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!
T-23 Days Until the Summit SQLHugs
With the DATEDIFF script returning 23 today, I thought I would share a thought that I had this morning on the way to work while thinking about the PASS Summit 2012. In the immortal words of Longfellow Deeds “handshakes are for strangers, pal. We hug around here, buddy.” This is the #SQLFamily, so are SQLHugs appropriate? I am a hugger, not to everyone, only friends. The SQL community is a world of friends available online anytime, so with that being said I think SQLHugs are appropriate. What do you think? Let me know ahead of time or you just might get a big SQLGator hug when I see you at the Summit.
Haven’t registered yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-24 Days Until The Summit
With the DATEDIFF script returning 24 today, I thought it would be great day to review my travel plans.
- Hotel booked, staying at the Sheraton, which is right across the street from the conference.
- My flights are booked through Delta departing Sunday and coming back home Saturday. I keep checking my seat assignments in hope that I have an empty chair next to me for comfort. It probably will not happen, but one can dream.
- I will probably take a shuttle from the airport even though the light rail sounds interesting, I understand it is a considerable walking distance and I really do not want to do that at this point with a laptop bag and big suitcase.
- My wife purchased some new luggage for another upcoming trip and I will be purchasing a new laptop bag for this trip.
Haven’t registered yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-25 Days Until My Summit Experience Begins
With the DATEDIFF script returning 25 today, I thought it would be great day to point out some of the links provided by SQL Pass to enhance your Summit experience.
- A list of After Hours events, it’s not all-encompassing, but it is a good start.
- A list of Evening events (not to be confused with the After Hours events).
- A list of First Timers events.
- A list of Attendees for networking purposes.
Haven’t registered yet? Why not? Come on you know you want to! See you there! Enjoy!
T-26 Days Until My Summit Excursion Occurs
With the DATEDIFF script returning 26 today, I thought it would be great to include some pictures from my last and only trip to Seattle in 1987. As a stud defensive lineman (maybe just in my own mind), I was not too cool to be a mathlete and flex my national Mu Alpha Theta competition smile. I am geek and always have been so it would not be surprising that I was the captain of the Algebra II team that won the state competition. This was a blast for the four of us on the Algebra II team, my friend David Jones competing in the individual Trigonometry and Pedro Nunez in Geometry, I believe.
This is my friend Chuck Zanti and I sitting where Ken Griffey, Jr. and Alex Rodriquez sat inside the King Dome during our tour of the stadium. We wanted to see a game, but the Mariners were out-of-town the whole week. Sadly I will not be able to return here since it no longer exists.
This is inside the Boeing Museum of Flight, which was another highlight of our trip in addition to the flying fish at Pike Place Market. I do not think I will have time to visit Boeing this time, but the market is definitely on the agenda.
I am not sure that I remember what this place was called, I just know that we took a long ferry ride to the island and then we saw a Native Americans performance along with some excellent salmon. Of course, we had to get a picture in front of the totem pole.
And finally, this was the view from our dorm room at the U Dub (University of Washington) where the math competition was held. It was a beautiful campus and we greatly enjoyed our stay in Seattle. Enjoy!
SQL Swampland 