I came to the US several 100 years ago ( 10 years to be exact) – or it feels that way at least. And about 99 of those years I was at Columbus, Ohio. Two Masters, few jobs, a home, a husband, 2 dogs, a cat and 2 kids later we decided it was time to move. So move we did, to the land of Mr McDreamy, snow capped mountains and Pike’s Place Market.
But something happened. With my limitations in the area of real world exploration (read: 2 kids under 2 
), I was forced to explore the online world. So there I was, physically in Seattle, but virtually – everywhere – wherever I found my community. And I started to love my new home online – it let me travel and connect while I was there for my kids. I started to learn so much online that it was getting addicting.A whole new world, a whole new way of interacting, a whole new science.
So it was much later in the game that I started learning about the wonderful tech/soc media community here in Seattle. I have been connecting with some amazing people/communities out here – incredibly smart, resourceful and energetic. It feels a little silly that I did not know of their existence only a few weeks ago - but I loved how it all came together now – when I am more ready to learn and more prepared to share.
Perhaps the thing I love best about being a newcomer to the Seattle 2.0 web/tech scene is that I am drawn to people for who they are and what I learn from them as opposed to who/what they were yesterday.
So without futher ado let me list out some wonderful folk here -
1. Daniell Morrill and Brain Westbrook are 2 wonderful and hardworking people. They do a great job of covering and live streaming a number of tech/startup/social-media events around town. For someone like me (mom) with a business (running it alone), they provide a great way to keep up with what is going on and keep learning. Seattle2.0 is a great resource. Inport the Seattle2.0 calendar into your googlecal and you are all set.
2. Veronica tweets for SMCSeattle. She does a great job of tweeting pretty much everything that happens around social media in this corner of the world. If you want to keep up, just follow @SMCSeattle on twitter.
3. I should have realized hat this guy is cool by noticing how many people were hanging around him at SMCSeattle event a few weeks back. But he acts so ordinary (and I am so dense sometimes )! Although I have never said anything to Chris Pirillo beyond a hello, I have heard the greatest things about him and about his annual conference GNOMEDEX. I cannot wait to attend it this year! He is one “small guy doing BIG things” …
4. I met plenty of other super smart and entertaining people at the tweetup including Chris Brogan when he was here last week – for an event at IABCSeattle. The event was tweeted pretty heavily, thanks to all the people attending and following the conference through the stream. To catch the conversation on twitter, go here. Paolo (@tosolini) gave a wonderful and inspiring tak about podcasting – visit his blog here.
So what are my takeaways from all these amazing people -
1. Find your passion
2. Work hard and work like hell
3. Help others
4. Be yourself
5. Do not try to fit in
6. Have fun!
7. Learn
Am off to do some learning myself ! Had too much fun myself 
photo of chrisbrogan and me : taken by the GeekGiant(eric) at the tweetup