Start spreadin' the News...I'm leavin' today.

Today is my last day at News America Marketing. It is the end of an era.

First and Last Sales Summit.

I have worked at News America since September 11, 2006. I remember driving into the office on my first day and listening to 9/11 memorial coverage and crying….no surprise, I was also running late. I am sure I made quite the first impression. 

Most people think that my time at News was spent as a slave to Dollar General and Walgreens. And while that was certainly true on some days, there were times that the hardest part of my day was deciding between which two pairs of boots to buy (odds are I bought both) or choosing where to go to lunch (so many options in the pedway). But regardless, it balanced itself to be all-in-all a pretty good gig.

MCo - My bestie and fave NAMer of all time.

But the thing about News that I thankful for is the friends I have met while I was here. Some of my very best friends I have met through News and I will thank Uncle Rup for that every day. Actually, I should probably thank Melissa Cohen, without whom I would NEVER have gotten this (or maybe any) job after college. “I’m so good at interviewing” was one of my fave lines in college. Guess what? I was not.   

I am totes obsessed with these girls.

I realized today that I have spent more time with in my NAM chapter than with any other chapter in my life. More time than college, more than high school. And I learned a lot here…Maybe more than college, more than high school…nevermind, that’s a ridiculous statement.

But really, News has been a great first chapter in my life and I am walking away with few bad things to say and plenty of great memories. Cheers to the next chapter! 

This is when I made Alaina drive 10 hours to Memphis with me.
Have you ever heard of a little account called Pictsweet?

Another sales summit - these girls were some of my favorites in Atlanta

NAMers love festivals - Nadine and Nick and me!

We started and ended our time at NAM within weeks of each other. 

Sarah - not a long time NAMer, but always made us laugh! 

Christmas Party in NYC - back when Rup spoiled us. 

Another Christmas party - only one of these girls still works at NAM. Woa.

This is a terrible picture, but I had to put it in. Trade Rally-ers.

Concert at Lakewood, likely about an hour before blacking out.

These guys....I have no words. 

One of my favorite people ever.
This girl has as much love for others as she has holes in her clothes. 

NAMers at festivals - per the us.

My going away party to Chicago. Who would I miss?? That girl!

If I have to walk 60 miles, I am glad I got to do it with this gem.

Oh, just another Chicago team event that ended in blacking out.

Ride the Rail....nothing else to say.

One of my fave ACs ever.
She even came to one of my parties, which is more than I can say for any other NAMers.

Look at these girls!! After my sake-bomb going away party.
I went out with a bomb.

"Do Epic Shit" - my fave sign from the race

This weekend was the Chicago Marathon. A few fun facts about the event:

• 45,000 participants from all 50 states and more than 100 countries participated in the 35th annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon. I am a pretty popular gal, so I knew 6 of them.

• Two Ethiopian runners won the marathon. The men’s winner finished in 2 hrs and 4 minutes, and the women’s winner finished in 2 hrs and 22 minutes. As a comparison, they ran 26.2 miles in the time it takes me to watch an episode of SYTYCD.

I went out to cheer on the runners around Mile 7 of the event, and everyone was extremely energetic and excited at that point. High Fives, Whoop Whoops, funny costumes. I held up my signs that said, “Nip Guards Turn Me On” and “Where’s the Floats?” and they got a few laughs. 

When I saw the runners at the end of the race, everyone seemed overwhelmed by what they had accomplished. There was such pride from their friends and families, but more importantly, happiness and joy from the runners. Seeing the excitement on all the faces was really unbelievable and made me want to go accomplish something huge…

But then I remembered that I did the 3-Day walk in August, so I can cross accomplishing something huge off my list. Phew, because I was pretty tired after all that cheering :) 

Congrats to all of the runners!! I truly am so proud of you guys!