It's literally 100 degrees at my house today.  Can plants get sunburned?  I think mine are.  Kyle (Phillip) and I have been discussing home-ownership lately.  He just bought a house and is fixing it up.  It gets so hot where I live that I have a few really sun-loving plants on my deck.  The Jasmine is doing well, and it smells so nice as I walk by.  I don't really have a green thumb or anything, but Dave (my husband) and I love to enjoy the evenings outside.  Dave is an excellent BBQ-er (such a guy thing, right?!) and we love to have our friends over for a good BBQ and enjoy the sunset on our deck. 

Last weekend Kyle hosted a kick-butt house-warming party at his house.  He passed out a flyer at work - Kylepalooza was a hit.  The stories from Kyle's all-night, frat-style party are slowly piling in.  People we don't even know, who work at NBC, were approaching Kyle about it.  Too funny.  Dave and I went early because, and could only stay for a little bit.  My little brother's first professional gig as a cellist in a symphony was the same night.  My whole family turned out to listen to his debut performance.  He was awesome.

I don't know about your work, but at Days, the studios can always be counted on to be the exact opposite of the temperature outside.  When it's hot, like now, it's a meat-locker inside the studios.  All the actresses are wearing robes in between scenes to keep warm on stage.  It's hilarious.  Sometimes in party scenes, we'll even have Ugg boots or slippers on under the dresses.  Richard Bloore, the costume designer, made bunny slippers for Sami last year, and I asked if I could keep them in my dressing room, and now I wear them to set all the time.  I recently had scenes with Ari (Nicole) and we were both laughing because even while I'm in my tallest heels, she was still taller than me in her slippers. Not fair! 

Who's excited for the Days Fan weekend coming up??  My favorite event is Jim Reynold's (Abe) Basketball game.  It's on Sunday at 2pm.  I hope everyone who can come will come to Jim's game.  It's for a good charity too. 

And, yes, I've downloaded the desktop count-down to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.  The question is, have I caved and tried to look for spoilers on the storylines???  NO!!  (and if I had, I wouldn't tell you!)

xxoo,
Ali

This week I'm going to New York for the Daytime Emmy's on Friday.  I'm so excited.  Kristian (Hope), Dee (Marlena), Drake (John), Peter (Bo) and I are all going to be presenters in the award ceremony.  It's going to be such a fun weekend, first because I love New York City.  It's such a fun place to visit.  Second, because it's so great to catch up with all the actors from other shows.  We meet at events like this, and on Personal Appearances and such, so it's really fun to have an occasion to get together and visit.

Also, I have family in Connecticut, and it's going to be so great to get to introduce them to Ben!!! He's 12 weeks old already... can you believe it?  My cousins and my aunt and uncle are looking forward to seeing him in person - all those digital photos I've been sending I'm sure have overloaded their inboxes I'm sure!

I'm going to be signing autographs at the NBC Experience store on Saturday (May 21st) between 12 and 1pm.  If you live near New York, I hope you come down to say 'hi'! 

We've been shooting these group scenes in the last couple days and as always, when a bunch of us are together in one scene, hilarity ensues.  Eric (Rex), Bryan (Lucas) and I were chatting about our weekend plans, and Eric said Bryan, do you have Will this weekend?  Bryan just looked at him - and Eric asked again!? Do you have Will with you this weekend?  And Bryan, totally deadpan, responded My son's name is Gabriel.  It was so funny.  Eric finally realized that he had been saying our character's child's name - it just sounded so natural to him that he didn't catch on right away!  We called him 'Rex' for the rest of the afternoon to tease him.

Today, I brought Ben out on set to say 'hi' to everyone.  Days is like a big extended family - everywhere he goes people are saying "Ben's here!"  "Hi, Ben!"  It's so cute.   .  And when I brought him on stage, he was so serious at first, looking around at everyone.  The camera guys shot close-ups of him, and recorded it.   So while we're working, rehearsing dialogue and stuff, the Technical Director will bring up his face on the monitors.  He was laughing at Bryan, so it's the cutest shot of him with a big smile on his face.

It has definitely been a long week for me - with very little sleep I might add!  Staying up late with Ben, and then having to head off to work at the crack of dawn has taken it's toll on me... I'm off to take a nap. 

xxoo,
Ali

There is a thread on my site where fans had posted a lot of questions for me.  I thought I should answer them!!!   So here are a few:

What are your thoughts on the Stami storyline? I think it is so clever of the writer's to write that storyline while you are away. I just can't believe they came up with this storyline. Just wondered what you thought of their idea for your time away. - Cher

First, I love the name "Stami".  Too funny.  Anyway, I couldn't believe it when I first heard the story.  I think it's ingenious!  It was a really unique and cool way to keep the storyline going while I was on maternity leave.  And, of course it's believable  I've always said "Sami would do anything" ...well, disguising herself as a man to get revenge on her enemies certainly proves my point.

What do you think of Austin Peck coming back to Days?  angrog3

Everyone was thrilled when we heard Austin was coming back to Days.  Bryan (Lucas), Lauren (Kate) and I had been talking about it after we first started reading about the rumor in Soap Digest.  We all agreed it would be so great for the story  what a huge shock it would be for Sami if Austin just came back to town!!  I have no idea what the story will be, but I can't wait to play that moment when she first sees Austin again. 

Hey Ali, I was wondering what is your favorite time with Baby Ben?  PrincessThesia

(yes,  I had to include a Ben question!) 
That's a tough question because I love being with Ben no matter what.  My favorite is when he laughs  and he does smile and laugh all the time.  It just melts my heart every time.  Dave does these funny voices with puppets that cracks Ben (and me) up. 

Your character has not always been soo innocent, and can be quite devious. I was wondering have people often reacted to you as Sami, instead of Ali? Like when you are out shopping has anyone been mean to you.  lisak

Usually fans are very nice and considerate, and I enjoy meeting people who watch the show and finding out from them, face-to-face, what they think of the show and Sami.  Normally they say "You do a great job --- I HATE Sami!!"  lol.  It's fun knowing my character riles so many people up.  When I'm on stage doing a particularly nasty scene, sometimes I think about how the fans are going to be yelling at me through their TV's.
Only a few times have people actually been mean to me because they don't like Sami. One time a fan approached my husband, Dave, when I wasn't even with him.  She said "I hate your wife.  She's a *itch!"  At first he was appalled, but then the friend he was with said "you mean on the show?!!?!" 

My question is this: Your character has been pretty consistent over the years (being the "bad girl" that noone likes). Do you think that your character might change and Make Sami a well liked person?
Maybe the Stami storyline will be an eye opener for Sami and she will become a better person out of it? Would you want that? Do you get bored playing the same type of character?  BigDaysFan

I hope she doesn't change!!  Whenever Sami's in a bad situation she always prays ... "give me another chance and I'll change.  I'll be a better person!"  But I'm always secretly thinking don't change!  I love playing Sami just the way she is.  It's such a fun role to play.
Sami has always had a lot of levels to her personality.  I've never seen her as just a villain, there are people she loves, people she hates, etc.  Since her relationship with Lucas I've thought Sami really toned down a lot.  It was only when she realized that Kate was up to no good that she had to go back to scheming. 
I never get bored playing Sami.  Every day when I get a new script to read I am eagerly turning the pages wondering what's going to happen next.

How did it feel to bring baby Ben home for the first time? - MamaAng

Bringing Ben home was just the most overwhelming experience.  While we were at the hospital it felt like it wasn't real, in a weird way.  But when Dave and I walked into our home for the first time, as a family, it just hit us, how different our lives were going to be from now on.  Nothing can prepare you for how it feels to be a parent  all those books help, but nothing is like being at home, alone, with this tiny, helpless baby, and you look around and realize that you're the grown-up!


I hope this has answered some of your questions, and if you have more, feel free to post them! 
xxoo,
Ali