It had been years since my last SAP TechEd (I think it was 2000 or so at the MGM in Las Vegas with the X-Files "The Truth is in Here" theme...good times...good times). Since that TechEd, I had spent any extra time going to other conferences (portal, HR, project mgmt, etc) or training classes each year. However, this year would be MUCH different! Thanks to SDN (and more so, Mark Finnern), I had the opportunity to make another TechEd trip in Las Vegas, and I had forgotten just how fun and informative they are! I will not recount TechEd in detail as I believe that got covered very well in the many blogs that sprang up during and immediately after the event. However, I will share a few photos and hopefully take you on a kind of visual tour of what the week held...mostly outside of the normal sessions...I mean, do you really need photos of a guy in front of a room with a PowerPoint shown on a big screen behind them to get how the actual sessions went ? (haha) This TechEd reminded me that I was long overdue, and I will not miss another one! I hope you enjoy the photos, but a few things to mention:
- Sorry for the small size of the pictures. This was due to the size limitations of SDN's uploader, and the fact that I did not want to host them elsewhere.
- Sorry if you think this is too many pictures. These are actually wittled down from about 250 or so that I took over the course of the week!
- For those actually *in* the photos, I will gladly send you the original (full res) pics....for non-commercial use, of course...that means you can't reuse yours in GQ, Mark! (haha)
 Welcome !!! |  Mark Finnern kicks off SDN Community Day |  Who's that skateboarder wearing a SDN t-shirt ? *grin* |  Thomas Jung and Rich Heilman speak |
 networking session at SDN Community Day |  the crowd gathers for the O'Reilly keynote |  A Blag spotting in the audience! (Blag made the trip from Peru) |  Tim O'Reilly's wonderful keynote |
 Exhibit Hall on Tuesday |  running into old friends on reception night |  the Mandalay Bay pool was a nice getaway from a day full of sessions |  the Goo Goo Dolls concert kicks off ("no cameras or video, please" *grin*) |
 Goo Goo Dolls on the jumbo screen |  check out the big crowd! |  view from the back |  Stage view with crowd up front |
 Glow sticks were handed out and people down front connected them to make a huge snake through the crowd |  more of the Goo Goo Dolls |  nice view of the stage |  playing to the crowd up front |
 mood lighting |  the big finish |  taking advantage of the open bar at the concert |  post-concert fun (L-R: Patrick, Thomas Jung, Ed Herrmann, Dan McWeeney, Craig Cmehill and Rich Heilman) |
 Some people get photos with rock stars...I get my photo with alpha geeks (haha) L-R: Craig Cmehill (SDN), Ed Herrmman, me, Patrick, and Mark Finnern (SDN) |  SDN rock stars (L-R: ???, Rich, Thomas, ???, Ed, Dan, Mark and Patrick) |  one last photo with Marilyn Pratt |  leaving Las Vegas |
Thanks again soooo much to Mark Finnern for making sure I got there this year as well as making my time there a blast! (I still owe you a new skateboard, Mark! haha) Thanks to SAP for putting on a great conference and providing top notch entertainment, food and fun. It was great seeing old friends and making new ones, as well as getting some good ol' geek time in and seeing all the new things SAP has lined up. I will be sure to be there next year! See you there!!!
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