Monica Morehouse (Rathbun)
@sqlespresso.bsky.social
Consultant at Denny Cherry and Associates Consulting @dcacco , Microsoft Data Platform MVP, MCSE, vExpert, Leader @HamptonRoadSSUG Meetup, and International Speaker. SQL Performance Tuning is fun.
Thinking about going to #SQLCON in Atlanta in March? Join intustry leaders including mysql, Bob Ward, @joeydantoni.com, @sqlespresso.bsky.social, @sqlrus.bsky.social and many more. Use code SQLCMTY200 to save $200 of registration. aka.ms/sqlcon #sqlserver #mssql #sqlfamily #azuresql #dataplatform
Finally, if you want to learn *everything* about SQL Server 2025, I highly recommend Bob Ward's new book. Especially around Availability Groups in SQL Server 2025, there is no more detail available anywhere. www.amazon.com/SQL-Server-2...
SQL Server 2025 Unveiled: The AI-Ready Enterprise Database with Microsoft Fabric Integration
amazon.com
Also, I did a video on Sunday with @sqlrus.bsky.social and @sqlespresso.bsky.social of DCAC on our thoughts on SQL Server 2025. www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Gd...
The Azure Cloud Chronicles: Special Edition SQL Server 2025 Goes GA!
YouTube video by Azure Cloud Chronicles with Microsoft MVPs
youtube.com
Scooby Dooing Episode 10: The Case of the Copy-and-Paste Consultant
Scooby Dooing Episode 10: The Case of the Copy-and-Paste Consultant
Every Scooby-Doo episode has one thing in common — there’s always a fake ghost. Sometimes, that “ghost” is really just a guy in a mask trying to scare everyone with smoke machines and spooky sounds. In the SQL Server world, this ghost appears as the canned-query consultant. You’ve seen them. They roll in with a big name and an even bigger slide deck.
sqlespresso.com
The countdown has begun! I'm looking forward to speaking again at the PASS Data Community Summit. Always one of my favorite conferences. Join me there Nov 17-21st. #sqlserver #performancetuning #azure #passdatasummit
Sometimes a SCAN is the smarter move! Just because you can SEEK doesn’t mean you should. That tiny 2,000-row table doesn’t need 3 indexes—trust the plan, not the myth.
Scooby Dooing Episode 9: The Case of the Artificially Intelligent Villain Welcome back, my fellow sleuths, to my mystery-inspired blog series! I’m having a ton of fun writing these, and I hope you’re enjoying the ride through SQL Server’s haunted hallways as much as I am. For this one, the “ghost”…
Scooby Dooing Episode 9: The Case of the Artificially Intelligent Villain
Welcome back, my fellow sleuths, to my mystery-inspired blog series! I’m having a ton of fun writing these, and I hope you’re enjoying the ride through SQL Server’s haunted hallways as much as I am. For this one, the “ghost” isn’t a person in a mask — it’s AI. AI has burst onto the SQL Server scene like a new member of Mystery Inc., promising to solve every problem, write all your code, and tune every query.
sqlespresso.com
WE NEED SPEAKERS!!! (but, not those speakers) The Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach) SQL Server User Group is looking for 2026 Speakers on data related topics. We meet the 3rd Wed of each month in person. Let me know if you are interested. #sqlfamily #mvpbuzz #azure
Hip Hop Dance GIF by Mochimons
Hip Hop Dance GIF by Mochimons
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The Case for Scooby-Dooing: Solving SQL Server Mysteries Like a Pro– Scooby Dooing Episode 8- Performance tuning isn’t about luck—it’s about following the breadcrumbs SQL Server leaves behind. The trick is knowing where to look and how to read the clues. I even built a table of clues + Scooby…
The Case for Scooby-Dooing: Solving SQL Server Mysteries Like a Pro– Scooby Dooing Episode 8
If there’s one thing every Scooby-Doo episode teaches us, it’s that solving mysteries is a team skill. The gang doesn’t stumble onto answers by luck (well… except when Scooby and Shaggy fall into secret passages). They solve the case because they know how to spot the clues and put them together. Performance tuning in SQL Server works the same way. If you don’t know where to look—or how to interpret the trail of breadcrumbs—you’ll spend more time running from shadows than unmasking the real villain.
sqlespresso.com
The Case for Scooby-Dooing: Solving SQL Server Mysteries Like a Pro– Scooby Dooing Episode 8- Performance tuning isn’t about luck—it’s about following the breadcrumbs SQL Server leaves behind. The trick is knowing where to look and how to read the clues. I even built a table of clues + Scooby…
The Case for Scooby-Dooing: Solving SQL Server Mysteries Like a Pro– Scooby Dooing Episode 8
If there’s one thing every Scooby-Doo episode teaches us, it’s that solving mysteries is a team skill. The gang doesn’t stumble onto answers by luck (well… except when Scooby and Shaggy fall into secret passages). They solve the case because they know how to spot the clues and put them together. Performance tuning in SQL Server works the same way. If you don’t know where to look—or how to interpret the trail of breadcrumbs—you’ll spend more time running from shadows than unmasking the real villain.
sqlespresso.com
🎧 MUSIC TO MY EARS 🎧 👏 Joe gets it. 🛑 NOLOCK abuse needs to go. ✅ In a world full of RCSI—be like Joe. 💬 Let’s build code we’re proud of (and that doesn’t read dirty data). #SQLServer #NOLOCK #RCSI #DataIntegrity #DevLife #SQLHumor #developers #mvpbuzz
The Gang vs. Jason: Unmasking JSON’s Secrets in SQL Server 2025- Scooby Dooing Episode 7-In #SQLServer2025, the gang finally unmasks Jason (JSON)! #DBA #PerformanceTuning #sqlblog #DataCommunity #sqlfamily #azure
The Gang vs. Jason: Unmasking JSON’s Secrets in SQL Server 2025- Scooby Dooing Episode 7
Every Scooby-Doo adventure has its running gags. Shaggy and Scooby bolt from every ghost in sight, Velma’s always losing her glasses, and Scrappy jumps in yelling, “Let me at ‘em!” But in this episode, Scrappy’s favorite joke is about a villain he calls Jason. Of course, Jason isn’t really a monster at all—it’s JSON, the data type we’ve been wrangling inside SQL Server and pretty much everywhere else across our technology stacks.
sqlespresso.com
The Mystery of the Locked-Up Database -Scooby Dooing Episode 6- In #SQLServer2025, optimized locking unmasked old villains: Less blocking Lower memory bloat Fewer lock escalations Enable ADR + RCSI, follow the TID footprints, and trace new wait types like LCK_M_S_XACT_READ. #DBA #PerformanceTuning…
The Mystery of the Locked-Up Database -Scooby Dooing Episode 6
No Scooby-Doo story is complete without footprints leading to a hidden passage. In SQL Server 2025, those footprints point us straight toward the next big feature: optimized locking. And like any good sleuth, we’re going to follow the trail step by step. But first, flip the levers that open the secret door: Turn on ADR before you hunt. Think of…
sqlespresso.com
And day after posting of course RC01 is announced :)
Monica Morehouse (Rathbun)@sqlespresso.bsky.social · 11mo agoSQL Server 2025 has dropped its first Release Candidate… and the new performance features are no ghost story. This release isn’t just about AI—it’s packed with real improvements for DBAs and developers. In my latest blog, I put on my Scooby-Doo hat and follow the clues through execution plans and…
SQL Server 2025 has dropped its first Release Candidate… and the new performance features are no ghost story. This release isn’t just about AI—it’s packed with real improvements for DBAs and developers. In my latest blog, I put on my Scooby-Doo hat and follow the clues through execution plans and…
The Mystery of SQL Server 2025’s New Tricks – Scooby Dooing Episode 5
Every Scooby-Doo mystery starts with a haunted house, a strange villain, and a trail of clues. With SQL Server 2025 now reaching its first Release Candidate (RC0), it feels just like stepping into that creepy old mansion—except this time the mystery isn’t about ghosts, it’s about uncovering the powerful new features that go way beyond AI hype. And trust me, the clues are worth following.
sqlespresso.com
SQL Server 2025 has dropped its first Release Candidate… and the new performance features are no ghost story. This release isn’t just about AI—it’s packed with real improvements for DBAs and developers. In my latest blog, I put on my Scooby-Doo hat and follow the clues through execution plans and…
The Mystery of SQL Server 2025’s New Tricks – Scooby Dooing Episode 5
Every Scooby-Doo mystery starts with a haunted house, a strange villain, and a trail of clues. With SQL Server 2025 now reaching its first Release Candidate (RC0), it feels just like stepping into that creepy old mansion—except this time the mystery isn’t about ghosts, it’s about uncovering the powerful new features that go way beyond AI hype. And trust me, the clues are worth following.
sqlespresso.com
Join me on Nov 17th at PASS Data Community Summit for a full-day pre-con session focusing on Solving Real-World SQL Server Performance Problems. Register: passdatacommunitysummit.com/sessions/1568 If the idea of performance tuning has ever seemed daunting, this pre-con is designed just for you.
Solving SQL Server Mysteries with a Whole Gang of Sleuths -Scooby Dooing Episode 4 -Scooby and Shaggy might trip over a clue while chasing down a snack, but it always took the entire Mystery Inc. crew to actually solve the case. #sqlserver #sqlblog #sqlfamily #azure #aws #rds
Solving SQL Server Mysteries with a Whole Gang of Sleuths -Scooby Dooing Episode 4
One thing I’ve always loved about the Scooby-Doo cartoon is that he never solved a mystery alone. Scooby and Shaggy could sniff out a clue between snacks, but it always took the rest of the Mystery Inc. gang to crack the mystery. Velma helped with her smarts, Fred with the traps, and Daphne with spotting the overlooked details—all of them used their skills to actually catch the villain.
sqlespresso.com
In my latest blog, I unmask this sneaky villain Scooby-Doo style, Episode 3 showing how forgotten compat modes can leave you chasing shadows, why it matters for performance, and how to solve the mystery before it haunts you. wp.me/p70D4E-Hq
Long Overdue, But Worth the Chase -The community has been barking for this one (pun absolutely intended) for years, and Microsoft finally came through. SQL Server 2025 Finally Brings Us a Free Standard Developer Edition - Scooby Dooing Episode 2 #sqlserver #sql2025 #sqlfamily wp.me/p70D4E-Hk
Ruh-Roh! SQL Server 2025 Finally Brings Us a Free Standard Developer Edition - Scooby Dooing Episode 2 - A Shot of SQLEspresso
(Continuing my Scooby theme 😊, I am on a roll) Zoinks! I feel like I’ve been chasing this ghost for years, and Microsoft finally pulled off the mask. With SQL Server 2025, we finally have what so many...
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Join me for a full-day Pre-Con at the PASS Data Community Summit, where I'll walk you through real-world performance challenges and solutions. Gain insights on optimizing SQL Server, Azure SQL, and AWS RDS/EC2 for enhanced efficiency and costs. Register passdatacommunitysummit.com
Scooby-Doo and the Mystery of Cloud Costs (Let’s have some fun!) Every extra read, bloated query, or oversized tier eats into budget faster than Scooby Snacks at midnight. That’s why I put together a fun Scooby-Doo–themed blog series on how performance tuning ties directly to cost. wp.me/p70D4E-Hb
Scooby-Doo and the Mystery of Cloud Costs (Let’s have some fun!) - Scooby Dooing Episode 1 - A Shot of SQLEspresso
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in consulting, it’s that SQL Server, and other database performance tuning isn’t just about faster queries—it’s directly tied to your bottom line in the cloud. Databa...
wp.me
Finally a new blog, its been awhile i know: Why DBAs Still Need to Know the Foundations of SQL Server wp.me/p70D4E-H6
please help spread the word for SQL Saturday Houston. sqlsaturday.com/2025-11-08-s...
SQL Saturday Houston 2025 (#1120)
sqlsaturday.com
Join me for a full-day Pre-Con at the PASS Data Community Summit, where I'll walk you through real-world performance challenges and solutions. Gain insights on optimizing SQL Server, Azure SQL, and AWS RDS/EC2 for enhanced efficiency and costs. Register passdatacommunitysummit.com
Trump’s DOJ forced UVA President Jim Ryan to resign. Wesleyan President Michael Roth calls it what it is: an assault on academic freedom and a warning sign of tyranny. A must-read for anyone who cares about democracy:
A Message from a University President: Jim Ryan’s Questions
Guest article by Michael Roth
meidasplus.com