Asking for some DU love, support, & prayers for luck for an upcoming event!

[Paula Sims]

Hi all,
Tomorrow I'm taking a 6am flight to Dallas for a project I've wanted for 20 years. I've been lucky to be with the same employer almost 30 years and when I first saw this teaching opportunity I wanted it.

I am a programmer and I get to tech databases & programming to other employees (BIG - HUUUUGGGEEE -- company). I love doing it. I specialize in SAS & SQL. But in my teaching, I focus on how the databases work (and how they don't work) and why things happen -- not just SELECT, FROM, WHERE. . . I'm old-school (hello TSO & JCL coders) and it's important for people to UNDERSTAND what they're doing, not just do it.

I realize that my life experiences have brought me to this point - all the other opportunities, all the other rejections, although I thought I was ready, I NOW am.

I've excited, grateful, and terrified - it's me and them for 3 days and I have a tremendous responsibility to set these people on the right course. It's not an honor that I take lightly. Oh yea, and I promise they'll have fun.

So as we talk about eclipses and other stuff, I pray for a boring flight to and from Dallas, a fun stay (nice pool where I am), and a successful class.

As my dearly departed Mother used to say, I'm going there because "they don't send out Dummy-Heads!". I think I finally believe her. . .

Thanks!!!

[lunasun]

1. Your joy already shows and enjoy your successful class

It will be , you are there !

[NotASurfer]

2. Have a good flight!

Hopefully you can get some tips on where to stop for breakfast when you land!

[hwmnbn]

3. Excellent...

[LeftInTX]

4. Sounds exciting!

I never got past JCL (The hardest type of programming) ....I would rather be doing math.

[Paula Sims]

5. Frankly, so would I

For some reason, I really liked to stay home on Friday nights and do matrix algebra (long hand) just to see if I could. I am so grateful I have a husband that "gets me". . .

As he said, I'm "wired differently". . .

[Paula Sims]

6. Thanks all - DU love means everything to me

I'll think of you as I start on Monday morning. For now, off to night night because of a 4:30am car pickup for a 7am flight... Ugh. . .

[DFW]

7. Too bad I just missed you. Have a great time!

I rarely get back, but was just there for 9 days--longest stay for me in the last 20 years, I think. It's pretty hot in the DFW Metroplex, so be prepared.

[Fla Dem]

8. Soooo, how did things work out for you?

Well, I hope.

[Paula Sims]

9. UH-Mazing ... and more

Thanks for asking - I'm a few weeks out and the results were better than anyone expected. The coordinators wondered if I told the class what to write (no but I did ask that they fill out the survey).

So out of 35 people we got 20 responses (which is great) and I averaged a 4.8 out of 5 on teaching style, content, knowledge, etc but only a 3.5 on room ambiance because the room was too cold (I didn't know and couldn't do anything about it if I did).

So now -- now I got an offer to work for Washington directly. OMG - dream come true.

Took 30 years, but I think I finally am ready for this.

Thanks so much for the DU Love & Support

[Fla Dem]

10. Wow! Congratulations. Glad it all worked out for you.