Monthly Archives: October 2012
T-4 Days Until the PASS Summit, Really?
With the DATEDIFF script returning 4 today, I still do not think it has set in that I will be attending my first major SQL Server conference at PASS Summit 2012. There is so much to see and do, it really is overwhelming at this point most likely because I have had to sit back and watch everyone else go while I stayed home. However, I am trying to be as organized as possible with my iPhone calendar and Guidebook app to keep my sessions straight so that part will not be that bad. Once I am in Seattle, I will be in major conference mode but until then I will just sit here staring at the clock and wondering how awesome it will be. See you there in a few days!
Haven’t registered for Summit yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-5 Days Until the PASS Summit, Coughee?
With the DATEDIFF script returning 5 today, it is hard not to be excited as all next week I will be drinking some of Seattle’s best coughee (coffee) at the PASS Summit 2012. I plan on trying as many different kinds of Seattle’s finest while I am in town. I hope it lives up to my expectations. Do you have a favorite locale close to the conference? So far I have heard that Tully’s on the fourth floor of the convention center is a great spot not only for its location. I welcome any suggestions and recommendations. See you there in a few days!
Haven’t registered for Summit yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-6 Days Until the PASS Summit, Are You Excited?
With the DATEDIFF script returning 6 today, it is hard not to be excited as a week from this very moment I will rubbing elbows with everyone at the Redgate SQL in the City Seattle event, just a day before attending the pre-con with Grant Fritchey (b|t) at the PASS Summit 2012. The SQL in the City event looks like fun especially since we currently use Redgate DBA bundle and tool belt.
Monday evening is also the networking dinner held by Steve Jones (b|t) and Andy Warren (b|t). See everyone at both of these events!
Haven’t registered for Summit yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-7 Days Until the PASS Summit, One Week
With the DATEDIFF script returning 7 today, I cannot believe that we are only a week away from the PASS Summit 2012. The next week is going to be grueling for me because it will be hard not to daydream and think ahead as well as watching the clock trying to will it forward. There are also a few last-minute preparations like packing that need to occur.
This is also the time that I experience travel anxiety, not over flying, I love to fly. But I usually go through this OCD exercise of packing, check listing, running around the house feeling like I am forgetting something and driving everyone in the house crazy. That’s the anxiety I am referring too, as I was a scout and like to be prepared. I usually do not forget anything for a trip because of this insanity exercise but it is stressful on my family. Wish them luck and see you in a week!
Haven’t registered for Summit yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
Milestones, Keeping Them in Perspective
Today is my daughter’s last high school marching band competition. Being my youngest daughter, her senior year has been filled with “lasts” and she has been nostalgic to say the least, probably more so than my other children because she is the youngest. For me this is bittersweet as we will never experience these moments again in our lives but we also know that next year will bring many new “firsts” for her.
In life we have to keep milestones in perspective. I am more excited about her “firsts” than her “lasts” but cannot help but be a little sad at the same time because I know she will leave the nest in a few months and our nest will be empty for the first time in over twenty years. That will be a new “first” for us. A challenge to be sure. Enjoy!
T-9 Days Until the PASS Summit, #SQLKaraoke
With the DATEDIFF script returning 9 today (single digits we are almost there), I have been thinking heavily about the SQLKaraoke events for the PASS Summit 2012. In case you have missed it, there are several opportunities for Karaoke, so much so that there is now a dedicate page, SQLKaraoke.com, and twitter account. Below is a list of Karaoke events that I currently know about:
- The Bush Gardens SQLKaraoke event sponsored by Idera occurs Wednesday night (and every other night, I have heard.
- The Hard Rock SQLKaraoke event sponsored by Pragmatic Works, HP, and Microsoft occurs also on Wednesday night.
- The EMP Rockaraoke event sponsored by PASS and Microsoft occurs on Thursday night.
For the last week or two, I have been running through songs on my iPhone trying to determine which song(s) I should sing. I have very eclectic musical tastes, but I do want to sound good when I sing as well as make a statement about who I am. My compilation will not be posted until after Summit to protect the innocent, namely me.
Haven’t registered for Summit yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-10 Days Until the PASS Summit, More Scavenger Hunt Ideas
With the DATEDIFF script returning 10 today, I thought I would continue with yesterday’s blog idea of a scavenger hunt for the PASS Summit 2012. Here is an updated list with new items in bold:
- Get a picture with a Brent Ozar PLF employee (each one counts separately)
- Get a picture with Grant Fritchey
- Get a picture with Steve Jones
- Get a picture with both of the Midnight DBAs (at the same time)
- Get a picture with Buck Woody
- Get a picture with two or more Pragmatic Works’ employees (at the same time)
- Double points if the Midnight DBAs make faces or other gestures such as rabbit ears
- Get a picture with Robert Davis
- Get a picture with Argenis Fernandez
- Get as many pictures as possible with other MCMs
- Get a picture of an MCM or MVP sleeping during a session
- Get a picture of a presenter sleeping during their own session
- Negative points if the person is a Sharepoint MCM or MVP
- Double points if any of these people are in kilts or mullets
- Double points if any of these people are wearing costumes such as StrateSQL’s Unicorn
- Get a picture with five or more MVPs in the shot
- Get a picture with five or more people holding Starbuck’s cups
- Get a picture with a 2012 Summit Presenter
- Get a picture of your tweet popping up on a presenter’s screen while he/she is presenting
- Get a picture singing #SQLKaraoke with any of the people on this list
- Get a picture with an Ambassador giving you directions when you cannot find your session
- Get a picture at a bona-fide tourist location with any of the people on this list
Therefore if you sang a song with five MVPs, had your picture taken during the process, all five of them had their MCMs and were wearing a kilt or mullet during the process you could end up with 12 points unless one of the five were listed specifically on this list which would be an additional point for each person. Sound like fun?
Haven’t registered for Summit yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-11 Days Until the PASS Summit, Scavenger Hunt?
With the DATEDIFF script returning 11 today, I thought I would share a fun idea that I had last night while discussing the PASS Summit 2012 on twitter. Several people were discussing that they had a list of people that they wanted to meet up with in Seattle. An idea was hatched, a plan, a scheme…I thought I would take it to the next level and turn this into a scavenger hunt, mainly because I am competitive and I try to make life fun at every turn possible. Maybe we could even get a sponsor, who knows. Here is a starting list:
- Get a picture with a Brent Ozar PLF employee (each one counts seperately)
- Get a picture with Grant Fritchey
- Get a picture with Steve Jones
- Get a picture with both of the Midnight DBAs (at the same time)
- Get a picture with Robert Davis
- Get a picture with Argenis Fernandez
- Get as many pictures as possible with other MCMs
- Double points if any of these people are in kilts or mullets
- Get a picture with five or more MVPs in the shot
- Get a picture with a 2012 Summit Presenter
- Get a picture singing #SQLKaraoke with any of the people on this list
- Get a picture at a bona-fide tourist location with any of the people on this list
Therefore if you sang a song with five MVPs, had your picture taken during the process, all five of them had their MCMs and were wearing a kilt or mullet during the process you could end up with 12 points unless one of the five were listed specifically on this list which would be an additional point for each person. Sound like fun?
Haven’t registered for Summit yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
Write for Life
Often I am asked why I blog daily. The answer is simple, I write for life! What started out as a Blog365 challenge to write a blog post a day every day for a year in order to force myself to write something down daily has turned into a lovely habit. At this point, I cannot imagine a time when I did not blog. I cannot imagine why I did not start this habit a few years ago. But I cannot cry over that, what’s done is done. I am here now and I write for life.
Writing is cathartic, it is somewhat like exercise for the brain. Do you have a few thoughts you would like to share? Start a blog, write for life. Enjoy!
Growing or Dying? Your Choice!
This morning as I return back to my SQL boxes after a week of unrelated vendor training, I ponder the truth from Captain Willard in Apocalypse Now “every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger.” In other words, every minute I work on some other task, my SQL Server skills are diminishing. This is a sad truth mainly because some tasks are inevitable and must be completed. However, we must combat the atrophy with additional training and flexing our proverbial SQL muscles at every opportunity within an adequate life balance, of course.
How can I flex my SQL muscle today? I think I will watch some MCM videos to thoroughly work out the muscles. Enjoy!
SQL Swampland 