Is your head still spinning from last week’s episode? Mine is from reliving it, and it happened six months ago. Not to mention we shot the reunion special yesterday but that’s another matter. Let’s go back to St. John in the US Verging on Crazy Islands.
Kelly and Jill seemed to have become very close this year, so after she broke down at dinner, Ramona called Jill to warn her that Kelly needed a friend, wasn’t making sense with us and perhaps Jill could reach out to her. Kelly had been asked to leave, and we all hoped that Jill might meet her in NY, and be a friend to her – help her decompress. Jill didn’t believe Ramona was serious, so Bethenny grabbed the phone to say something to the effect of “this is nothing to do with you and me but you must take this seriously – it isn’t a joke.” They hung up and we went to bed. At no time on the phone that night did Jill give any indication that she’d be showing up the next day.
Jill doesn’t like being ambushed. Cast your mind back — she said she was ambushed when Bethenny called her, and when Ramona tried to organize a summit at her apartment. What do you call her showing up in St. John? She breezed in as though it was no big deal and they were stopping by on their way to St. Barths. There is no airport on St. John – they had to fly to St. Thomas and take a boat to get to us. She said she wanted to see Bethenny before the holidays. At that time and for the previous 2 ½ months of filming, she lived a block away from Bethenny in Manhattan – a 3 minute walk.
When Jill arrived, she shouted out Ramona’s name, said hello to Bethenny and kissed Sonja. Me? She completely ignored me. Each time she glanced in my direction she shot daggers at me – it made me start to hyperventilate and nearly shut down. I shot a few daggers back at her myself, because I couldn’t believe that she waltzed in so cavalierly and refused to even acknowledge I was there. She also pretended that the phone call the night before never happened.
We had all reorganized our lives for a week to take this trip. When we planned it, Jill told everyone for various reasons that we shouldn’t go. To me in particular (before we stopped speaking) she had said, “I am planning my own trip and you all should go with me; don’t go on Ramona’s trip.” When it became clear that we were all going, she decided she couldn’t get away and I for one was relieved.
If Jill wanted to see Bethenny she could have done that in New York. If she wanted to make a grand gesture of apology to Bethenny she could have said that to begin with, maybe come in on bended knee with hearts and flowers and perhaps riding a horse with some skywriting behind her. She didn’t do any of that. She came in saying “I came to surprise you, Ramona.” Guess what, if there’s one thing I know about Ramona it’s that she doesn’t like surprises. And she brought Bobby. Does Jill not remember how upset Ramona got when Simon came to dinner almost three years ago? That night, Ramona left! Little wonder she wasn’t pleased to see Jill unannounced, with Bobby in tow. If she had come in humble instead of screaming “surprise” with an aggressive sense of entitlement, no one would have kicked her out. I’d have left and gone to a restaurant, taking with me whomever didn’t want to see Jill. Let’s go one further – if she had looked at me and said, “Alex, let’s talk,” I would have heard her out. She did not do that.
After she left, Jill complained that I “butted my nose into her business.” How is her showing up unannounced in St. John my fault? Oh, right, it isn’t. What exactly was her business? Personally I think her business was to get herself on camera and see what we were up to because she couldn’t stand being out of the loop.
One other thing I’m going to say about all that – although we went to St. John in November, we shot some of the confessional interviews in April. And, I think by then Jill had begun to realize how badly she had behaved and tried to spin doctor herself in the confessionals. To me, her efforts came off more as an attempt to repair her reputation than genuine remorse.
After all the drama and nonsense ended, we managed to have a great rest of the trip. It was my turn to do something for Ramona and the group and I organized a lobster dinner – I enlisted Sonja to help me carry the lobsters up from the beach which was hysterical, and threw the ladies a bridal shower. We all had a merry old time gassing about boys and sex, and then Ramona choked. We all leapt to our feet to help her, and she quickly rallied. I brought the girls some amazing goodies from Laila Lee and we giggled some more; loved it that Sonja gave Ramona a demonstration of how to use my present! We did the toilet paper bridal gown mini-challenge (with lots of pinot grigio,) declared a tie and after more laughing and hugging we left the next day.
Back in NY, Kelly met the others to tell them what happened and I was amazed to see this scene, as that wasn’t the trip I went on. Luckily everyone had the presence of mind to disagree with Kelly that in fact they all knew people who’d hired Bethenny as a chef. When she said that Bethenny admitted to her that she orchestrated a smear campaign against her, I realized more than ever that Kelly truly does go to another planet sometimes. We say “A” and she hears “B.” I don’t know how you fix that.
At Sonja’s party, I couldn’t believe that LuAnn called us all upstairs, away from the party, so that Jen and she could hear “our side of the story.” Who was she channeling, the Godfather? I thought it was supposed to be an art show, not a side show. After a few minutes of conversation, Sonja tried to pull everyone downstairs and Simon and I went with her. We heard a great tenor sing from the Barber of Seville (I have to admit, I stopped mouthing the words when the camera started filming Sonja & me because I didn’t want people to think I was too terribly pretentious – hahahahahahaha!)
Jill threw a skating party, and decided to call Bethenny and ask her to meet the following week. Kelly and Ramona arrived at the rink and Kelly gave her version of the St. John events to Ramona. It’s one thing to rewrite history to someone who wasn’t there, but it doesn’t always work so well when you try that with someone who was on the trip with you. Ramona knows. Then Jill came up to her and tried to tell Ramona her version of her entrance to the villa in St. John. Once again, it was different from what actually happened. Don’t mess with Ramona. Ramona knows.
There’s more to come, and you won’t believe what happened at the reunion. Till then, enjoy Memorial Day weekend, and if you’re in Chicago June 3-6, please come and see us at our book signings!! Go to our family website for bookstores and times, and if you can’t make it to those or any of our upcoming dates, it’s also available on Kindle now and we love how the tech-savvy Bravo audience are lapping up e-versions (more to come!)
Hey, one more thing – tomorrow, Friday the 28th, is Simon’s and my tenth wedding anniversary! Ten years, two beautiful kids and I love him more now if that’s even possible. Simon, I love you and I look forward to the next twenty…..
Happy Anniversary!
I too have been married to my soulmate for 20 years and counting. Last season I enjoyed watching you and Simon. However, after seeing you this season, I would rather watch Simon. He’s funny and outgoing, where as you seem caught up in wanting to be the “Housewife” that’s RIGHT. Really Alex, who cares. So Jill said something in the past 3 years about your husband (he doesn’t seemed bothered), or your kids (they seemed to like Jill when she was over at your house). If you have a problem with what someone says or does tell them when it happens!! It’s not right to wait three years and then blow them away on live television. Jill has class…because she was the only one who sincerely said, “I’m sorry!”
Happy 10 years to you & Simon! You are a very lovely couple!
I can’t imagine living through that “vacation”! I could hardly watch it on TV!
Wishing you all the best!
Thanks, Shelle!
Alex,
You seem pretty smart including street smart. Whats your problem with Jill? So she made a comment about your kids, she said it to your face, no deal. Behind your back, killer her. LOL.
You out of all of them should sit back and laugh
I think your issue was after 5 days with just WOMEN, you missed Simon. Your soulmate.
Been there. My wife and I have never been on Vaca without each other for over 20 years. We have fun together. Its deep, nobody has to understand.
Happy Anniversary to you and Simon — you two will last many many more. You’re a dream couple and I can’t wait to see you in Chicago — are you only at the one bookstore in Chicago? The Winnetka bookstore’s website didn’t have any info. on you all. I will go into the city if I have to….whatever it takes to get my copy of the book signed!
Can’t wait to meet you!
This season has been such a whirlwind!! I have to say, I’m totally glad you decided to finally put Jill in her place this season.
These last two episodes had my heart racing with such anxiety, I can completely understand your reaction when Jill walked in. To walk in in the manner that she did was very crass. She has annoyed me this entire season and I’m happy she was getting a bit of her own medicine.
Kelly is such a psychopath, it really was painful to watch. Really, it was.
Glad you made it back to Brooklyn in one piece. Congratulations on your anniversary, wishing you both many more years of happiness and peace.
My Response to:
Crazy Island?
May 27th, 2010 by Alex McCord
I am still trying to wrap my head around tonight’s episode. I do believe Jill is starting to play the victim and it iritates the crap out of me. She is ok when she is dishing it out…need I say more? My thing is this..Stand by what you do and what you say!
I was very proud of Bethenny and you too Alex for not even entertaining Jill’s side-street manipulation. That is the whole problem, she can no longer manipulate you or Bethenny and she doesn’t know what to do with herself. So now her next victim is Kelly (God knows she needs help), but this is her way in keeping up with what you guys are doing.
Keep doing what you are doing, but my thing is this…Jill, Kelly and LuAnn are not your friends!
I blog about you ladies from time to time (smjplus4.wordpress.com) and tweet….follow me (smjplus4)
Happy Anniversary!
I am slightly embarrassed about posting a comment but I figured I could be bewy, bewy quiet and no one would find out. Of course, you could take my embarrassment as an insult but I don’t mean it as one. I am sure that you better than anyone knows how it goes with reality t.v. these days. I can admit to being apprehensive about you at the beginning. I am unwaveringly dubious of pretty girls with accented husbands. Call it a prejudice. It probably is. In any case, I wanted to express my wholehearted support and lack of apprehension as of now. I sense a kindred spirit in that you tend to remain subdued and only until directly provoked tend to break into hives instead of coming up with witty repartee on demand. I wish you and your family the best.
You handled the “breakdown” at the table so well! Although, the look of confusion on your face made me laugh! I don’t think I would know how to take it either if a insane person was calling me a vampire. HAHA!! Goodluck with that nut case!!
All i have to say is WOW!! That episode tonight was nuts…in every sense of the word. You showed extreme class in handling Kelly last week…something i dont think i could have done for sure. I certainly hope you all called Kelly out on her blatant LIE (at the reunion show) concerning what went on…I never heard Bethenny tell her to have one night stands…and unless edited out…never heard Bethenny admit to going to the press about her. All that being said…even though Kelly is one of my least favs on the show…i sincerely hope she gets whatever help she needs.
Happy Anniversary to you and Simon!! Much love and peace….Denise
Happy Anniversary dear Alex~to Simon too!
Just finished watching last night’s show for the 3rd time and earlier watched the 2nd-RHONY show, the one before this one- and after 4 hours of RHONY I must say I have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. I believe, and this is not a joke nor exaggeration Alex, that is what finally occurred w/you that morning Zarin showed up.
Constitutionally you are not really like the other members of this show-this I believe is a good thing btw………I find you very attuned, sensitive, aware and fundamentally kind. I grew up with almost completely dysfunctional, and mean people. Dysfunction/naivete is one thing and choosing to be cruel and unaware is another. Crazy people are exhausting Alex, as you must know and draining.
The entire deal with Kelly-to attempt to follow her train of thought, to try to process how it fits into whatever it is that is going on, makes one ‘crazy’–as in temporary insanity-as well.
Anyway I’m feeling you these last several weeks and find your presence on the show and in the show, to be calm and as gracious as one could possibly be. You managed to mostly transmute the insanity and negativity that was being directed at you (all). Then it appears, when Jill arrived and ‘assaulted’ you all, after that chaos, you went into a sort of shock. In no way am I saying you are a ‘victim’ or are to blame, as almost anyone would too. To me you show your sensitive and generous nature on your sleeve, which is honest and I appreciate this, as so many ppl are so defended/are on the offensive, that it is difficult to determine who they are at all. But God, the price one pays for being honest and compassionate on this show.
I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the Ingrid Bergman movie: Gaslight, or not, but it is worth watching if you never have. There is so much of this on the show in general, esp. with Jill, Kelly and Luanne that there have been times I have felt physically ill. Am not being overly dramatic here-as it was my parent’s weapon of choice. And I’ve only been in therapy for half a lifetime to recover from it. These women project their unconscious material onto others as a way to discharge the discomfort repressing it causes and manage their feelings (sorry Kelly, if one doesn’t ‘feel’, then one releases them in an usually crude/cruel manner to maintain an equilibrium) and it takes enormous energy and skill to deflect this thereby not absorbing all that negativity.
I just saw you, and the other women upon Jill’s shriekingly shrill entrance, freeze up and go into flight or fight mode. Personally I leave my body when I get ambushed like this. I just felt that you were just beginning to relax, enjoy yourself and have fun and then Jill. I am so sorry. And Simon wasn’t there as a physical presence and protection or deflection which makes it worse. DH knows when I am around toxic ppl, to have him nearby, with cell phone, car keys, AMEX card, a Xanax, and tissues and no judgment. However you did pretty great.
I hope after this season is over you get some well deserved rest and fun with the family. You certainly have earned every dime this season dear Lady. All the best to you and the family.
Alex,
I have to tell you that my husband and I watch the show religiously and neither of us can believe we like such a show! haha… But, it just hooks you, and you can’t help but watch it. With a nutjob like Kelly on the show, it’s both extremely irritating and upsetting to watch and yet we can’t wait until the next week to see what happens.
You have always been the model of class (hear that LuAnn??) on the show and I felt so bad for you when Jill came. My husband, who rarely talks to the TV, talks more to the TV when you girls are on than I have ever seen him do. He was very upset that you were upset and well, neither of have any use for Kelly. We love Bethany and like Ramona a little more this year than before, but she still makes me worry sometimes…I wouldn’t trust her 100%.
I can’t wait to see the reunion show. The only thing that got us past the last 2 weeks is *hoping* that the parties involved “get” it at the reunion show when they see themselves. We can’t get over Kelly’s stories of what happened (she did this last year too). Bethany, like her or not, tells the truth. When she’s doing the interviews, she says what happened, period. She says what we saw. Kelly is in another world and you have no idea where she was at because that wasn’t what we watched. It’s really quite bizarre and very sad. She genuinely needs help and if I worked for Children’s Services in that state I’d be checking her out big time.
Have the best anniversary EVER. You two are so cute, it’s fun to watch you.
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!
Becky
Hi Alex,
I don’t understand why people think you and Simon are pretentious/social climbers. I have seen every episode and have never ever got that impression. All I see is an intelligent, eloquent and CLASSY woman, in a loving relationship and happy family, with her feet firmly on the ground.
The way you deal with situations and confrontations with the women is in my opinion entirely appropriate for a grown woman and this makes it all the more impressive when viewers realise you’re constantly dealing with what seems like a bunch of snarky schoolgirls.
Your observations about Jill in this blog are spot on – why didn’t she mention the phone call? She’s playing to the cameras, trying to make it ‘the Jill show’. It’s a shame that she doesn’t realise that you guys were all worried about a person’s mental health – it’s not a game, it goes beyond a show – it’s real life and it’s serious and scary.
Come to think of it, you are always spot on with your observations and opinions about people. That shows true intelligence and perceptiveness.
Anyway, have an amazing anniversary with your wonderful family – I hope Simon surpasses himself with an even better surprise this year!!
All the best
Dee.
Alex,
Out of all the wives, you are undoubtedly my favorite and you always have been. I actually think *you* should be the one to write a book on class and etiquette because you lead by example. It’s easy to talk the talk but you really do walk the walk. I really hope you return for another season because the show desperately needs your balance! Without your sanity and insight, the show would be unbearable to watch–I really believe that.
I have to say something about Kelly’s behavior. I’m familiar with Asperger’s syndrome because I work with children with behavioral problems and I’ll be honest with you, I feel Kelly might actually have a mild case of Asperger’s syndrome. So many of the same tendencies seem to be in play with her behavior. This includes her inability to handle emotions or discuss feelings, her lack of understanding when sarcasm is being used, and her inability to grasp saying such as “lemons to lemonade” all lend themselves to this being a problem with her. She takes things VERY literally and doesn’t understand jokes or sarcasm. For example, on one show, LuAnn asked what she did to ‘let her hair down’ and Kelly took her literally and took her hair down. People with Asperger’s syndrome struggle mightily in social situations and have a lot of trouble developing intimate friendships. This would really explain a lot about her behavior!
I honestly do not think Kelly should be on this show and I hope the producers don’t ask her for another season becasue I have never been so uncomfortable watching *anything* on a reality TV show as what we witnessed on that vacation. I will be very disappointed with Bravo if they put their ratings above another person’s mental health–and I really believe that Kelly is not a good candidate for being under such scrutiny. She just doesn’t have the chops to be able to deal with it.
Alex, Congratulations on your anniversary! Simon is a great guy, you have a wonderful relationship (obviously) and your kids are sweet and so smart (I absolutely loved that scene when you and Simon were discussing Jill while making pizza in the kitchen and your two little ones were curled up with each other–they obviously have such a close relationship). Enjoy your life, fly high–and grab all the brass rings you can.
Take care,
Melinda
Hello,
All I have to write is that I am glad that you continue to remain a classy lady, and congratulations on your 10th anniversary.
Hope you had a wonderful anniversary!!!
l totally agree with the above comments from others, and furthermore –
just want you to know that everything you confirmed, most of us suspected. I watch (across the country) with my sister every week, and we both agreed beforehand, on the points given in your post….that Jill was spin-controlling the whole thing because Bethenny was coming off better and she was coming off mean and she suddenly wanted to look nicer. And that she had to show up in the VI to make it ‘the Jill show’.
(Also, on an episode of the Andy Cohen show, Jill Z tried to usurp the control of the dating-a-millionaire show, too! Andy’s mouth hung open and he had to remind her she wasn’t in charge of anything and she should be quiet.) She belittles Ramona’s food and her product at the ReNewal show and then she serves corndogs at her IceCapades show? There was another thing about the VI trip; didn’t she say something about her daughter’s health being the reason she couldn’t go? and then we were thinking…oh, but its okay to go to St. Barts? And she was complaining about the cost to Bobby of the detour to St Johns…which was more her doing than anyone’s…? She could have gone for free, or on Ramona, if she had just agreed (as Ramona had been begging her to do?)
She revels in being asked to be friends, just so she can make a pouty face and turn her head, dramatically, “no, no, I’m too hurt now….waaaa…B-Bobbbbyyy…”. Then when you take her at her word she comes running back into the room and says “ah ha! See, I KNEW you didn’t really want to be friends….waaaa…B-B-bobbbyyy…”
I feel so sorry for her daughter. That’s who needs reaching out to. Please tell her that nobody blames her and that lots of people have mothers like that and she is a nice, normal, pretty girl who doesn’t come off anything like her mother.
I don’t know if KKBensimmon is chemically imbalanced or on drugs or on the strangest, gummy-chewing (lollipops on the beach too?) sugar high, but since she keeps turning every single event to which she is invited, into a reason to start raving her fantasies… I don’t know. But didn’t she get arrested for giving her boyfriend a black eye in March of 09? Its in the papers. Its almost comical to watch her hear things like the grape-stomping line and the lemons and then repeat it incorrectly back, not once, but over and over and over, exaggerating it worse each time. My sister and I even noticed that it seemed like LuAnn was backpedaling, doing a little spin-control on her own, on the Bethenny-chef thing. I usually don’t like LuAnn (tried at first!) but when she was shaking her head, telling Jill not to go, and not to call her for help when she did, I had to smile. But I still suspected she was pushing her chair back from the crazy table to save herself…
We really enjoyed you and Simon on that Andy Cohen show, too. Happiest of anniversaries.
Be sure and tell us in the blog if it is true they are trying to force you off the show, please?
Somehow it’s taken me this long to find your website. Ironically enough, today (of all days) you were in Chicago, the closest stop to me on your book tour.
Sometime, I wish I could buy you a cuppa coffay to chat about parenting nonsense.
k
YOU ROCK! You are one of the most normal, best parts of the show.
Hello Alex,
I hope you see this. First of all you are a beautiful classy and fearless lady and someone I would like to know. However from the way the show is depicting, I believe you are turning into a mean girl now because some of the very same ladies who destroyed you last year not just Jill are now your friends. i liked you better when you did not take sides. You went with a group you like and its all good but it seems hypocritical for you to be all chums with Bethenny and Ramona who were the absolute worst to you.
If you have that forgiving of a heart, let it go with JIll too. Be the real you you have always been. The new alliances you have acquired look temporary to me but more power to you. YOur arc and storyline changed this season and I just hate to see what has become of yo. Alex remained true and authentic to himself and even hugs Jill sometimes on the show although I am sure she revolts him too. It just eases away the stress. How much classier and fun it would have been to watch if you just stayed neutral and the above it all cool Alex.
But i know you have to defend yourself and not look helpless, but we all see who you really are, a woman who just does not want to be messed with and is not confrontational and can only try, but playing with pigs will get you dirty.
I am glad you have grown from this and like you said you are in Brooklyn. You are an adult, intelligent woman so please don’t let this show make you out to be as catty and self serving as the rest. Stay you rising above all silly emotions and always triumphant in the end. Pride goes before a fall. heck you and Jill may be best friends in two seasons..lol..if you switched teams before you certainly can again…right who knew you and Bethenny would ever be friends. That girl hated you before (I rewatched seasons 1 and 2, brutal I say) .I guess I’ll just watch what happens……….
alex,
i loved this season and i LOVED this episode! it really seems like you’ve blossomed this season and i’ve truly become a fan of you… and lost any type of warm fuzzies i might have had for jill and kelly. it’s amazing how far off in la la land those two are! well, at least they have each other.
good luck with your book and kudos for being the most sane person on the show! oh, and happy anniversary!
Alex-I’ve really enjoyed watching you this season.
You really have exuded class and have apologized also when necessary, unlike some of the others. You are beautiful and have a strong work ethic and I love that you generally don’t get wrapped up in all of the gossip, you are more of a peace maker and one who tries to see things clearly.
This post was not only well written but perfectly articulated. The truth always comes out in the end and I believe you’ve highlighted the facts in a way that allows viewers to understand what went on a little deeper.
I’m glad to see you stand up for yourself and get a chance to be heard. No family is perfect, and while comments have been made agains yours, just keep being yourself. The ones doing the accusing are generally insecure. If they had so much going on in their life, they wouldn’t need to pick yours apart.
Happy 10th Anniversary to you and Simon!
~Karla
Hi Alex
Thank you so much for setting the record straight without drama or bias, you stated the facts as you saw them unravel and let us fill in the blanks.
I wish the viewers could see the side of Brooklyn you try to show them, it’s an amazing area with something for everyone and so much more. People do not realize that some of the Real Estate in Brooklyn is more valuable and prestigious vs Manhattan.
Lastly, You and Simon beat to your own drum and I respect you both so much for doing so. You both are comfortable enough in your bodies to be your own person and not a carbon copy of ads, kudos to you both!!!!!
Paula
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