"So I have to say, after choosing to leave the show prior to season 3, I must admit I never saw myself dealing with all this again - and I do mean dealing with. You, the lucky viewers, get to relish and enjoy all the conflict and dysfunction that the RHOC has to offer in the comfort of your own living room or on your computer. Like an idiot, I chose to live it all over again, up close and personal, in HD and Technicolor I might add. Trust me it's rarely pretty. Damn that Gretchen is an amazing negotiator. I am still not sure how she got me to do this - It must be those wicked blue eyes of hers.
I was also a little surprised that Bravo asked if I wanted to blog about this season. I do get accused by the women of trying to be the 6th housewife. I get accused of being a serial housewife dater; I get accused of being opportunistic. I have been accused of brain washing Gretchen. Now the latest is that I am a deadbeat dad owing $80,000 in back support and that I spend no time with my terminally ill son. People are unbelievable. If that were the truth, I would be in jail! Really, come on! There is so much BS floating around out there it's incredible. The fact that people choose to believe everything they read and then call it their truth just goes to show how ignorant some can be. I figure if I am going to be accused of all these absurd things, I should be at least getting something from all the (8U!! 5-HIT) I have put up with, so here we go, let's get us some housewives!
The show starts off by reminding everyone how mean and rude Vicki and TB were to Lynne and Gretchen last year. For some reason Gretchen seems to have a soft spot for Vicki, which I do not share. G likes to always say, "I know she acts a little crazy, but I think she means well." "She does have a heart." Well frankly I have never seen it, but that's what makes Gretchen such an amazing person. She always looks for the good in people and wants to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Vicki will be able to redeem herself this year - who knows. My bet is that the camera never lies and she along with the rest of the women will run themselves over with a bus and their true colors will come out. Vicki will probably continue to be the same rude, self-absorbed work-a-holic she has always been. It's her superiority complex that gets the best of her. Vicki, there is a reason you always look like you're losing your mind. Here is a tip, work smarter not harder. Everyone else does. There are so many people who have achieved such great success financially and still managed to have a life with friends and family and they don't feel the need to ridicule people along the way. Please don't assume because you choose to work so much that you are any better than anyone else or that you have accomplished anything that great. It's all about the priorities. Sorry, but I am still waiting to be impressed. We also don't really care about how many watches you buy yourself.
This season it was so good to see that Bravo aired the footage of Gretchen with Jeff. She loved him so much. He was a great man and I know he is missed every day. My friendship with Gretchen extends more than 8 years and I know when Jeff was diagnosed, Gretchen was devastated. But unlike a lot of people who might run away in the face of tragedy, Gretchen stayed strong to the end. Jeff was given two weeks to live by the doctors; Gretchen helped kept him alive for nine months. Gretchen comes from a family made up of some of the most loyal individuals I have ever met. I credit her father Scott and mother Brenda with raising such an incredible woman. Can you tell I am her biggest fan? My condolences go out to Jeff's family for their loss. He too should be credited for helping Gretchen involve into the woman she is today. If he were around, people like Tamra would have never gotten away with the things they said and did.
In the recap from last season, once again Tamra, never meeting Jeff, has something to say about things she knows nothing of. "Did you go to Bass Lake?" she accuses. Of course she did you imbecile! That is where her family lives during the summer. They have a home there, and after spending months and months in the hospital with Jeff, the one weekend the kids come to visit him so G can take a break, you feel a need to open your big trap and make accusations? Where do you think she would go, to be with her family of course. Tamra acts like she went on a vacation. For someone who claims she doesn't like to be involved, two-faced Barney sure spends a lot of time with her foot in her mouth and getting involved in everyone else's business.
The show opens with Vicki and the kids going sky diving. I think it's very cool she chooses to hang with the kids and be so adventurous at her age. It's nice to see the change from Vicki driving her kids nuts to spending quality time with them - good for her. Her reactions are priceless. Gretchen and I totally get why Vicki has been on this show for five years, she is very funny and entertaining to watch.
Jeana has always been a good friend and I know she is going through the same struggles most Americans are. I commend her for the willingness to be honest and share this part of her story. Colton is a great kid and I am glad Jeana still has him around to help out.
Tamra starts off with her obsession, a red carpet event and being in the press. My advice would be do not get your children in a place where they hunger for the spot light. It can only lead them to disappointment. I know it was all done in good fun, but I think the last thing you should be encouraging is for kids to buy into the desire for celebrity. The salacious stories written by tabloids are always so trashy and hurtful - trust me I know. There is a reason my kids are never on the show - I figured out very quickly it was an environment I didn't want them in.
Gretchen starts off the season by saying she has a problem with being a pack rat. You people have no idea. She has stuff older than the Smithsonian. One weekend I came down to visit her and we decided to go for a bike ride. Rather than rent bikes, she convinced me to ride with her on two mountain bikes she still had from when she was in the 7th grade. We didn't get more than five minutes down the road before she broke her gearshift and the sidewalls of the bike I was riding blew. We were a total disaster, but we spent the next two hours laughing about it.
Somehow, I got suckered into helping Gretchen clean up her garage. Normally when people call me and ask if I can help them clean up or move, I offer $50.00 not to ask. Once again, those blue eyes got the best of me.
I despise two things in the world, moving and the DMV. I know Gretchen went through a lot last year so I did truly want to help and I was trying to take her mind off everything by being the silly dork I am. The best thing about Gretchen is she is as dorky as me. We truly have the best time together.
Lynne looks so great and I am so happy for all the success she is achieving with her cuff line. I know things have been tough for Frank. He is a great guy and I really enjoy hanging out with him.
Donn too is a great guy. I have never had anything but a great time when I see Donn. I am so glad Vicki has recognized this and made the commitment back to him. They seem super happy. I think her lesbian comment was unnecessary. There is nothing wrong with being gay or a lesbian. She should thank Donn because I am not sure the gay and lesbian community would want her - then what would she do?
Next, Vicki meets with Tamra and talks about Jeana's money troubles. Not sure why Vicki thinks it's cool to discuss Jeana's financial situation with Tamra. You might as well take out an ad in the L.A. Times that says, "Hey, my friend needs a loan, but I am not willing to give it to her because I need to buy myself another cheesy Rolex!" You don't talk about your friend's financial situation. That is wrong on so many levels.
Then Vicki wants to talk about how classy she is? Hmmm, whatever makes you feel better sweetie, sorry but the rest of us see it very differently. Both Vicki and Tamra comment on the fact that they have not spoken with Gretchen and then say neither one of them has anything in common with her. This is the one point we will all agree on - thank God Gretchen is not like either one of them.
Once again of course we then see Tamra running her mouth about Gretchen - what a surprise. This girl cannot mind her own business. Tamra is not concerned at all about the atrocious things Gretchen has gone through or the damage she has caused by making false accusations about her on the reunion show. She just wants to jump in and start spreading the crap all over again. Do you think Tamra ever once called to check in on G when Jeff was sick? Of course not! Does she care about all the BS being written because of her unwarranted comments? Nope. She knows exactly why it happened. What's funny is she thinks none of us know what her and Simon are up too. News flash Tamra - we all know and it's not going to pretty for you when it all comes out. I will explain as the season goes on. The world is on to your game honey and Karma is a bitch.
Next comes the comments from these two on Gretchen and me dating. Vicki has some real balls to say I am whoring Gretchen out. I had a fiancé for two years - I didn't bag anyone, and my friendship with G goes back many, many years. Of course they are confused about why we are dating because they don't have any of the facts about us, but typical of these two, let's talk out our ass and then think about what we said later. Not sure how my relationship concerns them, but the one thing about the OC is that everyone has an opinion. To say I am "whoring Gretchen out" is completely classless. Not sure why she would she say that - it's pretty tacky on her part. We don't spend any time with her so she knows nothing about us, and everyone wonders why I think Vicki is so lame. Well, now you know.
So next, Tamra goes to work out with Lynne. It's odd that Tamra has now suddenly become friends with Lynne since prior to the season filming, Lynne said they never spoke. The only one who spoke with Lynne during the off-season was Gretchen. I am beginning to wonder what Lynne is thinking and what Tamra is up to. Tamra was so rude to Lynne last year. Tamra is back touting her opinion on Gretchen, which is fine, but her saying, "Don't involve me" is just another move by two-faced Barney. If you don't want to be involved, shut your trap and quit talking about everyone.
Tamra, here is a tip. Gretchen didn't involve you! She didn't call you! She didn't ask for your opinion! You never met Jeff so you have no knowledge about her relationship with him. Why are you opening your mouth about things that don't concern you? Focus on your own life, no wonder you're having issues at home. You spend more time sticking your nose into other people's business then focusing on your own relationship. I am just saying, a little introspection might be helpful
Gretchen meets with Lynne and Lynne invites Gretchen to come preview her cuffs. Obviously G wants to know if Tamra is showing up. Gretchen tries to speak with Lynne about Tamra, but unfortunately Lynne never stops her babble long enough to listen. Could this be why her kids complain that their mom never listens? Hmmm.
So ending this episode we have Lynne's cuff party. I know Gretchen really didn't want to go but she committed to go and support Lynne. Even Rocco and Vito felt bad she had to go and deal with some of these women. I love how Simon is constantly reminding Tamra to "Keep it classy." I can see why he feels a need to remind her on a regular basis.
I was so proud of Gretchen for finally speaking her mind, standing up for herself and refuting all the BS and lies that Tamra has been spinning. Tamra just talks out her ass calling Gretchen names and talking trash, as she normally does. Gretchen holds her composure and just rolls her eyes at the accusations, because she knows they have no foundation. This episode airs as a "To Be Continued" and I will need to reserve my comments until after next week's episode, because there might be some more things that come to light. Sorry for the lengthy first blog, but there is just so much to tell and this story is just getting started. Have a great week and please check back soon to Bravo TV.com as I am sure everyone will have a lot to say about this blog. You can also find out more about what we have going on by visiting our websites
www.slade.tv or visit Gretchen on her website at
www.gretchenrossi.com. I am so excited for Bravo to introduce the newest housewife Alexis Bellino and her husband Jim. They are great people and have become amazing friends. I guess you will just have to "Watch What Happens!" Talk with you all soon.
All the best,
Slade"
TEXT Slade's blog
