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October 03, 2005

3 and half sleepless nights in Seattle

Just back from a training seminar in Seattle and wanted to share a few observations.

1) The Seattle/Bellevue area is very beautiful. We stayed in Bellevue and drove to Seattle each night. Driving across one of the 2 floating bridges, we caught site of Mount Ranier, and it was breathtaking. The bridges themselves are amazing, but we couldn't seem to figure out how they work with rising waters. We caught half a game at Safeco Field. Hands down, the nicest stadium I have ever been to.

2) Seattle itself is a beautiful city, and while it did rain one day, it was also really beautiful another. The Space Needle is very cool, but I have to admit being a little nervous. The wind was really ripping and so we where doing a little swaying. We had dinner in the restaurant, and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. I was really expecting a 'tourist' meal, but it was actually very good.

3) Now the bad. We stayed at the west coast hotel in Bellevue. It was okay as hotels go, but on the last night one of my colleagues had his room broken into. The bastards got his mac, pda, sneakers, glassses, sunglasses, his phone charger, briefcase, and memory fob. Luckily his headphones and ipod where in his briefcase, and he had his camera. The police told us that 2 crack heads got out of prison recently and have hit 24 hotels rooms in the past few weeks. The hotel had crappy security, and while sympathetic they didn't seem overly concerned (in my opinion). My friend now has to deal with insurance companies and the fear that some data may be pulled off his computer that can be used to steal his identity. The experience is making me really rethink what I have on my laptops

4) The real reason to be there of course was for the training class. The class was a requirements gathering boot camp that was given by Construx. Construx is owned by Steve McConnell who wrote the book Code Complete. I think most developers have read this one. The class was first rate and Construx really knows how to run the class. The whole experience was first rate, and I would strongly recommend you check them out for your training needs.

Posted by pmadsen at October 3, 2005 08:17 PM