Voice of the DBA

Category: Blog

  • A Few #2021Wins

    It’s the end of the year. I’m on vacation, celebrating time with family now, but I wanted to write this post. I got a prompt from LinkedIn last week that said this:

    2021-12-22 14_21_39-Inbox - way0utwest@hotmail.com - Outlook

    I’m going to add this to an editorial and see what people might write next week, but for now, a few wins from me.

    Health – Given the state of the world and a pandemic, I think it’s a win that everyone in my family remained healthy in 2021.

    Travel – Despite the pandemic, I got to visit a new country, Belgium, and it was an amazing trip. Looking forward to going back.

    SQL Saturday – I convinced Andy Warren to run a SQL Saturday in Orlando, and it was the only in-person SQL Saturday in 2021. Easy to be disappointed there weren’t more, but happy there was one.

    Volleyball – A successful season, where we persevered and found ways to keep kids occupied. My team finished ahead of where we expected, winning 8 tournaments, getting into the top 30 in 3 national tournaments, and having extremely happy kids that wanted us to coach them again.

    Guitar – I felt like I improved a lot of skills here, really all through the pandemic, but as I’ve learned a few things, it was neat to hear my wife or kids recognize a song and sing along, even though I hadn’t told them what it was.

    Happy New Year!

  • Daily Coping 31 Dec 2021

    I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.

    Today’s tip is to call a relative who is far away to say hello and have a chat.

    Too easy for me, as I usually try to call my Mom every week or two.

    However, I did something different. I had sent a couple texts to my brother, and asked him for a call. He actually called me before I could do so, and we ended up chatting for a bit. I rarely see him or talk with him. He’s busier tham I am, and often hard to get ahold of, but it’s nice to catch up and talk a bit.

    Looking forward to when I can get back to the East Coast and see him.

  • Daily Coping 30 Dec 2021

    I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.

    Today’s tip is to bring joy to others. Share something which made you laugh.

    I was lucky to be accepted to speak at the SQL Server and Azure SQL Conference recently. I went to Las Vegas for the event, and my wife joined me. (It’s coming back in the spring, if you want to go to a multi-tech conference).

    While we were there, we went to a show one night, seeing a Nate Bargatze comedy show. It was extra special for me, as his Dad opened up for him. Nate talks about him in his first special, so when they said a special guest, I knew it was him. He was very funny, and Nate was incredible. I think this was the best comedy show I’ve ever seen live.

    A quick teaser of his work. He’s on Netflix and touring now.

  • Daily Coping 29 Dec 2021

    I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.

    Today’s tip is to choose to give or receive the gift of forgiveness.

    This is a tough one for me. I don’t always accept when someone forgives me, even my wife. I usually continue to beat myself up. I don’t always forgive easily when someone has wronged me, or I feel wronged.

    I’m learning to be better, and reminding myself to let things go. I don’t have anything right now to  let go, but I’m reminding myself of times past, which is a place that has been helpful to to remind me to forgive.

    I didn’t get along with my father in my younger years. From 15-45, I never saw him. Finally I begrudgingly started to rebuild a relationship at that point. I learned to let things go and forgive him. I even learned to let past feelings go. I didn’t forget, but I wasn’t angry anymore. My one son met him and my wife spent a few evenings with him before he passes. I regret my other two kids not meeting him until his funeral.

    It was a long, hard journey, but I think that has helped me learn to forgive many others and accept actions or behaviors against me that I don’t like. I still don’t like them, but I let them wash over me better and don’t hold (as many) grudges. I forgive quicker.