... BUT STILL ON THE SCENE >>>

In 2003 I wrote an article on how to do Tacoma on the cheap - where all the good happy hours were that included free or discounted food and drinks. Ron Swarner took a liking to it and published it - the first article I'd ever written - as the cover story. I was ecstatic and Ron asked me to become a permanent part of the Weekly Volcano family.

Since that first article was published, I have written about fashion, food, the social scene, local and national music, fitness feats, military activity and community events. I've been back stage, out front, invited to sneak peeks, given hot tips and welcomed into kitchens. I'm closing in on nine years now with the Weekly Volcano and Swarner Communications, with the last three devoted to being the Volcano's food writer. I realized in 2010 how great a love affair I have with food and returned to school full-time to study nutrition. In addition, I accepted the job of operations manager for Dirty Oscar's Annex in Tacoma on Feb. 1 as announced in my recent Slider Cook-Off article.

Given the time constraints of both of these new and exciting full-time endeavors in my life, I'm ready to set my fork down. Ron has chosen local blogger Adrienne Kuehl to be the new restaurant/food writer for the Weekly Volcano. Known online as Tacoma Foodie, she loves food and eating just as much as I do.

It has been a pleasure, and at times, an all-consuming labor of love covering the South Sound – one bite at a time. My great thanks to those that have indulged me, included me, returned my calls and emails, answered a million questions, trusted me, believed in me and let me show up early and stay late.

I will continue to write a bi-monthly food feature for the Weekly Volcano and share with readers the treats and gems to be enjoyed in the 253.

And now I'm off to the gym to lose my 20 pounds of Volcano food writer weight.