Kscope15 - It's a Wrap, Part II

Another fantastic Kscope in the can.

This was my final year in an official capacity which was a lot more difficult to deal with than I had anticipated. Here's my record of service:

• 2010 (2011, Long Beach) - I was on the database abstract review committee run by Lewis Cunningham. I ended up volunteering to help put together the Sunday Symposium and with the help of Dominic Delmolino, Cary Millsap and Kris Rice, I felt I did a pretty decent job.
• 2011 (2012, San Antonio) - Database track lead. I believe this is the year that Oracle started running the Sunday Symposiums. Kris again led the charge with some input from those other two from the year before, i.e. DevOps oriented
• 2012 (2013, New Orleans) Content co-chair for the traditional stuff (Database, APEX, ADF), Interview Monkey (Tom Kyte OMFG!), OOW/ODTUG Coordinator, etc.
• 2013 (2014, Seattle) Content co-chair for the traditional stuff (Database, APEX, ADF), Interview Monkey, OOW/ODTUG Coordinator, etc.
• 2014 (2015, Hollywood, FL) Content co-chair for the traditional stuff (Database, APEX, ADF)

This has been a wonderful time for me both professionally and, more importantly to me, personally. Obviously I had a big voice in the direction of content. Also and maybe hard to believe, I actually presented for the first time. Slotted against Mr. Kyte. I reminded everyone of that too. Multiple times. It seemed to go well though. Only a few made fun of me.

I was constantly recruiting too. "Did you submit an abstract?" "No, why not?" and I'd go into my own personal diatribe (ignoring my own lack of presenting) into why they should present. Sarah Craynon Zumbrum summed it up pretty well in a recent article.

But it was the connections I made, the people I met, the stories I shared (#ampm, #cupcakeshirt, etc), and the friends that I made, that's what has had the most impact on me. Kscope is unique in that way because of it's size...at Collaborate or OOW, you'll be lucky to see someone more than once or twice, at Kscope you're running into everyone constantly.

How could I forget? #tadasforkate! This year was even more special. For those that don't know, Katezilla is my profoundly delayed but equally profoundly happy 10 y/o daughter. Just prior to the conference her physical therapist taught her "tada!" and Kate would hold her hands up high in the air and everyone around would yell, Tada! I got this crazy idea to ask others to do it and I would film it. Thirty or forty videos and hundreds of participants later...



So a gigantic thank you to everyone who made this possible for me.
Here's a short list of those that had a direct impact on me...

• Lewis Cunningham - he asked me to be a reviewer which started all of this off.
• Mike Riley - can't really say enough about Mike. After turning me away a long time ago (jerk), he was probably my biggest supporter over the years. (Remind me next year to you tell you about "The Hug."). Mike, and his family, are very dear to me.
• Monty Latiolais (rhymes with Frito Lay I would tell myself) - How can you not love this guy?
• Natalie Delemar - Co-chair for EPM/BI and then boss as Conference Chair.
• Opal Alapat - Co-chair for EPM/BI and one of my favorite humans ever invented. I aspire to be more organized, assertive, and bad-ass like Opal.

That list is by no means exhaustive. It doesn't even include staff at YCC, like Crystal Walton, Lauren Prezby and everyone else there. Nor does it include the very long list of Very Special People I've met. I consider myself very fortunate and incredibly grateful.

What's the future hold?
I have no idea. My people are in talks with Helen J. Sander's people to do one or more presentations next year, so there's that. Speaking of which...it's in Chicago. Abstract submissions start soon, I hope you plan on submitting. If you're not ready to submit, I hope you take try to take part in shaping the content by finding one of about 10 abstract review committees. Who knows where they may lead you?

Finally, here's the It's a Wrap video from Kscope15 (see Helen's story there). Here's Kscope16's site. Go sign up.

the katezilla t-shirt

Been thinking about doing this for a long time. No particular reason, just seems natural. Note the awesome font style I chose and how much it differs from the regular oraclenerd font. I'm very creative.

All proceeds go to support katezilla in all her awesomeness.

$25 (US Only, for now)

Origins of ORACLENERD, katezilla and Stuff

On Sunday I attended the Oracle ACE dinner. This is an annual gathering at OOW of the ACE and ACE Directors who are in attendance (lots). The venue was the San Francisco Yacht Club. Very nice. They made me take off my hat, which I usually do inside, so it was fancy too.

Bob Rhubart of OTN Architect Community fame, asked if I would share the story of the origins of ORACLENERD, how it came about. Since I have a problem saying No, I agreed.

I wasn't very concise about the origins, I rambled for a few minutes finally getting on point. Then I started to talk about katezilla...

Long, tiring day, plus an adult beverage on board and I was just spilling my guts. Near the end, I think I cried, on TV. I asked Bob if he could see tears, he said No.

The following morning a friend of mine in Europe told me he saw the video. I asked him if he saw tears. He said, "No, I was at work, trying not to show emotions, but it was very powerful."

To which I replied, "I was talking about me. :)"

Anyway, katezilla comes on about 6:00 minutes, skip to there if you don't want to hear the whole thing.

Custom ORACLENERD T-Shirts

Jeff Smith has said for some time now that I need to market the t-shirts better than I do. Selling them has never been a priority. Yes, it's pretty cool seeing the t-shirts out and about. It's cool that people can express their inner oraclenerd like I seem to do on a daily basis. The real reason I put effort into t-shirts and the like, is katezilla.

Recently we got hit with a couple of things: 1, a $190 iPad app for Kate and 2, her ABA therapy co-pays finally came due. For #1, I ran a GoFundMe campaign and encouraged you to buy t-shirts. The GoFundMe campaign raised $420 in less than a day, more than covering the cost of Kate's iPad app. I used the remaining funds to make a payment on #2, her ABA co-pays. I also sold about 10 shirts just after that post and close to 20 in total since.

I am constantly humbled at your generosity.

What does all of this have to do with the title? Well, people have asked for shirts either through Twitter, IM or email. Shirts with specific sayings or different styles. Two weekends ago on a Friday night, Don Seiler suggested a hoodie. Living in Florida I had never thought about it, but he lives in Wisconsin where it gets a little cold. We went back and forth on twitter, I would go on Spreadshirt and spin something up, screenshot it, and send it across the wire. On Monday I had a final product and I named it after Mr. Seiler.

Mr. Seiler (picture) ordered one and so did Mr. Smith. Awesome.

The Don Seiler Hoodie	The German Austrian

The other shirt there is the German Austrian edition. Martin Berger was responsible for that one (I have a Cyrillic and Russian version in the hopper for Greg Rahn).

Late last week I talked to Lisa Dobson. She got one last year for OpenWorld and wanted a new one, with a twist.

The Lisa Dobson	The Lisa Dobson Pink

Upside down logo (she's British). So I named it after her. Note, the pink version is only available in the US, that brand isn't carried on the European Spreadshirt site.

So, if you have an idea (Mr. Seiler has designed two now, the long sleeve baseball jersey and the hoodie), send it to me and I'll spin something up for you.

How could I forget the APEX version (Joel Kallman)? Or the OBIEE version (Adrian Ward)?

Because I'm forgetful. I'm sure there are others.

Just so it's clear, there are two shops: North America and Europe. They're not exactly the same as it's two separate systems, but I'm trying to keep them in sync.

Send me your suggestions...all proceeds go to a great cause katezilla.

katezilla + AAC

About 8 months ago one of the staff at Sydney's School suggested we let katezilla try out one of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) iPad apps. My parents let us use their iPad (v1) and bought the app that was suggested, My First AAC.

She's mostly used this at school, only really getting into it at home over the last month or three.

Fortunately, she has outgrown it. I say fortunately because it's great for her, but "bad" for us. I like to joke and say that Kate will have to pay for her own college and wedding as she's spent all of our money (I've been saying this since she was two). Of course, it's not true. I would spend all the money in the world on Kate if I had it.

So she's outgrown the current app. Her teacher has suggested that we upgrade to Proloquo2Go. Here it is on iTunes.

$189.99

Now, our insurance has been great, a lot better than we initially expected. Most of her therapy is covered...but we've learned recently that we've missed her co-pays...going back to January. Ugh. Would have been way easier to deal with on a weekly or monthly basis, but staring at it with 6 months, not so fun.

More bright side, her tuition has gone down this month and for the upcoming year. Yay for that!

So how can I help?

Great question. I figured I'd do a t-shirt drive to help pay for Kate's AAC app. Oracle OpenWorld is coming up and if you're going, you need a shirt. Even if you're not going, you want one of these...I know you do. Go here if you're in the US.

I've heard from a few of you that shipping across the pond is simply cost-prohibitive. It should be easier for you now, I created a European "shop" which you can find here. No more excuses. Go buy one.

Easier:
There are a few others (and I obviously need to study my geography a bit better).

Go buy one. Please.

(Apologies to those in other countries, India for example. Or continents, Latin America. Working on that. Hit me up if you're going to OOW, I'll bring some shirts with me so you don't have to pay for shipping.)



Update 2012/08/06 01:22 EST

Some people don't want or already have a t-shirt. If you'd like to simply donate, you can. Here. Actually, everything has a widget these days:

Update 2012/08/06 12:20 EST
Wow! Made goal in less than 12 hours. How awesome is that?



Finally, some katezilla goodness. Just in case you needed a reminder of why I do this stuff. She's interspersed throughout the video. The girl with the long black hair with a flower in it is one of Kate's friends.

OOW 2011: No Soup For You!

For those that don't understand the reference.

I didn't ask for bread, I didn't break any of the rules...but I will not be attending Oracle OpenWorld this year.

Family matters require that I be home.

I'm sure I've suffered from some level of depression over the years since Kate was born, it hasn't kept me from working (an escape, to be sure), but it has affected me. I don't think I've understood the extent to which it has affected my family, as a whole though.

So I'm taking some time to help where I can.

Of course I'll miss seeing my friends, hanging out with the smart people...in other words, being there.

Family is simply more important.

T-Shirt: Now in Pink

I haven't done much with the T-Shirt collection lately. For whatever reason, I finally decided to do one in pink.

You have one month until Oracle OpenWorld...and did I mention it goes to a good cause?

katezilla: 6.56

6.56. That's about how old the little monster is now. She'll be 7 in December. Wow.

Just about a year ago, she had been admitted to the ICU at St. Joseph's Children Hospital. She spent 7 days or so on a ventilator.

Fortunately for her (and us), she's been strong as an ox over the past year. No visits (knock on wood) since then.

There have been a few moments, oh shit moments; she's coughing or congested and we think "oh no..." but nothing serious enough to warrant a visit to the "Man in White."

Where do we stand?

Kate is still not talking, but is making progress, however slow it might be.

I learned today that she knows how to sign "sorry" (as she apparently stabbed her teacher with a pencil today and also smacked one of her friends).

She's still not able to walk up the stairs. That means I am safe, unless she decides to crawl. If I'm on a call around 3, I warn the other participants that I'm about to be attacked by a little monster.

Her hair is super long now and I try to put it in a pony tail every day. She doesn't care much for that, but I try.

She'll be in the 1st grade this year, which boggles the mind. First, she's old enough to be in first grade? Second, WhyTF is she in first grade?

Of course she still lights up a room. As Dad, I am her universe...no pressure there huh? Makes me happy though, tough to complain about that.

Someday I'll get around to starting her charity; currently, if you buy John Piwowar's eBook, that money goes to her. T-Shirt money does too. Let's not forget the tons of money I make from Google for hosting ads!

For now though, I just enjoy.

katezilla: surgery update

I used Storify for this one, I hope it turns out OK.

katezilla and the EBS eBook

Did I mention that John and I published his awesome 52 part series on doing an EBS Vision install?

Did I mention that all proceeds go to katezilla?

I don't have to link to just the stuff I post here, she has her own Facebook page now (she's classified as a comedian, appropriately), with a vanity url: facebook.com/katezilla.rockstar

That page comes complete with the oh so popular Like Box

Go ahead, Like katezilla. It's easy.

Did I mention that all proceeds go to kate?

I probably did. Technically, they don't go to her directly. They help us to pay for the care she needs. Currently, that consists of Behavioral Therapy (aka PT) which is about 4-5 hours a week. We'd like to do more of course as we believe her therapist has done wonders. We're trying to talk her into spending more time, closer to 10 hours per week. Have I mentioned that the therapists rates would make most of us blush, and we're in IT. Of course she is worth a heck of a lot more, I'm not complaining...I realize the importance of her work in comparison with mine. Her work will last a lifetime, if I'm lucky, mine will last a decade. Even if it did last a decade, it still couldn't even come close to matching the importance of what she does.

Then there's Kate's caretaker/nurselady (aka CT). What can I say, she's just awesome. We have the same situation with her...we would love to have her here more often, but it's near impossible. Perhaps when the house is paid for or the cars (close, very close). Or perhaps we win the lottery. I guess I have to play for that to happen though.

We've had tons of help from my parents, and to a lesser extent other friends and family, financially over the past 6 years. Nothing makes me tear up faster than someone offering to help like that. That people would offer up help, just because, is an amazing act of generosity and kindness. Someone recently complained that we didn't allow customers to order multiple copies of the eBook. I didn't get it at first...why would you want multiple copies of a PDF? Just make a copy.

Oh wait...you want to donate...OK, now I get it. I'm slow sometimes.

We've sold 12 books so far, which I consider a success. John is now a professional author and I am now a professional editor (well...). We just need to sell about 200,000 books to cover Kate's total bills over 6 years. I think we can do it. Lots of people need the EBS Vision install to make themselves a better worker, right?

Buttons would be helpful. :)

katezilla: 6

Today is Kate's 6th birthday.



It's becoming a trend, I wrote about it last year too.

Of course, almost 6 years ago, they said she wouldn't live this long. As Kate is wont to do, "Up Yours Doc!" (If she could actually give the middle finger, I have no doubt I would have taught her by now.)

It has been an interesting year for all of us. We had hoped for some direction early in the year with our visit to the Tridas Center...only to be severely disappointed. She pulled another one of her Houdini stunts with The Reaper this summer (7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1+0). Last month, we finally got a diagnosis, PDD-NOS.

So, Happy Birthday Kate!.

Win an Exadata Database Machine!

It's not a joke. No, there is no way to win one, yet.

Wouldn't it be nice to have one of these bad-boys in your home office though?



That was my original thought when I posed the question to The Twitter.



After a few replies I realized the absurdity of my thought to have my own private Exadata.

What about small businesses though? Non-profits doing research?

Wouldn't that be a great PR move? A way to give back to the community.

I have ulterior motives, of course. I may be helping out a friend on a database for autism research. If you don't know already, my daughter was recently diagnosed withPDD-NOS, which is...well, it's sort-of autism. I just call it autism though so I don't have to go into the details.

Wouldn't it be great to build out something like that on top of the latest, and greatest, hardware/software combination around? For kicks, I could ask about OBIEE as the reporting layer. (See how selfish I am?)

Anyway, just an idea. I'm full of ideas (or shit as most would say).

What do you think? I'm sure Oracle has tons of charities or causes they support. Would this be a worthwhile cause for Oracle?

As Jake would say, find the comments.

katezilla: Rock Star

Of course I think my daughter is a rock star. Don't you?



It's been a little while since I have written about Kate, so here goes.

One of the awesome things about OOW this year...just about everybody I met asked about Kate. How cool is that? You guys are some pretty awesome people.

Kate has been doing well...nothing major to report over the last couple of months, until today.

Today was our follow-up visit with Dr. Sutton of Butterfly Effects. Back in February, we had a rather...poor performance from another doctor. He took our money and didn't really provide us with anything; no direction, no "I don't know", no nothing really. "I don't know" is just fine with us. If there is anything we've learned with Kate...she appears to be quite unique...so "I don't know" is perfectly acceptable. Funny how that ties in with IT isn't it? (no, I'm too lazy to explain that one)

Back to Dr. Sutton and today's visit.

We were aware that Dr. Sutton had already spoken to Kate's teacher and her Speech Therapist, way more than the previous doctor. Good sign. We met her at her office this morning at spent almost 2 hours there. She allowed us to vent (boy, you don't want to get either of us talking about Kate and her history and our plans...we'll go on forever). She took notes. She asked questions that she missed the first time.

The best part (weird, I know), Kate actually got a diagnosis. PDD-NOS. Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified. In essence, Autism.

(Small dig: The first doctor said she didn't have PDD...thanks buddy.)

So what does this mean?

Means lots of goodness.

We now have a diagnosis. Yes, it might seem weird to be happy about something like this...but we've been searching for the longest time. It's...just a relief.

Mentally. Something to hang our hat on. Something to work towards getting her as functional as possible. Hope.

Financially. With no diagnosis, insurance doesn't cover many of her services. By many I mean almost all of them. PT, OT, Speech, her Home Health Aid (new acquisition). That's almost all out of pocket. Not sure why we pay for health insurance...it hasn't done us much good (well...just in regards to Kate).

Kate. Kate will now qualify for more. More services. Better services. More services too. She'll have access to a host of organizations now that will be able to help her (and us).

So we're excited! katezilla, Rock Star!

Twitter as Social Support

Many of you know I went through a bit of a family crisis recently. My 5 1/2 year daughter Kate was hospitalized, then put in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and soon after that, put on a ventilator. Not only is it remarkable how fast it all went down but also how fast she recovered. Within a little over 24 hours after being removed from the ventilator, she was sent home.

Over the years, people have asked how I can air my grievances/likes/dislikes/personal stuff/etc openly via this blog. I have never really had a good answer...usually something about taking control of my online persona comes out...

Over these same few years, I've been privately contacted by many people. Some completely random; like recently, a mother who's 1 year old daughter was going in for the first of a few syndactyly surgeries and then others, who read the blog, who have similar family situations (a sick child) or know someone close to them that does.

I've gotten quite a lot out of those encounters...something I would never have been able to get had I just kept to myself.

So here's one argument for putting personal stuff "out there." Support.






















































































In case you weren't counting, there are 83 replies there. A couple of duplicates. Most of you, I have never met in real life.

Pardon my language, but how fucking cool is that? You all rock!