Blog Archives
T-14 Days Until the PASS Summit,Budget Day
With the DATEDIFF script returning 14 today, I thought I would share how I spent the last hour of my day in preparation for the PASS Summit 2012. Today is budget day, so breakout the spreadsheet. I spent the last hour thinking about my week at the Summit and planning my activities as well as getting a mental image of the amount of money that I need to have available to ensure that I have a great first time experience.
This spreadsheet will help me during the week to ensure that I remain within my projections so that I do not have any surprises art the end of the week when I go to check out of the hotel. It is also a great guideline in case new activities come up within the next two weeks before I arrive in Seattle. I can simply add them into the spreadsheet and either shuffle priorities or make adjustments as needed.
Haven’t registered for Summit yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-16 Days Until the PASS Summit, The Great Karaoke Crisis?
With the DATEDIFF script returning 16 today, I thought I would share a personal crisis that I am having in regards to the PASS Summit 2012. Denny Cherry (b|t) announced during the first timers conference call earlier this week that the #SQLKaraoke event would be held Wednesday night at Bush Gardens around 9:30pm with Idera sponsoring the event. Sounds great, this is the after hours event that I have most wanted to attend because of the #SQLFamily that attends. This seemed like good timing because the Exhibitor reception ends at 915pm. Life is good because now I have dinner plans and an after party to go to, right? Not so fast my friend.
The guys over at Pragmatic Works announced yesterday that they were also throwing a #SQLKaraoke bash along with Microsoft and HP at the Hard Rock Cafe on the same night. Their party is fronted by a live band, which sounds like a real blast. In addition, I have a few friends over at Pragmatic Works and they are from Florida so I see them at all of the SQL Saturdays. Is this normal for Summit, awesome competing events that is? I will attend both, but what a bummer to have to split time at both. It looks like everyone will benefit from this #SQLAwesomeness so this is a good problem to have.
Haven’t registered for Summit yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-17 Days Until the PASS Summit, Have You Voted?
With the DATEDIFF script returning 17 today, I thought I would remind everyone to vote in national election before we go to the PASS Summit 2012. Since the election is on Tuesday during the Summit and I will be out-of-town, I will be voting during the early voting period in my hometown. Find out if your voting district allows early voting, if not then make sure you get your absentee ballot in before you leave for the Super Bowl of computer conferences.
Haven’t registered yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-19 Days Until the PASS Summit, Are You Prepared?
With the DATEDIFF script returning 19 today, I thought I would share a thought that I had this morning on the way into the office while thinking about the PASS Summit 2012. My wife is constantly asking me about what clothes I am taking, what jacket, and other minute details. I usually try to leave decisions like these until a day or two before a trip, but she makes a really good point.
With flying from Tampa to Seattle, I am going from one corner of the country to the exact opposite corner. My usual shorts and short-sleeved shirt will not cut it at this conference. However, I will be bringing my swim trunks as the Sheraton has an indoor pool, so why not get some laps in? I also needed to find my jacket and make sure it fits still and of course dust it off. Yes, I live in Florida and I only have two jackets, one is more professional and one is for the outdoors. The jacket is still comfortable, wow I think it has been a year or two at least since I have had to wear it. Since the Sheraton is across the street, I also wonder if I could get away with shorts to some of the sessions? Should I take an umbrella? I might need some advice here.
Haven’t registered yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-21 Days Until the Summit Conference, Three Weeks Baby
With the DATEDIFF script returning 21 today, the reality is starting to set in that three weeks from today at this time I will be in the air on my way to the super bowl of technology events: the PASS Summit 2012.
With so many activities planned it looks like I will have Sunday and Friday night to myself, at least as of today. I do want to get back to the space needle and I also want to Ride the Ducks. My dance card is filling up fast, but one thing is for sure this will be the trip of a lifetime, at least until next year.
Haven’t registered yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-22 Days Until the Summit Conference, No Sleep for the Weary
With the DATEDIFF script returning 22 today, I thought I would share a thought that I had today while thinking about the PASS Summit 2012. I might get an average of three hours sleep a night, and I am stoked! Obviously, I usually get about eight hours a night and I function pretty well within that framework. But you only get this opportunity once a year and I plan on making the most of the opportunities.
With evening activities and many after hours activities filling up and my goal of experiencing everything I can at my first Summit, I may have to sleep the next week. The interesting part is the wide variety of activities being provided by sponsors as well as PASS itself. My SQL cup will runneth over that week, come and join me.
Haven’t registered yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
I Survived!
Well my first SQL Saturday presentation has been completed. No one was injured, I didn’t respond to my flight (as in fight or flight) instincts, and no one heckled me. It didn’t go as well as I imagined but it was a learning experience. I will get better, so if you attended my session today, I apologize, but thank you for being my guinea pigs.
To be honest, I think I did better than my lightning round presentation last June. I understand that it is an evolutionary process, but I was confident that I was more evolved than I really am.
If you’ve never presented a topic, I highly recommend it. Enjoy!
PASS Summit 2012 Information
Rob Farley (blog | twitter) and LobsterPot Solutions put together a nifty HTML 5 PivotViewer to view the details for all of the sessions for the PASS Summit 2012 conference with pictures of the presenters as well as all of the necessary details. It is amazing to see this in action and to be able to compare session topics visually. Kudos to Rob.
- PASS also released yesterday the PDF format for the schedule.
- Check out all of the After Hours events and I will see you at #SQLKaraoke.
- If you are a First Timer like me then check out the First Timers Program.
Enjoy and I will see you there!
SQL Saturday #151, T minus 3 Days and Counting
It’s Wednesday and the 6th annual SQL Saturday for Orlando is around the corner. This is where it all started, it is also home to the first SQL Saturday that I went to. You know you want to get some free learning and eat some great barbecue.
There is still time for you to register and come see some of SQL Server’s greatest speakers. Then when you finish their sessions, stop in for mine so that you can fully appreciate how great they really are. There are also two excellent Pre-Cons by Kevin Kline (twitter | blog) and Stacia Misner (twitter | blog). If you have never attended a Pre-Con, then do yourself a favor and try it, it is worth the $99. Enjoy and see you there!
SQL Saturday #168, Tampa BI Edition
Yesterday I received some terrific news, I was selected to speak at the Tampa BI Edition of SQL Saturday on November 17, 2012. I will be giving my “Best Practices Are Not Just Hypothetical” presentation at 2pm. I would like to thank the Tampa Business Intelligence SQL Server User Group; I am humbled by their selection.
Register for a great day of free SQL Server learning highlighting Business Intelligence but also featuring database administration and professional development. It will be located again this year at KForce Professional Staffing in beautiful Yboy City. Check out the two excellent pre-con trainings provided as well. I cannot wait to see you there. Enjoy!
SQL Swampland 