Seattle, where the streets are abound with coffee snobs

I think the urban dictionary sums it up well in their definition of a Seattleite, “pretentious coffee snob due to the thousands of delicious coffee houses and rostaries that surround them."

Seattleites LOVE their coffee. And many are very specific about where and how they want their cup of java prepared; from pour-over to drip to Americano to Café Au Lait. If you want to awaken your taste buds with the hot beverage there’s absolutely no shortage in Seattle. According to Discover America’s website there are 2.5 coffee shops for every 1,000 citizens giving Seattle “the greatest concentration of coffee houses in the country, which underscores a key element of Seattle’s reputation: the city is awash in caffeine.” Because the availability of coffee is so pervasive there’s also no shortage of coffee snobs.

Hello sun, nice to see you!

Yes we do see the sun in Seattle. As evidenced in the above picture. Contrary to public opinion it DOES NOT rain everyday all year long. It’s so funny how that rumor persists. Interestingly, to some degree the locals don’t mind it too much. They’re secretly hoping no one else decides to move here :)

When news becomes news

Photographer Bill Strothman, screenshot KOMO.com

It’s not a common occurrence for an event involving a news outlet to dominate nationwide headlines because of misfortune. But when it does we’re all affected. And by “we” I’m referring to those in the business and those like myself who have left. Television news, and by extension print, is a very VERY small industry. We all know each other and if I don’t know someone personally I can guarantee you one of my friends does.

Three weeks ago Pilot Gary Pfitzner, 59, and former KOMO photographer Bill Strothman, 62, died when the helicopter they were in crashed in downtown Seattle. When I heard the news I was shocked but I’m sure my reaction paled in comparison to the family, friends, and co-workers of the victims. The crash happened right outside KOMO’s building. Then they reported on it. Talk about a scenario none of us wants to be in.

Day trip to Bainbridge Island

View of downtown Seattle from the ferry

The great thing about Seattle is the proximity to other cities and towns that make for great day trips. Sunday I hopped on a ferry to Bainbridge Island for a quick getaway. The weather was gorgeous and the view was amazing.

My favorite things: Seattle edition

I’ve been in Seattle for about six months and let me tell you it’s gone by very quickly. Sometimes I look at my life in disbelief. It hasn’t quite fully settled in that I live here. Thanks to parents who instilled in my sister and me the joys of traveling and experiencing new things I was more than prepared to handle living in a completely different environment. I’m grateful for all the family vacations we took during the summer, college football games in the fall, and the encouragement to step out of my comfort zone.

During my short time here I’ve done a pretty good amount of exploring and trying new things. Each time I’m surprised and delighted by the experience. I still have A LOT to do, but here’s a list of my favorite things so far. They are listed in no particular order. *drum roll please!*

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday I’ve really grown to love as an adult. I’ll be honest. It has nothing to do with its religious roots. Instead I see it as a chance to wear green, attend Irish themed festivities and drink green beer. I also like to jokingly tell people I’m black Irish when they ask why I’m so excited :)

Me + Stairs = Catastrophic Consequences

These days I’m working at an office in Bellevue, WA and I take public transportation to work. Unlike the routes going into downtown (especially at night) it’s usually a calm ride without any craziness.

Well this morning I became a spectacle.

I took home the gold ladies and gentleman.

So what’s next?

Me with the band Alabama. This was one of my favorite days in television.

So what’s next for this former Weekend Anchor/Producer/Reporter/Photographer?  That’s a good question actually. And it turns out others who know me and/or used to watch me deliver the news are more curious in the answer than I am.

Moving forward and not looking back

My new home.

In September 2013 I made what will likely be one of the most important, life altering, significant decisions of my life. After weighing all my options I decided to pack up what could fit in my Toyota Corolla and relocate to Seattle, Washington from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

At the time I was in a precarious situation. My three year contract at the television station I worked for was up on August 25 and it was time to move on. The lease to my apartment was ending six days later. I was essentially going to be unemployed and homeless. Yes that’s a bit dramatic but that’s the reality of the situation. Plus, I’m attracted to extremes which is likely one of the reasons I love news (hahaha).

What to eat?

For close to a year now I’ve been making conscious decisions about what I put in my body. Opting for whole foods - you know the ones that come from Mother Nature herself and not concocted in a factory in the United States or overseas - has made an immediate difference. If something comes in a box I go over the ingredient list with a fine tooth comb. It’s a task that’s quite tedious. For instance, no more high fructose corn syrup for this young lady. I’ve been told from more than one medical professional your body doesn’t process it well. That one ingredient is everywhere. Literally. It still amazes me where it pops up.