So I’m finally back in blogger mode after a stretch of very busy days working with new and old clients facing career challenges. That includes those who have been laid off, those who are afraid they might get laid off, those who are contemplating new offers and opportunities (yes, they are out there!), and those who just feel paralyzed about what move to make in the current job market.

Oh yeah, and I also spent a few days visiting my hometown in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Trust me when I say that political tensions are high in the Keystone State and I have seen enough campaign ads to last me the rest of my life.

So what’s been going on while I’ve been reworking resumes and boondoggling in Scranton, PA? Here are a few things that I’ve been meaning to bring to your attention.

• Congratulations to Project Runway Winner Leanne Marshall — I was thrilled to watch talented designer Leanne Marshall make a major career breakthrough on Bravo last night. She was crowned the Project Runway Season Five winner and won $100,000 to launch her business (along with a new car and other goodies). The 27-year-old Marshall was previously paying the bills as a graphic designer while she worked to hit it big in the fashion biz. The creatively gifted runner-up, Korto Momolu, also seems destined to make a name for herself in fashion. But will she give up her side gigs as a freelance photographer, African dancer, and hair braider? Korto is a perfect example of making a portfolio career work. Congratulations, ladies!

• Goodbye to Life’s Work — Lisa Belkin, the always-insightful New York Times Life’s Work columnist, is ending her column after nine years of covering career issues. Her last column sums up what she’s learned over the years (the biggest lesson being that there are no easy answers to the work/life balance question).
• Recession Relocation Ideas — BusinessWeek has identified the safest cities to live in during a recession — they include Washington, DC; Madison, Wisconsin; and Philadelphia, PA.
• Where Happy People Work — Check out this great roundup of the most enjoyable jobs in the U.S. from Payscale.com writer Kristina Cowan. The list is based on results from a recent University of Chicago study. You might be surprised to see that none of these jobs are particularly well-paying.