Cheetos For The Brain- Part 2

Well I'm sure that some of you have heard of or actually viewed, the series of reality television shows depicting housewives in California- The Housewives of Orange County. It's a humorous blend of Stepford Wives and The Girls Next Door. All of these women are living in Orange County, California, in a gated community. Some work and some don't. Some have children, some don't. Some are married, and some aren't. It depicts the trials and tribulations of the "normal" everyday life they lead. I know that what is filmed and shown on the show is all part of the editing process, but I really wonder what they are thinking when they allow a camera crew to come into their homes and film them 24/7.


Somehow this show makes me feel sad for a few of the women. The very successful real estate agent owns 5 homes (I believe) and states how much she loves and "craves" money. She owns plenty of expensive jewelry, clothing, multiple vehicles, and other luxury items. But she is in what appears to be a completely loveless marriage. Even her teenage daughter thinks she should have an affair.

Then you have the successful insurance agent. She spends more time mothering over her ungrateful son and daughter than spending time with her husband. In one episode she makes a surprise visit to her son's college apartment, and is rudely welcomed. Embarrassed in front of her son's friends, she ends up crying in the bathroom. He proceeds to throw the insults to dear old mom while his friends listen in disbelief. Mind you, he is surrounded by all the luxuries his mom has given him- apartment, furnishings, etc. Finally, she is welcomed into the party and proceeds to do a beer bong amongst his friends. She then proceeds to offer him a deal- if he makes good grades this semester, she will buy him a new car. Come on lady, give him a swift kick in the you know what instead.


The youngest of the group, Jo, is completely "owned" by her over-possessive boyfriend. Her boyfriend is so over-possessive with her, in such a negative way, that I caught myself yelling at the television and her. He is worth a blog post all his own. Their relationship could definitely be a case study in a Psych. class. I just want to say to her, "Run Jo, run." Like from the movie Forrest Gump...run Forrest, run. I don't know who's playing whom. Is she playing him to keep her hands in his purse or is she that needy of a man's approval? Or is he playing her to keep a woman in his house/life to help raise his kids from a previous marriage? Or does he have to have a beautiful, younger woman beside him to make him feel successful? As the show progresses, I was glad to see they were making a split and she was moving away- becoming more independent from him.

Then there's the beautiful blonde who is searching for the man to take care of her. She states, "I've been poor, and I've had money, and believe me, I'd rather have money. No duh!! She's a single mother of a teenage girl trying to find her own independence and a teenage boy who is constantly in trouble. She finally finds the man of her dreams- rich, handsome, and great with kids. They are planning a wedding and it looks like a real life Brady Bunch. Things are going well, but even with the perfect man to help and plenty of money to help, she is still plagued with single parenthood problems. Her daughter can't keep the condo free of cat poop, can't decide what to do about school, and doesn't have a job. Her son, who she feels guilty about since she is living the high life while he is confined to a juvenile detention center, keeps playing on her guilt.

All in all, I guess this program shows people 2 things: 1-money doesn't buy happiness, and if it does, you still have problems that money can't solve. 2-the pasture isn't always greener on the other side.