"Ruby" - A Member of the Public Speaks Out

DAHLINGS -

I have refrained from writing about the television show Ruby. Even as I applaud her efforts to fight morbid obesity, I also know that she is one of the executive producers of the show, created the show along with a partner, and found an interested production company.

It was no miracle that Ruby Gettinger found herself on the nation's television sets: it is a carefully crafted program. Ruby controls what we see, unlike most participants on reality shows (pace More To Love). While she is very brave...I can see the hate mail coming now...I have to say that this post on a discussion board sums up my problems with Ruby far better than I could.

I have watched Ruby over the last season and of course I congratulate her on her weight loss, but with the help she has received with her TEAM, I feel anyone could have done it.

I also lost approximately 165 pound and did it with no expensive TEAM. I had no shrink, no trainers, no tennis instructors, no nutritionists and no special foods. I resent the fact that I as a tax paying citizen of this country paid for all this high class assistance.** I decided on my own to improve my heath status. Reading through the lines I understand Ruby was collecting disability payments for years. This made her eligible for Medicaid or state paid health care. My exercise consisted of hard work, and mentally getting my act together. No shrink need for that. I ate the proper foods and cooked them myself. No nutritionist for me. No fancy vacations for me. I was paying my own bills. I have kept the weight off for 15 years and weigh 160 pounds and look great. But I am most proud of achieving this on my own. What has happened to PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

** The part of this post I disagree with is thinking that Ruby Gettinger paid for any part of this show with taxpayer's money. And she probably did not seek medical help because of her deep shame about her body. Unfortunately, many overweight women suffer from this problem (thinner women as well).

The Team was paid for by the producers of the show, and have reaped not only financial benefits but an enormous amount of publicity. Never discount the lure of appearing on television. And have you noticed that Ruby not only has enormous personal charisma, she is extremely pretty?


Ruby with, fittingly enough, Oprah, the Queen of Self-Loathing

Your faithful correspondent doubts that a producer would have taken on a long-term series such as Ruby if the overweight woman was plain and had a pronounced double chin and fat neck. (It does not photograph well.)

Pardon my cynicism, but I have been around the television block many times. And no, I have no desire for my own reality show. I am already quite famous enough, thank you. No, I am not jealous of Ruby's weight loss. And no, I am not a man.

Back to New York Fashion Week!

Ciao,
Elisa & Bucky the Wonderdog

Andre Leon Talley & I Have A Smackdown!

DAHLINGS -

Apologies for my long absence!

I am "covered in shame" not to have communicated with you all, mes enfants, when I know you need it so. Especially now, as the weather grows warmer and here in beautiful New York City, the fashion-challenged come out from under their huge colorless coats and woven Sherpa hats (shudder).

"Haute Cou-Poor," my program at the Fashion Institute of Technology to teach the indigent about Fashion In The True Sense, has been literally taking up all of my time, day and night! Who knew something so hellishly close to work could be so...well, hellish? Even with all of those idiotic student interns? They are almost as stupid as my personal assistant!

(Well, no one is that stupid, but I digress.)

Andre Leon Talley and I had what can only be called in today's parlance, a "smackdown" about that HIDEOUS jacket he put on beautiful, voluptuous Jennifer Hudson for the Oscars. The man simply cannot handle criticism of the mildest kind. It comes with the territory, everyone pussyfooting around him, afraid they'll lose their job. Now he is one of my dearest friends; and anyone I have to look UP at when I'm talking to them has a special place in my heart.

But that jacket. No.

It was bad enough, I told him, that he adored Marc Jacobs's collection, and appeared on the Style network calling Nicholas Guest one of fashion's greatest thinkers (excuse me?). But the jacket was unpardonable, a major failing of taste on an international scale. In all candor, I should have had the sense to have this conversation in public, perhaps at Pastis, instead of my beautiful Central Park West apartment.

Dahlings, the man went simply berserk. You would have thought nobody had questioned his taste since 1973. Perhaps no one has. First, a torrent of abuse directed at yours truly, saying that I wasn't fit to vomit on Anna Wintour's skirt (cf. my February 4th post on Fashion Week). Then Andre grabbed one of my prized Faberge' eggs, blue and gold, and CRUSHED IT in his massive hand, whereupon I screamed!

I confess. I lost control of myself. I sicc'ed Bucky on Andre Leon Talley.

No one breaks my blue and gold Faberge' egg and gets away with it.


(This is Bucky sharpening his teeth on a rawhide.)

Bucky may only weigh 14 pounds and stand 16 inches tall next to Andre's 6 feet 9 inches or whatever it is, but that dog is a well-trained little minpin and defended his mistress!

The fearless beast leapt upward and sank his teeth deep into the back of Andre's calf, right out of Andre's reach (Bucky is a very sensible canine). As much as he swatted, Andre could not dislodge my dog, until I gave the command to let go and run!* Bucky galloped out of the sitting room, a flap of black linen pant fabric still in his jaws.

Andre collapsed on my divan, which for a moment I feared would collapse under Andre, in hysterical tears, threatening to sue me, to ruin my reputation, to tell people the heinous lie my hair is not naturally blonde!

In the interest of Andre's dignity, I will spare you further details of the next half hour. Suffice to say we parted still friends, although I will be receiving some hefty medical bills ere long, and "Haute Cou-Poor" will be the less for Andre's non-participation. But one must take the rough with the smooth. Thank goodness Bucky has had all of his shots, and I have very expensive lawyers at the ready.

One must always be prepared, cést vrai.

Ciao,
Elisa and Bucky the Heroic Wonderdog

*Let go and run was, unfortunately, a command I had to teach my darling dog early on.