Billi Pod Has A Saturday Doubleheader

Good morning everyone.

It is a beautiful fall morning up here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

This impels Billi Pod to say==>Have a great weekend all of you Worker Bees out there in the hinterlands and in the vast wilderness known as cyberspace.

And ... now that October 21, 2011 is officially over worldwide we can all acknowledge that The End of the World didn’t happen and that nut case Harold Camping was wrong yet again, just like he was about May 21, 2011. At least this time people didn’t quit their jobs, give away their possessions, empty their bank accounts or, commit suicide.

It is going to be interesting to see how this false prophet attempts to talk his way out of this and what his next prediction(s) will be. Oh, rest assured ... there will be many more predictions.

Yes ... yes ... I know ... I know ... Billi Pod has spent way too much time on this issue but he just finds the whole issue/process fascinating.

Anyway ... moving on ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s SWIMMING IN THE SHALLOWS==>B+<==funny, thoughtful and well acted.

The theater is so far West that it is almost in The Hudson River ... not joking. The house was sold-out and the audience was mostly early 30s and very much into the performance. Too bad it closes tonight. Billi Pod is glad he was able to see it.

Billi Pod has an entertainment doubleheader today ...

2:00==>THE COMPLETE WORLD OF SPORTS (abridged) - “The popular Reduced Shakespeare Company returns to answer some of life's more daunting questions: Is bowling actually a sport? How about poker or competitive eating? Who invented curling? And perhaps most vexing, can Muggles really play Quidditch? No sport is safe.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This is the theater company that has given us: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged); The Complete History of America (abridged); and, The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). I love their work and am really looking forward to this show.

8:00==>BILL BOWERS - BEYOND WORDS - “A collection of Mime, Music, and Monologues in a poignant journey that continues Bowers' ongoing investigation of silence in our culture, set against the backdrop of ‘Small town America.’" (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

All of my theater friends who have seen this show have liked it a lot so Billi Pod is looking forward to it.

In response to your emails, posts and texts, let me close this posting with ...

First of all ... thanks for all of the positive and supportive comments ...

BUT ... even though President Obama has announced that all of the troops in Iraq will be coming home by the end of the year ... Alex and his Company will not be among them. I really can’t go into more details.

I do deeply appreciate your thoughts and concerns.

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-59

Jesse Eisenberg & The End of the World.

Last night’s first public performance of Jesse Eisenberg’s new play ASUNCION was excellent.

The house was virtually sold-out with a young and enthusiastic audience. But ... Damn ... my seat was in the next to last row and I was concerned. Just before the show began the House Manager moved my row to much better seats closer to the stage. I was seated next to the Publicity Agent for the show and we had a nice chat at intermission. I was hoping for an invite backstage, but that didn’t happen. Oh well ...

Jesse Eisenberg has a compelling stage presence and the interaction between the cast members is spot-on. I found the show to be very funny, well written and thought-provoking.

Billi Pod says==>See it.

I have a very interesting event for tonight ...

7:30==>LAUGH, SING, DANCE! @ Town Hall - “National treasures Bill Cosby and Chita Rivera join music virtuoso Mark Nadler for a one-night-only gala evening of comedy and musical entertainment.” (complimentary ticket).

OMFG!! I can’t believe I have a comp. ticket for this event. Yes, I know that it will probably be in the nosebleed section, but no matter - the important thing is being there for free. Awesome!!

OK, Billi Pod will close this posting on a serious note ...

As a gentle reminder to you loyal and faithful readers out there in the vast hinterlands==>THE END OF THE WORLD occurs on Friday, October 21, 2011, according to the Christian broadcaster Harold Camping and the “prophets” that occupy the walkways in The Port Authority Bus Terminal.

You will recall that Camping originally predicted that the end would begin on May 21st. When nothing happened he had a stroke. He has now recovered enough give us the benefit of this new prediction.

Actually, according to my internet research, the event will occur here on the East coast @ 6:00 EDT on Thursday the 20th.

Billi Pod thought you would like to have this advanced warning. No need to thank me because this is my calling and my responsibility as a fair and unbiased reporter here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

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-50

Billi Pod Goes Ballistic!!!

A nasty rainy day in The Big Apple and that is fitting for my mood because yesterday afternoon I got a ridiculously high rent increase proposal for my lease renewal on PHC.

It was a proposed 17% increase for a one year lease and 19% for a two year lease.

BILLI POD WENT BALLISTIC!!

Went down to the rental office in the building to talk with the leasing agent, Doug Goodenough (yes, that is his correct name) and he immediately blamed everything on the rental office staff, and the conversation quickly turned into a “good-cop vs. bad-cop” thing, with Doug being the “good-cop.”

Bottom line - he told me to calm down and that he would contact the rental office to see what, if anything, could be worked out.

So, the battle is now on and I have already projectile-vomited twice in the past 24 hours.

Will keep you loyal and faithful readers advised as I begin exploring my relocation options.

Now, on to more pleasant things, like ...

Last night’s CIRCUS INCOGNITUS was a lot of fun. As expected, lotta kids in the audience and they had a ball.

The performer did some amazing things. See it if you can.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>CAPITOL STEPS @ Town Hall - “Back by popular demand with fresh new material--is the wacky group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employ them.” (Off-Broadway - discounted TDF ticket).

I have seen this group perform several times in the past and they are very very funny. I will definitely need to laugh.

Well, my loyal and faithful readers even though Billi Pod is in a bad mood, he will close with one of the last musings (come on ... you know you are gonna miss them) ...

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress):

“Why was the scene in “Star Wars” showing Jabba the Hut mooning Hans Solo deleted? Because once seen, the scene will never ever leave your mind.”

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.”

Billi Pod Has Something Important to Report!!

First, my loyal and faithful readers, it is as nasty and yucky out as predicted and I know it has been this way for most of the Midwest and Northeast.

Looking out the windows of my apartment on the 41st floor of my building at 3:00pm it is so hazy with rain and stuff that I can barely see the building across the street. Barf!!

I am getting very tired of all of this.

So, let me add to this downer message by sharing with you loyal and faithful readers some epic information I received last night as I was in the subway station returning from my show downtown. What is it you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ... take a deep breath before you read any further ... OK ... ready ... here it is ...

MAY 21, 2011, will be JUDGMENT DAY!!

Yes, on that precise day, according to the pamphlet passed out by a screaming man in a prophet’s outfit, the Earth will be destroyed due to mankind’s sins and all Christian believers will ascend to heaven, thus ending man’s self-rule.

Wow!! And I know you are also wondering just what will happen, well, I can share that with you ...

“• There will be a LOUD noise as of a trumpet

• Fire will destroy structures, homes, and forests

• Virtually everything will be burned up, even the "elements" will be melted.

• There will be a tremendous earthquake

• The earth will reel too and fro

• Jesus will return to the Earth with all of His angels

• The righteous will be taken to heaven

• The unrepentant sinners will be destroyed

• The righteous who died previous to the second coming will be raised from the dead, they will then be transported into the air to meet Jesus.”

So, I guess you would be wise not to make any long term plans for May 22 and later.

Remember, I only report - you decide.

Now that you are enlightened and perhaps forewarned Billi Pod will give his report card on last night’s COMPULSION==>B<== very powerful drama but Mandy Patinkin’s nonstop shouting, screaming and crying got a bit tiresome toward the end.

The show uses puppets to depict various characters, including Ann Frank, and they were awesome. It is a worth-see.

Oh, and Liza with a “Z” was at the performance. I was seated in the front row and she and her security posse walked right in front of me. Honestly, I wouldn’t have noticed her had not the guy next to me poked me and said ... “Oh my God ... it’s Liza Minnelli.” I also saw her briefly when the show was over. She looked good.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for what I know will be a nasty and icy night is ...

8:00==>DRIVING MISS DAISY starring James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave. "When Daisy, a widowed, 72-year-old Jewish woman living in mid-century Atlanta, is deemed too old to drive, her son, hires Hoke Coleburn, an African American man, to serve as her chauffeur." (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket).

I am really looking forward to seeing this show and it has gotten very favorable reviews and its theatre is only a short walk from my apartment.

Yes, I know that some of you loyal and faithful readers are probably thinking that it is in bad taste to end a prophetic posting about The End of the World with the usual Musings, but “someone else” will just have to be the Judge of that, so ...

Musings from THE MIND OF BILLI POD (a memoir in progress):

“Manly men make love manly-wise. Is that gay?”

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.”