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Archive through December 05, 2004

The TVClubHouse: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2005 - 1 (Rebel Billionaire, The Benefactor, Surreal Life 3, etc.): Trading Spouses : Meet Your New Mommy!!: ARCHIVES: Archive through December 05, 2004 users admin

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Hippyt
Member

06-15-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow,this episode sure brought some emotions out.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Whoami, thank you for putting into words what I was thinking! It was her attitude that was so upsetting.

Auntiemike
Member

09-17-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I got the impression that vegan mom had a major control issue in life. She showed that when the first show introduced the moms. She was "interacting' with one of her children and being very controlling, disrespectful and domineering. She tried with ZZ too but he is too much his own person to let her do that. He was very bright, precocious, well loved by his mom and dad and able to express himself well. He showed that he recognized his feelings and then was able to put it into words. Not many kids his age could do that.

I felt sorry for him mom being told that she was not a loving, nurturing mother to him. I think she is ALL THAT and more. The proof is in the pudding.

I am also so sorry that vegan mother never opened herself up, totally and freely, to the cajun culture. She became an Ugly American in America! Ouch!

The look on her hubby' s face, when she confessed to eating alligator, was priceless. I think she lost a lot of credibility with her children and with her hubby.

Cancer? Hamburgers? Huh? Never heard that theory before either. Wow, she is full of misinformation.

I really wonder why she signed up for this show. Anyone else heard her reasons???


Mistysmoke
Member

08-10-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hey all, I know that I was asking about a recap, well I found a site that has em, so I wanted to share.

http://www.fox.com/tradingspouses/home.htm



Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
What I want to know is, what about all those poor plants that are raised on a farm, then brutally harvested just for human consumption.

Plants are growing living breathing things too. You yank them from the earth, and they die.

<all tongue in cheek, ok?>

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Tishala had a great insight into the situation
I think most of those decisions are lovely and speak to a variety of truths as long as they produce healthy bodies

I dont think any of us have a problem with someone being Vegan. This lady was most likely a poor example.

I believe firmly in that there is a 'variety of truths' and what is best depends on the individual.

My only hope is that this woman watches the episode with an open mind (or has her mind forced open by friends/family) so she can learn from what she sees.

By the way though, how many of us would look as bad with a little editing?? I was just on the phone with my semiargumentive mom....and gee, I am kinda like that too. I'd be horrified if something like that was 'caught on camera' only to be shown on a TV show. When we watch a show like Trading Spouses I feel we all learn lessons about ourselves and how WE are with our families.

Tishala
Member

08-01-2000

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cancer? Hamburgers? Huh? Never heard that theory before either. Wow, she is full of misinformation.

Not that I think a few studies constitute fail-safe proof, there is a growing body of evidence linking red meat to some cancers. For example:
Study links red meat to some cancers

Before you bite into that big, juicy burger, chew on this for a minute: A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates a possible link between eating red meat and some forms of cancer.

A study of 35,000 older women shows those with diets high in meat and animal fat, especially hamburgers, have doubled the risk for lymph node cancer -- also known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. link
A high fat diet with lots of red meat has also been linked to prostate cancer in many stidies. BTW, I DO eat red meat.

Potted_plant
Member

08-29-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 1:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
it was her attitude about everything that I did not like. And eating a reptile......I'd like to see her reaction if the vegan kids had eaten a real hot dog.

Mssilhouette
Member

07-11-2001

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 3:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's the recap from the website:
http://www.fox.com/tradingspouses/home.htm

Loupe/Gates


Welcome to the bayou.  Diana Loupe lives with her husband, Diego, and their son Zamariah (aka ZZ).  Diana was born and raised in the bayou.  She inherited her swamp touring business from her parents.  Diana is the first to admit that ZZ is a handful.  He's been messing with gators since he was four.  He says he gets in trouble so often, he can't even count the number of times.

Meet The Gates Family of Southern California.  Mom Barbara is a vegan and animal rights  activist.  She's very passionate and very opinionated about her causes.  Her children Jack and Lucy wish she would mellow out a little and not be so mad.  As the kids drink their special green vegetable drink, she tells them they're pioneers.  Somehow that doesn't seem to make the green sludge go down any easier.

ZZ claims he's not going to miss his mom at all for a week.  Diego's definitely going to miss Diana and he's not afraid to say so.  When Diana is greeted in Southern California by Barbara's husband, Jim, she's excited to be getting such a good-looking husband for the week.  Meanwhile, Barbara is taken aback when she meets Diego.  She thinks he looks like a combo heavy metal rock star and Fabio.

Diana's come bearing gifts.  She takes out a handful of alligator heads.  The kids aren't sure if they're supposed to like them or not but they decide to like them because they're free.  Then Diana pulls out a giant gator head for Dad.  Yikes!

Barbara enters the Loupe home and is "bewitched, bothered and bewildered" by what she sees.  She wasn't prepared for the massive collection of skulls outside.  Tens of thousands of alligator heads are piled on top of each other.   She thinks it's like "a holocaust of alligators."  The next morning, Barbara wakes up early and isn't sure what to do with herself so she goes out exploring.  Seeing the little bunnies in the little cages is very discouraging to her.  So is the fact that neither Diego nor ZZ eat any fruits or vegetables at all.  She brings Diego a fruit smoothie.  He tells her it's great then drives away without drinking any of it.  

Diana wants to give Jack and Lucy something good to eat since their diet is normally so regimented.  She offers to bake them a homemade carrot cake or pie for breakfast but they're afraid their mom will be mad so they politely decline.   Diana thinks these kids need to lighten up and have a little fun.

Meanwhile, Diego takes Barbara on a swamp tour.  He's looking forward to showing her how people in these parts live.  Using visual aids, he gives her a quick lesson in alligator hunting.  He shows her how you have to hit the gators between the eyes.  Barbara thinks hunting is an unnecessary evil.  She and her family live just fine without eating or wearing any animals at all.  Diego forges ahead with the tour.  Now he's on to water snakes.  How much do you think you can sell them for?  Give up?  Not enough to raise a family but enough to get drunk when you're unemployed.  Barbara looks horrified.  She still hasn't found the right time to tell them about her vegan lifestyle.

Diego and ZZ take Barbara out to a local restaurant where they serve crawfish, frog legs and alligator meat.  Well, apparently this is the right time to tell them.  Neither Diego nor ZZ have any idea what a "vegan" is.  She explains that she doesn't believe in killing animals or in eating them.   A salad bar, she explains, is a healthy, compassionate choice.  Barbara tells ZZ that he's going to die at 40 if he keeps eating this way.  ZZ casually replies, "When the good Lord's ready to take me, he'll take me."  Diego is not so sure Barbara respects the lifestyle of the bayou.  Barbara tells ZZ he's going to go a whole day without drinking soda.  He wants to know what's in it for him.  Um, how about a healthy body?  That doesn't seem to sway him.

Diego and ZZ invite a group of friends and family over to meet Barbara.  She proceeds to tell everybody she's vegan and explains that it takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one hamburger.  A no-nonsense Cajun man sitting next to her wants to know how many trees have to be chopped down to make room for her vegetable gardens?  Hmm.  Barbara explains that she's getting the process rolling in the Loupe family by forbidding ZZ to drink any soda for an entire day.  Good for you, Barbara.  Meanwhile, ZZ's in the kitchen gulping down a bottle of soda as fast as he can.

Back in Southern California, Diana is invited to meet a group of Barbara's friends.  This is no sewing circle, it's a group of hard-core animal rights activists.  Diana offers party favors from home -- Voodoo dolls, t-shirts, and… alligator heads?  The room goes silent.  The women explain that they live a "cruelty-free" lifestyle.  They're the ones protesting the circus. They catch and release bugs.  Get the picture?  Diana says she'll proudly take back her gifts.  

Diego and ZZ take Barbara on a trip to New Orleans.  They want to show her the French Quarter, the River Walk and the restaurants.  Barbara is micromanaging ZZ and he's not enjoying it one bit. In fact, he's mad and he misses his real mom.  

Diana has been eating salads for three solid days and she's ready for a piece of red meat.  She's pretty confident that if things don't change around here, she's going to starve to death.  Jim tries to cheer Diana up by telling her they're going to have a little party.  Great!  Diana wants to cook something Cajun, and by "Cajun" she means MEAT! Jim objects but she insists she wants the guests to say, "Wow, that's one good gumbo."  Jim makes it clear that there's not a chance in hell they're going to have real gumbo.  Diana stands her ground - "It's my way or the highway."

Barbara and ZZ have a heart-to-heart.  She thinks he was out of control in New Orleans.  She also thinks Diana and Diego have made some mistakes in their childrearing.  ZZ just thinks she's mean but being the seasoned negotiator he is, he says "I've been thoughtless and I'm sorry."  Barbara doesn't think the stakes are high enough for him.  She thinks next time she'll send him to his room.  He says he has toys in his room.  She says he can't play with them.  He says he'll take two sticks and rub them together to make fire.  Barbara seems stumped.  Then he says, "Look, you're excited that you get to be the new mom for a week, so you've got to burst out."  Burst out?  Huh?  ZZ breaks it down for her, "All right, let me put it this way… you're fired."   




Part2



Barbara Gates is trying hard to be closer with ZZ Loupe, the son of Diego. She says that ZZ can be insensitive sometimes, but she's still going to try and bond with him. Barbara hopes to help ZZ with his homework.

Barbara chows down while ZZ groans about doing his homework. While studying ZZ's English homework, Barbara tells ZZ that "monkeys" is actually spelled "monkies." ZZ tells her that if there's a vowel before the "y" then only an "s" is added. But Barbara sticks to her guns with her incorrect spelling.

The Gates family starts the day with some snorkeling on the beach. Diana Loupe gets a craving for some fresh seafood. When the family heads to a restaurant, the Gates family all order vegan style dishes, but Diana orders her seafood while receiving faces of disappoint faces from the children. Jim Gates says he had hoped to accustom Diana to the vegan lifestyle, and it would have been nice if she could have made it through her time with their diet.

Diana decides to make Cajun gumbo and she can't wait for Jim's family and friends to try it. Jim's children want nothing to do with it because of the meat. While looking for ingredients, she finds a posted paper from Barbara within a cabinet saying that no meat shall be prepared in her home. Diana respects Barbara's wishes and decides to make vegan gumbo.

The Loupe family is still not warming up to Barbara's wishes and her way of running the house. She forces poor ZZ to brush his teeth several times before bed. ZZ is frustrated with Barbara being so demanding on him and she hurts his feelings. But Barbara sticks to dishing out the discipline.

Diana works hard to make her vegan gumbo, but she said it didn't exactly work out the way she wanted it to. When Jim's family arrives, Diana is nervous about making a good impression. Jim's family is also vegan. After dinner, Diana begins discussing her life in New Orleans, but before she can really explain what she does, Jim's child Lucy, brings in Diana's alligator head. Jim's family takes offense to it and Diana feels very defensive about her lifestyle. Diana misses the bayou.

Barbara and Diego are having a party. While Barbara is preparing for the party, Diego's dog urinates on the kitchen floor. Barbara then disciplines the dog.

The guests begin arriving an hour earlier than expected, and Barbara is not prepared. She's aggravated that her guests are so early. Barbara also prepares a vegan dinner for her guests, but it is not well received by Diego's family. But that's not where the night ends. Barbara presents an animal rights video to the family, and the family wants nothing to do with it. While Diego's family dozes off, Barbara stays and cries over the movie.

Diego takes ZZ and Barbara back to "B&C Seafood" so ZZ can get a normal meal again. The dinner conversation turns to animal rights. Barbara doesn't hold as much sympathy for alligators as she does for vegetarian mammals like "a cow, or a lion." But Barbara then makes the ultimate sacrifice and decides to try a piece of fried alligator. ZZ and Diego watch in amazement. Barbara fights with her decision before finally eating a piece. "That was no big deal," she says.

Barbara is ready to leave and she's trying to say goodbye to ZZ, but ZZ can't wait for his own mother to return to him. Barbara just wants to leave the bayou and never look back. Before she leaves, she speaks her mind in a letter and leaves it for the Loupe's to find.

When Diana leaves, the Gates family say goodbye with hugs.

Barbara is prepared to attack Diana's lifestyle, while Diana hopes that Barbara has been as open to Diana's lifestyle as Diana has been to Barbara's.

When the women meet, they warmly hug. Diana tells Barbara that she embraced the vegan diet for the time she was with Barbara's family and respected the rules of Barbara's home. And Diana then gushes about Barbara's children and how much she loved them. But then Barbara turns the table and begins criticizing Diana's lifestyle. Barbara says that ZZ seems depressed and that all the fried food might have something to do with that. Diana is shocked, telling Barbara that ZZ has a great laugh and that perhaps Barbara was not as open to Diana's culture as Barbara thought she was.

The women exchange their envelopes and leave with well disguised bitter tastes in their mouths.

Barbara then tells her family the big twist. Diana will get to choose how their money will be spent and vice-versa.

Diana opens her envelope and begins to read. "Three-thousand will go to charitable organizations," Diego's face shows how stunned he is. And Barbara sets aside four-thousand for a "vacation of their dreams." The remainder of the money is set aside to get eco-friendly engines for their boats and repairs to the roof of their home. And finally, ZZ's name is read. He's been hoping to get money to purchase a mud boat of his own. Diana reads from the letter that Barbara did indeed give him the money for one. ZZ is thrilled.

Barbara begins to read her list. She tells the kids that "if there are any tears, there will be no lettuce wrap." Diana first leaves one-thousand dollars to the children for electric scooters. Then eight-thousand is set aside for the Gates family to go on vacation. Jim receives five-thousand dollars in order to being planting an orchard on the lot adjacent to their home and another five-thousand to build a well. Barbara is furious, "What the hell did you talk about?" she snaps at Jim. Barbara reads on. "Ten-thousand dollars for a Jacuzzi," Barbara is stunned. Why would she want a Jacuzzi? Lucy jumps up, excited and says, "I told her that we always wanted one! Sorry mommy, I thought you'd like one!" But Barbara becomes even more furious and begins to cry. Then Diana comes through in the end, leaving the remaining twenty-thousand dollars for her to use as she saw fit.

Back in the Loupe home, Diego finds the letter that Barbara wrote. Diana begins to read it. The letter reads that ZZ is a handful and he needs love and affection. Diego was not happy with that comment because Barbara did not understand the relationship between ZZ and Diana. But Diana is the bigger person and loves her family.

Barbara drops the bomb that she ate alligator while with the Loupes, and the children feel betrayed. Jim can't understand why she's preached the vegan lifestyle for so long and she would be so hypocritical.

Diana is glad to be back home again where everything is comfortable and full of love.


Jodied75
Member

08-26-2004

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 6:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Pamy and Lilfair for the website address. I'm disappointed I can't view the message board. Were people posting messages about the show?

I totally agree, Whaomi and Julieboo, about Barbara's attitude with ZZ re: spelling. I am a tutor, and I would never be so dismissive and derisive with a student. I know I make mistakes, so it's very possible I could be wrong. And if I were that sure, I would suggest looking it up, as Whoami said. Barb made such a fool of herself.

Barbara lends no credibility to her cause. She is a poster girl for reasons NOT to go vegan. Nothing turns me off of a lifestyle/product/religion/idea more than when someone preaches and imposes on me. It's like when I get those bloody pop-ups on my computer screen: I vow to never buy that company's product.

Marej
Member

09-20-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 7:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The message board was available for a while, with some messages; but later in the day they changed it; maybe to many negative posts.

Lori
Member

04-18-2003

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 8:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The posts I read on the message board were extremely negative, actually many were very very nasty. Not surprised they blocked access to the board.

Lurkin
Member

02-15-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 11:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ok, does anyone else not find it strange, extremely strange Babs brushing Diego's hair ,especially what seemed like a very long time to me and just.... awkward

I loved at the end when Di was reading the letter left from Babs, that ZZ got all up in arms that she attacked his mom. She could do and say whatever to him but dont mess with momma Bab's kids sure wouldnt have felt that way

I was extremely impressed how Diana respected Babs after reading the Meat free house note on the cupboard. What a Lady!! Babs sure had no respect for Diana

I personally love how this show , showed how kind and respectful southern people are. I dont think we always are understood and thought of as lazy and stupid. I go by the motto my dad has better to be quiet & smile and know you are right and let ignorant people rant and prove they are fools. Barbara proved this in my opinion

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 2:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Diego had beautiful hair. I Love longhair on a guy but brushing someone's hair for such a long time seems like a kind of intimate thing to do.

He looked really nervous the whole time. hee hee



Peeper
Member

06-14-2004

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 8:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Can someone explain to this backwards southerner how vegan's frumpy california clothes were any better than the cajun lady's wardrobe????

It was ridiculously funny that vegan was talking fashion while wearing any outfit that did not appear to be fashionable IMHO.

Tabbyking
Member

03-11-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 8:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i don't get the vegan smoking and drinking!!! what the hell is that about?! lol

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 9:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wifeswap tonight was so much gentler. Much, much gentler and the families were about as far apart as the vegans/cajuns...

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I actually was feeling sorry for Vegan mom today.....imagine how her world just got turned upside down......her poor kids..can you imagine the kids at school teasing them about their mom??? I bet kids teased her kids big time about the spelling error.

Hippyt
Member

06-15-2001

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
pamy,chat now

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LOL Hip, I am off to watch Lost with Bill! I will try and make it tomarrow LYLAW!

Hippyt
Member

06-15-2001

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
NOW! NOW! NOW!

Lexie_girl
Member

07-30-2004

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 11:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well it looks like even the Vegans are abandoning Barbara!!! Check out this article and the comments posted to it.

http://www.vegfamily.com/blog/



Frogichik
Member

06-11-2002

Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 2:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's the cajun family's website

http://www.zamsswamptours.com/

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Saturday, December 04, 2004 - 2:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I read those links with interest.

The trouble with Vegan lifestyle is that it is completely opposite to what is considered 'normal eating' by society and by the laws of nature.

Being a vegan or vegetarian gives people the impression that you are a "health food nut". This has nothing to do with it directly...hence the smoking and drinking of California mom. I find it difficult to imagine people (of vegan backgrounds) are more upset about the lady eating a piece of alligator MORE THAN her treatment of her own children, the cajun boy and the dog.

I, myself, choose to severely restrict meats as I have chemical sensitivity to the chemicals that they feed and treat the animals with. I also have extreme aversion to the conditions those poor animals are raised in, then killed in.

Organic, natural small farms I seem to be at peace with.



Sia
Member

03-11-2002

Sunday, December 05, 2004 - 8:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I thought it was funny, too, when gentle vegan Barbara ate the first bite of alligator meat, commented, "This isn't bad," then popped the rest of the chunk into her mouth! I would love to know what her husband and kids said when they saw the show!