Working Overtime! or Reasons I Didn't Blog Last Two Weeks

Work was crazy last few weeks.  First,there was the Microsoft Management Summit, which was March 21st through March 26th.  Why would that take up two weeks?  The company I work for installs security software on the MS machines for CommNet and ShowNet.  This requires my compatriot (Kevin Colby of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) and I to fly out a few days early and set up.

Kevin flew out Friday, and it was pretty obvious he was gone given the number of support requests from customers coming in that day.  Always seems to happen, the man leaves, everyone needs attention.  Just a Murphy's Law of Support I guess.

I flew out Saturday and arrived at the Mandalay Bay resort around 4:30 pm.  The next two days consisted of meeting up with our Microsoft buddies and getting the systems in place.  The Microsoft people you don't see, the ones that work behind the scenes setting up the networks, etc., they are a great bunch and seem almost like a family.  No surprise given they have to work under tight deadlines, near flawless execution, and wherever the computers go they must travel together.  When we work with them at MMS each year it is more like Kevin and I are distant cousins to the crew: part of the family that misses some of the in-jokes.

There was some downtime during the installation process: setting up SQL Server software can take a while to install, so Kevin and I did manage to grab a bite to eat at Ri Ra's, an Irish Pub that we frequented several times.  We also visited the Manadalay Bay Aquarium.  Kevin wanted to jump in the Piranha tank, but fortunately I was there to prevent him from carrying through with that action.  After all, Piranha's don't eat people, what he really wanted was the Shark tank!   (<-- ok, that is a joke).

As always, MMS was interesting: meeting new people, talking to customers, catching up with friends at various booths, the Food (goodness, I could right a blog on the foods in Vegas alone), and then a flight home.

I returned Thursday, exhausted, but was back at work on Friday to cover Support while Kevin flew home. The next two days were spent resting and recovering to be ready for work on Monday.  So, it has a been busy two weeks.

Last comment on the food: If you find yourself at Mandalay Bay, go to Ri Ra's and order the Moors and Bay.  It was exquisite!