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Amber Calls Out Andy Cohen

Amber Marchese explains her husband's career path and why you can't "bang out" the bar exam.

By Amber Marchese

This is my last blog of the season, so I want to clear up a couple of things that are a part of my life that viewers have questioned:

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1. Jim’s Career: Jim was a self-made, successful man at a very young age. He has never done drugs and has never been in trouble with the law. He put himself through undergraduate, then through a Masters in Public Administration at Columbia University while working at a pharmaceutical company. Jim was then accepted to law school and once again attended in the evening while working for a biotech company. In addition, Jim was raising his son, Michael. 

2. The Bar Exam: After Jim left the biotech company (for reasons I will not get into here, however, I will say that Jim's actions were nothing short of brave and selfless), he needed to provide for his two young sons. He began to work in the mortgage industry. In 2001, the real-estate boom hit and he became very successful, so taking the bar exam and practicing law was not economically valuable for him or his two boys. Taking the bar is not easy, as some cast members suggest. Sorry, Andy, I mean no disrespect, but you just don’t “bang out” the bar exam, especially with two small children and a lucrative career. If the other cast members think it is so easy, tell them to get their bachelors, masters, and then a law degree before making ignorant statements about something that they have no clue about. Fast forward to 2013. The turn of the economy and the nature of his industry were very tough. Despite knowing how difficult it is raising 4 children on top of working full time, I really pushed for him to take the 2 months needed to study for it. That meant he worked during the day and studied at night and on the weekends for an entire 2 months. For me this meant I was mom and dad for two months. It was difficult to say the least, but as a good wife, I gave him that support he needed to succeed, as he has done for me in the past.  To put it in perspective, the Series 7 has a 91% pass rate and does not require a college degree, while the BAR has a 64% pass rate and requires 7 years of higher education. In simple terms, it’s a really hard test that a lot of smart people with nothing else to do but study for it, fail. And for the record, my husband passed with flying colors. However, you just don’t shut down a successful company, Jim still runs Mortgage Now as this has been the best for our family so far. 3. About how Jim speaks to women: I am getting fed up with people saying Jim is disrespectful to women. Not one of the men sitting up on that stage has any right to cast stones, when they have a history of being disrespectful to women and men, and even in some cases their significant others. I am not getting into specifics. Jim has never treated me as anything but as a lady, with respect and dignity. The only two women that he said anything negative to have repeatedly said nasty, vulgar, and disrespectful things to him. And even then, he did not call them whores, c----, bitches, or anything of that nature. What is he supposed to do? Take it, because it comes from a woman? Do we live in the Stone Age here people? Dina made nasty, potty mouthed comments to him without him even saying one word to her. Dina thinks she has that “bitch face” down pat, but the only thing she looks like is miserable curmudgeon. Bobby came at me pretty hard; you don’t see me whipping out my woman card. I wouldn't respect him if he treated me like a little old weak woman who can’t take it when I give it! I commend Bobby for saying what he wanted to say to me and not treating me like a frail daisy. 

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4. Some viewers have given me a hard time because I took a picture with the twins. Some say it makes what we went through this season all seem fake. First, it was as real as a heart attack. Secondly, we simply bumped into to one another at the mall. People, we are not animals here, we can be civilized. Lastly, fighting is exhausting. It destroys the soul when it yearns for peace and harmony. I hate fighting with friends. I have spoken to both Nicole and Teresa; we are all at peace and desire to move forward. We are not BFFs and we still have a lot to work on, but the desire to mend our friendship is there. That’s about does it! If you have any questions, I am always an open book. The only subject matter that I will always remain closed to is anything to do with my step-boys and/or biological children. That subject is off limits no matter how many times the subject is broached; I will remain quiet, even if I have to “eat” certain accusations. My job as a mother and step-mother is to protect all of my children at all costs. And yes, you can be on reality TV and set boundaries. A comment that I hear all the time is, “You’re on reality TV so you should expect to be ridiculed, abused, and harassed on social media.” And I say to that, “Bullsh--!” My reality does not include that. Jim and I and our family are blessed with a beautiful life of love and happiness, with some bad times for sure, but strength to get through it all. Just because we are on a reality show does not mean that it’s the viewer’s job to hurt and destroy because they see us on TV. None of the cast deserves this and it sickens me when I see my cast mates suffer. Shame on you who try it. As for the viewers that simply watch the show for entertainment value, I thank you so much! This show has some of the most loyal and devoted fans, and I really appreciate all of your love and support.   

Love, happiness, health, and blessings to you all!

Amber, Jim, Michael, Sebastian, Corbin, Isabella, Suri, and Custos

Facebook: Amber N. Marchese
Instagram: AMBERMARCHESE_RHONJ
Twitter: @AmberNMarchese and @jlmarchese111
www.historicalnames.com

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