Philip Palermo

Thank you to Amelia’s fans for the support this week. If you’d like to help us continue the fight against Batten Disease, please vote for the BDSRA Foundation in the Project for Awesome fundraiser. Voting ends on 2/18. Please vote and spread the word: projectforawesome.com/videos/proje...

Bald eagles at Pt. Defiance Park in Tacoma yesterday. (iPhone 18 Pro w/ and w/o 3x teleconverter)

Had a lovely time walking through Pt. Defiance Park, spotting some mushrooms, and gawking at a pair of bald eagles today.

Thought I saw a big “Vote Elon” sign hanging from a Tacoma overpass today. Got closer and realized it said, “Outvote.”

It’s Friday night, so naturally I’m going to spend a lot of time strategizing about how to paint a small rock. 👨‍🎨

Same. This episode inspired me to hang a collage of photos of our daughter in our home office, right in my eyeline when I worked. Now, after her death, it’s still a visual reminder to keep fighting for her and fighting for Batten Disease awareness.

Cardinals at Rams

Every time I see stories like this, I think how a small fraction of this money could’ve gone toward Batten Disease (and other rare disease) research. Could’ve saved my daughter’s life, or at least other children like her with a more recent diagnosis. But no.

Love the throwback jerseys, but they should complete the look with those giant old school shoulder pads.

This afternoon we revisited Tumwater Falls, and spotted some salmon swimming hard upstream. Then we explored McLane Creek Woods Trail and said hello to some ducks, mushrooms, and a slug having a snack. We took Amelia to both spots in the past and those remain some of our fondest memories.

Thank you Bills. Your help with the NFC West is much appreciated. Congrats, @erinbiba.bsky.social

I concur: Go Bills.

Go Bills.

Busy, busy Saturday. Got our flu and COVID vaccines (very important!), hit the gym, and then followed Indy — one of the most fascinating T065A transient orcas — around Fox Island and then again at Owen Beach in Tacoma.

I was just telling my wife how this wasn’t quiiite the film 6-year-old me was expecting!

We explored more of Mt. Rainier National Park, including the Nisqually Vista Loop that gives you an amazing view of the Nisqually Glacier. Also got a closer look at a few waterfalls and a very close look at some mushrooms.

Some quick macro shots from the backyard today. (📸: iPhone 18 Pro with macro teleconverter lens)

Pretty skies in Tacoma tonight.

We hiked up to Little Mashel Falls in Eatonville today. It was my first time to visit and I wasn’t disappointed. Beautiful place and worth the trek!

Took this video a few weeks ago at Ocean Shores. I love how it looks sped up, but it’s not. That’s just how these birds walk, I guess! (📹: iPhone 16 Pro with 3x teleconverter)

Hummingbird riding out the storm on our feeder. (Side note: I’m glad the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera app includes manual focus controls — finally!)

When our daughter was diagnosed with the rare CLN1 Batten Disease, tests showed I had a genetic mutation of “unknown significance.” Turns out it can lead to Batten Disease. Jokingly suggested they name the defect after me, but it does show how much more there is to learn about this horrible disease.

A couple photos of the Ketron Island ferry at sunset. (📸: iPhone 18 Pro with 3x teleconverter lens)

I recite his definition of “text-mexting” anytime I see a Chili’s To Go.

We hiked some of the trails around Pt. Defiance today, hit several of the viewpoints, and got an up-close look at the Mountaineer Tree. A cloudy, but lovely, day for a hike!

I was curious about the iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture lens and the difference it would make for depth of field specifically for these types of shots: Where we hold a small butterfly containing some of Amelia’s ashes and take a pic on some of trails. Pretty cool to see!

Today we visited Ocean Shores for the first time since we lost Amelia. We loved taking her here with her cool beach wheelchair. Of course, we took a little bit of her with us for a lovely afternoon on the sand.

Welp, out of nowhere, I suddenly had an entire story idea (beginning, middle, and most of the end) unfold in my head and all I can think of is: Dangit, now I have to go write the thing, I guess.

I’ve opted to avoid reading obvious engagement bait here and on Threads especially before bed because it tends to make me sad and/or angry. I might have to avoid Mariners game recaps as well. For similar reasons.

I’ve never been to the San Juan Islands, so Jenn and I took a day trip to Anacortes, and a walk-on ferry ride to Friday Harbor. Didn’t see any orcas, but it was a lovely place and I hope we get to visit again soon!

The last time the Seahawks played a real game (the Super Bowl) was the day we lost our Amelia. Today’s game brings on a wave of conflicting and competing emotions, but we continue to cheer for the Hawks … and cheer for more Batten Disease research funding. We miss our girl so, so much.

We had a lovely hike along some of the trails at Mt. Rainier National Park today. We spotted several butterflies, some marmots, a tiny chipmunk, one deer, and a black bear in the distance. That’s when we decided we’d had enough hiking and turned back around. 😉

More to share later, but we did some hiking up at Mt. Rainier this afternoon. Spotted a curious black bear up ahead near the trail we were on and decided that was a good time to turn back!

Birdwatching in the backyard. (📸: iPhone 16 Pro with 3x teleconverter lens)

Just reposting my latest project for the Television Critics Association: 5 more shows earned the “TCA Approved” distinction and joined the list of the Best Shows of 2026… So Far. Thanks again, @tvcritics.org !

"Widow's Bay" is TCA APPROVED, joining our list of the Best Shows of 2026 (So Far). See what Television Critics Association members have said about the Apple TV horror-comedy.

We spent a lovely Saturday exploring Gig Harbor, Fox Island, and Purdy as we followed a group of orcas, including Jack (T137A). He’s a 24-year-old transient orca and as you can see from his fin, he’s a big, big boy. 🫍 (Photos: iPhone 16 Pro w/ teleconverter lens)

Are the Mariners good? That's the wrong question, I want to know if they're trying to kill me.

Our LG TV just did this. Realized some of the terms are optional, so I only accepted the “necessary” ones. Still annoying though.

Right before the clouds rolled in. (📸: iPhone 16 Pro w/ teleconverter lens)

Tacoma! Jenn, my amazing wife, is looking to place exchange students in the Tacoma School District. If you’d like to host a boy from Brazil, Spain, Germany or Thailand for 6 wks while a permanent host family is found, let me know! Tacoma has open spots, but they have to secure placement by Friday.

I really hope Jennifer and I can witness Jack doing Jack things someday.

I'm a staff writer at @wired.com and I'm looking to speak with parents of immunocompromised kids, especially those in areas with measles outbreaks, and how you're dealing with back to school with rising cases. emily_mullin@wired.com

Happy to celebrate any major milestones when it comes to CLN1 Batten Disease research! Congrats to @collabchem.bsky.social , the team at Collaborations, and everyone involved in this project. Hopefully, we’re inching closer toward a day when a CLN1 Batten Disease diagnosis is not a death sentence.

Yesterday, we followed a group of transient orcas in Tacoma. The T077s came up close to Chinese Reconciliation Park and then we caught back up with them down the road. Also got a shot of one spy hopping with Mt. Rainier in the background. (📸: iPhone 16 Pro, mostly with a 3x teleconverter)

Big thank to the Television Critics Association for again trusting me to produce 16 video shorts to announce the 2026 #TCAAwards. Tried something fun this year and I like how they came out. Please go follow @tvcritics.org and like/watch each video at least a hundred times!

#HeatedRivalry scores, is named the 2026 Program of The Year at the #TCAAwards! EPs Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady accept the award.