Don't Worry - Billi Pod Is Alive!!

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers, who have been no doubt wondering where in the Hell I have been and what is going on in Billi Pod’s life.

Well, a lot has been going on and I will try to bring you up-to-date without burying you in too many details.

Let me give you a quick overview of what has been consuming me, ie: (1) health issues and (2) Facebook. Now, the details ...

HEALTH ISSUES

First, on a positive note I am happy to report that the results of my semi-annual finger-up-the-butt examination aka Digital Rectal Examination aka DRE went fine and my PSA result was 1.0. I will see my Urologist again in 6 months.

Second, is my continuing problems with my declining vision. Oh, yes, old age does bring problems even to those of us with the Peter Pan Syndrome. Anyway, I have glaucoma in both eyes and also cataracts. On Tuesday, January 19, I will have cataract surgery on my left eye and if all goes well then about 3 weeks later surgery on the right eye. I will report to the eye hospital at 8:30am and should be able to leave around 12:30pm, hopefully. The hospital requires that I have someone with me at checkout time, so student/bartender/manager Scott Reed stepped forward. We will cab back to PHC and then I expect his duties will be over, God willing. Thank you in advance Scott.

Am I antsy/concerned about the surgery? Honestly, yes I am but I have done all of my research etc and I have complete confidence in my Doctor, Scott Weissman, who I have been seeing for about 7 years.

The next issue has to do with a recent problem with my right forearm, which started on January 9 when I injured it while moving around some furniture. I was in a awkward position and something went pop and I had a lot of pain. Thought I had things under control through ice and rest but I re-injured it on January 13 while trying to scratch my left underarm pit - yeah - I know - but that is what happened....pop and more pain. Damn, this wasn't something I wanted to deal with at this particular time, obviously.

But, at this point I knew I had a problem I had to address, so, luckily, I was able to schedule an emergency appointment with an Orthopedic MD for 8:30am on last Friday, the 15th. After completing a ton of paperwork, which no one paid any attention to, I had a very unpleasant examination by Dr. Peter Tang. Twist, turn, squeeze. probe ... ouch and double ouch. Very emotionally and physically draining. Bottom-line - it is probably ligament damage which can be treated with physical therapy and ice, depending on the results of an MRI scheduled for Monday, January 29, subject to approval by my eye doctor.

Right now I am virtually pain free in the forearm but I am being very careful because I know how easily it can be re-injured.

Well keep you advised on both situations.

FACEBOOK

Now, about the vortex known as Facebook. I have avoided becoming part of this networking “community” for a number of reasons, the major one being my recognition of my obsessive/compulsive personality. Facebook seemed to me to be Twitter with a few more characters permitted in the posting, 420 on Facebook versus only 144 on Twitter (I think those are correct numbers).

Well, long story short - for a number of reasons I established my Facebook account on January 7th and quickly determined that it was as time-consuming and addictive as I feared. Yes, I have made frequent postings on my Wall. Many of you loyal and faithful readers are now my “friends” and I am amazed at how the number grows on a daily basis. If you want to check out my Wall you go to: www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=100000655659050. You will receive a prompt that you will need to establish an account, If you don’t already have one, but that is no big deal, it will take only a couple of minutes. Follow the instructions on how to become my “friend” and away we go.

Will I continue with this blog you are no doubt breathlessly asking, especially those of you who will never ever, under any circumstances, join Facebook? Yes, you may relax - Billi Pod Blogs will continue.

Now on to other things - that is, what I have been doing recently entertainment-wise. My daily log (log, not diary - well you know the rest) since the last posting on January 6, reveals that I saw/did/attended: 2 Broadway shows (“Fela” and “A View From the Bridge”); 4 Off Broadway shows (I also canceled 2 shows due to my arm problems); and, 2 New York Philharmonic concerts. I was also able to spend some quality time with Hank and Susan Campbell, visiting from FL, and student/bartender/manager Scott Reed.

As might be expected my entertainment pallet for the next 10 days is open due to the cataract surgery on Tuesday.

In closing, let me wish a Happy 41st Birthday to my son Bill, who lives in Orlando, FL, where he is a High School math teacher, avid golfer, dog lover, Crimson Tide fan and a GREAT son, pal and buddy. Love ya Billyboy!!

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.”