Voice of the DBA

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Day 3 Sabbatical, Part Deux

A relaxed start to day 3. I had some errands to do, volleyball practice, and still find time to accomplish something. First though, homemade hash browns for my daughter. I was hoping for eggs, but there weren’t any.

Guitar

I decided to do some lessons first. I’d left the easy song lesson up on my computer, so I did the Linkin Park-esque song. If you’re interested, it’s a rock-y, Em, G, C, D progression. Very common, but working with some rhythm, I can hear a bit of Linkin Park in there.

Next, I started the beginner course. It’s below me, I’m more of a hack, advanced beginner, but I decided to see if I missed anything over the years. This basic, Em, Asus2 chords, adding in a D and working strumming, which is good to practice. I did two of these.

Slow, but as I listened to basic chord structure, I practiced some “I Walk the Line” by myself.

I also jumped around, starting a blues series.

Not very organized, but I’m trying to just work through different things.

Errands

I’ve been building a loafing shed for the horses. I actually did this last summer, and I covered the roof, but with some cash flow struggles, I didn’t get the sides done. I ordered metal last week and it’s done today, so I had to go pick it up. The sheets are 5-10ft long, so I took the horse trailer.

Two and a half hours to get the metal back to the house. Not a lot of fun, but I needed to get this done.

I was hoping to actually start to put some up, but it was too windy outside. Handling 3×8 sheets of metal isn’t a good idea in the wind. Since wind is supposed to go until Saturday, this project is on hold.

Life

Wednesdays are practice days for volleyball, so my normal routine takes over here. I got on the stationary bike for a bit of exercise and thought about practice a bit. After 30 minutes, I then sat down and wrote out a practice plan. These plans don’t always survive, but they give some focus to what I’m trying to do.

Today is the early practice, so I left with my wife and went to coach. The 12s coach was sick, so I spent half the practice working with them while my wife worked our team. Then a scrimmage, which didn’t go great, but it’s a learning experience.

Afterwards, my wife and I decided on dinner at a local brew house. We don’t really need the coaching pay, so we’re using it to enjoy some nights out, and Wednesday usually is one.

Not a lot accomplished, but setting the base for a few things.

January 16, 2020
Day 2 Sabbatical Part Deux

A break from life today. I got up early and packed the car. I was hoping my wife would be joining me, but she’s been a bit ill, so off by myself today.

We have a place at Keystone, but it’s rented this week, so just a day trip for me. Things were looking good when I arrived, sunny, not too cold.

Tuesdays aren’t that busy, though there was a lot of traffic. It took almost 3 hours to get up here with rush hour and construction. However, I’ve only been once this year, so I was willing to brave the roads.

I like the backside of Keystone, and I headed over there. I used to come here regularly, but it’s been a few years since I’ve made it. This time, I warmed up on a few runs, then it was time for Oh, Bob. A fairly bumpy run on the far mountain.

I spent about an hour going up and down, alternating the smooth runs with Bob, then decided to give one of the black runs a go. Halfway down, I had a lot of bumps left.

I took a break for a few minutes, as I was going slow and burning lots of calories.

After about 3 hours, and 12 runs, I was tired.

It was a good day, a bit windy and chilly, but nice and peaceful. Lots of solo lift rides.

A nice, easy ride back to the car and then I packed up to come home. A stop at Beau Jo’s for Colorado Pizza on the way home.

A few errands on the way home, grabbing supplies for more work on the house this week. Then relaxing a bit, and handling some coaching duties. Planning practice and watching film.

Not a lot of guitar today, as my fingers hurt a bit, but I did spend about 30 minutes practicing “I Walk the Line”. That’s the song for the next day or two, as I hope to get a decent rendition of it down and then add it to a list of things to practice.

A good second day of a break.

January 14, 2020
Day 1 Sabbatical, Part Deux

It’s day 1, which was off to a slow start. Yesterday was a long day coaching volleyball, and a long drive, so a slow start to today.

I actually started by fixing my last blog post for work, where I’d made a small error that a number of people pointed out. Easy to make mistakes, but with a cup of coffee this morning, I did a little web editing.

While I was sorting out this, I finished watching a video I’d started recently, a tutorial on playing Jack Johnson’s Better Together. It’s not a hard song, but it’s hard on the hands with the bar chords. I’ve been learning a bit with Marty Schwartz, and I continued with this one.

I decided to record a bit and see if I get better. Here I am getting ready, and if you really want to hear some tentative, iffy playing, here’s a link.

I then spent about an hour going through a few lessons from Guitar Jamz. I decided to do a few things from different courses, just practicing. First was strumming, going through some exercises. Then it was an easy song in the Johnny Cash style. I enjoyed practicing some strumming and chord changes.

After an hour, I decided to get some work done. I cleaned up a little around the house and sharpened a few knives. I’ve had my Tormek on the table for a few days, trying to find time to sharpen a few pocketknives that have dulled. I rewatched some instructions since I hadn’t used that jig in awhile and then handled those.

Basement Time

I decided to start in the basement, cleaning things up. There’s an area where I stored lots of SQLServerCentral stuff for years, and it’s a mess.

Lots of stuff just laying around this room, and piled up from various times in the SSC life.

I packed up and threw a bunch away. I also discovered some old signs, like this original podcast backdrop.

And v2.

I even found some books

I tossed a bunch in our dumpster, but it started to get full, so I’ll slow down and pile this stuff downstairs for a week until that gets emptied. I did manage to save some Redgate swag and SSC shirts, which I’ll go give away at some UG meetings or SQL Saturdays later this year.

My wife needed a little help, so I went out to get a battery back in an ATV and fix a little fence. Then it was a few errands, returning a cart to the volleyball gym and recycling some oil so I can change more oil in the UTV/ATVs.

Finally, a little workout time for me.

I came home and ended the day with a Greek meal.

Now, time to relax. I’ll likely play a little guitar in bed and visit with my wife.

A slow first day, but a good one. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

January 13, 2020
The Cost of SQL Bits v the PASS Summit
UPDATE: This post originally priced Charlotte, NC, but the Summit is in Houston, TX. I have corrected costs and locations. The difference is about $300 less for a flight and about $20-30 more for hotels.

Recently I was chatting with someone about SQL Bits. It’s my favorite conference of the year, and unfortunately, I can’t attend again this year because of a schedule conflict.

Still, I think you should go if you can. I’ve had people over the years think it’s too expensive and too costly to go to England for a conference and my friend was speculating if that was the case. I decided to take a look.

Cost of Attending

The costs of attending the conference are (generally)
- Admission
- Travel
- Lodging
- (some) Food
- Pre-Conference Days (optional)
I’ve been fortunate to often not pay admission as I speak at events, but I do attend sometimes. Lodging is expensive, and certainly not all meals are covered by the event. If I’m traveling, I do like to do a pre-con, since it’s a good chance to get focused learning in an area.

With that in mind, let me price out what it costs for each event. I’m looking forward, so I’ll take a look at SQL Bits 2020 v going to the PASS Summit later this year.

SQL Bits 2020

SQL Bits takes place from Mar 31-Apr 4. I’m coaching on the 30th and the 4th, so I can’t actually get there and back. Well, I could get there Tuesday, but I’d have to leave on Friday. The event has pre-conference days on Tuesday and Wednesday (called Training Days), and the conference on Thursday/Friday/Saturday. Saturday is a free day, like a SQL Saturday, and I’ll assume two training days here. After all, if I’m flying to England, I want to make the most of the time.

Pricing is available, and right now I’d be paying £1199 = US$1600. I’m rounding a bit, but this is roughly my cost in the US. This also includes two training days, which are each around US$490. If I dally and don’t register until after 15 Feb, this is about US$2000.

Flights for me (on United) would be US$966 from Denver. This is the direct, and traveling 29 Mar to 5 Apr. This is a good time of year to fly to the UK, and I’ve done it often. I’m giving myself a day to adjust. In reality, I’d likely make this a longer trip and take my wife. Let’s also factor in another $50 for the train to and from the airport.

Lodging is always pricey in London. I usually stay ion Hilton hotels, and the DoubleTree near the venue is £122, or £620 for the week. That’s about US$810-ish. Call it $900. I usually travel back to Heathrow that night, so another US$150 for a night there.

If I were to look for something else in a hotel, I see similar rates. As low as US$90 for a Holiday Inn to $160 for Aloft (where I’ve stayed). AirBnB in this areacan be as low as a room for $30-50 to a flat for about $100.

Food can be pricey in London. The lunches are covered by the conference, and two dinners at the Thur and Fri night events. Breakfast is provided all the days and there are lots of snacks. I’ve eaten really well at SQL Bits.

That means I’d be looking at these meals
- Breakfast – Sun
- Lunch – Mon
- Dinner – Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat
Let’s say $12 for breakfast (it’s a big city) and $50 for dinner. Lunch, call it $20. That’s a total of $242. I do like a few drinks, though you might be able to get sponsors to cover some of your costs here. I’ve roughly included a drink with dinner. I’m guessing that I’d spend another $150 in drinks.

Total for attending, in round numbers: US$4,062
- Flight $1020
- Lodging: $1050
- Conference: $1600
- Food: $392
You could do better by shopping around a bit, but these would roughly be the costs I’d need to go to my boss to cover. Or split the cost with them.

If I spoke, this would be closer to $2000. Maybe more of you ought to try and speak

The PASS Summit in 2020

Let’s look forward to the Summit. Their pricing is more staggered, and if you can register really early (like now), it’s cheaper. US$2599 now, but I’ll assume I won’t be able to get this until summer. At that time, the cost of attendance is US$3299. This includes two pre-con sessions as well.

This year the event is in Houston, TX. For me, this is a nonstop flight from Denver, but not that cheap. I can get a $350 flight if I want to travel early, but I don’t. There are flights around $400 as well. The convenient flights for my schedule are around US$475. The exact pricing for me is $476.80, call it $480 after I tip the car guy. You’ll need a couple Uber/Lyft items, so say $50 here.

Lodging is better in Houston than Seattle, where the event usually is held. It’s still pricey. A hotel for me is around US$200 a night or more. I want to be close, so I’ll split the difference with a Garden Inn. This givers me a cost of $1,395.23. Call it $1400 ish with a few tips, as I’ll go over this.

Other hotels are similar, as low as $125 and well into the $300 range. AirBnbs are like London. I see lots of $50-60 a night for rooms or small 1 bedroom places. Closer to downtown we’re more into the $120 range and up.

Food will be similar. Charlotte has cheap and expensive places. The conference does cover breakfast and lunch. Dinner is two nights, the opening and the next night in the exhibition hall. I’d need these:
- Breakfast: Saturday
- Lunch: Sun
- Dinner: Sun, Mon, Thur, Fri
If I go with similar costs, I’d be with a similar $242 + $150 for drinks.

Total to attend PASS: $5,6921
- Conference $3299
- Flight: $480 + $50
- Lodging: $1,400
- Food: $392
The big difference here is the cost of the conference, which overwhelms the small flight difference.

Conclusion

It’s cheaper to attend SQL Bits from the US than the PASS Summit. I think so, and while you can do it cheaper than I’ve outlined, you can still likely make SQL Bits cheaper. What’s more, you get to experience another country and culture, along with many, many more people from even other, different cultures. That means a lot to me.

I also find that SQL Bits is a more casual conference, with less security and hassles. People have been able to bring their wives and kids to the event, or at least the party. Dressing up on Friday night at SQL Bits is a blast.

The PASS Summit is an iconic event. I’ve been very lucky to attend most of them, and it’s a huge gathering place for SQL professionals. I enjoy going, learning, and seeing lots of friends. However, it has grown to be an expensive event.

No matter what you choose, you’ll see some amazing speakers, meet lots of experts and get the chance for incredible networking. If you’ve been to one, consider the other.

What I would say is that SQL Bits is my favorite, and if you’re in the US, it’s not that expensive to go, even to London. When they move the event to other locations, the transport cost will rise, but hotels will be cheaper. I’d expect I’d save another $300-400 on the trip in Liverpool or Nottingham.

You do need a passport, so factor in $100 and 4-6 weeks, but you should have one anyway. Traveling is a great way to enjoy and experience more of life.
January 13, 2020