I blogged a few weeks ago about a few regrets I’ve had since leaving behind being a DBA but I was reminded of another just over a week ago. It’s an event that combined two of my favorite things: SQL (or more accurately #SQLFamily) and trains! And that’s… SQL Train!

No, it’s not a new Microsoft product or something. It’s an event when a bunch of SQL DBAs and others take the train from Portland Oregon’s SQL Saturday event up to Seattle in prep for the PASS event. So you already know it’s a great group of people. And of course I love riding Amtrak and that’s one segment I haven’t ridden yet, so I would have enjoyed it. It’s something I have been meaning to do for years but never got around to it. That said, I’m sure if I showed up in a future year, I’d be welcomed by my SQL Family, it’s how they role.

That said, this weekend I did something new: I acted in a movie. Technically it’s not my first, but it’s by far the most involved I’ve been. A bit of acting, my daughter is in her senior year of film school and needed a “dad like person in their mid 50s” for a role. After not being able to find someone local to fill the role, she asked me. This involved me leaving work at 3:30 AM Friday after my shift ended, driving a bit, napping for several hours, getting gas, a bit more of a drive, napping again, driving, getting some food, I finally showed up on set. Total, I spent about 6 hours on set on Friday, and 10+ hours on Saturday and 8+ on Sunday.

I’ll admit between short notice (less than a week) and little time (5 12 hour shifts in that week) I wasn’t as prepared as I’d like, but I managed to get most of my lines right.

I’ll say this, as much fun as it was, I do hope I’m a better PA than I am actor! I’m not about to give up my night job.

And that’s it from here this week.