putting the knit in shizknitz

identity? I had a first happen today….

I went to a meeting with a senior manager and met the project manager on her team. I had email communication with him before and has helped me time and time again but we had never met in person. I arrived a few minutes early at the coffee shop when they entered together. The PM kept looking at me until they reached where I was sitting, where the manager introduced us…..

Manager: PM, this is Shiz from XXXX Dept.
PM: (looking puzzled) What’s your name again?
Manager: This is Shiz….
PM: Have we met before?
Me: No, actually (big smile), but you’ve helped me over email many times. I really appreciate all that you….
PM: (still puzzled) We’ve met before, I know we have..
Me: No, I know we haven’t met before…
PM: and the last time I met you, you were a guy.
Me: No, (a bit shocked) we’ve never met before, and I’ve never been a guy before either.
Manager: No, Shiz is definitely not a guy.
PM: (still unsure) ….hrmm….
Manager walks away to get coffee
Me: (trying to be helpful) … I’ve never met any male Shiz’s before…

This was a first for me - either he’s 1) totally confused, or 2) I really looked like a guy before.

This was a photo taken at work, circa October of 2002, 2.5 months before I started on Weight Watchers. I’ve lost about 45 pounds since then, and have about 10 or so more to go. I still don’t quite believe it myself, but I have a pair of my old Gap loose fit size 14 pants and this photo magnetized on my fridge to remind me of the days long past.