The day has finally arrived:  travel day!  I am leaving today after work for the six-hour drive to Pensacola for SQL Saturday #132.  We have a new John Grisham audiobook, Calico  Joe, ready for the ride.  This one sounds like a great book:  “A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball…”

Having experienced heavy rains all week in central Florida, I am a little concerned that we may not have a beautifully sunny weekend at the beach.  However, the hotel does have an indoor pool so my wife is not too worried because we do live in Florida after all and this is a common summer time event.

Last night I was invited to the speaker’s dinner, thanks to the coordinator Mark Holmes (twitter|blog) for including me.  In the past I have attended these speaker dinners as a volunteer, so I am moving up in the world.  Thanks again Mark, I really do appreciate it and the event sounds amazing.  I also want to thank Karla Kay (twitter|blog) for convincing me to take the leap and present as well as everything she does for the SQL community.  She really is wonder woman as represented in her avatar.

Tomorrow is also my first pre-con training: “Demystifying Database Administration Best Practices” presented by Microsoft Certified Masters Robert Davis (twitter|blog) and Argenis Fernandez (twitter|blog).  Some of my coworkers think that I am crazy for paying for this training and attending SQL Saturday’s out of my own pocket.  They have obviously never been and met the #SQLFamily.  Do yourself a favor and attend one of these event, you will not regret it.  Enjoy!