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

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)

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

A Budget Guide for Working Mothers

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?

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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?

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

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

I am a Bug

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...

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

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!

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

Christmas Dinner Chez Probert

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

Our favorite tunes for the Holiday Season.

Civil 3D Rocks Christmas iMix