Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Before the Circus came to Town



It's been a struggle the past couple of days trying to decide where to start. I have read the comments on the blog so far and I know people would like to know about Russ before the circus came to town. By the way, I find it amusing that one reader was questioning me over the fact I stated I had only watched one full episode. She asked how I knew if the character Bravo portrayed was accurate if I had only seen one episode. What she failed to remember is I went on to say I had seen segments when channel surfing. I still don't know whether those snippets would even add up to two full episodes if you edited them all together but I do know it was enough for me to know if it was my best friend or not. So if that was not clear, my apologies. Interesting battle for someone to choose but I appreciate the respectful way it was asked and appreciate all your comments. While I'm on the topic of segments I did see, I'm going to talk about a specific segment that really hurt Russ. It's the only segment he ever contacted me about. He called me the day after it aired. We had discussed others but this time he felt like he just needed to talk to me about it.  It was the segment in which Taylor was talking about all her plastic surgery. She said she had to do it or Russ might leave her for a 21 year old or something of that nature. I received texts from Russ the next day. I remember he said "like I'm going to leave her for a twenty-one year old". He also complained that the show was making him "look like an asshole". I agreed with him. He then shrugged it off and said "that's reality TV."  The character Bravo TV created made Russ seem introverted and selfish. I have known people from two high schools, college, after college ,his parents, stepdad, sister and both his grandmothers and across the board one hundred percent I promise you everyone one of them would say that description of Russ is laughable and he was the complete opposite of that description. Russ always had a big smile on his face and he loved to joke around. One of the first jokes I remember him playing on me was on the way home from a football scrimmage on a school bus. We were passing Texas Stadium on a Thursday night and the lights were on. A few of the kids started talking about why the lights would be on. Russ tells us it's a new semipro football team called the Nicotines. We were 14 and dumb. Nobody questioned him. I went as far as to look in the paper for a score. I told him I had looked and he busted out laughing telling me he was kidding and said something like "you believed me?". When Russ would play a joke on you he would always get the same smile on his face when you knew he had got you. While we were in high school Russ' little sister Laurie who is two years younger than Russ and I had a crush on me like a lot of little sisters have on their older brother's best friend. We went on a date my senior year to see a movie. Russ was not going to let this opportunity pass by without having some fun. Russ answers the door wearing shorts, no shirt and a guitar. By the way, he didn't play the guitar. He starts wailing on the guitar singing "he took her out on a date, he brought her home late" over and over laughing the whole time. His mom was saying; "Russ" and trying not to laugh. Laurie was red telling him to shut up and I was laughing but ready to get out of their house. Funny how such an embarrassing moment at 18 is a cherished memory at 48. I don't remember being around Russ when we were not laughing and joking. Another segment I saw was when Taylor was hosting a party at their house. I believe it was a 20's costume party. Russ never came off well when a camera was in his face. He had sent me other links he had done that had nothing to do with the show. He could talk to a wall but put a camera in his face and he came off stiff. Anyway of course I was watching Russ even when he wasn't in the main scene. I noticed when he was in the background he was walking around engaging people in the room, laughing with them and having fun. I remember thinking there is Russ. I wanted everyone tuned in to see Russ in the background and see what he was really like but I knew everyone was watching which housewife was mad at which housewife and hoping for a fight. Does anybody out there have a group of friends who fight and argue like those ladies? Would you stay in a group like that? I don't think anybody would in "Real Life". This whole experience with Russell has affected the way I see the media and the world of information we are provided. I am no longer as quick to pass judgment on anything I hear in any form of media. I knew we could influence people but I had no idea to what extent. I was told by a friend Wendy Williams once called Russ a "disgusting human being". I'm sure it hurt Russ. I know it upset me. She should be ashamed of saying something about someone she knows absolutely nothing about based only on what she had heard and seen from print or television. This kind of irresponsibility has been driving the Bravo ratings machine.  
  Before I go I want to address those calling me out on my Twitter "randye30" for promoting my business. I have been promoting my business and have been very outspoken about Bravo and Taylor on
Twitter since Taylor first started spreading her lies just days after Russell’s death. Back then 90% of my following on the different social media avenues my Twitter is connected to actually knew Rusty Armstrong before the Real Housewives show. Just because you have chose to follow me does not mean I should change what I have always done long before Russ' death.
  Keep the comments coming. Good or bad they remind me of why I am here and will help keep the content fresh.

22 comments:

  1. I have always said that the "leave me for a 20 year old" story was bs. Seems to me that SHAFT(Shanna Hughes Armstrong Ford Taylor set about from the beginning to throw him under the bus(the one she claims he drives!)When that storyline didnt grow legs it suddenly changed to the "He beats me but shhhhhh dont tell him" act
    Anyways, I thought Russel's reply on the reunion about that was funny/endearing when he said something like "I dont have the energy for a 20 year old. I appreciate your reflections of Russel. Good stuff about your date. Funny! What kind of music did he like?

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    Replies
    1. Van Halen, Aerosmith, Led Zeppeln, Pink Floyd,Hank Williams jr., Journey. We would spend hours talking and playing music when we were in high school. That's one of our many common interests. I will talk about certain songs that remind me of Russ and why they do.

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  2. Randy, what a solid friendship you and Russell had, and how good it is that you are letting people know funny and happy stories about him. Some people feel very comfortable in front of a camera, and others become extremely ill at ease when a camera is rolling, as you pointed out.

    I hope you have been able to spend some time looking through the incredible timeline links re: Shana (aka Taylor & all her assorted aliases) on Stoopidhousewives.com. It is a stunner. If you are in touch w/ any family members of Russell's, you really must tell them about it, too. I hope that they have a tireless p.i. working for them, and an excellent attorney, too. There's so much in the timeline that absolutely refutes many gross exaggerations and flat-out lies shrieked out by this narcissistic, histrionic, fame craver.

    Russell had extensive business problems, along with his wife, and many people were angry with both Russell and Taylor. I'd say their anger is justified if they were misled into investing in shady ventures and consequently lost all their savings. However, it is sickening how Shana with Many Names repeatedly vilifies Russell. She did it before he took his life, immediately after his suicide, and to this day, she does not cease maligning him. Everything in print and in video is out there forever in the public domain, always accessible to his 3 children. Those kids have to continue on w/o their beloved father who died in such a terrible way. Shana with Many Names brazenly, unabashedly inflicts continuing pain upon Russell's children by making sure that her tale of woe is extensively covered in the media. The showcasing of her will markedly increase over the next few months as her book hits the marketplace. There will be interviews galore, speeches about domestic violence, and book signings. This is why it is critically important for you and Russell's family to dig into the timeline on the Stoopidhousewives.com site. It will provide some legitimate ammunition to prove that so much of what she has said and done has been cloaked in deceit, and is indisputably captured in still pictures, video, and in print. A group of people--some who wish to remain anonymous--worked extremely hard on the timeline with the site owner and her assistant. Their effort to uncover, organize, and post all of it will hopefully result in a huge exposure of lies. Next week's show apparently shows Shana w/ a black eye that she's covered up in make-up. (Her Twitter message recently was (paraphrasing here) to just wait and see the proof, and then she'll supply delish recipes for crow that they can all eat.) This is why I hope that b/f next week's episode airs, the real truth contained in the timeline is released.

    One last thing: when Shana's book is released and is available on Amazon, I hope everyone who knew Russell, and also have solid facts about Shana, will write many comments in the review section.

    I'll keep reading your blog, and thank-you for it!

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    Replies
    1. I'm in touch. We are all aware. Thanks for taking the time to write!

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    2. So glad you all know about it. Sorry about my incredibly long post! Best thoughts to RA's family & you. :)

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    3. No , I appreciate you taking the time to write it. It makes it easier for me to keep up.

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  3. Hi Russ, Thanks for your blog. My children lost their dad in a suspicious suicide when his manipulative wife had drained all of the money and tossed him aside.

    My heart goes out to those who knew and loved Russell. It is a very nice tribute to his life and memory.

    Adgirl

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  4. So glad that you have shed light on the real person Russell was. I am very touched that take the time out in your life to write about him, and let us know what he was really like.

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  5. I have an odd question to ask, Randy, but there is a good reason behind it. Was Russell right or left handed? I have a theory here, and if I have guessed correctly, it might be something useful for you and his family.

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    Replies
    1. 99.9% sure he is right handed so I'm guessing now that her black eye was on the her right which would not make sense. Right?

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    2. I think you're correct about the blackened eye. It would be quite a feat to do that. If you happen to hear from or contact the family, can ask about what his dominant hand was?

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  6. That was a nice memory that you shared. I visualize Russell when he gave his daughter that cute puppy for her birthday and it matches right up with the Russell that you describe. There were some human moments of Russell shown on Bravo that you probably would have liked but there were too few. I hate what Shana has done to his memory and his children. I am not trying to be disrespectful but wonder if you have any comments about the financial investor issues that Russell had as that too is part of the man. Maybe talking about that and getting the truth out there (whatever that truth is) will help in damage control. I think that because of the allegations of financial wrongdoing by Russell it makes it that much easier for Shana's lies to be believed. Just wonder if the financial allegation stuff is put to rest, would Shana loose some traction to her tall tales. I do feel your pain and your continued grief and I do offer my condolences to you in the loss of your close friend of many years. I am sure he is in heaven smiling down on you for looking out for his name/reputation and therefore looking out for his children who he clearly loved.

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  7. There is some important, confirmatory info. on SH, Randy, & it's worth reading every comment.

    Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Dana Wilkey… PAMDANA DISTANCING HERSELF FROM SHANA “TAYLOR ARMSTRONG”… AUDIO

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  8. Interesting. I think your silly stories are just the type of thing that Russell's children will need someday. Especially with the warped-perspective of reality-tv. I'm thinking how sad/and wrong it could be for them if their memories became confused with the character that he was made to look-like on television.-No wonder his family pleaded with Bravo to air nothing! It makes more sense now.
    I don't post on StoopidHousewives.com, but I have been following the investigation, if I could post, I'd point-out a post that I have on my blog, my earlier attempt at a timeline, and at the bottom of that post I have a link and picture of Kathy Griffin and HER bad experience/warning with Lasix eye-surgery.http://njhousewives.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-birthday-liar.html
    Thank-you for sharing the memories of your friendship with us. But most of all, thank-you for doing something for his children that only a friend could do.
    We all know that that woman is going-to publish nothing but lies, which will only make it worse for Russel's kids. It is obvious that she cares nothing for even her own child, she is a cold, selfish, heartless snake.

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  9. Any knowledge of Jennifer Walhgren (also known as Jennifer Diamond)? She turns up in many pics with Shana and seems to have been her companion from Florida>California.

    Jennifer also seems to have changed her name, as well as having several "businesses" that are defunct in FL.

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  10. They moved to California together. I was told they were together NY Eve. I am also told they are lovers.

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  11. If Russel seemed stiff and uncomfortable in front of cameras I think that makes him normal. All these people are famewhores. Airing their dirty laundry & fighting on tv. I just don't feel Taylor is genuine. I think she was scared to leave her lifestyle not him. Hollywood eats people alive. Let's wish Kennedy the best. She looked just like him & seemed to shy away from the cameras.

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