<--- Welcome to the party

The First Annual ActiveRain Birthday Party in Seattle was a resounding sucess! Zillow was there, RainCityGuide was there, the MortgagePorter was there, F5 Networks was there, as well as SoundBiteBlog (shameless plug). It was like a who's who of Washington Internet Real Estate personalities.

Lydia (I think) chose a beautiful spot for a springtime water-view barbeque to host the event. She couldn't have chosen better, in my opinion. Magnolia Park is small enough that it doesn't get over-full on a beautiful weekend, with a panoramic view of the Puget Sound. The park has terrific grass lawns and huge, old trees to filter the sun. AR had reserved the covered cooking area.

 <--- The SoundBiteBlog Gang.

The first thing we saw on arrival was the long picnic table loaded down with food. I think everybody brought something! This was not your average hamburgers, hotdogs and chips fare. We had everything from appetizers to desert. If I had tried everything available, I would have staggered home. There must have been 5 different kinds of pasta salad (all really good) fruits and vegatables, lemon bars and beer, and of course a Birthday Cake for ActiveRain!

<--- Caleb and company

Here's some tidbits from the conversations:

Matt met his wife online, romanced her and married her! (they spend way too much time online). If you haven't figured it out yet, Lydia IS in charge! Ask her, she'll set you straight. She's a born organizer and a terrific hostess. Everyone was made to feel welcome.

Caleb is just as engaging and smart in person as he is on the network. His ideas and views go way beyond his years. He has a great smile that is on his face most of the time and talks a mile-a-minute when you get him on something he's passionate about. Then he laughs at himself for getting carried away!

<--- Our wives flirting with the camera

More tidbits...

Toby Barnett is way younger in person than his profile picture! Toby writes for the Seattle PI Real Estate blog, if you didn't already know. He's another guy with a full-time smile on his face.

Betsy Talbott is just as vivacious and insightful in person as you'd think from her writing. She brought along her husband, Wayne(oops) Warren. He's just as out-going and fun as she is! Wayne ( I shouldn't be allowed) Warren works for F5 Networks and says "We make the internet run!", with a great big laugh at his own flamboyant claim. Betsy's husband clearly loves to laugh and share stories about life with Betsy. I don't think she'll ever lack attention!

<--- Photo of the crowd

More tidbits...

ARDELL is ARDELL! There is only one and you cannot mistake her for anyone else! I thinks she greeted everyone with a smile and a handshake! Then, as you'd expect, she settled into animated conversations with numerous people about all the topics she loves. Real Estate, blogging, Seattle life and Project Blogger.

<--- The ferry ride to the party

More tidbits...

Ben Wiseley (the code monkey) is married to a German lady who runs her own Translation Company (she can swear at him in at least 4 different languages). He's a big bear of a guy who teamed up with James to keep the hamburgers and hotdogs coming. He's even more friendly in person than he is on the network.

<--- Another shot of the gathering

More tidbits...

Rhonda Porter, who I was intimidated to meet in person, and her husband were about as friendly and easy to talk to as neighbors. Rhonda's been one of my favorite writers for a long time. Between her articles on RainCityGuide and TheMortgagePorter, she spends time keeping up one of the nicest neighborhood blog sites I know of. Her husband is in the Title Industry and told us he was in diguise for the day, so I won't blow his cover here!

<--- Rich and Janice

Rich J and his beautiful wife Janice drove over with Marie and I. We should do more things together, we always have a great time. Janice likes to remind me that she and I get along so well because she is a fifth-grade teacher and I will never grow up. Marie surprised me with a custom embroidered SoundBiteBlog polo shirt to wear to the the party/barbeque. Between the new shirt and the new "No Cry Babies hat that came in the mail from Cyndee Haydon of Florida, I was "stylin' "!

<--- The big dog heads home.

After begging and pleading Rich gets to drive us home in his wife's stylish ride. He looks pretty darn good in it doesn't he? 

All in all, it was a great time. We had great food, excellent company, tons of conversations and Mother Nature was showing off in the Pacific Northwest.