Out and Acing again

Quick Update

Well if you haven’t heard I had to have surgery on my knee. It appears that I had a pretty messy meniscus and on 3/19 I had it cleaned up. The first week wasn’t fun and finding out that it might take 4-6 months before I’m back to 100% normal didn’t make this process any easier. It looks like I’ll do a few more PT sessions next week before heading out of town. But I am feeling pretty confident in my abilities and have come to terms with the things that I can’t. On the left is one of the before photos, those threads and rough edges are . . . → Read More: Out and Acing again

Power BI–Visualizing SQLSaturday Data

Inside SQLSaturday

This morning I was having a discussion with my husband about our SQLSaturday location. He is extremely concerned that moving the event further away from downtown Nashville would hurt attendance. I tried discussing it with him but he finally said “I’d like to see the data so we could know where everyone is coming from.” I said well I have all the data give me a minute. 10 minutes later I am Skyping him asking how to share with him the 2 Power BI maps I have made.

How did we get here? I ran the last 2 Nashville SQLSaturday events. Because I took a big leap in . . . → Read More: Power BI–Visualizing SQLSaturday Data

#SQLSatIndy, Shaving Yak and Power BI

You are probably wondering how these things are all related. I love summer, when there isn’t a signed SOW I can find a million things to do outdoors. I love being out in the sun. This leaves me very unmotivated to be indoors doing things, like writing new presentations. Hence the problem.

The Indianapolis SQLSaturday is near and dear to our hearts. First we love Hope Foley [ BLOG | TWITTER ], she’s one kick ass woman and she’ really an inspiration. Next Indy is only an hour away from our family and they were the first user group I ever attended. So it’s no surprise that we both submitted . . . → Read More: #SQLSatIndy, Shaving Yak and Power BI

Inside SQLSaturday – Romancing your Sponsors

Romancing your Sponsors

To be honest, this seems like a no brainer, but I have noticed that in some locations the sponsors are just “there” so to speak. So these are my tips and a lot of them I have gathered from the sponsors over the last year or so.

Make sure your sponsor area gets good foot traffic–this is how they meet your attendees. Don’t build rooms as tracks that would keep folks in 1 room or one end of a building the entire day. Have lunch set up early and allow the sponsors and lunch speakers to go through so they will be ready for the lunch break. . . . → Read More: Inside SQLSaturday – Romancing your Sponsors

SQLSaturday Schedule printing, now made easier.

I have been playing with Power BI items lately and have found some really good uses and some really big shortcomings. But today while I was playing with something an idea popped into my head. As a SQLSaturday organizer I found creating the schedule for print was a PITA. I have seen people just print the screen, which makes blowing it up to poster size a bit of a mess. I had to cut and paste, fix, format and it ends up a hot mess like below so I think I ended up just typing it.

So let me give you a better option. This is so easy I . . . → Read More: SQLSaturday Schedule printing, now made easier.

The Fresh Prince (#SQLSat294)

Or guess what? I am going to PHILLY for #SQLSat294!

If you think I have lost my mind just listen.

So this wraps up the spring travel schedule and should leave us at home till Indianapolis in August. Neither of us have ever been to Philadelphia. This is probably the furthest East I have been. We will be arriving on Thursday as Kerry [ B L O G | TWITTER ] is planning on attending the Friday Pre-con Stacia [ B L O G | TWITTER ] and Joey [ B L O G | TWITTER ] are putting on, Analytics Without Limits: The Modern BI Architecture Story. That should . . . → Read More: The Fresh Prince (#SQLSat294)

Orange County, but not including choppers

I am speaking in CA!

At least I don’t think it will include custom choppers. <SMILE> Well it appears that my good friends in Orange County have invited me to speak at their SQLSaturday. This event is happing on April 26, 2014 at the Goldenwest College. This will be #SQLSat289, and that sounds confusing because I did #SQLSat295 just a short while ago. You see you can commit to (sign the contract) up to 180 days out but no later than 120 days. So it is possible to be later in the calendar year but earlier in the numbering schema. Side note we are not hear to discuss or debate . . . → Read More: Orange County, but not including choppers

Spring 2014 Where’s Waldo?

OMG spring is shaping up so nicely I can hardly stand it. But just to keep you informed of where you might find sightings of me I am putting together a little blog post. I try to keep it updated, we’ll see how that goes this time!

Date Where What Notes Status 4/5 Las Vegas, NV SQLSaturday #295 Accepted All travel plans made. 4/23 Orange County, CA SQLSaturday #289 Submitted – waiting All travel plans made. 5/7-9 San Jose, CA PASS BA Conference Submitted – not accepted Sad panda. 5/3 Atlanta, GA SQLSaturday #285 Submitted – Accepted Driving! & I get to visit IKEA! 5/10 Houston, TX SQLSaturday #308 Submitted . . . → Read More: Spring 2014 Where’s Waldo?

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless

Unless it is a

I am not sure if you heard the word but they are having their FIRST, yes I said 1st SQLSaturday in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. Those folks at PASS and those of us in the community love it when a new city is added to the list of great places SQLSaturday has been held, but this one really warms our hearts. I have been trying to lend a hand here an there to help with this event and since I am getting there several days early I am sure I will be put on manual labor. But at the end of the day it is . . . → Read More: What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless

SQLSaturday Nashville!

Wow, how do things get so out of control? One day I am packing getting ready for Summit 2013 and pushing the button on Nashville’s SQLSaturday; the next minute I am freaking out that there is like 2 weeks before the big day. In that small run of less than 120 days I have done the following; went to summit (October), drove to Kalamazoo for SQLSat, spent 2 days in Fort Wayne, spent 1 night in Kokomo, there was Thanksgiving for 8 at my house, dad’s bday, Kerry’s bday, I catered lunch for 12 and a cocktail party for another 12, Christmas, I quit my job, went to Napa for . . . → Read More: SQLSaturday Nashville!