Sooooo Sorry About The Spam!!

Soooooooo sorry about the spam emails everyone is getting from my AOL account.

Thought I had the problem solved and then this morning was another batch. AOL and I are now working on it and hopefully all soon will be taken care of and Billi Pod’s cyberspace world will be back to normal.

Actually, not sure that the use of the word “normal” can ever apply to Billi Pod, but you loyal and faithful readers know and understand what I mean ... I hope ...

It has been very very frustrating and it is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me.

Anyway ... now on to more productive and interesting things like ...

Last night’s benefit show, TWENTY ONE SONG SALUTE, was very very bland and that is giving it the benefit of the doubt.

Neither Tom Wopat nor Debra Monk performed and that was a downer. No reason was given.

My comp. seat was in the upper section of the venue but it wasn’t too bad. The evening was saved because I was seated next to my friend Michael Pederson and that was nice because it gave us time to do some catching up on things and stuff.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>SEMINAR - “Four aspiring, young novelists sign up for private writing classes with Leonard (Alan Rickman), an international literary figure. They came for a class in writing and got a lesson in survival.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

All of my theater friends who have seen this show, still in previews, have liked it. It was originally on my schedule for the time I ended up down in Florida. John Scott Reed used my ticket.

Well, the reviews for GODSPELL are now in and the majority have been negative, but most of the negative reviews have a caveat that the show may still be a hit, especially with younger theatergoers.

Almost all were either negative or neutral on Hunter Parrish in the role of Jesus and, frankly, I think in that regard they were basically unfair and/or biased. When I saw the show I thought he did a fine job and the roaring audience seemed to agree.

Billi Pod predicts that the show will have a decent run, nit-picking critics be damned!!

Now on to other stuff ... like ...

Billi Pod has made a promise with himself about tomorrow. What is it, you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ... here it is in its entirety ...

“Self ... you are going to see MONEYBALL while it is still playing in Manhattan theaters. The number of show times at the neighborhood house is now down to 3, so get at it.”

So, despite what might come up on my ticket services etc tomorrow==>Billi Pod will see MONEYBALL. It Is So Ordered!!

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-76

Sunday’s Doubleheader Was Epic

Another beautiful fall morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Let me start this blog with a gentle reminder to all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the vastness of cyberspace==>hey guys and gals, the weekend is over. It’s time to get back to building the Gross National Product.

Billi Pod had an excellent weekend, capped by an epic entertainment doubleheader yesterday.

First up was WILD ANIMALS YOU SHOULD KNOW playing at a theatre down in The West Village. Before the show I met up with my theater buddies Dian, Vera and Marty.

The acting was excellent although I was somewhat disappointed at the relatively minor role given to one of my favorite actresses, Alice Ripley. The story line was interesting as it dealt with who was, or wasn’t, the predator in an incident of alleged sexual misconduct on a Boy Scout camping trip.

Billi Pod’s report card==>B+

After the show I took the subway up to midtown and had time for a small bite before the second show ...

SUICIDE, INCORPORATED, in the bowels of the Lara Pels Theatre on 46th Street.

Dian, Vera, Marty and I met up with Julie and Andy and we basically took over the entire front row of the small theater.

The acting in this “dark comedy” about writing the perfect suicide note, was excellent and, as usual for a so-called “dark comedy” the story line was much more dark than comedic.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I have to admit that I found the theme to be very unsettling based on my own personal experiences involving myself and the loss of two of my closest friends.

Having said that - Billi Pod’s report card is==>B+

So, my loyal and faithful readers, I think you will agree that Billi Pod had a very intense entertainment doubleheader. Yes, even ... epic!!

You know ... a random thought just hit me ...

Growing up in a small town in Central Florida in the 40s and 50s there were 3 things that every boy HAD to do, regardless of talent, ability or desire (or lack thereof):

1. Be a Boy Scout

2. Play football (or at least tryout for the team each year in High School)

3. Spend the summer working at a shade tobacco farm in Windsor, Connecticut.

Billi Pod (not his name back then) did all three.

I have no clue what prompted this train of thought ... it just came out ... and I had to share it with you loyal and faithful readers.

Now on to other things ...

This being a Monday Billi Pod will spend most of the day doing things and stuff and then for this evening it will be ...

7:30==>TWENTY ONE SONG SALUTE - Benefit for Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation - featuring Debra Monk, Tom Wopat and Billy Stritch, among others. (complimentary ticket)

I am rather confident this will be one of those “love-it” or “hate-it” events.

In closing==>I apologize for the spam email that you recently received from my AOL email account. Obviously it was hacked. I have scanned my hard drive and removed what I believe to be the culprit.

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-75

Another Eclectic Entertainment Doubleheader For Billi Pod

What a beautiful fall day in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Terrific weather for the New York City Marathon as multi-thousands of runners embark on a 26.2 miles adventure loaded with sweat, unimaginable aches and pain, frustration and then euphoria at the finish-line. How do I know this you are no doubt breathlessly (pun intended) asking?

Well my loyal and faithful readers, need I remind you that Billi Pod (not his name back then) ran in, and finished both the 1978 and the 1979 marathons? Before you nonbelievers begin to scoff==>I have pictures to prove it.

When I finished the 1978 marathon I remember thinking that I didn’t know you could have so much pain and still be alive. Truthfully, I hadn’t done the proper amount of training. I honestly don’t remember my exact time, I think it was in the late 5 hours. I vowed to train better and run again in 1979 and to have a better finish time.

And, I did and guess what ... my time in ‘79 was virtually same as ‘78 because I developed serious leg cramping at the 20 mile mark, in The Bronx, and thought that I wouldn’t be able to finish. Well, I did but only with a lot of running-walking-running in the final 6.2 miles.

The nice thing ... this 77 year old guy can say this about The New York City Marathon==>”Been There, Done That - Twice.”

Now, on to other things ... like ...

Billi Pod’s report card on GODSPELL==>A<==as in Awesome!

A great cast, headed by Hunter Parrish as Jesus. The energy and enthusiasm of the cast swept over the audience, seated “In the Round.” Just before the show started I counted 12 empty seats and they may have been filled after the show started. Yes, the audience was 100% into the show.

My seat was awesome, a single seat by itself in the 3rd row, on the aisle, directly in front of one of the guitar players and right next to an area where the actors gathered off-stage. I actually had visual interaction with several of them, including Hunter Parrish.

It was a wonderful evening’s entertainment and Billi Pod doesn’t understand the negative carping on some of the theater chat boards. Get real people!

Folks, if you want to have fun, laugh, sigh, smile and enjoy ... see this show!!!

When the show was over I raced back to PHC to catch the final half of the LSU/’BAMA game, won by LSU in overtime. It was a very exciting game to watch. I was pulling for ‘Bama because The Bill is a huge ‘Bama fan. For some reason it seems that I can cheer for his teams but he never can for mine ... go figure. I guess this is just the many roles in being a father.

And, speaking of my teams ... yes, The Gators won their game over Vandy but folks ... Vandy hasn’t won a game at The Swamp since 1941, yep, that’s the correct date.

Yes, there was actually angst, worry, fear and dread among Gator fans about the possibility of losing to a program derisively known around the SEC as the "Commode Doors."

Without a doubt, the Gators are struggling. Coach Muskrat’s team is disturbingly devoid of quality talent and depth and we will get our butts kicked by both South Carolina and Half Ass U.

Billi Pod predicts the future to be==>we will eke out a win over Furman to become bowl-eligible, accept an invitation to The Outhouse Bowl where we will play North Dakota State Junior College, winning 6-3 in triple overtime.

Yep ... just remember where you read it first.

Now about today ... Billi Pod has yet another eclectic entertainment doubleheader ...

3:00==>WILD ANIMALS YOU SHOULD KNOW - “A tale of ruin and redemption that takes a magnifying glass to the sometimes blurry line between predator and prey.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

The incomparable Tony Award-winner Alice Ripley (Next to Normal) heads up the ensemble cast.

Before the show I hope to meet up with my theater buddies Dian, Vera and Marty.

Then for the evening is ...

7:00==>SUICIDE, INCORPORATED - “A darkly funny new play takes us to an unorthodox writing service that specializes in crafting the perfect suicide note” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Yeah, I know ... but ... the advance buzz on this show has been very favorable.

I will close this posting by wishing that all of my Worker Bee friends have an enjoyable remainder of the weekend.

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-74

Friday’s Doubleheader Was ... Interesting ... Yeah ...

Good morning everyone out there in the vast hinterlands.

It is a beautiful morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, but ... it is also the coldest day of the year so far ... 36º at 8:00am ... burrrrrrrrrr!!

I am happy to report that yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader was==>interesting.

The staged reading of A GOOD MAN was entertaining and well-performed. I am glad I had the opportunity to see it with my theater-buddy Dian Crystal and to get to meet her friend Marty.

After this performance I barely had time to catch a quick bite back at PHC before the 8:00 curtain for BURNING, playing at a theatre on my block.

OK, folks ... now some comments about the show ... First off, it isn’t a show for everyone and that is putting it mildly (actually there is nothing mild about any aspect of this show). It contains scenes and events that I have never seen onstage. There are graphic (and I mean graphic) gay and straight sexual scenes - almost everyone lets it all hang out.

The interwoven plots are interesting and the 13-person cast does a stellar job. I thought the staging was excellent. It is long at 2 hours and 30+ minutes, with an intermission.

When it was over I found myself thinking ... “self ... OMG WTF was that all about?” Now, in the name of fair and impartial reporting, I have to state that this morning I still have the same reaction about the show ... so ...

Billi Pod’s report card on BURNING is==>OMG WTF?

Should you see it? Yes ... I think so ... if ... and I do mean ... if ... you want to see something very very different.

Today the GATOR/VANDY game is on MSG @ noon. Late last night, on one of my ticket services, a show I really wanted to see came up for this afternoon. Damn!! My finger hovered over the select button for a long time but in the end being a mega-Gator won out. Billi Pod will stay in to watch the Homecoming game. Go Gators!! Kick Some Ass!!

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

8:00==>GODSPELL - “A Broadway revival of the Tony-nominated timeless tale of friendship, loyalty, love and the greatest story ever told.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This is one of the shows that I had scheduled for the time I ended up being down in Florida. Glad I could get another ticket. Most of my theater buddies have liked this production.

In the upcoming week I know that I will see both the new Ben Stiller movie, TOWER HEIST, and the third edition of the Harold & Kumar series, A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS. Still haven’t seen MONEY BALL and I may sneak that in somewhere.

In closing ... we lost a national treasure yesterday when Andy Rooney died at the age of 92. He died only a month after delivering his 1,097th and final televised commentary on “60 Minutes.”

RIP Andy==>”60 Minutes” will never be the same without you.

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-73

A Friday Doubleheader For Billi Pod

Good Morning Everyone!

Billi Pod wants to start this posting with a huge shout-out to the vast Worker Bee World==>TGIF!!

Hope you guys/gals have a great weekend. Just remember not to check out early because we in the retirement community need for you to maximize your hours, thereby feeding the Gross National Product, which is essential to maintaining our retirement life-styles. However, feel free to leave at 5:05pm. Have fun!!

Last night’s SILENCE! THE MUSICAL earns another A+ from Billi Pod.

It was trimmed a bit from the time it was at St. Mark’s Place and that is OK. It is now 90 minutes without intermission. Yes, it is still profane, gross, well-performed and gut-busting funny.

The house appeared to be about 99% full and everyone was having a great time. As I posted earlier==>Billi Pod highly recommends this show, with the warning that every 4th word is a 4-letter word. See it - you won’t be sorry.

It is a nice brisk fall morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World and Billi Pod has an entertainment doubleheader today, rather unusual for a Friday.

First up is ...

4:00==>A GOOD MAN - a staged reading - “Set in rural Mississippi just after WWII, this musical involves a poor sharecropper who decides to fulfill a dream – to fix up and put fresh white paint on his shabby little tenant house. That simple wish turns his world upside down. Passions erupt, and resentment and fear gather, shattering family and community." (complimentary ticket)

My theater buddy Dian Crystal got us tickets to this event and I am really looking forward to seeing her and meeting her friend Marty.

Then for the evening is ...

8:00==>BURNING - “In searing and graphic tales of self-invention and sexual identity, Burning attacks the pretenses of the worlds of art and theatre.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing at a theatre on my block and has gotten very mixed reviews from my theater buddies. I understand that there is nudity and extremely graphic sexual scenes. Hummmmmmmm! Billi Pod wants to know==>what’s not to like about that??

Anyway ... it sounds like a very interesting and diverse entertainment pallet for Billi Pod, doesn't it? But, remember ... I report - you decide!

Just learned that Saturday’s GATORS/VANDY Homecoming game will be carried up here on MSG. We are 13 point favorites ... yeah ... right ... I just hope Coach Muskrat has the team ready so they won’t embarrass us yet again

Tonight, down there, is Gator Growl, the largest student-run entertainment event in the country. As you loyal and faithful readers will remember==>Billi Pod was Director of the 1959 Gator Growl, although his name back then was not Billi Pod ... jus sayin ...

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-72

Billi Pod Is Back And All Is Well

Good morning everyone. Yes ... Billi Pod is back and ... man ... does it feel great to be home in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

I am happy to report that everything yesterday went well. Son Bill aka The Bill took another sick day due to some stomach discomfort but he was very much OK with The Hovering Nun heading North and ... The Hovering Nun was OK with it too. Trust me, if there had been any indications of problems I would have stayed.

Left his house in the UCF area of Orlando midmorning and gassed up the rental car. This was the first time in a long time that I was reminded of the impact of the hideously high gas prices. Man, what a downer. Had no problems getting to the airport and finding the right rental car return spot.

Checked in @ AirTran and was able to change my seat to an exit row (and at no extra cost) and that was awesome. Cleared security with no problem and was at the gate with plenty of time to chill out.

Got The NYTimes and The NY Post and spent the time reading the papers, working crosswords and playing solitaire on my iPhone. Actually the time passed pretty fast. Got a rather nasty looking sandwich to eat on the plane on the way back to The City.

I like the Orlando Terminal. It is, of course, modern, well-maintained and for the most part very clean. Plenty of food places and stuff. It makes me realize what a pitiful dump LaGuardia Airport is.

We loaded on time and were airborne on schedule. The plane was 95% full, and, again, about 85% of the passengers got off at Newport News (where????), which is still a mystery to me. When the new passengers boarded we were about 75% full.

We had a slight delay on the ground due to traffic in the New York area but the time was made up and we were at our LGA gate right on time. The Norris Travel Curse kept hidden because my checked duffle arrived with me.

Took an express bus to The Port Authority at a cost of $10.00. I gave the driver a $2.00 tip. This same trip with my car service would have been in the $45-50 range, including taxes, tolls, and a tip. As you know, The Port Authority is just a block away from my apartment building.

It was around 7:15pm when I opened the door to PHC. Had lots of mail and accumulated papers. Man, did it feel good to be home.

Unpacked and got settled back in. I thought about catching a movie but really wasn’t in the mood to go out. So ... Billi Pod ... chilled ... fixed a huge fruit and cheese plate ... chilled ... scheduled shows for the remainder of the week ... watched Jon Stewart and the first 30 minutes of Letterman ... chilled ... and then crashed at the usual 2:00am.

This morning was awake at the usual 8:00am. It is a beautiful, sunny, brisk fall day in the high 40s.

Today will be a make up day for Billi Pod’s errands and stuff and then his entertainment event for the evening is ...

8:00==>SILENCE! THE MUSICAL - “Campy, raunchy and mounted on the cheap, this tuneful unauthorized parody of ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ is sweet, tangy and very tasty.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Saw this gut-busting-funny musical back in September and LOVED it. It has moved to another venue. Yes, my loyal and faithful readers, this is just the show that Billi Pod needs==>YES!!

I am happy to report that I have been able to schedule entertainment events for the next 4 days/nights, meaning ... Billi Pod is back in his frenetic Big Apple state of mind ... and it feels great.

Let me close with a big shout-out to grandson Chris Falletta aka Topher and his girlfriend Ashley Goebel==>great seeing you guys Tuesday night==>looking forward to seeing you two at Christmas, in Columbia ... jus sayin ...

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-71

Gil - The Bill - Four Days - So Much Happened

Hello to all of my loyal and faithful readers out there in the vast hinterlands and buried in the morass known as cyberspace.

I know that you have been asking yourselves ... “selves, where the f**k is Billi Pod ... why the f**k hasn’t he timely posted on his blog site?” WTF is going on?

Well, there has been a lot going on in my life since the last posting back on Friday and once you read through this way-too-long posting I think you will understand. Also, Billi Pod does have to say that if you were a FaceBook friend you would know what has been happening ... but, since most of you aren’t on FaceBook ... well ... so ... anyway ..

Let’s start this with a summary-style update, beginning on Friday, October 29th ...

Friday - as previously posted I met up with John Scott Reed at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Dumbo, Brooklyn, for the The Tiger Lillies and Justin Vivian Bond performance.

Scott just barely made it into his seat before the show began. Man, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting, Billi Pod must report that Justin Vivian Bond’s opening act was worse than awful. It was mind-blowingly bad and way too long. Scott and I exchanged looks, rolling our eyes ... what have we done?

When Bond finally finished and the stage was being set for The Tiger Lillies (also with Bond) to begin Scott and I agreed that we just couldn’t stomach any more so we fled the scene as fast as we could.

Scott found us a nice restaurant in the ‘hood and we had a great meal and catching-up time.

When I got back to PHC I finished packing, set the alarm for 5:30am for my 7:15am car service pickup, and crashed.

Saturday - the car service pickup was right as scheduled and we made excellent time out to LGA. I checked in at AirTran, cleared security and was at the gate in plenty of time to have some coffee and something sweet.

Wow - was able to get an exit row seat and that was great. The plane was a Boeing 717 and it was full. We left on time. This wasn’t a direct flight. We had a stop at Newport News, Virginia (where????), but didn’t have to change planes. (I had scheduled this rather than a direct flight in order to save over $200 roundtrip)

It was extremely turbulent on the flight and the Captain kept the seat belt light on for the entire time.

When we landed at Newport News, on time, I remember thinking ... “Why is there a stop here with a full-sized jet? Who would be going here?” Well, the answer is ... about 85% of the passengers left the plane. WOW, thought I ... that is really surprising ... now we will have plenty of leg room for the rest of the flight.

Wrong ... new passengers soon started streaming in and every seat was taken - it was actually oversold. Thankfully the weather had cleared up and the rest of the flight was uneventful. We arrived in Orlando only 15 minutes late.

Then, it ... gasp ... appeared that The Norris Travel Curse had been lurking, waiting to kick in upon my arrival ... what happened? Well, for whatever reason it took almost 30 minutes for the first bag to appear at the baggage carousel. Yes, I had checked my duffle, as I usually do because ... Billi Pod does not own a small carryon ... so everything I would need was in the duffle ... clothes, suit, meds ... everything.

The bags started appearing, again very slowly, about 4 items at a time. WTF!! It was taking forever. Then the carousel stopped ... WTF!! There was about 10 of us remaining ... and ... nothing happened ... OMFG!! And, of course, no employees were to be seen. After 20 minutes, I timed it, the carousel started up again and out came some more bags. Thankfully ... my duffle was the next to last bag. The whole process took an hour.

Not a good omen, thought I. Well, there was nothing I could do about it, so I found my car rental station, got my small compact car and headed out of the airport to find Bill III's aka The Bill new house.

Of course, as usual, I made a wrong turn leaving the airport, but no problem, it was easily corrected. And, I am happy to report that I had no problems finding his new house, which is actually in the same general area as his previous house.

I was at his pad in time to watch the final 3 quarters of the GATORS/BULLDOGS game. Man, what a major disappointment. Since so much time has passed I think it will serve little purpose to dwell on the puke-inducing season the Gators are having.

Man, it is soooooooo hard to find anything positive to say about what is happening. We are going to be lucky to finish the season at 6-6.

What about bringing back Ron Zook?

Anyway ... after the game it was time to head out for dinner. We had made plans to have dinner with two of Bill’s golfing buddies, Renzy (a retired fire chief and former next-door neighbor) and Kenny (a computer engineer). We picked them up and made our 7:30pm reservation at Outback. I love Outback, especially their Blooming Onions.

Dinner was great and it helped me get back into a better mood ... so thank you Renzy & Kenny.

Was very very tired when we got back to the house. I wanted to leave in the morning in plenty of time to allow me to swing by Gil and Linda’s place before the services, scheduled to begin at 2:00pm.

Sunday - I think it was around 7:00am when I got up. Thank God the weather was OK. Had some coffee, repacked, and was ready to head out around 9:00am.

Had no trouble finding my way from Bill’s pad to The Turnpike, which later turns into I-75. The traffic was OK and I didn’t swerve in front of any busses carrying day-tripping children or force any other vehicles off the road etc etc (at least that I know of).

Got to Gil & Linda’s around 11:00am. I am so happy to report that Linda was and is doing fine. Yes, as you loyal and faithful readers who know her know ... she is one tough lady and very emotionally stable. A few family members and friends were also there and we had a nice opportunity to visit and to remember our Gil.

About 1:00pm the family headed over to the location of the service, which was at the Baughman Center on Museum Road on the U of Florida campus.

It is a beautiful location and the weather was great. The small chapel seats about 90 people and it was full of friends and family members. I was the first of three who shared thoughts and remembrances about Gilbert. I ended mine by looking upward and saying ... “Thank You Gilbert for being my friend” ... and then while looking at Linda ... “Thank You Gilbert and Linda for letting me be your friend.”

Yes, it was a very emotional time. Per Gil’s request, via Linda, the service was a bit less than 30 minutes. When it was over everyone in attendance was invited back to the house for a bite and more opportunity to talk about Gil’s life and its impact on each one of us. In many ways I felt more emotionally touched by this than for the formal service itself.

I have to say that Gil's son, Bruce, was a steading force during the entire time, helping Linda with things and stuff and being a positive model for everyone.

I had previously planned to overnight in Gainesville with my friends Chuck and Ramona Chance, so we left Linda’s place around 4:00 and headed to The Chance Chalet north of Gainesville.

We had a great time catching up and talking about lots of things and stuff. Chuck cooked a turkey and made some awesome dressing. We had dinner outside in one of their gardens. It was really nice and it let me unwind, physically and emotionally.

My plans for the return trip to NYC was to get up in time to leave their place around 9:00am for the drive down to The Orlando Airport. I would turn in my rental car and have time to chill before my 2:00pm AirTran flight back to New York City, The Greatest City In The World.

I crashed earlier than usual. I was tired and drained.

Then ... the second phase began ...

Monday - around 2:00am my cellphone beeped. It woke me up. But I didn’t check it. I woke again around 5:30am to the sound of rain pouring down. I checked the cell ... and ... the 2:00am beep was a text message from Bill ... and ... Holy F**k ... it said that he had checked into the emergency room at Winter Park Hospital at 9:00pm with what he thought were symptoms that he was having a heart attack and that they would probably keep him there for another day or two. OMFG!!

I got up and immediately began packing. I knew I had to head down to Orlando. At this time it was pouring rain.

Chuck and Ramona got up and saw me off. It was 7:00am. I knew that there was no way I could leave on my afternoon flight, no way.

I have to say that the drive was extremely difficult because of the heavy rain and the number of huge semi’s that were on the Interstate. I really had to work at staying focused on just getting there rather than what had happened to Bill.

It was around 9:00am when I was in the Orlando area. Found a place to park and called my trusted Travel Agent, Blanche Bryant, and told her of the situation and asked her to book me on the same flight for Wednesday afternoon and to extend my rental car. Of course, I knew I would stay as long as Bill needed me ... I immediately found myself in the initial phases for “The Hovering Nun” modality.

It was still raining. Finally found the hospital and was in Bill’s room around 10:00am. Now, my loyal and faithful readers, I could probably write at least 50 pages about this experience but I won’t, other than to say it was one of the longest and slowest and most boring times of my life ... not joking. The clock virtually stopped moving.

After his admission they had done numerous heart related tests on Bill and, thank you God, the results indicate that his problems were not heart-related, he was not having a heart attack. Whew. This info came from a Cardio/whatever who had treated him before. He was also seen by two other doctors, one a Gastro/whatever and the other a Neuro/whatever and they confirmed that his chest problems were not heart-related.

The difficult part ... all of this took way way too long and we got entangled in a bit of a dispute over whether he could be released Monday night or had to spend the night. It was mostly a paperwork problem in getting the final discharge papers processed.

Finally he was officially released around 9:00pm. We picked up a pizza and were back at his house around 10:00pm. Both of us were emotionally and physically drained, and that is putting it mildly. We scarfed down the pizza and both crashed a bit later.

The bottom line is that the problems are believed to be related to nerve damage in his back as a result of his numerous back surgeries. What happens is that the tightness triggers a brain response that he is going into cardiac arrest, with all of the negative results ... this causes panic etc, as well it should.

Man, when I went to bed I was as tired and as emotionally drained as I have ever been. I am so glad I was here. Had I been in NYC and gotten the message I would have caught the first flight down, of that we were both absolutely certain.

Now ...

Tuesday - Bill, of course, took the day off from work. He feels OK. We both slept in.

Today has been a day of just chilling and talking about what happened. He has new meds and followup appointments. We have no problems with The Hovering Nun heading back North.

Tonight we are having dinner with grandson Chris Falletta aka Topher and his girlfriend Ashley. We will probably go back to Outback and that is more than fine with Billi Pod.

Tomorrow, Wednesday - Bill will go back to work and I will chill until my 2:00pm flight back to The City.

I had shows scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday but was able to give my tickets to some of my theater buddies, including Dian Crystal.

So, my loyal and faithful readers, with much more detail than you wanted, you are now basically up-to-date ... so ...

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-69