I am coming along

It is only just amazing to me how much of this is just psychological and how much is physical. I ate so much candy since Valentine's Day that I made myself sick. That's pretty sick. Of course I don't get it why someone who loves you would give you (me) all that chocolate, but we can save that discussion for another day. Ciao, M.

Today is the Day

I am glad I have this blog so I can stay focused. The level of stress at work is becoming too large again. I am pretty much working 12 hours a day, nonstop. Everything gets out of balance and I don't have time for myself. I think I will try to create a schedule and commit to it for me. Like I can schedule the things I need to do for myself daily. Then I have to stick to it no matter what comes up. I always let the things I do for myself go when other things come up. I can see how I learned that as a kid and that strategy is so unwise. Well that's my plan for today. I will let you know how far I get with it. M.

Brutal Honesty

I have not got your guts. I am so not posting my current weight. The fact that I can even admit to being in the 2's is pretty amazing. I have a different goal for myself. I want to learn how to fill this endless hunger of mine. No amount of food has ever satisfied me. I realize that I substituted food for so many things in my life and I now it's difficult to get away from that. I hope I can become as in love with learning and being happy as I have been with eating. We shall see.

BROS GOALS

WHAT DO I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH

1.Lose weight – I am currently at 257 lbs and would like to get below 200 lbs.

HOW TO GET THERE

2. Diet - To achieve my weight loss target I should consume an average of about 1,800 calories a day to reach my goal weight of 200 lbs by December 31, 2012.

3. Exercise – I need to begin an exercise program.

MY PLAN FOR THIS BLOG

4. 4. To track my progress in limiting my calories to 1,800 a day and to increase exercise this year.

The concepts are easy it is the doing that is tough.

Finding My Way Bro

Sorry it took so long to send you the info to get into this place. There was a huge windstorm
in the desert and it feels like there has been one in my life. Anyway, Mr. G. came to the desert
this week and I showed him my favorite Israeli restaurant. He and his wife ate hummus with shawarma and Israeli salad and portabella mushrooms. The shawarma is made with turkey so it
really isn't so bad.
Before we went to eat we talked about my desire to change careers. He said he will help mentor
me as I attempt to leave my present career in education go back to food service. I realized that working with food had been my original choice of careers and that I didn't give it enough of a chance. I got all the way to having my own little kitchen and it was in South Coast Plaza, but after that I went no further. I got out of food service even after all I did to get that far. Maybe that was a mistake. Either way, I think maybe I am older and stronger now and I can go back to that career. Maybe I can build a career on that. We both know how much I love food, to a fault.

Wild Bird Visits & High Blood Pressure

After we agreed to blog about our weight loss attempts, I went out to see a woodpecker pecking away at my outside wall or his outside wall. I put seed out for the birds after that. I went
to the grocery today and bought meat with high sodium which I know is wrong. That's the first thing I want to do better about--high blood pressure. I know that one is the worst for diabetes. Nature out here in the desert really is good for my blood pressure. Mary

Helping Michael Moore

Last month's issue of Spirituality and Health contained a request from Michael Moore that if we wished to help him, we would become more politically active at a local level. Today I thought up a grant I want to write against bullying. It involves children publishing and creating digital media in support of non-violence in their new school.

Autumn is Coming and I'm Thinking Good Thoughts

Fall isn't quite in the air. Summer lingered too long this year of 2011. I want to send my best wishes for Mr. Michael Moore, the documentary film maker. This year instead of creating Martha's bakery recipes or growing heirloom roses, I want to send good thoughts to Mr. Moore and create all the positive environments I can. I am being given the chance to open a new school in the desert as part of a team of gifted and committed teachers and educators. I hope to use film with my students. Can my students create works at the level of Mr. Moore? I'm going to say yes, because I do have high expectations and dreams for my students. Good luck to my students in their own dreams and expectations. Ms. M.

Happy Birthday Martha and Seattle Roses

Today is Martha Stewart's birthday. A very happy birthday to Martha! I send her a million different beautiful roses on this lovely day. I'm here in Seattle, up on Capitol Hill, having a blast. My grandparents came from this neighborhood (St. Mark's Cathedral) and I have the chance to reconnect with my roots. My mom was adopted, but Melba and Henry are the closest things I ever had to grandparents. It's been a long hard year, but I can really say that thanks to Martha, my knowledge of roses has increased. It was working on a rose garden that really helped me with the difficulties of the economy and just life. Who would have thought that I would go from trying to bake Martha's recipes to trying to recreate her rose gardens, but that's just what I have done. I still love food, but I'm trying to love gardening more. The roses up here in Seattle are so beautiful. Take care, and if you read this Martha, know that I wish you the best birthday ever. Really! Ciao, Marilee

A Day of Hope at Eisenhower in Palm Desert, CA

The Coming of Spring

Spring is almost here. It seems so long since I have not worn a sweater or jacket. Since I wrote last, I have entered a program to become a dietician. It's funny how quickly I am learning and finding ways to change my eating patterns. There is a website called FitDay and I am journaling what I'm eating each day as well as writing about my exercise (or lack of ). This process seems doable and helpful to me. Just looking at a graph of the total amount of fat in my daily diet is pretty scary. I've actually moved a great deal closer to vegetarianism. I've made big changes in my life. With all the stress the nation is under, I just keep thinking, "What would Martha do?" It might sound funny, but I like that dream that if I work harder, become smarter and be more creative, my life will improve. I'm also looking at my spirituality. "Be in the moment!" I tell myself. "Breathe." It helps. I'm greatful to be breathing and I just know Spring will be beautiful. I have a print that my mom used to have before she died and it's of a mother and daughter. The title is "The Coming of Spring." Fond memories I have of Easter baskets and egg hunts and new shoes. I'm really ready for Spring this year, and I hope it lasts.

Dreams Come True in the Year of the Tiger

Oh the Crescent City is devine. It's full of oysters, crab, shrimp and of course gumbo. Actually it's also about duck and poor boys and crawfish. It's all a good time. Saint Bernard Parish is still a sad place trying to get back on its feet. The feet of the trees come up through the roads even now, years later. Bourbon Street is newer and cleaner. It seems everything got hospital grade cleaning after Katrina, even Bourbon Street. The St. Louis Cathedral on Christmas morning was alive and well and warm. New Years is fast approaching. Will I put my faith in my own abilities, the abilities of others, or the abilities of the devine? Super greatful for the holiday season of much joy. M.

I just signed up for facebook. That is a really weird experience. I can't believe how many people in the world I just connected with. I am going to remember this moment forever. I suspect the future is going to be really different.

Harvest Moon Week

This week has been so much fun reading the Martha Stewart Magazine. People keep asking me if I read it. Of course! There's an article about Joshua Tree and how Martha came to town. Well, I knew that, but it was fun to see in writing. I love the picture of Martha in front of the Joshua trees. I have photographed so many Joshua trees. I'm going back to Greek cooking school this week, but I haven't been baking. I made some beautiful Autumn cards, but of course I haven't sent them. Anyway, I miss you guys. Thanks for being there. Marilee

Let's Get to Fall

Growing up in southern California, I was not aware of the seasons. It always seemed to be summer. Now, I live in the high desert of Calfornia, and the end of the oppressive heat in September is very welcome. I had planned to go to Oak Glenn last weekend, but the fire just last week kept me home. I will go soon. The apples and everything about Oak Glenn just intrigues me. I have many happy breakfast memories from Oak Glenn. That's where I bought my first Farmer's Almanac. I use the almanac to predict the weather and consider planting dates. As a gardner, I am a complete failure. Still, I dream about the kind of garden that Martha Stewart has and shows in her magazine. Never the less, I am blessed. This week is all about yoga. The Bhakti Festival is coming to Joshua Tree, and I am volunteering www.bhaktifest.com. I already met some very interesting people following their own dreams. I really enjoy meeting people like Leslie. She's been traveling extensively through Guatemala and Mexico and Oregon and Washington. She's a model for me to follow my bliss! I am off to stretch since I have really let my yoga practice go. Your friend & Martha's, Marilee

It's not easy being Martha

I got my hair cut. It's as close as the beautician could get me. I'm holding the cover to the baking book. I'm going to keep working on it since I just love her haircut. The lady at the beauty parlor even saved my hair to donate for kids who need it. That made me feel really good. I brought Debbi, who cut my hair, a dozen of the blueberry muffins from the book. They turned out well. See ya. M.

Greek Cooking & the end of Summer

I attended a Greek cooking class taught by Popi Terzi in Huntington Beach, CA this week. What a terrific end to my summer. We worked with okra and chicken and feta and kalamata olives. Mediterranean food really makes me happy. Everybody in the class knows Popi from one Greek festival or another. I didn't know Tom Hanks' wife is Greek. Popi has written two cookbooks. She hugged me when I left for the long drive home. That's what I love about my teachers. Next month she will be teaching indoor barbecue butterflied leg of lamb with spicy lemon potatoes. I'm in. Her website is http://www.popisatheniancuisine.com

It's time to go get my hair done just like Martha on the cover of the baking book. Wish me luck!

Looking Back and Whiskey with a side of Milk

This morning I was reading about Julie Child. She was part of a cooking demonstration given in La Jolla almost 3o years ago. I got the booklet at a thrift store. It was fun to look back in time. One of the main recipes was a choulibiac (fish in pastry--very French and that's how they spelled it in the U.C.S.D. Med. Faculty Wives Cooking Series brochure). I have had some experience with that dish when I was a caterer many years ago. I love it and Julia too. When I was growing up in front of the t.v., however, Graham Kerr was the man I watched all the time. It's funny because my brother told me mom really wanted to be Graham Kerr (he mentioned something about alcohol and Graham, but I was too young to focus on that). I told him mom wanted to be Jack LaLane. He wore those weird polyester jumpsuits and could swim forever. I remember watching Julia Child, but I don't ever remember wanting to be her. My generation, watching Saturday Night Live, liked to poke fun more than anything. Even though I wanted to become a journalist, one of my first jobs, was cooking. I worked in an oyster bar as a short order cook. I made Oysters Rockefeller and Clams Casino. This was when the Orange County Performing Arts Center was just being built. Old Timers from the theater would come in and order shrimp scampi and whiskey with a side of milk. Those were the days.

Crackers and Accepting what Is

I worked so hard on those crackers from the baking book. I guess I shouldn't have skipped to the back where things are made with yeast. Actually, I knew enough about yeast to be very careful with it. I was very careful. That wasn't the part that gave me trouble. You have to get the dough really thin. I am somebody who has actually made Norwegian Lefsa and that stuff is really thin. It's just the recipe called for the dough to be put through a pasta machine. You know, the hand cranked thing that helps you make raviolis or spaghetti. First I had to locate the thing. That was no easy task. Then, the trick was keeping the dough cold. Start on the wider settings in order to get to the second narrowest setting. It took me some time to figure this out. It's the only way to get it thin enough to attain the right color and texture. My sister went to the doctor today. I got really worried. I spoke to her and she says she's okay. I'm going to see her right now and tell her I really love her.

Martha was in my Beautiful Neighborhood

One morning I was at the grocery store really early in the morning. I love to go grocery shopping, but I can't handle the noise and craziness. I go early. Anyway one morning I was in the parking lot on my way to the car when I saw this really pretty woman. I instinctively new she wasn't from around here. I didn't let myself stare because that's just against the rules when your from the lower middle class ( and I worked hard to get there) and you know that person is from the upper class. Later that week I read in the paper that Martha had been hiking in the national park nearby and had been to antique store where I practically live. She was all the talk at the antique store. I walked around the shop wondering which items she liked and didn't like. They sell lots of oil lamps. They are really special and I collect for those occasions when the electricity goes out. The old dishes from Hall and also Chef's Ware are pretty special to me as well. I was intrigued with Martha since probably 1995 when I started reading her magazine. During the difficult times when she was away from her usual life, I read the magazine even closer. The lady who was the editor was funny looking, and I read her column because I wondered how difficult her job was. She's not the editor today. Well, I'm off to bake selection #2 from Martha's baking book. You don't need to wish me luck because I'm working on the "simple" recipe section of the book. Ciao.