To my dear readers, subscribers, friends, and colleagues:

This is a very personal post and because I believe in transparency, I would like to share the following…

I have been anxious to get back to blogging, public speaking, and writing for some time. But as some of you might know if you follow my personal and semi-professional twitter feeds, that I have been dealing with a multitude of personal crisis which have for the moment subsided. This absence is the reason I was unable to attend Gov 2.0 Camp in LA, which I was really looking forward to attending.

In mid-December 2009, I decided to finally put my health first and get a Gastric Bypass (RNY). I have been struggling with weight issues since my honorable discharge from the Army in 1998. I am a disabled American Veteran and I had suffered multiple injuries while in service. As such, these injuries and the medicine to help me cope contributed to a weight gain I was unfamiliar with. I spent 2/3 of my life being mostly underweight. Encouraged by family to eat more — I was never a big eater.

In 2008, I learned I had developed Osteo-Arthritis in both of my knees not only as a result from carrying too much weight, but as a result of how physical I once was before all the injuries. My damage from the injuries were common for a woman who had been a runner/basketball player, as I was both before and after high school. In early 2009, I had learned I had multiple esophageal ulcers, a hernia, and GERD. All of which my doctors attributed to stress. Not to mention adding to the problems of comorbidity. I decided this was my final straw and the weight had to come off.

I started looking into Weight Loss Surgery in 2007. But all the surgeries seemed too severe. I tried again weight watchers and other online monitoring tools. I would lose some, but it always came back. In Spring 2009, I started seeing a professional nutritionist in McLean, whom I have recommended to others. She put me on the right track and got me ready for surgery.

Many of my friends have been asking me questions of my progress and asking for pictures. I promise you that is coming. I am planning a public reveal at the WIRe Conference next week at the Gaylord National on February 24-25. As of this post I am 43lbs lost at day 63 of recovery. I have already been fitting and wearing clothes I bought myself and never had a chance to wear.

In other news, my family has recently gone through a very sad loss. My Aunt Claudia Romeo, who was also my Godmother and very close to my heart passed away on February 7, 2010 after being summoned by the Angels to end her battle with Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She was a careerist in the Foreign Service of the US State Department. Two weeks before her death, we were told that she would not be with us much longer and so during the first of the two snow storms, we were able to say our last goodbyes and tell her how much we loved her. The service for her memory was held this past Valentine’s Day at our family Church, Oxon Hill Lutheran. So please take a moment to kiss and hug your loved ones. They can never hear this enough.

All in all, you can tell that I have had a trying two months mentally, emotionally, and physically. I have been battling personal depression and weakness when it comes to dealing with my recovery and the loss of someone so close. Luckily, friends and colleagues have been so supportive in this time of confusion for me. I am also lucky that last year I met someone special in my life that finally can be a partner to me rather than just a boyfriend. So Joe Higgs, you have been a rock, a nurse, and a HUGE help when it comes to making life a little easier.

And back to my weight loss adventure and new life, an even MORE public reveal will be this year at SxSW in Austin, TX. I may not be able to indulge in the drinking and the BBQ (maybe just a taste), but I will be able to participate in many sessions and reconnect with the online relationships I have been fostering for years. So if you happen to be in Austin for Geek Spring Break as well, please come find me — I know it might be harder to spot me, since there is less of me to go around

I am now back to work full time (if snow days allow for it) and I am focused on a real busy spring in public appearances, writing, and working with my wonderful customers. So my sincerest apologies, if you have called, emailed or tweeted looking for me in the past two months. I look forward to renewing our connections.

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photo by @robotchampion

I am a lifelong Washington Redskins fan. My family and friends know this. My best-friend is a Ravens/Giants fan. So Sundays are a big day at my house. We got the main games on the HDTV in the living room and the side games on in the bedrooms. In all my life, I had never been to a Skins game live, before this Season. Now I have been to 2 live games and they lost both. (I’m not going to get into the details why I never went before now, but nutshell is poor childhood, out of country, no girlfriend rule at games).

I bleed burgundy and gold. My last house, I painted my bedroom burgundy and gold to show my pride.

I also bought my first jersey this year. Clinton Portis, number 26. My fave players have been Portis and Chris Cooley (saw a fro wannabe in our section last night) in the past few years, followed by Santana Moss. Although I got to say, Suisham is rising to the top fast as the most consistent scorer on the team. So in my first live game, before we fought the crowds in traffic, I stopped to get that 26 to wear.

Now I am thinking, and I am a little superstitious when it comes to football. Do I need to stop going to games? Do I need to get the 47 jersey and wear it instead, as that was the jersey I wanted first? During the Browns game, I wore my jersey watching it at home. I took off the Jersey in the fourth quarter because I felt if I kept it on, it was a loss. I didn’t even wear the jersey last week.

Last night, I go to the game, wearing my 26 and I even run into my cousin, who I only see during the holidays in the 400s getting a brat. So I was stoked… I wanted to win. I knew the loss would be symbolic of an Obama win. But as I keep my votes private I just wanted the skins to win… forget the Washington ball game indicator.

So again I ask, do I ditch the jersey? Stop going to games? Get another jersey? I dunno. I want to support my team, but I don’t want my support to be the reason for losing. What do you think football fans?

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