Great post Howard. I was at a blogging conference yesterday and got to meet a guy face-face that I'd "met" through our blogs several months ago. Felt like I knew the guy and we were old friends.  Pretty cool stuff....

Yes Howard I agree and this is why we keep coming back. The varied personalities are interesting at least and if someone gets attacked it is good to see several come forward to defend them.

This is like a family as it has been said before and you guys are all so interesting since we are all at various stages in our real estate lives. I wish I had this group sooner when I was just starting out 8 years ago.

I do miss people when they go back to work, John is missing still and Gary hasn't been around for a couple of days. We notice when people who blog regularly don't come and stop and chat and we enjoy the new ones.

To quote Forest Gump " life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get". This site is like the chocolates, you may find nuts, carmels (hard and chewy personalities), soft centers (some expose their soft underbellies) etc. Sometimes you bite into something that you have no idea during or after what you just had. Isn't that true here?

And Howard, don't tell anyone else, but you are one of my favorites.

it's nice to be able to carry an adult "conversation" other than with my clients when my husband is on the road! I think I know more about a lot of people on Reliberation than I ever knew about people I worked with back when I worked in bigger offices. Not to mention, I have no doubt I'd know who to contact in various areas if I ever wanted to move or refer out a client ... you can tell quite a bit about how we do business and who is a good "match" for our clients.

Nowhere do I feel as secure as here under the guard of BECKY'S BAT! :-)

Howard – I have been touched by a lot of people on this site. I think I have run through every emotion there is at one time or another. There are some that it takes a little longer to get used to them but like people you meet anywhere, they all don’t fit the mold but eventually you understand them. You may not agree with them but you do understand.

This blog also allows you to interact with some people that may not normally be in you circle of friends for many different reasons. It allows you to see different perspectives on situation that you have always looked at through your eyes and those that surround you, which are normally of similar persuasion. If you are able to have an open mind, you can be moved and maybe even reevaluate some long time beliefs.

Perhaps as it grows in notoriety it will lose some of the small town charm but I hope to enjoy it while it last.

This is like a win-win-win.  Jay, what in the freak is a "blogging conference?"..... Sounds freaky but I'm totally in !!!

Hi Michaela, your logo is turning me on !!!

Radley, ... you are something! :-)

Radley - a blogging conference is just what it sounds like. A bunch of people (real estate people in this case) getting together to talk about blogging.

Sounds very geeky and boring, but it really wasn't.

Besides, a title company was buying drinks....

More here if you're really interested: http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/first-southwest-real-estate-blogging-conference-thanks-to-all-who-attended/384

Okay, okay, okay, not a problem.... just checking in !!  Hey, I'm new on the scene but I think blogs are great !!

Can I invent a conference called the "body Language" conference and get free drinks too?

Good post, Howard. I have been practicing, so I might be able to break 100 by then.

Great bunch of people here.

Howard, Good Post... Let me know when you and Mike are going to play, I would love to join you guys. Good luck with the clients next week.

Hell yeah, I would love to get some of Jeff's money. Seriously, this will be fun.

Bragging rights are at stake, Gentlemen!

I like the fact that I can read so many varying opinions from different parts of the country.  I have a good idea of what's going on in Savannah, Tampa, Phoenix, etc. I can give "locals" perspective on different areas of the country.  As an added bonus, I get humor, support, suggestions, and so many other things!  I realize our community is becoming larger, but I hope it doesn't lose that small-town "feel", too.  So far, so good.

Well Mike you have all the money, so if I loose I'll have to shine your shoes