Fall = Back-to-Work

It's back to the real world for me! As you can see from my new company headshot, I've traded in my flip flops for Jimmy Choos. I've joined a fun PR firm, Marina Maher Communications. In addition to running the home accounts here, I'm also heading up the cosmetics business. Learning the beauty industry is a sensorial experience. I have the job every 12 year old girl dreams of, I play with make-up all day!

My new agency colleagues are wonderful, and I'm once again building up my depleted frequent flyer miles. In addition to working around the clock again, I'm feeding my clothes habit and decorating my apartment with zeal. Feels like I never left the rat race. But, I do have some amazing photos on my desk to remind me of the best year of my life! Now I need to start planning my next big adventure...

My Summer Vacation

As my year+ of vacation is coming to a close, it's people not places that I want to see. In the past month, I've had the opportunity to reconnect with five women who grew up with me at Florida State. In June I called my dear friend Connie and said it was high time I visited her and the girls in Key West. With Jimmy Buffett's book Margaritaville under my arm, I flew down to the Conch Republic for 10 days of youthful love and laughter.

Connie, her husband Dan and their adorable daughter Taryn let me join the slumber party at their home. They've been in a FEMA trailer since Hurricane Wilma drowned the Keys last October and just returned to their house with major construction still underway. Rachel showed us the repair work at her house and the counter tops she perched on while watching the water rise in her home during the storm. Amber had not only the extensive damage at her home to contend with but as an elementary school principal she is in charge of building a new school in "post-flood" Key West.

When I landed in Key West, the place of so many fantastic college vacations, I learned that another of our FSU friends, Tammy, had moved from Atlanta back to FL. We convinced her to take a ferry from Fort Myers to Key West to join our little reunion. Laughing with the girls of my youth over many tropical drinks taught me a very valuable lesson. When I get back on the fast track, I must not neglect keeping in touch with old friends! Talking about how our dreams had changed and what's ahead is great for the soul!

Since I'd already learned the other important lesson, that travel is the light of my life, I did take the time on this trip to rent a car and drive over the 44 bridges to Key Largo for my first US diving experience. Another great FSU pal, Scott, lent me the use of his corporate apartment in Key Largo for a week of sun and fun. The reefs were beautiful, as always I met fun folks diving, and ate loads of fresh seafood every day! I also swam with the dolphins, which was a huge thrill! Visiting the FL Keys and my old friends was the perfect summer treat!

One friend was missing from our little reunion, my FSU roommate Eve. In a freak bit of luck, Eve was visiting NYC the week I returned from the Keys. She left her boys in camp and her husband at home in Panama City and came up for some big city fun. We had a ball catching up on ... years as we toured around the city! She is as beautiful and witty as ever!

I'm so lucky to have had the time this summer to see who I'd been missing!

Spring Update: Paradise Found

Even after visiting some fabulous exotic beaches on my global jaunt, Pensacola is still paradise to me! I've been lucky to spend a lot of time in Pensacola this year enjoying the gorgeous white sand beaches, and I have the tan to prove it.

I do have a little project to keep my home renovation skills active. My primary objective before returning to the working world is to get our family beach place rebuilt after the massive damage from Hurricane Ivan. Just so you don't think I've been lounging on the beach everyday, I've added a couple of photos of the Harmon Beach Retreat. Believe it or not, this is after 2 months of work!

My favorite season in Pensacola is spring. It's been glorious to spend it this year with my family and friends and enjoying the beach!

Breckenridge with Ildy and Bryan

Where in the US is DeLisa?

I guess it's time for an update on my more recent US travels. Thankfully, I didn't suffer any reentry shock after my RTW trip. I returned to Pensacola to the same house I've called home all my life. It was wonderful to celebrate the holiday season with my family and childhood friends. There's no place like home!

I jumped back into the game heading to NYC for New Year's Eve and a whirlwind of greeting friends and attending parties. I have seven months of catching up to do on popculture and entertainment. Not to mention missing a whole season of Broadway! Thank God for TKTKS (half-price tickets).

But, first things first, Colorado is having a the best snow in 20 years so the mountains were calling my name. Before getting settled in NYC, I headed out to Denver to visit my old boss Ildy, who ran away to CO two years ago to get back to nature. I bought some new Volkl skis and we found the Breckenridge Mountain Lodge, which allows us to bring Ildy's dog Daisy to the resort. We're having a ball tearing up the powder at Breckenridge!

This week I head over to Vail to ski with the beautiful people. My friend Ann is coming out and we have big plans for the slopes and Apres ski!

I head back to my adorable apartment in NYC on February 1st. My vagabond lifestyle will officially be over. So, in February you can find me walking around Union Square looking for my next fun job!