CIVIL 3D ROCKS

My New Home Is Ready! BIMontheRocks.typepad.com

2009-02-18T12:45:00.001-05:00

I know I've been a bit of a blogging nomad for the past year, thanks for sticking with me! My new digs- an Offical Autodesk Blog- are finally ready, so I will be posting over there a minimum of 3X per week from this point forward. Civil 3D Rocks will stay here as a repository for the old reference material.

I am very excited about this- we'll mix Civil 3D technical information, previews, tricks, with relevant Civil 3D Industry information, photos and updates from conferences and user groups, and general good times. I hope you will join me- I feel like I am getting my voice back after a year or so of relative silence!

The new blog is called BIM on the Rocks. See you there! (And of course, you can always find me on twitter http://twitter.com/civil3diva.)

You can subscribe using this link: BIM on the Rocks Feed

Or from the BIMontheRocks.typepad.com website, click the RSS Feed icon.

If you are used to getting Civil 3D Rocks in your email, use the above link then in the next window, choose the "Get BIM on the Rocks delivered by email"

If you are unfamiliar with reading blogs and other frequently updated webpages, watch this short video on how you can make it easier to keep up to date.

Learn more about the coming release- get involved in Beta!

2009-02-09T15:46:00.001-05:00

I've been quiet- yes- but the good news is that my permanent Autodesk branded blog home is almost ready! I get my training tomorrow on how to use the site, and soon I will be back to bothering you a minimum of 3X per week! I know you are excited. The timing is perfect- just in time for the coming release!

Jack has some information over at From the Ground Up about how to sign up for the last phase of our beta program. Please check it out!

Want to See AutoCAD 2010? Watch the recording of yesterday's press conference!

2009-02-06T06:39:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, Autodesk announced some key features in the upcoming release.

As Brian over at Being Civil posted, the recorded video can be watched here: AutoCAD 2010 Product Launch.

Also be sure to download the Press Materials. There is more than just information about AutoCAD in there- all of the platform products (AutoCAD MEP 2010, AutoCAD Architecture 2010, AutoCAD Civil 2010) have bits in the press kit as well.

Today will be the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) event, so check the site later today for information about the Revit family, Civil 3D and others!

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

2009-01-13T14:06:00.002-05:00

When I first watched this adorable little cartoon, I thought it was cute. Then I realized, its a storyboard for my next AEC Keynote presentation!

Civil Structures with Revit Structure Webcast 1-27-09

2009-01-09T13:03:00.001-05:00

If you had a chance to see or watch the AEC Keynote Presentation at Autodesk University, you might have been excited to see some of the bridge modeling tools for Revit Structure. If you missed the presentation, it is available for viewing. Get the link to watch the AEC Keynote here.

Scott Hammond will be doing a webcast on these tools on January 27, 2009 at 10AM PST.

Also note there are some great archived webcasts listed at that link including:

Getting Up and Going with Revit Structure 2009: From Pilot to Production
Revit Structure Best Practices: Concrete Structures
Revit Structure Best Practices: Steel Structures
Revit Structure and AutoCAD: Which tool is right for you?
Revit Structure: Analysis Showcase

Friday Whetstone 1-9-09

2009-01-09T12:54:00.002-05:00

Just a few quick things I wanted to share as we get rolling in this new year...

Last year I made a few New Year's Resolutions. Here is a status update on how I did.

I let my subscription to National Geographic lapse, so I no longer have this problem. CHECK!
I kicked the cookie dough habit, and picked up a cheeto habit to replace it. CHECK!
I submitted three. Once got accepted, I was asked to repeat it. So I did two classes, but they were the same. (And it was based on last year's material, so it didn't take that much time to prepare.) semi-CHECK!
It became exhausting to buy anything, and I gave away half of the other stuff in my attic because I just couldn't deal with it anymore. Though I do admit to buying new gloves because the old ones were packed away somewhere that I could not find. NO CHECK!
I used to have a 4 cup coffee maker. Now I have a 12 cup coffee maker. So I still make 4 cups, but its not a full pot. CHECK! Cheating? Maybe.
Panorama is waaay to smart to let me get away with this anymore. CHECK!
While I may not read a book every month, some months I'll read two books. I also count watching episodes of "House" and any Clive Cussler novel movie as reading a smart book. CHECK!
I applied for the P.E. last year. Some of my experience letters didn't come back in time for the October exam, but 4.8 years worth are in the hands of the DAPE right now. There is another 1.1 years out there I am hoping gets signed for in the next few weeks. So April is looking like it might be a winner. Cross your fingers.

This year, my biggest resolution is to rediscover my inner athlete. Secondly, I'm always looking to continue to learn and grow. I've tweaked my list of daily blog reading to include a wider variety of sites- not just CAD and Civil 3D, but industry sites, travel, education, and fun.

One thing I wanted to share with you is this little video about RSS and reading blogs on feed. I've mentioned this before, but it came up again this weekend when my Dad asked what feeds were. If you like reading blogs, but are frustrated by having to check lots of websites and missing new things, watch this little video. Also, if you are already feed reader savvy, share this video with your friends who aren't.

For some more information and a somewhat dated list of blogs that I read, check out this post: Read What Dana Reads.

The Interchange as Art?

2008-12-19T00:20:00.001-05:00

It's been busy around here- deadlines butting up against the Autodesk "Week of Rest", the post AU catch up frenzy, my design class coming to an end, oh yeah, and that whole Christmas thing.

We'll get back into some hard core Civil 3D tech once I drink a few egg nogs next week.

In the meantime, if you needed some artwork for your Holiday Greetings this year, one of these just might fit the bill.

These drawings came from looking at an aerial of spaghetti junction immediately after I hit my head on the sink while standing on the toilet to hang a clock.

Here is the one that I wound up turning in.

Friday Whetstone 12-12-2008

2008-12-12T01:45:00.002-05:00

I don't think I am the only geek in the CAD universe who celebrates the new year on the day I return from Las Vegas. Everything we work on comes to its apex during AU. There hasn't been a year yet that I don't sit in McCarran and scribble down my "AU Resolutions". The first year it was "Submit a Proposal", then the next "Learn how to write a paper that doesn't suck" and of course "Wear more comfortable shoes".

In all seriousness, we have 361 days from one Autodesk University to the next. How are you going to take advantage of each day? Those days are going to go by whether you like it or not, and before you know it, we'll be right back here again.

If you spent one lunch hour per week watching an AU Class (crank it up to 2X speed to get through it in 45mins), you'd be able to experience 52 classes. If each one of them gave you one little idea, think of how far ahead you'll be. If you download the AU Online podcasts and listen to them while you drive to work, you can dig in even more. I know I will spend a lot of time watching and listening because the AU crush always leaves too little time for me to see as much class as I would like.

On that note, what do you do on your drive to work? Replace one commute time rock out session per week with a ULI podcast, a TED talk, or maybe an interesting audio book or language program. That's another 52 hours of ideas, insights and skill.

What if you spent an hour or two on a Sunday afternoon once a month flipping through Urban Land, Landscape Architecture, New Civil Engineer, CE News, ENR or another industry magazine to keep up with what is going on in the industry and feed your brain some new ideas?

In addition to learning more about graphic design, presentation skills, visualization and of course civil 3d civil 3d and civil 3d, I need to find my former physical self. I read an article this year about an Estee Lauder executive and mother of four who said Take Care of Yourself First: “You’re going to need energy for this juggle.” She was right and running around like a maniac in the month before AU and while in Vegas let me know that I need more endurance to keep up. Like learning Civil 3D or preparing for a presentation, physical fitness is an exercise in consistency over the long haul.

Here is some stuff I have on my list for this week:

1. Presentation Zen Webcast. You've heard me talk about Garr Reynolds before. While I didn't get a chance to implement all of his ideas, Presentation Zen helped me immensely this year, and I can't wait to learn more to become even more comfortable with my talks.

2. This month's Urban Land Magazine

3. Tons of Classes on AU Online. I'm beginning to bookmark my MUST WATCH AND READ list here.

4. An article called Water In Balance from this month's CE News. Salvatore Napolitano from Metcalf & Eddy /AECOM shows some ideas for using Civil 3D for floodplain modeling.

5. ENR's Continuing Education Center features tons of online readings and quizzes that you can use for continuing education credits and general learning fun. I'm checking out Pedestrian Friendly: Planting Trees and Celebrating Stormwater in Urban Areas and some of the other topics under sustainability and site infrastructure design.

Miss the AEC Keynote? Check it out!

2008-12-09T20:57:00.004-05:00

Check out the Autodesk University 2008 AEC Keynote Session at the new AU Online.

If you don't have an AU Online login, access the AEC Keynote here.

The Civil portion begins around minute 62 or so. It is a twelve minute talk about BIM for Civil Road and Highway projects.

Adam Strafaci speaks about the process, and I show live demonstrations. We also work in video from mobile LiDAR, RDV Systems Rapid Road Safety Analyzer and a really spectacular visualization done with Civil 3D and 3DS Max using the tools from 3AM’s Dynamite VSP.

The Civil 3D portions are shown in Civil 3D 2009 to focus on thought leadership for using the current product.

This presentation was designed to appeal to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences. We wanted them to say “I didn’t realize that Civil 3D could be used for that type of project!”

I urge you to watch the entire presentation. There are great pieces on using Inventor as a key part of AEC projects, also some great Navisworks information, and an integrated segment on Sustainable Design using many products in our portfolio.

If you are looking for some more information about Civil 3D for transportation projects check out Civil 3D for Aviation and Airports customer success story, Civil 3D for Port and Harbor Projects, and much more at the Civil 3D Transportation Success Story page.

Don't Forget to Fill Out Your AU Feedback

2008-12-09T12:15:00.002-05:00

I don't think its too late. If had your badge scanned when you came into a class, you should have gotten an email about filling out class surveys.

I cannot stress how important this feedback is. As a speaker, I know that I have taken the comments and ratings to heart and used them to help me improve. I credit this for my steady improvement over the past three years.

The results are also used my the selections staff to decide which speakers come back, which speakers could potentially wind up on certain tracks and how to improve the AU experience in general.

My classes both have are at about 60% reporting. That means there still close to 40 people out there who need to fill theirs out.

Don't leave me hangin'- tell me what you really think so that all of AU can improve!

If for some reason you can't get in to fill out the survey, or you wanted to tell me more than 200 characters can handle- email me anytime. Dana.Probert (at) autodesk.com

Behind the Curtain on the Mainstage at AU

2008-12-02T20:38:00.000-05:00

I am sitting, literally, behind the black curtain in the GIANT room where Carl Bass's mainstage keynote was delivered, and where I (and a cast of many) will be delivering the AEC Keynote tomorrow at 8AM.

It's really incredible back here. I'm rerendering some videos for the 10000th time because I am a movie noob, and while I wait I am just amazed at the logistics involved in this event. Its a long way from one girl and one projector and a loud voice. That is for sure.

So far, Autodesk University has been fun. I have more to to than ever (and I mean EVER) but some how I've been able to relax, visit with some folks and make time to sit in a class or two and learn something.

I think maybe AU is like children. Before you have kids, you think you are busy, which is like AU as an attendee- so much to see, so much to do, so many things to learn.

Then you have the first child and things seem really nuts and you have no idea how you will manage, but you do. It isn't pretty, but you get there. That's your first year as a speaker.

Then, you have another kid and you realize there really is no reason to freak out- that things will somehow get done and everyone will be taken care of, so why not enjoy the ride? It isn't worth stressing over.

Really, three or five or six couldn't be that much harder, right?

Getting Ready for AU 2008: A Preparation Guide of Sorts

2008-11-26T10:29:00.002-05:00

My first AU I went as a regular attendee and it was busy but fun. I showed up with one suitcase and left with two. We just saw as much as we could, then left happy.

Then I got the brilliant idea to become a speaker. Every since, AU has been even more amazing, but amazing in a "wow, that was a lot of work" kind of way. I didn't even know the half of it! This year, I am so excited to be participating in a workshop, two classes, two keynotes, and a lunch as part of my official duties, and lending a hand everywhere else once those are done.

I haven't changed my packing list much for this year, except I did go out and buy some sensible shoes. Knowing me, I'll wind up wearing cute shoes again the first night and wind up needing a rental scooter the rest of the week. You walk SO MUCH I CANNOT EVEN EXPRESS IT.

Reflections of AU 2006- What I learned, what to bring, etc.
AU 2007 Packing List

If you'd like a bit of a running commentary on what I'm up to at AU, you are welcome to follow me on twitter. My twitter account is not public, but I do approve just about everyone who requests to follow me. Unless you seem like an overt spammer, or if you are scary. But considering some of the other characters I let follow me... I am sure you couldn't be that scary.

I'd love to say hello and catch up with as many people as possible. Here are some of the things I'm involved in, or that I hope to attend. Note that I say hope. AU is NUTS, the Venetian is big, and sometimes a girl gets dragged into "just one more dry run".

To give you an idea- this is what my outlook calendar looks like, and I'm only getting started putting things on. (Yes, it's blurry on purpose people. That's so you get a feeling for the tears I shed when I realize that I cannot possibly do everything and see everyone I want to at AU! Such is life.) :

Tentative things are shown in italics below. Black means- if I'm not there, it doesn't happen. Or at least my part doesn't.

Monday:

8AM-5PM Civil 3D Implementation Bootcamp (organizer, proctor)

6:30PM-7:30PM Speaker Social (speaker, socializer)

7:30PM-9:30PM BIM Mixer (mixer, socializer, maker of bad slides)

Tuesday:

10:30AM General Session "Carl's Keynote" (reveler, show geek, maker of several still images showing off civil engineering)

Noon- 1PM AEC Subscription Customer Lunch (presenter of subscription goodies like new subassemblies and HEC RAS extension)

4PM-5:30PM Blogger Social (blogger, socializer)

5PM-7PM Closed Invitation Event (heckler, drinker of cold Amstel)

(I'll likely miss the beer bust due to rehearsals)

Wednesday

8AM-9:30AM AEC Keynote (Transportation Speaker. I don't care if you come in your pajamas, just don't miss it!)

5:00PM - 6:30PM CV 218-1L Get Your Head Out of the Point Cloud (Instructor)

Thursday

10AM-11:30AM CV 218-1L Get Your Head out the Point Cloud (Instructor)

Done with the hard work! AU Party, as many classes as I can see, swag patrol!

Giving Thanks for a Great Year

2008-11-26T09:54:00.002-05:00

Good grief! AU is next week. I guess time flies when you spend twelve months writing two books, teaching web classes, starting a new job and sharing an office with this guy:

Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect. It's been a wonderful, hilarious year filled with new adventures, but it was also a year filled with late nights, working weekends and much juggling.

This year I am thankful for my family and our good health, my wonderful coworkers, Venti Peppermint Mochas, the popcorn counter at Target, twitter, Facebook, Digsby and (too many) long talks with my good friends Ben and Jerry when everyone else is finally asleep.

This coming year, I need to be thankful for more long walks and vegetables! Prospector is finally well settled into his intensive NASA preparation and Linux developer magnet preschool, Panorama writes me long letters from her internship at CERN, and my new job has proven to be more fun than I ever could have imagined.

So here's to another great year in the constant effort to find balance, love and laughter.

Friday Whetstone 11-21-08

2008-11-21T09:30:00.002-05:00

One of the things that we talked about in the 7 Habits class is the idea of paradigm. More than just a buzzword, paradigm is the way we see things. It's our own reality. In order to truly understand people and situations, we often need to change our perspective and see things from a different angle.

Of course the best way to do this is to expose yourself to lots of new people and situations. Take trips, do an exchange, ask questions, really listen when people are talking to you, try something new...

In addition to real life experiences, I have found it useful to listen to books on tape and other audio programs. I spend some time driving, walking, at the gym, and on planes and I was searching primarily for entertainment. Every once in a while you read or listen to something that really changes your perspective because it expose you to someone else's reality. Sometimes we need to hear that our problems aren't really that bad compared to what they could be, sometimes we need a kick in the pants to get us moving towards a reality that is better than our own.

Here are a few favorites:

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns and the Kite Runner.

I have an audible subscription. Last year, I had an Erica Jong novel on my iPod. As I was listening, I kept thinking- "Yeah, wow. I am glad I'm not a single career woman in my thirties in 1960's America. They had it hard."

For some reason, I didn't have part II of the Jong novel, so I switched to A Thousand Splendid Suns. Let's just say I never made it back to Jong. It just seemed incredibly superficial after listening to the story of two women in modern day Afghanistan. It was gripping, touching, at times hard to listen to, but worth every minute. The Kite Runner had a similar effect.

2. Family Matters and A Fine Balance

Living in Canada helped me understand what cold really meant, and I will never complain about winter again. Reading Rohinton Mistry books helped me understand what it means to live in a place (Modern and Recent Past India) where opportunities and freedoms and even dignities are limited.

3. Most Episodes of This American Life

Specifically, an episode from last week called "Who Do you Think You Are?" that featured three stories that really gave me insight into some perspectives that I could never experience myself- growing up during the depression, growing up as a black male in the 1960's and growing up as a perfectly family, only to have it taken away (but finding out that made the family much more wonderful.) Subscribe to the podcast, it is very good.

4. The Fountainhead

While there is the typical Rand Objectivism message, what really changed my perspective was the way Howard Roark approached architecture. He believed that the form of the building should be in tune with its function and structural needs. For example, he disliked facades and decoration because they served no real purpose on the building. He would rather work as a laborer in a quarry than compromise his architectural ideals.

While I realize Rand was probably going for a bigger metaphor here, I took it pretty literally and tend to enjoy simple and functional designs in furniture, buildings, bridges, and of course all nature of engineering projects. I also try to examine my work life against his occasionally. I'm not sure I'd give it all up to work at a quarry, but now and again you have to smack yourself around and get back "on mission".

There are tons more, but this should keep you going until next week!

Mommy What Did You Bring Me?

2008-11-20T11:29:00.000-05:00

Dominick picked up something for Panorama at the Green Building Expo in Boston yesterday.

Every kids needs to... Learn About Cement!

Civil 3D Styles in Action

2008-11-19T19:35:00.000-05:00

If you've ever had a hard time convincing the CAD manager at your company that you can make Civil 3D styles look like your local standard, here are some ideas.

This is also great for those of you out showing the product to potential users, or when speaking at user groups. If you make a few sets of styles, then use a named view (or just the same zoom when taking your captures) then switch between styles, you can make a slide show where the images overlay nicely and it seems like the styles are changing right before your eyes.

This could be a good idea for recording styles for a company standards manual, or for the Civil 3D setup consultants out there you could take a capture of each style you create to build a portfolio for potential clients.

The above slideshow is a little small and doesn't come through in the feed- so check out the direct link: http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=ddjsvkd8_29gjsrkdfs

As I was typing this, I came up with a fun idea. I've created two flickr photo groups.

The first one is Civil 3D Styles. Show off captures of your best label hacks and funkiest code sets. It will be a great way to get "mindshare" on what everyone is doing out there and seeing what is possible without having to give away our "secrets" about how we created the style itself.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/civil3dstyles/

The second group is called Civil 3D Gallery. This one is for screen captures of your models, your finished drawings, your everyday work. If you use Civil 3D, you have something to contribute. I want to see what everyone is doing out there- from the meat-and-potatoes work to your slickest renderings.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/civil3dgallery/

Register to be a Useability Tester for Civil 3D

2008-11-19T15:09:00.001-05:00

I encourage everyone to become involved in Autodesk's MyFeedback (http://myfeedback.autodesk.com/) program, but sometimes you wish you could do more, or get involved a little bit earlier in the process.

I am in Manchester this week, and I learned that we need useability testers. The research is used for the current and future releases.

Useability testing goes on all year in many ways, including remote work. So even if you can't be at AU, fill out the form below to get your information into our list.

If you use Civil 3D and have always wished you could try a tool while you had the ear of someone who could listen to you as you worked with it- and use that to improve the product- here is your chance!

------------------------------------------------------------
Want to help improve the Autodesk AEC products you use every day and get an early opportunity to try out future releases?

This is your chance to participate in user research sessions at AU (or in the future) that will give us a deeper understanding of how you use our products and what we can do to improve them.

We conduct user research throughout the year, so we’re interested in hearing from you even if you can’t participate at AU. To learn more, you can either:

Visit us Online: http://www.autodesk.com/aecusability

Visit us in person:-AEC Usability Center (Zeno room 4601 in the AEC Campus on the 4th floor) for AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP, Civil 3D, Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, and Revit Structure-

Exhibit Collaborative Project Management Usability Booth (#354) for Autodesk Buzzsaw and Autodesk Constructware.

Thanks for your support.

We look forward to seeing you there!

New Book! AOTC Interchange Design for Civil 3D

2008-11-17T16:32:00.002-05:00

Check out the new courseware to help you with advanced corridor modeling techniques featuring a cloverleaf interchange.

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009: Interchange Design (Solution Series) AOTC

Buy the book here:

Autodesk Official Training Courseware Book Interchange Design with Civil 3D 2009

Check out a sample chapter here:

Sample chapter from AOTC Interchange Design for Civil 3D 2009

More reason to do better

2008-11-17T11:39:00.003-05:00

Reading my design book here at the airport and noticing a pattern. Often the examples of poor or boring design are civil projects! Uniform subdivisions and expansive parking are particularly picked on.

I don't want to let some fancy art folks push us around and demand cubist parking lots, but there is something to be said for that "oh, this feels nice" feeling we all get when going somewhere special like a main street in a cute small town or an urban park that just seems comfortable and relaxing.

There are tons of good examples out there and I will be sure to point some out.

In the meantime check out www.uli.org for some inspiration.

More Fun with Surface Analysis

2008-11-16T16:02:00.002-05:00

There really isn't much point to this post except that I spend some time last week trying to find cool ways to make exhibits to convey messages about how steep something is, or how much earth had to be moved.

A different visual wound up being chosen for the project, but I spent some time working through a few things, and I thought you might get some ideas that you could use in your work.

Each of these images tells a story- what story are you trying to tell? How can you best show that?

Keep in mind that a lot of the time your audience (such as clients, zoning hearings, public workshops, management) care less about what is a meaningful exhibit from an engineering perspective, and care more about understanding the site. Try to put yourself in their shoes. Good practice audiences include: your mom, or even better your grandmom or your six year old. You need to find people who aren't totally immersed in our world to give you feedback.

Dana the Art Student

2008-11-15T14:07:00.003-05:00

I have a tendency to jump into rabbit holes. I see something interesting, check it out, and suddenly I'm in another world exploring something completely new. The journey changes, and grows, and something that seemed trivial changes the direction of everything.

It started about three months ago when I watched Garr Reynolds's Authors@GoogleTalk. Joseph had embedded it into the AU Speaker Blog as inspiration for us to make our presentations great.

This 70 minute talk made a ton of sense to me. I had my eyes opened to some ideas about how to make my own presentations and classes better, and I wanted to know more. So, I subscribed to Garr's blog, then I bought his book: Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter). Then I bought another book he recommended called Slide:ology:The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations.

It was when I was reading Slide:ology that I had to step back and say, whoa. I really need to learn more about art and design and visual communication.

My new job requires an intense amount of graphics creation- both static images and recorded "movies". The technical marketing team is in charge of the brochures, product centers, the "heroic imagery" that appears on the product boxes, and tons of other marketing material that are image intensive. Some of these images are photography, others are screen captures. I am often responsible for creating these captures. I feel a bit helpless when setting them up sometimes because I need to:

1) find data that tells a good story

2) stylize it in a way that enhances that story

3) capture it from the appropriate angle

Consider an image of a surface. It could convey a totally different message if you used a black background and grey contours and captured it from above than if you used a cream background, triangles and a realistic visual style. Should it be hilly or flat? Should it be big or small? Is there a river? A mountain? A road?

Then, once I choose it, how do I place it? Where do we use it? Now of course we have creative consultants to help with the actual composition, but I'd like to not be helpless, and there is a lot we do on our own.

I also have been doing lots of animations, demonstrations, creating storyboards for demonstrations, composing images that other people will use in their presentations and tons of rendering. I just felt I was missing some pieces. I need to get better at defining the scope, understanding the audience, understanding the message that needs to be told, working through alternatives, and finally choosing the stinkin' thing. All without winding up in an endless loop of analysis-paralysis.

Once I started exploring the possibilities of taking some design classes (perhaps I was inspired by Pam from the Office) it occurred to me that I never had any "creative" type classes in my engineering education and that kind of annoyed me.

At least when and where I went to school, we didn't learn how to sketch or brainstorm, we didn't have constructive critique of our work, we weren't encouraged to do much conceptual design, sketching or iterations. And I think that this contributes to my feeling that rejected work is wasted.

Au contraire. It's just the first part of the process.

I think this is something that engineering needs more of- especially if we are going to fundamentally change the way that we create neighborhoods, that we improve cities, that we build those big airports in the middle of the ocean and those giant dams that change the landscape of the world forever.

So I'm taking some art classes from the Art Institute's Online Program. The first is called Fundamentals of Design and I just finished my first week's readings in the textbook called Design Basics.

It might as well have been a hallway of curious doors. I know it will help me absorb the ideas and put them into a context which my engineering brain can handle if I blog about it from time to time. And probably tie it into civil engineering and Civil 3D.

Ok, yeah, if I blog about it like every single day.

Friday Whetstone 11-14-2008

2008-11-13T23:29:00.001-05:00

I've spent the past few days in Waltham (Mass) and Manchester (NH) learning new things and discovering things I had forgotten. In Waltham, I was able to spend a day learning about Autodesk Green Building Studio and Ecotect which gave me tons of ideas of how to do better site layout and conceptual design when combining those tools with Civil 3D. We'll talk more about that for sure.

Then, Thursday and Friday I am taking the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People workshop. When I was about 22, I saw the episode of the Simpsons where Bart gets put on Focusin. One of the jokes in the show was Bart reading 7 Habits. So the next day I picked up the book and read it.

It seems like a really ridiculous reason to want to read a book, but I am grateful that I did. The first time I read it, it changed the way I saw the world. Over the past 10 years, I've revisited the material when I felt I was going off course. Every time I think about it, every time I truly get involved in the principles that guide my decision making, I learn more about myself and feel energized to keep going, to keep searching and to keep improving.

While I am already familiar with the material, taking the workshop really forces you to face your life, your decisions, your relationships. It's absolutely not a "time management" class. It's a life mission class.

I have some things to finish tonight before I hit the sack, and I am a bit emotionally drained from thinking hard about life today, so I only have one item to share. I always thought I got a lot of email, but since joining Autodesk, I've been completely overwhelmed by my inbox.

I remember the IT person at Stantec came to my desk one day 10 years ago and said he thought he had screwed up my account because he couldn't see anything in my inbox. And I said.... "Of course there is nothing in my inbox, it's all filed away. Doesn't everyone do that?" Apparently not.

The habit of clearing out my inbox at lunch and at the end of the day got a little weaker over the years, but I still did it at least once every two days. Since August, I'm afraid that I have been living in my inbox and just reacting to things as they come in. I HATE IT.

So while I fine tune my Outlook Rules, and come up with a decent system, I am watching as many videos like this one as I can.

Inbox Zero from Google Tech Talks

I love the Manchester, NH office

2008-11-13T12:14:00.002-05:00

I love the Manchester, NH office
Originally uploaded by Dana Breig Probert

Analyze Solar Intensity and Shadows in Ecotect

2008-11-12T15:47:00.002-05:00

Analyze Solar Intensity and Shadows in Ecotect
Originally uploaded by Dana Breig Probert

Learning Ecotect today. This is one of the samples. What would an analysis like this tell us? How about- where to put shading, what kind of glass to use, where to plant trees, put landscaping... what to use each space for in the buildings. It's making my mind race. Learn more at www.ecotect.com. I will be talking more about this soon.

[cid:image003.jpg@01C944DD.F40EC680]

In Roundabout Ways...

2008-11-11T14:05:00.002-05:00

Last week, I hit the Circle in Georgetown, DE to watch the Return Day parade. It was wet and crowded, but really fun. My pictures are terrible, so go look at these pictures taken by Mike Mahaffie.

The best part about standing in the rain for an hour waiting to get through security? Finally freedom to wander the Circle when it is closed to traffic, of course! Our county has a few of these small circles that act as a town feature and traffic calming device.

It also reminded me about some lesser known tutorials in the Civil 3D 2009 help file.

Go under Help>Tutorials. Notice on the "welcome" screen it gives you a chance to get the tutorials in pdf- so you can print out a segment to read on the bus ride home.

Dig in under AutoCAD Civil 3D Tutorials > Advanced Corridor Design Tutorials and see Intersection and Roundabout Design lessons.

Do the lessons, then amaze your friends! Learn how to model roundabouts in Civil 3D. The principles should apply to interchanges, traffic circles and more.

And if you need help navigating the roundabout you just designed, watch this video.

Do you use named views? Why the heck not?

2008-11-10T12:12:00.002-05:00

My work lately involves creating drawings that need to move quickly from one "look" to another. This usually involves turning on/off layers at the very least, but I also need to be able to switch perspectives, apply visual styles and change background colors.

I thought of it today while queuing up some drawings for screen captures. If you ever need to show progression- they work great because it remembers the EXACT dimensions of your view so that you never have to worry that they won't overlay properly. I used the same named view to progress through applying different styles in the Google Presentation below.

I've also used them for some "time progression" captures where you add more elements to show construction over time. Kind of an oversimplified version of 4D Scheduling in NavisWorks.

Using saved views gives me the power to show off the product (or a project) with minimal button pressing- but it is also a great CAD management tool.

At a minimum, its a way to remember the layer state AND the zoom. You can use it to remember how you want to see something in model space, then set that view currrent in paperspace. You can use it while you work so you don't have to constantly zoom and pan around. As you get more skilled, you can drag and drop them from sheet set manager into layouts, and much more. (Brush up on your sheet sets with classes at AU Online and the Sheet Set Manager Best Practices White Paper series)

I find it nearly impossible to use Named Views without the View toolbar, so add that to your workspace. Once you get used to using Named Views, you'll want it handy. I rely on it heavily.

It's Your Patriotic Duty... to Buy Some Stuff

2008-11-07T21:59:00.002-05:00

I was so psyched to see Anthony's blog come back to life, and I was intrigued by his post today about Section 179 and the special 50% depreciation allowance.

I also found something about it here: 2008 Economic Stimulus Act Provides Tax Benefits to Businesses and here: President Bush: Stimulus package will help in 'very trying time'.

And of course, there is a youtube video for everything these days, eh?

If you are considering making the change from Land Desktop to Civil 3D, give your reseller a call and they can help you take advantage of this opportunity.

There are so many ways to regroup and seek new opportunity. Let's find them together.

Friday Whetstone 11-7-2008

2008-11-07T10:24:00.002-05:00

So I'm trying to become a better person- you know taking time to "sharpen the saw" and all that rot. This means putting aside the rat race for a few minutes a week and learning something new that will help the rest of my week go more easily.

Today's webcast is Rolling Deployment Series: Parcels with Jerry Bartells. Sign up, grab some friends and watch. If you are on the east coast, make it a habit to brown-bag lunch together. If you are elsewhere, just let it run in the background while you work. I find that if I don't watch them live, I tend not to watch them at all. Make the commitment. Even if it is something you know, you will definitely pick up new things and new angles.
The TED talks are wonderful for helping me get ideas for my own public speaking and presentations as well as being nearly as entertaining as the SNL clips on youtube. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes for watching on planes and at the gym, or you can stream from the website: http://www.ted.com/talks. Talks vary from about 5 minutes to much longer, so even if you only need some inspiration while you drink that first morning Mountain Dew, you will find the right video.

Here is a good one to start with- short (3 mins), sweet and coined a new word in my vocab- "Work-a-frolic". Richard St. John: Secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes

This morning, I was faced with about 300 unsorted inbox messages from the past few days, and I felt my skin start to prickle in that horrible panic attack way. So I am taking a few minutes over my coffee break to work through Get Out of Your Inbox with Outlook 2007. I found a whole host of free Microsoft Office lessons and they only take a few minutes to work through. I've already learned a few things that will help me- and its given me ideas of what I can study up on to get even more skills to tame the inbox tiger.

Thoughts on the Buddy Pass

2008-11-05T10:10:00.003-05:00

You know, I was thinking. There were always people in the office that really would get a lot out of AU. Like when I was a reseller- the sales folks really could benefit from sitting in on a few classes to get a feel for the tech, and to see the exhibits. It was great brain food. There just never seemed to be the budget for it.

Or your friends right now that might be looking for work or looking to change careers. They probably wouldn't mind sharing your hotel room for the chance to learn something new- perhaps about AutoCAD, Map or maybe even some 3DS Max. Not to mention the thousands and thousands of exhibitors, instructors, support staff and attendees who just might have a job for them. Or a lead for a job for them.

What about the project managers? The owner? The non-engineering types in your office? Landscape architects, urban planners. Folks that might not have considered coming- until now when they can get in for (maybe) free or for $595.

USE YOUR BRAIN- think of ways to take advantage of this opportunity. We need more people to be sharper, have more skills, have more brainstorms, more big ideas. Autodesk University is a great way to get that excitement going.

http://au.autodesk.com/event/buddypass/

Don't forget about the AU Buddy Pass

2008-11-05T10:01:00.002-05:00

Set your alarm for 9:00AM PST (that's NOON over here on the east coast)

http://au.autodesk.com/event/buddypass/

The AU 2008 Buddy Pass Offer from Autodesk

The Buddy Pass offer begins at 9:00 a.m. (PT) on November 5.

The first 100 people to register and fully pay for a regular* AU 2008 pass can invite a “buddy” to register for free.

When the 100 free Buddy Passes are gone, people who register and fully pay for a regular AU 2008 pass can invite a buddy to register for only US$595.

In addition, anyone who registered and fully paid for a regular AU 2008 pass before November 5 at 9:00 a.m. (PT) can also invite a “buddy.”

Please Note:

Only one (1) Buddy Pass per fully paid regular AU 2008 pass.
If the regular pass is canceled, the Buddy Pass holder must pay US$2,345 for a full, regular AU 2008 pass.
The AU 2008 Buddy Pass offer is for a limited time only. Autodesk may end this offer at any time without notice.

* Regular = four-day, all-inclusive

What’s Included In the Buddy Pass—and What Isn’t

Buddy Passes provide full access to all AU 2008 classes and functions.
Buddy Passes do not include hotel.
Buddy Passes do not include pre-registration for classes and labs—the Buddy Pass holder may attend classes and labs only if there is room available.

Who’s Eligible—and Who Isn’t

Those who register and fully pay for a regular four-day, all-inclusive AU 2008 pass qualify for the Buddy Pass offer starting on November 5 at 9:00 a.m. (PT).
Those who do not qualify for this offer include AU Speakers, AU Exhibitors, and Autodesk employees.

How to Take Advantage of the AU 2008 Buddy Pass Offer If…

You Are NOT Currently Registered for AU 2008

A site notice will tell you if:

A free Buddy Pass is still available—or
A US$595 Buddy Pass is still available—or
The Buddy Pass offer is no longer available

If a Buddy Pass is available, and you complete the registration process, during confirmation a promotion code will be generated. Give that code to your buddy to use when registering. Depending on which Buddy Pass offer is available to you, your buddy can register for free or US$595. If the Buddy Pass offer is no longer available, no code will be generated, and no Buddy Pass will be offered.

Note: Online registration ends November 14.

You ARE Currently Registered for AU 2008

Contact the Autodesk University Registration Team—see contact information, below—on, or after, November 5 starting at 9:00 a.m. (PT), and request a Buddy Pass promotion code.

A member of the AU Registration Team will tell you if:

A free Buddy Pass is still available—or
A US$595 Buddy Pass is still available—or
The Buddy Pass offer is no longer available

If you hold a regular, fully paid four-day, all-inclusive AU 2008 pass, and a Buddy Pass is available, you will be given a promotion code. Give that code to your buddy to use when registering, and, depending on which Buddy Pass offer is available to you, your buddy can register for free or US$595.

To call or email the Autodesk University Registration Team:

1-888-371-1722 (toll-free in the United States)
1-415-446-7717 (outside the United States)
autodeskuniversity@autodeskevents.com

Criteria Based Design for Alignments

2008-11-05T01:03:00.002-05:00

I'm just up late because apparently Prospector really wanted to watch the Obama speech. He's back to sleep, but I am now quite awake.

So, in the spirit of tomorrow's Criteria-Based Design Webcast, I'd like to give you a super short introduction to the concept of criteria-based design for alignments. I figured that you might have a bit of the same blank look on your face that I did when I first heard the term. Then I quietly sidled up to Mr. Funk and asked him to explain it to me. He did, and now I know. I can shield you from such humiliation with a few key points.

When you create an alignment in Civil 3D 2009, you get the option to select criteria based design. You also get an option to check a box for design checks. We'll talk about design checks later.

There are several design criteria files installed with Civil 3D 2009 that are based on AASHTO standards for a variety of design speeds and road configurations.

If you work in another country, check your country kit. I looked through a few of the country kits and found that many of them had criteria files for the appropriate regulating agencies.

When you start to draw your alignment, a little warning glyph will appear when you have violated the criteria established for that design speed.

Panorama also lets you know that something needs attention:

I'll save design checks for another post, but in a nutshell, you can build simple expressions to check your work- for example- warn me if I draw a tangent less than 100 ft long. I'll be watching the webcast myself and see if I can't pick up a few skills and ideas.

There is also Criteria-based design for profiles.

Go Vote and Get Oyster Fritters!

2008-11-04T09:28:00.002-05:00

Don't forget to vote!

Our local election has a tight race. Since everyone around here is related somehow, I am actually related to one of the candidates. OK. I'm not really related, but he's the architectural designer who designed and built my house for his own family. In fact, as I type this I am sitting in the room he built to be his home office/studio. He sold the house to another prominent local figure- the pastor of one of the biggest churches in our county. I bought the house from Pastor Danny's family. So I have to wonder if this house has some magical pixie dust that launches Higglytown Heroes.

Usually the conversation goes something like this:

"Oh, you live on XX Road?"

"Yes, I do!"

"Which house are you? Let's see, there is the one on the corner, then the one with the nice flowers, then Pastor Danny's old house that has never been the same since it changed hands with the two mean dogs and the overgrown garden, then the nice log home, then the new estates."

"Yeah. Um, the log house. That's us."

Webcast this Wednesday: Criteria Based Design

2008-11-03T23:07:00.003-05:00

We all know about the Friday Webcasts with Lucy, Jerry and the gang, but there is a lesser known series sometimes on Wednesdays called the Government Road Design Solutions webcasts. These webcasts focus on the needs of Civil 3D users who design DOT projects, local road projects, road rehabilitation projects and more. If you do any kind of road design, you will find these webcasts very useful.

Many of the upcoming and recorded webcasts in this series are inspired by the Road Design and Road Rehabilitation White Papers.

Take a minute and register for everything listed there so that you don't have to remember later. There is some good stuff coming up.

Also check out some of the recorded webcasts listed there:

Saving Time During the Early Phases of Road Design

Saving Time and Reducing Errors with Machine Control Systems

Best Practices for Utilizing Aerial Photogrammetry

Streamlining the Roadway Milling and Overlay Process

AutoCAD Civil 3D Survey Solutions

Roadway Design Using AutoCAD Civil 3D

Time Saving Tips in the Transportation Design Workflow

And I was extremely impressed with the robust list of Civil 3D transportation tutorials in the sidebar:

Generate 3-D Planimetrics From .dgn
Surface and Catchment Area Development
Corridor Enhancement

Linking Corridor and Feature Lines

Feature Line Enhancement
Global Origin File Centering
Integration of Corridors, Feature Lines, and Grading
Multi-Coordinate Systems and Data Rectification
Survey Functions of Civil 3D
Integration of GIS Data with Civil 3D Survey Functionality

Visualize Your Surface Analysis

2008-11-03T15:00:00.002-05:00

This is a trick that I discovered by accident when I was preparing for my Civil 3D for Hydrology class two years ago. (Find recorded version and paper from 2007 at AU Online.) I ran into a use for it again today and wanted to jot something down quickly before I forgot. And once again, if I already blogged this somewhere, or if someone else has, forgive me.

For reference, here are two posts I wrote about doing surface analysis:

I wanted to see a slope or elevation analysis in 3D as solid colors.

In the surface style, change the Display Type to 3D Faces.

Make sure that the analysis type is visible in MODEL view (Civil 3D 2009) or whatever the 3D view was called in 2008. (3D? My memory is short.)

Run your analysis, then switch to an isometric view.

Make the realistic visual style current.

If you don't like the shadowy grey triangles, edit the visual style to turn them off.

The Creative Kick to the Solar Plexus

2008-11-03T11:03:00.002-05:00

I had one of those weeks last week that we all know is just part of our job, part of the process, part of life. It was one of those weeks that they don't tell you about in engineering school, so the first time it happens you are completely godsmacked. And each time it happens thereafter- it still is like a kick to the solar plexus.

You spend weeks preparing something. You throw heart and soul into it, you run into road blocks that you overcome in creative ways. The final push is tough, but good tough. Like a morning run in the fall sunshine or paddling a canoe through rapids. Then- the event happens. It's a public hearing, a client meeting, or an agency review.

When you get the the meeting, you find that your design is rejected. Perhaps it's because you really weren't listening to what they wanted, and you need to regroup. Or you were talking to the wrong person and the actual decision maker looked at you standing there, sweating in the projector lamplight- exposed and vulnerable- and laughed (or worse). Perhaps its because the law just changed, or new councilmen were just elected. Perhaps something happened beyond your control- a fight amongst heirs, the discovery of dinosaur bones on the site or the collapse of the housing market in that area.

Whatever the reason, you leave the meeting with a feeling of waste. That the time and energy spent creating this particular set of plans would have been better spent with your kids, or cleaning the gutters or listening to the generic jazzy tunes piped into the hazy beige aura of Starbucks.

But that is not the case.

These false starts make us better. They keep us creative, they keep us sharp. The lessons learned in putting things together make us better for next time. We can sharpen our strategies and tell the same story again in a different context. In some ways, this is how I treat blogging. It gives me a chance to get my thoughts together in a rough, but still somewhat formal way, so that in the future I have an arsenal of ideas that can be refined to meet a new need.

A great example in my life is the river class I taught at AU 2006. While many who attended seemed to think it was decent, the reviews were a mixed bag and in my head it didn't go nearly as well as I had hoped. But slowly and surely over the past few years that story has been refined. My techniques have improved- both technically and with documentation. I wrote more blog posts, did more experiments, even a webcast (Alternative Uses for Corridor Models: Channels, Streams, and Ponds). Some firms took the idea and ran with it creating their own success stories surrounding river restorations. And now, here I sit, still referring to those original ideas as I shape the environmental story for Civil 3D.

I remember wishing with all of my heart as I crept out of the classroom that I had never submitted that class. It was frustrating to put together, I had never taught before- why did I have to pick something so hard to put together? I'd never written anything longer than a blog post- and I still cringe when I look through my paper.

But the truth is that if I had never gone through that process for something "real", I never would have been able to build on it.

So whenever I am faced with the situation where I am standing outside a board room door holding a milk crate full of visual aids and wearing a suit that I pressed at 4AM while rehearsing to my timed powerpoint and someone sticks their head out and says "You know what? We really don't need to see your stuff, we're headed a different direction", I can resist the urge to beat them over the head with a TIS.

If you need some more reminders of why you are here, check out some of the videos at ://www.youtube.com/user/civilengineeringtv

A Civil Engineer's Trip to Paris

2008-11-01T14:38:00.002-04:00

I had a few free hours to wander around the city on foot when I went to the Autodesk offices for a two day session with some of the European Technical Specialists.

Unfortunately, the sewer museum was closed. I know. BUMMER. I wrote down the museum hours so that next time I am sure not to miss out.

There was about a fifteen minute walk to the Autodesk Office from my hotel. The hotel was on the north side of the River Seine (the Rive Droit) and the Autodesk offices is on the south side (the Rive Gauche).

View Larger Map

I took a few pictures.

I showed my mother this picture and she commented on the lovely river and the bateau moche.

I shook my head and pointed out the LaFarge concrete plant. In case you were worried, I also got a few shots of the concrete trucks.

My hotel was adjacent to Parc de Bercy. One end of the Parc has a rather large wall, and through that wall there are what seem to be culverts.

This is the view from the other side of that wall. I walked closer and noticed that there are some kind of gates tucked in under this bridge- almost as if the road could be sealed off. Since this is right along the river, I had to wonder if this was part of some elaborate flood control scheme.

I asked Willy Luce if he knew about it, and he said it was possible but didn't know for sure. I spend some time googling the subject and didn't find much to clear things up. My French is limited, but improving, however I still struggle coming up with Google Search terms that make contextual sense for French civil engineering. Mostly they wind up sounding something like "tasty river overspill prophylactic" or some such.

The park was very nice and had a different feel from most city parks I've explored in the past. It was very geometrical- lots of squares and symmetry. It also maintained some neat historical features.

I liked little quirks like this tree. It seemed that the landscape architect wanted a path through here to keep the geometry the way s/he wanted it, but there was a lovely old sycamore in the way. The solution?

The whole Bercy Village neighborhood had cobble stone streets with the original cart tracks still intact.

A few other neat things that I noticed everywhere on my walks:

Moped Vending Machines. Pay, ride, return to another vending location. Very neat.

Bike paths that weren't quite in the street, but not really sidewalk either.

And stoplights that showed opposing traffic that they were red.

One day I walked all the way to the Quatier Latin but forgot my camera. There were so many wacky catch basin covers that I couldn't take photos of! I just trying googling for some possible photographs (translation: the lid of aggregate conveyance waste tubes), and I stumbled upon this devine site: www.sewerhistory.org. While this page doesn't have shots of the artistic fillagreed draincovers that I saw, it does have a whole page that talks about manhole covers in the Roman Empire and more!

There are quite a few Civil 3D users in France and there are more and more coming every day. I was truly impressed by some of the projects that Willy was showing me, and I am looking forward to future trips to Paris to learn more about how I can help make them successful.

I hope that next year I can plan to attend Infrastructures et Territoire 2008 next year (I didn't know about it soon enough to make travel arrangements for this year.)

Pour mes amis francophone: J'essaie d'attendre "Les lundis de L'Aménagement du territoire" Des "webcasts" avec Willy Luce et ses collègues à 16h (Paris) ou 10AM EST. Aussi- nous avons commencer un groupe de discussion:

Autodesk Groupes en Francais

What is the difference between AutoCAD Civil 3D and AutoCAD Civil?

2008-10-30T20:39:00.002-04:00

A few months ago, Autodesk came out with AutoCAD Civil.

So now you have a choice.

AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009

AutoCAD Civil 2009

A lot of folks have been asking questions about which one is right choice for their office and their work.

My team recently put together an interactive tool to help you figure out what the difference and what is the right tool for you. Please go take a peek and let me know what you think so that I can incorporate your feedback into similar tools in the future:

Click here to Visit the Civil 3D 2009 vs Civil 2009 Interactive Site

You'll need to really sit down with your reseller and your team and figure out what is the best mix for your firm. You can have all Civil 3D, or all Civil, or a mix of the two. Many firms will find that a mix of the two are a good choice.

Another resource you will find helpful is the Autodesk Civil Engineering Solution Questions and Answers paper. It spells out a lot of the nitty gritty details about licensing, what features are included in Civil vs. Civil 3D and the scoop on Land Desktop. Be sure to check out the comparison matrix on page 2 (shown below):

Change Your Daylight Subassembly without Messing Up the Target Mapping

2008-10-30T16:45:00.004-04:00

I heard some chatter about this trick a few months ago on some of the discussion groups, but I haven't had a chance to try it until now. Someone else may have blogged about it in the meantime, but I'm a bit fried today and my search turned up nothing. These are usually the moments when someone tells me that I blogged about it a year ago. That would be funny.

Anyway.

You put some daylighting on a subassembly. Then you realize, shoot, you'd like to use a different type. Today I had DaylightGeneral, but later decided that DaylightMaxWidth would be better.

1. Simply select the subassembly in your drawing.

2. Then right-click on the subassembly on your tool palette.

3. Select Apply Tool Properties to Subassembly.

4. You will see the subassembly switch. Your surface targets should remain intact- at least they did for me. I can't promise that it will stick in every situation.

A few potential pitfalls: It will literally apply the properties including left/right. You will have to go into the properties to flip it over if it comes in wrong. Also, it won't change the name of your subassembly. So if you've left the default DaylightGeneral(4999) or whatever name, you'll be confused. So name your subassemblies something meaningful, ok?

This trick should also work for other types off assemblies. Let me know what you run into.

**I figured out where I first saw this discussed. Check out this thread on The Swamp. Also, check out some of Michael's video tutorials here.

Using the HEC-RAS Extension for Civil 3D 2009- a Video

2008-10-30T12:40:00.000-04:00

I'm in the midst of some intense preparations for Autodesk University- I'm lucky enough to be helping out with some of the things that will likely be shown on the AEC Mainstage- so I only have a few minutes for lunch today- so this will be short.

I recorded a short video to help people see how to use the new HEC-RAS Extension for Civil 3D 2009 that is available for subscription customers. I uploaded it quickly to Vimeo as a test. There is no sound. Watch the video (full screen seems decent) and tell me if this is a good way to share quick "how-to" videos in the future.

In a few days, I'll post a more robust explaination of the tool and show you some more about it.

How to Export from Civil 3D and Import into HEC RAS from Dana Probert on Vimeo.

What is a Chicane?

2008-10-30T07:19:00.005-04:00

I was putting together some demonstration videos a few weeks ago, and had the idea to mix in some concepts from Context Sensitive Design and Traffic Calming.

I'll post some of my videos in a few days, but in the meantime I found this very neat animation that explains what a chicane is with PLAYDOUGH, which after Civil 3D is my favorite medium.

Take a Buddy for Free (or Cheap!) to AU 2008

2008-10-28T00:49:00.000-04:00

I got an interesting message in my inbox just now- Autodesk is offering the first 100 AU Registrants on Novemeber 5 (starting at 9AM PT) to register a friend for FREE!

Also, anyone who has already registered, or misses out on the 100 free passes can invite a friend to register for $595.

You'll have to read more to find out the details- it looks like it doesn't include hotel. Here is the link that tells you how to take advantage of this offer: http://au.autodesk.com/event/buddypass/

Even without hotel, that's a great deal. You can pair up with a coworker or friend from the discussion group and split the bill to share the savings. Some of those Las Vegas hotel rooms are HUGE, and you might be able to get away with sharing a room with three people if you were really looking to save cash (or four if you bring a sleeping bag and lots of deodorant.)

If you need some help convincing yourself that Autodesk University is important, check out today's AU Beat podcast here: http://au.autodesk.com/blogs/view/Kelly_Rupp_Why_Important/

and check out the "Why Autodesk University" page here: http://au.autodesk.com/event/experience/attend/

See you there!

She's Alive. Really.

2008-10-27T10:47:00.002-04:00

I'm working on a project that will include launching a new blog inside the Autodesk umbrella.

But it might take awhile.

In the meantime, I see all of these young whippersnappers coming up with new blogs, and my brain is about to explode. I haven't had an outlet for my idea volcanoes in awhile.

So I've decided to bring Civil 3D Rocks back to life.

I've left you with two unanswered questions:

1) Did my computer ever come back to life?

2) Did I wind up touring the Paris sewers?

Fear not, faithful readers. Both mysteries will be solved in the next few days. As well as some honest to goodness techie posts.

Pedestrian Bridge

2008-10-01T16:26:00.002-04:00

Pedestrian Bridge
Originally uploaded by Dana Breig Probert

I'm in Paris this week taking a class with some of our European Technical Specialists. I'm hoping to learn about how Civil 3D has been successful here, and about civil engineering in Europe.

I had a few hours to wander this morning while I waited for my hotel room, and I found some neat bridges, catch basins, stone curb... oh yeah and some churches and stuff.

Cross your fingers- maybe tomorrow I will get to tour the sewer museum!

Follow Me... all the way to AU

2008-08-21T11:10:00.002-04:00

I'm still trying to figure out what is happening with me on the blogging front (the ol' moleskin is begging for mercy), but until then, two tidbits...

Against my better judgment, I've become a twitterer, or is it tweeter? Who knows. http://twitter.com/civil3diva.

Also, my Lab at Autodesk University (CV304-2L Get Your Head Out of the Point Cloud: Using AutoCAD® Civil 3D® for Large Surface Data Sets) is full- BUT there is talk of possibly adding another session- so keep your eyes out for it! I am so excited- it will be very fun.

Contacting me Via Email

2008-07-28T11:29:00.000-04:00

To those of you who may have reason to contact me via email, please note that my eng-eff account is no longer in use.

Please use civil3diva at gmail.

Every Little Girl's Dream

2008-07-25T20:28:00.002-04:00

In a few weeks, I will be starting at Autodesk as a Technical Marketing Manager for Civil 3D. I will work as part of Dominick Gallegos's team.

The decision to leave EE has been incredibly difficult. I have never worked with a group that I believe in more strongly. There is no doubt in my mind that CivilAccess will continue to change the way people learn Civil 3D, and I would be proud to continue to be a part of it.

From the beginning, my mission has been to change the way that we design. We must do better, we must design with more thought and build better projects. Autodesk influences the world of design every day with Civil 3D, and I am honored to have been chosen to help deliver that message.

I am not sure what the future holds for Civil 3D Rocks. I am hoping I can find a way to help it live on, and perhaps become more substantial. Or maybe it does have to disappear. I'll know more in a few weeks. Either way, you certainly haven't hear the last of me.

Civil 3D Rocks Turns Three Years Old

2008-07-21T12:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday marked the three year anniversary of my first post here on Civil 3D Rocks.

I will write a lovely recap a little later, I have something miserable to finish this afternoon, but I wanted to mark the occasion before I forgot.

At a glance:

256 Published Posts

119,110 Page Loads**

58,489 Unique Visitors**

Highest Recorded Traffic Day: 482

Average Traffic: 170

Weekday Average Traffic: 350

**I didn't install StatCounter until 8/20/2006, a full year after the blog started, and only a few weeks before I began working on Civil3D.com. I estimate these numbers to be several thousand too low.

Grab Your Canoe! Prospecting for Panoramic Views

2008-07-15T15:07:00.002-04:00

I think all Geek Parents do things like this.... right?

Panorama

Prospector

Civil 3D Grading EECast

2008-07-08T11:27:00.002-04:00

Take a break from watching my remaining ebay auctions (Three AutoCAD 2008 Books,Three Civil 3D 2007 Books: Ward, Zimmerman and AOTC) and register for tomorrow's EECast.

Eric Chappell is one of my favorite Autodesk University speakers, and I was so excited when he joined the EE team. He has worked out and documented more grading workflow procedures than anyone I know. I'm excited to see what he has to say tomorrow!

Learn more about Eric here: Eric Chappell Joins Engineered Efficiency, Inc.

JULY 9, 2008

GET SMART: Intelligent Grading with Civil 3D

12NOON-1PM EDT

Hosted by: Eric Chappell

PLEASE NOTE THAT PUBLIC EMAIL ADDRESSES (e.g. @yahoo.com; @gmail.com, etc.) WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

A 60 minute lunchtime webinar hosted by Engineered Efficiency and Civil3D.com.

A big reason that folks still struggle with grading in Civil 3D is that they are trying to do it the same way they did 10 years ago. In this session, we'll look at smart ways to approach grading designs that will make them easier for you to understand and easier to modify when changes arise.

The session will be held from 12 Noon to 1 PM (EDT) and will be recorded for future viewing.

There is no cost for this session, but preregistration is required. Register here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/385411215

Help Me Clean Out My Office: Books for Sale on ebay

2008-07-07T15:28:00.002-04:00

Life hits hard and fast, and my office has become a dumping ground for books that I no longer use. I have a dream that someday I will be able to see my desk again.

I considered taking these books to Goodwill, but I doubted anyone in my town would have much use for them, and throwing them out would be a total waste.

I've grouped everything into lots to make life easier for me, I am offering free media mail shipping.

Any proceeds will go towards buying my PE review text.

Happy shopping.

Three AutoCAD 2008 Books

Two Civil 3D 2007 books and One Map 2007 book by Rick Ellis et al.

Three Civil 3D 2007 Books: Ward, Zimmerman and AOTC

Why I Am No Longer Breathing Into a Paper Bag

2008-06-27T09:57:00.002-04:00

When Civil 3D first came around, you know I was excited about it. I remember sitting at Tech Camp, literally vibrating, and scribbling furiously in my journal. I was so itchy for an opportunity to use the software.

One of my very first implementation clients (back in June 2005) had a project to submit and asked if I'd be willing to come in on a Saturday morning. I happily went over there and worked for a few hours and on the drive home I daydreamed about going back into production and using Civil 3D for design every single day.

So when that client asked me if I'd like to come on board, I really had to think about it. It was a fun office with innovative people who liked to do smart, different design. It was near a Starbucks (!) and had gorgeous hardwood floors, great lighting and that relaxing aromatherapy smell I associate with day spas and over priced knickknack boutiques. It seemed to good to be true.

I do all of my serious thinking with pen in hand, so I wrote out a list of pros and cons for taking a job in design again.

PROS: Using Civil 3D in a design setting every single day, predictable hours, making great land projects, no travel, delicious coffee, relaxing aroma, natural light

CONS: dealing with county agencies, dealing with state agencies, dealing with production deadlines, spending all of my money on delicious coffee, having to put on makeup every single day, never getting to travel, never getting to show other people how Civil 3D can make their projects better....

WAIT. That last one was the kicker. I could influence one set of land development projects done in one office but what about everyone else? Who was going to show them how to use Civil 3D? Maybe... maybe my job wasn't so much to use Civil 3D one project at a time, but to get everyone excited about making better designs. To show the engineers, designers and Landscape Architects of my territory that they were finally free to design again. That they didn't have to be held hostage by annotation changes. They could now iterate, refine, rework and completely redesign their whole project without having to start from nothing with the hammer and chisel.

So I said thanks but no thanks and went on my way as a reseller AE doing the best I could to spread the word and give people the support they needed. I spread the word through my region, but I always wished I could spread the word to the whole country, or maybe the whole world. And that is how Civil 3D Rocks was born, and why I jumped at the chance to work with EE and write for Civil3D.com

While I loved my work and I loved my clients, I was always very sad that I couldn't help them more. While I made our sessions as productive as possible, the truth is that any time I was doing training with a group, they weren't actively designing their project. Even when I was embedded during pilot work, if they got a phone call or an emergency came up, they had to miss out on some mentoring and then my time was up and I packed up and left. Unless their office was right down the street, I couldn't just pop over for an hour.

When learning Civil 3D, you need more than that. You need to have more interaction. You need flexibility in getting your training, you might need to see things more than once. You might need to go faster or slower than the instructor or the rest of the class. You need ongoing support from people that are excited to help. You need better tools. You just plain need more than I could ever have given you under the traditional model. Trust me, I put heart, soul and personal sanity on the line trying to give you want you needed and never felt like I was giving enough. I'd look at the reseller prospect list and have to grab Panorama's lunch bag, dump out the contents and breathe in the smell of baloney and cheese.

Until now.

When the guys at EE first told me that we were becoming an ISV and that we would be able to sell software to our clients, I was skeptical. Everyone who buys Civil 3D needs help, and if we sold software, could I help everybody? Could I make everyone successful? Since we can sell to all of North America, how do I get there? How do I interact with them? WHERE IS THAT PAPER BAG AGAIN?

My fears were unfounded, because we came up with a great plan for getting you the training you need. Our subscription clients are enrolled in a program called CivilAccess which provides them with unlimited instructor lead training, 24/7 access to recorded versions of each class, access to a clients-only knowledge base, support, and even more.

The classes are all done over the web, so you don't have to drive anywhere. You can work at your computer, or move a group into the conference room for a shared experience. You can ask us questions, and interact. You can tune in only for the portions you need, or come back again and again. I have taught about 20 days of web classes in the past few months, and I have been very impressed with how well it works, and how everyone involved is more relaxed and focused on LEARNING instead of logistics.

I'll be writing more about CivilAccess over on Civil3D.com. Just like static drafting made life as an engineer frustrating, wanting to do more for my clients made consulting difficult. Civil 3D changed my mind about design forever. CivilAccess has changed the way I feel about giving clients what they need to be successful.

I hope you will let me help you be successful! Find out more about CivilAccess here, and preview live webtraining through our weekly, free EECasts. Sign up of upcoming EECasts and watch recorded EECasts here.

EECast Tomorrow: Building Better Terrain Models

2008-06-03T13:46:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow, I will be doing an EECast on Building Better Terrain models.

I put this class together a few years ago to help new designers figure out how surfaces work, and I found that the room was often crowded with not only the new staff, but everyone! If you have ever wondered what REALLY happens with triangulation, or what difference do breaklines REALLY make, be sure to tune in. Note that I will be using Civil 3D 2009 to build the models, but the surface building theory will apply no matter what software you use.

Also note that Mark Scacco will be leading off the webcast with some additional news about Land Desktop being discontinued, the new product mix, and how EE can help.

Learn how to sign up and see the agenda after the jump.

EECast Wednesday, June 4, 2008 12NOON EDT

Latest Civil 3D News with Mark Scacco

Land Desktop is discontinued, and now there is a new product called AutoCAD Civil in addition to Civil 3D. Learn more about what the future holds, and how EE's CivilAccess and GuidedAccess can make things easier.

Building Better Terrain Models with Dana Breig Probert

What is triangulation? What are contours? How are surfaces really built from points, breaklines, drawing objects and contour data? How can I tell "good TIN" from "bad TIN"? What are proximity polylines? Why are contours typically poor data for surface building? And more!

Five Simple Things You Can Do To Make Sustainable Design a Reality in Your Lifetime

2008-05-15T03:29:00.002-04:00

The past few days, I have heard buzzwords being tossed around surrounding the issue of sustainable design. Words like LEED, low impact development, walkable communities, etc. These are great words. Wonderful, powerful words. But what do they mean to the average Civil Engineer today?

Not a whole lot. These words remind me of giving a visualization demo for Civil 3D. Everyone gets excited. Everyone loves it. Everyone nods, claps, smiles and says its cool. But nobody sees how they can make it work in their office, for their clients, given their constraints. So they leave happy that they saw a great show, but business proceeds as normal.

A year or two ago, we felt like superheroes. We were in demand. We patted ourselves on the back for being so insightful when we majored in Civil Engineering or studied CAD. In my neck of the woods, talent salaries were moving higher and faster than starter homes prices. Anyone with a P.E. and an entrepreneurial spirit was breaking off and hanging their own shingle. It was a golden time.

Now? Not so much.

During the rush, we couldn't focus on sustainable design because we were being pushed so hard by our clients to get projects finished. Now, we feel like we should be grateful for any work that comes our way and we dare not open our mouths. Or at least that is what we are telling ourselves.

Let's face it. Though we civil designers might like to think that we call all the shots, we have two very big stakeholders that make the final call. Our clients (developers or similar) and the government agencies that regulate and approve our work. Until both of those groups decide that sustainability is important to them, we are a bit stuck. However, I do think we underestimate our ability to influence them. We can guide change by making them believe that good design was their idea in the first place.

The truth is that now, more than ever, we need to focus on doing BETTER. Sustainable design isn't about birkenstocks and compost piles. It isn't about commune farming or straw bale houses. It is about really simple small things that can make a huge difference.

How do we start ramping up this evolution? Streaking your next Planning and Zoning hearing isn't really the answer. It's a more quiet revolution that will evolve one town, one site plan, one BMP at a time...

1. Get Inspired and Involved

You need to see success stories. You need to see photographs of great places and find out how they were built. Real places that had real issues and roadblocks. You need to start building up at least mental library of ideas, and even better, keep a scrapbook or notebook. Find books, magazines, websites, clubs and people that talk about real, hard, facts. Not just ideas or dreams, but things that have worked and things that have not. A big library or library network should have access books on Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Stormwater Management, and more.

Two of the best magazines to subscribe to are Urban Land and Landscape Architecture. I am not allowed to read these magazines within two hours of bedtime, because I wind up so excited and full of ideas I am up writing in my notebook until morning. (Or blogging. I made the mistake of reading one tonight.)

The first is the official magazine of the Urban Land Institute, and you can only get it as a member. Membership for folks under 35 is about $150. Don't run away screaming. Think of the last thing you bought for $150 and ask yourself if it made a profound and lasting impact on your life and career. If you can't join right away, try your company library or any project manager/owner/planning types in your office. They might be members and would probably loan you the magazine.

Landscape Architect is the official magazine of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Yes, you can be a member if you are not a landscape architect (and I recommend it highly), but you can also subscribe without being a member. Why is this magazine important? If you have never worked with Landscape Architects on projects, you might think their job is planting trees. WRONG. This magazine focuses on site planning, drainage, great projects, innovative earthwork, erosion control and much more all wrapped up in a gorgeous package that makes me giddy with anticipation when it arrives in the mail. I have torn out articles about green roofs, bioswales, buffer strips, subdivision layout and all kinds of creative stormwater management.

Also consider the American Planning Association. ASCE and NSPE are staples in our Civil Engineering diet, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that if you can only afford to join one group, or only have time to attend one set of local functions, I'd skip ASCE and NSPE and go for ULI. This might make more sense further down.

Then of course there are the online and free magazines. CE News, Erosion Control, Stormwater Management and Site Prep. I find them all useful and worth reading, but they don't challenge me and feed me with a stream of ideas like UL and LA do.

Now that you joined these groups, go to their meetings if you can. If not, go to free and cheap functions thrown by pipe suppliers, erosion matting companies and the state environmental office. Get to know the "cross pollinators" or people who are in contact with many different projects and engineering firms in your area- such as the local NPDES Phase II review agency, the concrete manufacturers, soil scientists, wetlands specialists, etc. Go to Planning and Zoning hearings, County Council Meetings, Charettes and the DOT public workshops. Find out what is going on (But don't be a rowdy. You'll get more done with the quiet revolution.)

At first, just sit in the back and politely feed your face from the buffet. Listen as much as you can. Then, make some friends. Have some conversations. Find out what is working for others, and what you might be able to do. Get a feel for what the public rejects, what county council rejects, and do your best to learn more about WHY.

Find out which developers do great work and demand great, innovative engineers. You'll meet them at ULI, not ASCE. Figure out how to become their consultant. This make take years. You're young. Start now.

2. Realize that Everyone Is a Sales Person and Learn How to Sell Your Ideas

We leave engineering school thinking that we are somehow above sales. We are the ultimate creator, the technical artist. Then we go to work and we get incredibly frustrated when the "man" wants to keep us "down" by making us fill out timesheets and being billable. Before long we just get jaded and resign ourselves to doing what we are told and we wouldn't know innovation if it bit us when we stuck our hand in the cheetos bag during coffee break. If we try sometime new, it gets shot down by the client. If the client likes it, the county hates it. If the county likes it, the environmental agency hates it. And if everyone likes it, then the contractor says it can't be built. He shakes his head and just builds it the way you would have designed it in the first place.

YOU are a sales person. This doesn't mean you grease your hair back, get a gold watch and start working a seedy car lot. This means that you learn to LISTEN. You learn to UNDERSTAND. You learn to NEGOTIATE. What do people REALLY care about? What is really on the minds of the objecting public? What does the conservation district REALLY need to make their review go faster? So many times rules were set in place based on assumptions that are no longer valid. So many times they don't realize what you CAN give them.

Ask questions. Never judge. Always listen. Try to understand. One of those amazing life changing reads is How to Win Friends and Influence People. The title stinks. It isn't about "winning" anything. It is about being a good person, a good listener and trying not to focus on yourself. I also like Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

I don't always succeed in being a good listener, or being as open minded as I like, but the people I work with often say "You're so good with the users/public/etc. it must just be your nature." Maybe it is. But more likely, it is because I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I try to find ways to understand. To explain myself better. And it has served me well. I hope it will serve you well, too.

3. Focus on Real Value and Real Business Issues

Wake up and realize that the world doesn't care how awesome you are, how passionately you feel about sustainable design or how much you liked your hydrology class and that you passed the EIT on the first try. The world wants to make money, the world wants to get home at night to their kids in a comfortable house in a nice neighborhood.

Find ways to make your client more money on a project by a)making the design process faster b) making the review process easier and/or c)making each lot/building worth more money. Use your newfound listening and selling skills to find out what are the REAL issues. Make no assumptions about a client or agency's motivations. The sooner you realize that you have no idea, the better off you will be.

4. Find Ways to Learn and Leverage Everything You Can

There are tools in your office that you are not using well. Consider Outlook for example. How much time to you spend sorting email and searching for stuff? Learn how to use folders, rules, notifications. Learn how to plan your day, share your calendar.

Take stock of all of the things that get in your way and suck time out of your life. Time that you could spend focusing on your client's projects instead of burying them in paper.

Take a hard look at your CAD standards. Take a hard look at your project management techniques.

Learn Civil 3D or whatever other CAD tools you have in your office. Find ways to use free GIS data to improve conceptual design. Find ways to design and iterate site plans and grading plans. The more iterations, the more likely you are to get it right.

The more options you will have and the less your client will balk at the idea of trying something new. Be able to present options. Be able to present them in aesthetically pleasing ways that human beings at a public hearing can understand such as simple visualizations or simple color drawings (with Impression or marker renderings).

5. Make A Few Simple Changes on Your Next Site Plan

Using your newfound inspiration from step one, and some basic land planning principles from some of your textbook reading, try some of these simple (and often unnoticed by anyone in your office) things that might start making a difference.

a) Ask about what kind of homes will be on each lot. See if it makes sense to run your streets as close to true N-S and E-W as possible. Many house plans are put together to take advantage of a light and heat that come in through windows. (Every home should be a passive solar home, but I will save that for another day.) Ask questions. We never know enough about the houses that are going on the lots. Find out more.
b) Incorporate an innovative or "green" BMP for stormwater. Most state agencies now at least allow for things like bioswales, bioretention and maybe even infiltration. Every environmental review agency has someone who is super excited about these technologies and who wants to see them used. Find that person and get them on your side. Learn how to design them. Learn what it takes to get them approved. Remove all roadblocks and objections so that when you present the design to your client, they are excited by how hard you have worked to come up with a design that requires less materials, takes less time to build and will be reviewed in a snap (This is the dream. The first one probably won't be that smooth for you, so pick something easy like a bioswale instead of an elaborate constructed wetland covering 20 acres.)
c) Use Civil 3D to go through several scenarios BEFORE committing to a site plan. We tend to design outside-in, meaning from the boundary parcel to the road centerline to maximize lot yield. You need to start figuring out how to design from the inside-out so that you can take a preliminary stab at road grading before you get your heart set on a lot layout. Some tools to make friends with: Alignments, Profiles, Google Earth, Quick Profiles, Corridors, Volume Calcs, Surface Analysis, and of course PARCELS, PARCELS, PARCELS.

There is so much more to say. So many more links to be added, more books to recommend, but I will end here for now. This is on my mind, it is in my heart, and it has been since I wrote the manifesto. I needed to start the ball rolling, get the conversation going and renew my commitment to the journey.

I hope you will join me.

BPA Bottles for Color Mixing Games

2008-05-14T22:19:00.003-04:00

I went through a phase a few years ago where I read everything Maria Montessori ever wrote and tried to incorporate as much exploratory learning and play in our everyday activities. One of the things that I didn't do enough of was color games. Mostly, I couldn't think of what kinds of containers I could use that would be easy for little hands to hold, easy to measure and unbreakable. Well, now that my mind is locked on these stupid plastic bottles, I can't stop thinking of ideas of how to use them.

Every night after dinner, I try really hard to take an hour away from whatever work I have on the go (and there is always work to be done) and do some sort of non-TV, hands-on activity with Panorama. Tonight, we did two games. Primary color mixing and color grading.

For the first one, I added a blob of red, yellow and blue tempera paint to three bottles, then filled with water. I gave her a spoon and she mixed them together. Here is a youtube video of the process.

I was pleasantly surprised by how fun she thought this game was (she played for about another 30 minutes after this video making colors such as "avocado"). Also note how much LESS whiney-four-year-old she becomes as she starts seeing that I am NOT trying to torture her, and how it is OK to make a mess. She hates mess in general.

For the second game, I made a concentrated batch of purple and a concentrated batch of white. Then I had her mix 1 oz, 3oz, and 5oz of purple with enough white to fill to 6 oz. Then, she lined them up by which one was darker. She liked this game a lot, too.

I can see this becoming extremely popular. We'll take it outside next time on the little tikes picnic table and try some more variations on the theme- such as making 10 different concentrations instead of 3, etc.

BPA Bottles as a Junior Chemistry Set

2008-05-14T07:59:00.003-04:00

I was staring at my bottles again yesterday and I came up with something PERFECT. Bottles invariably have imperial volume markings, and usually metric as well. They are the ideal baby beaker for chemistry experiments! Add a lid for shaking up your mixtures, and those avent sippy lids (without the control value) are useful for pouring and sprinkling.

Here are a few chemistry games I came up with that Panorama and I have tried:

1. Temperature Check: Fill bottles with warm, cool, and ice water. Check temperatures with concrete thermometer (if you aren't like us with 100 concrete thermometers laying around like expired pens, your hardware store should have something that will do the trick, or any safe thermometer will do.) Add salt to an ice water bottle to check its effect.

2. Different Viscosity: Combine dish soap with water in various concentrations. Use the metric volumes to add 60mL, 140mL, 200mL,etc of dish soap to several bottles. Add water to fill to 260mL. Mix. Drop a penny into each one and note how long it takes for it to sink to the bottom.

I will be raking my kids' science books this weekend for more ideas.

I'm Getting Rid of All of My Bottles

2008-05-12T13:28:00.002-04:00

While I try to be sensitive to chemicals and such in my house by using natural cleaners and buying organic food when it makes sense, I haven't been panicked about the whole BPA in Baby Bottles thing yet. Until a few weeks ago when Canada took action. When babies are small, I don't use too many bottles at my house, but lately he's been drinking four or more 6 oz bottles per day, and he starts daycare next month.

I've read up. I've done my thinking, and I've decided to clean house and buy a small quantity of BPA free bottles BPA-free Bottles, Sippy Cups and Otherwise.

For all of you geeky parents out there, there is a fun photo pool on Flickr for reuse ideas for all of these BPA bottles. It's been mentioned on a few of my favorite geek parent sites including Baby Toolkit and GeekDad. These bottles tend to stack up nicely, are almost unbreakable, take a sharpie well, and are otherwise a great container for all kinds of little things (as long as they don't wind up in your belly.)

Here are my ideas:

I always try to grab a few crayons for restaurant use, but the ziplock baggy and Rubbermaid containers tend to get crushed. These bottles are the perfect size for a handful.

Most of you who know me know that I travel with a stash of staedtlers, HB, rubberbands, paperclips, staples, binder clips, USB devices, mouse adapters, earbuds, you get the idea.

Other ideas: Change for the vending machine; odd buttons; spare keys; matches; camping odds and ends that usually wind up wet; a mini-first aid kit with band-aids; ointment, etc.; dry dog treats for the park; metal bits in your carry on luggage that you want to keep together and throw in the bin; crushable liquid containers for your carry-on; and so much more.

Please don't let it end this way...

2008-05-10T23:19:00.002-04:00

M-

While I never expected you to be around forever, I really didn't think it would end this way. I pictured we would spend our last days together watching movies on airplanes, surfing the web and playing solitaire. But instead, you lie before me in pieces sorted into labeled ziploc bags.

You were the first laptop that was truly mine, not a hand-me-down cast off from Mr. Probert, not a standard company issue or training lab overstock. You were build for Civil 3D and nothing else. I snuck into the office late at night under the guise of paying bills online to spec you out without him knowing. I contemplated the meatier M90, but I liked the idea of cramming more power into a smaller case. You were lighter, leaner, more functional. Your screen was smaller, but I knew I could always pair you up with a 19" LCD if you needed more space to roam.

We shared our first real public appearance at AU 2006. I was nervous, but you were cool as a cucumber. You've been my cell phone charger, my entertainment center, my wingman. How did I let this happen?

I have no excuses, only reasons, and none of them good.

Having the first child certainly softened my brain to room temperature, yet adding the second has made it downright popcorn ready. You stood by me, patiently, waiting for our time in the sun. A time that I would take you out before crowds, or onsite, or you'd even settle for a Starbucks now and again. You were Odysseus' Argus, forever with your eyes on the horizon waiting for my return. Every morning when I powered you up, you would hope this meant CAD Camp or an Essentials Class or something, ANYTHING besides Facebook Scrabulous and cnn.com while I ate my breakfast balancing Prospector on one knee and letting him BEAT on your control key. (You never did complain.)

There were signs that you were unhappy. I should have seen them. You weren't at all excited to run Google Earth at the GIS convention, you just gave up when the surface had processed 75%. You HATED running GoToWebinar, coughing and gagging and causing me much embarrassment in front of my friends after performing like a champ during the practice rounds. I think you knew that goto meant fewer site visits. At first maybe I thought that was selfish, but I realize you only had my best interests at heart. You want to see me shine and you want to be a part of that. I should have found a way to work you in.

One particularly rough morning after a night of publishing deadlines and nocturnal offspring shenanigans, I poured myself a tall cup of 10W30 loaded with enough sugar and non-dairy creamer to be considered a redox species with a mid-gap electrode potential. How I could be so careless escapes me. Dumping a pot of coffee on my office desk might result in a new keyboard and a few soggy good-luck trolls, but nothing catastrophic. You require special care, your heart and soul are so close to the surface, all in one location and completely unprotected.

I don't remember exactly how it happened, but I do remember yelling an obscenity and dumping the contents of your case back into my cup before I had a flashback to laughing at James 18 months ago while he suffered for weeks answering email on his phone.

Finally, Mr. Probert had to be told, and after much head shaking, groaning and locating the world's smallest phillips head, you were taken apart and laid out on paper towels on my drafting table before finally being sorted into these plastic coffins. There is hope- a keyboard is coming from Hong Kong and we cleaned some corrosion on your motherboard. But you will always smell like French Roast.

I sit here writing with an ice cold pouilly fuisse (safely contained in a sippy cup) knowing that you deserve better than this. I promise that if you come back to me that I won't stuff you in your bag for weeks while I spend time with him, those snot nosed brats, the giant smelly beasts and the AMD. My trip to Chicago was empty without you, and I feel trapped inside these walls. You represent my freedom and mobility, and without you there is no hope for future adventures.

Get well soon.

-Dana

Join me for Civil Engineering PE Exam Review at University of Delaware

2008-05-05T12:07:00.000-04:00

Yeah.... I need to take the PE this year, so I signed up for a review class at the University of Delaware in Newark, DE. Be my classmate!

PE review courses are offered twice a year, corresponding to the spring and fall exams. These review courses (19 sessions each) are designed to help the engineer prepare for the Principles and Practices of Engineering Examination, to provide a general refresher in a given field, and to present an introduction to other engineering fields. Taught by University of Delaware engineering faculty and engineers from industry, the review courses are offered in chemical, civil, electrical, environmental‡, and mechanical engineering.

The schedule says classes are supposed to start tomorrow, but they are moving that a few weeks later because they need a few more people to sign up. SPREAD THE WORD. If you live in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania or New Jersey, University of Delaware is easy to get to on I-95.

Civil Engineering
Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Learn more here.

Sign Up Here

Born Beta Tester

2008-04-16T14:44:00.002-04:00

Since I am the eternal cheapskate,when I read an article a few months ago about the rising price of diapers, I knew something had to change. I also can't stand the giant pile of trash at the end of my driveway every Friday.

When a friend of mine asked me to test a new kind of cloth diaper on Prospector in exchange for some feedback and help spreading the word, I jumped at the chance.

Turns out, they work at least as well as disposables. They are made out of organic hemp with some organic cotton with snaps instead of pins so that my clutzy hands don't poke my precious little beta tester.

From a money perspective, they also passed my test. At current prices, I'd spend about $800 per year on disposables, whereas my hemp diaper stash would set me back about $150-$200 and last through a few years (and a few kids for that matter.) I am still working out how much it costs to wash, but I think I would be hard pressed to exceed $600/year in laundry costs, especially if I throw them on the line to dry now and again when the weather is nice.

As far as saving the world goes... I'm still not sure.

I do wait until I have a full load, use minimal detergent and those laundry balls , but which has more of a footprint? Washing water or diaper manufacturing/waste? I'm leaning towards the latter. But I do know that I feel a whole lot better on trash day.

The diapers are made by BabyKicks, and there are special deals listed at the BabyKicks eBay Store.

Friday Brainwash 4-11-2008

2008-04-11T12:04:00.002-04:00

Just a few nifty toys, books and ideas that I found this week to assist me in indoctrinating my two helpless children into the world of science, math and engineering.

My father and I have the same lame mantra "I love math, but I hate arithmetic." As dumb as that sounds, it is so true. I suffered through school math until 10th grade geometry, and then calculus changed my life. I still have issues with doing simple math in my head though, and I don't want Prospector and Panorama to be crippled by 5X7 and 9X6 the way that I am, so I am always looking for fun ways to work math into our daily lives.

For Prospector (Age 7 months)

Math Fables

I bought this book for Panorama when she was small and she loved it. There is a poem for each number from 1 to 10. Each poem works through a simple story (like an ant picnic or beavers working on a dam) with clever and catchy rhyme. Each poem has as much, if not more, appeal than most nursery rhymes with the added benefit of learning some simple arithmetic. I have a bit of an obsession with hand puppets, so I grab some from my collection and work up a bit of a math variety show for the little guy.

For Panorama (Age 4 years)

Leaping Frog Math Game

This game appears to be a simple Candyland-esque addition and subtraction game. You roll the dice, add the numbers and move your frog the correct number of spaces. I just ordered it today, so I will let you know if it is a hit.

We found this nifty little board game in our preschool's Scholastic Book Order flyer. I dug around on amazon for a few minutes to see if I could find it listed there, and I couldn't. It's made by Learning Resources, who appear to have all kinds of amazing kids' science things. If your school doesn't do the monthly book order, I think you can join directly from their website. I find the books and games offered to be of excellent quality and usually cheaper than I can find elsewhere.

Going to Tech Camp 2008? I'm Jealous!

2008-03-25T14:54:00.002-04:00

I'll be missing Tech Camp this year for the first time since Sheet Set Manager, but I figured I would still share my invaluable (or non-valuable) wisdom with you young whippersnapper AEs out there who will be storming the Hilton Anatole Dallas in a few weeks.

1. Everything from What I Learned at Tech Camp and Tech Camp Survival Guide still apply. Read those posts. Commit them to memory. Thank me later.

2. Join Hilton Honors. Last time I was at the Anatole, there was a special line for HH members. So leave your non-Civil3D Rocks reading chump friends in the long line, while you get VIP service. HH members also sometimes get free WIFI or other perks. Once, I even got a free bottle of water. If my HH membership wasn't split between two accounts (Dana Breig and Dana Probert. Dude, they just don't get it) I might have even gotten a free breakfast coupon. Jason says he sailed past a line that was at least 30 golf shirts deep in 2006.

3. Don't ride the elephants. There is a lot of really cool art at the Anatole. REALLY cool art. Like jade horses and stuff. They aren't for riding. Keep your butt on the semi-comfortable seats, no matter what tall Italians might try to talk you into.

4. Learn how to use your phone as a modem. Last few Tech Camps they've blocked WIFI in the training rooms. AS IF you didn't need to check your Facebook feed every hour. Seriously, who made these rules? You can TOTALLY pay attention while streaming last week's LOST. Last year, within 20 minutes of class beginning, at least 50 bluetooth devices showed up on my phone's radar, and you could see people struggling to get configured. Practice before you get there, and you won't miss a beat. Of course, if you are cool, you have an aircard. So get one of those instead so you can be cool, too.

5. The lobby is big and airy with lots of tables and chairs for working (if you are like me) or refreshment (if you are a normal person.) There is a nice Mexican place in the lobby with tasty margs, and a Sports Bar downstairs. Jason would like me to add, that it IS downstairs literally. You'll have to walk (or fall) down the stairs to find it. Two years ago, I sat in the lobby working while the "cool kids" were hanging out at the Mexican joint. I kept hoping that one of them would come over and say "Hi" and ask me to be their friend. Alas, they didn't. I swore I would find a way to become cool. I'm still looking for a way to be cool, but I have added a few gtalk contacts since then.

6. The floors are slippery- some kind of polished, textureless marble or similar. Avoid stiletto heels and/or those $0.99 flip flops that hydroplane on smooth floors.

7. If someone hands you a bandana and tells you that there will be SWAG giveways for wearing it "creatively", try to visualize yourself on youtube before you get too creative. Two years ago, I thought we were shoe-ins for the big prize. But then again, twenty minutes later couldn't figure out how to operate the locks in the ladies room.

Have some fun for me, won't you? And learn lots. Seriously, the world needs us all to learn as much as we can so that we can influence and improve design around the world.

And if you get a cool bag, mail it to me. I've become a collector.

I'm Teaching A Pre-Conference Workshop at the DE GIS Conference...

2008-03-21T16:42:00.000-04:00

I'll be teaching a pre-conference workshop on Tuesday April 22, 2008 at the DE GIS Conference in Dover, DE. The Conference itself is on Wednesday, April 23, and is always a great program. I'll be attending the conference as well. If you hustle up and register by April 4, the conference is only $90, and add $20 for the pre-conference workshops. I'd say that's a STEAL, wouldn't you?

I'll be giving away two (2!) copies of Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008. So bring your business card!

GIS for Civil Engineers and Land Development Professionals in the CAD Environment (Dana Probert, Engineered Efficiency)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 1:00pm - 4:00 pm

Learn more about the Pre-Conference Workshops here:

http://www.degis.org/workshops.html

Read below for my agenda (which is also on the Workshops page)

GIS for Civil Engineers and Land Development Professionals in the CAD Environment (Dana Probert, Engineered Efficiency)
1:00pm - 4:00 pm

Consulting engineers, surveyors and landscape architects are often behind the learning curve when it comes to geospatial data. They hear about all of this publicly available information and don't know how to integrate it into their projects, or perhaps they think they need special software. The truth is that most land development professionals have the capability to import and analyze terrain models, aerial imagery and GIS data with the software they already have and use every single day. This class will demystify geospatial data by explaining what it is, how to find it and how to get it into your AutoCAD drawings using the tools contained in Civil 3D, Map 3D and Land Desktop.

The agenda will include: Gathering data without leaving the office; Understanding GIS data and terminology; How to obtain aerial imagery and terrain information from Google Earth; How to download, import and theme soil data; How to use the Delaware DataMIL to gather data such as tax parcels, road centerlines and municipal boundaries and bring it into CAD; How to create a terrain model from a DEM file; Important techniques for working with aerial topographic data.

The class format will include lecture, detailed demonstrations, a step by step handout and plenty of time for questions and answers. While the instruction will demonstrate using Civil 3D 2008, most techniques will apply to all users of any of the following: Autodesk Map 3D, Land Desktop or Civil 3D. A few techniques, such as importing a terrain model from Google Earth and creating a terrain model from a DEM file will require Civil 3D 2008 or greater. If you are in doubt about whether the class applies to your software, please e-mail the instructor.

Blog Blog Blog It All, Blog It If It's Big or Small

2008-03-20T23:07:00.002-04:00

A Budget Guide for Working Mothers

2008-03-20T11:46:00.002-04:00

When a career woman is planning her first child, this is how she visualizes the her additional income being used.

After about six months back at work, this is where your income is really going.

More on this later. I've been reading too much indexed lately.

What should I submit for AU 2008?

2008-03-19T14:51:00.002-04:00

I am having a bit of analysis paralysis over my submissions for AU 2008 and I'd like your help.

There is a poll in the left sidebar on Civil 3D Rocks where you can vote... or submit your ideas in comments on this post.

I'm retiring my Stormwater Management Ideas class after doing it twice. Here are links to the screencasts and papers for SWM 2006 and SWM 2007. I considered revamping it and including a bunch of information about integrating Civil 3D with Hydraflow tools, but I know I won't have enough time over the next 7 months to really dig into it and do it well. I have to contribute to two books, take the P.E. in October, and man, there is this whole cooking dinner and doing laundry thing that really cramps my style.

Two years ago I did a River Class that was OK. It had potential, and I could really take it to the next level this year with some of the new subassemblies, import/export tools and two more years of experience.

Of course, there was my Get Your Head Out of the Point Cloud class last year that was really fun, and with the new large surface weeding tools in Civil 3D 2009 it could be even better.

Of course, there is no guarantee that any class that I submit will be chosen.

Thanks for your help!

It Was A Construction Theme Party

2008-03-17T18:12:00.003-04:00

A little boy in Panorama's class had a birthday party over the weekend with a construction theme. The morning of the party, I rushing around trying to prepare my office/guestroom for a visiting relative and also digging for some non-pink, non-princess wrapping paper. While rooting through the 40 tons of obsolete subdivision plans under my desk, I had a brainstorm.

I always like keeping a few rolls of old plans around for coloring. It is particularly fun to trace a toddler's whole body on the back of a Arch D sheet. The first time I took a boxful of dead plans to my cousin's house for her little kids, they approached me shyly and asked if they were allowed to color on the printed side. I was pretty amazed- the kids really like coloring in the neighborhood plats, profiles and even the Erosion Control Details. I like that I they are getting just a little bit familiar with my work, not to mention that instead of buying big sheets of new paper, they were reusing some paper that would be recycled. Win-win-win-fun.

So the brainstorm. Panorama colored a subdivision utility plan, and we wrapped the gift. I made Mr. Probert go out to the shed where I keep a few rolls of survey tape and some lath. I couldn't figure out how to incorporate the lath, but the survey tape made a heck of a bow.

Mr. Probert said that I was a big dork and that nobody would "get it" except me. He said the other moms would just think I am too cheap to buy wrapping paper and that I have horrible taste in ribbon. He was right, but it was fun anyway.

A Little Bit Weird Science, a Whole Lot of Fun

2008-03-17T12:09:00.002-04:00

I've discovered this neat site where you can make mock up "gals" and send them to all of your friends. You can also make cute stickers, notepads, mugs, and more with your gal printed on them.

So on the left there is "me". The best part about Design-Her Gals is that you can make them look like you on your best day- or your worst day.

I'd write more about it, but I've developed a bit of an addiction, and I have about 10 more gals I'd like to make before lunch.

I've send e-cards to Lou, Kristin and Sarah. Maybe we can get a bit of a Meme going?

(If you want to use your Design-Her Gal on your blog, you must follow the directions here- otherwise it's a copyright violation. Follow the rules- and have fun!)

Somebody in Salisbury is Just a Little Bit Smarter Thanks to Me

2008-03-13T11:15:00.000-04:00

Today I woke up feeling a bit "ick" and needing one of those motivational kicks in the rear that I seem to need more and more now that I am knee deep in the struggle to balance work and family. I had a few hours of freedom thanks to a blessed young woman who comes to my house occasionally and keeps Prospector from rolling out the door and down to the highway, so I headed to town to find a quiet corner with some coffee and WIFI.

On the way, I passed a Barnes and Noble, and I thought- "What better way to inspire my writing muse than to see my book on the shelf?", so I pulled into the parking lot and strolled over to the computer books. My stomach butterflies fluttered and my HTC Touch was in camera mode ready to take the picture of Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008 on the shelf...

It wasn't there. My intial reaction was disappointment, but I remembered the story of the little girl shoveling manure.... there's gotta be a pony in here somewhere.

I can only assume they've had a hard time keeping it in stock, which explains the hushed whispers and sideways glances that I noticed when I walked in the door. I had thought that people were commenting on my pajamas, unbrushed hair and watery eyes, but really, I think they were like "Dude, That's Dana PROBERT, a local author and colorful figure. Writers are so eccentric. Where can I get baggy sweatpants JUST like that?"

I did make it to Starbucks, but I will be moving over to the Popeye's next door as soon as I finish my mocha. While it doesn't have the rich aroma of trendy sophistication, Popeye's has something more important. Popeyes has free WIFI.

Now I Just Want the Seller to Make Some Cash

2008-03-11T16:25:00.000-04:00

Thank you to the mystery ebayer who posted my beloved bag today. Alas, my maximum bid was exceeded, and I am out of the game. So now, I just want my good friend to get as much as s/he can for the best bag ever made.

Go get yours:

TechCamp 2007 Messenger Bag on eBay

And I saw some redbuds, too.

2008-03-11T14:52:00.003-04:00

And I saw some redbuds, too.
Originally uploaded by Dana Breig Probert (www.civil3d.com)

Sometimes words aren't enough to express the joys of spring.

*sent from my mobile device*

Wanted: Your TechCamp Bag

2008-03-08T02:23:00.002-05:00

Dear Americas Channel Applications Specialists:

I love this bag.

It was a give away at TechCamp 2007. You know you don't use yours.

I had stuffed mine away in the giant pile of conference bags myself until right before AU. I pulled it out because my old laptop bag had a hole in it and I was too cheap to buy a new one. I wound up LOVING this bag so much that I almost married it.

Now, I have decided that I like it not only as a laptop bag, but as a diaper bag. Since it is annoying to remove my laptop, multicolored pens and HB every single time I want to take Prospector to watch heavy construction machinery (This is a loader. Can you say Low-der?), I would like another one.

You know you have one.

I never ask you for anything. Send it to me. If you don't have my mailing address, email me at civil3diva at gmail and I will give it to you. Unless you are scary. Then I will give you Jason's address.

Sincerely,

Dana

When Making Room For the Next Generation, Don't Abandon Those That Have Served You Well

2008-03-08T02:13:00.002-05:00

I was up at my parents' house a few weeks ago. They had just switched from cable to FiOS. The friendly FiOS people installed a new and nifty wireless network. My brother once described my parents' house as a luxury hotel, only with better food and bigger portions. Now, it is a luxury hotel with free WIFI. I am not sure they have a points or rewards program, but each visit comes with a complementary round of The Third Degree, Prairie Home Companion served up at a DEAFENING volume, and if you are lucky enough to be there on a Monday night- popcorn and Dancing with the Stars.

I went down to the basement to read the wireless key, and saw what the FiOS man had cast aside- an old router, tons of network cable, coax, power cords, and a few other things that I couldn't identify, but I KNOW I need.

I had neglected to mention in my previous post regarding The Tech Bucket of Stuff that siblings over the age of 25 that are currently residing in your parents' basement get first dibs on any of their spare bits. Lucky for me, my brother had so much superfluous network cable that he had it strung up across the rafters and was using it to hang his shirts and pre-tied ties.

I thanked my parents by taking out the garbage, cleaning my room, and promising that I wouldn't go out into public wearing that shirt.

Seaford Gets a Starbucks

2008-02-26T13:36:00.001-05:00

Seaford Gets a Starbucks
Originally uploaded by Dana Breig Probert (www.civil3d.com)

I was psyched when they put a Sonic in Greenwood, but this takes the cake. Or at least the Venti Peppermint Mocha.

*sent from my mobile device*

Professional Women's Forums?

2008-02-11T10:01:00.000-05:00

I find discussion groups and forums invaluable in my professional life, but I am struggling to find a great, lively place to talk and network with other professional women and mothers. Does anyone out there know a good discussion group?

I really love the website http://www.mommytrackd.com/ . They have forums, but they aren't terribly active and they have an awkard style that makes them hard to read. I've also been through CafeMom, MomClicks, YahooGroups, Facebook and MySpace and nothing is jumping out at me. I've gotten some great support from some groups in those locations, but nothing has been quite right. It's incredibly overwhelming to search for a group, so I am hoping someone out there has a recommendation.

Post a comment or email me at civil3diva (At) gmail (dot) com.

Better than YouTube- LynnTube

2008-01-03T22:23:00.000-05:00

How cool is this? Embedding Cadalyst Tip of the Week!

I am a Bug

2008-01-02T10:19:00.001-05:00

Last night while I was blankly surfing the web, avoiding work and contemplating my goals for the New Year, one of my friends from Autodesk QA pinged me on gtalk to say hello.

We were chatting about writing and children's books and he mentioned that another QA team member brought in a children's book about software testing and quality control.

I said "Huh?"

He says "It's called "I am a Bug""

But it is true, and I must say I am charmed by the excerpt on amazon, and needless to say, I've ordered my copy.

"When a bug is found, we do not ask if the bug is good or bad. We decide if it is important. We guess how much damage it could cause."

Check it out.

---

Today I am listening to Under a Shady Tree with the kids and Kanye West during nap time (but quietly).

I resolve...

2007-12-30T22:56:00.001-05:00

I finally have a chance to sit down and crank out some work- but before I do, I wanted to jot down my New Year's Resolutions.

I resolve to...

...always read National Geographic cover to cover instead of just flipping through and looking at animal pictures then putting it on the shelf.

...stop buying pre-formed cookie dough for eating as a snack.

...only submit ONE Autodesk University class this year- and not get talked into submitting additional classes no matter how appealing the subjects may sound except if they sound really appealing and incredibly difficult to prepare.

...turn in my Autodesk University Class papers in on time.

...never buy anything because it is easier to buy it new than to dig in the attic for the one I already have.

...not to make a full pot of coffee when I know I will only drink one cup.

...never "accidentally" turn two pages at a time when reading an especially wordy book to Panorama.

...read at least one smart book every month, even if it has words in it that I don't understand- such as "moderation", "sleep", and "vacation". Also, I will not skip any chapters in said smart books.**

...get off my butt and get my P.E. done in October. Mr. Probert got his last year, and as of today, he has finished his Masters in Civil Engineering (!). The ball is in my court, and after 10 years, I think it's about time I got the dang thing out of the way.

Happy New Year!!!

**So, I read Atlas Shrugged in college, but I skipped about 20 pages in the middle. You know, that long, boring and irrelevant soliloquy of a radio address that Galt does about 3/4 of the way through? Yeah, well, I read about 3 pages of it, decided that I got the point (blah blah objectivism, self-reliance, the meaning of life and the free market blah blah) and moved on hoping for some more sexual tension between Dagny and Galt, or Dagny and Reardon, or Dagny and the Railroad. If I happen to mention this fact to any die hard Rand fans, they look at me with so much disgust that I am tempted to reread the book and actually pay attention. But with so much Shopaholic and Jessica Darling to read, who has the time? Laissez-faire literacy, that's what I say.

----

Today I am listening to Winter Songs from iTunes Essentials

Mullet

2007-12-28T17:43:00.000-05:00

After all, he is half Canadian...

Looking for a Civil 3D book? Check out Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008

Hope You Had a Great Christmas!

2007-12-26T06:10:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from Panorama, Prospector and all of us Proberts.

Christmas Dinner Chez Probert

2007-12-24T23:02:00.001-05:00

I've managed to close Civil 3D for a few hours (but of course I didn't shut down my computer). I need a break from raiding the household appliances for batteries as we put together this year's slog of toys. Steal from the smoke detector, flashlights and emergency radios, but leave those AAA in the remote alone!

Since Mr. Probert and I have long stopped traveling back to our respective homes for Christmas, we have become a Mecca of sorts for reveling grandparents and vagabond younger siblings.

The first crowd comes with white kid gloves for baseboard inspections and expectations of appetizers, wine glasses and placemats. My napkin rings better'd be in good order, and the tree'd best have ornaments on the visible side AND the side facing the wall. Right before the doorbell rings I employ the trick my father taught me as a child "Look at the tree and squint. If you see any gaps in light, you need to do some rearranging."

The second group is a little more forgiving. My office becomes a flophouse upon the addition of a few aerobeds and quickly fills up with laptops, musical instruments, polar fleece, hoodies and sneakers.

Our job is to keep the fridge packed with beer, bagels and brie (no cream cheese for this crowd) and to present the visiting relatives with a pair of smiling youngin' s for kissing and tossing in the air.

We are usually spared visitors on Christmas Day itself, but this year, I volunteered to cook dinner for my parents and one of my younger brothers. Though I am 31 years old and have been living on my own for over 10 years now, and I have hosted holiday meals for my in-laws on several occasions, my mother is thoroughly convinced that I am incapable of preparing a meal more complicated than the Blue Box. She offered to take us out for Christmas Dinner, but we live in the middle of Hell's Half Acre, and even his restaurant is closed for the birth of Christ.

While I make no promises to be the Ritz Carlton, I think we'll have a heck of a nice dinner with minimal fuss. In case you are still trying to figure out what to serve for dinner- here is my menu:

Cream of Beet Soup with Sour Cream, Parsley and Croutons

Rib Eye Roast with Mustard and Black Pepper (pg 269)

Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Parmesean (pg 236)

Crock Pot Au Gratin Potatoes

Steamed Asparagus

and my Mom is bringing some sort of Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake, which she claims has been more work than preparing an entire Christmas dinner and if it doesn't taste good she's going to be PISSED.

Back to battery pilfering... and coffee with Baileys so I can stay awake to meet Santa but be too drunk to remember...

Merry Christmas to All!

Civil 3D Rocks Christmas Mix

2007-12-23T09:24:00.001-05:00

Our favorite tunes for the Holiday Season.

Civil 3D Rocks Christmas iMix

The Millsboro Public Library Thanks You for Your Support

2007-12-18T13:32:00.001-05:00

So a few people have asked me "What's the deal with the ads on your blog?"

Well, it's an experiment.

At first I thought it would be nice if Civil 3D Rocks generated enough revenue to pay the loan on my farm every month (approx $1200 per month). When that didn't happen, I thought well maybe it can generate enough revenue to pay my mortgage (approx. $800 per month). Hmm. OK, no dice there. Car payment? No. Groceries? Nyet. Then how much money could I make from ad revenue on Rocks?

What could it possibly pay for?

This week, I figured out what your clicks can help me with...

Around Halloween, Pannie and I made our weekly trip to the library and borrowed this book:

It's one of those books that kids latch on to that adults HATE from the first reading. I couldn't have been gladder to get it the heck out of my house two weeks later.

A few days hence, I check my library account online and see that I haven't actually returned Porkenstein. Dang it. There must be a mistake. I returned every one of those stupid books, right? We had a similar experience with an equally annoying book (Time to Pee!). The librarian "tsk tsk"ed me while looking up over her spectacles-on-a-chain and accused me of setting a bad example for my daughter. Not only was I harboring illegal children's books but she knew for a fact that the week before Mr. Probert had the audacity to attempt to use my library card instead of his own. I was extremely pregnant at the time, so I waddled over to the shelf and located the craptastic piece of literature, then in an act of extreme irony, I shuffled off to the bathroom. I foresaw a similar confrontation in my future over Porkenstein.

In early October, Mr. Probert had set up our two man tent in the backyard so that he and Pannie could have a last few camp outs. Time passed and things got busy and the tent just stayed pitched long after it was too cold for sleeping bags and ghost stories.

Well, last week he finally packed the tent away. And guess what was inside? Freakin' Porkenstein .

So... Google Ads earn me about $0.10 per day which is equal to the daily rate for delinquent books at the Millsboro Public Library. Thanks to Civil 3D Rocks, I can thumb my nose at due dates once and for all. At least for one book at a time.

My Dad Would Have Stopped for Directions Sooner

2007-12-14T16:51:00.002-05:00

I grew up outside of Philadelphia. While Philadelphia is not exactly in the snow belt, we are no stranger to the winter storm. Every winter, there would be a few big snowfalls. While our parents taught us how to drive in the snow, the typical response to such a storm was "Just stay off the roads". Schools would be closed, Dad would go into work late, and there really wasn't much to worry about since the roads would be clear in about 24 hours and it would be a good few weeks before the next big storm.

When I moved to Edmonton, I soon learned that this approach would not be appropriate. By Halloween it was -20 degrees Celsius with a foot of snow on the ground. There really wasn't much plowing done- the natives told me this was because though Edmonton received vast drifting volumes of the white stuff, it was "Friendly Snow", which I could only imagine was some sort of socialist snow that always said please and thank you.

And so that first winter in Alberta, I learned this: If you don't figure out how to get around in the snow, you won't be going anywhere for a long time. So you buy some serious boots and a serious hat and you never lose you gloves and you plug in your car and you get over it. There is no use commenting on the snow piling up outside the office window, because it ain't like you are going to be allowed to leave early. Kids go to school, trick or treat and show up for cub scouts during blizzards that would have had my family sitting around the fireplace in our pajamas for days.

After the birth of Panorama, I saw that this axiom applied to children as well. If I didn't figure out how to transport one squealing little person from point A to point B, I would never have a reason to put on makeup. Or to bathe for that matter. With the arrival of Prospector, the lesson was driven home even further. With Panorama, it was nice to get out of the house once in awhile and do some shopping or eat a meal. With Prospector, it has become a necessity. Pannie has to be driven to her samba lessons and her metal shop class. She would notice if we never went to the beach anymore or ask why she hasn't seen her Grandmother in a few years.

With Panorama, I hated my giant stroller and never took it anywhere. Or, mostly, I didn't take it because I had to completely dismantle it in order for it to fit in the trunk of my Toyota Echo. I looked on in disgust as other mothers pushed land yachts around the mall knocking over clothing stands as they balanced their lattes and razers in the cupholder-organizer trays. I wore birkenstocks and carried Pannie in a sling and knew that the pain in my shoulder was not really pain but the pride of doing parenting right.

This time, it's a little different.

Once Mr. Probert went back to work and the hordes of relatives scattered back to distant lands, it was just Me and Them. A pouty, sassy three year old with nap-denial and seemingly random potty requirements and a writhing, red-faced, screaming, nocturnal and super sized newborn who seemed to have read the "Book of Baby Panorama" and decided to do everything TOTALLY OPPOSITE of what she did just to keep me guessing and my mind sharp. Better than Soduku.

So I bought a serious mini-van with a serious DVD player. I keep the rear seats stowed so that I can wheel my stroller into the back of the van without even folding it let alone dismantling it. I'm not ashamed to plow through the mall with it now, in fact, I'd love to add on to it with a sidecar or maybe a dorm fridge. I've stopped packing suitcases (to much trouble) and now I just put all of our clothes and gear into a few laundry baskets.

So when Mr. Probert had some work in D.C. this week, I said "Count Us In!" and packed up the posse for some fun at the National Zoo.

D.C. and I have an arrangement. I refuse to use GPS or look at a map, and in return, it always allows me to wind up where I need to be. Eventually. I actually love driving in D.C. After my first experience of getting lost and almost causing a 10 car pile up around DuPont circle, I started chalking up my steering wheel and leaving really early. The streets of D.C. sing a Siren's Song of Alphabet, State Names and Numbers that lull you into a dreamlike state and you start believing that there is a structured grid system for the roads. Combine that with the spun sugar cherry blossoms, the sidewalk cafes and the charming Georgetown architecture and you're in such a haze don't even care that your gauge is below empty and not only are there no gas stations but no place to stop, period.

I've never driven around D.C. with kids in the car, but such a thought didn't cross my mind as I took a cursory glance at Google maps in the hotel before leaving. I actually said to Mr. Probert "30 minutes to go 13.8 miles? Whatever." I get everyone buckled in and shove off.

If purgatory is a place on Earth, it's where US-50 turns into New York Avenue. One minute you are cruising along a perfectly attractive limited access highway... then you are slamming on the brakes into a brick wall of jersey barriers, all day traffic and no left turns. Since I didn't think to jot down the directions, I couldn't remember if I was supposed to make a right turn or a left turn on Florida Avenue. When I get to Florida Avenue, I notice that you can't turn left, therefore the directions must have said turn right but I realize this in the middle of the intersection and hang a sharp left into a McDonald's parking lot where I manage to get back on New York Avenue going the opposite direction with no U-Turns in sight.

At this moment, Prospector decides that he didn't get enough at the all you can eat breakfast buffet and begins WAILING. So I make my next possible right turn into a bank parking lot, stop the car and feed him. As I am feeding him, I notice that we don't seem to be in a "bad" neighborhood... but it's some sort of Import Warehouse district. Then, a few police cars pull up. About 12 officers get out, put on reflective vests that say "POLICE" and huddle up into some sort of conference. I watch enough of the Closer to know that they'd be wearing vests, helmets and shields if some sort of shakedown was in effect, and I feel confident knowing I am probably in the safest place in all of the DC Metro Area since every cop in the city is right here.

I finish feeding him, strap him in and take off for another shot at Florida Avenue. Florida turns into U. No problems so far. The zoo is on Connecticut Ave. I pass Vermot. New Hampshire. Massachusetts, Rhode Island. I MUST be getting close- I'm in New England After all. Then I miss a turn, wind up back on Florida and begin my ritual "hunt for a way back". I apply Philadelphia logic "If this road is one way this way, the next will be one way the other way, and I can just make a square..." then SWOOSH, I somehow slingshot through a traffic circle, change lanes to avoid a kamikaze Metrobus and start passing California, Wyoming, Ontario... Now I'm not even in the right country.

Turning mistakes in D.C. are cumulative and you can almost hear the sound effects of a pinball machine as you drive. Ping! DuPont Circle! Slam! Logan Circle. Zonk! Mount Vernon Square. Blam! Road closings for some sort of March for a Cause. Game Over! Each circle with a park or center feature so attractive it seems like it was put there on purpose to distract you from the microscopic road signs, pedestrians licking ice cream cones and "right turn only" pavement markings that forcibly direct you into a mire of alphabet soup and "NW" avenues vs. "SW" streets. "Look kids! Big Ben! Parliament!"

I wind up on the wrong side of the Rock Creek. Or maybe the Potomac.

Pannie has long since given up asking when we will be there to see the Pandas and she is looking a bit green from all of the spinning. "Mommy, why does the car feel like it just tipped over?" "Remember, Pannie, a U-Turn is only illegal when there is a sign that says so." I seek out the minivan compass for advice but it returns only a Sad Mac. Desperate for some solution, I trust my inner GIS and get myself back over whichever body of water I crossed and begin looking for a gas station or a starbucks or a paralell parking spot where I can front-in (not very good at parking this monster yet) and just as I am about to give up, Pannie screams "I SEE Z-O-O".

So Google Maps needs to revise their time estimate to from 30 minutes to 74 minutes. And someone needs to get me a car GPS for Christmas.

Looking for a Civil 3D book? Check out Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008

Other things that ROCK

2007-12-07T15:56:00.000-05:00

If you don't watch this show, you must start immediately.

http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/

NBC has the best streaming episode viewer out there (and trust me, I watch a lot of streaming TV these days while up late feeding the baby) and you can also download episodes to watch offline.

Looking for a Civil 3D book? Check out Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008

Panorama Loves Swag

2007-11-30T07:23:00.002-05:00

Panorama Loves Swag
Originally uploaded by Dana Breig Probert (www.civil3drocks.com)

Autodesk Subscription served up this healthy breakfast and wizard hat for Pannie.

AU SNAFU (2005)

2007-11-29T22:21:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting in the Vegas airport getting ready to board my red-eye back home to Panorama and Prospector.

AU this year was more of a blur than normal for me. I flew in on Tuesday afternoon and I'm leaving on Thursday night. There were two big booth nights this year that were amazing fun but very draining. I always find it difficult to make time for meals, breaks and fun in the midst of so much good old fashioned CAD frenzy. It's even harder to make time to visit with old friends who have their own booths to run, classes to teach and clients to meet with. I mean, even the DWF Spot didn't have time for me. I didn't see him once. Or maybe he got fired... I can't be sure.

I was trying to remember the other years I attended AU. This was only my third time. Each year is marked with it's own interesting memories... but my favorite is from AU 2005.

AU 2005
Beth and I were super keen that year. We got up for breakfast at 6AM and had to be forced out of class at 6PM. We went to every single session and read handouts on the shuttle bus and at our hotels at night. It was fun, educational and uneventful with one big funny screw up as we were leaving.

We had called the BeeLine shuttle to take us to the airport at 545AM. A white van pulls up to the hotel. Beth asks the driver if he is our BeeLine shuttle. He says yes. We get in.

Beth's cell phone rings. It's our BeeLine Shuttle driver. He's waiting at the hotel for us. Hmmm...

After figuring out that our current driver is not a kidnapper, but merely a complete idiot, we decide to just let him drive us to the airport. Funny thing is- he wants to charge us $50, and between the two of us we only have $15. He drops us off with his tail between his legs and we go into the airport.

So... our terminal is decidedly dead. Our flight is not listed on the board. Lovely. Turns out our flight was cancelled. Not just cancelled due to weather or something, but totally and completely removed from the flight schedule. Weeks ago. I guess when we checked in for the flight down the airline didn't feel the need to let us know this. Yeah, ok, we should have confirmed everything again, but C'MON.

So here we were. 6AM. We had barely dodged being stuffed into a gunny sack and thrown into the Everglades, and now we had no way home.

Luckily, we didn't have to rent a car and drive the 15 or so hours back to Philadelphia. Air Tran hooked us up with some surprisingly affordable and comfortable one way tickets.

My way out this year was uneventful, almost pleasant really. And though it is hard to say goodbye to 9000 of my closest friends, I'm ready for it to be done.

But the fun is only beginning really... smell that? It's beta season.

Looking for a Civil 3D book? Check out Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008

Best Conference Drink Ever

2007-11-28T14:22:00.003-05:00

Best Conference Drink Ever
Originally uploaded by Dana Breig Probert (www.civil3drocks.com)

Hot water with lemon and splenda... Helps the digestion and gets you going.

Two Sweety Tuesday

2007-11-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

What a fine morning at PHL. The sun is just streaming into the lovely terminal b-c food court, almost blinding really, which is why I probably didn't notice that they took down the signs that formerly proclaimed "Free WiFi in the B-C Food Court!". But even the cost of a 24 hour pass can't keep me down today- I am on my way to AU!

Yesterday was a bad day- almost as bad as being forced to go back to using Land Desktop. My usually adorable son was doing his best screaming tomato impression. Imagine a fire engine. Only not quiet like a fire engine. Loud. And instead of just driving by, that fire engine moves in to your house, demands food and expects a college education.

Since I had Prospector in one arm and my mouse in the other, I played one of those cards all parents keep close to their chest- TV. Panorama spend the day alternating between staring at Blue's Clues on-demand with a dull look on her face and sobbing because I wouldn't climb into bed with her to watch it. The parenting advice I get from my mother is bad enough- try getting it from a jealous 3 year old. "Just put him in the crib and come play with me. But shut the door so we don't have to listen to him". Lovely.

As I sit here at the airport, I already miss them with a feeling that hits me deep in the gut. But I am soooo looking forward to actually sleeping tonight. Or not sleeping. Whatever- it will be on my terms and not on the command of my 15lb boss.

So far my pre-AU buzz has picked up momentum from light traffic, easy parking and no lines at check in. I was called "Sweety" by both my parking shuttle driver (male) and my prescreening security guard (female). I just finished at the airport spa where I got, if not the best the most thorough, lip-n-eyebrow wax of my life. It better be good- it LITERALLY took longer, cost more and was more painful than the delvery of Prospector two months ago. Hopefully the recovery won't be as long.

Even getting dressed this morning was a delight. I've pulled my EE shirts out of the back of the closet and I've got a new pair of jeans. Say what you will about Kimora Lee Simmons, but the girl can make a pair of jeans. Not only that, but she makes her delightlfully stretchy yet super fashionable jeans in my size- which right now is somewhere in the "gained weight while pregnant and still eating" category. All women need to get a pair. Or ten.

So I'm off to my gate. This year, I'm getting my picture taken with the DWF Spot. He'd better smile.

Looking for a Civil 3D book? Check out Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008

Pre-AU Freakout

2007-11-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

It's an annual tradition for me... I notice that I only have one week left before I will be up in front of two classes of 225 people each and the trademark Dana Panic sets in...

...will my datasets survive? will i remember to bring them?
...did i install the service pack on my laptop?
...will something embarassing pop up on my screen while i am presenting?
...will I burp mid sentence?

And then there is the "Will I be able to..?"

...pack up two kids for a week with grandma?
...lose 30 pounds of pregnancy weight and 10 pounds of fried turkey Thanksgiving weight in 4 days? and if not, do I have jeans that will zip?
...receive my Zappos order in time?
...contain my excitement in seeing AG after 11 months?

I've decided to do some mobile blogging and take lots of photos this year. Last year was such a blur so I am hoping some digital records will help me remember the good times. I've joined Shaan's flickr group Shaan's flickr group and I will try to post my photos nightly.

I'm arriving on Tuesday and leaving Thursday night to minimize my time away from my sweet little cherubs- so catch me Tuesday night at the Beta Reception and Beer Bust, Wednesday in classes and at the Wiley booth doing Mastering Civil 3D demos and Thursday teaching two classes and helping with one.

Looking for a Civil 3D book? Check out Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008

Farming Is Always Funny

2007-11-18T18:23:00.000-05:00

Will these guys have a booth at AU?

A little bit sore from those CAD Standards meetings? Try some of this on those aching pains...

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Engineering School Didn't Prepare Him For This

2007-11-17T10:51:00.000-05:00

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The Cure for Road Rage?

2007-11-14T10:19:00.001-05:00

This hangs in my office.

It has been hanging here for over 5 years, so I didn't really notice it much anymore. I rediscovered it this week when I noticed Prospector was keenly interested in something on the back wall. I now position his baby seat so that he can see it at all times.

This giant smiley face (approx 2.5' X 2.5' square) is an actual road sign from a logging road in northwestern Alberta. (Alberta is in Canada. Go to Montana. Hang a sharp right. Drive for about 30 hours.)

We are not 100% sure of its actual intended design, but we have a guess. Logging roads are these awful, dangerous, narrow muddy affairs with ravines and such. If you fall asleep or get distracted you could easily become footage for a hilarious but tragic youtube accident. Perhaps this sign was supposed to surprise you with some unexpected sunshine,make you laugh and keep you awake for another 15 minutes.

Apparently, there is someplace in Scotland that also uses smiley signs: Speed signs reduce you to a smile.

The trouble is that they are so appealing that they wind up in home offices instead of out solving the worlds problems. Oh well.

Looking for a Civil 3D book? Check out Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008

My Autodesk University Packing List

2007-11-13T15:56:00.001-05:00

Has it really been a year? My jack-o-latern is fully rotten and I fried up my last batch of green tomatoes, so it must be.

The other day I pulled out my suitcase and made my shopping list of AU Essentials.

HEALTH

You'll be shaking hands with everyone from Pete Kelsey to the DWF Spot- and who knows where they have been. Last year, I was responsible for spreading some sort of frog voice-cough-plague to everyone who visited the EE both. I also learned that a bottle of cough medicine at the Venetian Apothecary costs more than my honorarium. So this year, I am coming prepared. No need to bring the Sam's Club super pack, just a travel sized packet of a few meds will go a long way.

Prevent yourself from catching the post Thanksgiving blerg by using Hand Sanitizer. They come in almost microscopic travel sizes these days- you should really keep it in your pocket and apply all flippin' day.
Though I am skeptical, I still take Airborne. I like the taste and I figure if it gives me just the slightest improvement in my immunity, it would be worth it.
I also like Zicam. It may turn out to be Zi-scam, but I truly think that it has prevented me from getting ubersick when I use it.
Everything gets sore at AU. Your brain. Your eyes. Your legs. Your throat. Your beer drinking arm. Your fat lip after starting a barfight over Scaling Viewports. Bring tylenol, advil or something similar.
Nothing is worse that snaking a hacking cough on the plane then fighting it through classes. Definitely bring Cough Medicine and Cough Drops.
If you have ever gotten sick on the road, you know how hard it is to sleep. I so wish I had brought Nighttime Cold Medicine with me last year.
Strange food. Strange people. You'll suffer from at least one of the following: Hangover, Norwalk, Heartburn. Bring Stomach Remedy
Vegas is dry. You won't drink enough water. You just won't. It might even be impossible. For this reason, you need to bring fiber. I know, I'm like your embarrassing mother who shouts through the grocery store- "Honey, are you still CONSTIPATED?" At least eat some fruit, OK?
If you don't like water, bring something to make your water taste good, like those Crystal Light packets.

BEAUTY

For 51 weeks a year, you can hide behind a screen name and an avatar... but at AU, you gotta face the public.

Dry, smoky air, excessive free beer and late nights guarantee you'll wake up with red eyes swollen shut. Bring cucumber pads and Preparation H to fix the puffies. Also invest in a bottle of Clear Eyes. This is especially important if your boss is traveling with you. Ladies- be sure to bring lots of concealer and some eye brightener.
Vegas is freaking dry. Really freaking dry. Bring moisturizer, the best you can afford. Slather on a night cream before passing out, and be sure to have a daytime weight lotion too.
Chapstick. See Number 2.
Super duper deodorant. You don't want to stain the pits of the AUGI giveaway t-shirt. Also, we don't want to smell you. Walking through the casino on the way to class is stinky enough.

COMFORT

You will be walking. I am always taken aback by the sheer scale of Vegas. If you get put in the new tower or in one of the satellite hotels, you will be walking even more.

Chewing Gum. The Venetian doesn't sell it. Last year I had to hock my Recorded Speaker watch for some very unsatisfying Mentos. Bring Gum. (Just don't spit it on the marble floors you slob.)
Candy, lollipops, breath mints, Listerine strips. Your breath stinks enough already and the dry air doesn't help. Spare us all and suck on something. Also, sharing candy is a great icebreaker and might help you start a conversation with your favorite AUGI HotNews columnist or Discussion Group poster.
Comfortable shoes. I mean comfortable. Shoes that are your actual size without big heels or narrow toes. That means sneakers, Sketchers, Doc Martens, something.
Patch up your blisters with moleskin and Band-Aids.
Powder can be used in your shoes and your "easily chaffed" areas to keep the damage to a minimum. Also apply liberally to keep your stink down and those of us sitting next to you comfortable.
Last year I was on a hospitality floor. I wish I had brought earplugs.

TECHSENTIALS

How will you know where the cool kids are meeting during the next break if you don't bring your Blackberry or pocketpc? Bore the world with hourly mobile blog posts and remind your spouse back home how you are in Vegas and they are at work through a series of one word text messages.
Since you only see these people once a year, be sure to pack your digital camera. You need to collect a year's worth of blackmail material.
All of the transfer cables so that you can get those photos up on flickr or picasa IMMEDIATELY. Digital photos are like milk- if you don't get them put up within 20 minutes they lose their appeal.
If you are a speaker, don't forget your laptop. Duh. (Just a note to remind myself.)

CLOTHES AND PACKING

Travel Sized Space Bags will get all of this crap inside your suitcase. Bring a few extra for use in the...
An extra duffel bag or foldable suitcase for all of the junk you will collect.

THINGS NOT TO BRING

Workout clothes. It just isn't going to happen.
Work. It just isn't going to happen.
A lot of money. Unless you plan on gambling or hitting up Versace, you won't need a lot of dosh. Make a game out of finding all of the free food-n-booze events throughout the week.
Family Members. I seriously almost left my husband in Vegas after last year. AU is a total drain on your strength, your patience and your ability to care about anything else. Trust me, your wife is NOT going to understand why meeting Lynn Allen is such a big deal, or why you felt the need to get totally drunk at the AUGI Beer Bust. She will not be entertained by you treating her as sherpa for your swag on booth night, and she will not share your excitement when you shake hands with James Wedding. If you do insist on bringing family, come out a few days AHEAD of the conference and pack them back on a plane by Tuesday at the latest.

Pack well, fly safe and I will see you there!

Savage Truths

2007-11-13T13:29:00.001-05:00

My mornings are defined by certain rituals. After a night of baby-roulette (will he wake? or will he sleep? where it stops, nobody knows!) I wake up to small fingers pulling my hair, poking my nose and demanding Nutri-Grain bars and orange juice. I stumble into the kitchen and make a full pot of coffee (of which maybe one sip will actually be consumed) then turn on the TV to my favorite channel, Noggin.

At 8AM, Noggin viewers are treated to a delightful little show called Oswald. It's not cerebral, like say Dora or Blues Clues, nor especially jaunty and musical like the Backyardigans.

As an aside, Mr. Probert always volunteers to wake up with the kids on Saturdays. I had thought it was because he wanted to give me a break. Turns out he just secretly enjoyed the Backyardigans. It's his favorite show after Prison Break. Which, by the way, is his favorite show because the hero is a Civil Engineer.

Oswaldis a great show for first thing in the morning because unlike those obnoxious children's programs with hard skill curriculum objectives and learning goalslike math, logic or reading, Oswald is a simple story of an urban octopus and his companion dachshund, Weenie. The official learning goals listed on the Noggin web site include the warm fuzzy hot cocoa soft and comfy skills here:

Language and Early Literacy Goals:
- Familiarizes viewers with conventions of narrative and story structure
- Develops listening skills
Social and Emotional Development:
- Models positive responses to conflict
- Demonstrates taking turns, sharing, listening to others, and polite behavior
- Presents characters getting along and working together to achieve shared goals

Listening Skills? Positive Responses to Conflict? Achieving Shared Goals? Anyone who reads my postings to the Swamp knows that these are things that I need to study up on. Is there an AOTC available?

Even with my four minutes of sleep and spit up encrusted pajamas, I can follow plots such as "A Day at the Beach" and "The Big Balloon Rescue".

While I can handle the anthropomorphism of octopi and penguins, somehow their friends Daisy (a walking talking daisy) and the Snowman (a walking talking snowman that runs a snow cone shop) disturbed me just a little bit. I also wondered who paid for Oswald's apartment, piano and Weenie's vet bills when he clearly didn't have a job. Despite these shortcomings, I still watched alongside Panorama as she ate her "blueberry grow-bar".

Until....

The other day as the credits were rolling, I caught a name on the list that sent my heart into a tailspin.

The voice of Oswald is FRED SAVAGE!

How did one of the greatest television icons of my generation get reduced to providing the affected voice of a repressed purple octopus?

The year Kevin Arnold started middle school, so did I. He went ice skating, to school dances, passed notes, got acne and was stuffed into his locker alongside my friends and I. Year for year, Kevin mirrored my emotional turmoil and clean cut teen angst (ok, so we didn't have Vietnam to deal with- what's your point?).

I thought the worst day of my life was when I flipped by Animal Planet and saw Mario Lopez hosting Pet Star. (Panorama instantly perked up because she has become a big Dancing with the Stars fan thanks to evenings spent with my mother and her pathetically middle aged television taste.) To add insult to injury, Pet Star was featuring special guest Danica McKellar**.

This must be the same kind of Hell my parents found themselves in the 1980's and 1990's when my brothers and I knew the songs of their youth only as adapted advertising jingles, Paul McCartney as that "old guy" who sang with Michael Jackson and Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire.

Perhaps this bothers me because I wonder if my life has followed a similar path. You come roaring out of the gate. You swear you will never compromise. You will lead an exciting life where you take only the most interesting jobs. You'll never commute. You'll always be creative and adventurous and raise your fist to resist the shackles of your parents, society and the "man".

Then you fall in love- with a house, with a job, with a person, with a pack of children and you search for ways to pay the bills so you can fund this life you would have once considered "boring".

Then you realize that this IS the adventure.. that dreams change... that you can't be expected to define your life at age 15...and that maybe just maybe being a purple octopus is your new dream.

**I later found out that Danica McKellar kicks butt. She has a math degree and a book called Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail . I also saw her guest star on How I Met Your Mother. Phew.

Scenes from the Home Office: Markups

2007-11-12T14:05:00.000-05:00

Me: Why is there green scribble all over this set of plans, Pannie?
Pannie: I colored it with my green crayon.
Me: Give me the green crayon.
Pannie: I can't
Me: Why not?
Pannie: I accidentally ate it.

Soon, He'll want his own desk...

2007-11-09T15:09:00.001-05:00

Right now, I am catching up on some documentation and Prospector is catching up on being cute and sleepy. In general, he's a great office mate.

He does, however, have his moments.

All told, he's in the top 3 office/cube mates I've ever had- tied with Amanda in Edmonton. Anyone that can talk me off the ledge and into a Squishy at Mac's at 3PM when it is pitch black outside and forty below in the middle of winter has a special gift. She also snored less than Prospector and always took care of her own lunch arrangements.

Unexpected Wisdom: Standing in Line

2007-11-06T13:01:00.000-05:00

At swimming lessons this week, the kids were taking turns jumping into the pool. Panorama took her turn, then instead of getting back into the line at the end, she cut ahead of some of her small friends.

Me: Pannie, why did you cut in front of your friends? Everyone needs to take a turn jumping.

Pannie: I went to the back of the line, but someone was already there.

While this logic didn't really fly in the swimming lesson situation, I couldn't argue with its unexpected wisdom in the big picture.

How often do we just shuffle to the end of the line without asking if this is the right line to stand in, or if the end of the line is where we really want to be? Or, are we that person that is already there and letting others move ahead of us?

Scenes from the Home Office: Sunscreen

2007-11-05T12:55:00.000-05:00

I share my office with Panorama (Age 3.5) and Prospector (age 6 weeks).

Me: Pannie, what are you doing?

Pannie: Putting sunscreen lotion on my hand.

Me: Um... ok. Where did you get sunscreen?

Pannie: From my nose.

Never Forget that the Party Chief Can Read Your Lips Through the Scope

2007-10-12T14:40:00.000-04:00

I had always thought I was the most unenthusiastic rod person on the planet.

Prospector has arrived!

2007-09-18T16:23:00.001-04:00

Prospector has arrived!
Originally uploaded by danacadapult

Prospector arrived this morning... He already shows a preference for Autodesk over Bentley. Close to ten pounds of cuteness and delight. Panorama is very excited to be a big sister.