The Weekend Is Almost Here

TGIF for all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks.

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

FINAL ANALYSIS - “In 1910 Vienna a strange young man with dangerous ideas clashes with the brilliant minds of the day - Freud, Stalin, Wittgenstein and Gustav Mahler. In a gesture of compassion Sigmund Freud almost destroys the world.”==>A-

The story line is very thought provoking and the cast is stellar, especially Michael Goldsmith who portrays the Young Man, who is never identified but you know who he is. The 90-minute running time is perfect.

The show is part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival and is playing at the June Havoc Theatre in the Abingdon Theatre Complex on W 36th Street. It runs through August 4th and it is definitely worth seeing.

When the show was over I walked and wandered a bit and then came back to PHC to watch the YANKEES/OAKLAND game starting at 10:05.

Well, the game was pretty much a bummer and the Yankees lost 4-3. They looked sluggish and were never in the game. Oh well ... it’s baseball and you can’t expect your team to win every game, that is, unless you are a Yankee fan ... oh well ...

Speaking of a bummer==>Brett Gardner will have arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow next week and this “will likely conclude his season.” Bummer!

Fortunately the left-field combination of Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez have done their job, with 24 homers and 66 RBIs. 

Tonight at 9:05 is the second game of the 4-game series with Ivan Nova (10-4) on the mound for the Bronx Bombers vs. Tommy Malone (9-6) for the Athletics.

Tonight’s entertainment is going to be something kinda special, I think ... 

8:00==>BULLET FOR ADOLF - “A new comedy about two Texas rubes, an East Coast city slicker and a missing piece of World War II history.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Woody Harrelson is coauthor and director of this show that is based on “real people but fictional events.” The advance buzz on this show has been very positive and I am really looking forward to seeing it.

I want to close this posting with a major shout-out to my young friend JUSTIN ALLEN PIFER who has just been accepted into Pace University School of Law, located in Westchester County, NY.

This is, of course, a major career change for Justin. He and I have had several in-depth conversations about this and I am totally supportive of this positive move.

So==>CONGRATULATIONS JUSTIN!!

Have a great weekend everyone, including all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.33 miles

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 Was Not A Pleasant Day

Yesterday was a really nasty weather-day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

My entertainment event for the day was the final game of the YANKEES/TORONTO series at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built. The first pitch was scheduled for 1:05pm.

When I got to The Bronx it was very hot and extremely humid with fast moving very ominous-looking clouds overhead. I was heavily sweating when I reached my seat, Section 228, row 18, seat 15, underneath an overhang, Thank God. I had a bottle of water with me that I had purchased from a vendor outside the stadium for $1.00. I do this for every game. The same bottle of water costs $4.50 in the stadium.

There was thunder and lightning. The start of the game was delayed but the ground crew did not put the tarp on the infield because it wasn’t raining.

There was a 51 minute delay and when the game was finally started it was reported to be 115º on the field. It was really unpleasant in the stadium for the entire game.

The Bronx Bombers scored 4 runs in the bottom of the first inning, aided by a 2-run homer from Mark Teixeira. 

That was all we needed because our starter, Hiroki Kuroda, was outstanding, with 0 runs, 4 hits and 5 strikeouts in 7 innings.

In the 6th inning it began to lightly rain and it became heavier and heavier until the game was delayed again in the top of the 8th inning and the tarp was put on the infield. We were winning 6-0.

I decided that I would wait out the delay but after about 45 minutes the game was called because it was still heavily raining. We won 6-0. Of course I hadn’t brought an umbrella so I was pretty wet when I finally got back to PHC around 6:00pm.

Billi Pod stayed in for the evening, watching baseball on the tube.

Tonight The Yankees begin a 7-game West Coast series - 4 vs. Oakland and then 3 vs. Seattle.

Tonight @ 10:05 EDT it will be Freddy Garcia (4-2) on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. A. J. Griffin (1-0) for the Athletics.

It is rather dark and overcast this morning and it is much cooler==>74º @ 9:30am. Think I will do a “walk-and-wander” session in the early afternoon.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

6:45==>FINAL ANALYSIS - “In 1910 Vienna a strange young man with dangerous ideas clashes with the brilliant minds of the day - Freud, Stalin, Wittgenstein and Gustav Mahler. In a gesture of compassion Sigmund Freud almost destroys the world.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Yes, 6:45pm is the correct starting time, which I find to be a bit weird.

In closing ...

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout-out to my niece DONNA PARKER, who lives in Englewood, CO, which is in the Denver area. 

Donna, shown here with her darling daughter Josie, is hanging tough after going though a very difficult time as a result of her deadbeat ex-husband being a 110% ASSHOLE!! 

LOVE TO YOU AND JOSIE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.67 miles

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.”

I Gave Myself The Day Off

HAPPY HUMP DAY to all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the hinterlands, boondocks and wastelands.

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... yesterday Billi Pod gave himself the day off. Yes ... he ditched plans to see THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, opting instead to stay in the cool and comfortable confines of PHC where he just relaxed, read, watched baseball and engaged in a “text-war” with John Scott Reed aka Fabson.

I won’t bore you with the details of the “text-war” other than to observe that sometimes “younger” people are loathe to admit that they have made an error when it is called to their attention by someone older and ofttimes wiser.

Oh well ... guess I’ll just have to prepare myself for round-two of the “text-war” which will no-doubt start when Fabson gets around to reading this posting ... Oh well ...

Yes ... as I said ... Billi Pod stayed in and watched the YANKEE/BLUE JAYS game. Our ace CC Sabathia was back in ace form following his stint on the DL due to a left groin injury. 

CC went 6 innings giving up 0 runs, 4 hits and striking out 6.  The offensive power was provided by Andruw Jones, who hit a 3-run homer.

Our closer Rafael Soriano picked up his  24th save and The Bronx Bombers won 6-1.

Today’s entertainment event is ... tada ...

1:05==>YANKEES/TORONTO at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, the final game of the 3-game series.

Hiroki Kuroda (7-7) will be on the mound for the Bronx Bombers vs. Ricky Romero (8-5) for the Blue Jays.

The weather prediction for game time==>93º with very high humidity.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.07 miles

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.”

Walking Info And Other Stuff Too

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it was a great night out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, for game 1 of the YANKEES/BLUE JAYS 3-game series.

It was hot and very humid but the game was virtually sold-out. It was a pitcher’s duel from the beginning with our starter Phil Hughes going 7 innings, giving up only 2 runs on 4 hits. He left the game with the score tied 2-2.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, with the score still tied, journeyman outfielder Raul Ibanez hits a two-out grand slam and the stadium goes f-ing wild. Oh Hell Yes!!

In the top of the 9th the Blue Jays start a rally but our closer Rafael Soriano comes in for his 23rd save and The Bronx Bombers win 6-3. Oh Hell Yes!!

Yep, this game is basically the showcase for what the season has been for The Yankees==>decent pitching and the long ball.

Tonight our ace CC Sabathia (9-3) makes his first start since June 24th. He was on the DL due to a left groin strain. Starting for The Jays is Brett Cecil (2-1).

It is early afternoon as I am writing this posting and thus far nothing of any real interest has shown up on any of my ticket services for tonight ... so ... unless something dramatically appears my entertainment plans for today will be to catch a late afternoon movie, probably THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, and then stay in the cool confines of PHC to watch CC and The Yankees take on The Blue Jays.

I want to take a moment to respond to several emails that I have received regarding the walking mileage that I compile from the Weight Watchers Pedometer.

First of all, The Weight Watchers Pedometer is a state-of-the-art device that it crucial to the Weight Watchers diet program because it makes all sorts of calculations that are necessary for their program. It is also sensitive to the individual since it calculates steps based on your age, height and weight, which you program into the device.

No, I am not part of the program and I don’t need to lose any weight because I am at a respectable 162 lbs.

The Pedometer was a gift from My Lady, Dian Crystal, who is in the program and has lost a whole lot of weight.

 Secondly, we New Yorkers do a lot of walking in our day-to-day routines and even though most everything is only “a couple of blocks” away, sometimes those blocks can be long and it all adds up at day’s end.

Even though I/we use mass transit, there is always getting to and from the respective subway stations. For example, even though 420 W. 42nd Street is only a block and a half away from the transportation hub, The Port Authority Bus Terminal, once you get there you still have a lot of walking to do to reach your subway platform.

For example, the platform for the N/R line, which Billi Pod uses to reach the upper and lower Eastside, is .61 miles from PHC.

Over the years I have maintained a walking program of taking the subway to my entertainment event and then walking back to my apartment after it is over, weather permitting.

These are some of the mileages ...

Going to a show at the E 59th Street Theater and walking back==>2.71 miles

Going to Lincoln Center and walking back==>2.20 miles

Going to a Yankee game, roundtrip==>1.78 miles

For my own information I also keep track of the “mileage” spent walking in my apartment.

On my “walking and wandering” sessions I usually try to walk at least 2 miles.

And, an example from yesterday - had a Dr.’s appointment downtown at Beth Israel Medical Center at Union Square (14th Street) and then walked back==>3.50 miles

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, as you can see, the mileage will indeed add up, which is a good thing, especially for a 78yo. guy who loves to walk and wander in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.57 miles

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.”

TROUBLE: A NEW ROCK MUSICAL==>Was Fun

Yes, it is Monday, so it is back to work for all of my Worker Bee friends. Please don’t whine, just recognize your responsibilities in maintaining our Gross National Product and thereby keeping us poor retirees from being homeless ... so ... get at it already ... geesh ...

Anyway ... I am happy to report to the rest of you loyal and faithful readers and followers that last night’s New York Musical Theater Festival show TROUBLE: A NEW ROCK MUSICAL - “Eight friends. 24 Hours. So much TROUBLE, with nudity, strong language, adult themes and violence,” was excellent.

The very early-20s cast was outstanding and there was great choreography. It was a totally enjoyable evening even though some cuts need to be made in the 2:30 running time, but, still, it was a lot of fun and I am glad I saw it.

Wish I could say the same for the YANKEES/ANGELS game, which the Yankees lost 10-8. The Yanks made some really dumb base running mistakes, no doubt costing them crucial runs.

They mounted a rally in the bottom of the 9th ... and ... the bases were loaded, but who else but A-Rod made the final out with a weak popup. Barf!

Tonight’s entertainment event will be game 1 of the YANKEES/TORONTO series @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built. Toronto is tied with the Boston F**kSox for last place in the AL East.

Phil Hughes (9-7) will be on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Henderson Alvarez (5-7) for The Blue Jays.

Well ... this being a Monday, it is the usual errands and stuff day for Billi Pod, so I will post this and then start doing some things.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.75 miles. 

Mileage for the last 7 days==>31.85 miles<==TOTALLY AWESOME!!

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.”

William S. “Moon” Mullon (1927-1998)

William S. “Moon” Mullon (1927-1998)

Fourteen years ago today one of my dearest friends, Bill Mullon, of Anna Maria, Florida, died.

I have gotten permission from his wife, Sandy, to re-post this email that I sent to friends and family fourteen years ago after I had returned to NYC following Bill’s memorial service. This is it in its entirety, unedited --

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

"Hello everyone:

I was first introduced to William S. "Moon" Mullon in 1973 by Capt. Frank Cavandish, the owner of the Rod & Reel Pier, which is located diagonally across the street from the house I once owned in Anna Maria. Bill and I became friends and this friendship spanned 2 1/2 decades. Bill had just moved from Cocoa Beach where he had been employed with Boeing and then Tropicana. He had been a member of the City Commission there and a political activist in the Democratic Party.

In the ensuing years as a resident of Anna Maria Island Bill's career path took him from Tropicana to Manatee County government, where he was the County Purchasing Agent, back to Tropicana where he retired about 6 years ago as a Certified Purchasing Manager. He remained politically active in the local Democratic Party. I think the phrase "Yellow Dog Democrat" was coined with him in mind.

In 1976 I was asked to preside over the wedding ceremony uniting Bill and Sandy Gilmore. Sandy is a career upper-level manager/executive with HRS. Their vows were jointly written by Bill, Sandy, and Bill's eldest son, Bill, Jr., aka "Buns."

The ceremony took place at daybreak in the surf adjacent to the City Pier in Anna Maria. Honestly, I doubt anyone in attendance expected that union to last more than a couple of years, if that.

We were wrong - man, were we wrong. Sandy and Bill had a unique relationship, in that not only were they husband and wife, but also, they were truly best friends. They were a house divided on one issue, however. Bill was a Gator and Sandy a 'Nole.

Bill and Sandy lived in a series of places on the Island, each of which they named "The Digs," and finally settled in and purchased "Digs IV" in Holmes Beach. They were famous on the Island for their open hospitality with many many parties commemorated by special T-shirts designed by Sandy. Sandy is an accomplished artist.

I sold my Anna Maria house in 1991, however, shortly thereafter Bill and Sandy made the back bedroom in Digs IV available to me and I would guess that in the ensuing years, whenever I was in Florida, I would spend 3 out of 4 weekends with them. It was my home away from home away from home, it was my refuge. They became my best friends, my extended family, Bill the older brother I never had.

When the phone call came at 12:30am on Sunday morning, July 19th, that Bill had died, I called the airlines and was on a flight down to Anna Maria at 8:55am the same morning. I got there in the early afternoon. Nancy Rhodes, one of Sandy’s oldest and dearest friends was already there.

Family and friends quickly gathered in support of Sandy and Bill's children by a previous marriage, Bill, Jr., Patrick, and Lynn, and their children. Moon was the consummate planner, so I was not surprised to learn that he had planned to the last detail how he wanted things handled when he passed away, I mean, he had scripted his wedding, why not his final memorial services as well? And that he did, down to naming the song to begin the services - "We Have Just Begun" by the Carpenters - and "Margaritaville," by Jimmy Buffett to end the services, which MUST conclude in one hour, max!!!!

The service was held in the Chapel of an Island funeral home on Tuesday evening, July 21st. The chapel was filled with photos and objects covering all aspects of Bill's life, including almost a dozen photo albums recording the social activities of 22 years of Digs Parties.

The standing room crowd included local Islanders, executives from Tropicana, county officials, a local Judge, and just plain folks, all joined to remember, to cry, and especially to laugh. I was honored to have been asked to preside. In addition to me, others who shared their life experiences with Moon, were: his sister Ann; his children Bill, Jr. and Lynn; Bradenton attorney Donald Hadsock; and, Island resident Fred Adkins. As I said, Moon had directed (or perhaps ordered is the operative word) that the service last no longer than one hour, so, at the end of the hour, as the sounds of "Margaritaville" filled the Chapel, we all stood and sang along with Jimmy Buffett ......

When the song ended, I concluded the evening by saying ....

SO LONG MOON - WE WILL SEEYA LATER!!

Bill"

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

Yes, it has been fourteen  years but in many respects it feels like it all happened yesterday and I still miss him as if it were yesterday.

He will never be forgotten by his family and friends. There is a void in our hearts and on Anna Maria Island that will never be filled.

Bill