Taking the Stage … and a Leap of Faith

Many times, as I am daydreaming out the passenger side window while someone else drives, I am captivated by the passersby. I often imagine the day of the other cars’ occupants … their lives, them getting ready and getting into their cars to start the day.

Like those people in cars, we all move around on this planet in our designated or chosen groups or families.  How do we create our little circles? And why are we so easily ruffled or annoyed when a stranger stands too close or otherwise infringes on our circle? Sometimes, I think we close those circles in so tight that we find ourselves stuck … maybe we want to branch out, but we no longer know how.

A Whirlwind Weekend and the Greatest Gift

As I laid down in my bed Sunday night, tired from a whirlwind week, a busy month and a tremendous year, my mind raced with excitement and memories. The days leading up to this weekend were long, but really, for me it’s been a 30-year road. A happy, fulfilling road that I never planned or expected, but one for which I am eternally grateful.

Later this month I’ll celebrate 30 years on Days of Our Lives. I remember the audition well, and remember thinking at the time that the three-year contract they were offering seemed like a lifetime. Now, looking back on the years since then, I think this 30-year gift of daytime is the best career I could have asked for.

A FANtastic Weekend

Over the past few weeks, I, along with my long-time friends/colleagues, have been celebrating Days of Our Lives’ 50th anniversary with abandon – parties, cake-cutting, photo opportunities and catching up with old friends. In an industry where it is so rarely the case, Days of Our Lives and Ken Corday have given us this amazing gift of a “home.” For most, if not all, of us, it was initially just a job opportunity … a perceived short-term thing and then, as the nomadic actor life goes, on to the next “gig.” Now, 29 years have passed for me since I signed that first contract (and that’s short compared to so many there), and I feel lucky everyday!

My Sands Through the Hourglass

In three days, Days of Our Lives will celebrate 50 years on television. 50 years! In a world where shows are lucky to last five episodes, this is such a huge milestone – one that speaks volumes of the impact and significance of this show, not only for daytime TV, but for entertainment as a whole.

blog43_3Last week I got my copy of Days of Our Lives 50 Years – a beautiful coffee table book by Greg Meng that chronicles this show over the past five decades. As I flipped through the book, literally page by page, I was blown away. First, as someone who has been fortunate enough to be a part of the show, it was like looking through my own family album. But more so, as a fan of the show (and I am a fan), it was an emotional walk down memory lane. I sat with that book for hours, taking in every page, and feeling such a sense of pride and honor to have been a part of this truly amazing show.

If you give an actor a cookie …

blog28_3When my kids were growing up, I loved it when they’d bring their friends to our house to hang out; and one way to make sure they did was to always have fresh-baked cookies. As usual for me, I found a recipe and added a little of this and changed a little of that to make it my own. The result is a pretty darn good chocolate chip cookie … if I do say so myself.  And if you don’t believe me, I’ve gotten a few testimonials from my Days of Our Lives co-workers – who have also enjoyed them over the years.

These are super easy to make, so I typically keep the ingredients on-hand so I can make them for my kids, friends or co-workers on a whim. Try these out and let me know what you think. And, if you have a cookie recipe you love – I’d love for you to share yours too!

The 29-year gift of friendship

This week is the 27th anniversary of the wedding of Steve & Kayla, and in thinking of that, I can’t help but think of the amazing gift these characters gave me a 29-year friendship with Stephen Nichols. Over the course those 29 years, we have laughed, cried and loved each other. And to have the opportunity to work together again, after years apart, is something for which I am so grateful.

In honor of “our 27th wedding anniversary,” I wanted to share a short conversation between the two us us. Thanks for your help with the questions we’ll do this again soon!

Rejection, Kissing & Taking Care of Your Feet

One of the best parts of starting PLANK has been the opportunity to hear from so many of you – your thoughts, feedback and kind words have been so great to read. And, while I haven’t responded to every comment, I do read and appreciate each one of them … and they’ve given me several ideas for future blogs.

Recently, I received an email from one of our PLANK readers, Lynne Hasselman, who shared not only kind words about the blog, but also a number of suggestions for future topics. I was so impressed with Lynne’s thoughtful email (she’s clearly a writer), that I thought I’d take on the whole thing as my first real video blog.