WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?==>A

Good morning everyone out there in the boondocks, wastelands and hinterlands. It is a beautiful morning here in New York City, The Greatest City In The World.

Why don’t we get today’s posting started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? - about George and Martha who fight in the presence of a young couple who are their after-party guests==>A.

Of course I was familiar with the story line since I had seen  two prior Broadway revivals and a couple of nonprofessional productions. My discounted seat was excellent, in the middle orchestra, row J, seat 105.

This was a unique theater experience thanks to the production values instilled by The Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

The acting in this production is stellar, especially Tracy Letts (Pulitzer and Tony winning author of August: Osage County) as George and Madison Dirks as Nick.

In this production the men hold their own against the progressively nasty aggressiveness of Martha, forcefully played by Amy Morton.

The show clocks in at 3 hours with 2 ten-minute intermissions. And, yes, when it was over I felt emotionally drained and I still hated both George and Martha, as I knew I would but ... it was an outstanding theater event, for which I have to say==>Thank You Master Albee.

So ... to all of his theater-nut buddies Billi Pod says==>you gotta see this show.

Unfortunately, earlier in the afternoon was a complete downer.

What am I talking about some of you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, I think most of you loyal and faithful readers and followers know what’s coming ...

The Wankies lost another game to those lowly last-place Toronto Blue Jays, this time by a score of 3-2 as yet again they failed to get hits with runners in scoring position.

This 4-game series in Toronto was supposed to be our pathway to the post season, instead it has turned into a fucking nightmare for The Yankee Universe because those pesky Orioles just won’t go away. We are now tied again with 4-games left in the regular season.

This afternoon it will be Phil Hughes (16-13) on the mound for The Wankies vs. Henderson Alvarez (9-14) for The Blue Jays.

This is a MUST-WIN game for The Wankies.

Moving on ...

Gonna meet up with a couple of my AA buddies (you know who you are) for a late lunch and then we will probably watch the Yankees/Toronto game somewhere.

My entertainment event for the evening is ...

7:00==>RED DOG HOWLS - “This drama explores the horror of a forgotten genocide, the enduring strength of the human spirit and how the choices we make for our children will for better or worse reverberate for generations to come.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

The show has gotten very mixed reviews. Featured in the cast is the incomparable Kathleen Chalfant and this is the primary reason I am seeing it.

The show is playing at a theater down in the East Village. I will meet up with my theater buddy Dian Crystal and after the show we will catch a bite somewhere of her choosing.

OK, it is time to post this and then get ready to head out to the Upper Westside to meet my AA buds.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.75  miles (or, 14,762 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>475.17

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>603.83

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.”

RED-HANDED OTTER==>A

It is a kinda gray and gloomy morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, so let’s get this posting started with something very positive and that is ...

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

RED-HANDED OTTER, about a team of security guards who attempt to comfort a co-worker, Paul, after the death of his cherished pet cat==>A

Very funny, well acted and also thought-provoking. It takes a mighty shot at owners who obsess over their pets. 

It is playing in The West Village at the Cherry Lane Studio Theater and runs through October 6th and Billi Pod recommends it, especially to My Lady, Dian Crystal, who has a “few” cats in her apartment.

When the show was over the weather was OK so I walked back from The West Village to my 42nd Street apartment, a distance of 1.8 miles, while listening to the final innings of the YANKEES/TORONTO game on my ancient Walkman.

The Yankees won 11-4 over the last-place Blue Jays despite a rather shaky outing from Hiroki Kuroda. The Orioles also won so our lead in the AL East remains at 1 game with 5-games left in the regular season.

Folks, the Yankees post season hopes could come down to the final game of the regular season on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, against The Boston FuckSox. How ironic is that?

At 1:05pm this afternoon it will be game 3 of the series in Toronto with Andy Pettitte (5-3) on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Ricky Romero (9-14) for the Blue Jays.

I will try to get in a walk and wander session before and after the game.

Tonight’s entertainment event is a Broadway show in early previews ... 

8:00==>WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? - “Edward Albee’s legendary play tells the story of George and Martha a verbally and physically abusive couple who invite a younger work colleague and his wife over for an unforgettable night of cocktails and crossfire.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Of course, as I theater-nut I have seen numerous productions of Virginia Woolf so ...

This being an Albee play, I am confident that my mindset during the show will be something like this==>I hate Albee; why did I waste my money; what great acting; I hate all of the characters; I hate Albee; man, that was really emotionally involving: and, that was great theater, thank you Master Albee!!!

Anyway ... 

I hope everyone out there in the hinterlands, boondocks and wastelands is having a great weekend.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.02  miles (or, 13,163 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>468.42

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>610.58

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.”

1,000,000+ Steps Since 7/1/12

I am happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that at the intersection of 57th Street and 12th Avenue @ 3:07pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012, Billi Pod reached a major milestone in his 1,079 mile walking challenge/adventure==>1,000,000 steps recorded since 7/1/12.

Yes, that is the correct number as recorded in my records from my WeightWatchers Pedometer. I hope you will allow me to sorta bask in the implications of this awesome number.

I know that as human beings we all accumulate numbers that reach and exceed 1,000,000==>heart beats, breaths, eye blinks, walking etc etc etc but we rarely, if ever, have a record of these accomplishments. Well, in this instance Billi Pod does.

And, if things work out as planned there will be more to come, so stay tuned my loyal and faithful readers and followers, stay tuned.

Now moving on ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s DON’T GO GENTLE, about a retired conservative Judge who seeks redemption for his failed relationship with his adult children==>B+

Great acting from a stellar cast headed by Michael Cristofer in the lead role of Lawrence, the retired Judge. I personally found the Judge to be totally without any redeeming characteristics and to be totally dislikable. As I told some of my theater friends afterwards, not all retired Judges are like that.

The show has a gut wrenching story line and everyone is mad and angry during most of the 1:40 show.

Having said that, Billi Pod still believes the show is worth seeing.

As a side-note==>Cristofer wrote the Pulitzer and Tony winning drama “The Shadow Box,” which is one of my favorite plays. I was in two different Community Theatre productions of this show, way back when ...

Fortunately, the timing of the show kept me from being a part of the meltdown by the Wankies in their unforgivable 6-0 loss to the last place Blue Jays.

Ivan Nova pretty much pitched his way out of the post season starting rotation. Our lead in the AL East is now back to 1-game.

Tonight it will be Hiroki Kuroda (14-11) on the mound for The Wankies vs. Chad Jenkins (0-2) for The Blue Jays.

Thank God the NFL owners finally came to their senses and reached an agreement with the referee’s union. The replacement refs are gone and the real referees are now back.

Today’s entertainment event is ...

7:00==>RED-HANDED OTTER - “Security guards offer cold comfort to a co-worker, Paul, after the death of his cherished pet cat. When their good intentions backfire Paul’s grief turns into malevolent rage.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This is playing down in the West Village. My plans are to head out early for a nice walk and wander session.

I HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAS AN AWESOME WEEKEND!!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>7.04  miles (or, 15,396 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>462.40 (or, 1,011,269 steps)

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>623.64

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 University of Florida Is A Top 10 Party School==>YES!!

Good afternoon everyone out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

BREAKING NEWS==>My alma mater, The University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, has just been ranked the #3 best party school by Playboy magazine.

Playboy says its ratings are based on sex, sports and nightlife (what else is there really?) ... so here are the rankings ... 

1. Virginia

2. USC

3. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

4. Texas

5. Wisconsin (really??)

6. Georgia

7. Vanderbilt

8. Tulane

9. Texas Christian (TCU)

10. Ohio State

Of course, 3 SEC schools in The Top Ten!

GO GATORS!!! Billi Pod is soooooooo proud to be a Florida Gator!!!

Moving on to Billi Pod’s review of last night’s entertainment event ... 

AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, Ibsen’s classic drama about an intense sibling rivalry==>B+

The cast is excellent and there is an award-worthy performance from Boyd Gaines, in the role of the doctor who creates turmoil in his small town.

My only quibble with the show is that all of the shouting and screaming does gets a bit old. This is a common complaint on the various theater message boards.

The show has been trimmed to 2 hours, with an intermission. It is definitely worth seeing and it opens tonight.

Briefly, on the baseball scene==>The Yankees win and the Orioles win and we still lead the AL East by 1.5 games with 7 remaining. We got an excellent performance from our ace CC Sabathia.

Tonight begins a 4-game series @ Toronto and it will be Ivan Nova (12-7) on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Brandon Morrow (8-7) for The Blue Jays.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>DON’T GO GENTLE - “A retired conservative Judge seeks redemption for his failures at home by volunteering to help a struggling black mother.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at a theatre down in the West Village so after the show I will probably walk back to the apartment while listening to the final innings of the Yankees/Jays game.

MORE BREAKING NEWS==>Billi Pod has finally made an appointment with a doctor in order to address his hearing issue(s).

Yes ... yes ... I know my family and friends, this is way-way overdue but ... as I responded to a question from one of my friends, whose initials are JSR, asking why I waited so long ... “when you are suffering from the ‘Peter Pan Syndrome’ for your entire life it is extremely difficult to admit that you have any problem(s) that might be age related.” So ...

I finally asked my cardiologist and friend Dr. Fred Feuerbach for a recommendation and he highly recommended Dr. Rose DuLude, a clinical audiologist, whose office is at 329 E. 68th Street, here in Manhattan.

My appointment is for 11:00am on Tuesday, October 2nd. 

I will keep my loyal and faithful readers and followers advised.

In closing ... sometime today during one of my walking and wandering sessions I will reach an INCREDIBLE benchmark, the details of which will be in tomorrow’s blog.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.33  miles (or, 13,845 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>455.36

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>623.64

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 Belated Entertainment Update

Good afternoon to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers who are, no doubt, wondering what happened to yesterday’s posting. Well ...

My bad. Had the walking tour and stuff midday and just didn’t get around to writing anything ... so ... please forgive me and let’s get started with an update ...

Yesterday’s WEST VILLAGE FOOD TASTING & CULTURAL WALKING TOUR, with Marty Kosarik and Dian Crystal, was very informative and a lot of fun. Marty had gotten us coupons and this was part of his “I'm 50 and I'm Fabulous Tour 2012.” The regular cost is $48.00 per person. We were free. The weather was awesome.

Our 12-person group had food samples from 7 different West Village restaurants during the 3-hour tour:

Faicco's Italian Specialties;

Artichoke Pizza;

Mamoun’s Falafel;

Hudson Bagels;

Magnolia Bakery;

Pasticceria Bruno; and,

Havana Alma de Cuba, which was an addition to the usual schedule.

Our tour director was Dante, who lives in Yonkers, and he did an excellent job of mixing in the history of The West Village and food tasting stories with a wry sense of humor. He is extremely knowledgeable in the long history of The West Village.

As a very pleasant side note ... about midway in the tour I struck up a conversation with a very nice looking early 30s Asian lady who was on the tour with members of her family. Well, when I told her I was originally from Florida she immediately responded that she was too. I said I was a Gator and she said she was too, having graduated with a BSBA and then an MBA. 

Her name is Triccia and her parents are Jun and Mare Bana and they live in Jacksonville.

Yes, just another reminder that The Gator Nation is everywhere.

The tour was over around 2:15 and Marty, Dian and I split. I calculated that we walked about 4-miles on the tour.

Does Billi Pod recommend it? Yes he does.

For the evening I had a nice dinner with John Scott Reed aka Fabson at Nicoletta, a new pizza restaurant at 10th and 2nd Avenue in his ‘hood. We did some much needed/wanted catching up. The food was excellent.

Scott has an awesome upcoming trip to San Francisco. He will be able to spend some time with our mutual friend Ashley Zandy. I am sooooooo jealous. Billi Pod totally loves San Francisco.

Have fun Fabson!!

Tonight’s entertainment event is a Broadway show in previews  ... 

7:00==>AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - “Two brothers, played by Richard Thomas and Boyd Gaines, are forced into a passionate confrontation of political will and personal ethics, in this new version of Iben’s classic.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket).

Thus far the advance buzz on this show has been very mixed. I understand that the running time has been cut from the early previews.

OK, that kinda brings you loyal and faithful readers up-to-date on the theater and stuff. I know you are also breathlessly wondering about baseball ... so ...

I will be brief ... stop the clapping ... don’t make me come over there and bitch-slap you - I know where you live/work ... anyway ... 

The Yankees lost 5-4 last night in a game they should have won. The bullpen was unable to protect a 2-run lead. Luckily, The Orioles also lost so our lead in the AL East remains at 1.5 games with 8 regular season games to go.

This afternoon at 1:05 will be the final game against The Twins. It will be our ace CC Sabathia (13-6) vs. Samuel Deduno (6-5) for Minnesota.

I will close this posting with Billi Pod’s report card on Monday’s movie ...

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, about an introverted freshman who is taken under the wings of two seniors==>A+

Incredible performances by the young cast, especially by Logan Lerman in the lead role of Charlie. Folks, you gotta see this movie when it is released nationwide.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>7.12  miles (or, 15,577 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>449.03

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>629.97

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.”