Lost 100 lbs. Got a new housemate. Got laid-off. Going to Europe.

To quote an Oingo Boingo song, “my little world was due for a shake-up.” So much going-on.

In case you hadn’t already heard, Matt has moved to Washington DC, where he’s earned a scholarship to study photography at Corcoran. I’m so very proud and excited for him.

A few weeks ago we had a little party for him, which was at-once a congratulations, happy birthday and farewell celebration. The party finally wound-down around 6am… all this on a “school night!”

I will miss Matt a lot. He is a special guy, and he was there for me during one of the most difficult times in my life. He has accomplished great things, and I know he will accomplish yet even more great things.

As Matt moves away, I now have a new housemate: the always-awesome JP. He’s got all his stuff moved-in, and I’m very happy to have him around.

In other news, I reached a big milestone last week: I’ve now lost over 100 pounds. It’s been about 1 year and 4 months since I started on this journey, and it’s been nothing short of amazing. I continue to get periodic adjustments to my lap-band. I can definitely say it’s working as designed.

I could make a long list of health-related problems that have either disappeared or been greatly reduced, but the best part about the weight loss has been the improvements to sleep. (Miraculously, I’m able to wake-up feeling like I’ve actually slept.) I rarely fall asleep during the day anymore! Words cannot describe how much better I feel due to the improved sleep alone.

My sleep apnea has not been “cured,” however. According to my BiPAP and oximetry data, I still do have notable episodes of apnea while I sleep. So I still need to use my BiPAP, and I’d say there’s still some room for improvement. True, I’m awake during the day, and not sleepy, but I don’t feel quite as alert and “on the ball” as I think I could be. So I’m still working with a sleep doctor and taking measures to reduce my apnea even further.

In short, my apnea has gone from out-of-control to manageable. My quality of life is remarkably better now for just that reason.

Let’s see. In other news, I’ve been laid-off. This after 11 years of consulting for the same corporate client. The irony is that the layoff had nothing to do with the economy, downsizing or my performance. It was due to an apparent misstep by my consulting firm, stymied further by customer policies… resulting in the customer having to let 30 consultants go on the same day.

The consulting business is unpredictable. I took the assignment with full knowledge that it could end at any time, with or without warning, with or without explanation… and I was OK with that. The assignment was originally supposed to last only 6 months; instead I enjoyed a nearly 11-year run. It was the best job I’ve ever had. The customer treated me well and offered new challenges at every turn. The job gave me opportunity for enormous growth, and I will miss it.

Perhaps there will be an opportunity to work for them again in the future. But for now, I’m looking for work, and there have been a few bites. I’m hoping to find a job real soon.

In the meantime, I’ve decided to do something I’ve been wanting to do since I was in fourth grade: visit Germany. I have a little money saved-up (though not much), and cheap travel deals abound. When else will I have a chance to just get-up and go?

So I’ve borrowed a good backpack (thanks, Chris!) and I’m heading to Europe for a month. (I’d stay longer if I could afford it.) My four main destinations will be Berlin, Munich, Cologne and Hamburg, with lots of side trips all over Germany, Austria, Switzerland and The Netherlands. I’m SO excited I can’t even tell you.

I got a great deal on airfare, and I’ll be bouncing between cities by train and staying in cheap hotels and hostels. Everything fits in the backpack: my camera, iPhone, BiPAP, netbook and clothes. I leave for Berlin on Wednesday.

As soon as I return, I’ll be heading immediately to Mexico City with Chris and Dan for a week… it’s a little trip to celebrate Chris’ 40th birthday. The airfare was cheap, too… and I’ve never been to Mexico City before. You’ll likely not meet a pair of better travel companions than Chris and Dan. They’re expert travelers, cultured, fun and smart. So I’m very excited about the trip!

The adventure has already begun; as I’m typing this, I’m in Chicago for the Lollapalooza music festival: three days of music, including Depeche Mode, Tool and The Killers. I’m crashing with Owen and Dave, who are awesome. Then a quick couple of days in New York City with the amazing Andy, aka Grobie. After that, off to Europe.

I’ll be chronicling my travels here, so stay tuned for photos and blurbs and stuff.