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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Off Topic Tuesday 3/26/13

Last Saturday, the Browns tweeted their fans pictures of themselves having fun at a Vegas nightclub, cheering on their newest Vegas "galpal" . Meri then tweeted fans that she, along with hubby Kody and sister wife Christine, was traveling hundreds of miles south to the fair city of Phoenix for a Health and Fitness Expo.

I want to go home!!
That trip to Phoenix was to hawk their glow in the dark diet supplement drink, but instead of a convention center with nice flooring and color coordinated painted walls, the Browns found themselves in a less than plush exhibition hall best suited for animals at the Fairgrounds. In fact, that's exactly what the exhibition building is used for during the county fair - to exhibit prize farm animals. Let's hope the sawdust and straw was swept from the cement floors before they arrived to setup their booth.

It must have been humiliating for Kody and half of his Kodettes to have to suffer the indignities of that building. Oh, did I mention it's cooled with evaporative coolers?

I'm not surprised that the Browns didn't tweet any cell phone pictures, however, I DID find a picture of Meri and Christine looking a little bit shiny inside the building. Is that a huge tire in the background? I can't wait until Meri posts pictures from Phoenix...but for some reason I don't think that's gonna happen. After all, that building just doesn't fit their new Vegas 'celebrity' status (including 4 McMansions).

Christine and Meri looking Shiny


Let's hope they take up THIS new friend's offer and  make an appearance at the Women's Expo in August. It's going to be at the Phoenix Convention Center - as you can see, a much nicer venue. And it has better climate control.

Phoenix Convention Center


as compared to 


The Exhibition Building at the Arizona State Fairgrounds



Back on the Vegas homefront, Robyn took the opportunity to tweet about how tall Dayton is getting on Sunday morning.


But by Monday, she's strangely philosophical.


Of course the cynic in me thinks she tweeted this after a little confrontation with the Kodster when he got home from Phoenix...

Robyn: (Sees Kody's car arrive across the street at Christine's house. Runs to car and hugs Kody as he tries to get out. Completely ignores Meri and Christine who's struggling to get her luggage by herself)

Oh honey, I'm so glad you're back! The kids are playing at Janelle's...they will be so excited to see you! We can have a quickie and by the time the kids are back we can have dinner!  I made your favorite foods, too!

Kody: (blank stare while extricating himself from her bear hug)

Ahhhhh....We ate way too much this weekend in Phoenix. I'll just get a snack  at Meri's...I promised to help her finish unloading the car and I need peace and quiet...I mean...I need to discuss business with her tonight. Maybe next rotation...I mean...next time... (flips hair and hurries to get back into the car. As Meri's garage door lifts, Kody quickly drives his car into the garage and disappears from view as the garage door closes )

Christine: (to Robyn as she slowly walks across the street back to her McMansion) Karma's a bitch, ain't it?
(Christine laughs manically as she slams her front door shut)


And then we see this tweet from Meri...boy, I wish I was a fly on the wall of those McMansions!!


But wait, here's a tweet from Kody. For some reason I get a real skeevy feeling about him being like 100 years old and still making babies. Eeeeeewwwww!!! And he's responding to a Papa Joe tweet, too! Double eeeeeewwwwwww!!!!!


While Kody ponders old age babymaking in Phoenix,  Janelle tweets about enjoying the night out with their booking manager...hmmmmm...

What, no pictures Janelle?

If you want to see some more pictures of the Browns out on the town having more fun than they could ever have in dull ole Lehi, try these links (not for the faint hearted)

Picture One

Picture Two   (Notice how Robyn is hanging onto Kody!)

Picture Three  (Robyn still won't let Kody go!)



Okay, we come to the beginning of another week of the Arias trial. At least there is a new expert witness, but what's up with Jody dressing like her attorney...again?




This just in. In spite of claiming to not have enough money for a cement pad to be poured in her backyard, Janelle tweets a picture of ... you better sit down... HER NEW CEMENT POND oops POOL !!

Guess we just can't believe anything we see on their show! Now Janelle, did you and the kids put in that  huge pool  by yourself?? Or did Kody help you?



UPDATE!!!!

Okay, seems like we got some eagle eyed peeps who don't agree with my assessment... That's kool (sorry DJ !!)

So being that I can't just jump on the next flight to Vegas, rent a car and drive to the cuddle sac, I did the next best thing.

Yep, I fired up Google Maps!!

Take a long hard look at the scenery in the picture above...

Now study the pictures below (courtesy Google Maps)


WEST of the cuddlesac

NORTH of the cuddlesac











Your challenge is to decide:

1) Which view best represents Janelle's photo (WEST or NORTH view)

2) Is the pool Janelle's or someone elses

Let's have some fun with this!! Good Luck!!

Allrighty then. Here's the background how I've come to my conclusion...

Something about the tweet picture just didn't make sense...and it was THE BRICK FENCE GOING LEFT TO RIGHT!

You see, if that was Janelle's house, that fence would be separating her house from Christine - totally contrary to the backyards all being connected requirement set by Kody.

So before I went to Google maps, I wrote down 4 things to look for:

1. the mountain in the background
2. the clump of thick green trees 
3. the utility poles near those trees
4. the unusual brick fence running left to right



Once I checked out Google Maps, I realized it was still possible the pool was located in the gated cul de sac, but that it most definitely was not located at any of the Brown's McMansions!

The view is North, there's a brick fence on the west (left) side and the North side. This house must be located in the Northwest corner of the gated cul de sac at a neighbor's house.

Once I got on Google Map, I could account for all 4 of the items I had to find to support my conclusion.


Finally, that brick fence (4) could be seen in this Google map view:


Which would correspond to this property:


As Juan Martinez will say (hopefully soon) I rest my case...

Wait Wait!! Just one more thing!

I noticed that there are people responding to Janelle's tweet, but the conversations are not showing on her tweet account (at least not for me). If you put her twitter name  @JanelleBrown117 in the search box, when the results come up, click on Tweets: All and you'll see those comments (scroll down).  



Click here to go to page 2 !!

Off Topic Tuesday ...Discussion Page 2

197 comments:

  1. I noticed in those pictures that Meri and Christine have the funniest looks on their faces, like there in line for a root canal. Janelle looks like she's in her own little world, a happy world, but totally isolated from the other 4 goons.

    I just saw a great tweet from Maddie saying how proud of her mom she is and what an inspiration she is. So sweet! So what do Kody and the 3 sisterwives have to reply to that? Crickets! If I made that big of a lifechange I would hope my FAMILY would be supportive and proud. Just shows there is no Family among those 5!

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    1. Maybe they just haven't had time to post anything yet.I know I am not on the computer at all times of the day.

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    2. Most people I know who tweet do so on their smartphones. We've seen on the show at least some of the adults texting away the time and tweets stating that they are in line at Disneyland "working" or having nails done and "working".

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  2. About the Jodi Arias trial, maybe the attorney should worry that if Jodi Arias is found innocent or a mistrial, she might become the focus of Jodi's next obbession.

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    1. It seems to me that the plan is to make Arias look more like one of the defense *team* rather than being the killer on trial. As if she has the credibility and status "as one of them."

      I noticed a few things abut how they continue to try to craft her physical image for the trial, cameras and ultimately, for the jury.

      1-In no pictures *prior to the murder* is Arias shown wearing glasses.
      *Now she does* and interestingly, she wears them all the time !!
      Even to read sometimes, but then takes them off to read at other times. (???)
      Speaking as someone who does need glasses for distance, unless she has bifocals to accommodate close work, she couldn't wear them all the time for distance and still use them to read.
      So what is the deal with the glasses..other than to give her a studious or softer, young/innocent look??
      Or..to look more like her efficient lawyer?
      Are those glasses of Arias merely a non-prescription image prop??

      In all pictures of Arias before the murder, she had various shades of blonde hair...including her eyebrows. Now, not only is her hair dark brown (like her lawyer's) and worn long with subtle bangs (similar to her lawyer's), now her eyebrows have become very dark and are shaped quite differently than before.

      3-Is there really any need for her lawyer and her to sit so close, almost elbow to elbow, shoulder to shoulder? Other than to visually put her in as close proximity as possible to being seen as a member of the *team.*

      4- Yes, the clothes...the color coordination (and even style) of Arias and the female lawyer.
      Hell, yesterday even Kurt the giant, was color coordinated with Arias and the female lawyer. It was beyond obvious.

      5-It has been noted by others that Arias now even mimic's the female lawyer's hand gestures.

      6- And what is up with Arias's copious note-taking?
      Has she been told to do that to appear as if she is working for "the team?"
      Is she now doing that to avoid looking at the jury or anywhere else during dicey testimony about her?
      Or....is she already writing her memoirs for publication?

      Looks like Jodi Arias's demeanor and physical appearance are all smoke and mirrors for the jury.

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    2. She testified (if we're to believe she's telling the truth - HA) that she tried on someone else's glasses while in jail & realized she had bad eyesight, had her eyes examined and voila - could see! She said she never realized that things looked differently. She said they're are for distance & I questioned why not bifocals and the only answer I could come up with is that the county didn't pay for that type of lens, which doesn't make much sense. She also said she doesn't need them for reading which explains the reason she takes them off & on depending on what she's doing. This came about in questioning about the license plate being upside down and her not noticing it, etc. and the jury asking a question about when and why did she get glasses.

      Her hair was conveniently dyed brown by the time she arrived in Utah after killing Travis and although she says it was a gradual change. the people she knows there were surprised about the change when she showed up there. Prosecution says the color change is another suggestion of premeditation. The bangs and eyebrow shapes are interesting.
      Many people have said her personality is such that she assumes the identity of her latest obsession which they say right now, is her attorney - thus the same hair styles, the glasses and same colored clothes as well as many mannerisms, too.

      The note taking was discussed in an interview on HLN that it's a way for her to communicate with her legal 'team' which they suggested she's very heavily involved in (someone even suggested that she's controlling it). She doesn't always get much time to talk to them and they thought it's just a communication tool.
      I think it's just more of her journaling (plus questions to her attorneys).

      I agree with you about it being smoke and mirrors - something she has done throughout her life with different people and in different situations depending on the need.

      She's definitely a chameleon and strange!

      Delete
  3. Meri Quite ContrariMarch 26, 2013 at 8:33 AM

    I found the additional posed pictures very helpful; seeing slightly different poses of the Kodettes gives a much better perspective on outfits and weight, along with better views of that awful crumpled satin jacket. Meri needs to go out and buy an iron. Their clothes look like they come from clear-out day at a church basement tag sale, but we know they are too good for that. The black stockings on Christine look just as horrendous as they do on Meri. They could do as the Hassidic women in NY do and wear really thick flesh-toned tights. Question: Why is Christine selling goo? Wouldn't selling real estate be a more lucrative use of her time? Also, wonder what the sleeping accommodations are on this threesome trip? One or two hotel rooms? Janelle's weight loss really shows in these pix, and could the drab outfit be satiny? Janelle's tweets are the happiest of all the gals, and she seems to be having a genuinely good time with friends. She doesn't try to be sage with "lofty" quotes. Sobbin holding onto Grody for dear life conveys, "Back off sister wives, tonight is MY night?"

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    1. dont the sisterwifes refrain from showing kody affection or touching him in front of each other? is that why meris mad?

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    2. I agree about the clothing completely! I see so many Hasidic women who keep their modesty standards and look very stylish while doing so! The sister wives should really take some "modest is hottest" hints from the well dressed ladies of Crown Heights and Williamsburg!

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  4. I'm guessing that the expo coming in August in the nicer location is going to cost the Browns more to participate - nicer venue = pricier space rent.

    Pictures this time are far more revealing. Especially with Meri not having Kody blocking her backside. Oi vey.

    Thanks for keeping us updated on the Arias trial - I will probably buy the inevitable book after its all done - is Ann Rule still writing? - just don't have the time to keep up w/it!!

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    1. Hey DJ- I'm a big fan of Ann Rule also. She comes out with one book a year it seems like. Just got her most recent for Christmas

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    2. Love Ann Rule!

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    3. Seems to me this trial is right up Ann Rule's alley. My favorite book of hers is "Small Sacrifices". and of course Diane Downs was originally from Arizona. her family is still trying to get her released from prison, last time I checked on the 'net.

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    4. There is a book coming out in October. But not by Ann Rule.

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    5. Seems she still says she's innocent.

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  5. And I just went to Elise's FB page - she changed her cover photo to one with her and the Browns. *Cue Rolling Stones here - Star Star or as the chorus goes: "star f**ker star f**ker star..."

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  6. I love Christine's parting comment to robin as she crosses the street to her own house!!! For some reason I think robin is going to play the " poor frail little old me" card. She will say that she entered into this union expecting "sister wife's" but all they are is "sister enemy's". Darn those mean old girls!

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  7. While Robyn clutching Kody, Meri is clutching Red Dress Chick.....just saying....

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    1. I noticed that too. I do believe Meri may be, consciously or unconsciously, attracted to women as more than 'sister' wives

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    2. I kinda have to agree with Sinister Drives. She got a little too excited for their tour guide lady in Mexico. She couldn't stop talking about her. Also, she wouldn't stop talking about finding Robyn in the beginning.

      First&Last Wife

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    3. I don't think that Meri is attracted to women, at least not in that way. I think she's looking for a friend. She seems lonely to me and I think most of us would agree that the common denominator in all of her failed sister wife relationships is her. She needs to do some soul searching instead of grabbing on to every potential BFF she meets. She also needs to realize that her BFF doesn't have to marry her husband ... Obviously!

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    4. You may be right, Anon 2:14. It has also occurred to me that Meri might be relatively asexual, which might account for her difficulty in conceiving. Hard to get pregnant, if you don't do the deed much. I do think she is "in love with" Kody, but the whole "soul mate" thing smacks of a sort of "esoteric" (if that's the right word) attraction between them. also might explain why she never "objected" so much to the sexual relationships Koduche had with Christine and jenelle (the children resulting from the relationships, yes, that became painful, but not really the relationships themselves)

      Delete
  8. Those crazy black leggings are a result of the women attempting to wear knee length or above the knee dresses with the special undies. You can only do so much rolling them up, and the thick opaque leg-wear helps to hide what's underneath. Either that, or they want to look as if they are still wearing the special underwear, to convince their AUB friends that they are still part of the elite.

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  9. sobbins chin is clutching krody!!!teehee

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  10. Kody's tweet about decrepit old men making babies sickens me. It also explains the polygamous "marriages" with huge age differences between the man and women. Men think it's their duty to go on baby making for as long as possible, and so keep on collecting women young enough to produce.

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    1. More similar to FLDS was a comment intended to extricate Abraham from a touchy situation with a potential rival, "She is my sister." Some commentators believe Abraham and Sarah were half siblings.

      Just a further note on the union(s). Hagar was not taken in marriage and so not a sister-wife, but she partook in an old custom of "surrogacy". As maid to Sarah she bore Ishmael at Sarah's (youthful) request.

      In old age (both Abraham's and Sarah's) the miracle child of promise was born. His name means "laughter" for Sarah laughed at the possibility of an old lady bearing a child.

      Delete
  11. Wonder whats up with Robin, she does not look happy anymore. Guess its true money & things can't buy happiness. Janelle looks great she looks much happier. Meri looks & acts like crap as always. Christine looks better in other pics, but she does look satisfied with herself.

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    1. People have commented that they think she may have had a miscarriage, but I've been wondering if maybe her apparent unhappiness is due to her inability to concieve 'at will'. She may be trying, but it may not be happening.

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    2. I personally think that there was something going on with robyn pregnancy-wise last summer. Maybe they went through with the surrogate idea (far fetched, i know), and they lost the baby, Kody and Meri won't "let her" concieve her own child with Kody until they give surrogacy another go-round.

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    3. Since i believe the whole ridics surrogacy idea was just scripted drama, I don't believe for one minute that Kody and Robyn don't still "get it on" every chance they get and run the risk of conceiving over holding out to carry one for Meri. There's so much competition between each of these wives and no way is Robyn going without to accommodate Meri and no way is Kody going to skip his fresh hot sex w/Robyn. Birth control isn't 100% reliable anyway, so it's business as usual for Robyn and Kody - even if the surrogacy wasn't all made up.

      Delete
  12. I know what the medical examiner said about the sequence of events but I want to know if anyone thinks she shot him first? I think she shot him and it didn't kill him as she planned or she had no more bullets.....so she stabbed him. I know it doesn't matter in the end because she is guilty and should fry. I don't believe it was self defense of course. She came there to kill him but things got out of hand and then the knife? Could the medical examiner be wrong?

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  13. Once the positions changed around for the other "we are having such fun" shots, it is clear how unflattering that dress is on Meri.
    One has to wonder if they have mirrors in their McMansions?

    If Sobbin clung any tighter to Kody, she would be climbing up his back.

    Kody's jacket looks like a possible leftover from Wayne Newton's wardrobe, circa, 1980's.

    Between Janelle's happy twats about her supposed new booking agent friend and Meri's obvious delight in her stripper girlfriend, sure looks like the Browns are branching out into new social circles.

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  14. Wait until Krotchie is a decrepit old man (he is getting there), he will likely feel differently. And the bloody problem has always been, and is now with meds these slimy old men can try and have babies until they are 100. Worse medication ever invented. By men for men.

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    1. Hmm you mean Viagra/Cialis? I'm not a medical expert, but I think it's only to assist in arousal, not necessarily motility. so if the man doesn't have enough fertile swimmers, all the blue pills in the world are going to make a difference. Besides, IMO it works both ways, depending on how important the physical side is to one's relationship...

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    2. That said (my previous post of a few minutes ago) I doubt if Kody is using the blue pill or the other one - they are wicked expensive, and most medical insurance won't cover them for men under 50, unless there is a real medical problem. I doubt that Kody is willing to pay $20 or more per pill which is how much they cost in California last year...and there is no generic as yet. My guess is that LIV has some sort of 'nostrum' like Enzyte (omg still some of my favorite commercials...).

      Delete
    3. So in thinking about the whole picture and Kody's response, it presents the question of whether it may be about geriatric men having access to young women sexually, as much as the old men having healthy swimmers ??
      Just thinking out loud....

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  15. His reference to Abraham and Sarah probably has nothing to do with younger wives. Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 95 when Isaac was born. I think he's hinting that he's still pushing unMeri to have a baby - without a surrogate. (Abraham used Hagar as a "surrogate" of sorts, although there was no egg extraction from Sarah.)

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    1. Yes Az, Also the fact that Kody should not compare his situation to God's plan for Abraham......God had a National plan for Israel not for the Mormon nation! Also Sarah disobeyed God by using Hagar as a surrogate, she did not trust in His promise.

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    2. God promised Abraham a nation. Not Sarah. After they sent Hagar and Ishmael out and after Sarah died he had other wives and kids. So Abraham didn't trust God with Isaac either. Surrogates use their own eggs. Gestational carriers use egg from another.

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  16. Carrying this over from the previous thread since it's so good and there's no room for comments there.

    From First&Last Wife:
    Know what? Screw hanging out with the ex burlesque dancing, drag queen looking, Celine Dion impersonating, lady in red for publicity! Whether or not that's what they were (are) going for, its obviously garnered attention. Viewers don't want or need anymore gimmicks. The Browns have clearly screwed themselves of their perfectly functional, plyg living, religious loving family image! I feel like EVERYTHING past season two is one big friggin sham! The sad thing is that I really felt for these people. I genuinely liked them. I thought they were likeable, honest people that truly believed in the way they were living yet misunderstood due to the bad rap of the FLDS and all the other renegade sects. Now they look and act like a bunch of moronic carnies out to make a quick buck and to remain on the celebrity circuit!

    As a viewer and someone who actually contributed to their family plyg pool by purchasing their book, I can't help but feel like they deceived those of us who actually rooted for them in the beginning. I've been a fan of this blog for the past year. I'll keep coming back here no doubt as I also love the snark. I've learned a lot about polygamy as well. I also admire TSW for her creations and plan to buy! If I'm going to contribute to anyone, it'll be to help those ladies and innocent children get the heck out of that kind of hell they're stuck in! SWB is definitely a guilty pleasure :-)

    Sister Wives however may soon be a different story. If they want to keep their ratings they need to stop with these goofy shenanigans and start being honest! And I really hope the browns read this!

    Meri is a self centered, mean ol' B-word! When the show started many people liked her. She was in school, had a passion for psychology and planned to help kids. WTH happened to that? Now your as fake as your fake tan! Get back on track and drop the green too! I used to sell avon, another company that required a down line to make any money. I made about 60 bucks in three months! Not enough to pay my bills with! Take your sister wives to counseling and salvage whatever else you have left between them and go back work! That would be way more interesting to watch than your outing with 'Mama Elisse'.

    Janelle is someone I want to root for but why? Glad to see she's losing weight and hopefully getting her happy back. But I can't feel much for someone who chose to spend 20 years with people who failed to provide for her a blissful life. Not that anyone's life is 100%, but you know what I mean. Take more control in that family like your doing your with your weight and I may not be so bored with the show.

    Christine makes me want to take my hand and pop her in the forehead like the V-8 commercials! We want to see you wake up and, stand firm with kody and tell him to shape his ass up or ship the hell out! Dedicate an entire episode if you have to! I would watch that! Christine and Kody's relationship does nothing to help polygamy look good.

    Robyn? Yeah, I'm at a complete loss for words. I don't know what to make of her. Shes broken. She needs therapy like yesterday.

    Bottom line...fix your mess or end up like Kate plus 8. Its to the point now where I've forgotten that anyone even belonged to a church! Its hardly ever talked about anymore! Sometimes I feel like forgotten what the premise of the show is even about! Jeez!



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    1. I've said this before, but the show was much more interesting when they lived in Lehi in the Plyg House. it would have been interesting to see how they would have made room in the house for Robyn and fam, but IMO 1) Kody was wanting the move even before the show was on the horizon; and 2) none of the wives including Robyn wanted her to live in the house anyway. This was always the plan I think - once the fam knew that there was going to be a S2, they started devising ways of moving to Vegas (or other big city) and were just looking for an excuse. If memory serves, Kody's whole "fear" of arrest was not based on actual contact with law enforcement, but from an out-of-context quote by a Lehi official that was in the media. He used that as a springboard. Look at the Dargers for comparision - Joe and fam are still OPENLY living in Utah and not showing the least amount of fear.

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    2. I agree, when I was rewatching the first and second season on netflix the other day I saw the episode where Kody and Christine take the kids to "their favorite vacation spot"...VEGAS. This was before there was talk of a move in the show, in real time I don't know if that had been established yet, or if they were in fact already living in vegas and made a sham of an episode (like so many others) but i found it pretty interesting none the less

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    3. the show changed and went downhill the minute they showed the wives all sitting together recounting their sucky and short honeymoon they each had while Sobbin and Grody are shown off galavanting for 11 days in Mexico at a beach resort. It went downhill from there and now has become a huge snowball rolling fast and furious towards its final smashup head-on collision with reality.

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    4. I didn't realize how much space my comment took up, but I had to vent! Lol! They have very badly lost their way. I mean, come on? They had the Dargers on their show that made the Browns look even more dysfunctional than ever before! Now I'm not a fan of the Dargers. I have many opinions of Papa Joe. However, we can't deny that this is a polygamist family that, at least on TV, looks a hell of a lot more functional. More organized, more put together. And who are now fighting the BROWNS legal battles back in Utah! If they ever want to talk about God sending "messages" than that at least should have been their wakeup call! Functional vs Dysfunctional. I would have been embarrassed watching that episode with the family.

      Nonetheless, it was an interesting episode. That and the holding out help episode. The others in their super short season were crap. Its time they get hit with reality. I'd like to see more from the woman that founded holding out help. If anyone deserves a little exposure its them. If bandwagon fans want to throw away money, it should go to a great cause and not for cheap, ugly joolery to provide for a lifestyle the Browns can't afford.

      First&Last Wife

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  17. To the poster who commented about the kids tweeting, I'm with you on that. Part of it is just them being kids I know, but it's kind of weird how you cannot tell at all that they are religious. No one ever mentions God or church for that matter. They are very worldly and this is not a judgement on them, just an observation. If the parents were hoping to raise devout plygs, this is a tremendous fail. Mariah is about their only hope and unfortunately she does come across as self righteous. Also them tweeting their teachers is just plain weird. So much room for problems and misinterpretation in that. I fault the teachers for that though.I guess anything does go in Vegas.

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    1. Maddie tweets about God ALL the time. She tweeted one about God just yesterday. Her and Mariah are the only ones I have seen tweeting about God.

      A small school here (in Nova Scotia) has students on teachings facebooks and texting them back and forth. It is completely normal in that school. It depends how progressive the school is.

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    2. You are right. I stand corrected. Maddie has mentioned God in a few tweets. I'm not even saying that's a requirement, just saying for people who practice such a different faith and are so worried about being persecuted for their faith, you'd think you'd be able to tell it in their words and actions. Not so with the Browns. Also in fairness to the kids, it is their parents faith first and foremost.

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    3. IMO it is both dangerous and unethical for a teacher to have a tweeting relationship with students.

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    4. i think it's a ridics liability for a teacher to take on. they shouldn't be calling or texting a minor. EVER. everything should go through the parents that's outside of class time. there's many a teacher that are guilty of crossing the line w/texting and phone calls. they're foolish if they think it's ok. as a parent, i'd let me child and teacher know that's unacceptable and stop it in a heartbeat. the teacher can text ME or call ME about anything re: my johnny or susie.

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    5. I agree. Teachers need to have some sort of professional distance with the children. Especially in this day and age where anything can be taken out of context easily.

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    6. Thank you for responding. My comments got buried in the prior thread pretty late, and I figured were just lost in the discussion. I'm happy you pulled it up to this thread.

      I think it's inappropriate and unprofessional for teachers to be tweeting their students...or texting...or facebooking...or whatever. It's a professional role and they should keep a professional distance outside of the classroom - glad I'm not the only one who still thinks that way!

      And all the tweets from the classrooms. Why are the phones even on in class?!

      And I still say it is a very poor example to prepare them for the real world and work. Sad, not doing the kids any longterm favors.

      Delete
    7. w/all the problems w/tweets, texts, phone calls, FB postings between teachers and students the past several years now - I don't understand why so many schools still even allow it! It should be grounds for immediate dismissal for teachers. there's NOT a single good reason that they have to do that w/their students and not the old-fashioned and safe way of simply talking to the student in class or through their parents outside of class.

      Why do so many parents allow their kids even to participate w/their teachers this way? I don't get how absent and checked-out so many parents are these days in their teen's lives.

      Delete
    8. I'm sorry, as an educational professional, I couldn't let this one slide.

      It is unfair to demonize any technology with regards to communicating with students. Facebook and Twitter are TOOLS, which may be used appropriately or inappropriately. Many educators (including myself!) use Facebook, Twitter, and IMs as ways to communicate with our students, let them know about upcoming extracurricular meetings, due assignments, etc. As long as you are taking care to document contacts (and keep dated image files of these contacts), there is little anyone can do to alter or question what you've said.

      I agree that teachers shouldn't be "friends" on Facebook with their students, but it is a very effective means of contact for distributing information related to school. Students do not HAVE to accept "friend" requests from their teachers if they do not want to be updated. Anon @ 9:14, you are the exception to the rule of parenting, and sadly many parents just want to be left alone, and we only ever see them if their student gets in trouble.

      Additionally, professional use of these tools sets a good example for students and demonstrates to them how they may be used by responsible adults rather than just a vehicle to post pictures taken in mirrors or images with inane quotes plastered across them. Online communication is only going to become more prevalent and widespread and it's important teachers learn to be professionals and the proper use of this technology in an educational setting.

      Delete
    9. Well in that case I hope you and fellow educators are at least busting students for using their phones in class for updating Twitter, FB, etc. I guess that could be considered a positive for befriending teachers. If a student is goofing off and taking pics in your classroom and uploading it to these TOOLS or updating status's instead of doing what they're supposed too, than I would hope teachers will take disciplinary actions. Again, I can see that as a positive.

      However, Anon 10:41 you can't blame parents for being skeptical. Too many bad things have happened in the past. And are probably currently happening between a minor and their teacher. I'm not saying all educators are bad. I know that there are some genuine teachers out there who are truly looking out for the best interests of students.

      Unfortunately, most rules are written in blood. Although there are obviously no rules set in place about teachers and students being friendly on these sites, its still a cause for concern. You can never be too careful when it comes to your kids. I personally would not feel comfortable with it. Perhaps a teacher/student portal set up by the school for the type of communication you described. Where parents AND the schools staff has access to in case of anything inappropriate. That would be okay. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc? Sorry but no.

      First&Last Wife

      Delete
    10. Creating an online portal for kids and teachers to communicate is an excellent idea, since it's true that social media will only become more prevalent. It needs to be set up through each school. As much as I respect and honor the teaching profession, facebooking and tweeting amongst teachers and students is still a big no in my book. Way too risky and I, as a mom, would too find it unprofessional.

      Delete
    11. This is anon @ 10:41 again. Just FYI, most teachers have both a "professional" and a "personal" Facebook account. It is HIGHLY unprofessional for educators to contact students through their personal accounts. However, professional accounts are becoming more widespread. Also, most schools locally (not aware of any national policies on this) have a policy where students must keep phones off or in lockers during school hours. This is nearly impossible to enforce, but everyone tries their best.


      I wish an online portal would work, but you have to keep in mind that most students would probably never use it. Most studies indicate that today's students see email as a formal means of communication (unbelievable, right?!). To be effective, you meet students on their level, then educate them and allow them to rise to your level.

      I understand that some families would feel uncomfortable with this, in which case they should take the responsibility to monitor their child's facebook and twitter and clearly indicate they do not wish them to befriend their school/teacher's professional accounts (although I think what schools are posting is probably the most tame, least offensive material you might find on facebook! Most of what I post is "Lunchtime meeting in Room 240 for College Club" Ha ha). Please don't blame teachers for using technology to interact with students. :)



      Delete
    12. I agree Anon 2:25 and 3:50, "professional" Facebook accounts are ok, and probably becoming necessary in this day and age, to communicate with students. I am a retired teacher, and my comment about twitter relationships being dangerous and unethical between students and teachers, may be related to the fact I have no idea how to use twitter!

      Also, my initial comment was about the Brown kids and their teachers. I don't use twitter, but my impression from reading SWB is that their conversations are not school related? If that's the case, I think it's wrong. Also, if the tweets are just between one kid and teacher I think they're wrong. Facebook (or I guess even tweet messages) to ALL your students at one time, are not the same thing, IMO.

      Delete
    13. Creating an online portal for kids and teachers to communicate is an excellent idea

      This all reminds me of the day I left my youth orchestra music folder by mistake in the music room of my high school and the annual concert was THAT NIGHT!! I had no choice but to call the band teacher, who luckily only lived about a block away from the school. I was mortified, especially because he was acting like he was really mad, but then he told me he was just kidding and said something like "bet you won't make that mistake again!" Needless to say my mother was not amused that I was so careless.

      Nowadays, I suppose I would have just text him without a second thought...but back when I was a teen, I just felt like I had invaded my teacher's privacy and family time. It was a horrible feeling!

      Delete
    14. ANONY 10:41 - fwiw - i didn't mean to demonize the technology itself in communicating w/students. I'm demonizing the way it's currently and constatnly used inappropriately for anything and everything between a student and teacher and also easily bypasses the parent. THAT is what has caused so many problems in the past. There should be grounds for immediate dismissal in the misuse of it BUT there should also be CLEARLY laid out proper uses for it to both student and teacher to begin with, of course. I don't see that happening IN SPITE of the repeated problems we see still going on with it - even with schools being sued over it and criminal cases/jail time resulting from it.

      I think it's sad that most parents just want to be left alone re:their kids. that attitude is definitely a large part of the problem.

      Delete
    15. Like Anony 6:29, I too didn't mean to offend anyone. Especially anyone who works so hard for our children. I understand this is generation technology and teacher/student communication through internet was inevitable. I guess you could say its almost like a culture shock to me that its happening this way now. And I'm still on the fence. I'm from Central Florida and 10 years after the fact, people are STILL talking about Debra LaFave. You know? The teacher who had relations with a middle schooler and claimed she was too hot for prison? LOL! You can't turn on the local news here without hearing another report of something inappropriate going on with teacher/student. So even with professional accounts, which is probably okay and will most likely turn into a normal thing, its still something lots of parents will have to get used too. with a little bit of skepticism on the side.

      But presently its something I can't help but think "hmmmm"? About. :-)

      First&Last Wife

      Delete
    16. i can see the point of using it as a GENERAL broadcast means w/teachers and students but not individually back and forth like is happening so frequently and with all the problems that can bring - and indeed has and still is. As a teacher, i certainly wouldn't put myself on the front line like that w/an individual student. not worth the risk.

      Delete
  18. Question: mainstream mormons special underwear stops at the knee. Do the aub wear a different kind?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes AUB's go to the wrist and ankle

      Delete
    2. But they have on shirts with short sleeves. Can you push the special underwear up to be able to wear short sleeved shirts? Also, I would like to know what the meaning of the special underwear is. What is it symbolic of or is it some type of thing they believe God requires for modesty? Do all Mormon's have to wear it or is it just the clergy? If it is required what do they think will happen if it is not worn? Sorry for all the questions but I have never understood the purpose of the special underwear.

      Delete
    3. Hi Kristy,
      If you go up to the "search this blog" areal on the top right of this page and put in "mormon underwear" I think you will find the answers to your questions.

      The old posts on this blog, especially in 2011, are a wealth of information on everything about mormon fundamentalism

      Delete
  19. I clicked through to Elisa Furr's FB page. With the picture of her with the Browns as her header picture, with her profile right under Kody makes it look like she's gunnin' for wife #5 spot. I honestly can't imagine that it is true, but, boy, I bet she'd be willing to play along with a "courtship" for the sake of a spot on their show.

    And...am I mad? I just noticed her "name" (stage name, right?) sounds a little like A Lucifer. Devil in the red dress.

    This next point has already been made, but if the "lifestyle" (not religion?!) really is about making you a better woman, and about being a part of a family...why on EARTH is Meri not chillin' with the sisterwives on her lonely evenings? Laughing together about Kody's hijinks, stewing over the hard work of parenting all those kids? Why isn't Meri sitting around with a house full of teanage girls mentoring them, listening to them and just loving on them? How on earth could someone being made "better" by this "lifestyle" be as lonely as she always is?! I know. It's all been said before, but what. a. sham.

    Now for my last obvious point.

    Shilling mlm health and lifestyle products is a smart move for someone who has a reality TV show because they live a fabulous life. Think Bethany Frankle and her Skinny Girl success (I know that's not an mlm, but it serves the point.) People want to be rich New Yorkers, they will buy into stuff that will make them more like rich New Yorkers.

    When you have a reality show because the world thinks you, and people like you, are abusive criminals, and you want to prove that you are not abusive criminals, a lifestyle based product (and "Iconic" Jewelry) is not going to be a financial success. Period. It's just. Not. The huuuuuge wasteland of a gap between:"Look! It's not abuse!" and "Don't you wish your life was hot like mine?" Is basically uncrossable.

    However, had they started a critical blog like this one, where they openly discussed the psychological challenges of their lifestyle, helped send money to Holding out Hope, and had an Amazon Associates account set up to sell books on abusive plygs for the education of their audience, they might have been able to both show that they were not the same as the abusers, and make a little money.

    Alas. They are not smart people.

    Ooh! SWB: have you all thought of setting up an amazon associates account on your blog? It would help us all have easy access to the great library of books that has been discussed, as well as bringing in a little money to help run this site you all work so hard at.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SkinnyGirl was an innovative brand idea apparently created by Ms. Frankel herself. In fact I heard about the cocktails before I knew who she was...personally for me, they are a bit *weak* but what a great idea.

      I wouldn't put the Browns shilling a third-rate MLM and its crappy products in the same range at all. Utah happens to be the epicenter for nutritional MLMs to begin with, and my guess is that the LIV powers that be came a-courtin' the Browns to use for "promotional" purposes. All I can say is...if the Browns are the best they can do, celebrity-wise...well. Wouldn't call sitting at a booth in a livestock arena exactly glamorous either. Clearly (IMO) the Browns were sold a bill of goods by a slick MLM salesperson (prob the CEO of LIV himself). They don't really sell the quality or effectiveness of the products themselves...they sell the dream of money out the wazoo with little or no effort, no having to work a bothersome job, etc. of course that's right up Kody's alley. The Browns might be lasting a little bit longer than your typical MLM "sales associates" because they are relatively well known and moderatly high profile, but it can't last forever.

      I'd be interested to know what their sales figs REALLY are. Most MLMs have a magazine or other publication in which they trumpet the sales figures and successes of their top commission earners in order to encourage the 99% bottom feeders to stay on board and keep their autoship accounts going $$$. I would LOVE to see LIV's.

      Delete
    2. I'd be interested to know too!

      All I meant by introducing Bethenny and the Skinny Girl thing is that she lives a lifestyle people would love to imitate and so selling us her healthy food products is a brilliant move. My point was it was as opposite from what the Browns are doing as could be--but I bet the Browns think it is exactly the same.

      In any case, you said very well, and I couldn't agree more. :)

      Delete
    3. Most MLMs have a magazine or other publication in which they trumpet the sales figures and successes of their top commission earners

      You know, DJ, at one time the LIV website did give casual readers access to their top "managers" and winners of the prized MLMobile and other incentives webpages, but for some reason either that access is only granted to people signed up to sell that crapola, or they took it down altogether. I'm thinking it's the latter explanation - the company may be having major money woes necessitating scaling back their operations to almost bare bones.

      Why isn't Meri sitting around with a house full of teanage girls mentoring them

      I think it's because Meri doesn't like teen/pre teen girls very much. They are noisy and messy. It appears she will have an occasional sleepover with the "pixies" but I wouldn't be surprised if that was just for show. As far as Meri mentoring teenage girls, from what I've seen of her disciplinary skills, she is totally off the scale in plain mean. There was a scene on the show where she abruptly told Mykelti to change into a more modest blouse - that she knew better than to wear that blouse showing too much. This coming from the woman who just wore a turquoise bandage dress that was so tight it showed off every lump and bump her body had to offer (but she wore black leggings so her legs wouldn't show). No wonder we found out later that Mykelti was being mentored by Robyn.

      When you have a reality show because the world thinks you, and people like you, are abusive criminals, and you want to prove that you are not abusive criminals, a lifestyle based product (and "Iconic" Jewelry) is not going to be a financial success

      I actually think they have been very successful in changing opinions in showing there are varying 'colors' of polygamy. They actually DO have a large fanbase of people who say their eyes have been opened and approve of their supposed loving family image and lifestyle.

      The problem with the Browns is instead of appreciating their fans, they have chosen to exploit them first for their sympathy, then for handouts. It wasn't long until we find out a pregnant Robyn previous 3 babies never had a crib...then letting all those hardcore fans on their friend only facebook page know that Robyn was registered at Babies R Us. They used LIV as a means for corraling their fans to meet the Browns hoping they would sign up. Finally, they come out with the overpriced jewelry - now a lot of their fans are beginning to see the Browns greed and are complaining how expensive it is. Rather than taking the cue to lower prices, Kody announces on the show their jewelery is "iconic" and deserves to be high priced.

      One thing that separates Frankel from the Browns is - she's business savvy, knows how to market herself and STAYS TRUE TO HER BRANDING!! She's an authenic skinny girl who created the skinny girl margarita. Whenever she wrote a book, she actually went to book signings - even at Cosco while very very pregnant. That woman HUSTLED HER BUTT OFF - Unlike the Browns, she went to the money, grabbed the brass ring and ran with it. The Browns, on the other hand, are waiting for the money to drop into their lap. In the meantime, they get into 4 overpriced homes, and start cruising the Vegas clubs for photo ops with no-list celebrities.

      The Browns have left their fans far behind them. It's no wonder that, back in Utah, The Dargers have stepped up making appearances that the Browns should be doing (after all, it is their lawsuit). No, the Browns prefer to have their picture taken with a Lady in Red, or spending their money to have a booth trying to promote health and fitness while looking like they wouldn't know a healthy lifestyle if it bit them!

      Delete
    4. I would think that the Dargers are completely embarrassed by the Browns and tried to do some damage control. Only thing is for PJ and wives, it is like a wound that won't stop bleeding and they can't keep up with them to try and clean up to show the public how a REAL polyg family lives together in harmony (we think).

      Delete
    5. I agree with CJ the Browns have changed some views, but as far as being a healthy family, I think we also see little of that. It is almost as if they are not a family at all. Meals once a week? I bet that doesn't even happen anymore. I think Meri has so many issues it would be hard to list them all, and is the major antagonist of the bunch. She doesn't care about having more kids, and she sure seems to have jealousy issues over the other kids getting out and leading normal lives instead of catering to Mariah.

      Delete
    6. @Cynical: Bethenny Frankel is definitely a hard working woman and exemplary business person. :) I admire her.

      I think that even making the leap from: "We're pretty sure that all plygs are abusive like what we saw on Oprah" to "Hey, they aren't that bad" just isn't enough to make even the hardest of hard core fans also say, "Let's be like them and buy the stuff the recommend!" In addition to the begging beast bleeding attitude to "fans" I think people just don't want to buy into the glamorous husband-sharing hot-modesty thing they have going.

      of course, some must. After all they sold what, 12 ornaments? ;)

      Traci (newish poster, now going as "End the bean fast NOW.")

      Delete
    7. CJ - the MLM's "sales associate magazines" or publications are an intergal part of keeping the money rolling in by keeping the folks at the bottom of the pyramid hopeful that they will be able to make all that money as the few at the top one day.

      These days, they wouldn't cost much to produce, since they could just send out a soft-copy PDF or make it available on their "members only" website. so no mailing costs.

      The last MLM I joined (not to sell, but because I liked their protein shakes - it's cheaper to sign up as an associate than it is to buy from someone else - I only belonged for a year or so) had one of those publications, they used to include a copy of it in the box whenever they sent a shipment of product to me. (BTW I ended up doing comparisions and started buying protein shake powder from my local MaxMuscle store, the owner gives me a discount since I work in the fitness industry).

      One of my favorite websites to lurk on is pinktruth.com, which is about Mary Kay (the most famous MLM with the possible exception of Amway). They have some examples of the MK publication that goes out to the associates. I'm guessing LIV has something similar since it's the modus operandi for MLMs, and it costs little or nothing to produce.

      Delete
  20. I just find this whole situation hypocritical. They won't send their children to a "Christian Church" in fear of non AUB influence, but then they go and hang out at night clubs where alcohol freely flows? I thought Christine was fearful to trust outsiders, but karaoke at a bar is ok? I don't understand. This is not the family who were so "devoted" to their core LDS values that we started watching a few years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent point !!
      The hypocrisies just keep mounting.

      Who are these people ??!! Really??
      What are their core values?

      Delete
    2. They are phoney balonies! They are a group of adults that used "a religion" to accommodate their "lifestyle".

      Plain and simple Kody married Meri, who could not produce a child for him, in turn they reached out to Jenelle a family member who they knew already (and Kody was not attracted to) which was perfect for Meri, to start their family. The thing is, just two wives doesn't really look like a Polyg family so Meri found him Christine (who he REALLY wasn't attracted to...as we all know) in turn she also began to produce a family for Kody and Meri. Now....everything was perfect for Meri and Kody, so the pressure was off and low and behold Meri gets prego! Hmmmmm...everyone has their job (baby making) and a REAL job...Kody (sales...or whatever), Jennelle (job and inheritance), Christine (the babysitter) and Meri ( her job).

      Only problem is the more kids you have, the more money you need. Because at this point it is obvious the more kids you have the more attention you get from "The Man"...so Jenelle and Christine are on race to see you can have the most kids for Kodester.

      So now Kode man has to come up with a money making plan...so let's throw the family under the bus and expose our lifestyle for some mooooooooney...the almighty dollar $$$$$ cha ching!!! So now we must get back into our "Faith" and use it for our rights!

      Robyn, was just the big stick in the fan that destroyed this family.

      Delete
    3. If they go to a Christian school, the Browns know they would hear the TRUTH.

      Delete
    4. Anon 9:00pm: Exactly.

      Delete
  21. Regarding those pictures of the Browns with random people in Las Vegas...

    Meri looks more PO'd in each successive picture, and it's hard not to LOL. Poor gal, she's the one who did all the hard work (i.e., tweeting for a new friend) to gain herself a new bestie so she wouldn't have to hang with her icky SW's and their messy, Sharpie-wielding children. And then what happens? Those same SW's harsh her mellow by joining her on her special night on the town with her new gal pal! Even the Kodester put on his special purple shirt and joined in the fun! No wonder Meri is ticked, she can't even have a new friend all her own without everyone joining in! And speaking of that, who's watching the children at home while the Brown gang is out raising heck on the mean streets of LV?

    OMG, every time I think I have seen everything this family can dish out, they one-up themselves.

    Oh, and Robyn...if you let Kody go, maybe he'll float to the ceiling like a helium balloon. Try it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, with that much empty space between his ears, it is definitely possible that he'd float!

      Delete
    2. >>And speaking of that, who's watching the children at home while the Brown gang is out raising heck on the mean streets of LV?>>

      That is what I was wondering, too. It seems like they are always out or away somewhere or at Disneyland.

      It's a big deal at my house if we order in pizza! The whole thing just makes me wonder.

      Delete
    3. Thanks for doing the highlighting for the pictures so they were easy to click on and see. Just wondering if you could number the comments...easier to find a specific post. I have seen numbers on them sometimes when I refresh a page but next time they are gone.

      Delete
  22. Looking at the picture at the fair, Man! Meri has gotten big. She's not fat by any stretch of the imagination, but I remember her being pretty slim when the show started.

    ReplyDelete
  23. There like the brother or sister some of us might have, your afraid to answer the phone for fear of what the hell did they do now. SMH. Bet Meri becomes a slot zombie before this is all said and done

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just have to say again how much I LOVE this blog and everyone's comments. Totally enjoying it. Keep it up :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. oh my goodness, those pictures! meri definitely looks angrier as the pictures go one, Jenelle looks like she is getting more and more uncomforable and laughing it off, Christine looks totally miserable, Robyn is trying to make sure Kody doesn't get too close to the lady in red.

    I'm sorry, but with each changing angle, Meri's outfit looks worse.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Interesting development in the Arias case....
    Tomorrow there is to be a hearing about the defense petitioning for not allowing the defense's expense "details" to be made public. This comes on the heel's of a leak which last week went viral about the defenses's total legal costs to defend Arias are now reaching close to *one million dollars.*
    The defense wants a moratorium on any specific details within those costs being made public.

    Why? Because those reports could show that it is possible (probable) that they had to spend quite a lot of money to interview who knows how many psychiatrists and/or Domestic Violence experts to find two people who would agree to testify in those two areas.

    This jury is not sequestered. So even though the jurors are severely cautioned about viewing any news stories, and with human nature being what it is, the defense does not want the jury to have any access to info about how much time and money they may have had to spend to find expert witnesses willing to testify for the defense.

    I am glad I don't live the county where this trial is taking place. These county citizens are the people who will have to shoulder these legal costs and also the mounting court costs for Jodi Arias.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amused - I DO live in Maricopa County. The only way to pay me back for all of this expense is for 12 other people from my county to find her guilty and give her the maximum sentence possible. We don't need people like her wandering around loose.

      Delete
    2. Wow, AZ, sorry to hear that !! You and your fellow Maricopa neighbors are being penalized in a very significant and punitive way for "her" crime.

      If I were on that jury and knew of these expenses, I would be very interested in knowing why other interviewees declined to testify?

      I agree with you. Jodi Arias needs to not be in our society.

      Delete
    3. I believe you said you have a background as a domestic violence counselor. What do you think of the defense expert currently on the stand? have you ever heard of her? What is her reputation in the field of dv?

      Delete
    4. The information this witness is giving about DV is authentic and well documented. She has a respectable reputation in the field.
      All of her testimony about the dynamics and pattern of domestic abuse is valid and applicable to and about "legitimate" victims and their abusers.
      However, the question and the reason she is on that stand is (and she hasn't gotten there yet) about whether or not she is going to give her expert opinion specifically *about Arias being a DV victim* and about Travis Alexander being an abuser.

      Since she can only evaluate TA from Arias's second hand accounts, this witness can only speculate (and maybe not even that) that his behavior was abusive. I don't think she will actually make that statement about TA except by innuendo. Martinez would have every right to object if she did.
      So it is all down to her being willing to say that Arias is indeed, in her opinion, a victim of battering/abuse. Not sure that is going to happen either. We shall see.
      It could be that the defense's strategy is to have this witness thoroughly lay out the "how and why" scenario of abuse and then they will point to that expert's description, going with that premise in their closing as their defense now that the jury has had this very detailed explanation of DV.
      I can say that there are other people in the DV field (both counselors and survivors) who, for many reasons, would vehemently disagree that Arias fits the victim profile.


      Delete
    5. Someone I love has been a victim of DV. I am not an expert in the field, but I don't believe the Arias was a victim of Travis in any way!

      Nancy Grace is beside herself with fury pointing out how what this expert is saying has NOTHING to do with the specifics of this case.

      Delete
    6. Fan From AustraliaMarch 27, 2013 at 8:51 AM

      What does this abuse expert have to do with the Jodi Arias trial? Surely ANYTHINg she is told is hearsay and not backed up with any evidence. All she has are the stories told to her by a known liar. I would be very reluctant to get on the stand and give evidence in this case. and its awfully sad that in the process Travis Alexander is being painted out to be the bad person when he is and always will be the victim. we should not ever forget that!

      Delete
    7. I'm on a FB discussion board about the case. We're pretty sure Juan Martinez (we call him "Mr. JUANderful" will point out that the description this expert is giving of an abuser actually fits Jodi. And we have proof of her behavior. Anything she says about Travis is just based on what Jodi has told her. And we all KNOW how much Jodi lies.

      Delete
    8. Fan from Australia, yes, everything is hearsay -- the DV expert has never interviewed Jodi!

      I read somewhere that the defense DV expert is not allowed to state as opinion that Travis was an abuser (since he is unable to be interviewed) AND that the other part of the order/agreement is that neither is she permitted to state that Jodi was the abuser either. They said all of the DV expert's testimony will be generalities, hoping the jury will apply her suggestions and find Jodi a victim and not guilty of 1st degree murder.

      While the expert is definitely educated and well respected and interesting I found myself frustrated and saying 'when will they link Travis & Jodi to any of these characteristics' and then I heard that may never happen which I think is completely unfair and shouldn't be admissible -- something that many interviewed attorneys agree with. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

      Delete
  27. I just say over and over... Kody, get a J O B. Meri, shut up and let everyone try to make a family. For being the smallest unit, she sure likes to run everyone's lives.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Has anyone been to the dancer in reds twitter page? Creepy I think. She tweets them as uf she has known them for years. She also mentions her church. I wonder how old she is? Maybe im waayy off but she seems to want fame in a bad way. Maybe she thinks she could fill the number 5 spot. Also creepy is the pic of her with gene simmons and peter chris from Kiss. What a jump from polygs to heavy metal

    ReplyDelete
  29. Janelle's tweet today shows a picture of her backyard with a POOL:

    First pool party of the season with friends ! Fun Spring Break! pic.twitter.com/qD8cbrFe2j

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think we can be sure it's her backyard. Although Janelle posted it, it could be a party at any of the wives' backyards.

      Delete
    2. was that a DIY project? coldnt afford a pad in the budget? Revenge for Meris wetbar? My god they have lost all credibility..who will repair their credibility like their credit was repaired. do they even care?

      Delete
    3. It could also be a pool party in "the friend's" backyard. It is possible now she has a new friend...good for her, I'm sure she is much happier having her own friend to hang out with. She should come on here and be friends with us. She probably only hangs out with Meri and Robyn for promotional functions.

      Slept into Debt

      Delete
    4. Slept into Debt - someone said here that the "new friend" of Janelle's is their "new manager." and is in cahoots w/this Elisa Furr - lady in red - burlesque dancer/celine dion singer/vegas party girl. So, all "That don't impress me much."

      Delete
    5. Thanks for the info ....I was hoping for her sake that she had found her own friend...so she would have someone to hang out with when the others moved back to Lehi and she stayed in Vegas. When I first started watching the show, I was hoping she would leave, then I found out that she had left but came back. Then I was hoping after Robyn came that she would leave again, but then the money came rolling in. Now I still hold out a slim chance for her that she would "get out of the box" and look at the big picture.

      Slept into Debt

      Delete
    6. nope, sadly - it's just a new "on the payroll" friend for Janelle. can they really have any true and normal friends outside of their claustrophobic and dysfunctional environment tho?? I've never read about any plygs that do. The Darger wives don't either.

      nah, i don't see Janelle leaving (any time soon, anyway) any more than any of the other wives. MAYBE she will once her last child leaves home and she'll go live with her momma and her two sister wives - who happens to be Kody's mom and dad, too. hah! The small, small, small world of plygs!

      Delete
    7. Holy crap, she could become a sister wife to her mother. Wouldn't that be freaky, shades of the FLDS.

      Delete
  30. Meri looks pregnant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think she looks way out of shape to wear that outfit!

      Delete
    2. That is NOT a dress to wear unless you have a hard body. Meri's added the jacket and leggings to try to make it work and to offset the fact that she just doesn't have the body shape for it. NONE of these ladies can put an outfit together that's appropriate for the occasion, their age and their bodies. I can understand tho how that's just not important to them. Obviously.

      Wow, the full frontal picture of her in it is truly disastrous! None of them can see the obvious themselves - let alone help each other see it. No one cares.

      Delete
  31. I am actually planning a trip to Vegas next year and I didn't even think of the Sister Wives being there at all until now. They are giving unbelievable prices on packages right now. I just want to see all the hotels and drive up to Grand Canyon. You can stay 7 nights and r/t airfare from Hartford to Vegas for 500 each, must be because the economy is so bad and they have so many hotels there. I will fit in a stop near where their houses are though, will also go to Pawn Stars Shop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pawn Stars Shop is in a really seedy part of town. Make sure you go during daylight hours. It's just outside of Fremont Street Experience - which even that itself has definitely gone downhill the past few years.

      Delete
    2. I would say to visit the Pawn Stars Shop during the day (in the daylight). It is in a little bit shady part of the strip.

      Delete
    3. We visited the Pawn Stars Shop when we were there and it's amazing how much smaller and dirtier it is inside than when you see it on tv. There are lines of people walking through and they sell t-shirts, bobbleheads etc. so they make money from the many tourists. I really like the show, but you will see that it's creative camera angles etc. that make it look better than it is.

      Delete
  32. Am actually planning a trip to Vegas next year. Unbelievably cheap package deals available now due to the economy. 500 for hotel on strip for 7 nights including airfare from connecticut to vegas. I want to go to see all the cool hotels and attractions, not for the gambling. Didn;t even think of seeing the Browns until now, It will be hard since they live in a gated community. Will also visit Grand Canyon and Pawn Stars shop.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Does the court case everyone keeps bringing up actually have anything to do with the Browns or polygamy? I'm not following it at all, and honestly not interested in starting to follow it. LOL, way too much going on in life already to make time for another mini obsession.

    If it doesn't actually link to the Browns or the show or polygamy, can we just set up a separate thread for people who want to discuss it? It seems like quite a few people are very interested and it's starting to take up a lot of comments? It might make easier for those of us who aren't interested to read the rest of the blog and easier for those who are interested in it to find each other and track their discussions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with anonymous about the trial updates--they aren't relevant to the Brown shenanigans!

      Delete
    2. agree! it seems like it definitely needs its own separate thread.

      Delete
    3. This is an "Off Topic" thread, and the trial was brought up as part of the intro to this thread by CJ (one of the mods). Maybe those who don't want to follow or discuss anything "un-Brown" could choose to avoid an "Off Topic" thread.

      Delete
    4. Hi everyone!

      The Off Topic article/posting/thread was set up specifically for discussion of anything off topic (but still within SWB guidelines).

      Thank you anonymous 10:11! I couldn't have say it better myself!

      Delete
    5. I thought it was included because of all the LDS information that was brought up in the trial. She is trying to pass herself off as squeaky clean but she was as much into kinky sex as he was. So I assume if they had ever got married that it would not have been a temple wedding as they were not chaste.

      Delete
    6. I think Arias was definitely using the kinky sex to hold onto Travis. You know, since I am of a certain age (older than black pepper) I can remember how important it was to be a virgin when married, or as my grandmother would say "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?"

      Travis seemed to be a throwback to a decade when women WERE expected to be chaste and pure but men could fool around with no consequences. I attribute that attitude to his being mormon. Arias erred in her belief that she could hold on to him with her sexuality while converting to Mormonism in anticipation of eventually having a Temple marriage to Travis. Travis, on the other hand, had NO intention of marrying her. I believe Arias when she said Travis had called her a skank, and other harsh words. In fact, I would wager that he called her those names and let her know he only would get married in the temple and that she was not temple material. Outraged, she decided to murder him.

      Delete
    7. i couldn't care less this trial is being discussed here. BUT i do feel like i'm developing ADD w/the constant ping-pong back and forth between the two main subjects (BROWNS pool/green goo vs. MURDER) going on in this thread!! LOL

      Delete
  34. How do they keep the dirt from blowing into the pool?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DITTO! anony 11:04 p. If you can afford to put a pool in, put some sod in as well to protect your pool investment!

      Delete
    2. Most people who live in a desert area have a mechanical pool sweeper that works during the night to vacuum most of the dirt out. Even so, a pool is a lot of maintenance (which I can't see "the man of the house(s)" doing. I don't think it's their pool.

      Delete
    3. AZ Christian - but most people in the desert also have gravel/rocks or sod surrounding the cement next to their pool, too. You get enough dirt in the air there without having a bunch of it right beside your pool!

      Delete
    4. You're absolutely right . . . but IF this is the Brown's pool, what makes you think they'd have enough sense to think of that? But I still don't think it's their pool. Maybe their friends are as dunderheaded as they are.

      Delete
  35. Whoa all I can say is WOW & its not in a very complementing manner either..lol I pretty much feel how most of U do bout their outfit choices. Janelle is looking good & couldve easily accessorized w/ a colorful silk scarf to break up the black on black dullness. Only thing that comes to mind when I look at Meri is "Oh No she didnt" ...smh
    I do believe the Browns have Lost their way....Higher calling my ass!!
    Not sure really what to think about Janelles new pool. I just wonder if she was able to work out something w/ Mona & builders since she works at the Realator place now?? Hmmmm?? All I know is finite resources better not ever spew from her mouth again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you'll not notice the 2 brick walls! If this is Janelle's yard, did she brick off her sisterwives?

      Delete
  36. Mariah tweeted something about her mom deciding on which flight to take depending on if she gets a Delta cookie or not.......... It must be great to only have a cookie decide what flight you take. For my family its which flight is cheapest....could care less about a cookie, we take our own snacks.

    LOVE Janelles pool!!! I have about decided they have a stash of money from somewhere. Starting to wonder if the Browns have been spending time at the casinos....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mariah's tweet is funny! I like those cookies, too. I buy them by the full package at Walmart and grind them to replace graham cracker crumbs in some pie crusts. Yummy.

      So there's an idea for you, Meri - if you're reading. ;)

      Delete
    2. lord - what is she - SIX years old?? both her and Mariah are so embarrassingly immature and so not funny. well, wait ... they're to laugh AT - not WITH but they don't understand the difference!

      Delete
    3. Aspyn tweeted a picture of a bag of cream chocolate cookies and an energy drink saying "thanks mom" Thats why they all have so much belly weight..they are gonna be diabetic if their not careful. They all are sugar addicted from poor diets. but they are selling health drinks. go figure.its janelles pool.

      Delete
  37. I know its been said way before, but it would be so awesome if we had someone from SWB who was a licenses therapist or body language expert who could give us more insight into their photos &.tweets bc obviously its not all glitter, rainbows, & unicorns happening begins those McMansion Walls.
    I think Kody spends more time making public appearances than he does w/ his own kids even tho they all live in the cult de sac now. I just wonder the last time they actually had a family church service? Im guessing last season when his brothers were in town visiting.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Make sure ya'll check out my challenge above...I KNOW ya'll won't let a girl down!! Is it or isn't it! YOU decide!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Based on the pictures you provided, I don't think it's Jenelle's pool. I also think it looks way to big to fit in the backyard, based on what has been written on SWB about the size of the lots the McMansions are built on.

      Delete
    2. Heck, I'll say it is! There is a brick wall....

      Delete
    3. Really surprised that none of Janelle's followers have commented on that tweet/pic to inquire about the pool ie when she had it installed etc. I've never had a pool obviously but know people who have had them put in and it's far from a DIY project - plumbing and excavation and permits and time are involved.

      Delete
    4. I don't know now. Several people here had me convinced due to the sizes of the lots that there was NO WAY any of them could have a pool in their own back yards! That the only way possible was to have a pool that overlapped two lots and that wouldn't get approved. So ... let's hear from those people again that were adamant about the lot dimensions that just in no way added up to the possibility of a pool.

      But i agree that it doesn't make sense that Janelle already has a pool now when at closing, she couldn't afford to even have a "cement pad" laid outside her back door.

      Delete
    5. Based on some pictures I took, it is in the backyard of whoever has the house on the SW corner of the cul-de-sac.

      Delete
    6. Jenelle and Elisa have the same trainer, Sean. Maybe that is how they all met?

      Delete
  39. Off Topic Tuesday huh? Well then, hopefully my thoughts will fit in on this blog.

    I've met this family on several occasions and let me tell you they are all delusional and huge flakes. Not only have I met them but I have been to their new homes at one of their green goo presentations (stuff tastes terrible). I went for the pure novelty of seeing the homes. They come off really nice at first but the more you get to know them you realize they are a train wreck and I feel so sorry for all the wives. If you don't kiss ass than they want nothing to do with you. This family is so disorganized and illogical in their thinking that I am of the thought that there is more to be pitied than scorned. No respect for their fan base and they have completely made a mockery of any "message" they were trying to convey towards decriminalizing polygamy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds about right then...we are not far off.

      Carry on bloggers!

      Delete
    2. Yes! Please tell us more! Do they actually have lots of people sign up to sell this crap or is it mostly curious "fans" wanting to meet them? And I'm sure even the Browns have asked themselves the same question. And if they are smart enough to wonder, I would be a little hesitant to have questionable people that I don't know in my house all the time.

      First&Last Wife

      Delete
    3. IDWIW - i've never met the Brown Clowns irl, but i've looong stated here several times, "I pity the fools." Glad to hear firsthand validation that my "pity fool" radar is still working on target!

      Also, I've never thought any of the wives are any smarter than the fool they all chose to marry. Including Janelle. Well, she might be a LITTLE smarter than Kody Clown BUT not smart enough to have not jumped into it w/her former sister-in-law to begin with nor smart enough to have stayed out once she left the first time. I pity her own foolishness too along w/all the rest of these so-called "adults."

      Let's hope the Brown kids' pattern largely follows Papa Joe's pattern w/his own family. Out of 18 plyg brothers and sisters he was raised with, he's the only one who chose to stay with it. Obviously, there's real HOPE to see it for what it is - even if you were born and raised in it!

      Delete
    4. Yes, tell us more!!! Curious minds want to know it all...

      Delete
    5. Okay here is more. They actually invited us to another event but they never followed up. I think it's because we didn't buy into their pyramid scheme. I wasn't that disappointed but it was an eye opener that they really don't care about their "fan base," or in my case "gawker base." They are really just trying to make a buck off of desperate people trying to be friends with the them. It all seemed very sleazy. Not sincere at all and you can tell they are capitalizing on their fame. I think the few people who did buy into the scheme were the few they actually wanted to chit chat with and even then I couldn't help but feel it was forced and fake.

      The houses are very nice from the front (other than the old cars in front except for Kody's car of course) but once inside they are bland and typical tract homes. I don't think they have ANY money to spare because its just their old furniture (the same furniture they use in their booths at all these trade show/craft fairs they are at) and no landscaping in the back yard. Meri has a ridiculous amount of space she really doesn't need. I think most people are there to either gawk or rub elbows with the D list. If I were them I WOULD NOT WANT STRANGERS IN MY HOME. They are asking for it. Lucky for them I don't hate them or anything and would not do anything to harm this family but I could easily see someone taking advantage of them. The friend that I went to the houses with agrees that this family is asking for it.

      Delete
    6. I got questions, and if we run out of comment room I'll make sure the discussion's continued on the next page!

      Who gave the presentation? Did they have good snacks? (that's my criteria) Was Kody around? What are your thoughts why they would allow strangers in their home vs. renting a conference room at a hotel/motel. About how many people attended the meeting? If you did buy into their MLM, about how much would you need to invest in order to be invited back to the next event? Does it appear they are making a lot of money from this scheme?

      Thanks!

      Delete
  40. The mountain in the veiw to the north is the background in pool pic. Where would that mountain be in relation to Janelles backyard, or any of the other backyards. After rereading her Tweet, she doesnt say its her pool.....just pool party with friends, might be Elisa's pool.

    Just wanted to say love the new background. I dont know if its been mentioned before but do the 4 birds at the top represent the ladies spreading their wings and flying the coop???? lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much for noticing the change in background. Mister Sister thought it was time for a little spruce up at SWB!

      This might help you orient yourself with the cul de sac and the houses.

      What's Happening with those Houses: Part Deux

      Delete
    2. So based on the picture it could be any of the houses EXCEPT Janelle's house. Which makes sense cause she is the only one with any money sense. When the banks start coming to reposes these houses its going to be like the 3 little pigs running from house to house from the big bad wolf(creditors) until they are all living in Janelle's house cause she made hers of Bricks (actual money)!

      Delete
    3. Based on images above, it looks like the pool pic was taken facing north. Then based on the maps in "part Deux" (if they are to be believed), the possible yards where you could take the pic seem to be lot 9 (Christine) or lot 6 (Robyn) but in the latter case, I would expect the north neighbor's house in view. So the most logical choices are Christine, or just a friend's pool.

      The Gordon Setter

      Delete
  41. I bet Janelle got a pool just to trump Meri's wetbar (payback for the kitchen abuse)! Now that they have 4 new McMansions, with assorted upgrades, I really hope we no longer have to listen to them whine about their "finite resources". Those crazy grifters do seem to be holding their own financially....for now.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I've admitted before I kind of like the Dargars. Don't approve of them, but like to go to their facebook page occasionally. They have very cute pictures there sometimes.

    so I was there just now. Out of the corner of my eye I glimpsed an ad for cafepress. Lo and behold, a tee shirt was highlighted in the ad. What teeshirt you ask?.....Why, our own twistedsisterwife's Polygamy is Abuse teeshirt! I find that iconically ironic! And amazingly appropriate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's not that surprising, since they consciously place ads based on the content of the site you're viewing and your own internet browsing history....

      Delete
    2. And fantastically funny!!

      Slept into Debt

      Delete
    3. AWESOME about the T-shirt! Love it!!! I think if they did a show on the Dargars we would find them to be just as coo-coo as the Browns. The Browns seemed like a nice family in the first few episodes.

      Delete
    4. I can picture the Dargers wearing one of the t-shirts and using the coffee mug. I don't agree with their lifestyle or religion, but I do prefer them over the Browns by farrrrr.

      Delete
  43. I would say north. That tweet from Kody almost made me throw up in my mouth. He sounds like one of them guys in high school that likes to brag about how many girls he did it with. Just looking at him makes me never want to have sex again. Yuck!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I'm a little perplexed on the pool situation, maybe Jenelle sold a house lol. I think that it is possible they "pooled together" for the sake of "family culture" and the kids having a "safe place" to "spend family time".

    I think they are simply spending as fast as it's coming in and we will be seeing them in a few years on TMZ filing bankruptcy and living out of RV's on the ranch in wyoming, or as robyn says Yoming (kids make Y with your hands because we are in Yoming)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think they are even spending MORE then they are making! How expensive could that CUSTOM, WAVY, HUGE pool have cost? What? A rectangular pool is not good enough for them? Who cares??? I can't believe what idiots these people are with their money! Crazy!!!

      Delete
    2. Actually, based on the kids, and the "noodles" (the colorful floating tubes - we use them in our aqua boot camp classes) it's not really that big a pool. Not sure if the shape of the pool means more expensive - if you're a lap swimmer, a rectangular pool is definitely more practical/useful. I think it's shaped that way to fit in the yard of whoevers house that is. It's really just a party pool. IMO

      Delete
  45. I'm of the opinion that's someone else's pool. Getting a pool installed takes a bit of time and a LOT of coming and going by trucks etc. someone woulda seen something...

    Also their backyards look a bit on the small side to support a pool...

    But that's just me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And surely there would have been zillions of tweets and pics if they were having a pool built. Their yards are too small for this pool, IMO (and I've driven by and seen the layout).

      Delete
    2. I think it's someone else's pool also. I think that IF they were going to put a pool on one of the Brown's lots it would have been done during the construction phase, not 2-3 months after completion.

      Delete
  46. Love the new background! It is much easier on the eyes as I like to read the blog at night after Husband falls asleep. Then he can't make fun of me for being so addicted to this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I am confused about the google maps pictures.

    The one tagged "North"...is that a picture if you are standing north of the 'sac and aiming the camera toward the houses?

    or is it pointing away from the houses?

    that one is in the background of the pool pic, but can't figure out orientation of the mountain with respect to the houses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Match the mountains in the background. Refer to this article to determine the orientation of the cul de sac.

      What's Happening with those Houses: Part Deux

      Good Luck!

      Delete
  48. Janelle has always been my favorite. If this pool is at her home, more power to her. She spent years in Utah and Wyoming as the bread winner in the family and used her "inheritance" to secure the Utah house, so maybe she is finally taking her piece of the pie. I think that her kids are the most "normal" of the bunch and seem to have a more run of the mill high school life than the others. Logan is away at college having some independence, Maddie is Student body president, Hunter is very active in school sports. Then look at Christine's older kids, Aspyn doesn't appear to attend school regularly, she has been tweeting recently about night school, which for a senior usually means they HAVE to take the class to graduate. She also seems to live in some fantasy world of Disney characters and Broadway Musicals tweeting constantly about princess's and various classic novels. Mykelti has left traditional high school and is at a Jr. college high school program. Mariah seems to split her time between Disneyland and Utah. She has tweeted that she is going to college in Utah, while Aspyn posted she will be attending UNLV. A few months ago Mariah and Aspyn were tweeting about a Europe summer trip, now Aspyn is talking about her NYC summer trip.

    So if the pool is Janelle's maybe her kids have forgone the many, many trips to the magic kingdom for it. Let's hope when the TLC money wagon ends, Janelle and her kids have secured a "life" for themselves in Vegas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bama this was a good post. So true about the kids. Is it just me or do they all model their mothers? I guess this happens with most families, but I don't know. Mariah gets her way like her mother. Janelle's kids are the independent ones. Christine's kids seem like they are in a fantasy world, specifically Aspyn. Robyn's kids cry all the time.

      Delete
  49. I don't think there are any overhead lines in their neighborhood, and the orientation of the pool and the fences in relation to the mountain doesn't match up, IMO. This is at a friend's house. Probably the lady in the red dress.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Yep! Definitely North!!

    First&Last Wife

    ReplyDelete
  51. OK out of curiosity, I did a little research on how much it costs to build an inground pool in LV and well...I don't think it's Janelle's. unless it came as part of the house deal, and I think that if they were going to get a pool, it would have been discussed in that ep where Janelle said she would pour her own patio.

    Regarding Janelle selling a house and using the commission to finance a pool - first off, we've not yet seen any listings under her name...and second with the median house price of around $150k or so in LV - IF she sold a house for $200k and by some miracle got 5% commission to keep all to herself (again doubtful) that would be (before taxes) only $10k. from my research that would only be a portion of the cost of a pool installation.

    The following post I found on a forum at city-data.com, and even though it's almost 6 years old, I doubt that costs have gone down at all - here's a photo of the pool he was estimating:
    http://www.wattersaquatech.com/photos/pool2.jpg

    "Just so you know where I'm coming from, I was the builder program superintendent for Anthony & Sylvan Pools in Las Vegas for two years, and ran their entire construction department there after that- I didn't just 'google" this info on the internet.

    - Excavation- One machine, two trucks, one operator, two drivers, one laborer- a minimum of one day if there's room for a large machine to get into the yard- could be two days or more with a smaller machine. All of that costs around $2,500/day. BTW- I'm not sure what a "claw crane" is, but in Las Vegas, you don't just "scoop out dirt" with anything- you excavate soil or hammer rock.

    - Plumbing- Something you didn't mention in your cost breakdown (I guess you were just building a Beverly Hillbillies "ce-ment pond")- approximately $700 in pipe, skimmers, valves, fittings, etc., two men for one day, and an equipment package that includes a filter, two pumps (not including the waterfall) and a 400,000 BTU gas heater for the spa. Total cost- around $6,000 (the heater alone is almost $3k)

    - Reinforcing Steel- Around $800 in material, and one guy for a day- $1,300

    - Electrical- Lights, wire, conduit, control panel, breakers, etc., and two man days- figure $2,500

    - Shotcrete or gunite shell- Somewhere between 28 and 32 cubic yards of material at around $100/CY, a huge air compressor and pump, and a six man crew for 1/2 a day- that's an easy $5-6k

    - Decking- Figure around 450-500 SF in that photo at $7-8/SF, so that's another $3.5-4k

    - Pebbletec plaster job- Subbed out for around $5,000

    Add for startup costs, supervision, and god forbid- overhead and profit, and you quickly see where that $40k comes from. Even without that (assuming you hired all of the work out yourself) you're around $30k+, as you won't get the same pricing from the subs that the pool builders do."


    Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/las-vegas/45752-cost-building-swimming-pool-las-vegas-2.html#ixzz2OklbhuHk

    (I notice he didn't include permit costs in his breakdown...not sure if they're required in LV, I would be surprised if they weren't, given the water situation there).

    ReplyDelete
  52. Can't nest on the trial thread..(my problem, not SWB)

    I saw that the trial was mentioned in the intro and responded. If it is a problem for the majority of bloggers, I get it. If the consensus is that an Off Topic thread not include any postings about the Arias trial, so be it.
    peace

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please continue to discuss the Arias trial here in the Off Topic article/thread/posting which we set up specifically to allow such off topic discussions!



      Delete
    2. Hey Amused. Some of us enjoy your insight as well as that of others.

      Delete
    3. I went to the site "Jodi Arias vs. Travis Alexander" and I was shocked at how brutal the bloggers were. Took me awhile to get a few points in without being trampled on. Don't think I would like to be on the jury. Of course Jodi is guilty but I was just questioning the sequence events. So much nicer here!

      Delete
  53. One more tidbit about the ownership of the pool...I would think that the building permits which would need to be filed with LV or Clark County would be public record - so if Janelle (or whichever wife) had a pool installed, even during the actual construction of the house - it would have to be listed as it would be included as an asset on the property tax rolls(I know there's no sales tax in NV, but isn't there property tax? How else would the county survive and pay its bills - gambling alone can't support an entire state!). Just sayin'...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're so right about permits and taxes being needed. Janelle's home price fell right in line with the others so if she'd included a pool her tax info 'should' have stuck out like a sore thumb, but it didn't. I don't think it's Janelle's pool.

      Delete
  54. North, check out the mountains. and who knows if its Janelles, I hope it is, just more of a drain, (pun) on there resources,, UNLESS, they talked there way into a new pool, gratis, we all know there celebritys

    ReplyDelete
  55. With the placement of the wall and the view of the mountain, this can't be Janelle's pool. I vote that it belongs to a neighbor at the the other end of the cult-de-sac.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha-Ha - love "cult-de-sac" - did you mean to say that or was it a Freudian slip?

      Delete
  56. I do not think it's Janelle's. If I'm not mistaken, the back wall of the yard shown in the photo would have to be facing South if it were Janelle's, whereas the mountain shown is North of their houses. I could be wrong, however. I was wrong once before, but it turns out I was wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Arrgh - can't nest (and I did refresh the page a couple times...)

    For some reason peeps seem to think that Janelle - because she had a full time job at one point, and apparently was in charge of making sure the bills got paid and so on - is this incredibly savvy saver/thrifty person who is going to be the only one hanging on to her house when all is said and done.

    however...I've said this before and I'll say it again - just because she had a full time job doesn't make her Suze Orman or a money guru. She wasn't really making all that much at her state job, especially when you figure just supporting her OWN children. It appears that they are still carrying the mortgage on the plyg house in Lehi...even if the family in there is paying rent to help offset the cost of the mortgage, still it's a cost and there's property tax to consider as well. AND if the pool *is* Janelle's as one anon poster seems to be convinced of - then she's just that much more in debt. It would be easy enough to check IMO, if one has the actual physical address of the homes - I think an inground pool would have to be listed as one of the features of the property on Zillow or whatever, again permits would have been required and that's public record I believe.

    The final nail in the Janelle Financial Wizard Myth coffin for me was her "presentation" a couple seasons ago for "her" fitness center idea (which was really Kody's). She's supposed to be a financially savvy person, so what does she do - she does a little googling and gets some numbers from there, and uses those to present her "proposal" to Kody. doesn't go to any SMEs nor is it apparent that she talked to anyone about it, she just went online and got some lease quotes. Nothing about how much equipment would cost, staff salaries, insurance, etc etc. nothing.

    Janelle is just as underwater as the rest of them. She's in the hole for almost HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, and other than the show, (with fewer and fewer episodes each season) there isn't all that much coming in. Shoot, I probably make as much or more than she does at this point.

    The way the show made it appear they were working the money out was that although each wife has her own mortgage, they all were working from the same mush pot - witness Christine spending extra money on tile because she would have had to give that money "up" to Meri for HER house. Um, Christine, that just means you're on the hook for more money legally.

    looking forward to seeing the fallout, since foreclosures and such are public record.

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  58. Thanks so much for the new background! I am pretty attatched to this place and would have put up with the green as long as necessary, but now I don't have to anymore! I don't think that the pool is Janelle's simply because she was going to have to pour her own cement pad and a pool like that costs considerably more than one of those pads. Just sayin'.

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  59. Can't nest either, so will quote what I am responding to...
    Dakota Justice said...."I've said this before and I'll say it again - just because she had a full time job doesn't make her Suze Orman or a money guru."

    DJ, you know I will always agree with you about Janelle. The wives all have their fan base (well, maybe not Meri anymore) much like the Beatles fans had their fav Beatle. Janelle has enjoyed an inflated role in their history where her talents are concerned.
    Yes, she worked, but not in a high-paying or highly skilled job. And there is nothing negative or disparaging about that fact.
    But for some reason, probably in comparison to the others including Kody, she is seen as a financial whiz when she obviously isn't. If she was, they wouldn't be making the decisions they have made since the show began or even before.

    As for the pool..
    I haven't a clue if this is really Janelle's pool. I did respond knee-jerk about that when it was first posted, assuming it was her pool. But in reading the many conflicting responses from those with a more practiced eye, I now wonder about something else.

    Is it possible that the Browns, Janelle, specifically in this case, are having some tweet fun with the public?
    Have they put out that tweet and pic just to stir up speculations and discussions??
    Is all this magic pool appearance just a ruse to get people chatting about them?

    Will they later tweet about how much fun they had at so &so's pool, having enjoyed reading all the chatter about whose pool it was....when it never was one of theirs.
    Janelle could have said "pool party at my house"...but she didn't.
    ?????

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    1. Bwahahahahaha! Yes, that would be a hoot if Janelle planned this - I can just imagine her laughing like Liberace, all the way to the bank!

      Just a note to Stand By for my final assessment whether this pool is Janelle's or not!!

      OH MAN!!! It was just announced that court has been cancelled for today in the Arias trial!!!

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    2. CJ - I was toying with the idea of going downtown today to see if I could catch a glimpse of the talking heads out on the street. Good thing I didn't!!!!

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    3. Thanks Amused, and CJ thanks for your detective work confirming that the pool in all likelihood is not on any of the Brown's properties.

      I think Janelle gets the credit for being the Financial Guru because she uses (for them) big words like "finite resources", talks about saving for retirement (or more precisely, having to spend whatever piddypoo amount she's managed to put aside to finance their move to LV - maybe she cashed out her pension benefits?), and has been seen on the show using an Excel spreadsheet. whoop.

      Again i would never disparage anyone for having gainful employment especially for a long period of time, but I don't see Janelle winning "The Apprentice" any time soon.

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    4. I really don't think Janelle would get a pool, she is so frugal and level headed with finances and such.

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  60. "OH MAN!!! It was just announced that court has been canceled for today in the Arias trial!!!"

    Yep, just saw that. Hmm, wonder if the hearing this morning about the Defense's detailed expenses being disclosed to the Maricopa County taxpayers ran into a glitch?

    HLN reported that when Arias was led way after the announcement was made about court being canceled today, Jennifer Wilmont was clearly heard empathically telling the jailors to "make sure she takes her medication."
    Wonder if she is medicated to stay quiet and passive at this stage of testimony?
    Or as the compassionate Shrink would want to label it...."flat-affect" !!

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  61. went back thru property records for clark county and janelles house faces east kody and meri face north....all properties and individually fenced by block according to the latest mls listings. updated a month ago.

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