Viva Vienna!

Fun fact: one of the best ways to explore a new city in a limited amount of time is to grab a Big Bus route map, hop on a bike, and take yourself through the sights. There is a ten point bonus if you do so wearing a pineapple shirt!

Studying the route over breakfast accompanied by Austria's famed coffee.

Everything tasted delicious, even his nose.

Vienna is a haven for cycling. They have a stellar bikeshare program that has been in place for over ten years and seems to be enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. Bikes cost nothing for the first hour, one euro for the second, two euro for the third hour and so on. With hundreds of stations around the city, it was a breeze to rent and return them.

And so 'twas with bellies full, bikes checked out, and the sun blazing in her full glory overhead that we set out to see the best of what Wein had to offer.

Lord Voldemort has risen

Golden boy Johann Strauss

Vienna was the epicenter of classical music through the early 19th century. Rockstar (figuratively speaking) composers to the tune of Mozart, Hadyn, Schubert and Beethoven crafted their crescendos into the height of the First Viennese School. Everywhere we looked there were nods to the great composers: museums, grave sites, cafes, gift shops. There were even men dressed in full Mozart regalia - powdered wig and all - wooing tourists to come to their company's orchestral performance that evening.

While I certainly appreciated Vienna's reverence for their composers whose music I'd played for hours on end back in middle school orchestra, it just was too darn beautiful outside to stay in and browse through old dusty tomes of sheet music. There were sunny skies and grass stains and bruises from bumping into my bike pedals waiting for me.

Sorry, Mr. Herman.

Natural History Museum of Vienna. One of approximately eighty trillion fafillion snoopzillion museums in the city.

Taking a break to examine our progress.

I had a lot of caffeine that day.

Austrian Parliament Building. Way to put D.C.'s government buildings to shame.

Cool-lookin' columns

Rathaus, where the major and city council work. The humor of the building's name is not lost on me.

I forget which one this was, so let's call it Spectacularly intricate and beautiful Viennese building #947913037464 

Votive church slicing through the bright blue sky.

As the photos (hopefully) convey, Vienna was a wealth of incredible architecture. It felt like each new building or structure we saw would surpass those before it in grandeur. The ones pictured here were the standouts, but pretty much every single structure in the entire city was spectacular in its own right. You couldn't have found an eyesore if you tried.

After a long morning of biking, we inhaled some Thai food and downed a cold beer each:

And then immediately hopped back onto our bikes for more adventuring.

Stephansdom, the most prominent and important cathedral in Vienna. Fun fact: Vivaldi's funeral was held here.
And Mozart's kiddos were baptized there.

St. Francis trampling a defeated Turk. Just lovely.

The interiors were decidedly much less...tramply.

I assure you that I looked really stupid while taking this picture.

Atlas bro, do you even lift

I call this 'Town Gossip with Birds on Head'

We ended our bike ride in front of the museums quarter and stretched out for a snooze in the sun. 

For dinner we headed to a well-reviewed Mexican restaurant, eager to kick back with a margarita or two and eat our combined body weight in guacamole.

To our dismay, we were told that the restaurant had been booked up as the next day was a national holiday and the post-work crowd was getting their festivities on. Nooooo. It felt like I had been slapped in the face with a giant tortilla. Without even getting to take a bite.

We contemplated our suddenly tragic lives for a few brief seconds. You know the feeling when you get a craving really bad and nothing else - not even pizza, or ice cream, or mac and cheese - can come close to filling that void in your soul? That was us.

We eventually decided to duck back in and see if they would fulfill a take-out order for us. Lo and behold, the waitress greeted us with a big smile and told us she was so relieved that we'd popped back in, because two seats had opened up seconds ago at a shared table!

I was beaming like I'd won the lottery as we took our seats and ordered our drinks. We immediately struck up conversation with three locals who seemed pleased for a chance to practice their English.

At one point they mentioned they worked as software developers. Oh, that's funny - I told them that the boy and I worked in the tech industry as well. But nobody wanted to dwell on the subject of work, so no elaboration ensued.

Then, maybe twenty later, the boy was explaining our year abroad situation when he mentioned "the company we work for, ThoughtWorks - "

"WAIT! ThoughtWorks? Did you say ThoughtWorks?"

"Yeah, erm, it's a private tech consultancy - "

"We know what ThoughtWorks is. Hey [friends' names], did you hear this? These guys work for ThoughtWorks! Ha! Wait, does this mean you have met Martin Fowler? Jez Humble? I have read all their books. Prove to me that you work there!"

It was surreal. I rarely bump into anyone who has heard of ThoughtWorks, much less some strangers in a foreign country! Of course I'm very proud of being a ThoughtWorker and I think it's a kickass company. But this was kind of a 'Woah! Someone else thinks we're pretty neat!' moment, and my first encounter of such kind.

I quickly assured our dinner companions that although ThoughtWorks was home to many luminaries in the tech space, it was also full of normal folks like yours truly, and that hey, we were looking for talent in Glasgow.

They laughed. "Well, let us know when you open an office here in Vienna."

And really, who could blame them? Vienna had been a slice of heaven on Earth that day.

Next up: our second (and last) day in Vienna, and a detour to Bratislava!

Goodbye Texas

Thank you/holiday gifts I'm making for my team

This week is my last here in Dallas. I can't believe almost an entire year has gone by. Like always, it feels surreal to be packing my things, zipping up my documents, and saying goodbye.

I suddenly have a heightened awareness of the finality of everything I'm doing, even the most banal and routine things, such as "This is the last time I'll eat this delicious pizza from Cane Rosso" and "This is my last Wednesday night at this Residence Inn" and "This is the last time I'll hit the curb in this huge-ass rental car...hopefully."

At just a bit over 11 months, this will wrap up my longest project in my three-and-a-half years here at ThoughtWorks. Usually at around the six-month mark within any project - no matter how engaging - I find myself wondering about other assignments or roles and starting to feel the itch to roll off and try something else. This time I think that because I switched roles about six months in from BA to scrum master, the shake up was almost big enough that it seemed like a new project despite the fact that I was working with the exact same team, supporting the same technology, and sitting all of three feet away from my old desk.

I've learned so much here over the course of my assignment. Since our team supports no less than ten different applications - all of which are quite dissimilar - I've had to find a good balance of broad versus deep domain knowledge. We've delivered some pretty awesome software too, like a service for crew members to access their own security line, updates to be compliant with the latest FAA regulations, and a huge Websphere to Tomcat application overhaul (whose improved performance led one customer to exclaim, "Mikey likie!")

I've also learned that the airline industry is incredibly insane. Just getting crew on board safely and in a cost-effective way is complex enough to make my head spin sometimes. I've always thought flying was pretty neat. But now, having seen truly how much work goes into every little aspect of a flight, I view every takeoff and arrival as nothing short of a small miracle.

Beyond its intricate domain, this project was also unique in that I developed some pretty meaningful relationships with my team mates. I felt like I thrived within client's culture and was able to partake in many of the interesting and meaningful events on site. I feel grateful for having been on a team that has welcomed me and treated me as one of their own.

This team was also quite unique in that there was a strong female presence on it - a setup I'd never been lucky enough to have before. In our 11-person group, 7 of us are women. Women who hold full-time technical roles, who are mothers and wives, who juggle Cub Scouts meetings for their sons and volleyball games for their daughters, who make arts and crafts, who bring in baked goods for the team to enjoy, who volunteer their time to those less fortunate, who trade jokes and stories, who write beautiful code, who walk their dogs, who compare Candy Crush scores, who stay up all night caring after a sick toddler, who break the rules (when it makes sense), and whose yes-I-can-do-it-all-and-still-find-time-to-treat-myself-to-a-manicure confidence was truly fun and inspiring to be around. I'm going to miss being around these strong female role models.

Despite being reluctant to leave a wonderful team and an awesome client, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited for what's next. I don't want to jinx anything but so far things are looking - dare I say it? - awesome for my next assignment. As in going international awesome! But ThoughtWorks can have a tendency of being a place where no assignment is truly final until the last minute (and even then it can be iffy) so I'm trying not to get myself too excited yet :)  I keep having to remind myself that there are 12 full days of vacation to enjoy with loved ones before it's time to fret about work again.

So Dallas, for the second time, I bid you adieu after an extended stay here. So long, and thanks for all the breakfast tacos.

Thanksgiving

I spent my Thanksgiving in Maryland this year. It was a peaceful four days filled with family, friends, and food - the three things I am always most thankful for this time of year.

Thanksgiving day began with a turkey trot 5k in Frederick, Maryland. This was my first ever race in Maryland! I loved the home-baked cookies, pretty fall scenery, and small-town feel of this one. It was uplifting to see thousands of people, young and old, gather together to run a 5k...at 8 in the morning...in 20 degree weather.

We clocked in at around 24:30; not my best time ever but not too shabby either. I was really impressed by the variety of runners, from the little kids who ran alongside their parents to the four young men who finished in just over 15 minutes to the 79 year old man BAMF was just doing his thing on this sunny morning. Thanks to Mom and Dad for getting up so early and cheering us on in the cold - you guys were real troopers. And thanks to the owners of a dog named Berkeley for letting me and the boy pet their devastatingly adorable 13-week old half lab half golden retriever puppy. Getting to eat cookies, run a 5k, and pet a puppy made for a pretty kickass morning.

With all this exercise nonsense out of the way, we focused on the real task of the day - cooking! I was responsible for making the stuffing, salad, cranberry-applesauce, and gravy.

Thanksgiving was extra special this year because we spent it with my aunt from China, my cousin, my cousin's cousin, and my grandparents on my dad's side. In total there were 10 people. And it felt like there was enough food to feed maybe 20 more.

What's Thanksgiving like in the Fan family? Fairly normal, I think. We make most of the traditional food, like turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes. Some Chinese dishes always end up on the table too - this year we had Asian versions of salad, meatballs and ribs. (And Tsingtao beer, of course.) What was more interesting than the cuisine were the languages, if you ask me. We had my grandparents and aunt who only speak Chinese and the boy who only speaks English and everyone else fluent in both languages, so there was always a lot of side translating going on. But some of the stories told around the dinner table - in particular, one my aunt told in which she re-enacted me as a youth tugging a toy away from another kid - needed no translation :)

After dinner we relaxed with a few rounds of Carcassonne before hitting the hay. The next morning, the boy, my sister and my mom met up with my best friend and her sister to watch Catching Fire. We had all patiently waited to watch this film with each other so it was a treat to finally walk into the theater together to see what Katniss was up to. Skip the next paragraph if you haven't seen the movie yet and don't want to read any spoilers.

I thoroughly enjoyed Catching Fire. Just like with the last Hunger Games, it felt like forever until Katniss actually entered the arena, and that by then much of the out-of-games plot was so ripe and thick that I was left feeling "no wait, I'm not ready for her to leave yet and start killing children, stay in District 12/on the train!" I hadn't read the book prior to seeing this installment so I was completely clueless as to the motives of the other victors. I think they did a good job building tension and suspicion around the others - especially Finnick Odair, who kept me guessing until the very end. Complaints as follows: the marriage and baby thing was kinda weird and had no follow-up, Peeta bread and Katniss only knew each other's favorite colors before she sorta maybe fell in love with him (???), and the end was hella confusing (though perhaps it was meant to be.) Highlights include the stellar cinematography, Liam Hemsworth's cheekbones, and J-Law's badass performance. I, along the rest of the internet, proclaim my undying love for her.

We didn't do much shopping on Black Friday, just a quick trip to Nordstrom Rack before saying goodbye to friends and heading home for dinner, where big a treat was in store for us...

The proximity to fresh seafood is one of the strongest pros of living on the east coast. Once the lobsters were steamed and ready for consumption, chatter died down and sleeves were rolled up round the table as we each confronted the crustacean deliciousness on our plates.

The rest of break was pretty low-key; we met up with more friends, watched the Michigan-Ohio State game (and subsequently died a little on the inside), shopped, and spent some quality time relaxing and hanging out with the fam. I also ran every day, which assuaged my guilt from all that eating out and home-cooked goodness.

And of course, no post about Maryland is ever complete without a picture or two of Mochi, the feline love of my life.

I can't wait to go back home in a few weeks for Christmas!

Gifts for Gals

As of late I have been doing a ton of Christmas shopping. This year I will be spending the holidays with two families which means there'll be double the eggnog, double the gifts, and half the money left in my bank account when I'm through with all this holiday shopping - whee!

Lucky for me, the online retail industry is a-boomin' and I've been able to do most of my Christmas shopping in my pajamas. No stressful crowds, long lines, crabby buyers, store hours, or Chicago sales tax to contend with, hallelujah! 

I believe the best presents are the ones that the receiver wouldn't normally buy for themselves (out of price, lack of perceived necessity, forgetfulness, etc) but that they would thoroughly enjoy or that would enhance their day-to-day in a small way if they had them. And though I have no qualms admitting that I really enjoy having nice things, at the end of the day it's still the thought that counts. Any girl will probably enjoy that Marc Jacobs for Target clutch. But giving (or making!) her something that is tailored to her hobby or that she casually mentioned a while back shows that you've really thought about her. In my book, that's a pretty special feeling - and it's the one that she'll remember and cherish well beyond the life of the item.

Anyhoo, gift philosophies aside, I've encountered some pretty budget-friendly-yet-still nifty items over the past few days and started bookmarking the ones that I thought most gals my age would probably enjoy receiving. I think of myself an on-the-go urban-girly-girl with a splash of quirkiness and a teaspoon of nerdiness (ok maybe more like a tablespoon...) so most of these will probably be reflective of that mix. In any case, if you have a twenty one to six year old-ish female on your holiday shopping list this year, I hope this guide finds you well. And without further ado:

adidav9's First And Probably Last Annual Holiday Gift Guide "for Her"

1.) BaByLiss Pro Porcelain Ceramic 2000-Watt Hair Dryer, $57.95 at Amazon.

...because when she is long of hair and short of time, drying her hair can be horrible, but not as horrible as going outside with wet hair in the wintertime (which feels like perpetual brain freeze). A nice hair dryer helps this immensely. Trust me, there is a noticeable difference between standard $20 hair dryers and the next notch above. I know this because in college I had a said standard $20 one and I ended up using my roommate's BaByLiss all the time because it did the job about 2x faster and gave me 10 minutes back into my life every day.

2.) Kikkerland Bear Coasters, $10 at Amazon.

...because they are absolutely adorable, completely functional and will be enjoyed by her guests too, which in turn will make her beam and think of you and silently thank you for your awesome taste in coasters. I bought these for the boy and we can't get enough of them.

3.) Planet Earth DVDs, $58.49 at Amazon.

...because she'll watch it mesmerized by the astounding HD footage, inspired by the luscious orchestral soundtrack, and lulled by David Attenborough's charming narration. I'm usually not a big proponent of buying DVDs but Planet Earth is up on that sacred tier of television shows (along with Arrested Development and erm, Vampire Diaries) that is worth watching again and again.

4.) Himalayan Trading Post Powder Puff Candle, $32 at Urban Outfitters.

...because it will light up her room on a cold winter night while she's reading in bed. I actually picked this up at Urban Outfitters a few days ago but ended up returning it because I have too many candles to justify another that could buy a week's worth of Chipotle burritos. Having said that, if you can look past the high price tag, it is still a good candle and an excellent gift. Not only is it remarkably gorgeous and has a lovely scent, the delicate glass container can be reused for jewelry or trinkets after the candle has burned up, which sort of makes up for the ridiculous price. Sort of. Oh, and it's weighty and well-made in person. And I was very sad to have returned it.

5.) Around the World Leather Watch, $39 at Urban Outfitters.

...because it's classy, unique and will go oh so well with her go-to winter cardigan, dress, tights, scarf, and boots outfit. My best friend has this and I immediately noticed and complimented her on it.

6.) Classic Tangoes, $9.99 at Amazon.

...because she will be stumped and delighted by this deceptively simple game. This game is perfect if she likes puzzles games and if she's got a competitive edge. Plus it's two-player so you can always play together.

7.) Huuuuuuuuge Furry Pillow, $49.95 at Pier One Imports.

...because I have one (its name is Fluffers) and I LOVE HIM SO MUCH and I believe everyone should have one. See detailed post here.

8.) Row Boat Salad Bowl, $65 at Uncommon Goods.

...because it makes for a beautiful and unique centerpiece, even when it's not filled with her delicious favorite salads. This is one of those "nice" things that really signify she's fully transitioned from her college days into fabulous womanly adulthood. It helps build some serious domestic goddess cred, yo.

9.) Ayaka Mug, $14.00 at Anthropologie.

...because everything Anthropologie makes is just so gosh darned heart crushingly gorgeous and chances are she's already picked this up before and sighed over it longingly and then seen the price tag and put it away very abruptly after that. Get this for her if she's an avid coffee or tea guzzler or if she's got a weakness for pretty patterns.

10.) Urban Decay Naked Palette, $50 at Sephora.

...because this is the mother of all eyeshadow palettes. Seems expensive but when you factor in that each individual eyeshadow runs $18 a pop, 12 for $50 suddenly seems like a pretty darned good deal. UD is famous for high-quality, ultra-pigmented shadows. And these colors work well for both day and night. These were the only eyeshadows that I brought with me to India for three months and they honestly left nothing to be desired. In fact, when I came back I basically shoved all my other eyeshadows in a box under my bed.

11.) The Big-Ass Book of Crafts, $13.57 at Amazon.

...because you'll inspire and enable her to rediscover her artsy, crafty roots. Also something you can do together!

12.) Flat Cat Sham and/or matching Flat Cat Duvet Cover, $24 and $59 respectively at Urban Outfitters.

...because she will smile so much when she wakes up next to KITTENS every morning!

13.) Antique Monogrammed Journal, $6.49 at Amazon.

...because there's just something about pen and paper that can't be replaced with styluses or keyboards. This one is beautiful, inexpensive and versatile enough to be used at the office. Bonus if you make her a personalized bookmark to go with this!

14.) Settlers of Catan, $33.60 at Amazon.

...because it's Settlers of Catan.

If all else fails, make her a nice handmade card and put thoughtful words inside of it. Key words are nice and thoughtful. And if you really must get her something material - get her a DSW gift card. Because "I hate DSW!" - said no girl ever.