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Is it time to stop hiding behind the Housewives?

Regina | May 9, 2012 | 14 Comments More

(May 9, 20120) – Some people who read this blog know that I had a complete meltdown, hissy fit sometime last Autumn. For those who don’t, this is the story in a nutshell. My sister, who sort of loathes me, marched in here under a pseudonym and poked fun at me and it bugged me to such a degree that I unleashed my utter disgust on her privately by email, semi-outed her publicly (no names) here and decided I could no longer write this blog.

I returned something like two weeks later because I missed this secret place to share my quirky thoughts on ridiculous shows that, at the time, truly fascinated me. In the process of my return I shared somewhat embarrassing details of my life that I suspect did not shock anyone because I really don’t have juicy secrets. But let’s face it: I’m an odd duck and broadcasting that fact is not something that makes me feel great. I far prefer to accept it and tuck in my kooky personality as well as I can muster.

Since then I sheepishly slinked myself right into the office of a truly genius PhD psychologist and have been slowly revealing things about myself that make me feel uncomfortable. It’s been a torturous, fantastic, eye-opening, bizarre, self-indulgent, comforting experience. This guy, the PhD genius, is truly gifted. He’s smart as can be, extremely understanding and truly insightful. During my very first visit, I warned him that he would have to speak constantly because I was not interested in just babbling. I told him I needed and wanted his feedback, even if he had to interrupt me, a yakker if there ever was one.

I’ve been seeing him once a week for just short of six months. And as much as I truly HATE going to his office, it’s been one of the best experiences of my life. This guy calls me on my bullshit and supports my decisions when he thinks they are right. As a result, I see myself and the people in my life soooooo differently now. And best of all, I react to certain situations very, very differently because many of them seem so different today from the way they appeared to me last Autumn.

I mention this all because I have a very strong feeling that I should stop focusing this blog almost exclusively on Bravo’s Housewives and begin to reveal certain parts of my life because what goes on in my world is FAR more bizarre than most of what I see in Andy Cohen’s clubhouse. But the thing is, the idea of revealing the day-to-day insanity of my life scares me to the core. I simply do not want anyone to know who I am. And I mean that on two levels.

One, I don’t want the people who know me in real life to know who I am. And two, I don’t want anyone who reads this blog to be able to figure out who I am. Now keep in mind this is truly hilarious because I am not famous. I am almost entirely unknown in my own family and in my own industry. I’m just a shy little nut who likes to hide in a world of peacocks who fluff up their feathers and provide camouflage for someone like me who adores the chance to stay behind the scenes while others bask in the limelight.

—————❤—————

I am not sure, but I think the reason I mention this is that a few months ago, during a truly stressful afternoon, I invited a Housewives fan and Twitter acquaintance into my world. I had intended to meet him someplace very anonymous near my world but not exactly into the epicenter of it. But there was a time crunch and I dropped my guard. I actually welcomed him, a complete stranger, into my inner sanctum.

It’s not that I regret it. I am actually glad and somewhat proud that I welcomed him, someone decades younger than me, into a very interesting oasis in Manhattan. He recently moved here and I value hospitality above almost anything else. But, and you must have known a “but” was coming, he either misunderstood my welcome or his hangers on misunderstood what I was offering. In a nutshell, I felt he or his friends took advantage of what my bizarre life offers. And it really scared me that he told complete strangers that I write this blog.

Now keep in mind, he is a truly fascinating person who I think will one day be a huge success. And I know he meant no malice. But he told strangers I write this blog. In my ridiculous world, Bravo Housewives are not a plus. They border on embarrassing. As a result, my being associated with this blog and those silly women is not a plus. Not even slightly. In fact all of this could EASILY threaten my job.

Of course I am being too sensitive, and as I mentioned, I love to hide in the shadows. This is a given. No doubt. But it is one of the primary reasons that I am scared, literally scared to reveal – even in a veiled manner – some of the truly hilarious, truly challenging parts of my life. As a result the truth is that I won’t even Tweet or Facebook under my own name.

Dropping my guard and speaking about my life scares me on a level I cannot explain. But one thing I can say for sure is that if I am clever enough to capture even half of what goes on in my life in NYC, and truthfully I don’t think I am, you will never want to hear another peep out of me about Vicki Gunvalson, Teresa Giudice, Ramona Singer, Kyle Richards or even Marisol’s truly fascinating mother in Miami.

I haven’t the slightest idea why I feel the need to say any of this tonight. I am guessing it is because, after watching Vicki reluctantly accept that her daughter Brianna is married, I have lots to say about that, but I know what happened to me today at work is far more interesting and far more nuanced than anything any of us has seen on Bravo in years.

Photos: Lady with the magnifying glass is courtesy of lilyincanada.wordpress.com; the fan dancer is courtesy of sailorettes.com

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Category: My Real Life

About the Author (Author Profile)

I am a New York City publicist who specializes in promoting luxury products and experiences and occasionally moonlight as a journalist.

Relatively new to the world of blogging, I have watched and enjoyed Bravo’s Housewives shows since the first season of the Real Housewives of Orange County. I created this blog over the 4th of July holiday of 2011 because I enjoy writing and love to figure out how to blend images and words to create something that is both visually compelling and interesting to read.

  • MaggieG

    Brava Priscilla (you’ll always be Priscilla to me).  I have no doubt that your life (based on what you have divulged) is far more fascinating than what the HWs are selling.  To me, truth is always more interesting than fiction (or faux reality).  Shy or not, you seem to appreciate the complexities of your life, relationships, job.  (By the way, I think an egocentric environment is the perfect place for a reserved person to keep under the radar.)

    Tweeting, like blogging, provides a layer of anonymity so unless one is a celebrity (or imagines themselves to be) few people use their real names.  As for your reluctance to be discovered by people who know you in your real life or by those readers with investigative tendencies: that is a valid concern (I’ve observed a number of unhinged people) particularly if you believe it will threaten your livelihood.

    You’ve shown yourself to be an exceptionally skilled writer so I’ve no doubt that, if you apply yourself to the task, it might be possible to infuse your offerings with the tenor of your experiences yet tweak them sufficiently to not reveal yourself or your eccentric clients.  If your Twitter acquaintance is already aware of your alter ego & reads here but has kept your confidence perhaps he can be considered to respect your trust.

    Glad you found a competent professional with whom to discuss your thoughts.  This may be a valuable resource in helping you determine how to modify your avocation going forward.  Thank you for sharing.

    • http://twitter.com/PriscilaWasilla PRISCILLAfromWASILLA

       I love it that you call me Priscilla. Although I outed that as my wannabe pseudonym months ago, I like the name and think it is funny to rhyme with Wasilla, especially because I’ve never been to Alaska, unfortunately.

      My Twitter friend probably doesn’t read this blog. I know his friends do occasionally. But I sincerely doubt they’d think to mention it to him. Of course I could be wrong. One thing I know for sure is that he meant no harm. He just figured I would like the attention and appreciate the kind things he said to them about the blog. I do like the kind things, but I just don’t want anyone to put a face to these words because this is a place where I — and anyone else — can say anything they want without fear of being judged for their odd thoughts and observations.

      As always I am grateful for your kind words and encouragement. Whenever I see on email that you’ve posted a comment here, I dash right over to see what you have to say.

      When I wrote this post, after a very long nutty night with an incredibly unusual, incredibly smart, incredibly flamboyant gay man I met a few years ago because I had to tell him I just loved his glittering skirt (Balanciaga couture), I typed it up in record speed, pasted a couple of photos into it and went to sleep.

      When I woke up and found an alert on my phone that you had commented, my heart sank. I had no idea what you said, but I worried that I revealed too much or said something too nutty (always a possibility). To find you had only good advice and kind words meant alot to me. 

      As always, I thank you very much. :D

      • MaggieG

        It shouldn’t surprise you that you get back what you put out.  You are self-admittedly, snark free & people will respond to that regardless of whether or not they share your opinion.

  • Atl Native

    I would love to read about your life experiences.  I’m bored with the formula, interchangeable housewives and their shows.  The “stars” are unappealing.  I don’t believe any of them are actually living their lives and being present.  Everything is staged and full of fights or putdowns.  Boring… What fascinated me in the beginning was trying to figure out what they would do next.  Also, they are nothing like the people I hang out with in real life.  It is all about escapism and entertainment.  I would want you to stay anonymous, but would definitely be interested in whatever you are willing to share.  You are a great writer and based on your story about South Africa, I know it will be more interesting.

    • http://twitter.com/PriscilaWasilla PRISCILLAfromWASILLA

      You know, you just gave me an idea. Thank you. I think I am going to ease into this by telling what I think is an amusing story about a trip I took to Qatar about ten years ago, right after 9/11. I had never heard of that country when I was invited to go there. And in all truth, I was truly terrified to blindly fly there alone, though I did meet a group of people in the Doha airport upon arrival, but honestly, I didn’t really know those people at all. The culture shock I experienced there is something I will never forget.

      When I get the guts to really tell about my life now, I want to try and scratch the surface of my primary client, a true nut if there ever were one. I love him and recognize how much he has generously introduced me to a truly eccentric segment of NYC. He’s literally insane. Crazy like a fox, yes, but also so bonkers I will never be able to capture even half of the oddness he and all of his society customers generate without even the slightest awareness of how out there they are.

      Thank you for your kind words about my writing. I am the very proud product of a college level remedial writing class and I will always be grateful to Ms. Moffet, my incredibly kind teacher (she wasn’t a professor) who patiently forced me to knock off the BS and “just say it Ray-Ji-Nuh). Even if she didn’t pronounce my name without making it sound like it rhymes with a woman’s “pink parts” to quote Vicki Gunvalson, she did teach me that good writing is not clever. It is clear. I hope I never forget that. :D

      • Atl Native

        I  would love to read about your experiences.  You are living a very interesting life.  I still do like your perspective on the housewives.  Whatever you write about, I’ll always be here reading.  :-)

  • Mindy Marcus

    Your posts have transcended the now formulaic and banal Housewives – it’s your wit and style and voice that we return to this site. Whatever you decide to write, just know that you have the full support of your readers. Not to say your posts about the Housewives is not interesting or smart, but I surmise it would be easier to write something intellectual about real your life than making sense out of chaos. Whatever you decide, good luck! 

    • http://twitter.com/PriscilaWasilla PRISCILLAfromWASILLA

       Mindy you are so kind. I really appreciate your generous words. Thank you.

      I’m not so sure you’ll find anything truly intellectual coming from me. But I do know a fascinating character when I see one. I find them all irresistible and gravitate toward misfits, odd ducks, kooks, eccentrics, big personalities, nerds, dorks, peacocks, the painfully shy, anyone who needs acceptance to just drop the baloney and be themselves and of course, wise crackers from the greatest generation who are surprisingly wild and so good at witty banter.

      I love them all and I have to figure out how to introduce and capture in words some of the crazy personalities in my life. As odd as this is to say (my specialty), I almost think I need a formula to do it. Something like a “500 words about Malcolm” or whoever else has run through my life recently, like an exuberant streaker.

      Thank you again. I am flattered by your kindness and appreciate the encouragement.

  • Joy

    Regina,

    I’m very intrigued.  Tell us more.

    • http://twitter.com/PriscilaWasilla PRISCILLAfromWASILLA

       Hi Joy!

      Every time I hear about Savannah I think of you, even though I don’t know you at all. :D

      I am a little worried that what I find truly fascinating will bore others. But I will drop my fears and give it a whirl. :D

      xxoo, Regina

  • CaliSteve

    I will always follow your blog regardless of the topics you write about. Reading your articles is a journey and your perspective is so insightful.

    I think the glimpse in to your life is fascinating and is far more interesting then the tired Housewives. 

    • http://twitter.com/PriscilaWasilla PRISCILLAfromWASILLA

      Isn’t it sad though? I used to love these Housewives. I know nothing about Reality TV production but when I realize I am seeing two women go bra shopping, I have a hard time justifying the time it is taking from my life – especially when I need a few myself but am bored to tears at the prospect of going out to get them.

      Thank for commenting and being so nice to me on Twitter. You’re a very nice man and I sincerely appreciate your kindness. :D

  • Linda G.

    I love your blog & would love to hear about your real life!  In fact, I’d love to hear about your day that you mentioned in this blog! 

  • QueenBofOB

    Real life is so much more interesting than fiction. That’s what drew the viewers into watching the shows in the first place and now they have become tedious and boring.
    You, however, write in such an intelligent, succint manner, analyzing the characters so astutely, it actually makes watching worthwhile, in retrospect.
    I did read an interesting tidbit recently about Taylor. Apparently she had to forfeit the $250,000, 10 ct Diamond Engagement Ring from Russell, (do you think Slade will buy it? :)) in the ongoing MMR lawsuit. And I think they’ve just begun.

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