About Marisa
I was born in Hollywood and lived in Eagle Rock, CA until I was almost 9 years old. My parents had been looking for a way to escape the smog and rot of LA when my mom had a dream about living someplace with snow-capped mountains. They looked around, checked out Portland and about a year later we were living there. More than 20 years later, they are still there.
I went to Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA and while I love the west coast, after college, I was looking to be someplace else. About three months after I graduated, I came to Philly to visit my grandmother (both sides of my family are from here), and as I got off the plane I knew I had to move. It was like I had been hit in the head with with a long, heavy piece of wood, so powerful was the message. Always one to try to listen to the little dribbles of guidance the universe sends my way, I transplanted myself to the east coast. Five Six and a half eight years, three four jobs, a new husband and the same old 1992 station wagon, it still feels like the right choice.
I have a younger sister who is well on her way to making her living as rock star (okay, she’s more of a folk star) and I write about her on occasion. In addition to all her musical talents, she has the best head of hair I’ve ever seen close up. If she wasn’t my sister, I’d be really jealous.
I am sort of organized but have a natural tendency towards clutter, wear a lot of black and have an herb garden that lives in the basin of an old dry sink by my dining room window. I collect canning jars, wooden spoons and pens. I get rid of the books I’ve read, so I tend to have cases full of books I’ve have yet to open. I never pass a penny on the ground without picking it up, no matter if it’s heads up or heads down.
I started this blog as a way to help me figure out what I want to do with my life and I’m happily on my way towards an ever-evolving plan. I want to write (and get paid to make food video). In December 2007, I finished a Masters in Writing at St. Joseph’s University. These days, I work for the agency that markets and promotes Philadelphia as a web producer (it includes quite a bit of writing, which is a delight) and on the side, I write about putting food in jars and teach canning and cooking classes.
These days, my posting here is only occasional. I try to make a practice of writing at least once a week, but I often fall short, instead channeling my writing towards Food in Jars, uwishunu and Confessions of a Locavore. You can find me as marusula on Twitter if you’re inclined. If you want to get in touch, feel free to shoot me an email at apt2024 AT gmail dot com.
