He's Been Everywhere, Man!

Earlier this week, I was back in Portland, visiting family and friends. As Big Pops is both, we got together. And of course, there was food. My mother and brother joined me for breakfast at Bob's Red Mill where Ralph regaled us with selections from his upcoming memoir (When's it coming? Hurry it up!), Once a Kid.

Ralph read from a chapter-in-progress called "Fun Cities", briefly detailing his adventures in various cities throughout the world! Have a listen to these wild excerpts below!

Santa's Advance Man

Shh! What's that? Is it up on the roof? A little rustling? A faint scurrying? No, it's not the roof. Maybe by the fireplace, a flash of red, a wink of green... CRASH! That came from the kitchen!

Yes, there he is at the counter with a mouthful of bocconotti (those sweet Calabresi tartlets) and powdered sugar on his dark top: THE ITALIAN ELF He's back!

The Italian Elf -- that voice in the tundra, that precursor with the thick Bronx accent, heralding the approach of Santa Nicola!

Only instead of giving gifts, like Babbo Natale, he pops into your cubicle looking for treats for himself (preferably Jordan almonds or Almonda Rocha). So have a bowl at hand, kids and coworkers -- the Italian Elf is here!

Merry Christmas, all you OaKers (that's Once-a-Kid-ers)!