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I just recently had the joy of working closely with "Operation Gratitude," an organization that helps put together care packages for troops overseas. This was a big weekend for the 1,000+ volunteers who showed up to help, because they wanted to deliver the care packages before Christmas. Not only did "Operation Gratitude" celebrate putting together their 400,000th care package that weekend, they were able to do it with a couple of familiar names in attendance, as well.

"Days of our Lives" very own Jay Kenneth Johnson and Leann Hunley were there, volunteering their time to fill up care packages.

Both, Jay and Leann, were so friendly to fans that approached them for pictures afterwards. It's always refreshing to see celebrities take the time to give back to their community. Don't you agree?

Deidre Hall showed up earlier in the week and brought boxes of items to donate to care packages.

Happy Holidays!

- Days Insider

Know what I've discovered? Sons who come home from college for the first time from a great distance get treated like movie stars. Sons who come home from college who have autism get treated like royalty.

I was throwing a birthday party for my youngest son, Helio, Friday night. He's so popular, the party place was bursting to the gills with both 7th grade girls and boys. I did my usual balancing act between trying to be a cool mom and a drill sergeant. But part of my mind wasn't there at all. Connor was heading home that night from Florida. Would he find the right terminal at the giant Orlando airport? Would he find the right gate? Would he even attempt to board the correct airline?

He's flown a lot with his family but kind of cruised through the whole airport thing and you have to TEACH Connor the vocabulary for everything. He won't pick it up by osmosis. So the language of air travel -- we just weren't sure he was fluent.

We'd tutored him, of course. We pointing things out the last couple of times we vacationed. But when I talked to him on the phone Thursday night, it seemed like all that preparation had gone somewhere in his brain that no one (including himself) could access.

So, after a very confusing and somewhat troubling phone conversation the night before, I just gave up and told him good luck and I would see him tomorrow night. (Maybe.)

Of course he did just fine. Proving once again he doesn't need me or his father to guide him through life's EVERY step. There are still some things… but I have to become increasingly more picky about when I get in his soup and when I back off.

So he's home. And he is so happy. This is a guy who never really loved going to camp when he was little, or sleepovers. He liked family vacations but always breathed a sigh of relief when he came home. Home is safe for him. Home is comfort in a challenging and stressful world. He doesn't have to try so hard at home. He doesn't have to manage chaos at home. He quickly put his warm, comfy robe and slippers on and I fully expect he won't take them off until it's time for him to head back to college.

He's thin. Too thin. He says he doesn't like the cafeteria food at his college. He has a kitchen in his apartment and he knows how to cook a few things but he's certainly not getting three squares a day. As I recall, most first year kids put on weight. "The freshmen fifteen" we used to call it. Not Connor. He's not starving so I'm not going to freak out but maybe we'll learn to make a few more easy things in the kitchen before he heads back.

It's been a crazy fall with all the changes at work. As much soap opera on screen as off. Change is upon us.Nothing I can really do about it. So many new challenges in our business. There are meetings and memos and budgets and lists and numbers being crunched… and the leadership of the show is doing their best. No matter what you think of what's going on, you have to know that.

But the sands are still running through the hourglass. That's a very good thing. And my son is home. That is a very, very good thing.

What can I say? I survived my very first "Days of our Lives" fan event. If I had one word to describe the day, it would be "pandemonium." I knew the show had fans; to actually see the most dedicated of them lined up in the rain was unreal. Keep in mind that this all took place in sunny Los Angeles. I can't even remember the last time it rained here, but low and behold, it decided to rain on that particular day of the event. Even the grey skies couldn't tear down the spirits of these fans. They were just all anxiously waiting to see their favorites and I can personally say, I don't think the fans were disappointed!

I had the pleasure of covering the event for NBC.com and had the time of my life. The fans couldn't have been nicer and more dedicated. In fact, we had fans from Canada, Florida, and even Maine there! And the actors were such a delight. They truly were touched to see how many people came out to support them.

I was also lucky enough to be given my own little room that came with a couch, where the actors could chill out while I asked them questions. I didn't really know how this was going to go, since the entire day seemed to be thrown off a bit because of the rain. I was completely surprised to see just how smooth everything ended up being. Alison Sweeney was the first person to walk up to my little interview station to talk. She was as sweet as can be and just radiant as a pregnant woman. You will have to make sure to catch her interview when it goes live in weeks to come!

Now, I know a lot of you are fans of James Scott and let me tell you, the man is just as dreamy as he appears on your television screens, if not more. He sat on the couch and talked about how genuinely flattered he was with the response he was getting from the fans just outside my room. I hope you all enjoyed my interview I did with him. Here's a sweet photo James took with me after our interview. He sure fits the category of tall, dark, and handsome, doesn't he?

As the day progressed, I was able to take a few breaks, go outside and talk to the fans, hang out more with your favorite actors and the come back and continue my interviews. Personally, one of my favorites to always talk to is Jay Johnson. He and I go back to last year, when he was my chosen "first" hunk to interview for Ask the Hunk. He's always as sweet as can be with his Missouri-bred charm, and those dimples attached to that killer smile aren't bad, either. I hope you all enjoy his interview, as well.

The best part of these interviews from the Day of Days event is that the viewers at home can see firsthand how humble the actors are and how tremendously touched they truly are for having all the fans' support. So, keep up the great work. Your presence is noticed!

Thanks for tuning in to the interviews and please give me your feedback. I appreciate it all! Remember, new interviews from the Day of Days event will be going up every Tuesday and Thursday, so keep watching. Don't forget to browse through the latest photos from the Day of Days event.

Until next time, enjoy the show and tell us what you would like to see going on!

I haven’t made an entry for a while. Things have been very busy here at DOOL. We’ve added new writing staff members—most notably my new co-head, Chris. Yeah! Chris and I have been synching up with Gary as our new and very wonderful executive producer and coming up with some fun storylines for the near future. There’s a new direction to the show and a new energy and I hope the fans are enjoying it as much as I am. If you’re an EJAMI fan, I urge you to hang in there for the long haul. We’ve got a long way to go with Sami and EJ and our new character, Rafe. We also have another new actor on the canvas and I’m excited about his interpretation of Brady, who will be factoring into the Nicole side of this grouping. This “dueling pregnancies” story is driving now and we’ve got a lot of twists and turns coming up. It’s going to be a fun ride no matter who you root for as a couple. I’m sure you all think you know where the story is going but I think we have a few surprises up our sleeves.

At home, things are crazy, as always. You’d think, with two kids gone, that I’d have less on my plate, but that’s just not the case. I just got back from visiting Connor in Florida for parent’s weekend at BEACON College in Leesburg. It was a wonderful trip. We went to a dinner/dance fundraiser together and he forgot his dress shoes, so in true Florida style, he went in a dress shirt/pants and flip flops. He’s so handsome now, as some of you may have seen in PEOPLE Magazine. We spent some time in Orlando at one of the resorts and had a lot of fun. I can’t wait for him to visit home at Thanksgiving.

Jensen got the flu bug going around USC and sweetly gave it to me. But she’s better now (she recovered much quickly than I did) and she’s loving college. She’s getting involved in the election. I’m proud of how she’s so excited to be voting for the first time. She’s taking that responsibility very seriously and doing some campaigning for her candidate of choice. (I can’t say more because Jensen likes her privacy.)

Adelle is playing volleyball. She is really into the TWILIGHT series of books. She can’t put them down. She is anxiously awaiting the movie.

Helio is running cross country and navigating the difficult waters of 7th grade. He’s so sweet and handsome and continues to be a real leader with his peers.

As for other events of note, I’d like to mention the passing of Jim Reilly. He was, and will always remain, an amazing force behind the history of DAYS. I was lucky enough to write for him during the “Buried Alive” storyline—one of my favorites. Of course, I think he will most be remembered for having Marlena act completely out of character when she was possessed and then again when she was a serial killer. Two very popular and successful storylines. Jim’s imagination was crazy and it was an adventure working for him. He will be missed by the entire daytime community.

I had the recent pleasure of hanging out with two of "Days of our Lives" latest stars, Eric Martsolf and Galen Gering.
Both guys may look familiar because they used to be on the daytime drama "Passions." This may explain why they were so comfortable with one another, joking around and even giving me a joint interview over their lunch break.
I'll start with just a few of the questions I got answered by sitting down with Galen, while Eric ate his lunch.

Days Insider: How has your time been so far over here at "Days of our Lives"?

Galen Gering: I am having a blast. I am playing a fun character. It's a fun relationship I am working with. I play a character by the name of Rafael, or "Rafe," which is my grandfather's name in real life. So, this character has a little extra special meaning for me. You get the heartfelt stuff here. Anyway, I play a cop who is assigned to protect Sami and she's a pain. But, what she doesn't realize is that her game is not tight enough to take on RAFAEL HERNANDEZ!

Eric Martsolf: That's all you got! I am all ready to walk down the aisle with Chloe and Nicole. Apparently, Brady is off the drugs and ready to take Salem by storm.

D.I.- What has it been like sharing scenes with Alison Sweeney?

G.G.- Awesome! I have known Ali for a long time; while working at "Passions," we have done press stuff together. We actually even hosted some stuff together. Besides having fun working with Ali, I am having fun working with her character. She's spunky and throws it right back you. We play off each other very well. She and I were just talking about how much fun we are having with our characters.

D.I.- Eric, how does it feel to come into a role as a re-cast?

E.M.- This is not the first time I have been in this situation. When I was on "Passions," I came in mid-scene as Ethan. My first scene was my face smashed up against plexiglass. I think my transition here will be a lot easier.

D.I.- Are you ever surprised with just how dedicated your fans are?

G.G.- Totally. There are pictures of me out there as a child that I haven't even seen, myself.

E.M.- There are wedding photos of mine that were taken in the compounds of my home, that all of a sudden made an appearance in some mash-up video made by a fan in Virginia.

D.I.- Do you have a craziest fan encounter story?

G.G.- I have a really good one! This woman who was incarcerated in West Virginia kept writing me over and over and with things like, "We're soul mates," and "I am getting go out soon and we'll be together." It started freaking me out. So, anyway, I searched and found out the exact date she was getting out and it turned out I really did have an autograph signing in that area at the exact same time. I was really freaking out. I alerted security and everything and she never showed up. Maybe she really never got out, who knows.

E.M.- I once had a woman start screaming at me in a grocery store that I was an idiot for still being with Gwen and not Theresa, then she just walked away.

So, there you have it. My short time spent with the newest additions of "Days of our Lives." I hope you look forward to their appearances as much as I do.

In fact, give me your thoughts. Who would you like to see Rafael and Brady share more scenes with? What do you think is in store for these two very different characters?

Just recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with two "Days of our Lives" veteran actresses, Peggy McCay and the Daytime Emmy award-winning actress, Suzanne Rogers.

I met up with Peggy as she was waiting for her photo shoot to begin. She is so full of life and immediately began sharing stories of growing up in New York. She's just as warm and friendly as she appears to be while playing the matriarch of the Brady family, Caroline. I was able to ask her a few questions that fans would love to get answers to.

Days Insider: What would you say your favorite storyline has been?
Peggy McCay: I would say this current storyline is my favorite one. Being accused of Trent Robbins' murder and being caught with the murder weapon by my own son who's part of the Salem police department. You cannot get more dramatic than that.

D.I.: How does it feel to be sharing more scenes with John Aniston?
P.M.: I like working with John very much. He's a lovely guy, a pleasure to work with, that's for sure and what can I say, he's very handsome. Maybe he can be your next "Ask the Hunk." To Caroline, he's definitely a hunk!

Next, I sat down with Suzanne Rogers, who has played the character of Maggie Horton for over 34 years. When she first told me that, I had to reply with a "wow"! She doesn't even look old enough to be considered a veteran actress of the show. She considers "Salem" her home away from home.

The Virginia native was sweet enough to sit down with me and answer a few of my questions.

Days Insider: Are there any storylines that stick out for you as favorites?
Suzanne Rogers: Of course the red shoes storyline, I know everybody is thinking the red shoes. That movie was my favorite when I was a little girl, of course the show did not know that at the time. My first storyline was when my character was on crutches, and my husband at the time gave me a pair of red shoes to help encourage me to learn to walk and those magical red shoes worked. You know I still have those red shoes in my wardrobe closet. The next favorite storyline was when my character lost her adopted daughter. Of course, that was the storyline that won me my Emmy.

D.I.: Speaking of, where is that Emmy now?
S.R.: It's on my mantle in my den. It's the first thing you see when you walk into my house. I don't understand when people put them in their bathroom or hide them. What can I say? I want other people to see it, too!

D.I.: You are going to be at the "Day of Days" fan event, right?
S.R.: You better believe it! I can't wait to meet all of our fans that have been so loyal to us. They love our show and we do our best to keep it good. There may be some storylines that fans don't like, but as long as we keep things interesting, the core will always still be there. The core of our show is the romance. Let's bring back even more romance in daytime!

Here's a lovely photo of Suzanne behind the scenes of her latest photo shoot.

Remember to stay tuned to my blog next week when I have a chance to sit down and talk to the latest hunks to grace the town of Salem: Eric Martsolf and Galen Gering.

Hi Everybody,

This is like calling down a long, dark hallway. You're never quite sure what you're going to say or if anybody is there to hear you, but you call anyway.
I've only heard the word blog, so when NBC approached me to do one, I made up what it was.

What I imagined was a page in which I can share all kinds of photos, update the readers on my life and career, read your thoughts about the show, answer Marlena questions , share information that comes to me that is begging to be shared, i.e. how to cut your roses, trim your bangs, or how to make sure you are registered to vote!!!

I'm hoping it turns out to be all those things, but for now it is to say 'Hello'.

You'll find me here because, the doctor is IN!!

Deidre