*Friends
(other than Italians) usually ask me why I sometimes use the name Pino, or
Pinoman. Pino is an Italian diminutive for Giuseppe (i.e. Giuseppino or
little Joseph), so Pino is Italian for Joe. Years ago my cousin
Walter's Italian girlfriend (he was living and painting in Italy), dubbed me
Pino Solitario when I accompanied them as a "third leg". This
was a subtle play on words, pino solitario can mean either Lonely Joe or the
Lonesome Pine.
