April 24, 2011 | 2:38 pm

The Real Housewives of New York City Are Out of Control

Posted by Ilana Angel

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This used to be the best group of ladies in the Real Housewives franchise.  Not so much anymore.  They are so painfully aware of their fame and success that it’s like watching a really bad soap opera and we all know what is happening to soap operas.  These chicks are totally out of control.

This week starts with LuAnn waiting to meet Kelly for some spa time.  LuAnn looks beautiful but dresses horribly and Kelly dresses cool but looks like a tranny.  Sitting in the spa, Kelly is looking around and clearly talking to people, which one would assume are voices in her head, but is really the crew.

She is literally talking to the crew while shooting and it’s pathetic.  Kelly does not want to date, but wants to be in a relationship.  She is lonely and wants to be with someone.  If she can figure out how to be in a relationship without dating, I’d like to know how she is going to do it because I’m in.

LuAnn is plugging her boyfriend’s latest venture and I’m ready to check out.  This show is about being famous, getting famous, and milking every single possible fame moment out of it.  The show about women is now allowing them to seek fame for their lovers and it’s gross.

Jacques is starting a new wine/dating business.  Right.  It’s called Speed Dating and has been around forever.  He invented it like Bethenny invented the margarita.  Meanwhile Sonja is meeting Alex for lunch to hash out their argument from last week.  Sonja is the greatest disappointment.

She came on fresh and I loved her.  She is now a drunk with duck lips who is sucking every drop out of her fame but is failing to realize that last year we adored her and laughed with her, but this year she is the joke and we are laughing at her.  It’s sad and her hat is horrific.

Each time I see Sonja she looks more like Glenn Close.  She could have been the Queen of NYC but instead she is a divorcee troll.  Alex is talking, and talking, and talking.  She must love the sound of her own voice because she just keeps going.  She needs an off button.

Sonja is babbling about how she was scared Simon would show up at her party. She is scared of Simon in her own home?  Dear Lord Sonja, get a grip and stop drinking.  As for Alex, just stop talking.  Super models are not known as talkers so just own it, and zip it.

Kelly is meeting Cindy for drinks.  Cindy says she is shaking and sticks out her hand, which is completely still, and it makes me laugh out loud.  She had to fire her nanny.  Well she didn’t fire her, her brother did.  She is a powerful woman but can’t fire a nanny?

She is saying she does not put up with crap when it comes to her kid, yet the nanny was not good for her kids, but she could not let her go on her own?  So she gets crazy when people do something not good for her kids, but does nothing about it herself? Got it.

She wants us to think she is a certain way, but everything she does shows she is not the person she wants us to think she is.  Kelly sends Ramona an email saying she cannot come to an event she is being honored at.  Passive aggressive and incredibly immature.

Ramona is going to walk in another fashion show.  I want to turn it off at this point.  Ramona blames her previous modeling fiasco on the photographers.  Okay.  Sonja goes with her to try on the dress and her roots are brutal and her outfit is embarrassing.

At what point will these women start to dress their ages?  Sonja should not be wearing a mini skirt and knee high boots. Ramona is gossiping to Sonja about Kelly and it’s high school.  Jill is in Australia and love her or hate her, the show is not the same without her.

We are now at LuAnn’s boyfriend’s wine event and it’s hilarious.  Drunken Speed Dating is a hoot.  Sonja is lame, Cindy is bitter and Kelly is hilarious.  Kelly is funny and cute with all the men and it’s the first time since she came on the show that I actually really liked her.  She was totally fun.

A bit of a ditz, but ditzy can be good.  The time with the young actor was fantastic.  LuAnn takes the microphone from Jacque and it’s lame.  She can let her boyfriend push his little business but she has to be in the spotlight, if even for just a minute.  Countless is a bit of an idiot.

Simon has planned a birthday party for Alex.  Cindy is there with both her nannies.  Really?  There are two kids, could you not have just taken one?  Cindy and Kelly go to the party and the double cheek kissing is both awkward and nauseating.  It’s a very weird party and I don’t get it.

They are all sitting outside in the freeing cold, with champagne and one snack tray.  Cindy and Kelly are talking about what a lame party it is while Alex is saying it was the best birthday surprise yet.  Ah the power of editing.  Edits aside, the party was lame and that could not be hidden.

Ramona is walking in another fashion show and some of the girls are there to support her. By support her of course I mean mock her as she struts down the catwalk.  My only question is why does someone not put a bra on Ramona?  They are 50 year olds and need some support.

She needs a bra.  Sidebar:  Most of the models have their faces blurred out.  If you are a model, and have an opportunity to be seen on television, why blur out your face?  Is being on the RHNYC more embarrassing than advancing your career?  One can assume the answer is yes.

Cindy, LuAnn, Kelly and Sonja are at Cindy’s spa talking about waxing.  Do we really need to know what is happening with the chuckies of these women?  This show is now officially in the gutter.  Talking to the camera and discussing vaginas takes these ladies to a whole other level.

Alex is modeling.  Watching and listening to her, makes me want to cut myself.  Pretty Swan Lake?  Okay.  Moving like a ballet dancer?  Right.  The photographer seems annoyed which is excellent.  She is a goth bride and keeps the wackadoodle hair to go to Ramona’s event.  Nice.

Ramona is being honored as the celebrity entrepreneur of the year.  Bethenny must be pissed off.  LuAnn and Kelly both blow off her event, Jill is away, so Sonja, Alex and Cindy show up.  Ramona’s daughter is there and she is so grown up from when we first met her years ago.

The ladies all make fun of Alex’s hair and you know that deep down Ramona is annoyed the attention is off of her for a minute.  I forgot to mention Ramona’s assistant appeared earlier and I didn’t mention her because she is forgettable.  Not a star, just an afterthought I’m afraid.

Ramona gives her acceptance speech and Sonja is talking through the entire speech and I want to smack her, as does Cindy.  Ramona says she doesn’t do anything unless she is extremely successful at it.  Does she practice things at home to make sure she can do them?

Wouldn’t it have made more sense to say she likes to be successful at everything she does?  It just seemed like an odd thing to say.  But it’s Ramona, and it’s fake television, so I guess in the end it does make sense.  Next week looks like it will be entertaining and I can’t wait.

These ladies have gone from being fabulous, to somewhat entertaining, to embarrassing.  I watch not because I love the show, but because I am an addict and I cannot stop.  Bravo is my crack and if I could choose my addiction, it would be reality television, so I’m keeping the faith.

April 22, 2011 | 8:40 am

A Disappointing First Date with CBS & Walking in Sarah Palin’s Shoes?

Posted by Ilana Angel

Yesterday I was asked by CBS News to participate in a story about online dating.  With this form of dating front and center in the news with the Match.com lawsuit, people are talking about it and since I chronicle my online dates here at the Jewish Journal, they asked me to share my two cents.

I was happy to do it because it’s an important subject.  States are trying to pass legislature that will require online dating sites to offer some kind of warning pages for their users about the dangers of online dating and if done incorrectly, will be a mockery and waste of time.

To write that you should not give out your address to a stranger is useless and implies we are dumb and have no common sense.  They need to be more serious, offer insight to what some of the pitfalls and true dangers are, and make an honest to effort to help people, not simply satisfy the lawmakers.

I took some time off of work and made my way over to CBS here in Los Angeles and was interviewed for about 20 minutes.  The cameraman Bob was great, the Producer Chris was cool, there was another guy named Mike there who was adorable.  Overall I was very pleased with my participation.

I would have liked to go home first and throw a little make-up on, or get my hair done for my little TV gig, but in the end there was no time, and I feel so strongly about the subject that I put the story in front of my vanity and went over looking decent instead of husband hunting ready.

The piece ran yesterday on hundreds of CBS stations across the country, and I got calls and emails from my friends and readers asking if that was me on the television.  For my friends, clearly it was me, but for people who know me from my blog, they were unsure.

Why?  Because CBS did not share the name of my blog or that it can be found at jewishjournal.com.  They simply said I write a blog.  Millions of people saw it and rather than guide them to my blog, CBS made me look like a cat lady who writes about dating from my basement.

In the end CBS was like a JDate date.  The guy writes to say he is single, 5’11”, thinks I’m pretty, and is dating with the hope of getting married one day, only to find out he is 5’6”, looking to get lucky, and has no goals to get married one day because he is already married.

I got duped by a charmer.  It happens.  My date with CBS was a dud.  Not the first time I was disappointed on a first date and probably not my last.  I had a good time, met some good people, and got to share my opinion, even though it was cut down to a 10 second comment.

The good news is that there are 20 minutes of a great interview with me about online dating and should anyone ever come across it, I can be proud of what I said and should someone want to find my blog through seeing me on the CBS piece they can.

They can Google Ilana, Llama, Iliana, Ilona, Llllaa, and any other variation of Ilana Angel and they will find me just like “Bill” did.  Bill saw the CBS piece, thought I was cute, and found my blog by searching for me.  He wrote to say that while he lives 2000 miles away, he’d like to have dinner.

It was very sweet and I appreciated that he took the time to find my blog after CBS failed to mention it.  He is kind and his letter was funny and entertaining, and as soon as he gets out of prison I will be sure to file a restraining order. Until then maybe we can be pen pals.

The CBS producer in NYC felt bad that my name and blog were not included.  He included it in the piece, but when it got out to all the affiliates, they were free to do whatever they wanted with it and most stations opted to remove it and we’ll never know why.

Everyone I met at CBS was great and I would work with them again if they needed my help.  Any dialogue about the dangers of online dating is important and in the end it was not about plugging my blog as much as it was about helping.  That said, a plug would have been really great.

I got an email from a Republican friend of mine who saw the piece and wrote to ask why they did not include the name of the blog.  I explained it to him and he said I was walking in Sarah Palin’s shoes and getting screwed over by mainstream media.  Hilarious Roger.  Truly.

I love Roger.  He is in love with Sarah Palin, both politically and personally, and is convinced I will vote for her one day.  I’m not sure that will ever happen, and it’s a huge leap to think my blog getting eliminated from a news piece is the same as how he feels Palin is treated by liberals.

I will however say this, to make fun of this woman’s children, particularly her son Trig, is shameful.  How dare anyone think it is okay to be so mean spirited when speaking of a child?  I am appalled and will not mention anyone or any company that was involved in the attack on Trig.

To mention her children in any way when referring to her politics or possible run for the White house is disgraceful and the people who went down this road should be boycotted.  Say whatever you want about Sarah Palin, but do not ever mention her beautiful young children.

If you want to bash her, have at it.  If you want to trash Bristol, go ahead.  She is an adult now and has chosen a public life, but you stay away from her other children and you certainly respect her precious little baby Trig, and all special needs children and adults.  Morons.

I had a bad date with CBS. In the big picture it’s not a big deal.  Sarah Palin’s innocent baby was attacked.  That is a big deal.  I am going to be fine and so will Sarah.  When people go after her it only makes her stronger.  All this hate could backfire and she might be President.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  Shabbat Shalom to all and Happy Easter to those who celebrate.  If you’ve got a date this weekend, be careful.  Have fun but be cautious.  Love will be found online this weekend and it could be you so have hope, be smart, and keep the faith.

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April 21, 2011 | 9:17 am

Is Online Dating Safe & Are Dating Sites Obligated to Protect Their Members?

Posted by Ilana Angel

Yesterday I was contacted by Susan Haigh who wrote to say she was the statehouse/political writer for The Associated Press in Connecticut  She told me she was working on a national story about the legislative efforts in CT and other states to make online dating sites safe.

She informed me that the CT bill would require sites to post safety warnings to its members, such as don’t give out too much personal information or allow someone to pick you up at your home.  My name came up in her search of online dating and she asked if I would comment for her story.

She was lovely and we had a nice chat that lasted about 20 minutes.  Sadly she quoted me out of context which is a shame because it is an important subject and my take on it was important, yet her inclusion of me did not reflect what we had discussed about the actual issue she was covering.

It’s always a good thing when other writers contact me for a quote, or to share my thoughts for their pieces, and I am flattered by it.  That my little blog in The Jewish Journal has earned a name for itself, and people value my opinion is important to me, and I worked hard to get here.

The thing is, if you are going to go to the trouble of getting in touch with me, then quote me in the proper context and value what I am sharing, don’t build it in as useless fluff, particularly on a subject that is so important.  I’d like to clarify my take on this serious matter.

Online dating is time consuming, boring, painful, annoying and disgusting.  I could go on but it’s also a necessary tool in the dating process of 2011, and one that I use.  This blog has chronicled my dating life in great detail and it’s not all pretty.  In fact, it’s much more ugly than pretty.

Online dating is scary and I’ve been doing it long enough to know to be careful.  It’s not brain surgery and while I have certain expectations from these dating sites, it is our job as members and consumers of their services to protect ourselves and proceed with caution.

If you look at sites like match.com or JDate as examples, they are making millions of dollars every day and some of that money should go towards protecting their clients.  Running names through a national database of sex offenders is important, but I’m not sure how accurate that is.

We hear on the news all the time that registered sex offenders slip through the cracks and end up in places they are not allowed to be by law.  It’s not a perfect system, but if only one person is protected by dating sites doing this, it’s worth it and must be done by all sites.

My own experiences on both Match and JDate have been scary at times.  I have met men on Match that have made me very uncomfortable and resulted in dates ending abruptly, and I also went out with many lying married men during my time on the JDate hell train.

It is our responsibility to be cautious but we are paying for a service and as such, it is the responsibility of those sites who take our money to protect us, even if just a little.  Will warnings on a website listing dangers of online dating help?  Probably not, but it can’t hurt.

Plenty of Fish is free, and you get what you pay for, so there is no obligation for them to provide me with any form of protection.  Match and JDate however are taking my money and with that must come a certain amount of protection, just as it would with any other service or product.

When you buy an iron, it tells you not to submerge it in water while using it, so a dating site not telling you to be cautious while dating is ridiculous.  List the dangers, be bold and detailed, and don’t dumb it down or make it feel condescending or silly to the member.

I will happily write the warning page for all sites that want to list one.  I do not blame dating sites when I have a bad date, I do however hold them accountable when I come across someone who puts me in harms way.  If they can take my money, they can listen to my voice.

I informed JDate when I went out on a date with a man who was married, and they did not remove his profile.  I wrote when I felt in danger with someone I met on their site, and again, they did not remove his profile.  I was viewed a crazy member, instead of a helpful one.

Should you give out your address to a stranger?  No.  Should you invite someone to your home after one date?  No.  Should you leave your car at a restaurant and go with your date to another location?  No.  It’s common sense and everyone needs to take a minute to think.

MySpace removed 90k sex offenders from their site a few years ago so it’s not like it can’t be done.  There is no reason to not be offering some kind of safety catch.  If users don’t want background checks, they can go to a site like AshleyMadison where the risks are already high.

The AP quoted me as saying I went on 2-3 dates a week.  I wish!  Those of you who read my blog regularly know I have not been dating that much, and my last few dates have been disasters.  What I said was there have been times during the past 15 years where I dated that much.

They also said I commented that there were few other options to finding true love.  A little out of context because as I have said many times, the chances of my winning the lottery are greater than my finding true love online.  It’s a crapshoot and the odds are against everyone online.

That said, I may be jaded and skeptical, but I am still hopeful.  I believe in love and know I will meet my beshert one day, so if that is possible, I must also admit that it is possible I could meet him online.  At the end of the day we need to proceed with caution, and but still proceed.

People are always going to be misquoted, or their words taken out of context.  It happens.  I am blessed to have a platform to set the record straight which is a beautiful thing.  So to clarify, online dating is scary and sites have a responsibility to help us as much as they can.

People don’t date online because it is fun.  People do it because they are searching for something.  The trick is to be smart enough to be able to figure out quickly what that something is.  Be careful, but still be brave.  Don’t give up, and remember to kept the faith.

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April 20, 2011 | 8:42 am

HAG SAMEACH

Posted by Ilana Angel

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April 18, 2011 | 8:30 am

Forget About Jersey Shore, Mob Wives on VH1 is Reality Perfection

Posted by Ilana Angel

Let me begin by saying that I am not Italian.  My maternal Grandfather was an Italian Jew, but he left Italy as a baby and there is no lingering Italian in our family.  Shame.  My view of Italians is from the movies and television which could not possibly more be inaccurate.

If you look up famous Italians on Wikipedia you see there are hundreds of names that we all know, admire and love.  Sadly however, if you asked Americans to describe something Italian, they will refer to the Godfather, Goodfellows, and God forbid, Jersey Shore.

Just as Jews are stereotyped as money hungry, cheapskates, who are smart and greedy, Italians are stereotyped as mob involved thugs whose families come first, and men are the rulers.  We think of them as having great crime families and the most fantastic food ever.

Jersey Shore didn’t do a lot to change what America thought about Italians, and even though those kids are not all of Italian decent, the show was depicted as a look into the Italian American experience which while fun and entertaining, may not have been particularly realistic.

Last night VH1 debuted a new series “Mob Wives” and just when you felt that maybe Italians were getting a bad rap on television, along comes 4 women who are all the stereotypes we think Italian women on Staten Island are.  This show is intimidating, a little scary, and fantastic.

I loved the four women featured, how it was shot with occasional surveillance video, the music, loved it all.  I found the women compelling, beautiful, entertaining, dedicated moms, and to be quite frank, these tough talking, strong ladies scared the crap out of me.

Renee Graziano is the daughter of Anthony Graziano, who is currently incarcerated for mob related activities.  When asked what she knows about the mob her response is “what mob?”  I love this chick.  She is pretty, strong, outspoken, and owns her father’s history and her place in it.  She is big on the code of ethics, family, and loyalty to her inner circle.

Karen Gravano is the daughter of Sammy the Bull, who was the underboss of the Gambino organized crime family.  He ratted out the family, is known for bringing down the mob, and is currently incarcerated.  Renee does not like Karen and will never forgive her dad for turning on the family.

Karen has been living in Arizona for ten years to escape what her father did, and is returning to Staten Island to write a book about her life.  She is tough but it feels a little forced where Renee is just inherently tough and it appears to come more naturally.  Renee has more conviction.

Carla Facciolo is married to Joseph Ferragamo who is currently incarcerated for stock fraud, which is “not a bad crime” according to Carla.  He is getting released from prison in a couple of months, and they are getting divorced.  She grew up in the neighborhood with the family.

Drita D’Avanzo is the wife of Lee D’Avanzo who is currently incarcerated for bank robbery.  This chick is hardcore.  Her parents are Albanian and when she married into the mafia her family disowned her.  She is a fighter, very scrappy, gorgeous, and insanely intimidating.

The show follows these four women and their lives on Staten Island.  They are raising their children alone while their husbands are incarcerated.  While we don’t appear to have anything in common, we are all single mothers so I feel for them because I get that part of their lives.

Karen is going to leave her daughter in Arizona and go to back to Staten Island on her own.  She is nervous about going back, but she wants to write her book so she is going and leaving her child until she knows it’s safe.  She talks tough but I think she is scared about going back.

Renee, Carla and Karen are all good friends and go out for a girls night.  They talk about how their men are “away”.  They discuss prison like we me and my friends discuss shopping.  They talk about how nice it will be to go on a date when the men get out and it is hilarious.

Drita says they should join match.com and their profiles can read that they like AK47’s, enjoy men who have spent at least 5 five years in a federal penitentiary, their hobbies are to write men in prison, and their suitors should not be afraid when their husbands get out of prison.

Karen is all about ratting out the mafia like her dad.  She wants to write a book about her life and I’m not sure how she can do that without following in his footsteps.  She is either ballsy or a little unstable.  Her returning to Staten Island makes Renee very unhappy.

Renee cannot separate Karen from her dad and she does not trust her.  Drita and Carla are happy she is coming back.  They don’t want to blame her for what her dad did because they have young children and they don’t people to judge their kids on what their fathers did.

The loyalty and history of these women and their families is complicated.  The friendships and betrayals are not just about them, they are about their families and even if you want to let the past go, you can’t.  If you take the mob part out, the family ties are impressive.

Karen dated and lived with Drita’s husband for seven years which is weird.  I would never date the ex of a friend of mine let alone marry him.  They were friends though and Drita is welcoming her back to Staten Island and agrees to meet her for a drink when she gets back to New York.

Carla is throwing herself a birthday party and wants to invite Karen which is a problem for Renee.  Drita and Karen are having a drink and dancing around the issue of Lee.  It’s an interesting dynamic.  They get reacquainted and you know all hell is going to break loose with Renee.

Carla invitees Karen to her birthday party but does not mention it to Renee.  Not cool.  Karen is over at Drita’s and comments on a picture in her living room, which used to hang in her bedroom she shared with hher boyfriend, who is now Drita’s husband.  That situation is going to blow up.

The girls are getting ready for the party and Lee calls Drita.  It’s interesting that she does not take the call.  If your husband is in prison, and gets to make a call, don’t you answer the phone?  Maybe she didn’t answer because Karen was there but it still felt a little weird.

It’s party time, everyone is made up and ready to have fun but Renee does not know about Karen and will feel ambushed for sure.  At the party everyone is drinking, a lot, and having a good time, then Karen walks in and it’s on.  Renee is shocked to see her and bolts outside.

Karen goes out to talk to her.  She is aggressive and in Renee’s face.  Renee sticks to her guns, stands by the rules of the family, and Karen is out of control.  I love how Renee handles the situation and based on episode one of this series, I’m wearing a Team Renee t-shirt.

I loved this show and I am hooked.  I like these women.  I’m scared of them, but still hooked.  It’s a look into a life that we don’t get to see in this light and it’s fascinating.  I can’t wait for next week.  I’m watching, sleeping with one eye open on days I blog about it, and keeping the faith.

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April 15, 2011 | 8:48 am

The Real Housewives of New York City are Back – Let the Train Wreck Begin

Posted by Ilana Angel

Those of us who watch Real Housewives programs have been waiting for the return of NYC. With the cancellation of DC, thank God, the complete bore that was Miami, and the brilliant ladies of Atlanta on hiatus, this has been a long time coming.  Turns out, we could have waited.

These women are so aware of their celebrity, and the cameras in their face, that is now feels like badly scripted television.  It has lost its authenticity and become a joke.  We’ll keep watching, but it’s different now.  We don’t watch because it’s good, we watch because it’s so bad.

The train wreck began last week and I did not write about it as my son blogged for my birthday.  Rather than pick up at episode two, I’m going to go back to last week and talk about it a little because there is just too much and I can’t skip over it.  Alex the model?  Come on, let’s go.

The show started with Ramona showing us her new pinot gregio, Alex is being crazy, and Jill is professing that she is a changed woman.  Let’s be clear from the get go, Alex is insane and Jill has changed nothing.  I wanted so much for Jill to come back as the nice Jewish girl, but alas, no.

Jill is telling us she is a “real” friend and she sticks by people.  It’s a slam at Bethenny but we don’t care because we don’t believe anything that Jill says anymore.  She’s a bit of a liar and by liar of course I mean two-faced fame whore who has lost site of how great she used to be.

Kelly is saying she does not care about anyone but will try her best to navigate through all the drama.  How interesting that we ended last year with Kelly on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but she has started this season as the calm and collected one.  It’s weird, and I’m not buying it.

Kelly is going to crack at some point because she was already broken, so we’ll just wait. Jill has informed us her fight with Bethenny took years off her life.  Really?  It was not the fight sweetie, it was the lying, bitterness, meanness, anger and fame whoring that took the years off.

Jill is explaining why she fought with Bethenny and Kelly cuts her off and says, “you got dumped”.  Brilliant.  Jill is crying about how sad it is but the crying is about her ego not her heart.  Meanwhile in Brooklyn, Alex and Simon are both working at home since Simon “left” his job.

Alex is now a model.  Really?  Alex explains she is from a good gene pool, while her gay husband tells us he feels vindicated because now it proves she is beautiful because she is a model.  Being a model does not mean you beautiful, just that you are a model.  Gay husbands are fun.

We meet the new housewife Cindy and I like her.  We see Sonja for the first time and she has done so much lip plumping that she looks like a duck.  It’s a shame because she was so pretty last year and now she is plastic looking.  Shame none of her friends told her to stop.

Sidebar:  Cindy’s trainer is gorgeous and I want someone to explain why the women of NYC kiss on both cheeks.  It’s pretentious and looks ridiculous.  No other ladies in any other cities do it, not even Beverly Hills and LA is totally pretentious.  News flash, you live in NYC not Paris.

Cindy is holding an art event and the ladies are invited, Jill is there for two seconds and is gossiping about how old Cindy is to have two babies.  Yup, you’ve changed Jill.  Right.  Pictures are being taken and the photographer does not want Alex in the shot.  Hilarious.

Simon looks quite puffy and while Alex would like us to think he gained weight when he quit smoking, I think he gained weight because he is living a lie.  He may love Alex more than life, and I think that’s awesome, but to be clear, Simon is gay.  Gay is cool.  Lying about it is lame.

Jill is being a total bitch about Cindy and her babies.  Alex and Simon are disappointed to not be in more pictures, Sonja’s new “artist friend” arrives and he is delicious, the Countless Countess arrives and she looks fabulous.  Having a nice Jewish boyfriend clearly agrees with her.

Ramona is interviewing new assistants and the entire scene makes me cringe.  She should be offering a glass of her wine to these women because unless you are tanked, working for Ramona would be as much fun as colonoscopy and she is breaking all kinds of employment laws.

Ramona is crazy and has no manners.  I wonder if the interviewing process is reflective of how she is with her daughter.  Meanwhile LuAnn and Jacques are out for dinner with Sonja and artist Brian. LuAnn looks amazing and her boyfriend is lovely.  I totally dig him and think they are cute.

Sonja is being obnoxious at dinner and you have to wonder, why are you watching this crap fest? It’s really bad.  Like most things that are bad for you, it’s addictive and I cannot turn it off.  Their dinner date is gross but also entertaining that LuAnn and Jacques have the same haircut.

Sonja looks like Glenn Close and is talking about how her divorce is fresh and she needs to take care of her daughter.  Not buying it.  Over in the Hamptons, Ramona is at home with Mario, and Alex and Simon are staying with them.  Ramona does not know how to cut a bagel.

Alex is annoying, Ramona is an instigator, Mario is invisible, and Simon is icky.  They are all in the Hamptons for a wedding and Jill and Bobby are there.  Jill starts trashing Ramona and Alex before they even get out of the car. Ramona basks in the tension, and Alex is passive aggressive.

Ramona is gossiping about someone who is standing behind her, Alec is bitching about Jill and making fun of Kelly, Ramona is spewing crap about being gay, and Jill is talking to anyone who will listen about how she has changed and Alex is a bitch.  I wish my power would go out.

The Real Housewives are like heroin.  Once you try it, you can’t stop.  I’ve never had heroin but I watch a lot of Intervention on A&E and I think I can make the comparison that yes, watching Bravo is like being a dope fiend and I seriously need to get into rehab.  Quickly.

Alex is badgering Jill again and it’s stupid because she has “found her voice” but she makes no sense.  They are now showing us what is coming this season and I want to kill myself.  I wish I could not watch but heroin cannot be stopped cold turkey so let’s just jump into this week’s show.

There is a marriage equality march and the ladies are walking across the Brooklyn Bridge to support gay marriage.  This is a screwed up group of chicks.  Sonja thinks the day is all about her, Alex is convinced it’s about her, LuAnn could care less and Kelly appears to be the sane one.

Sonja appears to be high and all hell breaks loose when they get to the march and Simon and Alex are informed that only Sonja will speak.  Simon is livid, and Sonja is excited because she is a gay icon.  Alex looks like she is going to faint and Sonja is oblivious to why they are all there.

Kelly is embarrassed, Sonja’s speech tanks, and all I can think about is if Simon were allowed to speak, would he have used the opportunity to come out and tell everyone that as a gay man he chose to marry a woman but all gay men should be able to marry whoever they want?

Jill showed up after she said she wouldn’t.  She is screaming at Alex to not pick on her, Alex is being passive aggressive and totally confused.  They are walking, it is raining, and Alex forgot to wear a bra.  Back at Cindy’s house, her brother’s girlfriend looks just like her, which is a little odd.

Everyone goes back to Alex’s house for a drink, including Jill.  Simon gives his speech and it’s odd.  I think he said he married Alex for a green card and if gay marriage were legal, he would have married someone named Alexander.  It was strange, but at the same time, made sense.

Sonja goes to see the painting Brian is doing of her and is rude.  It’s not a completed work but she says she looks old and her boobs are bad.  Classy. Sonja is out for lunch with LuAnn, gossiping continues, and they are so aware of the camera it goes to a whole new level of fake.

Ramona bought a table at an event honoring Gucci.  Ramona looks like Kathy Lee Gifford.  She is setting place cards at her table which is tacky.  Alex arrives and the gossip continues.  Blah, blah, blah.  Kelly arrives, Ramona freaks, Kelly leaves, Ramona is pissed.  Pick a side Ramona.

LuAnn is having lunch in the park with Cindy and Kelly, who looks right into the camera. Sonja is hosting an event in her home and again is either high or drunk.  Alex walks in, Sonja goes up to her immediately and tells her she does not want Simon yapping in her ear.

Alex is mortified and loses her mind.  She goes off on Sonja and tells her she hijacked the marriage equality walk and made it about her.  Sonja is having none of it.  They get into a gross fight, in front of everyone, and Sonja kicks Alex out of her house.  It is beyond embarrassing.

Neither one of them is making sense, yet both of them have points that are right, but in front of everyone Sonja is telling her to leave but Alex keeps talking and I can barely to watch it.  Alex will simply not stop talking and Sonja keeps talking louder and I want to kill myself.

Best line of the night, LuAnn says Sonja should have kicked Alex out of the party for wearing the dress she did.  It was worth sitting through it just to get that gem at the end.  Alex calls Simon on the street, dressed like a hooker, and the last 5 minutes make it all worthwhile.

Sonja unveils the painting Brian did and Cindy says that if that was how the man she was sleeping with saw her, she would dump him.  It’s awesome.  Everyone thinks Sonja looks horrible in the painting.  They clearly don’t know the difference between a painting and a photograph.

And so it begins.  It’s going to be a long season and I don’t know if I have it in me.  I like to think I can stop watching, but heroin is hard to walk away from so it may take me a minute.  Bravo is trolling through the sewers with these shows so all I can do is try to quit, and keep the faith.

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April 14, 2011 | 8:48 am

Online Dating is Rude and Sex After 40 Can Be Hurtful

Posted by Ilana Angel

I came across an interesting man on Match.Com yesterday.  I thought he was really handsome, and his profile was very entertaining.  Just the perfect combination of sarcasm and sincerity.  I thought he was funny and charming so I sent him an email.  Not a wink, or a poke, but a real email.

I let him know that I liked his profile, thought he sounded great, and said hello.  He wrote me back with a really sweet note that encouraged continued dialogue.  We wrote back and forth for most of the morning, exchanging a dozen emails.  At some point I decided we should talk on the phone.

I emailed it him my number and said he should give me a call so we can chat.  That was it.  After a morning of emails, with no more than 15 minutes between each correspondence, I never heard from him again.  Something interesting was beginning and in a flash it was over.

Honestly, I don’t get it, and quite frankly think it is rude.  Was it too hard for him to write and say he got my number and will call when he can? Is it too much to expect that if he were not interested, after he had given the indication that he was, he would send a note to tell me so?

I have never received an email through online dating where I did not respond.  It’s rude.  Just because you don’t know someone one, and are corresponding in a completely disconnected way, we are still human beings with feelings and should treat each other with a little bit of respect.

If someone has the balls to reach out to a stranger and say hello, the decent thing to do is to write them back.  Even if you are not interested, respect them and yourself enough to say you are not interested.  It’s the right thing to do.  Especially after there has been some exchange.

Our emails were not just fluff, they were fun and sweet and clearly we were both interested, so why not just say you do not want to continue, or are too busy to call?  Online dating is rude and since I don’t date women, I feel comfortable saying men are rude and have no dating manners.

I will go even farther and say men are also rude when it comes to sex.  My friend “Anna” has gone on 6 dates with a man called “Craig”.  They met on JDate and she was feeling good about him.  They went to the movies, dinner, even went horseback riding, and really enjoyed each other.

He set up special dates and it was about having fun and getting to know her.  I met him after date 4 and I thought he was great, funny and kind.  He is 40, divorced 3 years, and has a young daughter.  Anna is 41, also divorced and has 2 kids, one older and one younger than Craig’s.

I met him by accident as I was out for dinner and they happened to go to the same place.  We said hello, and spent a few minutes talking.  My first impression was good.  He seemed to like her as he stood there holding her hand.  She liked him, took her time, and did not rush.

After six dates, the sixth one being this past Sunday night, they had sex.  All the kids were with their other parents, they were at his house, had dinner, rented a movie, and ended up sleeping together.  She actually spent the night which is nice because leaving after sex is not great.

In the morning they had coffee, he walked her to her to the car, kissed her good-bye, and said he would call her later in the day.  It is now Thursday morning and he has still not called her.  Yesterday she panicked and called him but it went to voicemail and he has not called back.

That is incredibly rude and I am sad for my friend because her feelings are hurt, she is embarrassed, and kicking herself for having sex.  No matter how great sex is, when you sleep with someone and he does not call, it instantly becomes bad sex and makes you feel horrible.

This is why sex after 40 is so hurtful.  We are old enough to understand the emotional baggage that comes with sex, and smart enough to appreciate manners and know that they are important.  The thing is, no matter how old we get as women, we are still just girls and we have feelings.

If you are going to sleep with us, call us after.  Even if you are not interested, just let us know.  If we have great sex, and you don’t want to see us again, or perhaps you don’t want to date us but want to continue having sex, just tell us.  We are grown ups and we can take it.

If you think women in their 40’s are not sitting around waiting for you to call us after sex, you are right.  We are not waiting.  We are however expecting a call.  That’s how it works when you are adults.  You have sex, and you call after.  It’s manners, not brain surgery

To not call however is rude.  Strangers are rude, men that have seen you naked should not be rude.  Men that show interest and allow you to let your guard down, should not be rude.  It’s not that hard gentlemen.  Just call.  If you can screw a girl, you should be able to call her.

To my darling friend Anna, I’m sorry you are feeling sad.  Do not let this schmuck make you feel bad.  You are beautiful and smart and he is an idiot. He may still call and if he does, be strong and value yourself.  To Craig, grow up.  Men and manners?  I’m keeping the faith.

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April 12, 2011 | 10:43 pm

Israel is Not Playing Nice with Justin Bieber

Posted by Ilana Angel

If you read my blog on a regular basis you know that I love Justin Bieber.  I simply love this kid in the same way I loved David Cassidy as a kid, only without the secret desire to marry him.  I own his albums, saw his movie, and listen to him every day on my iPod.  He is fabulous.

I was so happy to hear that Justin was going to be visiting Israel.  Not a Sarah Palin drive by for press, but a real visit, with a concert, plans to visit the sites, and really have an opportunity to see how beautiful Israel is, how wonderful her people are, and feel the history.

It is disappointing to hear that he is having such a hard time, and that his simple desire to see the country has tuned into something political.  Justin tweeted this morning that he was stuck in his hotel room unable to tour the country because of the paparazzi.  Yes, I follow Justin on Twitter.

Justin tweeted: “I just want to have the same personal experience that others have here.”  Israel is magical and that a boy who has such faith is not able to see the places of biblical importance is a shame.  In a time when faith matters to fewer kids, it’s lovely he had this goal.

Justin tweeted again with: “You would think paparazzi would have some respect in holy places.  All I wanted was the chance to walk where Jesus did here in Isreal.  They should be ashamed of themselves. Take pictures of me eating but not in a place of prayer, ridiculous.”

“People wait their whole lives for opportunities like this, why would they want to take that experience away from someone.  I want to see this country and all the places I’ve dreamed of and whether it’s the paps or being pulled into politics its been frustrating.”

Justin says he will spend the rest of his visit in the hotel which is heartbreaking.  He said: “I’m just excited at this point to get on stage and perform. Gonna take a little break from Twitter and enjoy this time with my family until then.” Ending his tweets with: “patience is a virtue.”

As if his being trapped by his fame was not enough, he was then dragged into politics when Prime Minister Netanyahu cancelled a meeting with Justin.  Justin’s people and the PM’s office seem to have different reasons for the cancellation but either way, Israel loses.

Netanyahu agreed to a meeting and then suggested children from southern Israel be included in the meeting.  His office says Bieber cancelled the meeting because they did not want to include the kids.  That simply does not make sense or sound like anything Justin’s camp would say.

According to Bieber’s people, “Justin welcomes the chance to meet with kids facing difficult circumstances, regardless of their background, and in fact, he had already invited children from the Sderot area.”  This kid is generous with his time and I’m not buying the political drama.

In a country with so much recent violence, one would think they would be a little more welcoming of this young man.  Artists like Elvis Costello and the Pixies have refused to perform in Israel because of politics, so when someone of this magnitude is willing to come, embrace him.

Justin Bieber is arguably the biggest pop star in the world and he is in Israel.  That is huge.  Netanyahu met with Sarah Palin who is ripping the country apart, yet he would not meet with a boy whose music is know by children regardless of their faith or language.  It’s just wrong.

I love you Justin and I hope the concert in Israel on Thursday is wonderful.  Those who are lucky enough to be there will love you and take away any bad feelings you have about Israel.  Just take it all in and know that the history surrounds you.  Be safe, and keep the faith.

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