I’m leaving this morning for Oklahoma City for SQL Saturday #90. This is my first time traveling to Oklahoma City and I’m looking forward to it. I’m thinking to check out the National Cowboy Museum, I need to see the national memorial, and of course, get it in a run. It looks like the event isn’t too far from the river, so I might get it in run along there.
I have a light schedule for the event, which is good for me. I have the opening keynote and then a lunchtime demo session of Red Gate tools. That’s about all I want to do, having learned the hard way that more than 2 sessions is a lot of work. I’m happy to do three if someone drops out, but I’d rather not.
It should be a good event, and I’m looking forward to seeing OKC for the first time.
We’re a week away from SQL Saturday #64 in Baton Rouge, LA. It takes place on August 6, 2011 at the Patrick Taylor at LSU again, the same location as the last two years. If you’re in the area, sign up and come learn about SQL Server. I’ll be presenting two sessions, one on Red Gate tools at lunch, and one on the Top Ten SQL Server Skills You Need to Know about SQL Server.
I did a short radio interview with WRKF that should air next Thursday to promote the event. I don’t know how many people will hear it, but there might be some people signing up, which might fill up the day. If you want to come, register soon.
This is a great event, and it’s one of the bigger SQL Saturday’s I’ve been to every year. There are 9 tracks, including a couple .NET tracks and a Windows Phone set of sessions, so there’s plenty for everyone to do. The crew that puts the event together does a great job, and I’m sure you’ll have a great time.
Baton Rouge is a great place, and I’m am looking forward to a run or two around University Lake. It’s hot, humid, but a nice place to jog. If you want to join me, I’ll be aiming for an early Sat am run, likely around 7:00am.
Once again I’m flying to New Orleans and driving up to Baton Rouge. I hope to get some lunch in the Big Easy, enjoying the beautiful French Quarter before going to a very nice college town in Baton Rouge. I’m not staying Saturday night, but heading back to New Orleans for an early flight home Sunday. I’ll be at the after party, so please stop by and say hi to me.
I joked about having a 22 hour layover in Denver yesterday and a few people were wondering what airline screwed me this time. That made me laugh, because they didn’t get the joke.
I got home yesterday at 3:30pm from SQL Server Connections in Orlando. I’ve been there all week, and after some travel delays, I got back at in time to pick up my son at 3:45 from his school bus.
Today at 1:15 or so I need to leave the house, heading back to the airport for my trip to Dallas and SQL Saturday #63 tonight. Essentially I got a 22 hour layover at home before my next trip.
I hate that, and as much as I’m looking forward to seeing people in Dallas, the travel wears on me. Fortunately I’ll be shutting things down until June when I got to Pensacola and SQL Saturday #77. That won’t be a bad trip as my daughter will come and we’ll spend a few days at the beach and make it a nice Daddy/daughter vacation.
Brian Kelley, speaking on the SQLServerCentral track.
A bit of a crazy day for me, starting off a crazy week. I leave this afternoon for SQL Server Connections in Orlando, where it’s in the 80F with some rain. It was about 60F yesterday and sunny in Denver, a beautiful t-shirt day and today I woke up to snow on the ground and more coming down now. I’m a little torn, since I’d rather be heading to the mountains to snowboard than the pool to swim, but I am looking forward to SQL Server Connections.
SQLServerCentral is sponsoring a track, with Brad McGehee, Brian Kelley, and Jonathan Kehayias speaking. We have set up sessions and I’ll be down there as the roving reporter and SSC host, sporting a Hawaiian shirt, my cowboy hat, and no pants. At least, I’m hoping I get by with shorts for the two days I’m down there.
We have sponsored a track the last two years and it’s great fun. We get the chance to pick speakers, all seasoned SQL Server experts and presenters that will give you a great experience on the SQL Server track. Unlike PASS, the speakers are invitation only, both from our track, and the SQLskills track, managed by Paul Randal and Kimberly Tripp. Unlike some other events, I always see great sessions at Connections and I am almost never disappointed.
There’s also great variety since the conference is located in the same hotel as the ASP.NET, Silverlight, Visual Studio, Sharepoint, Exchange, and Windows conferences from the DevConnections event. If you work with multiple technologies, this is the best conference to go to and get a variety of knowledge on different sessions.
It’s also in a great location. I’m one of the strange ones that likes winter, and I don’t necessarily want it to end quickly, but most people are happy to get away from the cold for a warmer location. The spring event in Orlando, and the fall event in Las Vegas, give you the chance to do that.
If you aren’t coming this week, keep an eye on the blog for notes and content from the show where I’ll be reporting on sessions, taking some pictures, and perhaps some video. Think about coming to the fall show in Vegas, and get some great SQL information in a great location.
Voice of the DBA 