Voice of the DBA

Tag: travel

  • 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.

  • The 2011 SQL Saturday Schedule is Filling Up

    I have been trying to figure out where to go in 2011 for SQL Saturdays, especially as Red Gate is looking to have me do a few more demos and sessions at events. It seemed that there were relatively few events, and I’d already decided on these two:

    I’ve never been to these cities, but I have a relative in one, and a number of friends in another. So I decided to skip Tampa (they have lots of speakers) and Houston (can’t travel two weekends in a row) and hit those.
    So when I saw the announcement of SQL Saturday #71 from Grant Fritchey (Blog | @gfritchey), I thought “cool, another event.” Then I saw the date: Apr 2.
    😦
    That’s the same day as SQLSaturday #63 in Dallas, and I’d already submitted a session as well as semi-committed to the organizers there. So it looks like I’ll miss Boston, which is a little disappointing. I like that city.
    As I checked thhttp://www.sqlsaturday.com/default.aspxe schedule, I saw a few other conflicts as well. I have somewhat committed to Chicago (#67, Mar 26), which is right before Dallas. A busy time for me, and with Tech Ed and the Rally before that, I’m going to have to limit some travel. Right now I’m thinking to skip TechEd since it’s not the best show for me to go to anyway.
    However Columbia is getting ready for another event on Mar 19 (SQL Saturday #70). If I went there, I’d be gone 3 weeks in a row, which is a lot. Actually it’s too much, both on the family and me, so I’ll have to miss Columbia again.
    However it’s good for the community. Already there are:

    • Jan – 3 events
    • Feb – 4 events
    • Mar – 3 events
    • Apr – 3 events
    • Aug – 1 event

    I’m sure more are coming, and I will really, really try to get to new cities next year and meet more of the SQLServerCentral community.