Gretchen......Love ya girl!!!! It must take an awful lot of will power to be at the same functions as Vicki and Tamra...the gruesome twosome! It would have taken quite a bit of self control on my part not to reach across the table at Peggy's dinner party and throttle those witches. You handled it wonderfully, so proud of you. Nobody's business about Slade and his children. I wish nothing but the best for you.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU GRETCH. YOUR SO CUTE. IGNORE TP TAMRA AND BS VICKIE. WATCH SLADE..... WITH VICKIE BEING SINGLE, SHE MAY TRY TO GET YOUR MAN.

By far my fav housewife! The show wouldnt be fun to watch if not for you!!

Gretchen,
I think you are a good person and also very beautiful. Tamara is a hypocrit and still a mean girl! The only other thing I wanted to say is...I think you need to watch the footage again of your doggie falling off the table at the vets office and you will notice that it wasn't Slades fault....it was actually yours. You thrushed your other dog into his hands and told him to hold it and when he did he had to take his hands off the one on the table and the poor little guy fell. It was technically your fault and you should apologize to Slade.

I agree with the posters siding with Slade setting limits to your teasing. I am sure you would (or hope not) have the guts to say those same things to a woman - yet a man is supposed to tough it up. Knowing more of the details of his trainwrecked career - his ego is already fragile - and suspected depression - that sex is disguising - he needs building up not breaking down no matter how masculine he appears.
Being the bread winner may also be shifting your respect. Hope you can stay honest about it. Verbal abuse isn't going to help.

Love you Gretchen. Stay strong and positive. It makes you the most beautiful housewife inside and out!

Gretchen........you are one of the two I feel are the most beautiful on the show. What a wonderful thing you did for your parents!! I loved watching that episode so much and so good of Slade to help you also. I do think you and Tamra will always be on opposite sides no matter what but it is what it is. All the crap between you and her is very high schoolish to me and you should both just let it go but it does keep us viewers watching!!! Be true to yourself cuz you got it going on girl!!!

GRETCHEN,
BEING THIN NOW HAS BEEN A CONSTANT BATTLE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
AND, IT IS ABOUT LIFE CHANGING PATTERNS, YOU'RE RIGHT.
BUT, I MUST SAY, I FELT SO EMBARRASSED FOR SLADE THEY WAY YOU SPOKE TO HIM AND THE NAME CALLING ABOUT HIS WEIGHT.
SENSITIVITY AND THOUGHTFULNESS OF WORDS GO MUCH FURTHER THAN CRITICISM. KUDOS TO HIM FOR LOSING THE WEIGHT, BUT YOU'RE ATTEMPTS AT "HELPING" HIM WEREN'T KIND.

Gretchen,

Slade is using you for the spotlight and you need to wake up honey!!! In regards to you and Tamra, you threw out the first punch at her clothing party so what goes around comes around. You need to grow up!

Ignore all the comments about your relationship with Slade. Only you two know what you're all about. I think you're smart enough to know whether or not Slade is a con artist. You've been with him long enough! He's going through a rought time and so are you. I'm glad you're there for eachother.

Gretchen, I think you are doing very well and think some people don't know what to make of you. It's called confidence and being happy with one's self. You seem happy about life and some people don't know what to make of it. Pity! Best wishes and keep enjoying life! Why shouldn't we?

Standing up for yourself and being Stand offish are 2 different things!

The past is the past and should be left there in the past chapters of your life, no point carrying that baggage around with you everywhere.

Start a new chapter and make a new phase to wipe a slate completely clean. If you are the decent one of the 2, then it''ll show...
Dont really see what you would have to lose? you could only gain self respect and respect from her fans that adore her - to see you kind and accepting with T will only show how good a person you are.

Gretchen you are awesome! Definitely my favorite housewife out of all the shows. Keep standing up for yourself and good luck with everything!

gretchen....right,wrong,or indifferent you are the best part of the show.Please stop playing into tamra drama-she's the dingbat who intentionally got you drunk for amusement...how lucky you weren't on any medication that could have caused you extreme harm.You and Slade appear happy.Keep doing what makes you happy.

You're seeing what you want to see in Slade. Believe me. I know.

I know you won't read this, but you are a breath of fresh air & out of all the housewives you are by far the most down-to-earth & sweetest. Heck, my husband & I make fun of each other all the time - it's called a sense of humor! It is all done with love & laughter. I just think Slade is tired of hearing it, especially in front of the camera. So, honor him with the respect he's looking for & find something else to make fun of him about! :-)

I don't remember Gretchen ever actually saying the E... B.... thing at Tamara's party. She did joke/comment on the the need for having the evil eye hat to protect her from Tamara, but it was Tamara that used the words to confront Gretchen. After stewing a few minutes about what Gretchen had said, she walked up to Gretchen and point blank asked, " Did you just call me an E... B....?". Gretchen thought about it for a few seconds then stated "Yeah, I guess (or think) I did". I thought that she was agreeing with the meaning of the words she had used, not with the actual words. Did I get that part wrong? At any rate it is obvious to me that Tamara can dish and dish to her hearts content and then become a victim if anyone treats her the same way. I can't remember ever being expected to apologize to a friend for something that another friend had said.

Gretchen, you are my favorite housewife, you are true and I admire you, don't ever let someone like Tamra get you down she is so not worth it!!

I was reading your blog from last year because Im trying to make sense of alot of the rumors, and you know what would be the Best thing--Write a tell all book, it would be awesome for you to tell your side even more important to tell us the struggles of taking care of someone you know may not make it--trust me I know, My mom was fine one day then had 6 months to live the next, its hard---tell us the good and the bad,struggles,be alone, and where your headed. I really think your book would do the Best of them all, cause you have a story that realtes to us all.

Team Gretchen....All the way!

Gretchen, can you send me some samples of your mascara, I would love to check it out, but hate to buy if I won't use. PLEASE.

Gretchen, you can stand up for yourself without being aggressive. Assertive yes, but there is a difference. I am one that's always been the nice one and strong and mean personalities spot me a hundred miles away and zero in. But I can get my point across with simply explaining myself. If they still can't see my point then it's on them. Let the haters hang themselves, don't do it for them while looking like you've gone down to their level, or sometimes lower. You can do it, I know you have a good heart.
As for your comments to Slade, if he's complaining, just support, love and encourage him. I'm glad he's lost weight, but for future reference, teasing, albeit lightheartedly, can bruise egos and even if they lose the weight, the scars can stay on. Glad you love each other but part of TRUE love is to encourage WITHOUT making the other feel low. Always uplift each other. I've always been thin. But when I gained from whatever reason (pregnancy, steroids for my autoimmune illness, etc.), and I complain about my weight my husband always complimented on me and loved and praised me genuinely and unconditionally, and vice versa. I felt cherished and beautiful regardless. So when I lost the weight and felt myself get back to my old self, I know it was for me, and my health as well, but not because I felt unloved, unattractive or unappreciated. If you suddenly injured yourself and couldn't work out and gained some weight, then complained about your frustration, would teasing you constantly and calling you a tubba wubba feel good? Golden rule, my dear girl. God bless.

I guess its just weird to constantly hear how much Slade complained. I guess editing can get the best of anybody - but you were relentless and nobody saw Slade whining. Frankly your comments seemed to go WAY beyond self assurance for someone who just wanted some support on getting in shape. And unless you totally do not read body queues, its amazing that you were so indifferent to his reaction. He seemed to wither every time you called him that. Then - when he did confront you - to hear you make it about you was really sad. I have always been a fan - but this season has me seeing a very different side to you.

Calling someone an "evil bitch" at her party is not stating your "truth in an assertive and truthful way." It is taking a passive aggressive dig at someone. If you had wanted to be assertive and truthful, when Tamra called you to invite you to her party, you should have told her that you felt uncomfortable with her because of the past and would prefer not to socialize with her. Accepting the invitation, going to the party, and then calling her a bitch in front of her friends was dishonest and nasty.

Maybe Slade is in search of a little validation from the women that loves him. Instead of joking about it in a mean way maybe you should tell him that he's still sexy to you. When he brought it up you were clearly disturbed. Was that because of the fight on camera or because you cant believe you hurt his feelings? Hmm...

i love you. :) you're a doll. have a great week!

I'm torn because I love both you and Tamra. I think if the whole drama of two years ago hadn't gone down, you two would be the best of friends. Also, thank you for explaining about Grayson's illness. I had no idea he had brain cancer and I feel for poor Slade. I can't even imagine going through something like that with my child. Please give us updates on Grayson's condition.

I couldnt agree more! I feel as if TAMRA cant take it but she sure can dish it! she did it to you many times last year and now that things are sour for her she refuses to take it.
I can see why you changed and i would too if i had some person (TAMRA) pick on me all the time. you can only take so much before you explode!
So with that beign said I am happy for you! especially that your standing up for your self!

So much for having the perfect husband, theperfect life and for what so that it can all end in in a divorce, if only Tamra could have seen that coming!

You use to be on one of my favorites, but you have definitely changed a lot. You seem to be more worried about what everyone else is saying and doing that you are loosing yourself and what we all loved about you in the beginning. It's like your trying to hard to fit in.

Wow, personally I think the whole fight between you and Tamra is silly, and for Alexis to get all upset over the mace thing, give it a break, she didn't bring a gun. (although the way this has blown up, you would think she did) I think the 3 of you need to make up, life is too short. Hugs from the midwest !!!

totally agree with the nik richie comment

I think its great that you and Alexis are friends.She seems to be very funny and has a really good heart.You and she allow each other to be yourselves and you dont have to think alike or agree to gang up on someone if one of you have a problem with another cast member.It appears Tamara doesnt understand how to be a friend.She tells Vicki I got your back and she wont allow you to say anything about Vicki,wait til the fact that Vicki called you and apologized about the mace sinks in.She'll be back on the Slame Vicki train.

you need to stop dating old men that is why you are always grouchy .....

Dear Gretchen,

I think you are the only genuine person on the show! I love watching it because of you! You are so beautiful!!! Don't get married til Slade gets a job and loses weight! It will only get worse! I know unfortunatley! I hope to see you at an appearance soon!
Love Bunzy

Dear Gretchen,

Dear Gretchen,

So now you are a personal trainer? Ok.

I think its time to leave Slade behind. What does he do, exactly? He runs your errands. Really? Is that the kind of man you want? If you marry him, you also marry all his problems from his past marriage....the kids aren't the problem, but the finances are. I would walk carefully through that mine field. If he was someone you were truly in love with, you would have married him already. Be the third and last housewife with this guy -- he is going no where fast.

Gretchen,
There is nothing wrong with wanting a significant other to be healthy. There may be more positive ways to go about it but hey, life happens!
My hope for you is that you find an independent man who is more your equal. Now that's a turn on!

Gretchen~ What is going on with you? You were so down to earth the last season. It was obvious the other girls were jealous of you...It seems like you have lost a little of your confidence and your taking it out on Slade and Tamara...Although that was a nice thing you did for you parents, good job! Alexis is a bad person to be friends with. I used to have a friend that had the same character. You'll see:)

Just keep being you! Your seem to be a warm and loving person who has dealt with a great deal in the last few years and still are a survivor.

You wanna point fingers at "mean girls" you came off VERY mean in this episode and pretty much this whole season. I used to like you and feel bad for you but now you just seem cruel and vindictive. Now I feel bad for Slade, I don't care how much you're frustrated if you love someone you support him, and joking or not don't call him hurtful names like TubbaWubba - that's not funny. You're not funny. You think you are and you think you're evil eye joke was funny but it wasn't either. Let Tamra stick to the funny she's better at it, it's her personality, you just try to hard and it comes off way wrong.

It seems to me like you take all of your hatred for Nik Richie out on Tamra.

Gretchen, I love Slade. I think you should prove everyone wrong and you two write a book together on making it throught tough times. Explain how it is on having to live up to what "THE OC" expects for you to have and look like always. My favorite is that you two are so real. Be patient with eachother, he seems to really love and adore you. We in Texas want to see you work and have more success then all the others!!! Together yall are a POWER COUPLE

Your joke at Tamra's function was inappropriate because it made the hostess uncomfortable. Just as Tamra's joke was inappropriate because it made Alexis uncomfortable. It doesn't matter if everyone or no one finds it funny. Honestly, yes, I got both of the jokes, and may have laughed, but just because people laugh, it doesn't make it okay. Also, sometimes people laugh at comments ("Tubba Wubba") because they are uncomfortable with telling the person they love that it bothers them. And maybe it was okay for Slade to make the comment about himself, but not you. Whatever the case, to keep hammering into him that he should watch his diet and to keep calling him that name isn't very kind. Deep down, as you've admitted, you meant for him to take it to heart. That is why he became so hurt, and told you "enough". Anyways, congrats on your parents anniversary surprise - it was lovely! And good luck with "Gretchen Christine"!

Get a grip.

I was annoyed by tubba wubba.Glad you guys are doing good.