Hi all,
A few quick updates. Sorry to be out of touch -- it's been end-of-term madness, and I was out of town last weekend, and now I'm planning a business trip to Chicago, so it's been nuts. So, it random order.
Friday was my last day at ITT Tech. As far as I'm concerned I no longer work there, I have no hours, I'm not getting paychecks, it's "done and dusted" as the British say. But, seriously, considering how stressful and hostile the place had become in the last few months I think I'm probably better off. I'm a bit worried about how I'll get through the next few months, but well, to go with another quote, "Tomorrow is another day" (Scarlett O'Hara).
The steps I have taken are: I'm definitely going to go ahead and get SQL Server 2008 certified. I'm doing a two-week bootcamp at an approved Microsoft school in Chicago. Well, Schaumburg. Well, Bloomingdale. But NW Chicago suburbs. I checked out the three recommended hotels today, and found the one I want (suite hotel, in-room kitchenette with microwave, coffeemaker and fridge, free breakfast, pool, etc). And, it's not the most expensive of the three hotels. I also got a Metra rail map, found which Iine I'd probably use to get to downtown from the Roselle/Schaumburg area, AND found out I can get a $5.00 weekend Metra pass that's good for any number of rides. (Considering a normal one-way fare, if I calculated it right is $4.75 that's a deal). AND I discovered the Citypass (5 Chicago attractions for $70.00 is good for 9 days) I'm planning on treating myself to a weekend in Chicago, of city stuff - including the Museum of Science and Industry (and its special Harry Potter Exhibit), the Schedd Aquarium (the ocean/dolphin exhibit is back!) and the Hancock Observation Deck (I've been to the Sears Tower, but never the Hancock), plus the Citypass includes the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum. I might get to the Adler. I doubt I'll make it to the Field. Tho' the pass is good for 9 days so if I use it the Saturday of the weekend between the two training weeks, it will still be good the Saturday after. And hopefully, some of those museums will be open on Sunday.
The training should be grueling. Week 1 is 5-days to get my MCTS: Database Developer on SQL Server 3008 and MCTS: Database Admin on SQL Server 2008. Week 2 (assuming I pass the exams for the MCTS) is my MCITP Database Admin on SQL Server 2008 and MCITP Database Developer on SQL Server 2008. The MCTS is like a Bachelor's level, and the MCITP is like a Master's level. And I'm doing this in 10 days. Eeep! But I already know a lot of SQL, I've taught database design, development, etc, and I've taken one Microsoft SQL course already (albeit an old one): Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2000 with Transact-SQL.
Phones-- yeah, I know, abrupt shift in topic. I did go out and get a new cell phone, before I found out I lost my job. It's a Palm Pre (touch screen with a Web OS). And I've discovered a fabulous new vice -- reading fanfic on my Palm in bed, on the sofa, or even in my car in the parking lot at work. I can actually pull up fanfic net right on my phone. I've tried pulling up Live Journal and I can get to my acct, but I can't post. I found the link for the Livejournal app tho' - so I'm going to try that. Also, because it is a Palm, it's like my old, old Handspring (with the Palm os), it has all these really nifty apps that help keep you organized. And, I can (and have) downloaded Excel spreadsheets and Word docs (OK, more fanfic) right to my phone. Facebook's on there, and so is Linked In.
Last weekend, I went on a trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with my Mom. We'd been planning this all summer. We were to leave the day after I found out my job was gone, but Mom encouraged me to go anyways. I'm glad I did - I had a marvelous time! We went to the Irish Fest - largest in the US, which runs Thursday to Sunday, tho' we were only there for Saturday. Still we had fun. I got to get some Ceille Dancing in. It's Irish social dance or folk dance (NOT step dancing - like River Dance). It a lot of ways, it's like American Square Dancing, except you're not always dancing in a square. Sometimes it's a circle, sometimes it's two couples, sometimes it's two rows of three, and sometimes it is the more traditional four couples. Or, there's likes like the bonfire dance - which is everybody in a big circle, or a long line of couples like the Haymaker's Jig. Trust me, it's a lot of fun. But it takes some stamina in a hot canvas tent in August -- even on the Lake Michigan shore with a breeze.
The weather was lovely - a bit warm, but not so much so that you were like dying from the heat. And if you did get too warm -- there was a really nice cool breeze coming off the lake, so you just moved closer to it and sat on a bench and relaxed for a bit.
We also saw DRUM! -- which was like a show -- it told the history of Nova Scotia in music, through four cultures: Native, African, Irish, and Acadian (French). It was AWESOME!!!!
We (Mom and I) also saw the Red Hot Chili Pipers. Yes, Pipers - not a typo. They're a "bag rock" band from Scotland. Basically, although they do some traditional Scottish pipe tunes -- most of their music and the show is very loud covers of great rock songs. And what showmanship! At one point the two traditional drummers were tossing their drumsticks back and forth - and still keeping time on the drums! The three bagpipers were tilting and moving their bagpipes. One even played the bagpipes laying on the ground. IT WAS AWESOME! Unfortunately, no lyrics -- everything was instrumental - but still, great band.
So it was a good trip -- even tho' getting thru' Chicago, to Milwaukee, was awful because of the construction (or destruction) of the roads. We hit construction in four states - Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Take care,
--Olivia
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