My Google friends Neha and Dan were up here in Seattle last week and I got a chance to hear all the stories, tales, and explanations of Google culture. It sounded absolutely amazing, in that bohemian and idealistic way. Combined with some unfavorable press on Microsoft in Business Week a couple weeks ago, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t some doubt in my mind whether if I’m working in the right company. After all, if there’s a good time to work for Google and enjoy the fun of their hay day, now’s the time. Truth to be told, despite Neha’s valiant efforts, I particularly enjoy working on business applications and answering business problems in software.

But after the last week, I have not even doubts!

Today was the annual Company Meeting. I was a bit skeptical, and was highly tempted not to go, but I’m so glad I did! In short, wow! I definitely left the meeting thinking that I should be buying more shares of our stock and I know I wasn’t the only one. Even “Mini”, of the infamous Mini-Microsoft blog was impressed.

The company meeting is a great opportunity to take some time, step back, and look at the company as a whole. It removes us from the daily tidings of our jobs and helps us to see what it is we’re building from a holistic perspective. And from that view, the picture is extremely compelling. We have an extremely rich and powerful pipeline of products (including my own CRM) coming out in the next 12 to 18 months. The demos presented of features I hadn’t yet seen for Vista, Office 12, IE, MSN, and (of course) CRM were incredibly exciting. It made me extremely proud to work for a company so packed with innovative products. It is, despite everything, an exciting time to work at Microsoft.

But wait, that’s not all. I’m happy to announce that international traveling is again in my near future! In a stroke of utter fortune, coincidence, and being blessed, I’ve gotten on the CRM Global Readiness Tour! This is a marketing thing to promote our soon to be released product all over the world! Where am I going you ask? * drum roll please * Mexico City and…Brazil! Oooo…I love my job.

I’m headed back into The World!

With my intern friends gone and The Last Summer Holiday behind, life is shifting around to a new focus. I’m getting back into a mode of self-improvement, which involves lots of reading, dancing, and studying Spanish. I finally finished Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle by closing out Volume 3: System of the World. FANTASTIC BOOK. While my all-time favorite is still Cryptonomicon, there is a better historical fiction quality in the Baroque Cycle that makes me feel that I am more informed about 17th century politics and players. Of course, the magic of Stephenson’s historical fiction is a brilliant interweaving of fabricated and real-life characters with such complete personalities it is difficult to decipher fact from fiction.

I’m now officially looking for a place of my very own! After carefully considering various neighborhoods, I’ve decided to go for the gold while I’m still a young, wee lad and find a place in the downtown, Capital Hill, or Madison Park areas, with a preference for the first two. I’m aiming for a two-bedroom condo. If/when I can find a place, well… the party’s at my pad!

My social calendar hasn’t entirely let up in past and coming weeks with a plethora of visitors and trips. For starters, Pat White, former MS intern in ‘04, came up from LA to visit the old crew. The result: lots of BBQ, drinking, and fun times. Ahh… the Pat White lifestyle…

This weekend I’m looking forward to a visit from my friend Neha, another former MS intern who’s turned Googlite. Bound to be a great time, especially with a Bellingham visit on Saturday that will involve seeing Carlyn (of recent cross-country biking fame) who is now living up there.

Finally, from someone who “gets really excited at the thought of planning anything,” Clare was on the ball and invited us via email to come visit her in Austin, including preferred dates. Can’t argue with that! I have a trip to look forward to! Oct 14-16, Texan-style!