Wednesday, September 30, 2015

GREAT NEWS!!!


Wednesday==>Just back from oncologist appointment. GREAT NEWS!! 

In doctor’s words==>“Open biopsy (of lymph nodes) was negative for cancer. Seems to have been an inflammation.”

I do not have lymphoma, meaning, we will continue treating the prostate cancer with my urologist. Couldn’t have been better news under the circumstances!!

I am emotionally drained. Gonna crash for a bit.

Thank you Higher Power!!

KICK CANCER'S ASS!!

Bill



Tuesday, September 29, 2015

In A Funk - The Countdown Has Begun


Tuesday==>There is no other way to put it ... I have been in a total funk today.

First of all ... it has been majorly nasty out for most of the day. It has rained off and on. At 5:00pm it has stopped but there is more in the forecast for the evening.

Second ... and to be totally honest with my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... I have been in a mental countdown leading up to my 10:15am appointment tomorrow with my oncologist. Honestly, my mood has been as cloudy as the skies.

In fact, I actually crashed twice during the afternoon ... but ... that didn’t help because both times I had rather unpleasant dreams about tomorrow.

I will share one with you, briefly ... I wake in in the morning and it is raining. I have trouble finding my iPhone to connect with Uber. I finally find it. It takes forever for the driver to arrive. When he arrives he is nasty and unpleasant. He has trouble finding the address for the doctor’s office and will not follow my suggestions. We finally get there. It is 10:45am (the appointment is for 10:15). There is no one in the waiting room. When someone finally comes to the desk I am told that the doctor has left for the day. I ask for the earliest next appointment and am told that the soonest he can see me is on OCTOBER 30th. I am left alone in the waiting area ... and ... I wake up.

The other dream was just as foreboding and way-too-graphic for me to share.

Why I am sharing this now, I really don’t know ...

I gotta say THANK YOU to my dear friend and fraternity brother Jon Johnson for his uplifting call this afternoon.

This posting is almost over ...

Tomorrow I will Uber to the doctor’s office. Bill will be with me and will take me back to the apartment.

I doubt I will be in the mood to post anything on this blog tomorrow, but ... I will give you all a candid report as soon as I emotionally can ... so ... let's ... 

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

Bill

Monday, September 28, 2015

Worker Bees - The Yankees - The Bill & Kenny - Stuff


Monday==>Well, it is a Monday and it is time for all of my Worker Bee friends, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, and  the unwashed masses out there in the vast hinterlands of the good ole U S of A, to head back-to-work so that those of us in the retirement community may maintain our immensely interesting lifestyles, funded by your hours and hours of mindless nothingness and drudgery in the workforce.

You do, however, have permission to take off the time required to read and absorb the details of this and all of Billi Pod's postings.

Thank You! And keep up the good work. Forego your vacation-time, pay your taxes on time and work until you are carried out of the office in a pine box. 

Thank You Worker Bees and others!! Thank You!!

Now ... moving on ... 

The majority of my time yesterday was spent in front of my 42” flat screen TV watching sports, baseball and pro-football.

Happily, the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 6-1, at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, on an excellent outing from rookie Luis Severino, a HR from Dustin Ackley, and sloppy defense from the Sox.

With the win, 3 out of 4, we remain in the race for the AL East and our wildcard number is now down to 3.

Tonight at 7:05pm, at Yankee Stadium, will be the first of 4 games against those loathsome Boston FuckSox, who are on a 3-game winning streak.

With this streak the FuckSox have finally climbed out of the AL East cellar.

On the mound for the Yankees (86-69) will be Ivan Nova (6-9) vs. rookie Eduardo Rodriguez (9-6) for the FuckSox (75-80).

At the moment my plans are to remain the apartment to watch the game.

Moving on ...

The highlight for Sunday was having dinner with my son Bill III aka The Bill and his golfing buddy, Kenny Baboolal, at Outback Steakhouse on Aloma Avenue in Winter Park.

It had been a while since I was with Kenny so it was great to have some facetime for some much needed catching up. 

To say that we stuffed ourselves is putting it mildly. Bill and Kenny had sirloin steaks and I had the chicken and ribs platter. As usual the baked potatoes were totally AWESOME.

Then, as has become a sorta ritual, on the way back to the apartment we went to Krispy Kreme for the usual chocolate glazed donuts. Yes, a sinful way to end Sunday.

It had begun to rain really heavily and the sky was filled with clouds ... meaning ... I wasn’t able to witness the total lunar eclipse. Oh well ... maybe next time ...

Moving on ... 

This afternoon and early evening will be spent doing my usual weekly errands and chores, including the weekly restocking visit to the mammoth Publix across the street in Winter Park Village.

Mentally, the countdown to my appointment with my oncologist, Raul Castilla, on Wednesday morning at 10:15am, has begun.

You know==>whatever it is, is ... I just need to know whatever it is.

OK, Worker Bees, now it is time to get back to work ...

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Yesterday’s mileage==>4.25 miles (or, 9,297 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>22.31 miles (average 3.19 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2015==>1,090.94 miles (average 4.04 miles per day)

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

Sunday, September 27, 2015

It’s Great To Be A Florida Gator - Yankees


Sunday==>OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... there ain’t no other way to express how your favorite Sunshine State blogger feels this morning other than to say ...

IT’S GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!!

Yes, Billi Pod is still basking in the euphoria of our come-from-behind 28-27 victory over the Vols yesterday in The Swamp. Yep, going into the 4th quarter we were down by 13-points ... then ... WHAM ... it happened.

Our red-shirt freshman QB, Will Grier, who was playing without a back-up, lead the now 4-0 Gators to an unimaginable victory over the cursed Vols.

As most of you know, with the win the Gators extended our winning streak over the hapless Vols to 11 consecutive games.

Looking forward ... we have a really brutal upcoming schedule, facing 4 teams, Ole Miss, Georgia, LSU and FSU, that are currently ranked in the top-10 in all of the polls.

Billi Pod predicts that the Gators will end the season with an 8-4 record, which is much better than what was anticipated/predicted at the beginning of the season.

Moving on ...

My excellent sports day was enhanced by the Yankees ...

Yes, the Yankees beat the White Sox 2-1, on an excellent outing from Adam Warren, clutch hitting from Chase Headley and A-Rod, and 3 hitless innings from the bullpen.

The final game of the 4-game series is this afternoon at 1:05pm from Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built.

On the mound for the Yankees (85-69) will be rookie Luis Severino (4-3), who is coming off two consecutive solid starts, vs. Erik Johnson (3-0) for the Sox (73-82).

Your favorite blogger will remain in the cool and comfortable confines of his apartment for the afternoon/evening watching baseball and then pro-football.

I do anticipate a walk and wander session in the early evening.

I will close this short posting out by sharing some info about tonight's total lunar eclipse ...
You are so very welcome.

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Yesterday’s mileage==>3.31 miles (or, 7,253 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>1,086.49 miles (average 4.04 miles per day)

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

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Walking - The Intern - Yankees - Gators


Saturday==>We will get today’s posting started with a review of Billi Pod’s excellent Friday ... starting with ...

In the morning I had my first full walk and wander session since my surgical procedure on Tuesday. I walked 2.15 miles and then in the evening I did part of my usual walking regimen during the Yankees/White Sox game. This resulted in total mileage for the day==>4.29 miles. Not bad, IMHO.

As planned, in the afternoon I walked over to the Regal Complex in Winter Park Village to see ...

THE INTERN, about a retired successful businessman and widower (Robert De Niro) who lands an internship at a fashion website run by a young, career-driven woman (Ann Hathaway)==>B+

This is an adult story with real life issues, including marital infidelity, loneliness, loss of confidence in one's own abilities and cross-generational friendships, majorly enhanced by the chemistry between De Niro and Hathaway. 

De Niro is totally charming, disarming and likeable, which is a major departure from many of his prior roles. I found Hathaway to be very believable as the workaholic boss who is over-stressed with many issues, including her family-life.

There are plenty of laughs but also several very emotional and thought-provoking scenes.

Billi Pod says==>This is a show for everyone to see.

When the show was over I came back to the apartment and settled in to watch the Yankee/White Sox game.

Dammit - the Yankees lost 5-2 due to a lackluster performance from CC Sabathia, who gave up 2 HRS in the 7th inning, and limp bats that resulted in 4 rally killing double plays.

It was a very frustrating game to watch.

Luckily, we still have a comfortable lead in the wild card race. And, folks, remember ... both teams in last year’s World Series made it there via the wild card.

As Yogi said==>It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. 

This afternoon at 4:05pm, from Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, will be game 3 of the 4-game series.

On the mound for the Yankees (84-69) will be Adam Warren (6-7), looking for his first win since reentering the starting rotation vs. John Danks (7-13), who has a career record of 3-3 against the Yankees, for the Sox (73-81)

Billi Pod’s plans for this afternoon and evening will be to remain in the cool and comfortable confines of his apartment, watching sports, baseball and college football.

At 3:30pm will be the Gator/Tennessee game, from The Swamp, carried on CBS.

The Vols are still only 1.5 point favorites but deep in my gut I have a feeling that they will win by a score of  21-10. Hope I am wrong, of course.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it is time to post this and then settle in to watch some college football, beginning with the UCF/South Carolina game.

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Yesterday’s mileage==>4.29 miles (or, 9,373 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>1,083.18 miles (average 4.04 miles per day)

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

Friday, September 25, 2015

Billi Pod & Normalcy - The Intern - The Yankees - The Gators



Friday==>I am happy to report to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace that your favorite Sunshine State blogger was able to get in a walk and wander session this morning.

Yep ... it was a bit shorter than usual ... only 2.15 miles ... but it was a huge step back in a return to normalcy ...

Hold on there Kemo Sabe ... can the word "normalcy" ever be properly used in connection with Billi Pod and his life and lifestyle? I think not ... but ... remember ... I just report ... you decide.

Anyway ...

Yesterday, after I finished the long overdue posting, I spent the rest of the afternoon/evening in front of my 42” flat screen TV watching baseball.

The Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, in the first game of a 4-game series.

We won on an excellent outing from Michael Pineda and a 3-run HR from Carlos Beltran.

The Yankees are 4-games up in the race for the first AL wild card spot.

I did not do the usual walking regimen during any of the games.

Tonight at 7:05pm will be the second game of the 4-game series.

On the mound for the Yankees (84-68) will be CC Sabathia (5-9), coming off two consecutive strong starts, vs. Carlos Rodon (8-6), who gave up 8 runs in his last start against the Yanks, for the Sox (72-81).

I plan to do the usual walking regimen during this game.

Moving on ...

My plans for this afternoon will be to see the just opened Robert De Niro/Anne Hathaway movie ...

THE INTERN - “70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (De Niro) has discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site founded and run by Jules Ostin (Hathaway).”

Was kinda surprised that the reviews in today’s papers have been lukewarm but that doesn’t matter to me ... I mean ... Robert De Niro ... Anne Hathaway ... how can I not see this movie?

Then, for the evening, I will do a walk and wander session and then come back to the apartment to watch the Yankee/White Sox game.

Moving on ...

I have to admit that I am beginning to get the usual butterflies in my belly regarding the upcoming Gators/Tennessee game at The Swamp at 3:30pm on Saturday, carried on CBS.

As you Gator fans know, the Vols come into The Swamp with a 10-game losing streak to the Gators. The Vols are favored by 1.5 points.

Our running defense is ranked first in the SEC while their running game is ranked third. It should be quite a battle in the trenches. 

I believe it will be a nail biter until the final whistle.

On this happy note, will post this and then get ready to walk over to the movie theater in Winter Park Village.

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Yesterday’s mileage==>2.17 miles (or, 4,746 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>1,078.89 miles (average 4.04 miles per day)

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