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

Dear Eliza, 111 Months Old

January 10, 2025

Everyone is sick.

Thankfully, this isn’t one of those pandemic moments where the world feels like it’s shutting down. No, this is your classic “everyone-has-the-same-bug” week, and we’re about halfway through the family cycle. The symptoms haven’t been too bad—just fevers and runny noses—but it’s surprising how much these little bugs can take over. Our home has been full of call-and-response sneezes and coughs lately.

You and Matteo have both been trading “sick days” from school. Of course, “sick days” in our house are code for all-day screentime, books, and popsicles—not a bad deal if you ask me! Your mom, on the other hand, has had it rough with a fever that lasted several days and body aches. She’s been so desperate for relief she’ll take a massage from anyone, including Matteo’s karate chop style. As for me, the earaches are annoying, but I’ve probably fared the best. Mostly, I’m just tired with all the activity at work, teaching, and trying to help everyone around the house as much as I can.

You’ve definitely earned some rest. The holidays were busy, and weekends have been full of skiing. On top of that, you’ve been preparing for your school choir program and waking up early on Wednesdays and Fridays to make it to practice before school. Honestly, I’m not a fan of before-school activities at your age—you need your sleep! And you’ve made sure we remember that with your dinosaur roars and scowls on those choir mornings.

Even with everyone feeling under the weather, we’ve managed to find ways to pass the time. We’ve gone skiing a few times (you can’t get anyone sick out on those open-air runs), watched family movies, built puzzles, and spent some evenings out at the cabin. One highlight was our first family Scrabble night. Now that you and Matteo can spell enough words to play, it was a lot of fun—though we had to allow proper nouns and names to make it work. It worked, though!

I expect we’ll all be back on our feet by next week. Until then, enjoy the quiet and downtime. You need it to feel your best—and I’ll do my best to help keep things peaceful.

Love, Dad