"You aren't going to the Junior League Holiday Shopping Extravaganza tonight?"  My new girlfriend asked me this morning as we watched our children play in the basement of my Pleasantville Hills home.  (New to be read as = has no idea I blog)

"Nope.  I have a thing, downtown."  I shuffled my feet. "It's a benefit to raise money for someone, just like us with three children, that's fighting for her life after suffering a stroke."

"Is she local?  Is she a Pleasantville Hills girl?"

"Nope."

".............."

"I met her.  Once.  And I hope that people would do the same for me."  I folded my legs underneath me and watched our daughters argue over one Polly Pocket.  Teeheee... how fortunate we were to observe the tantrum of two nearly-three-year-olds fighting over a plastic toy, both healthy mothers laughing at their feisty third child.  All of us in good spirits.

She, my new friend, did not press for further information because it was clear.  And so simple.  You treat others as you would wanted to be treated.  Blogging or not, the fundamentals are the same.   Anissa, mother of three, whom I have met before IRL is laying in a hospital bed tonight.  Her family needs help.

The Chef's Widow had a benefit for Anissa tonight.  Cleveland bloggers came together.

Beautiful Ameila, her husband/chef/owner of The Greenhouse Tavern and I.  My eyes were closed!

Wife-Husband team announcing the winner of the raffle. How cute are they?  Soooo cute.

Me and the sassy blonde @heartmychloe and my new best friend @rimarama

(Rima and I share WAY too many similarities it's funny - hallo being raised by immigrant parents!)

The uber-delicious, chef extraordinaire, Michael Symon @mdsymon and I.

Loved Lolas. Can't wait to try the new B- Spot.

Dooooode, Cleveland's Plum I know you were awarded THE coolest blogger award in all of Cleveland in this and that publication throughout the city but will you take a picture with a mommy blogger?

There were too many bloggers to name who came out to have COCKTAILS FOR ANISSA tonight, check out the hashtag #cocktailsforanissa on twitter for more.  Sending Anissa a HUGE Cleveland XO tonight.  We raised $1,000 dollars!  It's wonderful to be part of such a great blogging community.