Thursday, July 31, 2014

No Strings Attached - Dian, Marty & Meske - The Revolution, Etc - The Wankies


Thursday==>Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the boondocks, wastelands and hinterlands.

Your favorite blogger has a lot of things scheduled for today ... so ... we need to get today’s posting started with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

NO STRINGS ATTACHED, Monty and Luis have had a happy romantic partnership for ten years. Their only issue seems to be whether or not to get married. A chance encounter with Stefan, a sexy, mysterious waiter, disrupts their cozy lives because both Monty and Luis have a secret connection to him==>C+

The acting is excellent, especially Kevin Perez as Stefan, a former porn star who is now a waiter and a rent-boy.

The downside is the story line and the characterizations that mostly failed to involve me. 

The primary recurring theme is: “Gosh, I love you so much and you are the center of my World, but ... excuse me while I go have sex with that hot guy over there ... but I still love you with all my heart and soul.”

This gets old very quickly.

Seated next to me, on the first row of this very small theater, were two nicely dressed ladies in their 60s. I wondered why they were here and just assumed that they had some connection to the cast/show.

When the show started and it became immediately sexually graphic they were very obviously disturbed. At a brief scene change about 25% into the show they got up and made their way to the exit. It was very awkward because we were seated in the first row, in the far house left, and only inches away from the actors on stage. 

I guess I should have followed them but, of course, I didn’t, in hopes that the show would finally develop. Well, it didn’t ... 

Is it worth seeing?

Billi Pod says==>maybe ... kinda ... I guess ... for the acting.

It is playing at the Stage Left Studio (not one of my favorite venues) on West 30th Street, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and runs Wednesday through Saturday through August 16th.

Moving on ...

I am happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that yesterday was another excellent walking day for your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Yeah, in the afternoon I did what I now call my “Hell’s Kitchen Walk-Around” where I walk over to 8th Avenue, then North on 8th up to 57th Street, West on 57th to 12th Avenue, South on 12th down to 42nd Street and then East on 42nd back to my apartment building at 42nd and 9th Avenue. Depending on the pedestrian traffic, it takes about an hour and the total distance recorded on my Pedometer is 3.1 miles.

Then ... the location of my theater for my evening’s entertainment was basically at the intersection of 30th Street and 7th Avenue so the roundtrip mileage was 2.2 miles.

With my other walking around, the total mileage for the day was==>6.22 miles<==not bad ... not bad at all.

Moving on to today ...

At 2:45pm (don’t even ask about this strange time) I will meet up with my dear friends Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever at our favorite Ethiopian Restaurant, Meske, on West 47th Street in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood, for a late lunch (or early dinner, take your pick) and some much needed/wanted catching up.

It has been way-too-long since the three of us were together.

When we have finished our meal My Lady will probably come with me back to PHC and chill for a bit and then, weather permitting, we will walk down to The West Village for our evening’s entertainment event ...

The Off Broadway show ...

8:00==>REVOLUTION IN THE ELBOW OF RAGNAR AGNARSSON, FURNITURE PAINTER - “Deep in the elbow of Ragnar Agnarsson, furniture painter, sits Elbowville, where we find three brothers, Peter, Alex and Stein, living in perfect harmony until Peter and Alex fall in love with the same girl, the beautiful and charismatic Brynja. After a brotherly showdown, Alex leaves town while Peter stays in Elbowville where he becomes rich and powerful. It is when Alex returns from exile that things heat up in the family creating conflict that shakes Elbowville to its core.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Yeah, I know ... this sounds majorly weird, doesn’t it ... but so did Urinetown and Avenue Q and they went on to become major Broadway hits ... so ... you just never know.

Heading the cast is Tony Award winner Cady Huffman.  

It is in previews at the Minetta Lane Theatre in The West Village, opens on August 13th, has a running time of 2:25, with intermission, and is an open run.

Now ... the usual sports for Marty ...

Last night in Arlington, TX, The Wankies (55-52) lost again to the lowly Texas Rangers (43-65) by a score of 3-2 as our offense wilted in the Texas heat. The Rangers won the series 2-1. Barf!!

I was able to watch the final 4-innings and it was very unpleasant. Thank God The Wankies have the night off.

OK ... now it is time to post this and begin cootie-proofing PHC in anticipation of My Lady’s visit ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.22 miles (or, 13,602 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>824.68 miles (average 3.91 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod
“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Exquisite Potential - No Strings Attached - Yankees


Wednesday==>It is a beautiful summer day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In the World.

At noon it is 76ยบ with azure blue skies, puffy clouds and a very nice breeze coming off the Hudson River.

And ... yes ... your favorite blogger can hear the voices calling to him to leave this apartment and begin a nice walk and wander session ... so ... let’s just get started with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

EXQUISITE POTENTIAL, all parents think their children are great but Alan Zuckerman just happens to think his 3-year-old son, David, is the Messiah. In 1984 Alan and his wife, Laura, visit their rabbi to verify David's possible divine nature. Today, thirty years later, David has grown up and the answer to a father's question is revealed, or is it?==>A-

The acting in this show is excellent, especially considering that the cast members play different characters in the second act, set 30-years in the future.

Vince Gatton, who plays Alan in the first act and the son, David, in the second act, and Rachel Evans, who plays Laura, the skeptical pregnant wife in the first act and Beth, the estranged daughter/sister in the second act are totally outstanding and believable.

The story line is interesting, involving and just a bit quirky as we continue to face the issue of whether David is indeed the Messiah and, if so, why hasn’t he moved forward to “Save the World.”

I don’t want to reveal too much because to do so would spoil the playwright’s intentions. Suffice it to say that not all of the questions/issues are resolved, and I will leave it at that.

Billi Pod says==>catch this show before it closes.

It is playing at the ArcLight Theatre on West 71st Street, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and runs through August 3rd.

Before the show I had a great walk and wander session in the West mid-70s area around the theatre. I really like this ‘hood and would love to be living there. 

Hummmmm ... my lease on 420 W. 42nd Street, Apt. PHC, is up on May 31, 2015 ... should I consider moving uptown ... ??? ... hummmmmmmmmm ... ??? ... stay tuned ... 

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is an Off Broadway show ...

7:30==>NO STRINGS ATTACHED - “Monty and Luis have had a happy romantic partnership for ten years. Their only issue seems to be whether or not to get married. A chance encounter with Stefan, a sexy, mysterious waiter, disrupts their cozy lives because both Monty and Luis have a secret connection to him. The three men’s lives intertwine in a number of surprising, romantic and potentially devastating ways.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This comedy is playing at the Stage Left Studio on West 30th Street, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and runs Wednesday - Saturday through August 16th.

Now ... to close ... let’s have some sports ...

Last night in Arlington, TX, The Yankees (55-51) beat the woeful Rangers (42-65) 12-11 in a game that the Yankees kept looking for ways to lose. At one point they had a 6-run lead but the bullpen, including our closer David Robertson, basically sucked. 

I was able to watch the final innings and it was a total nail-biter. Yeah ... I know ... I know ... a win is a win and we produced a lot of runs ... but ... in doing so we also sucked ... oh well ... a win is a win.

Tonight at 8:05pm will be the final game of the 3-game series. On the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be Hiroki Kuroda (7-6) vs. Colby Lewis (6-8) for The Rangers.

The Yankees will have tomorrow off and then on Friday will start a 3-game series against the loathsome Boston FuckSox at that fetid cesspool known as Fenway Park.

And ... yes ... my weekend entertainment schedule is going to be built around watching these three games. 

Hey ... don't be judgmental ... I'm a Yankee fan and this is a series against The FuckSox ... what else am I supposed to do?

So ... on this happy note will post this and then decide where my walk and wander session is going to be.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.27 miles (or, 9,347 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>818.46 miles (average 3.90 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod
“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Billi Pod Is Back - Donkey Punch - Exquisite Potential - The Yankees - Joe Torre


Tuesday==>Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

Yesterday, after I posted the obituary of my beloved grandson Christopher William Falletta, that was in the Columbia, SC, newspaper, I just wasn’t in the mood to spend any more time in front of this ‘puter ... so ... this is the reason I didn’t post again.

I do appreciate all of the positive emails, texts and posts that I received ... they mean so much to me and to my family.

Yeah, I have to admit to going into a major funk that lasted into the mid-afternoon hours. 

Then ... around 3:00pm I finally shook it off and began working on my errands and chores list, including paying the first of the month bills and going to the neighborhood Food Emporium.

I also did a major walk and wander session in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood. Nothing of any interest showed up on my ticket services so I opted to stay in the cozy confines of PHC to watch game 1 of the 3-game YANKEES/TEXAS series. Frankly, the game did little to bolster my spirits, dammit, details below.

I am pleased to report to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that this morning Billi Pod is back ... so ... let’s get started with a bit of catching up ... beginning with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on Sunday’s Off Broadway show ... 

DONKEY PUNCH, in this critically acclaimed cult hit uninhibited Kareena delves into monogamy while her uptight best friend, Sam, starts dating a pornographer. In this fast-paced world of sex, shifting relationships, and blurred lines, is it punch or be punched==>B.

Wow!! The f-word spews out of the mouths of the females as if it were taking place in a high school all-male locker room. There is also a lot of graphic simulated-sex on stage.

Anger, rage, boozing and obscenity is rampant, to the extent that it gets kinda old about midway into the show.

If you want to know what “donkey punch” means you will have to Google it yourself because it is way too graphic for even Billi Pod to post it here.

The cast is excellent and they do their best with their in-your-face characters.

Is it worth seeing?

Billi Pod says==>yes, if you aren’t bothered with anger, rage, boozing and obscenity.

This show just opened, is playing at the SoHo Playhouse on Vandam Street, has a running time of 1:35, without intermission and runs through August 31.

Moving on to tonight’s entertainment event ... the Off Broadway show ...

7:30==>EXQUISITE POTENTIAL - “All parents think their children are great but Alan Zuckerman just happens to think his 3-year-old son, David, is the Messiah. Alan and his wife, Laura, visit their rabbi to verify David's possible divine nature. Thirty years later, David has grown up and the answer to a father's question is revealed.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This “dark” comedy is playing at the Archlight Theater on West 71st Street and runs through August 3rd. I haven’t been able to ascertain the running time but I guess it's gonna be in the 2:00, with intermission, range

Now ... on the sports scene ... for Marty ...

Last night in Arlington, TX, The Yankees (54-51) lost the first game of their 3-game series against the lowly Rangers (42-64) by a score of 4-2 as David Phelps imploded in the 5th inning.

Brett Gardner hit two HRs off of Yu Darvish and Derek Jeter moved up to 7th place on the all-time hits list, but this wasn’t enough to save the game. This was our third consecutive loss. Barf!!

Tonight @ 8:05pm it will be Brandon McCarthy (2-0) on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Nick Martinez (1-6) for The Rangers.

Moving on ...

A belated congratulations to Joe Torre for his induction into The Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

In his acceptance speech he failed to express his gratitude to George Steinbrenner for hiring him to manage The Yankees before the 1996 season. He later said that he “regretted” this error.

Well, folks, if you believe this excuse then your favorite blogger has an interesting real estate investment offer to make to you ... it involves one of the bridges here in Manhattan. Just email me for details once you have transferred a $10,000 down payment to my checking account.

You are so very welcome.

In closing ... yesterday was a good walking day as I logged in 5.04 miles on my Pedometer.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.04 miles (or, 11,019 steps)

Total mileage for last week==>32.24 miles (average 4.61 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2014==>814.19 miles (average 3.90 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod
“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Monday, July 28, 2014

Christopher William Falletta - Obituary July 24, 2014



I want to share with everyone the following obituary that was published on Thursday, July 24th in The State Newspaper in Columbia, SC.

This is the entire obituary, unedited. 
**************
Christopher William Falletta, 32 died July 2nd, 2014 from accidental drowning.  

Christopher was a Lakeland, FL resident but had been residing for six years in Gainesville, FL then for the last 4 years had been living in the Apopka/Altamonte Springs FL area.

Christopher went to Meadowfield Grade School in Columbia, SC and Hand Middle School also in Columbia before moving back to Florida to live with his father. He graduated from George Jenkins High School where he was very active in FFA and was a two time president of that chapter. He loved music and was an accomplished trombone player in the band. He later took up the guitar. 

After graduation from high school he started his post high school career at Polk State College before moving on to the University of Florida from which he graduated with a BS in Food and Resource Economics. He was an active member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity where his skill at smoking pork butt was well appreciated by his chapter brothers.
  
He was an avid fisherman, duck hunter, musician & singer and of course a devoted Gator Fan.

He was predeceased in death by his paternal grandparents; Betty Wasner & Joseph Falletta; his paternal greatgrandmother, Ruby Norris; his maternal great-grandparents Chief Oliver Tucker & Vada (Big Mama) Tucker; his beloved uncle Victor Wasner; his great grandfather, Henry Wasner & wife Wilhemina; and his maternal step grandfather, Howard Kilgore.

He is survived by his mother, Kathryn Bendeck (Dr. John) of Columbia SC; father David Falletta (Crystal) of Lakeland, FL; brother Alexander Falletta (Gina) of Elgin SC; sister Kaitlynn Falletta of Lakeland, FL; paternal grandfather Judge William Norris of Manhattan, NY; paternal great aunt Ann Norris Parker of Indio, CA; maternal grandmother Mary Frances Kilgore of Bartow, FL; nieces Saylor and Finley Falletta of Elgin, SC.  

He is also survived by his uncles Jay Carlton from the Brandon area of FL; Gary Falletta of Lakeland, FL; Ben Kilgore from Bartow FL; and William Norris III from the Orlando area.  His surviving aunts are Lori Carlton and Melinda Ussery of Bartow, FL.  

He had numerous cousins including J.R., Shauna, Abbey, Shelby, Nicholas and Nate. He was also survived by numerous second cousins Tyler, Micah, Devin, Jarin, Mattie, Doug Parker and Donna Jadamec.

Also surviving Chris is his significant other Ashley Goebel of Apopka, FL and her loving and supporting father, Dr. Jay Goebel.

Everyone was his friend, and he knew no enemies. He will be deeply missed by all.

Funeral Services were held by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home in Lakeland, FL. Hwy 98 South on July 7th, 2014.

To end with Chris’ favorite quote: “Love ya…mean it”.
*****************
Love ya ... mean it.

Granddaddy

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Yankees and The Long Shrift==>BLAH!!


Sunday==>It is gray and overcast here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and that pretty much represents your favorite blogger's mood following yesterday’s blah entertainment events.

The Yankees lost in the afternoon and then the James Franco directed Off Broadway show, THE LONG SHRIFT, basically sucked.

Yeah ... yeah ... I know ... I know ... The Yankees can’t win every game and I had been forewarned about the Franco-fiasco ... but ... that doesn’t make my mood any better ... so ... 

Why don’t I just begin the healing process by sharing everything with you loyal and faithful readers and followers .... starting with ...

Yesterday afternoon out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, The Yankees (54-49) lost 6-4 to The Blue Jays (55-50) as the bullpen gave up 4-runs in the last 3-innings and our defense was sloppy.

It was a difficult game to watch.

The win broke Toronto’s 17-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium.

Oh well ... for the evening I headed down to The Village a bit early so I could have a walk and wander session and that was nice.

What wasn’t nice was my Off Broadway show ...

THE LONG SHRIFT, Richard Singer, a dorky teenage boy, is accused and thrown in jail for rape, tearing his parents apart. Now, nine years later, Richard is out of jail because his accuser recanted her testimony, and now his accuser is attempting to be back in his life==>D

The story line in this contrived drama is totally unbelievable and implausible as Richard, played by Scott Haze, and his accuser, Beth, played by Ahna O’Reilly, inexplicably take the stage at their 10th High School Reunion, where his accuser is wearing one of his deceased Mother’s dresses. WTF??

I won’t try to share any more of the details of this mind-fuck because many of you might think that your favorite blogger is trying to pull a prank ... or ... has gone off his meds ... or whatever ...

The only likable character is Richard’s father, played by veteran Hollywood actor Brian Lally, who is still mentally and emotionally reliving his experiences in Vietnam.

Unfortunately, James Franco earns all of the negative comments about his directorial debut. The staging is stagnant and all of the characters are wooden, just regurgitating their lines.

The 1:35, without intermission, running time seemed to be twice that long. Had there been an intermission I would have fled.

Billi Pod says==>you are hereby warned.

It is playing at The Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre (one of my least favorite venues) in The West Village, has a running time of 1:35, without intermission, and runs through August 23rd.

What about today I know you are all asking your inner selves?

Well ... inner selves ... at the moment Billi Pod plans to stay in the comfortable confines of PHC for the afternoon to watch the 1:05pm final game of the 3-game YANKEE/TORONTO series.

On the mound for The Yankees will be the rookie Shane Green (2-1) vs. J.A. Happ (8-5) for The Blue Jays.

Dammit ... rain is in the forecast out in The Bronx ... oh well ... 

Then for the evening Billi Pod will head down to SoHo for an Off Broadway show that is clearly going to fall into the “loved-it or hated-it” category ...

6:00==>DONKEY PUNCH - “In this critically acclaimed cult hit uninhibited Kareena delves into monogamy while her uptight best friend, Sam, starts dating a pornographer. In this fast-paced world of sex, shifting relationships, and blurred lines, is it punch or be punched?” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show just opened, is playing at the SoHo Playhouse on Vandam Street and runs through August 31st.

I haven’t been able to dredge-up the running time other than it is performed without intermission.

Yeah ... I am definitely in the mood for something gross and funny - hope this fills the bill.

Oh ... on a very positive note ... yesterday was a good walking day, with 5.03 miles recorded on my trusty Pedometer.

So ... there you have it my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... 

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.03 miles (or, 10,992 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>803.80  miles (average 3.88 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod
“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”