WORD IS BORN

I started this blog WAY back in 2007 as "Word Is Born." The spirit remains the same: my thoughts and photos, random as they are. Enjoy.

Latest Grams:

WE THREE ARE ITALIAN CITIZENS! 🇮🇹 🎉 (Note: Super weird to celebrate anything considering COVID-19 and Black injustice crises.) Twelve years ago -- way before I had kids, right before I met Amanda -- I started exploring dual citizenship. Perch&egra

WE THREE ARE ITALIAN CITIZENS! 🇮🇹 🎉 (Note: Super weird to celebrate anything considering COVID-19 and Black injustice crises.) Twelve years ago -- way before I had kids, right before I met Amanda -- I started exploring dual citizenship. Perchè no? I didn't know what the future would hold, but I knew opening more doors for education and work in my father's country and greater EU would be good for me and future generations. Oh, and the history, culture, landscapes, pride of lineage, etc. I wanted to power up from half Italian to full citizen. I set a first citizenship appointment in San Francisco in 2010, the same year Amanda and I married, but didn't get enough paperwork together time. I had some other stops and starts but thanks to some major legwork led by cousin @mikebaiocchi I finally set an appointment two years ago for a January 2020 appointment at the consulate in San Francisco. We made it a fun little family vacation. The appointment itself went well (after some fair shaming about my language progress). We came home and waited for confirmation but of course COVID-19 devastated Italy, and I didn't expect to hear anything soon. Well, the surprise came in the mail today 🙌🏻. Eliza and Matteo automatically gained citizenship. Amanda has a few more steps (notably a high level of language achievement) to gain citizenship through marriage, but I am super pumped to reach this longtime goal! Forza Italia! 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

Took the family for a (peaceful protest) walk around the neighborhood. 👊🏻👊🏽👊🏿

Took the family for a (peaceful protest) walk around the neighborhood. 👊🏻👊🏽👊🏿

Last day in Kent HQ (but not my last at REI!). I've spent some of my best years here in the Kent valley.

I remember after leaving Eddie Bauer, my next stop had to be REI. They had a co-op model, big stores, real community events! I knocked on t

Last day in Kent HQ (but not my last at REI!). I've spent some of my best years here in the Kent valley. I remember after leaving Eddie Bauer, my next stop had to be REI. They had a co-op model, big stores, real community events! I knocked on these doors and many kind people responded. @nattyluna and @jordowilliams kindly met me for informational interviews. @lux2, after intense interrogation, finally conceded and offered me a job on the social media team to join @kelly_ann_walsh. Shout out to some of my other bosses over the years: @rowleycraig, @sarahjeanneisme @mrajet and @ph9er. Too many colleagues and teammates over the years to tag but so appreciative of the shared time. The work we did in this place will define my career and the brand for years to come. OptOutside, Force of Nature, etc. I’ve been able to pay it forward and meet people for informational interviews and hire some of them myself. I’ve met a lot of great people and forged a kit of friendship with people who were also willing to come to Kent. Because the location doesn’t matter so much as the mission. Shout out to those who literally drove with me and endured the I-5 commute that future generations won't comprehend: @jruckle @angelafgow @halleyrebecca @shelb_hall. Next stop, REI Tacoma (work at home) and a smattering of new Bellevue HQ. Onward.

I published monthly letters for these Puget Sound saltwater 🐟. Link in profile. #deareliza #dearmatteo

March 05, 2008 in Uncategorized

Last night I finally had a chance to sit down and follow the primaries. And what a night it was!

First we learned that John McCain clinched the GOP nomination. Huckabee gave a fine concession speech — until he started talking about the Battle of the Alamo. Its connection to a presidential election was lost upon me, personally.

McCain's acceptance speech was a bit bland and he was obviously reading a teleprompter like a bad Saturday Night Live guest. His crowd wasn't too lively either, but that's because his nomination came as no surprise, and the Republicans are already rallying the troops and preparing to beat the Democratic nominee come fall. W. is expected to endorse McCain today.

The GOP has gained an advantage in identifying a nominee so early. While Democrats continue to divide themselves between Obama and Clinton, and dump tens of millions of dollars into those campaigns, the Republicans are uniting, fund raising and organizing. By the time we learn who the Democratic presidential nominee is, Republicans will have a campaign underway and Democrats will face the challenge of reuniting under one leader after a brutal, expensive and personal primary season.

Clinton won big yesterday, clinching Ohio, Vermont and Texas, which revitalized her campaign and poised her for a victory speech last night that felt like she had actually won the nomination.

“No candidate in recent history — Democratic or Republican — has won the White House without winning the Ohio primary,” she said.

She still has a ways to go. Obama won Vermont yesterday, and still has the delegate lead with 1,477 pledged delegates compared to Clinton’s 1,391. He gave a speech late last night reminding his supporters that he still has the lead and reiterated the same on news programs this morning.

"Senator Clinton barely dented the delegate count yesterday," he said. "We have just taken it one state at a time and we feel very confident that by the time we get to the convention we are going to have the most delegates and we are going to be the nominee."