So, I just got back from TechEd Atlanta, having to leave early due to obligations at work.  And more impactfully, having to leave my new friends, my fellow Career Factor participants and the whole Microsoft Learning Family!  I have to say that this was one of the best experiences I have had in a very long time! 

Where do I begin...well, my first day there, as I'm unpacking in my hotel room, I get a call from Steve Molkentin ("The Molk", as he is affectionately called), welcoming me to Atlanta, and inviting me to dinner with himself, Kevin Dickens, and the beautiful Caroline Wellinger.  It was kind of surreal finally meeting these people who I felt I already knew, but had never been in their physical presence.  With that said, we hit it off immediately, as if we were old friends!  We were soon joined be Erwin Chan of Microsoft, the man heading up Career Factor, and then came the equally as beautiful Rabeb Othmani, whose flight was an hour late, but yet she still managed to join us for dinner, despite being exhausted, having flown all day from Tunisia.  Bojan Nenadic joined us soon thereafter, and our final arrival was my roommate, Neil Simon.  Dinner was great, and as we retired for the evening, I felt that we all were in for a fantastic week.

We met early the next morning in the lobby and headed to the CNN Center to get registered and do a little video taping.  After that, we all attended a Braves baseball game, where some of our overseas friends were introduced to America's REAL favorite pastime...hot dogs!  The game was a blast, especially given that the Braves beat the Phillies 3-2 in dramatic fashion.  After the game, we had a few drinks, and then headed back to the hotel, where yours truly called it a night (I'm not a young man any more!), while others partied into the night.  It was a great day, and we all looked forward to the Keynote Presentation the next morning, which was the official start of TechEd.

Being new to TechEd, I had now expectations of the Keynote Presentation, and I must say, I was a little blown away.  There were laser lights, stadium screens, and techno-music filling the few empty spaces of an auditorium already overflowing with 10,000 people!  The technology that was showcased was very impressive, especially how Kinect technology is being used in the medical industry, as well as in astronomy with the Worldwide Telescope.  Using Kinect a user can virtually explore the entire Universe by simply waving ones hands!

However, the stand-out event for me was dinner with the Microsoft Learning staff.  During the delicious meal, we answered questions, gave our opinions, and shared our thoughts about the Career Factor experience, all of which was video taped.  It was there that I decided to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT).  With input from these folks, I realized that I could combine my love of Technology with my love of Teaching as an MCT.  It was a real "Ah ha!"  moment for me.  Moreover, the MCT community is so warm and embracing that they made me feel welcomed already!  Wish me luck as my Microsoft journey continues!

Be sure to look for videos and pictures to be posted soon.  Until then, au revoir!