Our first day in class was a great success.  Brent Ozar presented on San Features for Senior DBAs and I covered the Periodic Table of Dynamic Management Objects.

The evening agenda for SQL Cruise kicked off first however at the Spice H2O Pool and Grill where we held the Brent Ozar PLF Art Auction.  If you’ve gone on a cruise before you know they do what they can to separate you from your money.  One of those methods are by holding art auctions – they lure you in with free champagne in the hopes you will make some starving artist not so hungry and the cruise line will happily take a commission on the sale.  On SQL Cruise we have our twist on the genre.  Including our own money which we provide to the Cruisers.  Some prizes are great.  Some, well let’s just say some are great fun.  From underwater digital cameras to posters of dogs playing poker everyone walked away with something after the auction.

We then held open office hours like you’ve never encountered before unless you’ve been on a SQL Cruise.  Presenters and Cruisers alike asking questions and volleying ideas off each other while getting some sun and some refreshments in and around the pool.  Consulting sessions should always be this easy!

After the draining stress that poolside consulting requires we moved into relax and network mode with many of us taking in the Blue Man Group.  It was an absolute delight seeing my sons in the front row enjoying themselves.  The Blue Man Group was the first thing we took in at Universal Studios about a year ago after Trevor’s long stint in the hospital; still frail and in a wheelchair at that time.  Sharing such a recovery with #SQLFamily aboard SQL Cruise is a very fulfilling experience for me.

When you come on a SQL Cruise you always seem to find the energy to stay out late and make it to class the next day.  I attribute it to the 24-hour lifestyle so many DBAs need to adopt to support their environments.  Here it is just a bit more casual though.

Our next day will also be a training day; this time featuring Kevin Kline and Aaron Bertrand.  This is shaping up to be a great week, just as expected of course!