Last Friday, or was it Saturday??? This time of year all the days seem to run together, I received a contact from      The FHA EXPERT, Jeff Belonger. (Sorry Jeff, wrong photo but it looks good don't you think?) Seems he was coming down from his neck of the woods to watch the Redskins beat the Eagles on Sunday and while here he decided to contact a few Active Rainers for an impromptu holiday get together over lunch. After a little juggling over where that lunch would be we all met up at Famous Daves just outside Annapolis near our Mall.

Margaret Rome was there and with her Type E personality had made name tags for all of us to wear. Is she together or what? She also brought along her newly published book and her publisher Peg Silloway too which was an extra nice treat.

  Pat Kennedy drove down from DC in her freshly cleaned real estate car and even gave us pointers as to the proper placement of our phones Blackberries during lunch. For all of you that do not know the politically correct placement of your phone while dining, it is on your right just above your spoon.

John MacArthur flew down from Olney, Md. Well he drove actually. He was thrilled to be there because afterwards he was going right across the street to the Mall to Christmas shop. He is such a well organized man and knows exactly how to take care of multiple tasks at one time. 

Audrey-June Forshey came down from Gaithersburg. This 19 year Maryland Realtor has an Alabama accent to die for and the stories to go with it.

Lewis Portez from Open Mortgage was there. Seems he had been hanging with Jeff for the past few days and no those are not his shoes hanging on the wall and no it is not a Maryland custom to do so as so many think it is. Lewis is a true gentleman and keeps his shoes on his feet as all us Marylander's do in restaurants.

Rich Iarossi was there as well. He and I work out of the same real estate office. He joined AR after me and has already passed me in points but hey, he has one grandchild, I have 17, he has a wife and I have a husband so our work loads are definitely skewed. I will catch up though so watch out Mr. Rich!! :)

Jeff brought his insurance man with him. Sorry but for the life of me I can not remember his name. Anyway, not sure if he was along because they are friends or if it is because Jeff has a freak accident phobia. Who's kidding who, it's the phobia that got him there. LOL

A few more showed just as I had to leave. Seems this time of year I never have enough hours in a day to accomplish everything but I am sure glad I found some time for this get together even though I had to leave early.

Thanks Jeff. Your impromptu get together was a very special treat and the perfect way to start this Christmas week. Sorry your football team did not win. That certainly wasn't very hospitable of us but you know us Marylanders, we have just enough yankee in us to be that way. Quite frankly my dear, I do give a hoot. That was how Rhett said it, wasnt it??  Us yankees have trouble with those southern sayings you know

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Lets do it again next year!!