Southampton - Welcome back to Season 2! I am so happy to be back at again this year. It has been a long winter since I last wrote. So where do I begin? I will start with the present. Allyson and I went on a college tour over Spring Break. I have been looking forward to this since she was born. Allyson is an outstanding student and member of the community. I am in awe of her on almost a daily basis.

On our tour of upstate New York, my friend Alan Van Capelle from the Empire State Agenda (otherwise known as the Gay Marriage rights advocacy group) invited us to stop for dinner in Albany. Alan was hoping the Governor would do a drive by, but instead brought two of our State Senators to dinner. We met Senator Craig Johnson from the Great Neck, Long Island district and Senator Kevin Parker from the 21st District in Brooklyn.

Jill Zarin was on hand to help celebrate Lucky Magazine's launch of Shoshanna Gruss and Charlotte Ronson's new swimwear line "Made With Love," on April 16. Photo courtesy of Patrick McMullan.com

Allyson engaged them in a dynamic conversation about her event coming up at Teensturninggreen.org and the issue of the day for kids her age - saving the environment now for their future. Senator Johnson, who I am proud to now call Craig (don't tell Luann!) offered to help Allyson direct her energies toward a bill coming through the Senate this term regarding Styrofoam.

Public schools in NYS still use Styrofoam cups that take 500 years to disintegrate. Not to bother you with the details - leave it to say it is shocking how many we use per day/per year. Allyson has now received the "bill" and will organize a group to go to Albany in the next few weeks and lobby.

Yes, you can learn from lecture and books, but nothing can replace a conversation with the "lawmakers" of our state to put complicated issues in understandable terms. If you want the gossip just go to the Daily News Politics Blog.

We flew to Atlanta and now are on our way to Ohio then Los Angeles and then Las Vegas. I hope you saw Allyson and I in the "American Idol" audience. I was a guest on "Good Day LA." Friday we before we headed to Las Vegas to meet up with my honey Bobby and then home Sunday. Bobby set up this entire trip for the two of us and I will always remember that. I did invite him to join us in LA but he really wanted us to have this special time together.

Bravo announced a new version of "The Real Housewives" franchise - New Jersey. I have to say, I am addicted already. Go to bravotv.com and see some preview videos of the new show. I could not have cast it better myself from who I see. I cannot wait to blog this show! Please visit my website at www.jillzarin.com for a more in depth look at what is going on and lists of my favorite things and photos. I will only be answering questions here while I am blogging for Hamptons.com so please write to me at AskJill@hampotns.com.

I am on Facebook but I reached my friend limit on one of them so please request on the second one. Also, I love to Twitter. Do you? You can always catch where I am and what I am up to daily.

Jill,

How do you put up with Ramona? She seems very two-faced and not a true friend. I have also noticed she seems to be very jealous of you and your life - what's that about? Were you all friends before shooting the hit show?

Sincerely,
Ashley

Dear Ashley,

You have lots of different questions so I will take one at a time. How do I put up with Ramona? Sometimes I don't. But like with all people in my life, I try to recognize the good in people and go to that place. Ramona and I did not start the show as "good friends." We played some tennis together and had common friends often being at the same party. We rarely shared a meal together. I would play tennis at her house with a few girls but she never invited me to stay for lunch. I used think how rude that was. I can't say if anyone is jealous of my life but try to keep bad karma away from us. I wouldn't blame anyone for being jealous of the amazing family I have and friendships I have made over the years. But to have good friends you have to be a good friend.

Dear Jill,

How can I keep myself from yawning during a conversation?

Anita, Columbus Ohio

Hi Anita!

My Aunt Cookie, who you will meet later this season, is also Anita. I wonder if you have a nickname as well? Well, this is a great question. There have been blind studies done with two people in a room separated by a wall to see if when one person yawns the other one does. Is it the air? But this didn't answer your question did it. The answer is, probably not - at least not the first one. As soon as I start to yawn though, I cover my mouth, drink water, chew gum - even suck on a candy. Is this a common problem though? It shouldn't be. If yes, then you are not getting enough sleep or should seek medical attention.

Hi Jill,

You are my favorite of all the housewives. And, you are so beautiful. What do you use on your skin?

Thanks,
Debbie

Hi Debbie,

Thank you for the compliment. I always moisturize but I still haven't found the perfect one. I think what has changed my skin this year has been the chocolate I discovered nine months ago. You can read about it and buy some at llzarinchocolate.com. The new Probotic is changing peoples health and diet. If you just want to buy a box you can do it there. If you want to make some extra income and share with your family and friends let me know!

Jill!

I too, am originally a Five Towns girl. My question to you is how did you and Bobby meet? Is he also a local Long Island fella? You guys make a "Very Cute" couple!

Hi! Thank you for the compliment. Bobby and I met through friends. Though we also were reconnected many times after we first met. We were totally meant to be together and I thank God every day for him and my family. We will be married nine years in January.

Hi Jill,

I enjoy the show a lot, but I am writing out of concern, not really with a question. I am an RN and have been doing research on illnesses caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. This very complex bacteria causes Lyme disease. Please forgive me for referencing your daughter's health, but I don't require a response unless you would like more information. I thought it was mentioned on the show that your daughter has arthritis. Perhaps you already have all this information, but just in case you don't, I am sending it to you. I found out after 21 years, through my own research and persistence, that my fibromyalgia was caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterial infection spread by ticks. Many people have been given other diagnoses, such as Rheumatoid arthritis, MS, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Lou Gherig's disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, autism, ADHD and others, when they actually have Borrelia burgdorferi infection (Lyme disease). It is estimated that only one in 10 cases of Lyme has been diagnosed. The northeast, and in particular, The Hamptons, are absolutely polluted with infected ticks. Fifty percent of people do not remember a tick bite and did not see a bullseye rash; 99 percent of physicians do not know how to recognize, test for, diagnose or treat Lyme, especially if it was not recognized immediately at the onset. Many people think that Lyme was properly ruled out as a cause of their symptoms because "the doctor tested for that and it was negative." A lyme screen/titer is absolutely worthless. Even western blots done by labs other than Igenex in CA cannot be relied on. They do not test for all bands and are not sensitive enough. Most people who were diagnosed right away were also under-treated with only a few weeks of antibiotics. Later they developed symptoms such as joint pain and many other symptoms that physicians deny are related to the original infection. These physicians are very misinformed and under-educated. Lyme disease got its name when a large group of children in Old Lyme, CT were diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Researchers found that the children really had Borrelia burgdorferi - an infection carried by ticks. Most ticks also carry other diseases such as Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, etc. which complicate the illness. Only Lyme Literate M.D.'s can accurately diagnose and treat Lyme. These physicians follow the ILADS guidelines, not the IDSA guidelines which only allow for short term antibiotics and then proclaim you cured even when symptoms persist. I am sending you some links with great Lyme disease information. I don't know your daughter's medical history. I only know that if I lived in your area, and I had children with arthritis or any other suspicious symptoms, I would research Lyme disease like I did. Different people have different sets of symptoms.

Sincerely,
Amber, RN

Dear Amber, I am posting this because I think it has so much valuable information. You are not the first person to think Ally has a missed case of Lyme Disease. I did everything Gloria told me to do. I took Allyson to the NIH in Bethesda, MD and she has been cleared of Lyme disease. I also want to update you that she is feeling OK and is thankful for all your good wishes!