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

February 17, 2008 in Uncategorized

I do love barista babes. God bless all of them. Heck, Katrine's even made a career out of being a barista babe. Despite my affections, I have never stopped for coffee because of the girl working in the window... until today.

I woke up this morning and brewed a large pot of coffee and drank a cup before Matt insisted that we swing by McDonald's to pick up some breakfast sandwiches. After picking up the food, we drove across the strip mall parking lot and past a small coffee stand. Both our heads turned like owls as we caught sight of a Stunning Blonde handing coffee out of the drive-thru window. Like a siren of caffeine, she lured us.

"I need to make a stop for coffee," I said in knee-jerk reaction.

"Um... yeah... uh huh," Matt replied, unable to remember English.

I pulled a Starsky and Hutch u-turn and headed toward the small stand bearing a sign that said "Coffee Cave."

With a car ahead of us in line, Matt and I reaffirmed how neither of us wanted coffee. We looked at the menu. Nothing stood out. We had a hot pot of coffee waiting back at home. Even though I had to select something from the menu, I knew that all I was really paying for was attention.

We pulled up to the window and were greeted by Stunning Blonde, who may have been 18 or 28 years old. I'd recap the following interaction if I could remember any of it, but all I really remember though is Matt fidgeting for paper to write down my phone number to pass to Stunning Blonde and my small talk with her, which went something the lines of:

"Hi guys, what can I get you?" she asks.

"Hey, how you doin'? A small mocha would be great," I reply, while slapping Matt's hand as he writes caveman symbols for numerals.

"Whipped cream on me?" is what I hear, but she actually asks, "Would you like whipped cream?"

To both questions I answer, "Yes."

Three dollars and an unnecessary mocha later, I demonstrated terrible game but was completely satisfied to have stopped to see Stunning Blonde. For some girls, often barista babes, the time and money wasted is totally worth it.