Voice of the DBA

Tag: travel

  • Thirty Hours at Home

    This is a busy travel week for me, and one of those times that stresses out everyone in the household. I attended SQL Saturday #197 – Omaha over the weekend, arriving home Sunday morning from my trip. I had a good time at the event, my first time to Omaha, and would like to go back again sometime.

    However it’s a quick turnaround for me. Fortunately I have packing down to a science since I’m leaving today at 2:00 for Las Vegas and the first SQL Intersection conference. I have two talks to deliver on Tuesday and a few sessions I’d like to see Wednesday before I head home again.

    Back in time to cook a couple meals (and extra leftovers) for the family and spend a day with everyone before heading back out of town. These are tough times, and it’s a lot of support from the family that allows me to do this.

    I’ll have the same type of turnaround at the end of the month between SQL Saturday #175 – Fargo and SQL Bits.

    I may have to limit some trips later in the year after this month, so please don’t be offended if I decline any offers to speak.

  • Off to the Richmond User Group, a Red Gate Experiment and SQL Saturday #187

    This weekend is SQL Saturday #187 in Richmond, VA. Today’s a travel day for me, as I head out early because Red Gate Software is sponsoring a half day event tomorrow, Friday, where myself and Grant Fritchey (b | t) will be speaking. This is an experiment for us, and I’m hoping it goes well. If so, you might find us doing a number of these events around the country.

    Today I travel, speaking on encryption at the Richmond SQL Server Users Group, then tomorrow at our Red Gate event, and Saturday at SQL Saturday. Then two days off, hanging with my brother, his wife, and my nephews in Maryland before coming back next week.

    A busy few days. Four different talks, on four subjects. Fortunately I’ve been rehearsing this week.

    Hope to see some of you there.

  • Off to Redmond

    Actually I’m off to Bellevue this week for the annual MVP Summit that Microsoft puts on each year. This is a conference, with over 1000 MVPs attending where we get the chance to hear presentations and interact with the developers in our particular areas. I’ll be in downtown Bellevue for a few days this week, hopefully learning more about how SQL Server works and getting an idea on the directions the product will take in the next year or two. With all the attention on Azure, and work continuing on the next boxed version of SQL Server, I’m looking forward to many of the sessions.]

    As with most of the MVP events I attend, I can’t talk about much that goes on. We are under strict NDAs and until Microsoft decides to release something publicly, I won’t be writing.

    However I will be getting prepared to talk about things when they come out, along with many other MVPs. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we can disclose information to you that will make your jobs easier.

  • Back Across the Water

    Another trip to the UK this week, with me leaving today for Cambridge and meetings at Red Gate Software. This will be my third trip this year, a record for me, and also the most travel I’ve done in a year.

    We are doing some planning for 2013, for the community and various events that Red Gate is a part of each year. We’ve supported user groups, SQL Saturdays, various conferences and our own SQL in the City events. Our goal is to interact with the community and learn things about how people use our software, as well as promote it, but also to educate data professionals. We want to turn a profit, but we also want to be a part of the community and support it where we can.

    I wish I could say that I’ll travel less next year, but I’m not sure that’s the case. We are looking to more effectively provide support, with more value for the money we spend, but I suspect that will mean more travel for Grant Fritchey and myself.

    We’ll see what happens, and we’ll likely start booking some events in 2013 soon. If you have ideas, suggestions, or requests, please feel free to post something here or send an email to communities@red-gate.com.