Billi Pod Says==>Happy Tuesday Everyone!!

Happy Tuesday to all of my loyal and faithful readers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

I hope your week is going well ... mine certainly is, despite the mental gyrations going on in my head in preparation for my return to Polk County, FL, aka PFC aka Polk F**king County, on Thursday. I mean ... I was just there yesterday ... or anyway ... it seems like yesterday ...

Oh well ... you gotta do what you gotta do ... and ... attending one’s 60th High School Reunion is, in my humble opinion, a “gotta-do” especially when your class was as small as ours ... only 72 in number way back in June 1952. More details about the reunion will be posted tomorrow, I promise ...

And speaking of promises ... I do fervently promise that I will, finally, post the awesome entertainment stats for 2011, later in the day ... I promise. You’ve waited this long ... so just take a deep breath ... they are finally on their way for you to savor and analyze.

Anyway ... let’s move on to other things ... like Billi Pod’s thoughts and comments on last night’s entertainment event ...

The NATIONAL FESTIVAL CHORUS @ Carnegie Hall was a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment, with a multitude of different choruses from around the country.

My comp. seat was awesome - in the 1st tier, box seating, and the face value on the ticket was ... tada ... $110.00. Now that is really awesome.

Seated in the box with me was a family from Piedmont, CA, whose daughter was performing with the Piedmont High School Acapella Choir (for your info ... Piedmont, CA, is next to Oakland). And, yes, Acapella is how it was spelled in the program and all of the supporting documents. My research does reveal that acapella is the latin version of the more comman Italian a cappella.

Anyway ... We had a nice running conversation and they were sooooooo excited, something I can certainly understand. The Piedmont High School Acapella Choir was excellent and the parents had every reason to be proud. It made my evening even more enjoyable.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for this evening is his fourth classical music concert in a row (perhaps a bit much, he will admit) ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - “The program is: Steven Stucky - Son et lumiere; Berlioz - Les Nuits d’ete: and Musorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition.” (season subscription series).

OMFG!! Steven Stucky is the same guy whose work was on the program at the PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA concert on Sunday. I’ll be willing to bet it will be another atonal piece of dreck. OMFG!!

Oh well ... ain’t nothing I can do about it ... so ...

Speaking of so ... I soooooooo want to finish the draft of the entertainment stats posting ... soooooooo ... I will post this by ending with another thing for you loyal and faithful readers to ponder ...

Think about it!!

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.”

ALEX-189

A Warning To You Worker Bees & HURT VILLAGE==>BARF!!

Welcome to Thursday everyone out there in the vast hinterlands, boondocks, and morass known as cyberspace.

Yes, my Worker Bee friends, you have only the rest of today and then tomorrow until your weekend begins. Billi Pod knows that you are already getting excited ... but ... remember ... you have to remain focused on your tasks, mundane though they may be.

A friend of mine, who is not a Worker Bee, has been urging me to remind all of you Worker Bees that you need to constantly remember and understand how lucky you are to even have a job in today’s troubled economic times. And ... damn I hate to write this ... but ... as a fair an unbiased reporter I must ... the harsh reality is ... once a Worker Bee loses his/her job ... the odds here in the US of A are virtually 99.8% that you will never ever be rehired in any capacity, for even the most unpleasant and menial tasks.

So ... all of you Worker Bees ... you are again reminded of your lowly status in this harsh reality of life in the 21st century. Actually, for Worker Bees it has always been thus ... but ... you are again reminded ... you are so welcum ...

On to other more important things, like Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader, which was ... alas ... another mixed bag ... starting with ...

HURT VILLAGE, about a Memphis family in the projects who are about to be relocated==>is a bag of s**t.

I can’t remember when I disliked a show so quickly. It began with the opening scene which featured a 13yr old girl rapping and spewing the n-word, the s-word and the f-word. Nasty and unpleasant.

It got only worse with stereotypical portrayals of alleged ghetto life laced with the n-word, the f-word, the s-word and homophobic slurs. Folks ... if this had been written by a white playwright there would have been riots in the streets in protest ... and I am not joking about this ... riots ...

The only saving grace was an acceptable performance from Tonya Pinkins in the role of Big Mama, the family matriarch.

I fled at intermission, along with a lot of other people. Stay away from this!!

I do have to comment that the new space, now called The Pershing Square Signature Center, is awesome and is worth seeing even if you are not scheduled for a show there.

Thank you Theater Gods ... the second half of the entertainment doubleheader saved the day for Billi Pod ... it was ..

THE INEXPLICABLE REDEMPTION OF AGENT G, about a man looking for answers and revenge in Vietnam==>A

This show is extremely funny and very well performed. Interestingly, it also addressed the issue(s) of racial stereotypes but, unlike HURT VILLAGE, it did so with an even and humorous hand. The 80-minute running time flew by.

As I reported in yesterday’s posting, the producing company is called Vampire Cowboys, and I think you will find the following mission statement to be interesting ...

“Vampire Cowboys is a ‘geek theatre’ company that creates and produces new works of theatre based in action/adventure and dark comedy with a comic book aesthetic. The company actively pursues the mating of different genres with varied theatrical styles to create an eclectic structure to tell its stories. We aim to bridge the gap between mass media entertainment and the performing arts, exposing the community to challenging, thought-provoking live entertainment rooted in today’s pop-culture vernacular.”

And, folks, this is just what they did with this show.

Billi Pod highly recommends it and will see it again, if he can, before its run ends on March 4th.

So there you have it my loyal and faithful readers ... one show was a bag of s**t and the other was a bag loaded with fun and, I guess, this just goes with the territory when you see as many shows as Billi Pod does here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Which leads me to answer several emails and snarky texts ... yes ... I know I haven’t posted the entertainment stats for 2011 or for January 2012. Both will be forthcoming ... I promise ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is also in the “WTF Is This Category” to be brutally honest ... it is ...

8:00==>CHEKHOVEK - “Five actors and one musician perform nine of Anton Chekhov’s, the Russian master, most famous and theatrical short stories. Desire, death and foolishness abound in a comedy in 15 scenes.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Really?? Checkhov==>comedy<==Really?? We will see. This is playing at a theater in the Upper Westside known for cutting-edge work ... so ... we will see.

Still no word on whether AJ Burnett aka Loser Boi is gonna be history. Let’s do it guys!

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.”

ALEX-177

Billi Pod Reports on Monday

It was 41º @ 7:30am in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Bright and cold.

Yes ... a beautiful but cold morning for The Big Blue parade through "The Canyon of Heroes" which began at @ 11:00am downtown, ending up at City Hall Plaza.

Yes ... Billi Pod has been watching the event unfold from the cozy and warm confines of PHC. The relatively nice weather has brought out record crowds of die-hard Giants fans and, at the moment ... Eli Manning is King Of The World ... at least here in Gotham City.

Can you believe this ... we haven’t even finished the award ceremony and already the “pundits” are talking about the odds for and against The Giants making it back to Super Bowl XLVII. Come on guys ... why don’t you just give us the opportunity to live in the moment ... OK?

Anyway ... for your enlightenment out there in the boondocks and hinterlands, the early morning odds to win the 2013 Super Bowl are:

Green Bay Packers - 5-1

New Orleans Saints - 6-1

New England Patriots - 7-1

New York Giants - 10-1

and ... way down the list

New York Jets - 20-1

and ... at the bottom of the list ... tada ...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 150-1

Moving on ...

As you loyal and faithful readers know ... last night’s scheduled entertainment event was THE MOST HAPPY FELLA @ 8:00pm at the NYU Skirball Center in The Village. Was really looking forward to this show.

I guess it was around 7:00pm when I left PHC and headed over to The Port Authority Bus Terminal to catch a train down to The Village. It is only a 4 stop trip and I made great time. As usual, I played a bit of solitaire on my iPhone.

Leisurely walked from the subway station to the venue and I estimate it was around 7:30 when I got there. It was a bit chilly but tolerable.

Decided I would go on inside the venue even though it was a bit earlier than I usually do ... so ... I took out my iPhone to check my messages and emails and ... then ...

OMFG!! The iPhone was 100% dead. OMFG!! I had recharged it before leaving the apartment, as I always do. Punched buttons and even shook it ... nothing ... OMFG!! It was dead. I had my recharger-battery system with me, so I took it out of my backpack and plugged it in, hoping that perhaps it would jump-start the iPhone back into operation.

Nothing!! Nada!! Zilch!! OMFG!!

Now I knew I had a serious problem. The issue was ... do I simply ignore it and go on inside for my event and then try to “fix” it when I get back to PHC after the 2+ hour show ... or ... do I run down to The Apple Store further downtown in SoHo, at Prince and Broome, and see if they can fix it for me?

Damn ... I really wanted to see this show ... but I also knew that if I went inside I would have extreme difficulty focusing on the show because of my concern over the status of my iPhone.

Now ... I have to say to you loyal and faithful readers ... to those of you who don’t have iPhones ... I know you can’t understand why I was so bent-out-of-shape ... but ... those of you in the iPhone Universe truly understand and identify with my conundrum.

Well ... Billi Pod headed south to SoHo at a brisk pace. Then ... OMFG!! When I got down to The Apple Store location I learned for the first time that it was closed for renovation. Man ... why was Billi Pod being punished like this? OMFG!!

Then ... I noticed the sign that said there was a temporary location about 2 blocks further south ... so off I went.

Found the temporary location and went up to a nice young man wearing all of the usual Apple gear and explained my problem to him ... or rather ... my iPhone’s problem. When he told me that all of the technicians were booked until 3:00am my heart virtually stopped pumping ... but ...

He said ... “I’m not a technician, of course ... but let me see your phone for a minute.” I gave it to him and he did a procedure which he called a “butt-kick” which involved holding down two buttons ... and ... presto ... the Apple logo lit up and the phone was alive again ...

We talked briefly about what it would entail to get a new phone immediately and I decided that I wouldn’t do it just then ... but ... trust me ... a new phone is just around the corner.

I thanked him profusely and left the store ... it was 8:15 and I had missed my show. Damn!!

I wasn’t in a mood to head back to the apartment, so I walked over to the Spring Street subway station and caught a train back to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and went to one of the mega-plex movie theaters and got a $9.50 senior ticket to see the recently released movie CHRONICLE.

CHRONICLE is about “three teenage boys who accidentally gain superpowers, with one of them becoming a destructive megalomaniac.”

Had about a 30 minute wait until the previews began so I spent the time playing solitaire on my now operational iPhone. (It is still functional as I write this posting)

The show has received generally good reviews and I enjoyed it a lot and have no problem recommending it to you loyal and faithful readers.

So ... that was yesterday’s entertainment event ... finally ...

Today’s entertainment event is ...

7:30==>THE CONFUSIONS OF YOUNG TORLESS - “In an elite late 19th century Austrian military school four adolescent boys become enmeshed in a dangerous rite of passage.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket).

Yes ... I know ... sounds like a bit of a downer doesn’t it? But, it is playing at The Looking Glass Theater on West 57th Street and I usually like the stuff they do there ... so we will see ...

Ending on a sad note ... my longtime friend and fraternity brother Joe Heyck of Tampa, FL, died on February 2nd. He was 76.

Joe and I go way way back to the University of Florida where we were both, at the same time, members of: Kappa Alpha Order; Florida Blue Key; and the University of Florida Hall of Fame.

Joe had a long and distinguished career with the Tampa-based law firm of Allen, Dell, Frank, and Trinkle. He is survived by: his wife of 47 years, Marilyn; two children; and 4 grandchildren.

Seeya later Alligator!!

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.”

ALEX-168

Errands Monday and Report Cards On Yesterday’s Doubleheader

Good Monday afternoon everyone.

I apologize to all of my loyal and faithful readers for the delay in today’s posting but today, being Monday, is my usual errands and stuff day and I thought that I would get them out of the way before working on my daily blog ... well ...

It seems as if everything took longer than I had anticipated and nothing worked out exactly as I expected. I won’t bore you with too many details other than to share that they all revolved around getting the necessary hardware and stuff to frame and hang the artwork I had gotten out of my Bartow storage area a couple of weeks ago.

One of the few downsides of living in a metropolitan area like New York City is ... no shopping malls ... meaning a lot of walking and a lot of subway rides to get things and stuff. My first store was on 57th and 7th Avenue and it didn’t have what I wanted/needed so I headed further uptown to 97th and Columbus Ave. and they only had part of what I wanted/needed. Damn!!!

So I came back to PHC, went online and was able to order the rest of the stuff. Why I didn’t think about doing that first I really don’t know ... but I didn't.

Anyway ... at least I have made the first step toward overcoming my artistic sloth.

As most of you loyal and faithful readers know, yesterday was another entertainment doubleheader for Billi Pod.

His first show was MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET based on a chance (but true) meeting between Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley, in a recording studio.

When I first saw this show back in March 2011, during its Broadway run, I gave it an A. I am happy to report that it also works very well in the smaller Off Broadway venue at New World Stages, so my report card is==>A.

Each of the performers bore a passable resemblance to the rock ‘n’ roll legends they were portraying. Each of the characters performed their gold record hits in basically a jam-session format.

I have to admit that once again it brought back a lot of memories since it is set in 1956, when I was a mere 22 years old and just beginning to really get into rock music. I left the theatre with a happy smile on my face and my ears ringing.

As planned I didn’t go back to PHC but rather headed down to the Astor Place area for my second show.

Had time to check out John Scott Reed’s aka Fabson new apartment location. Fabson is leaving Brooklyn to return to Manhattan, where he belongs. His building is located on 10th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. It is a happening area and I will post more about it later. Also had time for some coffee and something sweet, again as I had planned.

Met up with my theater buddy Dian Crystal just before the show. She was traveling without her usual posse.

OK ... OK ... I know ... you are tired of waiting for me to report on my second show GOB SQUAD’S KITCHEN, a reconstruction of Andy Warhol’s firms and lifestyle, set in 1965 ... well folks ... even though more time has transpired I am still uncertain just WTF was going on ... so ... Billi Pod’s report card is==>WTF.

It was certainly different to say the least. Unfortunately Billi Pod did not get selected to appear onstage with the cast ... dammit ... Neither Dian, but she really didn’t want to do it, whereas, Billi Pod did ... oh well ...

As I posted yesterday, it is a multimedia presentation that breaks the 4th wall multiple times. I will be very interested in the reviews once the show officially opens.

Now ... moving on to today ... or rather ... tonight ...

8:00==>STONE AND STONE - “Twin brothers perform at The Peoples Improv Theater.” (comedy show -complimentary ticket).

I think that the following press release about the show is very interesting ...

“On a quiet morning in 1983, twin babies were placed in an open basket in the Hudson River on the New Jersey side. They passed over the calm waters to the island of Manhattan where they were discovered, rescued, and later raised by a beautiful and kindly beggar-woman. One day during their eighteenth year, the twins went to play in Central Park. While rubbing sticks together to create a spark, a whole bush caught on fire and a mighty voice spoke out to them. The twins asked the bush what they should do. “Should we found a nation for twins?” asked Adam. “Or discover the cure for gout?” asked Todd. “No!” said the flaming bush. “You must go to Wesleyan University together, start a comedy show and then hit the New York comedy scene. Now!” And that is what they did.

Always dressed in double-breasted blazers, the Stone twins, Adam and Todd, created a two man comedy act called "Stone and Stone" during their sophomore year at Wesleyan University. Since graduating in 2005, they have performed at comedy clubs and theaters throughout New York

City.”

I think this should be fun.

OK ... still got things and stuff to do ... so ...

GO YANKEES AND GO BIG BLUE!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-160

Thanksgiving Dinner Was Great!!

Happy Black Friday to everyone out there in the hinterlands and vast wasteland known as cyberspace.

Yes, I know that there are a lot of bargains offered today at stores everywhere ... but ... folks ... isn’t it sick to spend the night in front of a BestBuy or WalMart or KMart to make it inside when they open at 6:00am, or whenever?

Yes it is, especially when many of the same bargains will be offered online on Cyber Monday.

Billi Pod has many vices, but ... Thank God==>shopping ain’t one of them.

Anyway ...

Had a great time yesterday with my AA buds and their families at an awesome Thanksgiving Dinner hosted in a very posh Upper Westside apartment.

Holidays are often very difficult times for people in recovery, even those of us who are blessed with long-term sobriety. We had a great time sharing our experience, strength and hope in a non-stressfull fellowship environment, bolstered by an ton of excellent food.

As I wrote yesterday, everyone had previously agreed to be cell-phone-less for the whole time ... and ... we were ...

Yep, Billi Pod was disconnected for almost 4 hours and he survived.

It was a bit after 5:00pm when I got back to PHC. Had thought about seeing a movie, but instead I just settled in to watch football and that was OK. The Texas/Texas A&M game was very interesting and exciting to watch.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is ...

8:00==>THE BLUE FLOWER - “This musical, spanning two continents and half a century, explores the romantic and tumultuous relationships between four young friends – three artists and a scientist – as they create a world of art, revolution and passion amidst the turbulence and destruction of the World Wars.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show was received very mixed reviews, more often than not falling into the “love-it" or "hate-it” category.

I have avoided seeing it but when one of my theater buddies, whose judgment I trust, said it was worth seeing I decided to give it a shot. I think that it closes on Sunday.

The countdown to the GATORS/HALF ASS U game on Saturday has begun and, as I have posted several times, Billi Pod has a very bad feeling in his gut about this game.

On Saturday I am having an early dinner with my dear friends David Huddleston and his wife Sarah Koeppe at Sardi’s, so I will probably miss the first quarter of the game. I will, however, come back to PHC and witness the rest of what could be an ass-whipping.

Oh, and on the topic of football ... please explain to me how Urban Meyer, who was too fragile to remain the head coach of The Gators, is now, less than a year away from his “medical” retirement, on the brink of signing-on to coach at Ohio State, a program that has a bucket-load of problems, to put it mildly?

WTF Urban==>we have a coach who resigns because of his health, returns because he has discovered balance in his life, then resigns because of his health. Now, he has rediscovered his health/balance and wants to sign with Ohio State?

WTF Urban==>this fails the smell test big time.

Anyway ...

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.”

ALEX-93