Last Night’s Cruise==>POOF!!

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... let’s get right to it with my report on what was to have been last night’s entertainment event, the Thursday Night Party Cruise.

Long long story kinda short ... it just didn’t work out. What am I talking about you are no doubt breathlessly asking out there in the wastelands, hinterlands and boondocks? Get ready ... here are the details ...

I met up with my theater-buddy, Marty Kosarik (it had been his idea to go on the cruise in the first place) at 8:00pm in Chelsea at 23rd and 8th Avenue. We took the crosstown bus over to the FDR drive and walked to the East River and began looking for our departure pier. It was around 8:30.

Marty’s ticketing information said that the departure time was 9:30 and that we should arrive no later than one hour before departure. Interestingly, my research results showed that the departure time was 10:00. When we finally found the right spot no one, and I mean, no one was there. WTF?? No matter ... we found a bench and settled in and did a bunch of people watching, talking about a lot of things and stuff etc etc etc.

Over the next 90 minutes the other passengers began slowly arriving. It was at this point that Marty and I began to discuss the possibility that this might not be what we wanted to do.

As many of you know, Billi Pod does not drink. Neither does Marty.

Man, the clock had slowed down and that is putting it mildly. Finally at 9:45 the boarding process started so we walked to the front of the long line checking things out, including the crowd and what the cruise ship looked like and ...

We commented to each other that the vibe (or lack thereof) was kinda weird and ... tada ... we decided that this wasn’t what we wanted to do for the next 2 1/2 hours ... so ... we split. POOF!!

I guess I should add that we had deeply discounted tickets for the cruise, only $10.00 each, so it wasn’t a big deal money-wise.

Through a combination of bus and subway I was back in PHC at around 10:30 and in my heart-of-hearts I knew that Marty and I made the right decision. Case closed.

OK ... now ... moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event will be super ...

8:45==>ROGER WATERS: THE WALL LIVE, at sold-out Yankee Stadium. I saw him do the same show at Madison Square Garden in October 2010 and absolutely 110% loved it. 

It just so happens that Marty Kosarik will be going with me to this stellar event and I am confident that it will more than make up for yesterday’s bomb.

Tonight @ 7:00pm the Yankees begin the first of a 4-game series against the repugnant Boston FuckSox in that cesspool known as Fenway Park. Hiroki Kuroda (8-7) will be on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Josh Beckett (4-7) for the FuckSox.

As I posted yesterday, on Saturday there will be a day/night doubleheader with the first game at 12:30pm and the second at 7:00pm.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I need to reveal to you loyal and faithful readers and followers, in advance, that unless something extraordinarily awesome shows up on one of my ticket services it is Billi Pod’s present intent to stay in the cool and comfortable confines of PHC to watch BOTH games.

Yes, I am giving you advanced notice so you can just calm down and chill between now and then ... this is what is gonna happen ... so ... before you become too judgemental and start composing those flames and negative posts/texts you need to understand that Billi Pod will miss game 1 tonight due to the the Roger Waters concert and he has something already scheduled for Sunday night in the game 4 timeslot ... so ... just chill ...

Oh ... will post the entertainment stats for June 2012 later this afternoon.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.45 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.”

July 4th, 2012==>AWESOME!!

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, Billi Pod is happy to report to you that Wednesday was an AWESOME day ... so let’s get right to it ... with ...

The NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC & WEST POINT BAND concert yesterday afternoon in Avery Fisher Hall @ Lincoln Center was one of the VERY BEST, ever!!

To begin with, my seat was on the aisle in the second row in the Prime Orchestra section. Wow!!

The concert lasted about 2 1/2 hours but no matter because it was riveting and well-performed from the very beginning. The Philharmonic was conducted by Bramwell Tovey, an Englishman, who had a running commentary between numbers which was very funny. He has conducted this series, called “Summertime Classics,” since 2004.

The Philharmonic performed for the first part of the program, doing works by Bernstein and Gershwin. After the intermission the West Point Drum and Bugle Unit, called The Hellcats, and the West Point Jazz Band, called The Jazz Knights, came on. Both groups performed alone and then both groups performed together with the Philharmonic to end the concert. The final number was Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Frankly, it was a very emotional experience for me to see all of those young men on stage in Army uniforms, even though my grandson Alex Falletta aka Army Guy is now safely back home in Columbia, SC, and his unit deactivated.

For me the most emotionally compelling performance was the “Armed Forces Service Medley,” during which members of the audience who had served in the military are invited to stand when they hear the themes of their respective branches of service. At the appropriate time I stood up for me and for Alex. 

Yeah==>two Army Guys!!

When the concert was over the weather was excellent, although a bit hot and humid, so I walked back to the apartment while listening to the final innings of the YANKEES/RAYS game on my trusty but now ancient Walkman.

The Yankees finally won a game at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field, having lost 9 consecutive games there. The final score was 4-3 and we won on the long ball from Mark Teixeira and a crucial single from Robbie Cano. It was about f-ing time.

The Bronx Bombers have today off and then they head up to Boston for a 4-game series against the loathsome Boston FuckSox, including a day/night doubleheader on Saturday to make up an earlier rain out. All of this is at that fetid cesspool known as Fenway Park.

The Bronx Bombers have a 7 1/2 game lead over the FuckSox who are tied for last place in the AL East.

When I got back to PHC I turned on the AC, had the usual fruit and cheese plate and then it was time to join my thousands of close friends at the Hudson River for the MACY'S FIREWORKS SHOW. I had no problem finding a good viewing-point, which was about where I was last year.

Two observations: (1) the crowd seemed somewhat smaller than I remember from previous years; and (2) the police and traffic officers were a lot more friendly than previous years. What do I mean by this? Well, in prior years I have posted that they seemed to be pretty much pissed-off at having to be there and on duty but this year all of the uniformed officers, at least in my area, were really friendly and without attitude.

The fireworks were awesome as usual and lasted about 15 minutes. I took lots of pictures, 3 of which I posted to this blog immediately after I got back to PHC.

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... as much as Tuesday had been a majorly blah day for Billi Pod ... Wednesday more than made up for it. When I got back to the apartment and later began working on the draft for this posting I once again reflected on how blessed I have been, especially in all of these 17+ years of retirement and how much I love living in New York City, The Greatest City In The World.

This leads me into today’s entertainment event which is going to be something very very different, at least for Billi Pod. What is it you are no doubt breathlessly asking?

Well my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... tonight I am going on a night cruise around the island of Manhattan. It is called the Thursday Night Party Cruise and it departs from a pier at East 23rd Street and FDR Drive. The 300+ passenger cruise ship will depart around 10:00pm and will return at 12:30am.

I will be going with my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik, who is also a member of Dian Crystal’s posse. Marty talked me into this event about a month ago. Why are we doing this? Truthfully, I really don’t know.

Yes, without a doubt it is going to be a different evening for Billi Pod and I am absolutely confident that it will be one of those “love-it or hate-it” experiences ... so stay tuned.

Hummmmmm ... the thought just hit me ... maybe I should post this and then try to catch an early afternoon show time for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, which I understand broke all kinds of records for shows opening on a Tuesday.

Nope ... can’t do that. Got some out-of-town friends stopping by PHC late afternoon ... oh well ...   

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.70 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.”

FIREWORKS!!

MACY’S FIREWORKS SHOW - Live from the Hudson River, New York City @ approximately 9:47pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012.

Happy 4th of July to everyone!!

USA! USA!! USA!!!

Bill

Tuesday Was A Blah Day

HAPPY 4th OF JULY to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod has to report that yesterday was a majorly BLAH day for him in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

What am I talking about you are no doubt breathlessly asking out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks? Well ... it went down like this ...

As you know, Monday is my usual errands and stuff day, but for whatever reason (or maybe for no reason at all) on Monday sloth took over and most of the things I needed to do just didn’t get done. So ... Tuesday became my errands and stuff day ... and ...

It seemed like everything that I needed to do took twice as long as usual and everything had some quirky blip, the details of which I won’t bore you with. I did, finally, get everything done that needed to be done.

So, at 6:45 I walked over to the Regal E-Walk Theater on 42nd Street to get my ticket for the 7:30 show of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, in 3D. Well ... when I got there it was absolutely chaotic outside and inside the theater. And ... dammit ... not only was the 7:30 show sold-out but so were the 8:30 and 9:30 shows. Dammit!! The non-3D show times were also sold-out. Dammit!!

During the afternoon, while doing my errands and stuff, the thought had occurred to me that this might happen and I thought about getting my ticket online through Fandango, but, obviously, I didn’t.

So, Billi Pod, in a pissed-off-mood, came back to PHC and settled in to watch game 2 of the YANKEES/RAYS series at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field. Wow, two consecutive nights of being in front of the tube. When was the last time that happened?

Well ... as you loyal and faithful readers know ... The Wankies basically sucked and we lost the game 7-4 for our 9th consecutive loss at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field.

As the game wore on and the Wankies committed error after error, failed to get crucial hits and A-Rod continued his season-long woeful performance, the thought did occur to Billi Pod that he had had better days. The thought also occurred to him that he might have pissed off the Gods on High ... anyway ...

Hopefully this afternoon at the 3:00 game the Wankies will break out of their funk and avoid the sweep, but ... frankly ... the odds are against us since David Phelps (1-3) will be facing the Ray’s ace David Price (11-4).

Thankfully ... Billi Pod WILL NOT be in front of the tube for this one because he has an entertainment event scheduled for the afternoon ...

3:00==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall, with the West Point Band, performing works by Gershwin and Bernstein. (discounted TDF ticket).

I saw this combination perform last July 4th and it was really a lot of fun and I am really looking for to it.

After the concert I will walk back to PHC, weather permitting.

Then for the evening at 9:00 is the MACY'S FIREWORKS SHOW. I will walk over to the Hudson River to be with thousands of my closest friends for this spectacular event.

So==>HAVE A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.71 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 Time With Jim and Maggie

Had a great time yesterday with my dear and longtime friends Jim and Maggie Vandewalker of Lakeland, FL.

We did some catching up in PHC and then had lunch @ Westway Diner in my ‘hood, which included a slideshow of terrific pictures of their darling granddaughter Theodora (Teddy) Vandewalker.

Maggie and Jim are headed back home today but they plan to be back in The Big Apple (yes, I acknowledge that Queens is part of The Big Apple) in the fall.

Great being with you guys==>have a safe trip home.

Gave myself a night off to watch the YANKEES/RAYS game and that turned out to be a mistake because the Yankees lost 4-3 on a costly error by the usually 100% reliable Mark Teixeira. OMG! WTF!!

This was our 8th, yes ... that’s right ... 8th consecutive loss at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field. Barf! 

Game 2 of the 3-game series is tonight @ 7:10pm with Ivan Nova vs. James Shields. Nope ... Billi Pod WILL NOT be staying in to watch the game.

Today’s entertainment event will be ...

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, which opens today. This is a remake of the original Spider-Man story with a completely new cast headed by Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

At this moment I am not sure which show time I will try to catch.

Have just compiled the entertainment stats for the month of June and will probably post them either later today or tomorrow, so stay tuned my loyal and faithful readers and followers ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.73  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.”

Back To Work Monday and Breaking News!!

Happy Back To Work Monday 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. 

Don’t be sad all of you Worker Bees ... the countdown to Friday has begun, so just settle into your cubicles, wait-stations, broom closets, whatevers and do your jobs, mundane, boring and thankless though they may be. At least you have a job ... remember that ... at least you have a job.

Yesterday was a good baseball day at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, starting with the 66th Old-Timers’ Day. 50 Yankees of the past were  introduced, with Joe Torre getting the loudest and longest ovation. Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra were driven around the field in a golf cart.

It was nice seeing so many former Bronx Bombers but, man, it was really steamy hot in the stadium and I know it was unpleasant on the field for the Old Timers.

Speaking of unpleasant ... the game, the 4th in the series against The Chicago White Sox, got off to a very very rocky start as Phil Hughes gave up 2 runs in the top of the first inning. Man, thought Billi Pod ... this ain’t gonna be nice ... but ...

Luckily, it got better because Hughes settled down and pitched well for the next 7 innings, giving up no runs on just 3 hits. The Yankees responded with 4 runs on homers from Eric Chavez and Robbie Cano and the Yankees won 4-2 to even the series at 2-2.

Tonight @ 7:10 the Bombers open a 3-game series against The Rays down in Tampa at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field. Freddy Garcia (2-2) has been moved back into the rotation due to the injuries to Sabathia and Pettitte and he will face Matt Moore (4-5).

Final note from The Yankee Universe==>Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano were voted in as starters for the American League in the upcoming All-Star Game. CC Sabathia was also named, but he cannot pitch because he is on the DL.

OK ... way too much baseball, I know ... so moving on ...

At noon I will meet up with my longtime friends Jim and Maggie Vandewalker, of Lakeland, FL. They have been visiting with, and baby-sitting for, their son Ian and his wife who live in Queens (where??).

Maggie and Jim are coming to PHC and we will do some catching up here and then we will have lunch someplace in my Hell’s Kitchen 'hood.

I am really looking forward to seeing them.

Billi Pod’s plans for tonight are uncertain at the moment.

The Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes breakup is major front page news in today’s daily tabloids, centering on the role of the Church of Scientology in “monitoring” Holmes’ activities at her Chelsea apartment ...

“CREEP SHOW. Scientology spy crew tailing Katie’s every move; report. Five mystery men in white Cadillac Escalade monitor activity Sunday in front of Katie Holmes’ apartment building on Seventh Ave. in Chelsea.” - front page The Daily News

“KAT TRAP. Katie NY ‘prisoner’ of Tom’s Scientology.” - front page NY Post

Stay tuned ... it’s only gonna get better/worse.

BREAKING NEWS==>“Anderson Cooper: The Fact is, I’m Gay.” In an email to longtime friend Andrew Sullivan, the CNN anchorman said, among other things ...

“The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”

The complete article is at ...

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/07/anderson-cooper-the-fact-is-im-gay.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=exclusive_breaking_news&cid=newsletter%3Bemail%3Bexclusive_breaking_news&utm_term=Breaking%20News%20and%20Exclusives.

OK, it is about time for my friends to arrive, so will post this now.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.64 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.”

7th Monarch==>B-

We will start this Sunday posting with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

7th MONARCH, about an investigation involving a reclusive mathematician (nut-case) who is suspected of killing/harming her parents==>B-.

This grade is perhaps a bit generous on my part because the story line is totally unbelievable and is saved by excellent acting from a stellar cast.

Way too many liberties are taken with the legal ramifications and boundaries of a criminal investigation, like permitting the prime suspect to live with one of the investigators or questioning the prime suspect without her Public Defender being present.

As I said, however, the acting alone makes this worth seeing if you are willing to suspend your belief system.

The Yankees got a terrific outing from Hiroki Kuroda and with the long ball beat The White Sox 4-0. Nice. Wish I had been there.

Today is the 66th Annual Old Timer’s Game, starting at 11:00am. The regular game starts at 2:10, with Phil Hughes (8-6) vs. Gavin Floyd (6-7). 

Of course Billi Pod will be at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, for all of the festivities ... meaning ...

This posting will be shorter than usual (stop the f**king clapping, Billi Pod knows who you are and where you live. Do you wantta get bitch-slapped??) so I can head out to the stadium.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.38 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.”