Scott Densmore

Sucker Punched

My daughter was sucker punched on the bus after school.

This is an unofficial account of the event as told to me by my daughter.  I am pretty sure it is correct after the call from the principle.

Anna got on the bus. She was walking back to take a seat when a kindergarden student started to sit next to a 3rd grade boy. The boy told the kindergarden girl not to sit down, went to punch her before Anna grabbed his hand and said "Don't you dare!". The little girl went towards the back of the bus and sat down. Anna sat down next to her friend and started to chat for the way home. She turned around to check on the little girl and "BAM", the 3rd grader sucker punched her.

She stood up as the boy threatened to hit her again, yet she stood strong and said if he hit her, she would hit him back. Every kid scattered and the bus driver came back and broke things up and took both kids off the bus. The principle took the 3rd grader, called his parents and let Anna come home on the bus.

Needless to say, I was livid. I couldn't believe someone hit my baby. I was not allowed to get in the car to drive down to the school or call a lawyer. (I know Anna did not get her patience from me.)

After I calmed, I was proud papa. Two things happened all at once: she stood up for someone who needed it; she took a punch and didn't fight back. I talked to her and told her how proud I was that she could control her emotions. I could not believe it.

I am still amazed about this. I guess the wife and I have not done to bad so far (although I give her all the credit).

That Was A Really Long Vacation

In May it will be 2 years that I have been in the Sunshine State (Florida). I am going back to Seattle and Microsoft at the beginning of February. I have met and worked with a lot of great people. I will definitely miss the town (Celebration) and the sun, yet I can't wait to get back and take some of the great things I have learned from the people I have met while I was here. There are so many things I have done of the past couple of years that I don't think I would have had the chance/taken the time to do if I didn't live here. Here is a list in no particular order:

• Day of Ruby Orlando - This is were I met Cory Foy, Corey Haines and a bunch of guys from HashRocket. These guys were great and put on a great day "boot camp" of Ruby. The best part, as always, was the after dinner party and the 50oz steak.
• Big Nerd Ranch - This was an amazing trip. Brad Wilson and I spent an entire week learning Cocoa from Arron Hillegass. Great time with some great people.
• Disney - What can I say: happiest place on Earth. One thing I have to do now is teach the kids that a park is swings and monkey bars not Space Mountain, Epcot, Big Thunder Mountain etc. I think it might be a let down.
• Disney Cruise - Happiest place on the water :p. Spent time with Peter Provost and family.
• Channel Intelligence - Met a lot of good people and probably the closest place to Microsoft I have been outside of Microsoft. Probably because it was started by a guy who worked at Microsoft.
• Thuzi - I met Jim Zimmerman while at a Tampa user group meeting and got into a long talk about MonoTouch and iPhone development (over beers of course). He decided I was crazy enough to work with them so I took a job working on Facebook Applications running on Windows Azure.
• TDD Firestarter - I met Scott Reynolds and Sean Chambers in Tampa and they talked me into being a Los Techie.
• Tampa MVC User Group - David Hayden ran a great group and finally got to meet the man behind p&p on the East Coast.
• Celebration- My little town. Love this place and I think I will miss this most of all.

I am sure there are many more things that I have forgotten yet all in all, great vacation. Lets go home Sparky!

Listened to: Bornlivedie from the album "Signify" by Porcupine Tree

.NET

My Town

In May of last year I moved from Seattle to Florida. For about the first 2 months I lived in temporary housing in a condo in a little town called Celebration. Since then we have rented a home here. We really love it here and hopefully after this year we will buy something. Yesterday my youngest daughter and I spent some time running around town.

A shot of our street. We love the trees on the street. And yes it is December.

The fireworks over the lake (which is to my right) were absolutely beautiful. This is also the home of Fred the Alligator. They decorate the whole town for Christmas. They also have "snope" shows every night until New Year's Eve. I say "snope" because it is fake snow that is some kind of soap.

The thing that amazes me is the attention to detail. Even the street signs are done.

I miss my peeps in Seattle, although I sure don't miss the snow that got dumped on them. Hopefully everyone is enjoying their town.

Blood Red Summer by Coheed & Cambria