Today I ran the Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure at Bushnell Park (shout out to Jeff, Renee, Diana, Emily, Steph and Peter. Good job, guys!) and while my time wasn't spectacular, I am proud to say that I completed the race and definitely finished the final stretch with an enthusiastic burst of energy.

I would have been more prepared, but Diana and I kind of neglected training weeks ago once busy season kicked in at work. I found myself lacking energy at the end of the day, and it was too easy to blow off the gym when we both complained of our complete tiredness. However, I am putting this in writing because I WANT to be more proactive about training and exercising, and I am usually more successful at doing so if I commit to it in writing. I have been fighting a battle with 5-7 extra pounds since the holidays and I need to have some sort of breakthrough before I literally go insane. All the gymming it and diligence I exhibit as I plan my every meal just hasn't been paying off lately (and by lately I mean since January) and I am definitely at the verge of frustration which is not a fun place to be. I've been there before and don't ever want to go back.

In other news, I couldn't be happier with my progress at work. The position itself is stimulating and interesting, but the environment is miles away from any other work environment I've encountered. For example, on Friday alone, we unveiled June's IC Wall (Information Consultant) and the theme was Hollywood. There are photoshopped renditions of the entire IC team and the 2 managers (about 30 people altogether) in various versions of Lord of the Rings, Shrek, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Titanic. The accompanying quiz asks us to match the National Accounts employee to their celebrity lookalike (someone once told me I looked like Michelle Williams from her "Dawson's Creek" days...I don't think anyone is going to guess that one correctly!)

For lunch, I actually ventured off campus to the diner with Diana, Glen, Peter and Brian which was nice because it had been a long week. (side note: I am freaking out right now because some guy is literally shouting on the street in our quiet neighborhood, and while I would have expected that at our old apartment, it is a bit jarring here). Anyway, this week I also proposed an Artie Lange Cupcake Day...Artie Lange is on the Stern show for the non-Stern fan members of my audience :) and Crumbs Bakery in Manhattan has named a cupcake after him that he buys all the time. So I heard Jason in my row singing a Bababooey song (another Stern reference) and I IMed him my cupcake idea...he thought it was awesome so I sent around an Outlook email with voting buttons (woo-hoo, high tech!) to all the known Stern fans in the department, and I am ordering enough cupcakes for 8 people for this upcoming Thursday, June 12th. The Official Artie Lange Cupcake Day.

Oh, and since we work at an insurance company that supports Wellness initiatives, our department had scheduled a kickball tournament DURING WORK HOURS last Wednesday from 2:30-4:30. I, of course, chose not to participate (I could still hear jeers and taunts from 6th grade gym class and "Tara, you got us all out!" and "Ohhhhhh!!!" every time I would kick the ball, someone would catch it and the entire team would be out). Even my gym teacher hated me...no joke! But it's still pretty cool to have the opportunity to play.

I just love how FUN most of the people in the department are, and how driven the majority of them are. The environment is a perfect balance for me. I accomplish so much on a daily basis and have really learned a lot about the process, but there's always something interesting around the corner. I have a great (very patient) mentor, and so far I've developed a good rapport with my manager. Really, on the work front, things could not be better. What a complete difference from a year ago. The other difference is the validation...I cannot tell you how many supportive comments/praise/feedback I have received since starting at Aetna in January. The trainers were thorough in their evaluations, colleagues that I have worked on RFPs with have written me emails saying "you're the best" or "Thanks so much for your help on this case", and it literally blows me away. To come from an environment where I put in 110% every day and was never rewarded in any kind of way (be it words, money, recognition, etc.), this aspect of my job hasn't ceased to amaze me for a moment. I think that some people take it for granted, but I will never, and I think that it gives me a positive perspective that some people don't have there.

Okay, well I've gone on and on about various topics. Thanks for listening, as usual. Our pizza is here and it's time to watch "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." Happy Saturday night, everyone!