Voice of the DBA

Tag: travel

  • On the Move to SQL Server Connections

    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.

  • SQL Server Connections in a week

    I’m heading to SQL Server Connections next week, part of the DevConnections conference featuring a whole slew of technologies. Once again SQLServerCentral is sponsoring a track at the event, and I’m playing host and reporter.

    We’ve picked some great speakers, including Brian Kelley, Joe Webb, and Jonathan Kehayias to talk on security, locking/blocking, and extended events. We have Brad McGehee as well, talking trace and helping me host the party.

    This spring the event is back in Orlando, which is a great location and while I don’t mind the cold weather of Colorado, it is good to get down to Florida for some warm weather and cold drinks and talk some SQL Server

    Hopefully I’ll see a few of you down there. Look for me in the Hawaiian shirt and cowboy hat.

    There’s still time to register and you can save $200 with “DevCon1” as the registration code.

  • Rolling to SQL Saturday #60

    I’m still stunned as I see numbers above 50 in the hash tags for SQL Saturdays. Yet here we are, #60 in Cleveland this weekend and I’m on the road this morning. Or in the air, catching a flight to Cleveland from Denver.

    I’ve never really been to Ohio, only having driven through the state on my way to someplace else. Stopping for gas and coffee doesn’t count as a visit, so I’m looking forward to this. Allen White, a friend I’ve known for years, will be my host, along with a number of other SQL people I’m looking forward to seeing again, or meeting for the first time.

    The event is sold out, which is a good thing. It shows interest in the free training and I hope this means that a few of you will help out and get another SQL Saturday in Cleveland sometime in the fall.

    I don’t have any great plans of things to see, other than run with Allen on Sunday morning. If any SQL runners are out there, feel free to join us, and follow the #sqlsat60 tag on Twitter. I’ll post some info about where/when as I get it.

  • SQL Saturday #45 Cancelled

    I hate not living up to commitments. It really, really bothers me and I have tried hard in my career to under-promise and over-deliver. However I’m going to get a big fat #FAIL for SQL Saturday #45.

    I found out last night that my son has his black belt test scheduled for Jan 22, 2011. That’s the same day as SQL Saturday #45 in Louisville, KY, an event that I have been planning on attending for a few months. I tried to get the test moved, but our karate school only does black belt testing twice a year, and they bring in another teacher from out of town to help, so I was stuck. I had been thinking it would be Jan 29, since that’s usually when other tests occur, but that wasn’t the case this time.

    So I sent a note with apologies and regret to the organizers as well as Red Gate since I was supposed to represent them there. I did find a few people that were willing to speak and take my place, so I think the event will be fine, but I still feel bad about cancelling.

    I’m glad that I went to class since this was the first I’d heard of it and it gave me some notice. With only a week left before I go on holiday, I’d gate to have missed this news until Jan.