Oracle Develop
I've offically been a PHB for a long time -- long enough to "ossify" (as one of my old friends back at Cummins Electronics used to put it). I know this because I find myself realizing that it's been so long since I really developed anything in detail, I don't even remember what the new features are in Oracle 10g, let alone 10gR1 or R2... (though of course I'm really looking forward to 11gR2, but that discussion will have to wait!)

As it turns out, in the next week or two, I should be able to turn my attention back -- finally -- to ADE 3.2.3, where I'm doing some rather detailed work on PL/SQL and in the Perl/XS layer. The kind of thing where you have to spend a good hour just loading your brain's cache with the details... get into the zone... and stay there for a solid 10-hour block. What Tom Christiansen called Interface Zen
Ah yes, by god, I do so miss being a programmer!

Anyway, I'm seriously considering attending Oracle Develop 2006. First, Oracle keeps coming up with tools and technologies and I have to say, in my opinion we do a good job of being driven by customer demand. Plus, the Moscone Center expos are one of the few things I really miss about living on the SF Bay peninsula.

This could be seriously fun!