Patti

 Tuesday, when Maggie asked him something along the lines of "did Vivian make her famous fruitcake," and Victor replied something like "With Vivian in the picture, there is no further need for another fruitcake."  LOL!  What a gem you are, Victor.  

 that we never see or hear about the gun again, and was merely a ploy used to question forever if Sami, by throwing the gun in the river, actually did the shooting, or can now also argue the fact that it also had E.J.’s fingerprints on it, indicating that he may have shot himself.  The videotaped confession can always be found at some point and destroyed, perhaps by Nicole, or perhaps Will or Chad ….. and then what???  I don’t believe that the gun will ever be found, and I don’t think for a minute that E.J. has it.

 to settle Alice’s estate, and that she’s currently living there.  Since she mentioned earlier to someone in the Pub (was it Carly) that she might now be staying longer than expected, and perhaps even for good, I think Jennifer is living in Gram’s house.

 storyline to ever underplay a serious disease like lung cancer, which, at 4-stage, is rarely cured let alone lasting, what, a month or so at best, and then magically cured.  It was practically insulting to people who suffered from it, or had loved one suffer and die from it.

 to tell you the truth, I didn’t mind it too much.  At least they paid a little respect to Alice through Julie’s and Doug’s remarks.  Too much sadness in their lives right now to have the true spirit of Christmas shine through, I would guess.  Poor little Ciara.  She looked lost without her parents.  I hope this "on the run" storyline doesn’t last as long as the prison one.  None of these poor kids in Salem can catch a break right now.  I liked the gift exchange between the Hernandez/Brady family.  That was certainly a beautiful picture Rafe gave to Sami of their family.  I really felt sorry for Sami at the end of today’s show, though, having to look through the window of the DiMera’s household, with Nicole tossing Sydney in the air.  Loved Johnny screaming "NO" to Stefano.  Seems he does that a lot, but they deserve it for stripping the child from his mother.  At least we got to see some other decorations around town, and the Kiriakis fireplace looked beautiful as well.  LOL at Kate’s lump of coal in her stocking.  Only Vivian would so pull something like that.  Two Santas (Rafe and Brady) was cute, but I could have done without the scene where Santa wanted to jump Nicole’s bones right in the hospital waiting room.  Those two need to get a room……..and stay there.

 I was just about to come and post my surprise.  Maybe somebody can refresh my recollection when Nicole and Johnny became so close.  I know she was around briefly when Sydney was in the storyline, but really it amazes me how the writers are trying to make Nicole out to be the only one who can soothe Johnny.  What a joke.  If Nicole has interacted with Johnny in anything more than a scene or two here and there, I might see her being the only one to calm him, but this is all a stupid plot by the writers to keep Sami away from her kids.  I can’t wait until she (Sammi) gets her just desserts on both Nicole and Junior, who, I might add, looks even worse with getting his head shaved again.  I hope Johnny grows up hating his family with a passion the likes of which none of them will ever be able to guess would happen.  This child is being mentally abused by his own family.  He wants his mother, you idiots.  Even Lexi sees it.

 I would have to believe that a crime of this caliber would require experience over ‘next-in-line’ seniority.  Rafe’s experience as a former FBI agent does give him a trump card, IMO; however, I really wish the writers would begin writing him in some meatier surroundings rather than simply being a shield for Sami.  It’s starting to not work for me.  I need Rafe’s role to become more forceful and, to say the least, highly overhauled.  I love GG and his character, but if they don’t soon give him the situation that the role requires, I’m going to have to rethink the actor’s ability to carry the role.  More recently I have to agree with many who think he’s boring and a bit wooden.  Although hot as hell in the looks department, he does at times put me to sleep.  For instance, I so wanted him to punch E.J.’s lights out every time he questioned Rafe’s business being in the hospital, or speaking to Johnny, or questioning the doctors and then telling Rafe it’s none of his business and that he needs to go away.  Rafe is Sami’s husband and Johnny’s stepfather.  He has every right to be there.   Find me a director who will allow the men to take a good punch when they deserve it instead of watching another catfight between Sami and her opponent of the day.  Rafe is FBI, for crap sake.  Give him the gonads to go with the title.