{"id":2950,"date":"2023-10-24T17:52:35","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T00:52:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/?p=2950"},"modified":"2023-10-26T14:24:09","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T21:24:09","slug":"thanks-for-the-amazing-questions-events-and-especially-the-memories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/thanks-for-the-amazing-questions-events-and-especially-the-memories\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanks for the amazing questions, events, and especially – the memories!"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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So, this is a bit of a strange post for me to write. I founded and have been working with SQLskills since I left Microsoft in 1995. I left because I wanted a combination of things on which to focus and I just couldn’t find that combination without creating it. I love teaching. I love speaking at events \/ conferences. I love consulting and tackling problems (especially large table design or performance problems). I enjoy writing but, not as much as teaching \/ speaking or consulting as I love the interaction that happens at events. When I reached 25 years, I was overcome with emotion as I pulled together photos and memories from around the world. (Check out my post: Celebrating 25 Years of SQLskills<\/a>)<\/p>\n

It was hard to believe that I’d met so many people and had been able to see so much of our incredible planet. I’m truly honored to have been able to speak to so many people about a product for which I have so much passion and for which I was able to gain so much knowledge over the years. I remember reading the Adminstrator’s Guide to SQL Server 4.2 – cover to cover. Something you can’t even think about doing now… not only does it NOT exist as an actual book but it’d just be too darn large to hold!<\/p>\n

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If I go back in time a bit further, I think about my very first Microsoft job at Microsoft University (MSU). I’m thinking about this even more as I just had lunch (yesterday) with one of my former colleagues and mentors – Bill Vaughn. We laughed about my MSU interview now, over 30 years later.\u00a0And, if I go back even further, I think about how I got started with Microsoft SQL Server while working at a small (but FANTASTIC) training company called LAN\/mind in Chicago. Or, another mentor of mine: Ward Christensen, at IBM. Or, my college buddies that inspired so much programming fun. I’ve absolutely adored technology. If you want to go way back with me, I wrote a blog post called: What led me to where I am today and what\u2019s inspired me along the way?<\/a> When you really look back, there are always so many pivotal moments, inspiration people, and sometimes just perfect timing!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And, my interview story with BV is just too good not to tell:<\/p>\n

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MSU “Trial By Fire” Interviews<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When I went in to interview for Microsoft University, Bill Vaughn was one of the interviewers. As we entered his office, I nervously went to close the door. It wasn\u2019t closing easily\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

In Bill\u2019s commanding voice, it would help if you took the doorstop out…<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In my head, oh my, this isn’t going well<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

We completed the interview, and I went on to the next person.\u00a0<\/span>And the next.\u00a0And the next.<\/p>\n

At the end of an MSU interview, candidates were to present for an audience. One presentation was chosen by the candidate (I chose SQL backup \/ restore) and one was chosen by Microsoft. The Microsoft presentation was specifically selected on a topic about which you were less familiar. For mine, they chose Programming with DBLib.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was 1992, I focused on backend details – not client programming; I definitely was not familiar.<\/span><\/p>\n

I gave my backup \/ restore presentation and then had a short break before my DBLib presentation. During my DBLib presentation, the woman who later became my manager (Stacey Dickinson) asked a question I did not know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bill, now sitting in the front row for my “TBF” – was nodding his head (yes or true, I can\u2019t remember now – I do remember that I had a 50\/50 shot<\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\n

But in my head, do I trust him? Do I pretend I know the answer and go with it\u2026\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

No, I can\u2019t do that. So, I said to Stacey\u2026 I\u2019m not entirely sure \"\"<\/a>of the answer. I can look into it and get back to you though.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Then, with a slight pause – Oh, but Bill says it\u2019s true!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

When he signed his latest novel for me (A Seldith Christmas, by William Vaughn<\/a>) he wrote – it would help if you took the doorstop out<\/i>! We still laugh about that. What a GREAT MEMORY!! And, it was followed by some of my best times at Microsoft – with Microsoft University!!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"Kimberly<\/a>And so many amazing times from 1995 until 2007 when Paul joined SQLskills. I can’t even begin to say how truly fortunate I’ve been to be able to travel the world and work with my best friend and partner. What a true gift. (and, his Mother won’t take him back – so I’m also stuck with him…<\/i> ;-)<\/p>\n

And wow – the stories we can tell. Oh my! One of the best rumors was about how Paul used a very focused<\/em> <\/strong>pick-up line on me: Hey Baby, wanna learn some undocumented DBCC commands?<\/i><\/p>\n

Given that won’t work on 99.999999999999% of the population, he got super lucky trying it on me! lol (that is NOT at all true<\/em>)<\/p>\n

PHOTO: 2007, Kimberly and Paul on the Kirkland Woodmark Dock before heading out on a Wedding Cruise with all of our friends!<\/p>\n

UPDATE: I didn’t want this to go on for days and I didn’t want to cry when I wrote this but I just can’t leave out the most amazing team of people we’ve had as either employees or contractors over the years. I can’t even imagine SQLskills without Jonathan. Or, our assistant \/ office manager Libby. Or Joe Sack, Tim Radney, Erin Stellato, Glenn Berry… Or, guest instructors \/ contractors Stacia Varga, Bob Beauchemin,\u00a0Rafal Lukawiecki,\u00a0<\/span>Andy Leonard. Or, partners like SentryOne and ProData. Wow, I could go on for days here… no… I just have something in my eye!\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

I think this is the best way to show how much fun we’ve had:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, where the heck am I going with this?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I adore SQL Server, but I also have many other passions… including, underwater photography and diving (both SCUBA and some freediving). And, we’ve purchased some land (in 2021) on which we are planning to build – and move – and live completely OFF-GRID (eventually). Yes, we have Starlink. Come on, we’re not savages! This adventure has been great fun and I’ve learned a lot. But it does require a lot of work. And time. And permits… and… and…\u00a0<\/p>\n

I was even thinking about retiring last year after I had such a blast giving the Community Keynote –\u00a030+ Years of Innovation at the 2022 PASS Data Community Summit<\/a>. I thought, what a great way to end… having delivered the keynote. But, I just wasn’t quite ready. I had a few more training ideas up my sleeves – one of which is our\u00a0Blackbelt Base Camp Training Event<\/a>\u00a0that’s running through June 2024. And, even though I’ll be stepping away from SQL Server, I’m still going to be involved with the training event until the end!\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But now, it’s time to venture out and try a few new things. And, how fun that this comes along at the same time that one of my photos is showcased on the cover of Current Biology. In fact, there are two more photos of mine within this Special Edition focused on cephalopods. There are some truly fascinating articles if you’re interested:\u00a0Current issue: Current Biology (cell.com)<\/a><\/p>\n

So… that’s why I’m writing today. This year’s\u00a0PASS Data Community Summit<\/span><\/a>\u00a0will be my last public SQL Server training event. I have a precon workshop, a session, and I’ll\u00a0<\/span>also be introducing the Community Keynote and passing the proverbial torch. I hope to see you there!<\/span><\/p>\n

And, above all THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING MEMORIES!<\/p>\n

Cheers, and thanks for reading,
k<\/p>\n

PS – No changes at SQLskills. Paul’s at the helm and business as usual! And, it’s not like he won’t ask me questions about indexes or statistics anyway… ;-) Plus, we still plan dive trips – where terribly fun photos are taken. Nope, not going to do it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But, there are some fantastic photos and memories here:\u00a0Celebrating 25 Years of SQLskills<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So, this is a bit of a strange post for me to write. I founded and have been working with SQLskills since I left Microsoft in 1995. I left because I wanted a combination of things on which to focus and I just couldn’t find that combination without creating it. I love teaching. I love […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2950\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sqlskills.com\/blogs\/kimberly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}