Hello #TeamFabio! Welcome back! Did you miss me last week? I missed you!

My deepest condolences go out to the families struggling after the hurricane... I wish there was more that I could do! If you would like to donate to the victims of this horrific natural disaster please think about donating to the American Red Cross here. Any little bit helps!

I have been in New York recently promoting my new cookbook, and I had to take a rain check on some plans because of Sandy. But does this slow down Fabio?! Yes... yes, a little bit it does... While I’m in New York for business, I also try to see some old friends. Maybe I am getting better at mixing business with pleasure. Dean Schaeffer is a great influence on my life... He has been a good friend to me and constantly keeps me in check when my work begins to make my life crazy!

What kind of crazy work?! How about spending 10 and a half days-worth of cell phone time last month?! I know what you are thinking, but this couldn’t possibly have all been because of a beautiful lady I was keeping myself from on my work travels. I just have a lot of things that I juggle in my career from my website blogs, newsletter, Chow Ciao web series and of course Life After Top Chef! Oh my... when I write it down it makes me realize how much it actually is... I promise I am not an Italian robot programmed to cook delicious food all day and enjoy swinging chairs... but just think of all I could accomplish if I didn’t have to sleep. This is something I might ask Dean about. Ha!

After I saw the way that Chef Spike was able to cut loose and enjoy his road trip it made me start thinking that I should be trying to relax more. I am pretty sure that Spike relaxes as much as I work. What I really want to know is... WHO WAS FEEDING TURTLE FABIO?! I did not see anyone feeding Turtle Fabio on the road trip! He better not have gotten into that moonshine because if I know Turtle Fabio he was out late trying to meet a sexy turtle lady.

I bet that you did not know that in addition to turtles I also love horses. I’ve been horseback riding since I was a little kid because my friend had some horses in Italy. Jacopo and I were able to hang out and see some of the beautiful scenery. It was a good time and very relaxing. There is something about the air when you get away from the city -- the nature gives you good energy that you cannot get in the city.