I know a lot of my friends that follow me on Twitter and Facebook dread this time of year:  VMworld!  The techie/nerd tweets and posts explode during VMworld.  Some of you may be saying “What’s the big deal about VMworld?”  VMworld is a yearly conference that draws the virtualization community together to learn, explore and talk about all things going on in virtualization!  I know, I know, BORING!  Since I have been in an IT role for 18 years now and a VMware user, this conference has become THE conference to attend!  Why do I make such a big deal about this conference?  You may think it is for all the sessions, the vendors, the swag and the parties.  Those are big parts of it.  But for me it is about FAMILY.  Yes, you heard me right, FAMILY!  VMworld is a reunion for me as so many of the people I have met there are like family to me that I only get to see once a year.  I get excited about it because I get to spend a week with all my friends that enjoy talking about the same things I do!  It’s not just talking about virtualization (of course there is a LOT of that) but we talk about our families, football, travel, you name it!   All of those I consider friends at VMworld would bend over backwards to help me in any way no matter what.  This family also has a huge heart for helping people.  Each year a Dodgeball tournament is held to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. If you do not know what WWP does please click on my link. I am very proud to be a part of that!  So when you see me start posting about my excitement for going to VMworld, remember this post.  It’s about family and I love everything about it.