I've been back from vacation for 2 days, and I'm adjusting to a few things that seemed normal just 2 weeks ago.

For one, I feel like people who I work with at Microsoft are powered by a Pentium chip, whereas my processor is a 386.  It's a testament to how smart people are at Microsoft; in some of the meetings I have been in the last couple of days I've had to really focus to understand ideas that seem so complex now!

Another thing is that -- Seattle doesn't get a lot of sun in the winter, and for that matter, the days are just super short!  As I look out my office now, I would have no idea whether it's 9AM, 12PM or 4PM if I didn't have a clock (it's 11:30AM).  The perpetual grayness during the winter is kind of a shock to the system given I just came from sun, surf, sand.

Traffic is actually... irritating!  I can't believe I sit in traffic for up to 2 hours a day commuting between Seattle (where I live) and Redmond (where Microsoft is)!

But I am remarkably relaxed right now.  I think my team wonders why I have a silly grin/smile most of the day.  Hakuna matata to that.

I'm looking forward to my next vacation -- coming up in a few weeks.  I'm going to spend the holidays with my parents.  They are currently visiting Taiwan, and I'm excited to go see them as well as relatives.

In the meantime, I think I might go get a wave machine for my office.  I miss the sound of the ocean crashing outside my non-existent balcony...