Patti

 and I really liked the way Jen and Daniel as much as told their girls that although they love and understand why they did what they did, that they were the parent, and that Abbey and Melanie simply had no say in the matter.  Although I will admit, I was a little on Melanie’s side, because Abbey was verbally attacking Daniel, which she not only had no right to do, but since Jack is no shining example of fatherhood, she should have thought twice about her critical evaluation of Daniel.  Did she really think Daniel was stressing Jennifer out so much by "pushing" himself on her so as to cause he to break out.  Ridiculous little girl.  Like I said, she better concentrate on Kate’s plans for her future and leave her mother’s alone.

 I am absolutely loving the Rafe/Fafe showdown.  How great was GG and AS today?  I thought it was fabulous the way they shot the scenes with Rafe and R2 fighting.  Both faces were splendidly done; usually you just see the back of one character, but the way they switched it back and forth between good and evil was terrific.  Props to director and cameraperson(s).  And Galen’s performance is definitely Emmy worthy for this dual role.  Stupid R2 should have known that Sami would know he was the impostor.  This is the man she’s hated for months.  He should have known she would have realized that he was the one working for the DiMeras.  He sounds just like them.  And she knows now that real Rafe is "her" Rafe.  I love the way they are doing this.  I love it even more that E.J. is just digging his hole deeper and deeper, but what I don’t understand is what kind of leverage Nicole will have on him once this all comes out?  She’ll be "open season" where the DiMeras are concerned.  Oh, well …. maybe that’s what the spoiler meant when it said she would have the upper hand on E.J. ….. "for now."  Can’t wait til Sami starts helping Rafe remember.  Best storyline I’ve seen for a long time, so I’d be willing to bet Higley didn’t write it.  Probably one of the script writers.

 even though he was putting on his best game face and I give him all the credit in the world for just getting through two difficult routines, you could see the pain in his face and in his performance.  People of a certain age who come on DWTS and try and compete with the younger contestants are usually very lucky if they even make it this far.  Ralph and Kirstie both deserve a standing ovation for their effort; however, having said that, Kirstie and Ralph are definitely reaching the end of the line, I would be hard pressed to think it would be Kirstie over Ralph.  Injuries happen to the best of dancers, even the pros, and it’s a chance they all take when they sign up.  Problem is, once an injury hits one of the "older" dancers, it’s very hard for them to overcome and continue without reinjuring themselves.  For Ralph to have held in their with only 9 hours of rehearsal was amazing, but it won’t save him if the votes aren’t there, and I’m not so sure they will be.  Also, and I know many won’t agree, I would not be surprised if Mark doesn’t talk or ‘gesture’ himself and Chelsea right out of that trophy.  I give her a lot of credit for getting in his face about how he’s been acting over the past week or two, and admitting that it’s does reflect a certain degree of "look at me, I’m perfect," or a sudden burst of anger with even the slighest showing of a lewd action because he’s not happy with a critique will send a dancer packing no matter how great they really are, and I think Chelsea was right in reminding Mark of this.  Seems this young man has become the new Maks, who has really calmed down this year.  In any case, I’m still rooting for Hines.  He’s the whole package for me, and I still think he’ll win it, unless Mark learns that he’s not the only 10 on stage.

 that you can’t see anything likable about her whatsoever.  I don’t feel that way at all.  I love the actress.  Tamara Braun is giving the role of Taylor the substance required to take her in the direction these writers are going.  I do not see the unattractiveness you seem to believe is there with Tamara at all.  The only thing I see is that she is so very thin that off-the-shoulder tops do accentuate her shoulder’s bone structure much more-so than others.  I’ve seen this with other actors who, regardless of the fashion, just should not wear the clothes.  Their bodies are just not built for it.  As for her eyes, I think she has big eyes for such a small face, but I think they are pretty, not dark and sunk in.  She has pretty hair, and a very pretty mouth, which I think is one of her better qualities.  All in all, I guess when you dislike someone as much as you dislike Taylor, or I should say Tamara Braun, it’s hard to find anything good in them.  Personally, she runs rings around the other actress in the acting department, and the work that TB will doing in the very near future could never have been convincing with NL, IMHO.  She’s just better in the role.  NL is a gorgeous young woman, but unfortunately she just cannot act.  Well, I’ll just say, she’s no Tamara Braun, that’s for sure.

 He definitely does have one, although not as strong as E.J.’s British one.  He is a real hot number, that’s for sure.  As for Sami and Rafe, I couldn’t agree more.  I was smiling all through today’s show.  Hell, I even rooted for Melanie today when she went off on Abbey, who got on my nerves, especially when just the other day she was telling Jennifer how perfect Daniel was, and how hot he was, and gave her stamp of approval.  I think Jennifer needs to take her down a peg or two.  Can’t wait till the rest of this week airs, when Rafe really starts to get a lot of memories back.  Now, all they have to do is get revenge on Junior and fatha’ and I’ll be one happy camper, and I DON’T care if it takes all summer to do it, as long as it’s done.  From spoilers I’ve read, E.J. is going to wish more than once that he never followed Stefano’s orders, and he’s going to have more than just Rafe and Sami to worry about.

 and I don’t think she’s insecure at all.  You must have her mixed up with Chloe.

 The dress was really cute, and I loved her hair.  I thought it was so cute that she had to ask Abbey to help her pick out what she was going to wear, and then asked her advice on the earrings.  Finally, Abbey giving Jen her own earrings to wear, and Jen’s comments about not wanting to be too "hip" and wanting to "look her age" was a delightful scene between mother and daughter.  I could certainly relate to the fact that it’s hard to get back into the dating game when you’ve been with one man for so long, so I could totally understand Jen’s sort of nervous yet giddy way to seeking Abbey’s approval as to whether or not she looked okay.  Very sweet in a sense where the mom became the teen, while the teen became the mom.  Loved it.