made a difference. In general, it looked like Luanne didn’t have a ton of money for improvements. My guess is after she bought it she could afford to do minor things like paint. I’m guessing she even moved in furniture she already had because a lot of it doesn’t look great in the space. The house isn’t really showing to its best effect, but I suspect it could be gorgeous.

[RHJunkie]

I loved Lu's Sag Harbor home. The decor was so cozy from what I could tell and I loved the colours she used throughout the home so this new home was a disappointment in terms of architecture and decor but I can imagine the views must be spectacular.

I really like Tinsley but I also get where Sonja, Bethenny and Ramona are coming from with their advice to her. If she refuses to consider having a baby without having a husband then she needs to start mentally easing herself into the idea that being a mom may not happen for her. If she wants a child bad enough, then she needs to ease herself into the idea that she may be a single mom and may meet this great guy later down the road who will love her daughter like his own. Hearing other people's problems can be draining but as a friend, that's just what you do, but that doesn't mean hearing the same things repeatedly without any sign of positive progress isn't going to wear you down and get you frustrated. I can understand why Sonja may have been tired of hearing the story and lashing out but I think Bethenny and Ramona did a much better job communicating what Sonja was trying to say.

Bethenny's tendency to speak over people can be annoying but I didn't really mind it when she was speaking to Lu. Lu just didn't want to get it. She was so  caught up in explaining her feelings to Bethenny that she spent zero time acknowledging Bethenny's side of things. She kept her calm when Bethenny kept cutting her off and I thought Lu was leading up to doing the right thing and apologizing and acknowledging how she could have handled things better but alas, I gave her too much credit.

[FozzyBear]

2 hours ago, RHJunkie said:

I loved Lu's Sag Harbor home. The decor was so cozy from what I could tell and I loved the colours she used throughout the home so this new home was a disappointment in terms of architecture and decor but I can imagine the views must be spectacular.

I really like Tinsley but I also get where Sonja, Bethenny and Ramona are coming from with their advice to her. If she refuses to consider having a baby without having a husband then she needs to start mentally easing herself into the idea that being a mom may not happen for her. If she wants a child bad enough, then she needs to ease herself into the idea that she may be a single mom and may meet this great guy later down the road who will love her daughter like his own. Hearing other people's problems can be draining but as a friend, that's just what you do, but that doesn't mean hearing the same things repeatedly without any sign of positive progress isn't going to wear you down and get you frustrated. I can understand why Sonja may have been tired of hearing the story and lashing out but I think Bethenny and Ramona did a much better job communicating what Sonja was trying to say.

Bethenny's tendency to speak over people can be annoying but I didn't really mind it when she was speaking to Lu. Lu just didn't want to get it. She was so  caught up in explaining her feelings to Bethenny that she spent zero time acknowledging Bethenny's side of things. She kept her calm when Bethenny kept cutting her off and I thought Lu was leading up to doing the right thing and apologizing and acknowledging how she could have handled things better but alas, I gave her too much credit.

I think Bethany (who does have a tendency to project) is realizing that if she had been honest with herself not really wanting a traditional family, her life might be different right now. Love her or hate her (I love her), I just don’t think Bethany is really cut out for a traditional marriage. If she had just admitted to herself that she wanted to be a mom, but didn’t really want to share her daily life with a man and gone the single mom route from day 1, she might be a lot happier. I get it, my BF and I live 2 hours apart and have no plans to move closer. We love each other, but we both like a great deal of alone time and space. We were old enough when we met to form a partnership that works for us no matter how it looks to others. I sometimes feel like Bethany is trying to tell Tinsley that no one gets the fairytale. Life is always about compromise. So go out and get what is really important and don’t waste time worrying about what you think you’re supposed to have. I actually think this is great advise for Tinsley who does seem to worry a lot about living up to expectations.

[heavysnaxx]

On 5/16/2019 at 12:45 PM, biakbiak said:

Rhinebeck is over 100 miles from NYC it takes longer than 90 minutes to get there even with no traffic.

I think "upstate" has shades of meaning depending on where your starting POV is. Kingston is obviously upstate from Manhattan but it's a far cry from the upstate of Greece, Canadanigua, Cazenovia, where I grew up and have family. To me, the distinction is as much about going into NYC as it is about geographic distance. The upstate I'm from is the kind that has little to no interest in, or active antipathy toward, going into NYC. Lu would plotz at being identified with such folk. It's a cultural difference versus a mileage thing.

That said, if Lu ever moves to Horseheads, I'll reconsider my position.

[heavysnaxx]

On 5/16/2019 at 11:56 AM, shoegal said:

My favorite part of this episode is when they are all sitting around LuAnn's after dinner and LuAnn, apropos of nothing, says something along the lines of 'well ladies, I really landed on my feet, didn't I?'.....I guess she got tired of waiting for them to fawn over her so she just decided to give them a little push?  LOL.  She is really smelling herself this season.  

At first I thought this was just another signature line from Lu that she pulled from her Statement Non Sequitor Statements collection, But Enough About You.

BUT.

Your post has ripped the veil from my eyes. Lu is Otto from A Fish Called Wanda.

Not over-bright, vain, incapable of apology, she's Otto. As you said, she is really smelling herself.

Image description: Still from the movie. Kevin Kline as Otto, in the act of love, taking a moment to refresh himself with his own smell by taking a dramatic whiff of his armpit.

[Rubyslippahz]

11 hours ago, KungFuBunny said:

I think Tinsley is the biggest threat to Sonja's apple if the producers were ever forced to choose. If you think back to Dorinda's first season one the show - Sonja did something similar to Dorinda in her treatment. Saying Dorinda stole all of her friends. It was the end of “Ramonja”

Tinsley also attracts the men Sonja has to “pay” but can no longer afford. Scott spent money on Tinsley, took her on trips, bought her nice things - when was the last time we saw anyone Sonja claims to be a lover give her presents. Prince Yabba Dabba Doo gave her a brooch but we've never seen him or the brooch. It also explains Sonja's comment that Tinsley is "unfuckable" because she wants to tear Tinsley down - that is just mean.

Sonja gets really triggered by Tinsley!  It's kind of comical.  When shrieking at Tinsley that she Sonja never wanted to be married or have a kid she just wanted to enjoy life with Old Mr Morgan?!? Ha ha sure Sonja you never wanted nuptial$ or off$pring with the guy.   

[Mannahatta]

The thing that gets to me about Luann's house is that it doesn't look like a million dollar house, especially since the area, Port Ewen, isn't an especially expensive place to live (assuming the article below is correct about the location). I think for that kind of money she could have found a more impressive home on the Hudson River. This one has a very awkward layout, it's not that spacious, and overall has a dated look. I forget which housewife compared it to a Frank Lloyd Wright - but that was quite a stretch. I wonder if Luann snapped up this one as an impulse/manic purchase to console herself because she couldn't buy the 6 million dollar house.

https://realityblurb.com/2018/11/13/photos-rhonys-luann-de-lesseps-drops-1-million-on-waterfront-home-in-upstate-new-york-see-the-pics/

[ivygirl]

On 5/17/2019 at 4:21 AM, Gem 10 said:

I think any place north of Westchester and the Tappan Zee Bridge is considered “ upstate”, where I come from anyhow.   It’s funny when Lu said she will hop on her boat with all her friends and kids and go up the river to her house.  

If Lu doesn’t stop drinking, she may go up the river again, with or without her friends, right? 😉

On 5/17/2019 at 10:33 AM, hoodooznoodooz said:

Thank you for sharing this. So I do wonder if Lu ever has a genuine friend in the audience who picks up on this, but chooses not to tell Lu. Because I would want to know. Certainly her sister or the real estate friend is smart enough to sense this?

When I saw her about a year ago, most of the audience was there (seemingly) to have fun and, basically, enjoy an evening with a housewife in captivity. I don’t know that I (or anyone) went to mock Luann per se, but I wasn’t there to see her as an amazing artist, if that’s what people are driving at. Most of the other “friends” were fab, and I also met a guy (sorry don’t recall name) who seems to be an assistant to the housewives or something? Or maybe a PR guy? Not sure. But he was really friendly too. Anyway, how often do you get to see someone from TV IRL, and in an entertaining setting? YMMV on whether the cost is worth it to you (royal “you,” not just you personally @hoodooznoodooz) but my friend and I had a great time and of course are in agreement that Lu was by far the worst of the performers 😉 However... that was last year. I’d be far less inclined to shell out to see her this year because she has become so freaking self important again. 

Heck, she’s making me side with Bethenny. 🤣

On 5/17/2019 at 7:22 PM, biakbiak said:

She’s from Suffern different part of the state and a lot closer to NYC.

Well, we’re Suffern with her. 

[KungFuBunny]

1 hour ago, Rubyslippahz said:

Sonja gets really triggered by Tinsley!  It's kind of comical.  When shrieking at Tinsley that she Sonja never wanted to be married or have a kid she just wanted to enjoy life with Old Mr Morgan?!? Ha ha sure Sonja you never wanted nuptial$ or off$pring with the guy.   

Exactly!

You know Sonja married Morgan and once she had a kid she thought she was set for life. I'm sure she thought she would outlive him while still married.

[breezy424]

Random thoughts:

Yeah, I think Lu's purchase of this home was impulsive,  How long will it take her to get bored with living there?  Nothing against the Kingston area but I don't think Lu is all that chill.

I do give her latitude on the decorating.  Wasn't she only in the house for about a month before this episode was filmed?

[ZaldamoWilder]

On 5/18/2019 at 1:07 AM, Mondrianyone said:

Ramona remarked on the clear acrylic dining chairs, which look like the same ones as in the listing photo.

I haven't tried to come up with a good nickname for the house, but the signature cocktail should definitely be Roundhouse Punch.  Not that Lu would partake.  🍹

Beth sold the liquor distribution rights, right?   OMG and the Sweet Baby Jesus, please let one of her reps be reading these boards.  If she partnered with another booze company just to come up with a premixed bottle of something called Jose Cuervos Roundhouse Punch AND Lu got zero credit? 

13 hours ago, ivygirl said:

If Lu doesn’t stop drinking, she may go up the river again, with or without her friends, right? 😉

When I saw her about a year ago, most of the audience was there (seemingly) to have fun and, basically, enjoy an evening with a housewife in captivity. I don’t know that I (or anyone) went to mock Luann per se, but I wasn’t there to see her as an amazing artist, if that’s what people are driving at. Most of the other “friends” were fab, and I also met a guy (sorry don’t recall name) who seems to be an assistant to the housewives or something? Or maybe a PR guy? Not sure. But he was really friendly too. Anyway, how often do you get to see someone from TV IRL, and in an entertaining setting? YMMV on whether the cost is worth it to you (royal “you,” not just you personally @hoodooznoodooz) but my friend and I had a great time and of course are in agreement that Lu was by far the worst of the performers 😉 However... that was last year. I’d be far less inclined to shell out to see her this year because she has become so freaking self important again. 

Heck, she’s making me side with Bethenny. 🤣

Well, we’re Suffern with her. 

LMAO!!!

[ghoulina]

On 5/18/2019 at 2:20 PM, biakbiak said:

I did think it was funny that even self absorbed Lu felt much more sympathy for Tinsley than Sonja.

I don't think Sonja will ever get over the fact that Tinsley came back from FL, stayed with her for a bit, then spread her wings and flew away. Sonja HATED it when Tinsley made friends from the group outside of her. I think Sonja fancied herself a "mentor" to Tinsley, not a true friend. And she was very resentful when the latter seemed to be doing just fine without her. 

[LibertarianSlut]

20 hours ago, heavysnaxx said:

I think "upstate" has shades of meaning depending on where your starting POV is. Kingston is obviously upstate from Manhattan but it's a far cry from the upstate of Greece, Canadanigua, Cazenovia, where I grew up and have family. To me, the distinction is as much about going into NYC as it is about geographic distance. The upstate I'm from is the kind that has little to no interest in, or active antipathy toward, going into NYC. Lu would plotz at being identified with such folk. It's a cultural difference versus a mileage thing.

That said, if Lu ever moves to Horseheads, I'll reconsider my position.

I think this is a very thoughtful post.  I never thought about it with regard to the attitude and the access folks had to NYC before, so I'll have to digest that.

Just to add my $.02 of what "upstate" is (not that anyone asked lol) --

I was born and bred on LI, and attended SUNY Binghamton for some part of my collegiate experience.  I always thought "upstate" began at least with Rockland and Putnam counties, and possibly Westchester.  There are some areas of Westchester that are considered extremely remote even when compared to the rest of New York State, so even though Westchester County is adjacent to NYC, the distinction kind of makes sense.

To my parents, who are both NYC born-and-bred, anything not within the five boroughs is "somewhere else."  We went to Rye Playland a few years back, which is close to Connecticut and not far upstate at all, and my dad was like, "boy, this is all the way upstate, huh?"  And I just kind of rolled my eyes and silently asked him why, then, did he send me to Binghamton, which is a good two hours farther "upstate"?

And to further add to the confusion as to what is considered "upstate," when I first started practicing law in Florida, my boss was from a suburb of Rochester.  When I mentioned that he was from "upstate," there was like this long pause, and he was like, "you consider Rochester 'upstate'?  You don't consider it 'western New York?'" And I was like,"...I didn't even know there was a distinction...but, yeah, western New York.  What you said."  So, long story short, some people only consider what is northern New York, like Plattsburgh, to be "upstate," whereas Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo are "western New York."

I've looked "upstate" up on Wikipedia several times, as I am something of a geography nerd, and even they can't get an exact location.  I think Ulster County definitely fits the bill of upstate, though, unless you are using an alternative definition.  Some people try to argue that they don't live "upstate,' because people from their area (like Orange County) still commute to the City.  Ok, but aren't you still up state from the city?  

I think that's the best definition that can be discerned--anyone ''up' aka north of the city lives upstate.  It doesn't mean people are backward or out of touch.  It's not a commentary on culture.  It's just a way of pinpointing where someone is located.  Just the way that people from NYC say that I am from "out on the Island," when my hometown is closer to NYC than the Hamptons.

That's JMO.  I felt like I had to get it out, because I have been having this discussion with people from all walks of life for a long time, and it can become a surprisingly heated and heavy discussion!  Carry on.

[HaaCHOO]

40 minutes ago, LibertarianSlut said:

I think that's the best definition that can be discerned--anyone ''up' aka north of the city lives upstate.  It doesn't mean people are backward or out of touch.  It's not a commentary on culture.

So, I'm in Arizona...we have "up north," but it doesn't mean anything culturally.  Is "upstate New York" a bit of a negative description?  I'm sure the RHONY consider neighborhood 1-2 blocks away from where they live deprived areas.

[HaaCHOO]

17 hours ago, breezy424 said:

I do give her latitude on the decorating.  Wasn't she only in the house for about a month before this episode was filmed?

But didn't she think to retain her Countess connections just as she retains her Countess attitude?  I think it's a matter of taste and money...on her part.  The house?  Not impressed.

Edited May 20, 2019 by HaaCHOO

[HaaCHOO]

On 5/19/2019 at 9:24 AM, RHJunkie said:

I really like Tinsley but I also get where Sonja, Bethenny and Ramona are coming from with their advice to her. If she refuses to consider having a baby without having a husband then she needs to start mentally easing herself into the idea that being a mom may not happen for her. If she wants a child bad enough, then she needs to ease herself into the idea that she may be a single mom and may meet this great guy later down the road who will love her daughter like his own.

If Tinsley is 43 and has never been pregnant, she'd better have her eggs tested...and SAVED if they're good.  I have a feeling time has marched on.

[HaaCHOO]

8 minutes ago, HaaCHOO said:

17 hours ago, breezy424 said:

I do give her latitude on the decorating.  Wasn't she only in the house for about a month before this episode was filmed?

But didn't she think to retain her Countess connections just as she retains her Countess attitude?  I think it's a matter of taste and money...on her part.  The house?  Not impressed.

Just saw this photo of the house from the back.

[bosawks]

33 minutes ago, HaaCHOO said:

Just saw this photo of the house from the back.

If that body of water is kayak friendly then I love it and I'm totally jealous if it's not kayak friendly then it's crap......

[ZaldamoWilder]

40 minutes ago, HaaCHOO said:

So, I'm in Arizona...we have "up north," but it doesn't mean anything culturally.  Is "upstate New York" a bit of a negative description?  I'm sure the RHONY consider neighborhood 1-2 blocks away from where they live deprived areas.

I'm gonna vote no.  I mean by contrast it's more rural but I don't think people see that as negative.  At least I hope they don't.  The thing about Manhattan and Manhattanites is it's a clique, whose primary question if it had one is:  I mean if you can afford it, why would you ever want to live anywhere else?  I mean there are some pretty rational responses to this lol but every single one of them excludes you from the (cache/trendiness/convenience?) acquired from living in Manhattan.  You can't even live in another part of NYC and be considered a club member lol.  John, Dorinda's boyfriend, is an example.  Maybe not a good one, because he is kind of a bull in a china shop but living in Queens, makes him nearly a pariah.  Sorry to ramble, culturally, I think there's a certain segment of Manhattanites who see it as unsophisticated.

I'm laughing at 1-2 blocks away - real shit, in one of the earlier seasons when the Vanderkamps (is this their name?) moved to Brooklyn, the funniest part was watching the other HWs react.  What?? I'm not going to Brooklyn.   Meanwhile @HaaCHOO, I work as far south in Manhattan as you can get.  Brooklyn is one stop/2.5 minutes away.

[Rubyslippahz]

49 minutes ago, HaaCHOO said:

If Tinsley is 43 and has never been pregnant, she'd better have her eggs tested...and SAVED if they're good.  I have a feeling time has marched on.

I think she's already had the eggs collected and evaluated...remembering that scene last season when she and Dale were Facetiming her fertility doctor and oohing and aahing over images of the eggs.

[rhys]

Yep, I get all confused about the delineation between uptown, midtown, & downtown. Add east side (i.e. UES vs UWS) & my brain almost combusts. I have a general idea but don't know where the demarcation occurs. Plus the women seem exhausted if an event happens outside their twee neighborhood.

[biakbiak]

11 minutes ago, rhys said:

Add east side (i.e. UES vs UWS) & my brain almost combusts. I have a general idea but don't know where the demarcation occurs. Plus the women seem exhausted if an event happens outside their twee neighborhood.

Central Park is the demarcation between UES/UWS.

[car54]

Tinsley needs to do something like volunteer for something that helps kids---adopt a little sister with Big Brothers/Big Sisters or something to see if she even likes being around kids.   From what we see of her life, I'm not sure what she would do with a kid---maybe take them places like museums or plays and she has said she was pretty athletic, so maybe play tennis or something with them.   It's not a huge time commitment so she could maybe spend an afternoon with them a few times a month to just see how it feels.

I wonder if she has ever spent any time on her own at all with a child--she doesn't seem like she was the type to do babysitting when she was a kid. 
It would do her good to try it --do something for someone else and see if she likes being with them or not.

[ladle]

On 5/15/2019 at 9:24 PM, Mindthinkr said:

Ramona saying that she hasn’t seen Mario naked for three years makes me think that she is taking truth (accountability) lessons from Lu.  

After all, he is going to Miami with the girls...umm...since when are husbands invited let alone exes. 

Alex McCord should show up and chide her for bringing him.  Turnabout is fair play. 

[LibertarianSlut]

1 hour ago, rhys said:

Yep, I get all confused about the delineation between uptown, midtown, & downtown. Add east side (i.e. UES vs UWS) & my brain almost combusts. I have a general idea but don't know where the demarcation occurs. Plus the women seem exhausted if an event happens outside their twee neighborhood.

I think 14th Street is the demarcation between "uptown" and "downtown."  Also, where Manhattan is south of Central Park, I think East and West sides are generally divided by Broadway, which doesn't go straight north and south, so, that failing, Sixth Ave probably divides East from West.  If that's not confusing enough, the extreme northern and southern portions of Manhattan don't do the East/West side things because they're so narrow.

2 hours ago, HaaCHOO said:

So, I'm in Arizona...we have "up north," but it doesn't mean anything culturally.  Is "upstate New York" a bit of a negative description?  I'm sure the RHONY consider neighborhood 1-2 blocks away from where they live deprived areas.

(Side note:  I love AZ!)

I agree with @ZaldamoWilder that it shouldn't be negative.  I will just add onto some of the things others touched on, if anyone is interested in the NY/NYC cultural landscape.

I think that, for some people, there's a slightly negative connotation to "upstate."  It's not like calling someone from California an Okie or anything that obvious (and I understand the term 'Okie' had been reclaimed, but that's a different story).  For some people, there is a hint that people from upstate are rubes, just because of how far they are from the cultural, financial and commercial center--NYC.  That's why I said in my last post that i don't see it that way, and I have no call to call anyone a rube, being from Long Island, lol.

Yes, the RHNYC consider anything outside of where they live--even if it's by a few blocks--negative.  You're on the money there.

There is so much snobbery amongst New Yorkers (likely not unique to NY).  People from the outer boroughs are considered inferior to people from Manhattan, except when everyone started moving to Brooklyn circa 2010, rendering Manhattan "the AOL of boroughs," as comedian Jim Gaffigan says.  Now the people of certain parts of Brooklyn look down on Manhattan.  

People from Long Island look down on each other, and they look down on people from the boroughs, while people from the boroughs look down on people from Long Island for being out of touch.  In season three, Bethenny even paid a bit of homage to that notion, telling Jill at the reunion that Jill had changed, as she used to be "this girl from Long Island," and she meant it not such a nice way, like Jill should be simple or something.

People from upstate New York are usually treated by people from downstate as "not really from New York," as in, they are much more like the rest of the country, and don't have much more in common with someone from NYC than someone from Ohio.  Then people who are from the grey area that we've been discussing will argue that they can get to Manhattan within a short period of time--pretty much anything two hours by rail or less--rendering these people who have much or more in common with people from NYC, thus not from "upstate."  I think that's why people object to that label.  It's a valid objection, but I just don't think it's geographically accurate to say you're not from upstate if you're from Troy, just because it doesn't border Canada or anything.

I think very many upstate New Yorkers--like people from the Adirondeck Mountains--do not want to be associated with NYC.  There have been separatist notions forever from people living upstate who didn't want to be associated with downstate, because of differing values and ideas.  People from west-central NYS, like the Finger Lakes, have a completely different accent from people downstate, and their own culture, and I don't think that they want or need acceptance from people downstate either.  It is gorgeous up there, and I don't blame them.  I also spent a Memorial Day weekend in the Batavia/Buffalo area once, and it was lovely, but bore no resemblance to NY as I knew it.  I'm not trying to generalize, but whenever I come into contact with a person from that far upstate, they are very different then the people I know.  They are significantly more polite and friendly, almost without exception.  

Sorry if I'm rambling.  Like I said, I'm a geography nerd, and I also like to know more about the places where women of other franchises live, like what are the good areas, bad areas, is it really that big of a deal to get from WeHo to Marina Del Ray, or Duluth to Metro Atlanta?  (The answer is apparently a resounding "yes" lol).  I thought that, since there is so much confusion now that they're (arguably) going upstate, vs the Berkshires, it was on topic to talk about it, but I've probably said more than a mouthful.

[AnnA]

@libertarianslut.    14th street is NOT the dividing line between uptown and downtown.    You forgot about midtown.

ETA:   5th Avenue divides the east and west sides.

Edited May 20, 2019 by AnnA

[Gem 10]

14th street, Union Square is considered downtown.  I worked there for many years.

Many Long Islanders originally came from the boroughs, namely Brooklyn and Queens.  I live on Long Island, but was born in Queens.

Confusing?  Lol.

[Mondrianyone]

35 minutes ago, Gem 10 said:

Many Long Islanders originally came from the boroughs, namely Brooklyn and Queens.  I live on Long Island, but was born in Queens.

Confusing?  Lol.

What makes it even more confusing is that Brooklyn and Queens are physically on Long Island, but no one ever means Brooklyn and Queens when referring to the Island.  People from elsewhere can look at a map and say, "But . . . but . . ." till they're blue in the face.  Nobody cares.  There's Long Island and then there's the city.  B&Q are on the Island but in the city.

[AnnA]

@Mondrianyone  "Nobody cares."     I burst out laughing when I read that in your post.  I've had out of state visitors question me about it and I pretty much told them "that's the way it is."  The other thing people don't get is that someone can live IN the city or ON Long Island but no one lives IN Long Island. LOL

I was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens and have lived on Long Island since the late seventies.   

LuAnn's house is definitely considered "upstate" by anyone living in NYC or on Long Island.    Just about anything  north of the Bronx is considered "upstate."  

Edited May 21, 2019 by AnnA

[Mondrianyone]

6 minutes ago, AnnA said:

The other thing people don't get is that someone can live IN the city or ON Long Island but no one lives IN Long Island.

I edit books for a living, and it's very hard to convince writers writing about Long Island when I change that teensy little preposition that it makes all the difference.  The only authentic way to say it is, you live on Long Island.  All your readers from the Island will spot you for an outsider immediately if you get it wrong.

We also wait on line in NY, not in line.  Go know.

[Gem 10]

42 minutes ago, Mondrianyone said:

What makes it even more confusing is that Brooklyn and Queens are physically on Long Island, but no one ever means Brooklyn and Queens when referring to the Island.  People from elsewhere can look at a map and say, "But . . . but . . ." till they're blue in the face.  Nobody cares.  There's Long Island and then there's the city.  B&Q are on the Island but in the city.

And then you have “Long Island City” which is in Queens, near the East River, nowhere near Long Island.  LOL. We’ll just call it a day.