Brandi: Addiction Is Not a Negative Label or Insult

Hey Guys,

Seems every time I write a blog for my Housewives fans, I’m in another city and in another hotel. Tonight it’s Chicago, last week New York, next week New York again. All I can say is that I’m lucky to be busy working, however, I do wish I were home with my boys. But, as you know, Mama’s gotta work.

I’ll throw this out first, because it’s what comes to mind first after seeing this episode. Addiction is not a negative label, and it’s not an insult. It’s being used by some people to label others in a negative light, which I find distasteful and shameful. It's wrong and discriminatory to view an addict as a bad or somehow a lesser person. Addiction is serious and shouldn’t be tossed around lightly to diminish others or as a slur or to create dramatic effect or bring attention to the speaker. That said, I’ll continue with my blog.

Everyone is still gossiping about Kyle’s manufactured drama at the gay mixer, and Kim and myself are at the center of Kyle’s manufactured drama. We begin just as we did at the beginning of the party: Kyle is running from person to person with her tales. Then the hens start cackling, and the pearl clutching continues. Don’t they have anything else to do or gossip about, other than Kim and I? I’m beginning to think some don’t.

It seems even Yolanda was visited by Kyle with her tall tales of my attacking her. Sorry, Kyle, you can keep selling it hard, but no one smart is buying it.
Well, now Yo has seen and knows the whole truth, but it’s a shame my friend Yo was told so many distorted tales, and we had to address the manufactured drama instead of just enjoy our day together. As for both of the Gladys Kravitz sisters' coincidental misuse of the word “deflection,” I had noting to deflect. Instead, I was making an example. “They say,” (referring to tabloids, internet gossip blogs, and certain social circles) that something is true, so it has to be true, right? No, wrong. Just because people say it or write about it doesn’t make it the truth. I was simply giving her an example of how I feel every time one of these women says something about me. Just because it's being said doesn’t make it true and doesn’t mean I like to hear it, as I'm sure Yolanda doesn’t either.

Did Brandi Just Attack Yolanda?

Love Yo, love Bella...not sure about yoga. Love the Yoga instructor. Hmm, was Kyle just seen trying to come between me and MY friend? Why would she ever do that? Why would she try and turn my friend against me? Oh wait, that’s Kyle's schtick.

OK, you guys saw the party. You know I didn’t attack anyone. I ordered one glass of wine, and I was as composed as possible for a very long time. But after being confronted, attacked, insulted, screamed at, cursed out over and over and then seeing Kim treated badly, I lost my temper and came on stronger than I’d have liked to get Kyle to back down. I also regained my composer, stood quietly to the side, waited until after Kyle was finished cursing Kim out. Then Mark and I got Kim out of there. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances Kyle handed us. I would have preferred to stay home and for Kim to have had a fun night with friends. I was talked into going, and I now wish I had listened to my gut and stayed home. I did not go their looking for a fight or for this to happen, but with Kyle as the hostess, I guess we were doomed from the get go.

Kim and Brandi's Post-Party Recap

There seems to be a lot of talk of coming between sisters, so I’ll address this briefly. Kim asked me to be involved in her life. I’m her friend. It’s a privilege. I respect her privacy. I love her. That’s my choice and my business. I get a lot of joy and laughter from being Kim’s friend. She is kind, giving, and a very funny lady. There is so much of her you don’t see that is fabulous. The fact that Kim has a sibling isn’t relevant to Kim’s request of my involvement in her life or our close friendship. As I said, I’m not a sober coach or an expert on addiction, recovery, or sobriety. I don’t need to be. I’m a friend. The fact is, and I can promise you, lots of people all over the world have sisters AND brothers, and they still have friends, best friends, spouses, dogs, and even houseplants. I find the idea that I can’t be Kim’s best friend because she has a sister ridiculous.

Now, to quote Kim on Eileen’s constant interference, “Just stay out of this.” That’s my opinion, too. You don’t know Kim, and you don’t know me. You don’t even know Kyle. Surely with that Daytime Emmy and the Burbank Film Festival, you can find something to talk about every week besides me. Seriously. Anything. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm the most exciting thing in your life.

Yep, we also saw Lisa R. being VERY concerned with labeling people she doesn’t know with the very strong word, “addiction.” This seems like a pastime for her. She has no understanding of the definition of “enabler,” either. But she knows it has negative connotations and it’s dramatic, so she uses it frequently and irresponsibly. I’m not quite sure if she sees herself as a psychiatrist, psychologist, sober coach or MSW, what with her diagnosing anger issues, alcoholism, and addictions at most of our social functions, but last I heard, they didn’t give out those degrees or doctorates on Melrose Place.

Now, for the fun part of the show, you got to see me in my “Pod” doing my weekly PodcastOne show. I love it! You saw me honing my interview skills and joking around with the fabulous and funny Heather MacDonald. She and I were having a ball. It was a good one. Then you saw me with Lisa R., who at the time was very fun, cool, and nice. But I guess that’s just one of her personalities or the characters she plays in her life.

All in all, I’m not thrilled with what I saw being said about people I love, but, on the other hand, I’m happy you got to see a part of my life away from the drama, drama, drama…

Again, I wish you could see the majority of my life, which is being a mom, running my life, my house, my career, and various business ventures. I have no nanny, no secretary, I travel weekly, I work out, I cook, I do homework, I date, I laugh, I clean, I write books, magazine articles, blogs, and even tweets. I even color my own hair when I don’t have time to get it done. I drive to and from school, soccer, baseball, doctors, dentists, I’m a friend, aunt, sister, a mother, and a daughter. I am BUSY. So busy I don’t know what city I’ll be sleeping in some days. My phone and emails never stop. I’m very lucky to have the energy, good health, and opportunity to work and support my boys, because they are my life.

That’s it.

Over and out, Bravo fans. Love you all. Please tune in next week.

Turning in, it’s been a long month of airports, and I miss my sweet boys.

XOXO,

B