Wankies/White Sox Last Night==>BARF!

Last night’s YANKEES/WHITE SOX game at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, was puke-inducing bad!! It was one of the worst EVER!!

The Yankees gave AAA callup Adam Warren, who was be making his first major league start, a 4-0 lead and he promptly blew it giving up 6 runs on 8 hits, 2 homers and walking 2 in only 2 1/3 innings. It was painful to watch. I really felt bad for his family and friends who were in attendance for his Yankee debut.

In the later innings it got even worse for The Wankies as Cory Wade was pathetic, giving up 6 runs in 2 1/3 innings.

The White Sox won 14-7. Barf!!

And, what was a nice balmy evening turned into a sweltering mess as the breeze suddenly died and the stadium turned into an oven. It was as unpleasant as the game itself.

The only positive note for Billi Pod was having some face time, albeit too brief, with John Scott Reed aka Fabson and Bernard Lam and then with Ashley Zandy and Maria Claudio. Nice seeing you guys.

Interesting side-note==>Scott and Bernard came to the game on Bernard’s Harley, riding from The East Village in Manhattan to 161st Street in The Bronx. Cool!

Game 3 of the 4-game White Sox series is at 1:05 with Hiroki Kuroda (7-7) on the mound vs. Jake Peavy (6-4).

I will, of course, stay in the cool confines of PHC and watch the game. And then for the evening will be ...

8:00==>7th MONARCH - “A social worker investigates a possible crime involving a reclusive mathematician and jarring discoveries are soon revealed.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing at a theater on my block.

OK my loyal and faithful readers, it is almost game time so I will post this and settle in to, hopefully, see The Bronx Bombers atone for last night’s fiasco.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.08 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.”

The Bad and The Better==>B+

First, a big TGIF shout-out to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks and to all of my Worker Bee friends who are watching the clock from the vantage point of their cubicles, wait-stations, broom closets and wherevers.

I hope that each and everyone of you have a wonderful and enjoyable weekend. Just remember my Worker Bee friends==>your weekend starts at no earlier than 5:00pm, so keep at it.

Moving on to ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s THE BAD AND THE BETTER, the detective thriller about anarchists and the people who control them==>B+.

I totally enjoyed this show which has incredible performances from a 26-person ensemble. The energy level is fantastic, and that is putting it mildly.

The story line is sometimes a bit difficult to follow as it branches out into political corruption, undercover agents, vendettas and, I think, environmental accidents. But, I was literally on the edge of my seat for the entire show.

Yes, there is a lot of violence, gunshots, and the bodies begin to accumulate on stage toward the end but when it is over you get the feeling ... “wow, that was really interesting theatre.”

So, Billi Pod says==>this is definitely worth seeing. It runs through July 21st at Playwrights Horizons.

Another good factor about the show==>the 2:25 running time kept me from experiencing the horror that was transpiring out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

What am I talking about you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ... long and sorry story short ... The Bronx Bombers got another good outing from Ivan Nova and had a 3-1 lead going into the top of the 9th. Then, the bullpen imploded with a costly throwing error and a 3-run homer and the Yankees lost 4-3. Major bummer!!

Which leads me into tonight’s entertainment event, which will be ... tada ...

7:05==>YANKEES/WHITE SOX in game 2 of the 4-game series. On the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be the AAA callup, Adam Warren, who will be making his major league debut. Jose Quintana (2-1) will be pitching for the White Sox.

During the game I hope to meet up with John Scott Reed aka Fabson and our mutual friend Ashley Zandy. With them will be Maria Claudio and Scott’s friend Bernard. Ashley is from Sebring, FL, is a major Gator, and recently left The Big Apple to move to California for a major management position with FaceBook. Looking forward to seeing you guys.

Man ... didn’t I tell you that the spin doctors for both the Republicans and the Democrats would have a field day handling the Supreme Court decision on ObamaCare? Yes, I did.

When do you suppose the House Republicans will begin the process to impeach Chief Justice John Roberts? Jus askin ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.04  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.”

GLOOM IN THE YANKEE UNIVERSE

OK, let’s get right to it my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... it is not a happy time in The Pinstripe World.

First ... just before yesterday’s afternoon game against Cleveland was to begin it was announced that our ace CC Sabathia would be on the DL for 15 days due to a groin injury, meaning he will miss two starts. Well, thought Billi Pod ... bad news but we can live with it, so he settled into his seat to watch the game, with Andy Pettitte on the mound.

Pettitte was pitching an excellent game going into the top of the 5th inning, giving up only 1 run on 2 hits, while striking out 7. Then ... OMFG ... Andy was drilled in the left ankle by a scorching line drive from Casey Kotchman. Andy went down and was in obvious pain. You could hear a pin drop in the stadium, not joking, it was eerily quiet.

Andy was taken out and the game resumed. It was later announced that he had a fractured fibula and would be out for at least 6-8 weeks but no surgery will be required. OMFG!!

OMFG!! We lose Mo for the season, CC is on the DL and Andy is out for at least 6 weeks. Not good in The Yankee Universe, not good at all.

The only positive thing ... we won the game 5-4 despite an extremely nail biting performance in the top of the 9th from Mo’s replacement Rafael Soriano. With the win we swept the 3-game Cleveland series.

When the game was over I was in no mood to attempt the walk back to the apartment.

Tonight begins a 4-game series against The Chicago White Sox who lead the AL Central by 2 1/2 games over Cleveland. Ivan Nova (9-2) will be on the mound for The Yankees vs. Dylan Axelrod (0-1).

On to other stuff now ... like ... Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight, which is ... 

7:30==>THE BAD AND THE BETTER - “A riveting detective noir centered around the Lang brothers. One with everything to lose. One with everything to prove. Both in too deep. Local anarchists, law enforcement officials and political power players are all waging war against injustice, corruption and, ultimately, the people they love the most.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing at a theater on my block.

BREAKING NEWS==>”SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS OBAMACARE. Chief Justice John Roberts joins liberal justices to rule individual mandate is legal as a tax. The stunning ruling - unexpected from a Court led by conservatives - was a huge victory for Obama, who staked much of his term on passing the national plan.” The Daily News (online).

Well how about that. It will be really interesting to see how the spin doctors in both parties are going to react to this ruling.

OK, I have some things and stuff to do but I want to close this posting with some comments about my Pedometer stats, so here they are ...

Over the past 7 days Billi Pod walked a total of 27.74 miles. Wow! Of that total, 5.66 were walking in the apartment and the rest, 22.08, were walking outside doing my usual things and stuff in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

The interesting thing to me is the fact that during the 7 day period I did not have a single “walk-and-wander” session.

The bottom line ... I think that 27.74 miles in a "routine" week for a 78yr. old guy borders on being AWESOME ... but ... as usual ...

I report - you decide!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.21 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.”

TRIASSIC PARQ==>A+

OMFG my loyal and faithful readers and followers, last night’s performance of the new Off Broadway musical TRIASSIC PARQ at The SoHo Playhouse downtown was one of the best theater experiences Billi Pod has had, EVER! And, he is not being overly dramatic==>EVER!! 

This mind-boggling show is awarded an==>A+.

The story line: “Chaos is unleashed upon the not-so-prehistoric world when one dinosaur in a clan of females spontaneously turns male.” Now that is an interesting synopsis but the show is soooooo much more, delving into many issues such as: who "we" are, sexual identity and the importance of community and friendship.

The show IS NOT a rip-off of "Jurassic Park." It is its own story that is, at times, extremely raunchy/provocative but also very very thought-provoking.

When I picked up my ticket I noted that the seat assignment was L-2, which I interpreted as being on the aisle in the very rear of this Off Broadway venue. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong and what a surprise it turned out to be.

What am I talking about you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, when I entered the theater the usher told me that my seat was on stage, stage right, and was I OK with that? Of course my inner actor persona took hold and I said yes, it was fine.

When I was seated I quickly took out my iPhone and asked one of my seatmates (or stagemates or castmates is probably better) to take my picture. There were 8 of us on each side of the stage.

Then the show began and for 85 minutes the stage is filled with dancing and singing dinosaurs. The cast is absolutely terrific and the action is virtually nonstop with choreography to die for. I was sometimes only inches away from the performers and the electricity and energy was palatable. I smiled and laughed the whole time.

On two occasions I actually interacted with a cast member, one of the dinosaurs, so you can say ... tada ... Billi Pod made his Off Broadway debut. How about that!! Oh, after the show several audiences members said they really liked my interaction and one asked if I was actually a member of the cast. How about that.

Now, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting I have to say that kids under the age of 12 shouldn’t see the show, but, trust me, teenagers are gonna love it and will want to come back.

When the show was over I was able to have a conversation with one of the show’s producers, Jack Thomas, who is a FaceBook friend. Jack is also the producer of the highly successful and long-running Off-Broadway hit FREUD’S LAST SESSION. He introduced me to several members of the creative team and that was nice.

Also ... after the show I learned that the casting had been done by another friend, Scott Wojcik, of Wojcik/Seay Casting. How about that.

The show opens tonight, Wednesday, so ... my loyal and faithful readers in the Tri-State area Billi Pod says==>SEE THIS SHOW!!

OK, I have an afternoon game out at Yankee Stadium, the final game of the 3-game series with Cleveland, with Andy Pettitte on the mound, so I will post this and then head out to The House That Greed And Ego Built.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.48 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.”

Great Evening At The Stadium!

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, Billi Pod is happy to report that it was an outstanding evening last night out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

First of all ... the weather turned out to be awesome which was quite a surprise since it was really dark and gloomy looking when I arrived at the stadium around 6:30. It cleared up and became very pleasant, even balmy.

Hiroki Kuroda had another excellent outing holding the Indians to 1 run over 7-plus innings, giving up only 5 hits and striking out 7.

Robbie Cano homered and drove in 3 runs. We also got the long ball from Nick Swisher and utility player Dewayne Wise (who??).

With the 7-1 win The Bronx Bombers now lead the AL East by 3 games over the Orioles.

Tonight Phil Hughes (7-6) will be on the mound vs. Justin Masterson (4-6).

This was my 17th game of the 2012 season and the record for these games is: 10 wins and 7 losses.

Billi Pod has an interesting theater event for tonight ...

8:00==>TRIASSIC PARQ THE MUSICAL - “Chaos is unleashed upon the not-so-prehistoric world when one dinosaur in a clan of females spontaneously turns male. The mutation spawns a chain reaction of identity crises, forcing the dinosaurs to question the very facts of life they've held as truth.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket

This show is in previews and the advance buzz is pretty good. The show is being produced by my FaceBook friend Jack Thomas, who was also the producer of the highly successful and long-running Off-Broadway hit FREUD’S LAST SESSION.

I am really looking forward to seeing his new venture.

Well, Billi Pod has some things and stuff he needs to do, so will post this now and get at it ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.04 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.”

Sunday Was A Very Good Day!!

Yesterday was a very good day for Billi Pod in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, starting with the 2012 GAY PRIDE PARADE, which he watched with some AA buddies (you know who you are) from a vantage point down in Chelsea, then a light bite with them and then ending with the final game of the YANKEES/METS Subway Series.

It had been several years since I actually viewed the parade so I am glad I had the opportunity this year to be there with some friends. The parade itself seemed to me to have been a lot more low key than I remembered but I have no problem whatsoever with that.

We opted not to follow the parade down to its ultimate ending point in The Village, where it really does get crazy.

After having a bite at a bistro, whose name I forget, I walked back to the apartment and the weather was really great. Had time to finally make a later-than-usual posting to this blog and then settle in to watch the YANKEES/METS game.

As most of you loyal and faithful readers and followers know, this was the final game of the 6-game 2012 Subway Series and the game was at Citi Field in Queens. It was billed to be a pitcher’s duel between our ace CC Sabathia and their ace R.A. Dickey.

Well, it didn’t quite turn out that way. Neither pitcher had his best stuff although CC was hurt by some really shoddy defense from The Bombers. Dickey got bombed.

I won’t bore you with any more details, except to say that the Yankees won 6-5 and with the win The Bronx Bombers win the 2012 Subway Series 5 games to 1.

Tonight’s entertainment event for Billi Pod will be ... tada ... baseball ... 

7:05==>YANKEES/CLEVELAND @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, with Hiroki Kuroda (6-7) vs. Josh Tomlin (3-4).

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers, baseball is gonna pretty much fill up Billi Pod’s entertainment schedule for most of the upcoming week. His schedule looks like this ...

Wednesday @ 1:05==>YANKEES/CLEVELAND

Friday @ 7:05==>YANKEES/WHITE SOX

Sunday @ 2:05==>YANKEES/WHITE SOX. 

Sunday’s game is also the 66th Old-Timers’ Day, with the ceremonies beginning at 11:15 and the Old-Timers’ game immediately thereafter. Of course I will be there for this event.

As you may recall, one of the few items remaining on Billi Pod’s to-do list is to walk from Yankee Stadium in The Bronx to his apartment in Hell’s Kitchen in midtown Manhattan, a distance he estimates to be approximately 7.5 miles.

This week I have two afternoon games so I am gonna give it a shot. Will first try for Wednesday and if that doesn’t work out then Sunday. A lot, of course, has to do with the weather.

Well, this being a Monday, I have errands and stuff to do ... so ... later ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.50 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.”

SILENCE! THE MUSICAL==>A+

I am happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers that Billi Pod’s third visit to SILENCE! THE MUSICAL, the campy and raunchy musical parody of 'The Silence of the Lambs’ was as much fun as the previous two visits==>A+.

This is the same grade that it received the first two times. I loved it and it was just what I was in the mood for on what was a beautiful afternoon in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

When the show was over I met up with Dian Crystal aka My Lady for an early bite in The East Village. I had left the choice of food and where totally up to her, my only no-no was sushi.

Guess what? She chose another Ethiopian Restaurant, this one named AWASH, located on East 6th Street in The East Village. You know, for whatever reason I don’t think AWASH is the best name for any restaurant, regardless of the food-type, but what do I know.

Anyway, it was around 5:00pm when we were seated and there were only two other tables in use. Dian had been there before so I left the menu choice up to her and she chose the Vegetarian Plate, which was basically what we had at the restaurant where we dined earlier in the week, in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

Actually, it was a good choice and the food was very tasty and filling too. I enjoyed it a lot.

When dinner was over we split. Dian had a show in the East Village and I had planned to stay in to watch game two of the YANKEES/METS subway series. I walked back to PHC and it felt really good. There was a nice breeze.

OK ... about the game ... well, Ivan Nova was on the mound for The Bronx Bombers and he had a shaky outing, not helped by critical errors from Jeter and A-Rod.

The Mets were cruising along with a 3-0 lead going into the top of the 7th inning. Frankly, Billi Pod was thinking to himself ... self, sometimes you are an asshole, you should be at the theater rather than sitting in front of this f**king TV on a Saturday night. Then ...

Wham, bam, thank you Ma’am ... The Bronx Bombers scored 4 runs on homers from utility players Raul Ibanez (who??) and Eric Chavez (who??). Yes, it was the long ball yet again.

Both Dave Robertson and Rafael Soriano pitched into and out of trouble and The Yankees held on to win 4-3. YES!! You see self ... Billi Pod usually makes good choices/decisions.

The final game of the subway series will be @ 8:05pm tonight on ESPN with our ace CC Sabathia (9-3) on the mound vs. their ace R.A. Dickey (11-1). Of course, Billi Pod will stay in PHC for this pitcher’s duel.

OK, got stuff to do before I meet some folks in Chelsea to watch the 2012 GAY PRIDE PARADE ... so ... have a great rest of the weekend everyone.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.30 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.”