When I was a callow youth, many moons ago, I was whacked down below decks whilst playing football (soccer). This was most painful and caused my balls to over inflate to twice their normal size (and they are big to begin with). I had to retire to the hospital to have the fluid taken out via needle. Not one of the most pleasant experiences of my life I have to say....

Yogi, you have an uncanny way of making the grotesque sound palpable. Must be that British panache. "whacked down below decks". Andrew Dice Clay would have said, "ooohww, I got kicked in the nuts. My balls were the size of grapefruits. So I asked the nurse if she would...., and I'd give her some bodily fluids."

Us Brits are well known for our panache MC, but thanks awfully for pointing it out.

At the sag award show she got a life time achievement award. She started to wander making her acceptance speech. Her daughter the star wars girl introduced her.

Are you easily approachable? Random people come up to me all the time to ask me my opinion or for my help whether I'm at a store or walking on the trail or sitting at a parent meeting. I usually do have the right answer they're looking for but how do they know I know? Does this happen to anyone else?

Just as long as they don't ask, "How much"??

Some people just have a look about them that makes them approachable. My second wife was like that ..... she had a very friendly face and others (strangers) would always start up a conversation with her.

You're funny SC. Yea that wouldn't go over too well with me

I get emails everyday showing the viewers' comments on my Epaisan YouTube channels' videos. These ladies chat with one another and a few of them enjoy talking and reminiscing about old times so much that they are now Facebook friends That makes me happy.

Other comments are very racist calling Italians derogatory names. I rarely reply back to these losers but when I do I get plenty of back-up from my subs they are happy to comment back at the guy for me. Most of the time I just delete the comment.

The latest comment (joke) someone posted on my Italian-American joke video is:
Italians wear gold chains to know where to stop shaving

One of my favorite comments is from an old timer from the Bronx.
Ring the doorbell with your elbow. Meaning have your arms so full of food from Arthur Ave. that you have to ring the doorbell with your elbow.

And one wrote: We always had so much food packed in our fridge we never knew it came with a lightbulb until we went to eat over at a friends house

Now someone just wrote a comment on Little Pal those are always depressing.

My dad has been gone almost 48 years, but I never forget how he told me to study hard in school and not be "just a bum like me." He was no bum, but was ashamed that he didn't finish high school. Just because losing his own father at age 9, and being forced to help the younger ones, and when the depression came in '29, he had to go to work. Men like that are a bit more hard to find these days.


This songs so touches my heart. i cry every time.


I now have 563 subs can you believe that

I find that a couple of grunts and some severe shoulder shrugging discourages random strangers from approaching me for help.....

When I first moved to California I was surprised that I ALWAYS had people coming up to me and speak Spanish and/or ask me if I did. When I worked at the school, if there was a Spanish speaking parent that came in, they'd look around and walk right up to me thinking I was Mexican and starting talking to me Spanish. Ha ha! Being from Michigan I never had that experience.



TIS

My wife has always attracted people whether adults or kids. I've been with her a number of times when people will approach her and just start talking to her about any number of things.

On the other hand, I seem to attract the "Hey, get away from my kids" type of attention. No kidding. I've experienced some unnerving situations. Well, I guess it's not my pleasing smile.

I've got to remember that Yogi
I would've guessed that you would have your own fan club. You are always so pleasant and witty

That's funny TIS cuz that happens to me too. I find that in LA ppl think I'm Jewish, in OC I'm Mexican and in Jersey I'm Italian. How bout that?
Did you learn any Spanish?

Really? People actually say that to you. That's funny. You must be a no-nonsense type of guy.

HI A-Girl, No I never learned Spanish at all except maybe a few basic phrases.

I don't know many Italians in CA. There few and far between in my area that's for sure.



TIS

If we ever get together for an Italian type function I will let you know. Through the years I think I met every single Italian in so Cal through the Italian Club at church We'd also advertise our sausage and peppers booth at the local street fair and these east coast Italian transplants came out of the woodwork . Get your bocce throwing arm in shape. We always play a few games. And man do those games get SERIOUS

I know it's NO comparison to anything like NYC, but there is an Italian Festival in San Diego in Oct AND a Sicilian festival in SD in April. I've never been but am talking to my daughters about checking them out. Might be fun. Have you been?

I remember in MI at family reunions, the old timers playing bocce. I can't say I remember HOW to play it though.



TIS

http://www.littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-festa/

http://www.sandiego.org/events/festivals-and-street-fairs/sicilian-festival-little-italy.aspxj

TIS I've been twice to the one in Oct/Nov. I take the train from Fullerton to San Diego get off at the last stop then you just walk a few blocks and you are right in Little Italy. It's nice. You get to hear the music, dancing, eat good food, see the car show, and look at the chalk art. It's a mix of the local Italians, college kids, and tourists. They just never have zeppole when I go.
The weather is beautiful down there. Maybe I will go too and see you there.

Sure, we'll keep tabs as the time nears. Sounds fun.

Btw, I didn't think I've had Zeppole and I looked it up. It looks like what I know as Sfingi?


TIS

I think it's the same thing. Italian doughnut that's tastes so YUMMY

Yes I remember my grandmother made it every Holiday. It's been years since I've had some.



TIS

Maybe you and I should open a booth and sell them. I'd do it in a second. People love them. We'd have the most popular booth at the festa

Sounds fun only I've never made them. I only eat them. However, you can make them and I'll strong arm people to come to the booth. You know...make them an offer.....


TIS

So funny TIS.

If San Diego was closer I'd seriously consider opening up a booth to sell the zeppole and those bow ties my aunt used to make.

You a good cook/baker A-Girl? I make my own spaghetti sauce (Which you NYers call gravy but I grew up knowing it as sugu.) I've made Italian bread before but it's been years. The older I get the less I bake it seems. However, I am still good at eating. Ha ha

I don't think OC OR LA have any kind of Italian Festival do they? SD is the only one I've heard of.

TIS

What are you New York Italians like if you don't like food in a restaurant? Would you complain and/or send it back or would you just grin and bear it?

I would just grin and bear it. I don't like making a scene but I think you guys don't give a f*ck and tell it like it is. And that's the way to be!

Am I right?

I've got a couple stories for you but my Dad is from Jersey but hung out in Brooklyn and also Canal St years ago. Let's just say he's a Jersey/NY guy.

When I was little I'd be at an Italian restaurant starting to eat my meatballs and spaghetti and after a few bites my pops would say to us.
Get up we're leaving. This food tastesike shit. Then he'd tell the waiter or owner your food is terrible. We're not coming back.

Then another time I walked in his house he was on the phone and saying Hey Tony you're from NY? Well I'm from Jersey and this is no NY pizza! Your pizza sucks.
He had a pizza delivered from there

There's more stories but you get the point

Ha ha ha ha!! I'd be more "grin & bear it." Unless it was really really bad.

I do remember growing up with loud talking tho. When my relatives got together, they'd be in the same room but still yell. Ha ha Nobody seemed soft spoken for the most part. THO I don't consider myself loud. Just everyone else. Ha ha

TIS

LA does. It's changed from what I've learned. I've never been to it. It's the San Gennaro festival I'm pretty sure in September.

The San Gennaro Festival out here is in Hollywood. People complain that it's overpriced.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/feast-of-san-gennaro-los-angeles

http://www.feastofla.com/

I went to one in San Diego several years back. Wasn't anything to write home about.