Changing the Subject

Catching up: Let’s talk, but don’t we need to change the subject?

We’re back home! And I have to say, I missed it a lot. There is no place in the world like New York City. It has a unique and very special energy. It is always fun to go away, but it is magical to return to my family and get back into the pulse of this amazing city.

Once back and settled, Carole and I planned a “girls’ night out” for drinks and some fun conversation. She picked this great little gay bar called Bar-Tini, and we wasted no time getting our cocktails on with a little help from our friends! I have to say Carole is an amazing person and despite the craziness of the trip we had just shared with all the ladies, the bond that she and I now share made it all worth it. The easy and friendly atmosphere, surrounded by all these cute and fun gay men (and maybe one straight bartender??), added so much fun to our evening. In addition to the cherry bombs that were going down all too easily, Carole drops quite the news bomb on me about Aviva as runaway bride! This certainly sheds some light on her current behavior patterns. But more on Aviva later. . .

Carole and I can really make each other laugh which is a nice respite from all the yelling and I guess we are entertainment for the crowd too because the boys keep sending over shots, and we keep drinking them! It's been a long time since I just sat around slamming shots but somehow neither of us seemed to even notice while discussing our relationships etc.

I have to tell you that I am one lucky girl when it comes to that. There is rarely a day that goes by that Jon and I don’t bicker about something. . .raising a family with a little one who has special needs while running my own business. As hard working young parents in a difficult economy, life can be stressful and it adds pressure to any relationship. But, Jon and I love each other very much and we seem to get closer and closer as we travel life's bumpy road together rather than farther apart. Our healthy banter works for us and making up does too!!!

I am so glad to hear Carole’s relationship with Russ is growing closer and more committed. I have been a fan of "Carole and Russ" since the first time I spent a moment with them together. Later, we girls even get into the "size" conversation as our chatter and our cocktails both keep flowing! Carole, the self professed "size queen" and I agree that it does matter -- but like I said earlier, I am one lucky girl! I do know that true love is both mental and physical but hopefully. . .we can have it all! Razzie is my girl and I get mushy and yummie with her in a classic, "I love you man," moment, but I mean every word and my adoration for that girl is true!

LuAnn and I decide to meet for lunch and catch up. I am anxious to hear how she and Jacques are doing post-St. Barths so I suggest sushi at Blue Fin. Carole, Luann, and I are in the middle of Aviva and Samonja. But being in the middle of the story LuAnn has perpetuated with the charade about these Italians is worse. I do think the relationship between Ramona, Sonja, and Aviva is fractured and, like I said, it would take both parties wanting to heal the fracture in order for that to happen and it doesn’t look like we are there yet. But as the conversation turns back to LuAnn, she's pressed the fast-forward button on me again and has skipped ahead a few chapters. I want to know if she came clean with Jacques about St. Barths and if she realizes she must tell the truth about Tomas vs. a late night with said Italian friends, but Lu is only giving me deets on the baby. Really? I want to hear how they are doing as a couple and what her intentions are about telling Jacques and if she did how his reaction has been. I care about them as a couple and Jacques is my buddy inasmuch as LuAnn. I don't want to feel awkward the next time I see him or even worse be questioned. . .she has put me in a horrible position and is even brushing it off with me! In my opinion Lu needs to rewind, slow down and press pause -- having a baby is serious.

As a mother, Luann knows that this should be thought out long and hard at her age and under all the circumstances. This sticky web is one I am not interested in getting more entangled in than I already am so I decide its best for me to just listen and to play along with Lu for now, holding my opinions to myself. I want to beg her to come clean on this one, but not today, today at this lunch I am starving! So, I decide my main focus will be to just listen and very happily eat!!

Lying About the Italians

More catching up. . .Carole and I head to dinner with Aviva to check in on her. Before we go, we stop by my friend Helen Yarmak's showroom to see her latest collections of furand diamonds -- I mean what a combo! After having tons of fun with the girls trying on her beautiful pieces, Helen exclaims that we just look too glamorous and insists we borrow the pieces and wear them out to dinner. So fun!

But the mood soon changes as Aviva quickly turns to her favorite subject. For someone who hated the trip to St. Barths as much as Aviva did, she sure does love talking about it. She is grinding her ax and Carole and I get an earfull again. I really care about Aviva and I know Carole does her too, she is our friend and we enjoy and adore her, but we need some new material here. Next time, I think I am going to recommend we go to a movie!

Later, Aviva asks me to dinner and she continues to talk about the trip. I am starting to feel really bad for her. It is becoming obvious that she is struggling with it and I want to support that and listen to her feelings. I was expecting she may finally confess that she behaved badly and that the horrible things she said are weighing on her. But no, she goes on and on more about the bad behavior she witnessed and defending her actions rather than opening up to the possibility of admitting the part she played in the vacation fiasco. As I listen to her go on about what she wanted the trip to be, I have to break it down for her. We had that trip, she just missed out on it because of her hostility toward Samonja.

I need to be honest with her as her friend and tell her, it’s enough! Aviva struggles with phobias and has overcome a lot given her disabilities clearly with the help of Reid, but I am starting to think her biggest problem might be her self-importance. I really want her to let this all go and be the fun, smart, beautiful Aviva that I enjoy being with. . .even when we disagree. She is still there, I just have to find her because I am feeling that if Aviva doesn’t let this go very soon and can’t apologize to start mending fences with Samonja sincerely, it will be too late. And potentially in the end, Aviva will be the one that is really hurt and I, for one, don’t want that.

I am so excited to share with you all this news! This Wednesday, September 19th I am being honored by the American Liver Foundation at the Plaza Hotel! Holla! They are giving me the Liver Champion Award. You can learn more about the gala at ALFGala.com. The ALF does incredible work and I encourage you all to check them out.

As always, thank you for all of your support and feedback. You make being on the show so rewarding for me. To learn more about me and my shapewear, go to Facebook, YummieLife.com, and HeatherThomson.net. You can also enjoy 10 percent off your next Yummie Tummie order by entering code "Iamheathert10" at check out. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter at @iamHeatherT and please visit DonateLife.net to sign up to become an organ and tissue donor.

Love,

Heather