Billi Pod Explains Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress):

It is still very cold and windy today in the Big Apple, The Greatest City in The World.

The industrial strength anti-biotics have kicked in and I think I am making progress with my right eye problem. It is still, however, very red and itchy and Billi Pod is more than ready for it to get the Hell out!!

Took care of most of my Christmas things and stuff yesterday, which included a long and boring wait at the neighborhood post office.

Speaking of Christmas, I will be spending it in Columbia, SC, from December 23rd to the 27th, with: my daughter Kathi and her husband, Dr. John; son Bill, Jr. aka Billyboy, from Orlando, FL; and, oldest grandson Alex Falletta aka Army Guy aka Lex and his wife Gina.

Youngest grandson Chris Falletta aka Topher from Gainesville, FL, and his girlfriend Ashley, will not be with us due to other family responsibilities. We, especially Billi Pod, will miss you guys.

Billi Pod’s report card on NEWSICAL THE MUSICAL==>B+<==needs to be tightened just a bit but otherwise it is extremely funny, profane, and well-performed. See it if you are in need of a good laugh.

Tonight’s entertainment event:

8:00==>A SMALL FIRE-“When a tough-as-nails contractor finds her senses slipping on the brink of her daughter's wedding, the impact on her family is nothing less than seismic.” This is playing at a theater on my block.

Finally, let me respond to some new emails and texts from my loyal and faithful readers regarding Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress):

1) they came into being on Thursday, December 2, 2010, at approximately 11:45pm, as I was drafting an update for this blog.

2) it all happened in about 45 minutes and what you see is exactly as I typed them, unedited except for spell-check.

3) I have posted them, and will continue posting them, in the exact order they were “created.”

4) I have not added to the list since its creation.

4) The only “omission” is one regarding Bill O’Reilly, omitted at the strong and very vocal urging of John Scott Reed. It may still be posted later - we will see.

5) And, yes, fear not my loyal and faithful readers, I promise to post all of them.

Having said all of that, this is today’s --

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress):

‘Christ’ was taken out of Christmas because E=mc2 and because the X-Men won.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays To Each and Everyone

".......and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty GOD, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. "THE MESSIAH,” G. F. Handel

Yes, I am still alive and well in New York City, The Greatest City In The World. I pray that 2011 will be as wonderful for you, your families, and your loved ones as 2010 has been for me.

Peace and love.

Bill

Billi Pod Says==>Things Just Happen

As you know, my loyal and faithful readers, sometimes things just don’t work out as you expect. What am I talking about you are no doubt breathlessly asking?

Well, in a nutshell==>Billi Pod missed his much anticipated MESSIAH concert last night, because ...

My eye doc was WAY more concerned about my right eye and eye-lid swelling than I had been. She dosed me up with multiple mega-drops plus some icky gels and gave me a script for industrial strength antibiotics. She then scheduled a followup appointment for Friday.

When I got back to PHC after getting the script filled I looked in the bathroom mirror and I looked as if I had been punched in the face. I also felt like sh*t.

It was also freezing and windy out, the coldest day of the fall by far. I knew deep in my heart that it would be insane to even consider going out again, even for such an anticipated event so, sanity prevailed. Yes, that does occasionally happen in my lifestyle.

Billi Pod went online to the New York Philharmonic website and donated his ticket for resale. Then he used one of his flex tickets (free-one of the benefits of being a subscriber) and rebooked the concert for the 7:30pm performance on Saturday, with a seat in approximately the same location as his subscription series. So, all was not lost. Whew!

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting, the remainder of the day and evening was mega-blah, but Billi Pod had made the right decision, without question.

Still feel kinda strange this morning, but I have lots of things and stuff to do today, so I will just have to get over “it.”

Tonight’s entertainment event is:

8:15==>NEWSICAL THE MUSICAL-"No one in the news is safe! The group is back, lampooning current events, headlines, newsmakers, celebrities, and politicians.”

I always try to catch this show each time it is updated. It is playing at a theater on my block, so that is good too.

Have some Christmas stuff to do (not joking folks), so I will have to leave you loyal and faithful readers with ...

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress):

“A seaman’s semen is usually aqua colored."

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Tuesday==>Billi Pod Is Freezing

Well, it is freezing this morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City in The World.

At 7:00am it was 19º, with wind chill it drops down to 9º. Light snow fell overnight. Yep, winter is officially here.

Have an appointment with one of my eye doctors to address a redness/swelling issue with my right eye. Very uncomfortable. Bless her - she was able to work me in this morning. Gonna bring her a thank-you rose.

Billi Pod’s report card on BLOOD FROM A STONE, the so-called “dark comedy” about a dysfunctional Connecticut family==>C-<==the stellar cast saved it from getting an F. The set is outstanding, too.

It clocked in at 3 hours, 30+ minutes, with 2 intermissions. Just didn’t work for me. There was nothing funny about the show, it was dark dark dark ... and darker. The performers alternated between yelling at each other, or, worse, whispering vital pieces of information/secrets that most of the audience couldn’t hear or understand. I hated every one of the characters and wanted them all to f**king die.

Actually, if you are in an S & M mode, then this is the show for you ... ‘nuff said.

Tonight’s entertainment event --

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Lincoln Center performs Handel’s MESSIAH. Oh, yes. Can’t wait. The holiday season isn’t complete unless Billi Pod attends at least one performance of the MESSIAH.

It always brings back memories of being in the Summerlin Institute (now Bartow Senior High School) Chorus, directed by Margaret Clark, for 3 years. We performed the MESSIAH every year.

Unhappy to report that The Yankees lost their bid to sign free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee, who spurned our 7-year 150M offer to sign with the Phillies for a 5-year 100M deal. Oh well, at least he didn’t sign with another American League team.

OK, it is time to head out for my appointment, so let me close by sharing with you loyal and faithful readers ...

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress):

“Sarah Palin is Sarah Palin because only one tree ever grew in Brooklyn.”

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Vienna Boys Choir Was==>AWESOME!!

Good Monday morning my loyal and faithful readers. I want to get right to important stuff, like Billi Pod’s report card on VIENNA BOYS CHOIR- CHRISTMAS IN VIENNA @ Carnegie Hall==>AAA+<==like, awesome. What an outstanding afternoon of traditional and modern Christmas music.

The house appeared to be sold-out and my seat was super-excellent, 11 rows from the stage in dead center of the orchestra. Awesome.

What wonderful voices. You know, I cannot imagine what it must feel like for a 12 year old boy to be performing in front of a packed house in Carnegie Hall, in the Greatest City In The World. Add to that the fact the several of them performed solo pieces. Wow!!

I want to share with you just a bit of background information on the group --

The Vienna Boys Choir was formed in 1498 and was under the control of the ruling Kings until 1918, when they became an independent and private institution.

Today the Choir maintains its own boarding school where 250 male students, from all over the world, study and rehearse. All of the choir boys must live in this boarding school. From this group, 100 members between the ages of 10 and 14 are selected and divided into 4 touring choirs. Together they give around 300 concerts world-wide in front of approximately 500,000 people. Each group spends 9 to 11 weeks of the school year on tour.

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers this epic concert certainly got Billi Pod into a festive holiday mood.

I walked back to PHC (a little over a mile) even though it was kinda nasty and breezy.

Settled in to finish reading the Sunday papers when, WTF, I came upon something I have to share with you --

The following is from the weekly column of Mike Lupica in Sunday’s The Daily News:

****************************

“Deciphering the Urban myth ...

Urban Meyer is leaving Florida for one reason: He doen’t think he can win there anymore.

But Meyer must think he can beat Penn State, that’s why he’s sticking around for one more game, the last for him before he goes to the pros. What a guy.

As smart a football coach as Meyer has been, for a long time, he certainly treats the rest of us like dummies, doesn’t he?”

******************************

WOW!! And, this is from a columnist who has been highly supportive of Meyer and the Gator Nation in the past.

Anyway, this being a Monday, it is my usual errands and stuff day. You know, I think there may be an important holiday event in the very near future -- what is it? Oh well, I guess I will remember later, I hope ... anyway ...

Tonight’s entertainment event --

7:00==>BLOOD FROM A STONE-“a darkly comic portrayal of a troubled working-class family in New Britain, CT, a household on the verge of implosion.”

Starring are Ethan Hawke and Daphne Rubin-Vega. It is playing at a theater on my block and, yes, it has those two dreaded words in combination ... “dark and comedic” ... and you know what that usually means, don’t you ... “very dark and not very funny.” We will see. Stellar cast however.

OK, got lotta things and stuff to do, so I will close by sharing with you loyal and faithful readers --

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress):

“Monte Python hates snake jokes.”

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Billi Pod Says Hello From A Wet Big Apple

On this Sunday morning is The Big Apple, The Greatest City in The World, it is majorly nasty out. RAIN!!

Not as cold, however, Thank God.

Let’s start with Billi Pod’s report card on HYSTERIA==>A<==loved it. An hour of fun, British humor (yes, they do have humor) and great acting. See it if you can before its limited run ends on January 2, 2011.

This afternoon Billi Pod’s holiday spirit begins the season with==>VIENNA BOYS CHOIR- CHRISTMAS IN VIENNA @ Carnegie Hall-“Celebrate the season with a special holiday performance by the world’s most beloved choir that features everything from classical sacred music to today’s popular festive songs.”

I always try to catch this wonderful group when they are in the City. A great way to get into a holiday mood and the mood will be bolstered on Tuesday with The New York Philharmonic’s annual performance of The Messiah.

BREAKING NEWS in The Gator Nation==> The Gator’s new head coach is Will Muschamp, former defensive coordinator for U. of Texas. Born Aug. 3, 1971, in Rome, Ga., he lived in Gainesville for 10 years as a child.

He is a graduate of University of Georgia, and it is my understanding from my fraternity brother David West, he is a member of our fraternity, Kappa Alpha Order.

Good luck to him. He has really big shoes to fill.

Oh, the Internet is also buzzing with stories that the real reason Meyer stepped down again was health related.

Things and stuff to do, so let me close by giving you loyal and faithful readers your daily ...

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress):

“Dorothy begat Toto who begat Satan who begat Beyonce who begat Carl Hiaasen.”

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Billi Pod’s Report Card on Spider-Man==>VOMIT!!

Good afternoon my loyal and faithful readers. I have to say that, dammit to Hell==>Billi Pod still feels like sh*t - enough already with this dripping nose and raspy voice. Not as cold out today as yesterday and that is a blessing.

Yesterday, Friday, was a complete blah day even though I did get out and about for a bit but I won’t bore you with the details. Billi Pod stayed in yet another evening and he was, to put it mildly==>bored as Hell.

Although I did post on my FB Wall about my feelings regarding the Spider-Man musical I just couldn’t make myself sit down in front of this ‘puter and post on my blog. My bad.

Anyway, Billi Pod’s report card on SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK==>total bummer<==music and book suck and this comes from a major Bono/U2 fan. First 30 minutes of swinging/flying OK, then it becomes redundant. No tech. problems, thank God, although a couple of times stage hands were seen picking things up from the stage floor. My seat was 4th row in the orchestra to the side - very good, actually.

Act 1 is so-so, but, OMFG==>Act 2 is totally incomprehensible, made so by the addition (100% needless) of “Spider-Woman.” Someone squash that bitch.

In all honesty, unless you are familiar with the Spiderman story line there is no way you can understand what is going on. There is no build up to a climatic ending. In fact, when it is “over” the audience isn’t sure it is until the actors begin to appear for their curtain calls, to very tepid applause..

People around me looked bored and uneasy and kept looking at their watches. Not over till 11:00. Thank God Billi Pod had a discounted ticket.

The sad part, there ain’t no way to fix this piece of crap and this comes from someone who went into the show with an open mind, hoping all of the nay-sayers were wrong. Well, they weren’t because this show SUCKS!!!

On to other stuff --

Heisman Trophy prediction, shown at 8:00pm tonight on ESPN==>Auburn QB Cam Newton<==he will win and he should.

Tonight's entertainment event-

8:15==>HYSTERIA-“A man and a woman are on the most awkward dinner date of their lives. Caught in the middle is their mortified waiter, who is haunted by visions of global catastrophe.” At the 59th St. Theater, as you know, one of my favorite venues.

Let me close my bringing you loyal and faithful readers up-to-date on Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress)--

“E pluribus unum requires 2 teaspoons of Maalox and a partridge feather.”

“Underwater cameras can lead to urban myths.”

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Billi Pod Says==>Bring on Spider-Man!!

On this Thursday in The Big Apple, The Greatest City in the World, it is bright and bitterly cold.

Unfortunately Billi Pod woke up this morning still feeling blah and his voice is very raspy and he is still sneezing and coughing. F**K!!

Of course, there is nothing to report about yesterday since I stayed in. I guess the only good part was finally getting around to posting the entertainment stats for the month of November for you loyal and faithful readers.

I have to admit that Billi Pod feels no better this morning about Urban Meyer’s decision to leave the Gators. He meant so much to our program, just as did Steve Spurrier during his tenure, that we cannot let ourselves slide down that slippery slope of bitterness and resentment.

So ... best of luck Urban!!

Tonight’s entertainment event --

8:00==>SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK. This 60M musical is directed by Julie Taymor and features a score by U2 rockers Bono and The Edge. It is in early previews, finally.

Had a ticket for a show scheduled about 2 weeks ago, but it was canceled due to “technical” difficulties. My seat is in the front orchestra and it has been suggested that I wear a helmet to protect myself from falling objects.

There is a lot of very negative buzz about the show on the net, especially on All That Chat http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/

and in the columns of Michael Riedel of The New York Post. Everyone seems to be circling the show with their talons out.

As a fair and unbiased reporter Billi Pod will see the show with his usual open mind and then report back to you loyal and faithful readers.

The Yankees are throwing a lot of moolah and years at Cliff Lee, maybe too much of both for a guy with a history of back problems (remember Carl Pavano??). Will he ultimately sign with us? I think so. Dammit, though, The Boston FuckSox just signed Carl Crawford. I had hoped he would end up with The Yankees.

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress)==>“Decoding the female psyche is more difficult than learning quantum physics taught in Gaelic.”

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Billi Pod's Awesome November 2010

Good evening my loyal and faithful readers. Yes, you are right - Billi Pod is staying in tonight, so there is no excuse for not posting the entertainment stats for last month. My nose is still running and I am coughing a lot.

Frankly, preparing and posting this will prevent me from lying on the couch, sucking my thumb and moaning as I process the breaking news about Urban Meyer’s resignation as Gator football coach. I will deal with that later ... I guess ... I hope ... so ... anyway ...

Here are Billi Pod’s entertainment stats for November 2010 --

In checking my daily log (log, not diary - real guys don’t keep diaries) I find that during the month of November 2010 Billi Pod did/saw/attended the following:

4 Broadway shows (Brief Encounters; Elling; Rain-A Tribute to the Beatles on Broadway; and, The Pee Wee Herman Show.); 16 Off Broadway shows; 2 New York Philharmonic Orchestra concerts; and, 1 movie (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).

Was out of town for 8 nights in Paris with my fraternity brother and former roommate, David West, who now lives fulltime in Paris. He also sorta lives in Gainesville (at the moment).

The highlight of the month was, of course, the time with David, which included an awesome 3 day road trip to Normandy where we visited the D-Day landing sites, solo, and with a small tour group.

Also high on the highlight list was the wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner with my AA buds (you know who you are) and their families. Thanks guys and gals.

There were downsides to the month also, the major one being the nationwide ass-kicking the Democrats received and the obvious spanking given to Obama.

Gator football was also high on the list, with their record a dismal 2 wins and 2 losses, the losses being humiliating defeats by South Carolina and Florida State - barf and double barf.

The most amazing stat, in my humble opinion is the fact the during the time I was in the City there were only 3 days/nights when Billi Pod didn’t attend some entertainment event, and each of those were because of important sporting events on TV.

I posted regularly to my FaceBook Wall http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=100000655659050 and 26 times on this blog, although in a somewhat abbreviated format.

So, my loyal and faithful readers, there you have it. I think it remains pretty awesome for a 76+ year old guy, but then ... it is up to you because ...

I report - you decide.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Wednesday - Blah and double blah

Dammit-to-Hell==>this morning==>runny nose, more coughing and feeling blah. Gonna stay in all day/night, out of the very cold weather, and hope everything gets better quickly because tomorrow night I am seeing SPIDERMAN. My first ticket was for an earlier performance which was canceled.

Luckily Billi Pod’s annual beginning-of- winter cold usually last only 3 days, so I am half way through. Don’t really feel that bad, just kinda blah. Bring on the Echinacea and extra Vitamin C.

I actually left last night’s New York Philharmonic concert at intermission because I was afraid my increasing coughing and sniffling was gonna bother people around me. Oh well ...

In closing ... yes, as some of you loyal and faithful readers have said, Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD are indeed weird.

That’s the whole point. He wants to share with you the actual thoughts that came out of his mind in about 45 minutes one night last week, in their order and unedited ... so ...

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress)==>“Paris having no Hilton Hotels is like wearing God’s used jock strap.”

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Tuesday==>Remembering Pearl Harbor

It is another cold day in the Big Apple but at 8:30am this morning it was actually colder in Bartow, FL, and Columbia, SC, than it was up here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City in the World.

For a multitude of reasons Billi Pod’s errands took longer yesterday than usual. Just glad they all got done.

Report card on last night’s THE EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY==>A. I didn’t know it was a musical until I got to the theater. The cast is excellent and the music is terrific. The story line about the interlocking lives of 5 early 30s friends in NYC is very believable. If you have the opportunity==>see this.

On December 7, 1941, I was 7 years old, living with my father-Bill Sr., mother-Ruby, and younger sister-Ann, in Winter Park, FL. I was in the second grade. I remember being very confused over why my parents were so upset. Later in the day Ruby explained to me what had happened, reassuring me that we would be OK.

The next day me and my neighborhood buddies, all guys around my age, got together and we promised each other that when we got old enough we would all join the Army and fight “those damn Japs.” Our use of the word “damn” was very daring on our part, trust me. From that day forward we played war games almost every day after school. One day we would defeat the Japs and the next day those Nazi’s. We always won.

Sometime old memories never die and that is good in this instance.

Moving on ... tonight’s entertainment event is -

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Lincoln Center - Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 and Mahler’s Das Knaben Wunderhorn. This is part of my 3 series subscription.

Will post this now. Have a routine followup appointment with my heart doctor to monitor my Coumadin level via a finger-prick.

So, my loyal and faithful readers, I will close with ...

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress)==>“Under no circumstances should tall people be mistaken for answers to crossword puzzles.”

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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

Monday - Billi Pod Is Alive and Well!!

Hello Again!! Yes, my loyal and faithful readers, I am alive and well in New York City, The Greatest City in the World and Billi Pod is totally without legitimate reasons for not posting to this blog since Sunday, November 28th. My bad!!

Oh, I have some excuses, like: “The Gator’s Suck Blues” or “The Cold Weather Blahs” or “A Runny Nose Dripping” but they are all so lame that I won’t bore you with them. To make matters worse, I have been posting daily on my FaceBook Wall. Oh well ... I do appreciate the emails, texts and messages of concern. I will try to do better in the future - I promise.

I have been doing the usual things and stuff up here. Yes, it has been cold and very windy. I have also just finished compiling the stats for the month of November and they are pretty awesome, in my opinion. I will post them either later tonight or tomorrow and you can decide.

A kinda strange thing happened a couple of nights ago as I was sitting in front of this ‘puter trying to mentally compose a blog update. What, you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, suddenly out of my head spewed a whole series of random comedic and bizarre thoughts and observations that had no sequences or relationship to one another, it was just ... out they came, one after another. I actually felt almost possessed.

Where they came from I have no idea but I feverishly made a list and have posted them, 100% unedited, on my FaceBook Wall in the order I wrote them down, starting with last Saturday’s posting.

I call them: “Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress)” and here are the first 3 so you will be up-to-date:

“An Atlas Shrugged is akin to an Okra Winfrey.”

“Joshua fought and won the Battle of Jericho despite being uncircumcised.”

“No matter where you were born, daylight savings time is worth two in the bush.”

Yes, I am afraid you will have to live with this list in subsequent postings for quite some time.

Tonight’s entertainment event is --

7:00==>THE EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY-“follows a group of friends as they face the challenges of life in Manhattan and reveals how one life-altering event forces each of them to discover the extraordinary beauty in the most ordinary of days.” At a theatre on my block.

BREAKING NEWS==>Gators vs. Penn State in the Outback Bowl. With the woeful seasons both of these teams had it could actually be called the Toilet Bowl. Would I go if I was in Florida? Oh hell yes!!!!

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

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