Yesterday afternoon and early evening, my phone was ringing out of it's little belt holder, with bloggers from all over the region calling to say they were afraid to brave the area roadways.  The sidewalks in front of my house started to look like a winter Olympics skating venue as a steady drizzle of freezing rain coated the city, and I couldn't blame them.

Still, the gathering happened!  It was smaller, but in some ways almost better!

Last night, I sat around my dining room table with Jonathan Washburn and some favorite area blog buddies, and we talked about all kinds of stuff, from Active Rain to the real estate meltdown to the new administration to his adventures at NAR yesterday afternoon. 

From left to right, we have James Downing, Margaret Woda (who brought some absolutely evil home-made cookies!), Jonathan Washburn, Craig Barrett, me, and Ken Montville.

Margaret Rome called in (the roads in Baltimore and we passed the phone to Jon, talking to her in front of my Christmas tree.  Yeah, yeah, it is still standing, although I did manage to get the ornaments off and put away!

If you ever get the chance to talk to Jon, get him talking about the early days of Active Rain.  His face lights up and he totally personifies that old adage that you find something you love to do and you'll never have to "work".

And I have to acknowledge John MacArthur for his efforts to make it.  He slid his way from Olney toward DC and after a couple of hours hadn't even gone half way, so he slid home again.  We missed you, John!