|  |
|
| |
By: Cleotis
Date: 7/18/98 11:22:34 PM
# Replies: 108
For the first time in many a year, I'm returning to the heat and filth of Houston, Texas. Moms and Pops have requested the presence of the grandkids, and we agreed. 5 glorious days in the beautiful surroundings of Humble, Texas.
So, anybody wanna tell me how to get to this Ale House joint? Better yet, anybody wanna meet me there? It'll be like old times, only not, because Sooz, Ralf, Homer, and bunches of others will be missing.
Still, it'd be cool to see Fang, Bill, Ror*, and a few others again. Plus, it'll be kinda cool to meet a bunch of the new faces (especially Zipper - I think).
I'm going to be in Houston the 29th through the 1st. Saturday the 1st might be good, but Friday would be okay too.
I just don't want to drink alone. *sniff*
Response #1
By: Capt. Spastic
Date: 7/19/98 12:44:41 AM
I'll try and make it. Just let me know the day for sure.
Maybe someone beside Jim will actually be there this time. :)
Response #2
By: Da Sissop
Date: 7/19/98 9:32:05 AM
Cool! I'll be there! (I was probably gonna be there *anyway*, but still...)
Just bear in mind that Friday evening it's usually packed and noisy... Saturday's a little better in that it doesn't get *as* packed and noisy *as* early.
And guess what... the patio now has a "mister" system. It's like a water park out there now, so bring yer swim trunks! I'm lobbying for a Slip 'N' Slide next.
Response #3
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 7/19/98 10:47:02 AM
From Humble:
Go down 59S. A very very very long way. Exit Kirby. Go right on Kirby. Go down two lights to Alabama. Turn right on Alabama. Go one block. It's the house looking thing on your right. Park in back or further down the street on the right. There *is* a sign. Jim probably knows the actual physical address. By heart.
Response #4
By: Da Sissop
Date: 7/19/98 11:26:38 AM
2425 West Alabama. 713-521-2333.
It's the Ale House! Ya can't miss it!
Would you care for an appetizer?
Response #5
By: XeonoeX
Date: 7/19/98 1:45:50 PM
Hye Cleo, if ya can make it on Saturday, I'll join ya for a few icy colds. Would love to see some of the gang again. Gotta show on Friday though that I won't be out of until 3:30 at the earliest (Takes a long time to break all this stuff back down again.)
-Bill
Response #6
By: rorschach
Date: 7/19/98 2:20:38 PM
well, if the bartender promises not to shoot me for not drinking anything alcoholic.... count me in... (chicken tenders looked ok... is it a decent serving or is it two tenders for 5 bucks?) yo cleo... if you can find your way to like, greenspoint mall, we can meet up and I can escort ya.... I THINK i can find it.... becky works not half a dozen blocks from there....
Response #7
By: Capt. Spastic
Date: 7/19/98 9:23:47 PM
Fang, how could you forget the onion rings?
And have you seen the latest at Toys R Us? They have a sprinkler version of Twister. And they want us to think this was made for kids!
Response #8
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 7/19/98 10:42:59 PM
They recently changed the onion rings. At least they did when I was there last time and GOT onion rings.
They're not the huge beer battered ones, anymore. Now they're the stringy, falling apart all over the place ones. I don't even know if they're freshly made anymore.
Response #9
By: yodare
Date: 7/20/98 3:52:15 AM
Damn...if you had said anything a day earlier, I could've arranged for me to be in Houston...it's a long trip from Singapore...takes about a week or two...(via tugboat). :-)
Have fun!!
Response #10
By: Da Sissop
Date: 7/20/98 10:09:42 PM
Aw, bummer yodare. Couldn't ya maybe catch a speedboat? :)
Spas: Onion Rings are on the "Extras" menu, which I never got around to transcribing (believe it or not, that "Appetizers" link was part of some fiddling around I did last year when I was going to take it upon myself to design an official Ale House website and try to sell 'em on the idea...).
Well let's shoot for Saturday August 1st. That seems to be pretty agreeable so far. What time should we shoot for? Cleo? Are you actually *leaving* on the first? We probably oughta try to schedule it for when you're still in town... :)
Response #11
By: Cleotis
Date: 7/21/98 9:28:33 PM
Allright, Saturday August 1st it is! Actually I'm not leaving until the following Tuesday, so that'll be great.
What time is good? 7:30? I'm going to try and bring Abalone and whatshisname, too (Angie and Ishi) since we're old friends and all - in case anybody remembers them.
I swear, I've told them to drop by here a hundred times, but they suck and won't come. Losers. :-)
Response #12
By: Capt. Spastic
Date: 7/21/98 11:10:26 PM
You're right, they DID screw up the onion rings. Pissed me off!
Response #13
By: Emil Lang Esq.
Date: 7/23/98 12:17:15 PM
Well, pending work schedule and the Wife, I'll try to make it out. Just gotta know the time to be there.
Response #14
By: Capt. Spastic
Date: 7/26/98 3:03:58 AM
We are gonna be in town for the Yes/Alan Parsons show. What time?
Response #15
By: sooz
Date: 7/26/98 9:49:53 PM
Gowan, I thought I'd already been with you to see Yes, back when they were Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe.
Response #16
By: Da Sissop
Date: 7/27/98 6:31:48 PM
Okay, it's pertnear official then. This Saturday. 7:30 pm. Ale House. Mark your calendars.
Response #17
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 7/29/98 8:46:44 PM
Nope. I've only been to Yes once and it was in 1984.
We went to Don Henley together, though.
Response #18
By: rorschach
Date: 7/29/98 9:27:13 PM
did anybody here get a chance to see the eagles last time they were in town?
Rice stadium was hotter than hell but the show was cool....
Response #19
By: Cleotis
Date: 7/30/98 12:56:59 AM
Yaay! The Nunnery is back, just in time to confirm this Saturday Night's Ale House soiree'.
Saturday Night, 7:30 it is!
Response #20
By: Da Sissop
Date: 7/30/98 7:03:13 AM
I'm very very soiree' for any trouble the downtime may have caused.
Optel had the problem Monday & Tuesday, and my building's hub was the problem for most of Wednesday.
Response #21
By: Capt. Spastic
Date: 7/30/98 10:27:37 PM
Rice Stadium...you can't buy beer there. Pissed me of at Pink Floyd.
Uh, as a point of protocol, Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe came AFTER Yes. Just as Asia was a side project as well.
Response #22
By: XeonoeX
Date: 7/31/98 11:41:52 AM
Uhhh.. well, since Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe were the four original members of Yes, I think it's a pretty moot point.
Saturday, 7:30 - I'll be there!
-Bill
Response #23
By: sooz
Date: 7/31/98 12:16:20 PM
That Rick Wakeman can really tear up a keyboard, that's all I know.
I *wish* I was gonna be there. Wah.
Response #24
By: rorschach
Date: 7/31/98 12:38:39 PM
Yo, Bill...
I gots an idea or two to bounce offa ya when ya get there, spas and cleo may be interested in this as well...
you were at floyd? in the audience or backstage?
man what i wouldn't have given to be back stage at that one....
Response #25
By: XeonoeX
Date: 8/1/98 4:17:21 PM
No, i was just in the crowd. But I did Literally, run into David Gilmore at the Hard Rock two nights later. He was sitting in the booth behind me and we bumped heads. I'm like, "Do You Know Who You Are?"
-Bill
Response #26
By: Da Sissop
Date: 8/2/98 12:08:55 AM
For those of you who couldn't attend, here's the Amazing Nunnery Webcam recap of the First Annual Welcome Back Cleotis Nunnery Snerd. For starters, we got one of the Saturday regulars, Jeff I think his name is, although it might be Geoff, but I'm pretty sure it's Jeff, to take our initial group photo, which from left to right consists of Cleotis, Jay, Me, and Rorschach. Almost as soon as he snapped it, Gowan McGland showed up, so we had him take another.
For those of you who haven't been to the Ale House in a while, they've installed a new mister, which is supposed to keep patrons cool in the summer but actually just makes it feel more like you're in the jungles of Viet Nam or something.
I gave Jay the camera while we sat and chatted, and he managed to snap this photo of our waitress Alex, Chef Dave, and some unknown but really cute babes at another table.
After sunset, Sooz and Ritchie arrived and surprised the heck out of us. They were *supposed* to be in Austin, and we had been contemplating making a road trip to see *them*. And finally, after all light for the camera had long since dissipated, XeonoeX joined us.
Last thing on the camera: at a table near ours a couple was apparently on their "last date." I couldn't tell, I had my back to them, but Sooz insisted the body language was telling all, and Cleotis agreed... I couldn't very well turn around and gawk, now could I? So I snapped this final photo over my shoulder to try to see what they were talking about.
Big fun was had by all. Okay, well at least ME. Twas great seeing everyone again!
Same time next week?
Response #27
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 8/2/98 11:39:34 AM
Hey, man, quit bogarting all the picture of Whitney!
Response #28
By: sooz
Date: 8/2/98 2:58:32 PM
We had great fun. Special thanks to Gowan, who let us stay at his place (as if he had a choice). Good to see everyone, and the beer was fresh n' delicious.
Next snerd in Austin, ya say? Ralph, you and Mary gotta make this one...
Response #29
By: Ralf
Date: 8/2/98 3:26:12 PM
Sigh. We'd love to... we've been thinking about a weekend away in Texas. A kinda smash-n-grab snerd.
Probably the soonest would be in September. Is that too far in advance to begin planning?
Response #30
By: sooz
Date: 8/3/98 10:44:29 AM
I can plan that far. Let the negotiations begin.
Response #31
By: Da Sissop
Date: 8/4/98 6:52:09 AM
September? I'll be there.
Response #32
By: sooz
Date: 8/4/98 9:00:49 PM
That was easy.
We don't have an Ale House, but we have a few very lovely pubs. Rail, you're from Austin... which do you prefer? The Bark and Quack?
Response #33
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 8/4/98 11:13:27 PM
I've been to the Dog and Duck. It was a long time ago, though.
Where'd we have burgers that one time I was in Austin? It was a bar, but it had picnic tables outside. Hrmm.
Response #34
By: rorschach
Date: 8/5/98 12:39:32 PM
If ya'll can arrange it over the labor day weekend I might could arrange to make an appearance....MAYBE....
Response #35
By: XeonoeX
Date: 8/5/98 2:08:21 PM
Geee Fang, could ya have found a worse picture of me. (Probably!) Much fun was had (after I found my car keys and made it out there!!) But the beer was cold and the conversation warm. Especially when we continued the discussion of sound reproduction in the 90's. Everyone kinda moved away from us on the table at that point. "But then we started making a public nuisance of ourselves and they all came back and shook our hands, and we had a fun time playing with the pencils on the bench there." (A slightly altered quote from Alro Guthrie).
Thanks for waiting for me gang.
-Bill
Response #36
By: sooz
Date: 8/6/98 11:53:05 PM
Waterloo Burgers?
Response #37
By: Tess Trueheart
Date: 8/9/98 11:07:00 AM
Sorry I missed it..Sorcy and I were antique roaming.. But for Ralf and the delightful Mistriss Mary I bet I could even get Kev up for it.
BTW Ralf.. ask Mary if she remembers that breakfast thing we made a few years ago that we baked that had eggs and cheese in it. If so, does she remember the recipe? I can't find it anywhere.
Response #38
By: The Sorcerer
Date: 8/9/98 10:37:57 PM
Tess Sez:
---------
Sorry I missed it..Sorcy and I were antique roaming
---------
Following the herds of wild antiques that roam across the open prairie of Fort Bend and Waller county, the hunters stalked their prey cautiously. But alas it was not meant to be, for their prey, the wild antique, would not die for them in the hunt this day. So they pulled up some plants and went home in the great white land cruiser.
Sorc'(Rev)
Response #39
By: Da Sissop
Date: 8/10/98 8:12:31 PM
There's nothing like the pure satisfaction you get from stalking, capturing, cooking and eating a good antique.
Response #40
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 8/10/98 11:48:20 PM
So, when's the proposed Austin snerd?
I gotta check my busy social colander.
Response #41
By: rorschach
Date: 8/11/98 12:34:17 PM
Well, I shall be in the Austin/San Antonio area for the next three days, plan on dropping in on sooz at least once during the visit, any other austinites game for a get together?
Response #42
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 8/11/98 2:12:40 PM
sigh.
Response #43
By: sooz
Date: 8/12/98 6:50:10 PM
Damn, Ror, nothing like NOTICE! Hope we can meet ya for a brewski or somethin'... at a "family" place, of course. Jimmy's fake ID isn't quite done yet.
Response #44
By: Ralf
Date: 8/13/98 11:51:01 AM
Heh. Waterloo burgers & brew would be cool.
I can't set a date just yet, since I have to check my work-travel calendar and that's, well, at work.
I'm at home. On vacation. Weeee! Just got back from Norway and am totally jet lagged, and may not be making sense. Will have to dial back in later to see.
I'm thinking a late-September weekend smash-n-grab, like Mary and I fly into Austin on Friday and return on Sunday. Rentacar and drive around the countryside looking at Texans. Something like that.
Response #45
By: sooz
Date: 8/13/98 6:21:31 PM
Just got off the phone with Ror, who swears he mentioned our availability TODAY. I didn't know he had set a day, however, and we have other plans tonight, so we can't meet him and his wimmin for a cold one tonight. Damn.
I'm free the end of September, except the 25th, at which time we're playing at a (yawn) coffeehouse.
Response #46
By: rorschach
Date: 8/14/98 8:57:25 PM
Now, sooz, I got witnesses! (course, some or all may have been too inebrieated to recall much....) Ah well, a good time was had IN SPITE of the trip's failures (more about that in a later post ALL it's own.....)
I discovered that some major renovations were done to Landa park in New Braunfels since I was there last. MUCH more fun. There's a nice swimmin hole they added, and they have majorly redone the park. in fact there was a nice pavillion (with electricity) overlooking the river with a view thats about as good as it gets in that part of the world....(unfortunately its by reservation only) not a bad spot for a snerd if one were ever to develop...... within sight of the monkey bars for the kiddo's and far enough away so you can't hear the fighting and bickering over who's turn it was.....
Response #47
By: Ralf
Date: 8/15/98 6:18:21 PM
NewsBreak: The inlaws MIGHT be coming to Atlanta in September. This might interfere with a voyage to Texas for Mary & Me, since they would (ahem) want to see us.
Of course, *I* consider it a PERFECT opportunity to get away, but Mary disagrees... :-)
Film at 11:00...
Response #48
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 8/15/98 11:19:26 PM
I'm busy September 25th.
September 16 is my birthday.
Some Sunday in there I'll have plans.
Other than that, Austin or Bust.
Response #49
By: sooz
Date: 8/16/98 11:52:23 AM
I propose September 19, and we can turn it into a late Gowan b-day party thing, as well.
Any word on *when* the in-laws might come, Ralf? Fang, what about yew? Ror*? Any chance of sneaking in the trunk with Gowan? I've seen that car, and a whole family could fit in there. Xeo*? What about you, huh huh? Spaz, you're already here, right? Does that work for you?
It's just a thought I"m throwin' out there... shoot it down if you must.
Response #50
By: The Sorcerer
Date: 8/16/98 3:02:23 PM
Ralf Sez:
-------------
NewsBreak: The inlaws MIGHT be coming to Atlanta in September. This might interfere with a voyage to Texas for Mary &
Me, since they would (ahem) want to see us.
Of course, *I* consider it a PERFECT opportunity to get away, but Mary disagrees... :-)
-------------
If you work fast, you MIGHT be able to move, cover your tracks, and erase all evidence of having lived there. That'll at least slow them down for a while and buy you some time. But inlaws are relentless, they'll find you eventually, it's just a matter of time....
Sorc'(Rev)
Response #51
By: rorschach
Date: 8/16/98 8:37:30 PM
lemme think about it.....kinda depends on whether I get a new gig or not I guess. have ya'll decided WHERE it will be yet?
Response #52
By: Cleotis
Date: 8/16/98 11:27:05 PM
Well, I know I'm going to Chicago in October for a pinball convention. Anybody wanna meet there?
Didn't think so.
Response #53
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 8/17/98 1:05:17 AM
Do I WANT to or WILL I?
I'd really like to. Pinball is KEWL.
Response #54
By: sooz
Date: 8/17/98 11:15:04 PM
Waterloo Burgers/Icehouse I think, Ror.
Response #55
By: Tess Trueheart
Date: 8/23/98 9:07:48 AM
I'll have to find out when the campus tour of UT is..we are going to Waco to walk Baylor in October.. UT should be sometime soon.
Homer, Ralf, Fang!! Can you believe Courtney will be going to college next year??! She was 11..11 when you met her! Sheeze!
Response #56
By: Ralf
Date: 8/23/98 10:35:42 AM
Smartest damn 11 year old I ever heard of. College! Woooo!
The in-laws will be here the weekend of the 11th. Then they leave Monday.
So the 19th *COULD* work. I'll go talk to Mary and report back.
Response #57
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 8/23/98 8:56:33 PM
I feel so old...
Response #58
By: The Sorcerer
Date: 8/23/98 10:21:30 PM
Tess Sez:
--------------
I'll have to find out when the campus tour of UT is..we are going to Waco to walk Baylor in October.. UT should be sometime
soon.
--------------
It's on the web... Click Here kiddo.
Sorc'(Rev)
Response #59
By: Tess Trueheart
Date: 8/24/98 5:29:19 AM
That's why I luv you! Smoooch! Thanks!
Response #60
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 8/24/98 11:26:43 AM
So, uh, do we know if we're doing this Austin thing yet?
Response #61
By: Mycroft
Date: 8/24/98 2:41:05 PM
It is kinda spooky that the amount of time we've known each other is rapidly turning out to be closer to 10 years than 5. I'm going to get such a kick when I can grab one of my friends, point, and screech "I've known you half my life!"
Response #62
By: Ralf
Date: 8/24/98 4:43:47 PM
The 19th is a no-go. I just learned that our national user-group conference begins Sunday the 20th. So unless we do a one-day smash-n-grab planeride from hell... so I guess y'all will have to snerd without us.
What are these guys thinking? SUNDAY? The conference starts SUNDAY? Sheesh.
Doesn't this conflict with some kind of religious taboo?
Response #63
By: Da Sissop
Date: 8/24/98 5:06:07 PM
I can probably get there one way or another.
Tess, you say Courtney's going to UT? Maybe we could all crash at her place...
Response #64
By: sooz
Date: 8/25/98 11:41:25 AM
We have a pull-out couch and some floor. First come, first served.
I'm not hell-bent on the 19th, if we want to include the Ralfs. I'm pretty open.
Response #65
By: Ralf
Date: 8/25/98 5:13:51 PM
Sept 26?
Response #66
By: The Sorcerer
Date: 8/26/98 6:50:53 PM
Tess Sez:
----------------
That's why I luv you! Smoooch! Thanks!
----------------
Well if you like that, then you should love THIS. You can list by artists as well as category. And yes, they do have Waterhouse.
Sorc'(Rev)
Response #67
By: sooz
Date: 8/26/98 11:53:08 PM
Sure. We're playing at a Coffeehouse on the 25th, which I can't believe you'd dare to miss (cough cough), but the 26th is cool with me.
Please raise your hand if you'll be staying at our house. (And you definitely are, Gowan.)
Response #68
By: benadams
Date: 8/27/98 12:27:20 PM
I used to live about 5 minutes from Humble (in Kingwood). Now , I live in Dallas ... I would go but (1) by the time you read this, it'll be too late (2) noone would want to see me anyway (3) someone would probably try to kill me (DAR) .. (deep-aggression-related)
Response #69
By: sooz
Date: 8/27/98 6:31:10 PM
You can't get here in a month, dude?
Response #70
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 8/28/98 12:16:51 AM
Oh, sure, make me stay at YOUR house.
What makes you think I'm staying the night?
Response #71
By: Ralf
Date: 8/28/98 4:39:22 PM
The Good News: I'm off the hook for our corporate user's group meeting in September, so an AustinSnerd is now theoretically possible for clan Ralf.
The Bad News: I was layed off yesterday. Our company is out of business, hence no need for a user group.
We're watching our pennies now, so a trip to Texas is definitely out of the question for now. Stay tuned...
Response #72
By: sooz
Date: 8/28/98 6:06:59 PM
Yikes. What's with the Nunz getting laid off?
Response #73
By: rorschach
Date: 8/29/98 10:41:27 AM
well, SHIT! I'm sorry to hear that david. I wish you as much luck (if not more) as I had... (I just got a new one paying more money and better benefits FUCK YOU IDM!) If I hear of anything here in town would you and mary be interesed to a return to the scene of the crime?
Response #74
By: sooz
Date: 8/29/98 1:37:22 PM
GREAT, Ror*! I'm glad for you.
Response #75
By: Ralf
Date: 8/30/98 10:52:22 AM
Congratulations, dude. I *knew* with the job market the way it is, you'd be back in the ratrace in no time.
And I'm not TOO worried about finding a job. I've got a bunch of leads & prospects. I did a quick scan of the local Atlanta job market and came up with 344 Senior Analyst positions. If I widen the search to lawncare and fast food the jobs number in the thousands!
But we're not going to engage in any vacation travel until the income situation stabalizes. We've got funds to last maybe 90 days before things become scary.
BTW, even if you have a job, visit www.wantedjobs.com and download their offline job search hoochie. It's INCREDIBLE. It searches ALL of the internet job sites and ranks a list according to the parameters you set. It's fun to see what's out there even if you don't need it. And it's got a cool rnning man icon.
Response #76
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 8/30/98 8:32:38 PM
Speaking of which...
How much would a webmaster for a national housewares company make? I have to know how much to ask for, is why.
Response #77
By: Ralf
Date: 8/31/98 7:49:27 AM
It's a regional thing. In Atlanta, I'd expect to pay in the mid 40's for somebody decent, and 55K+ for a guru.
By webmaster, I'm assuming intimate knowledge of EVERYTHING about webhosting, not just HTML layout. Like, build the server, set up the connection, assemble documents... complete one-stop shopping. If it's just HTML document creation, I'd expect it to top out in the high 30's.
Response #78
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 8/31/98 1:57:12 PM
I'd be the design geek, with some admin duties as well. I was thinking 30k-ish myself, since I'd need a lot of training/handholding while I learned the unix admin part.
The downside: I'd have to move to Colorado.
Response #79
By: sooz
Date: 9/1/98 9:51:30 AM
1) Colorado is a down side? No way. 2) No one in Colorado knows HTML?
Response #80
By: sooz
Date: 9/1/98 2:39:15 PM
Ok, let's do this. Let's move the snerd to Houston.
See, on 9/11/98 (a Friday), we're playing at Metamorphosis, 1111 11th Street, Houston. In the heart of the Heights, apparently, and a few blocks from Fitzgerald's. 11th and Studemont, green building, next to Andy's Mexican Restaurant. Doors open at 7:30, etc., etc., blah blah.
Now here's the kicker -- anyone got a place we can stay? We promise to leave early Sat. morning, and we won't drink your beer or eat your food. We'll bring our own. And we'll put you on the guest list at the club. And, and... well, whatever else you want.
Response #81
By: benadams
Date: 9/3/98 12:14:07 PM
Actually, I was quite surprised at the demand in Dallas. I used to live in Houston, but there is much more money in Dallas. I expect to make 6 digits in my third year of VB programming. My friends do and they say it's easy - just get certified (MCP). I'm going to Houston tomorrow, but not next weekend (the drive gets tiresome). My company scans calls because recruiters call all day every day to get ahold of the programmmers ... food for thought ... cheers ... With VB 6, Oracle and SQL Server Apps are just as easy to write as with Access.
Response #82
By: Gowan McGland
Date: 9/3/98 10:58:25 PM
SO, you're saying I need to become a VB programmer.
Response #83
By: Ralf
Date: 9/4/98 7:20:59 AM
There are a lot of people who buy one of the "Learn Visual Basic in 21 Days" books and then try to pass themselves off as VB developers for big bucks. I ran into a LOT of these folks whenever we put out a recruiting ad. The interviews often got surreal as they tap-danced faster and faster...
So just learning VB isn't enough -- you have to be a seasoned pro to command the higher salaries. In Atlanta, entry level (you complete the "Idiots Guide to VB" book) will get you between $25K and $30K. Our top-end VB guys were getting close to $80K. A walk-on-water guru can write their own ticket; six figures is probably a good start.
Unfortunately, connecting to an Oracle database and writing a successful database app that takes advantage of Oracle's strengths are two different things. Experience becomes the deciding issue when you hit your first performance tuning snag ("my query takes six minutes to run!") or when you can't figure out why a perfectly good SQL92 statement craps out -- Oracle has, er, Oraclisms particular to that platform.
Always keep an expen$ive Oracle DBA handy when you venture into Larry Ellison's jungle.
Response #84
By: XeonoeX
Date: 9/4/98 11:42:14 AM
Uhhhhh I'm lost ... is itt he 19th in Austin or San Antonio or the 11th in Houston, or what's the DEAL HERE?!?!?! Well, 19th is a no go for me. Gotta show that night... Geeeez, ya leave a place for a month and all hell breaks loose.. Aye Currumba.
-Bill
Response #85
By: Cleotis
Date: 9/4/98 2:56:31 PM
Rail, that sounds much like the situation I've encountered with my newfound "Lingo" experience.
I've been writing Director "code" (if you can call it that) for about 3 years. Director and Lingo is a bastardized 6th level language that mixes C++, Basic, plus a GUI to do simple things with. Not really a programmers language, by any stretch of the imagination.
Imagine my surprise when I saw a major gaming company on the west coast looking for people to do simple prototyping in Lingo! Salary, about $60k per year.
Then I got to thinking about how far $60k will go on the west coast, and I realized that it translates to about the mid to upper 20's in Tennessee terms.
I was talking with one of the Lingo monkeys at a stuffy-boring development house here in town the other day, and he sits for 8 hours a day, writing code to control buttons and rollovers and other mundane tasks, and pulls in about $40k. Me, I get to have the fun of designing Shockwave games, Enhanced CD's, Screensavers, and other "sky's the limit" stuff, and I set my own rates.
It's not JUST about the skills, it's how ya use 'em.
Response #86
By: sooz
Date: 9/5/98 11:16:59 AM
I'd just like to say that, 10 years ago when this madness of Nunz all started, we woulda thought 25K was not-so-bad salary.
Of course, we were all quite young, and didn't have house payments and private school bills and whatnot.
And Xe, it's the 11th in Houston. If I can round up people to have a beer with.
Response #87
By: Ralf
Date: 9/5/98 12:37:19 PM
AND, it was 10 years ago. Inflation, while low, has taken a toll.
Why, the cost of a Pentium-II 450 was... er...
Response #88
By: The Sorcerer
Date: 9/6/98 11:49:53 AM
Ok...so I'm coming in on this a little late.... Sorry to hear about the job David, that is MOST uncool. I'm sure it won't take you long to find another but the hassle of looking for a job sure does suck doesn't it. But the job market is wonderful right now!
Response #89
By: sooz
Date: 9/6/98 12:58:23 PM
And re-enrolling in new benefits plans at the new job... And teaching your car the new way to work so that it can auto-pilot... And learning where the nearest Coke machine is to your office... And making new "office friends"...
Yuk. New jobs.
Response #90
By: The Sorcerer
Date: 9/6/98 1:00:45 PM
Ralf Sez:
------------------
There are a lot of people who buy one of the "Learn Visual Basic in 21 Days" books and then try to pass themselves off as VB
developers for big bucks. I ran into a LOT of these folks whenever we put out a recruiting ad. The interviews often got surreal
as they tap-danced faster and faster...
-------------------
Heh... I've run into the same sort of thing doing interviews for networking positions with newly papered CNEs and MCSEs. A sense of desperation sets in, and they begin to ramble as they try to string together as many of the memorized networking terms as they can.
Sorc'(Rev)
Response #91
By: The Sorcerer
Date: 9/6/98 2:12:51 PM
Sooz Sez:
---------------
See, on 9/11/98 (a Friday), we're playing at Metamorphosis, 1111 11th Street, Houston. In the heart of the Heights,
apparently, and a few blocks from Fitzgerald's. 11th and Studemont,
---------------
Does anyone else find it spooky that this is going to be on the 11th at 1111 11th street?
Sorc'(Rev)
Response #92
By: Cleotis
Date: 9/7/98 12:17:06 AM
They'll probably hit the stage around 11:11 in the evening.
Response #93
By: Ralf
Date: 9/7/98 7:57:38 AM
I hope more than 11 people show up...
Response #94
By: Cleotis
Date: 9/7/98 10:04:28 AM
If Richie's amps have "11", they'll be turned up to that.
Response #95
By: rorschach
Date: 9/7/98 4:04:48 PM
well sooz, I'd offer to put ya up but all I got is a hard tile/concrete floor.....and a ratty old coutch that sleeps one rather suprisingly well...(I've had a few chances to experience that couch...) dunno about showing at the concert tho... thats a work day and I been pulling some long hours lately (man OT sure pays good tho....)
Response #96
By: sooz
Date: 9/7/98 9:52:51 PM
I mentioned the 11 deal to the guy that booked us. He said that on 11/11 they're gonna have 11 bands. Tickets are $11. Show goes from 11 to 11. He then went on to elaborate that World War I (or was it II? One of those big wars) was ended on 11/11 at 11. Anyway.
Here's a thought... AFTER the gig, do y'all wanna meet for a beer? It'd be late, but it's the weekend. On the other hand, we're mostly "family people" now, so maybe breakfast would be more in order.
Response #97
By: Da Sissop
Date: 9/7/98 10:18:13 PM
I have no place to put ya here, unless ya wanna get REAL cozy, but I'd happily chip in on hotel fare if need be.
What time do ya go on at Club MetaWhatsit?
Response #98
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 9/8/98 2:48:42 PM
NEWS FLASH:
I'm-a-gunna be in Houston over Xmastime this year, and I'd really like to hook up with whoever and whenever and wherever. I'll probably take a trip to Austin while I'm down that way, and thus might be able to hang out with you wacky Austinite folks, too.
It's more than a few months away, but......
Response #99
By: sooz
Date: 9/9/98 7:17:00 AM
No no, Fang. We're not lacking for lodging funds or anything, it's just that we'd rather park the truck-full-o-gear at a house or in a garage than at a Motel 6 on South First, ifyanowhatimean.
I asked the nice man at 1111 11th what time we go on, and he said "doors open at 7:30, music starts at 8. Or 8:30. So if you go first, but no I think you're second, but if..." I said "Nevermind. I'll say 8:30."
Dang musician types.
Response #100
By: Da Sissop
Date: 9/9/98 7:19:53 PM
Have you considered simply painting the truck with, like, biohazard warning signs and stuff? Don't you work for doctors? Surely you could get *some* kind of yucky fluid to splatter around on the outside of the truck.
Response #101
By: Ralf
Date: 9/10/98 4:16:57 AM
Large magnetic signs which read, "Septic Hydraulic Irrigation Technologies". Splatter liberally with brown substance.
("We pump your septic system to your satisfaction, or double the raw sewage back!")
Response #102
By: sooz
Date: 9/10/98 8:20:50 PM
You people all seem to have an unnatural affinity for things that involve the back end of people. Seek counseling soon.
Response #103
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 9/11/98 2:07:00 AM
Poop is good food.
(literally)
Response #104
By: Da Sissop
Date: 9/11/98 7:23:59 AM
So Sooz, is the show still on, or has the Tropical Storm destroyed the club?
And I must say, this has been the most *pleasant* tropical storm I've ever been in. Constant, soothing torrential downpour all night long, but absolutely no thunder. The power hasn't flickered, I've still got my internet connection, and I can't get to work. Wheee!
Response #105
By: sooz
Date: 9/11/98 2:25:09 PM
The best of all worlds, SisPerson!
Nope, all shows for this weekend were cancelled at the Metamorphplace. We'll reschedule, I'll betcha, so I'll keep ya'all posted.
Response #106
By: The Sorcerer
Date: 9/12/98 9:13:56 PM
Homer Sez:
---------------------------
I'm-a-gunna be in Houston over Xmastime this year, and I'd really like to hook up with whoever and whenever and wherever.
I'll probably take a trip to Austin while I'm down that way, and thus might be able to hang out with you wacky Austinite folks,
too.
It's more than a few months away, but......
---------------------------
Cool! You gonna be staying with your family? If so, gimme a buzz, we'll get together. I'm still living off Dairy Ashford. Although Jim and have been living pretty close to each other for well over a year now and we STILL can't seem to manage to get together. :) Which reminds me, sorry about missing the Pizza & Triva deal Jim. I was visiting my parents on Labor Day and didn't get your message until way late. But next weekend is wide open if you wanna try again.
Sorc'(Rev) If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.
Response #107
By: Homer The Brave
Date: 9/15/98 2:52:51 AM
Yah, I'd be staying with my 'rents. We could go and experience some of the fine eating and amusement establishments on Houston's Romantic West Side! :-)
Or maybe we can be lured closer in to town by the promise of Vietnamese iced coffee and crispy-fried imperial rolls...
AND... If any of you folks like to skate, there *will* be late-night skating through downtown on my itinerary.
Response #108
By: sooz
Date: 9/16/98 9:31:08 AM
...and we got re-booked in Houston for 10/2.
