THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA==>EXCELLENT!

Tuesday==>Yeah, I know ... I posted earlier today, but, my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace ... you know that the earlier posting was all about my awesome entertainment stats for October 2013, not about what is going on currently in the life of your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World ... so ...

Let’s get started with Billi Pod’s thoughts and comments on last night’s classical music concert ...

THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall, was==>EXCELLENT.

The opening piece, Messiaen: "Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine," didn’t turn me on and it got a rather lukewarm response from the audience.

The highlight of the evening was the final number, Beethoven’s Mass in C major, which was performed with 4 soloist and a 125+ chorus. Beautiful!

Yes, it was a very enjoyable evening, made even better by meeting up with my dear friends Michael Pederson and Dennis Dohman. They actually were seated directly behind me. My comp seat was great, in the orchestra section, house right about 3/4s back from the stage.

Moving on ...

I am happy to report that this evening I am finally going to have some face time with John Scott Reed aka Fabson. Hooray!!

He will come over to PHC after his day at Facebook NY is over. We will do some much needed/wanted catching-up and then we will have a bite somewhere in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood. 

I think Scott’s roommate, Bernard Lam, will be able to join us for dinner and that will be nice.

Moving on ...

It is somewhat warmer today, in the low 50s @ 1:30pm.

Well ... time to post this and then head over to The Food Emporium for my weekly grocery shopping, taking advantage of the additional 5% senior discount.

Will close this with another awesome picture of my darling great-granddaughter, Saylor Falletta.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.82 miles (or, 8,361 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>434.37 miles (average 3.42 miles per day)

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 Activity Report for October 2013

It is now time for me to share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers Billi Pod’s entertainment stats for the month of October 2013 here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World  ... so ... here they come ... get ready ... take a deep breath everyone ... tada ... here they are in all of their awesomeness ...

In checking my daily log (log, not diary - real guys don’t keep diaries - but then you know that by now, don’t you?) I find that during October 2013 your favorite blogger attended/saw/did the following:

1 Broadway show (The Winslow Boy); 22 Off Broadway shows; 9 classical music concerts; 2 movies (We’re The Millers and Broadway Idiot); and, 1 taping (A Night With Janis Joplin - for CBS). 

During the month there were 8 entertainment doubleheaders.

The major highlights of the month were: spending time with Tammy Serebrin and Paul Hughes of Lakeland, FL; showing the awesome views from PHC to my longtime friend and judicial colleague Retired Circuit Judge Miette Burnstein of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, with her daughter, Kerry, and her granddaughter Kyla; and, face time with Dian Crystal aka My Lady, Marty Kosarik aka Whatever and his friend Cathy Altholz.

Was also with some of my AA buddies (you know who you are) on two different occasions and that was good ... let's keep on keeping on guys!

Unfortunately, was unable to connect with John Scott Reed aka Fabson. His work assignment(s) at Facebook NY are very demanding and time consuming, including a lot of business travel.

I think the only downside for the month was the continuing downward spiral of the Florida Taters and their coach Will Muskrat. It was truly barf inducing.

During the month Billi Pod walked a total of 100.42 miles (219,418 steps) for an average of 3.24 miles per day, as recorded on his trusty WeightWatchers Pedometer.

Through October 31st the total mileage since I started tracking on July 1, 2012 is==>2,148.53 miles (4,694,538 steps) for an average of 4.40 miles per day. Now, I think this is a pretty awesome stat. 

I posted daily on my Facebook Timeline and 31 times on this blog website.

Billi Pod Blogs had 3,579 page views during the month, bringing the total for the past 12 months to 49,550.

During the month there were only 2 occasions when Billi Pod stayed in the warm and cozy confines of PHC without attending some entertainment event either during the day or the evening. TOTALLY AWESOME!!

So there you have it my loyal and faithful readers and followers. These stats reflect why your favorite blogger loves living in New York City and why he intends to remain here for the remainder of his life.

I humbly think that the stats ain’t bad for a 79 1/2 year old guy ... but ... it is up to you loyal and faithful readers and followers to determine because ...

I report - you decide.

GO GATORS AND 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.”

RICHARD VETERE EXPLAINS THE WORLD ==>A-

MONDAY==>It is a bright and cold Back-To-Work Monday here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. 

At 9:30am the temperature is 38º, with wind chill it is down to 32º. The projected high will only reach 46º.

Since today is my usual errands and chores day I will be out and about, but will dress warmly. One quirk in my life-style ... at the beginning of the fall/winter I usually under-dress, then, when spring begins I usually over-dress. Go figure.

I guess it is time to get out the thermal underwear, gloves and heavy jacket.

Anyway ... let’s get today’s blog started with Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s entertainment event ...

RICHARD VETERE EXPLAINS THE WORLD ... 10 MINUTES AT A TIME, 5 short plays on the contemporary and future World==>A-

The show is very thought-provoking and well performed by an ensemble cast, with the actors playing multiple roles.

It is playing in a very small venue, New Perspectives Studio, at 458 West 37th Street, and the audience is very close to the actors.

The running time is about 70 minutes, without intermission, and it runs Thursday-Sunday through November 17th.

Billi Pod says==>if you like intriguing story lines in an intimate venue, then see this show.

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is another classical music concert ...

8:00==>THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program is:

Beethoven: Grosse Fuge and Mass in C major; and,

Messiaen: Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine

(complimentary ticket)

Even though this morning my “cold-symptoms” are gone ... I probably will not walk back to the apartment after the concert.

Oh ... I was pretty surprised with the number of favorable comments and texts my The Florida Taters==>Peeled, Baked and Mashed!! posting received. I honestly thought it would piss a lot of people off.

As a reward to my loyal and faithful readers and followers, I will post later today or early tomorrow Billi Pod’s entertainment stats for October 2013. No need to applaud ... you are very welcome.

Now, it is time to begin working on my to-do list ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.83 miles (or, 3,999 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>23.59 miles (average 3.37 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>430.55 miles (average 3.42 miles per day)

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.”

The Florida Taters==>Peeled, Baked and Mashed!!

Sunday==>Yep ... yesterday Coach Muskrat and his Florida Taters got peeled, baked and mashed, in a game that left a VERY bad taste in the mouth’s of The Gator Nation.

Make no mistake about it ... the Taters are a beat up and demoralized team, with a pathetic offense and now a questionable defense. Let’s be honest==>they are a less than average team, and that is giving them the benefit of the doubt.

In yesterday’s “our-thugs versus your-thugs” embarrassment they showed their total lack of discipline and focus, on national TV.

We are 4-4 and, folks, it ain’t gonna get better with South Carolina and FSU coming up. We will have to beat Vandy next week if we are going to avoid a losing season.

When the season is over Athletics Director Jeremy Foley has gotta show Coach Muskrat and his despicable offense-coordinator, Brent Pease, the door, telling them to get the Hell out of Gainesville!!

It is so ordered!!

Moving on ...

Last night’s entertainment event, RIVERSIDE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA @ Alice Tully Hall, was totally enjoyable.

As I feared, the New York Premiere of the piece by Brett Dean (who??) called “Testament” was an unpleasant atonal piece of dreck. No matter, because ... 

Everything else on the program was excellent and the highlight was Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, which was beautiful.

My comp. seat was in the center of the second row in the orchestra and that was fine.

As I said, it was a very nice evening’s entertainment.

Moving on some more ...

Just booked something that sounds really interesting for today’s entertainment event ...

4:00==>RICHARD VETERE EXPLAINS THE WORLD ... 10 MINUTES AT A TIME - “ The noted playwright, screenwriter, poet and novelist tackles modern trends and tendencies in his inimitable style: The Intern; Fortress America; 88%; A Strip Club Christmas Miracle; Meatball Hero; and, No More Writers." (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing down at the New Perspectives Studio on West 37th Street and I have no more info about it.

I may also catch a movie for the evening, either Daniel Radcliffe’s KILL YOUR DARLINGS or the just released sci-fi thriller ENDER’S GAME.

I want to end this posting on a very positive note ... so ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.37 miles (or, 9,560 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>428.72 miles (average 3.43 miles per day)

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.”

GATORS/GEORGIA==>GO GATORS!!

Saturday==>Pretty soon the GATOR/GEORGIA game will be underway down in Jacksonville, FL, carried on CBS and The Gator Nation has been praying to the Football Gods above that Coach Muskrat’s team will not embarrass us again on national TV.

While your favorite blogger wants to remain optimistic, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting, he has to reveal to his loyal and faithful readers and followers that his gut is telling him that our brutally inept offense, coupled with a now questionable defense, is a lethal recipe for disaster.

If this game turns out to be another step in our downward spiral to a puke-inducing season, we could easily end up with the first losing season since we went 0-10-1 back in 1979, Charley Pell’s first year as head coach.

If that happens Coach Muskrat and his staff could be/should be toast.

Anyway==>GO GATORS!!

Moving on ... I am happy to report that I am feeling much better today, so there is no need to dwell on this ... so ... let’s get Billi Pod’s thoughts on last night’s entertainment event ...

The staged concert presentation of JACK, about the triumphs as well as the shadows of the Kennedy legacy==>INTERESTING and basically well performed.

The show is essentially a rock-opera since there is very little spoken dialogue.

I thought that the best performances came from Patrick Cummings as JFK and Stephen Lee Anderson as his controlling, power-obsessed father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.

Of course, as with any material this early in the process, it needs a lot of work if it is to move on to the next level.

My theater-buddy Dian Crystal aka My Lady was seated directly in front of me and I think she basically shares my evaluation/views of the show.

Moving on some more ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>RIVERSIDE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA presents Beethoven: Prophet - Disciple. 

The program is:

Mendelssohn - “The Fair Melusina” Overture;

Dean (who??) - Testament (NY Premiere);”

Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 17; and,

Beethoven - Symphony No. 1

(complimentary ticket)

This concert is being performed at Alice Tully Hall @ Lincoln Center.

I have seen The Riverside Orchestra perform numerous time and they do excellent work.

OK, everyone ... it is time to post this and then begin walking around PHC while sucking my thumb, waiting for the kickoff.

Man, I know this posting is gonna be full of errors because I am really distracted ... jus sayin'

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.34 miles (or, 5,133 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>424.35 miles (average 3.42 miles per day)

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.”

SMILE==>A-

Friday==>Damn ... in the name of fair and unbiased reporting your favorite blogger has to reveal that this morning, at the usual 8:00am, he woke up with a runny nose, a cough and feeling kinda blah. It is now 1:00pm and he is still feeling kinda blah, but no fever. Do have, however, intermittent sneezing.

I have taken the usual steps to address this “issue”==>Echinacea & Goldseal drops plus additional vitamin C, a regimen that has worked for me without fail for years and years.

And, of course, nothing can come between him and his responsibilities to his loyal and faithful readers and followers here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, let’s get this posting started with ...

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

SMILE, the Marvin Hamlisch musical that chronicles the backstage intrigue and exploits of the fictional 1985 California Young American Miss beauty pageant==>A-

The staged performance (meaning scripts in hand) was extremely well performed by a very talented young cast. There were a lot of dance numbers that came off well even though scripts were in hand.

The two adult leads, Tom Lucca as Big Bob and Jeanette Fitzpatrick as Brenda, his wife, are the promoters of the pageant and they do an excellent job in moving the show along.

Yes, at 2:30, with intermission, it could use some cutting in Act 1 but I still found the evening to be very entertaining and enjoyable.

So ... Billi Pod says==>it is worth seeing.

This show is part of the Musicals Tonight series, is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on West 42nd Street and runs through November 3rd.

Tonight’s entertainment event is something much heavier, although it is also a musical ...

8:00==>JACK: A Musical Drama on the Life of John Kennedy - “Beginning with John F. Kennedy’s days at Harvard through his assassination in Dallas, Jack dramatizes the life and career of JFK, while focusing on a central conflict – Jack’s fight to become his own man despite a difficult relationship with his power-obsessed father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. Jack examines the triumphs as well as the shadows of the Kennedy legacy leading to the tragic event which continues to resonate with all of us 50 years later.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This new show is a “NEW2NY” staged concert presentation and is playing at The York Theatre (one of my favorite venues) in the basement of Saint Peter’s Church on East 54th Street and runs through November 3rd.

Moving on ...

I am getting anxious and kinda paranoid about the upcoming GATORS/GEORGIA game @ 3:30pm on Saturday in Jacksonville, FL, carried on CBS.

The Dawgs are favored by only 3 points but my friend Rusty Franklin of Lakeland, FL, advised me yesterday that the game is being called: “The World’s Largest Outdoor Pity Party.”

Please Coach Muskrat, don’t embarrass us again on national TV.

Well, on this happy note will post this.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>0.80 miles (or, 1,748 steps)

Total mileage for the month==>100.42 miles (average 3.24 miles per day

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>422.01 miles (average 3.43 miles per day)

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.”