The conference is nearly concluded and I have some highlights, some lowlights, and some lights that simply make me go “Huh?”. I really enjoyed the first part of the conference, when they unveiled the next edition of the database and revealed all the updates including the earnestness with which they are burying Java. This is something that I’m in great support of and think that the entire product will benefit from knocking the Java training wheels off of it. The middle of the conference was well presented, however the material was a touch dry. I can’t really say that I’m terribly rah-rah-rah about how things are done, if they really stray very far away from technology. The end of the conference was just as exciting as the start, getting to talk about systems and technology and at the end of it, the right way to upgrade to the latest and greatest database version.

And that starts us talking about the next big project. That is, upgrading our production database, which is at 7.6.1 all the way up to 7.8.3. It’s a rather steep hill to climb. At least I have accomplished it in the test system but there were some tips that I didn’t know and having that covered helped immensely.

Tomorrow there is breakfast and then I hit the road. I’ve arranged a shuttle to take me to DCA, where I will pick up my tickets, pass through the TSA, and then get on my flight to ORD, then from ORD, on to AZO. I should, weather willing, make it to Kalamazoo around 5pm or so. I have my iPhone and iPad on hand so I should have no problems entertaining myself.

My only regrets are the monument tour and the Green Lantern. I wasn’t able to really do both. The monument tour was kind of fluffy fake out. Sage was sold a tour package and we got about 2 miles down the Potomac River and we turned around. The only monuments we saw were the Washington Monument and a bit of the White House in the far distance. Not close enough to really enjoy or take pictures of. The other thing was I was pretty much bound in National Harbor the whole time and couldn’t make it out to visit the Green Lantern Bar. There is little I can do about that now. Maybe someday I can come back to Washington, D.C. and tour this city properly. I’d be able to get a drink in the Green Lantern Bar, I’d be able to visit all the monuments, and maybe I’d be able to visit the National Archives and the Smithsonian. I’m just not going to hold my breath.

I feel bad for Sage, they billed the event as a way to see the monuments and there really wasn’t any. Tomorrow will be it and I’m quite okay with that. My eyes are getting heavy and so, it’s time to call it a night. Maybe next time, D.C.