Oh, how I wanted to leave Pine Valley with Ryan. Hold on tight and feel that massive piece of equipment throbbing between my thighs. (I was, of course, referring to his motorcycle-you have such dirty minds!)

And why did I want to leave with him? Well, for one thing, Erica has worn out her welcome with me. I abhor domestic violence and am certainly not advocating it in any way, shape or form. However during their hotel room conversation, I wanted Jackson to pick Erica up by her ankles, whirl her around and knock her head against the armoire. Jackson has far more control than I do; I would have throttled her." Maybe I know something. Maybe I don't. Don't you know something Jackson? I can't get Myrtle involved in this." Erica's ego is so massive and she is so immature that she thinks she can control justice in PV. And the unfortunate thing is, she gets away with it. It was barely tolerable years ago when she twisted her testimony against Jeff to suit her own view of the world, almost getting him convicted for murder in the process. The most frustrating thing for me is that she never takes responsibility for her actions. After the Frankie murder trial fiasco, when Jackson pointed out that her false confession enabled the trail to the real killer to grow cold, she replied, "Well, you cannot blame that on me." And who else would we blame it on Erica?

And then there is her relationship with Kendall. Her motivations for giving Kendall up for adoption were perfectly understandable and even laudable. Not being thrilled when Kendall reappeared in her life years ago also perfectly understandable. Not trusting Kendall, also understandable. Not taking any responsibility for bringing Kendall back to PV for the murder trial, not quite so understandable. And Erica telling Kendall that her eyes are exactly like her rapist pedophile father's is pretty much unforgivable.

When Erica was 18 and stomped her foot because the world did not go her way, it was amusing. In her twenties and thirties when we were learning more about father, it was acceptable. And even funny at times, like during her confrontation with the bear. But now the same behavior makes her seem petty, vindictive and just small. And I don't mean because she is short.

The recent storylines are not doing Erica any favors. Nothing says Erica would not be interesting if she grew up a little. I need her to take a trip, a very long trip.

Maybe she could take Hayley with her. I said last spring that Hayley's unhappiness with her life was translating into attacks on Mia. Those attacks are continuing and they don't make much sense. Shouldn't Hayley be having these discussions with Adam, not Mia? And Hayley's tone when she said "your adopted son" was right up there with Erica's recent bitchy behavior. Get a grip, girl.

Not that I am crazy about Mia right now. But I am less crazy about Hayley. Which is sad because Hayley has always been one of my favorite characters. Maybe it's time for Brian Bodine to come back to town and sweep her off feet and out of Mateo's condo.

Well, as long as I am on a roll, here is what else is driving me nuts about PV these days:

Wasn't Kendall's mom, Alice, due in town for the wedding? It is now the next day and she still has not shown up.

Wasn't Leo supposed to be Ryan's best man? Then why didn't Leo show up, only to discover that the wedding wasn't taking place?

Why has there been no discussion at PVPD about the Proteus' evidence that was "lost" in the fire?

Why didn't the DA's office establish the timeline of Kendall's activities the night of the fire a little earlier in the investigation?

How much blonder is Jackson's hair going to get? (Not complaining, just curious.)

How come you can make long distance phone calls from PVH phones when I cannot even make local calls from my hospital's phones?

I understand why Anna suspects that Guy is not really Leo's father, but why does Maggie also seem suspicious?

Why, oh why, was Tim recast?

Why did Liza stop being a realist and start living in her own little fairytale world?
One thing I do understand and did not drive me nuts, was Maria's dumbfounded look after she spoke with Mateo. Dumbfounded, not because she did not recognize the recast's voice, but dumbfounded because she was thinking, "ENZO, they named the baby ENZO? What were they thinking?"

Here is the thing about AMC. It drives me crazy sometimes. It makes me roll my eyes. And yet it still makes me want to tune in every day. And can do something like having hospital bound children sing God Bless America and not make this cynic gag. Don't get me wrong, I love the song, but sentimentality usually has that effect on me. But AMC pulls me in every time.

One final AMC thought: wouldn't it be fun if Jackson turned out to be Greenlee's father? Just think of the repercussions.


I want to thank everyone who sent me good wishes about my surgery. It went as expected and the biopsy was negative. Your kind thoughts and prayers and yes, laughs, made a difficult situation much easier. And I promise, that eventually, I will answer each and every email.

Kate