Voice of the DBA

Category: Blog

  • Daily Coping 17 Jun 2020

    I’ve 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.

    Today’s tip is to take a photo of something that brings you joy and share it.

    I try to take a lot of pictures. It’s to capture memories of moments, of times with my family and animals. I have loved having a mobile device that makes this possible.

    Here’s a recent one. In Colorado, we’ve started to open slowly. One thing that has been allowed in some places is getting together with stable groups, so those that don’t change from meeting to meeting. That has allowed me to start coaching again, not for competition, but for a release and helping my team get ready for next season’s tryouts.

    We’ve had a couple practices a week, just kids, no parents, and we keep our equipment separate and clean.

    20200602_122239

    They’re kids, so I’ve blurred the image, but it was wonderful to see them, having some fun, hearing how excited they are and listening to their challenges.

    They bring my joy and touch my heart.

  • Daily Coping 16 Jun 2020

    I’ve 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.

    Today’s tip is to find the joy in music today: sing, play, dance, or listen.

    I love music, and I covered some things in a few different tips (here and here).

    I also play. I sometimes have a guitar at my desk, and I work through different songs. It’s been a long time that I barely played, but this year I’ve rediscovered this, and especially during the pandemic. I find myself sitting outside in the evening after work in laying in bed and just strumming some songs.

    I follow Marty Music, and try to learn from him. Lately, I’ve been working on a bunch of Beatles songs, just enjoying playing them and getting family to sing along. A few I’ve gotten passable in the last few months:

    • Something
    • While My Guitar Gently Weeps
    • Norwegian Wood
    • In My Life

    Still struggling with Dear Prudence, as my fingers are apparently not as long as George Harrisons. My middle son has much better luck with that one.

  • Life Without a Watch

    A few years ago I got an amazing watch as a ten year gift from Redgate: a Garmin Forerunner 645. Since then, I’ve used this regularly to track my heart rate, log exercise, and wake me up every morning. I’ve gotten used to using this device to help me remain healthy and fit.

    A few months ago, I got a dead area in the watch. A small circle of white appeared near the bottom, preventing me from reading part of the display. This looks like a bit of a burn through, and I wasn’t overly bothered at first. However, this grew into almost a 1-1.5cm circle, which is a decent size on a watch.

    It’s been three years that I’ve owned this watch, and in researching some Garmin support online, a few people have noted the company has replaced some older devices for US$99. Finally, I contacted the company a couple weeks ago, and through a support chat, they immediately offered to give me an RMA and replace the watch. At no charge.

    I was amazed, and while I did have to pay to ship and get some expedited shipping (my choice), the replacement cost me US$30 in total. I shipped my watch off and got a refurbished replacement a little over a week later.

    In those two weeks, I constantly glanced at my wrist, seeing only a tan line. Having to find my phone to get the time was annoying. Not having my workouts tracked and being able to check my heart, or my level of activity, was something I noticed as missing in my life.

    This wasn’t that long, but this one piece of technology, with all the data it just gathers for me, is something I missed. Glad to have it back, and looking forward to getting seeing my data flow again.

  • Daily Coping 15 June 2020

    I’ve 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.

    Today’s tip is to find a joyful way of being physically active (indoors or out).

    I really enjoy yoga. It is a part of my life that moves my body, works it, and also relaxes my mind. It’s amazing how repeating 10 poses can both refresh and exhaust me.

    One of the things I’ve done as the weather has improved is spend time outdoors doing yoga. I can’t go to the gym, so I’ve followed some recorded classes, putting my laptop or phone under a tree and spreading a mat nearby.

    I’ve even gotten my kids out there a few times, which has been fantastic.

    20200519_130614_HDR

    If you want to try something, I like Yoga with Tim and the Lifetime recorded classes.