Voice of the DBA

Tag: syndicated

  • Daily Coping 15 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 buy an extra item and donate it to a local food bank.

    I used to volunteer and get items for the Elizabeth food bank. These days I’m mostly in Parker as part of my life, so I’m going to start making regular donations there. I went to the site, got their list of items needed, and will be purchasing some of these to drop off.

    Lots of these are kid related items, and I hate to think about kids struggling, so I’m focusing my efforts there.

  • The Next Event: T-SQL Tuesday #145

    tsqltuesdayIt’s time for T-SQL Tuesday again, and this month the host is Xavier Morera. He’s been part of the push I had to get a host with every letter of the alphabet. Silly, but fun for me. Now I just need I, O, Q, U, Y, and Z.

    The invite this month is about conferences, and specifically what is your favorite event, venue, presenter, and where you want for your next event. A topic near and dear to my heart as a speaker and organizer, so I’m looking forward to what people write.

    Favorites

    I’ve been blessed to go to many events. My Speaking CV shows most, but I’ve been to quite a few others as an attendee. My favorite conference is SQL Bits. They event is always slightly different, the themed party is fun, and they are family friendly. I see people from all over the world, and I’m excited just thinking about going in 2022.

    My favorite venue is harder. Lots of venues are just spaces, just conference centers. That being said, I think that there are a couple that stand out. Bangalore had a beautiful conference center. SQL Saturday #66 in Colorado Springs was in a games/go-kart center. The elementary school at the Jewish Center in Portland. All memorable locations.

    I think my favorite place I’ve been was the Royal Society of Medicine in London. Redgate rented this out for a few events, and it’s nice, lots of comfortable seats, plenty of bathrooms, tables for lunch. It was quite a nice venue.

    My favorite speaker is tough. I’ve seen many, and I’ve enjoyed most. I’ll give a nod to Amir Netz, from Microsoft, who I’ve seen quite a few times over the years. He’s entertaining, funny, and smart. Half the time I don’t quite understand what he’s talking about, but I’m enjoying it just the same.

    The Next Event

    I’m blessed in that I’m actually just returning from my “next event”. I was in Las Vegas last week for the SQL Server and Azure SQL Conference at DevIntersection.  I’ve been lucky that I was able to attend a few live events this year (2021) and am looking forward to more in 2022.

    Costa Rica would be an amazing next event. I have never been there and would love to go. I’d speak, volunteer, and help organize if someone is interested.

    It’s a tough time in the world, and I know that holding a live event might not be possible, or safe, in some locations. I would love to return to New Zealand, I’m looking forward to Jacksonville in the spring, as I’ve never been able to make that SQL Saturday.

    If I had to choose, I’d want to get a SQL event in Tokyo and go there. I have never been to Japan, and it’s on my list of places to go at some point, so I hope I hear 日本へようこそ one day.

  • Daily Coping 14 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 listen wholeheartedly to others without judging them.

    This is similar to a few tips across the last year, and for me, it’s one I’ve been working on. As I find myself hearing someone else complain or cheer or anything, I’m trying to let the words and feelings wash over me and avoid judging or projecting my own feelings onto them.

    I’ve had some success, but I still need to remind myself of this. Without disclosing names, I was listening to someone tell be about their success with finances and work this year. Rather than compare myself, or view them as a bit arrogant, I cheered on their success in my mind. It’s hard to not compare or examine how I feel I’ve done this year against them, but I was working to limit this to a “could I do better” than a I or them was more successful.

    I think I did this well internally. Externally, I just congratulated them and listened to their joy, feeling good for them.

    I had another friend who is having a hard time in life and getting together with others. My initial thought was that some of their complaints are self-created, but I worked to stop myself from judging them and instead just listening and providing the support and sympathy I can. No advice, no suggestions, nothing but “I’m here for you.”

  • The Chili Shirt–Memories of Euan Garden

    Early on in the history of SQL Server Central, we were offered the chance to work in a booth a TechEd and promote our little site. Brian Knight, Andy Warren, and I took the opportunity to go and hang out at the conference. I think this was 2004 or 2005, and we decided we should have logo’d shirts. I was given the task of choosing them and getting them customized.

    I ended up going with Hawaiian shirts, doing 3 for each of us in different designs. The idea was to wear a new one each day and match each other. I chose a fish theme, a traditional flower theme, and a chili-pepper theme.

    It was at that conference that I met Euan Garden, who was working for Microsoft with the SQL Server team. I enjoyed talking with him and seeing him talk about the platform. He liked the shirts and asked if we’d make him one. No one had asked, and I thought it would be good marketing, so I had another one made and gave it to him at another event. I don’t even have my shirt anymore, but it’s this one:

    IMGP6775

    I don’t have a picture with Euan (actually, I don’t have the shirt anymore). This was pre-iPhone, pre cameras everywhere, back when I made most calls to Brian and Andy on a land-line, reserving the expensive minutes on cellular for emergencies.

    Over the years I’ve seen Euan at various events and had a short chat. I’ve enjoyed our interactions, and I’ve thought of him every time I wear that shirt.

    I’m stunned at his passing, on a day where the husband of another friend also passed.

    Life is truly short, and you must enjoy it while you have it.