OMFG!!==>10.80 Miles!!

Good afternoon everyone out there in the morass known as cyberspace. I hope each one of my loyal and faithful readers and followers had an awesome Labor Day, because, trust me on this ... Billi Pod certainly did.

Yes ... that is correct, yesterday I logged in 10.80 miles on my WeightWatchers Pedometer ... a record high.

It all started at 11:23am when I left 420 W. 42nd Street and took the subway down to 14th Street. There I met up with My Lady, Dian Crystal, to begin the downtown walk and wander adventure that she had planned.

We headed South basically along the West Side Highway on our way down to Battery Park and The Financial District, stopping along the way to check out anything that piqued our interest and to take tons and tons of pictures.

Of course there is a lot of construction going on, including The World Trade Center.

When we got to Battery Park we walked and wandered through it and into The Financial District, again checking out anything that either of us found to be interesting.

Starting at 1:00pm I began listening to the YANKEES/RAYS game on my ancient Walkman. My Lady had previously given me permission. More about the game later in the posting.

We worked our way East through the Financial District and then began walking North basically along the F.D.R. Drive until we reached Pike Street. Then we turned West and began more wandering through The Lower Eastside, in basically the area where Dian grew up. We even walked past her former High School.

Now in the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod must share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers that there was a hidden motive for My Lady directing us to this part of the Lower Eastside.

Yes ... she was determined that she was going to purchase some pickles from a particular store.  Yes ... that’s right ... pickles ... at a place that she has been buying pickles from since her childhood.

When I humbly suggested that most grocery stores sold pickles she verbally attacked me and that is putting it mildly. Well, to make a long story shorter ... when we finally arrived at “the place” it was ... tada ... closed. She insisted, however, that I have my picture taken ... so this is it ... 

Anyway ... moving on ... around 5:00 we both began to get hungry so we ended the planned part of her/our walk and wander adventure by having an early meal at the Ethiopian restaurant, Awash, on 6th Street, between lst and 2nd Avenues.

Man, did it feel nice to have this break. The food was good but, honestly, not as good as what we are served at Meske in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

When we finished we walked up to 8th Street where we parted. Dian walked back to her apartment in The Gramercy Park area and I took the subway back to PHC.

Thank You My Lady for letting me participate in your Walk and Wander Adventure.

It was 6:57pm when I opened the door to PHC. Man, I was tired but really charged about this adventure.

The Pedometer mileage for the adventure was==>10.22 miles or, 22,330 steps.

The total mileage for the day was==>10.80 miles or, 23,599 steps.

When I finally crashed at the usual 2:00am I was tired but very happy.

Yep, not bad for a 78yo guy, but then ... it is up to you loyal and faithful readers and followers because ...

I report and you decide.

I am also happy to report that when I woke up at 8:00am this morning I felt great, no pain, stiffness or anything.

But ... and a huge but for the current mindset of Billi Pod ... it is my “intention” to give myself a day-off from my walking regimen. I have said this but ... I can feel the inner urge to get out and about welling up inside me as I work on this posting at 1:00pm. We will just have to wait and see how things work out.

OK ... now let’s move on to something that is anything but pleasant ... and that is ...

The downward spiral of The Bronx Bombers, who lost 4-3 yesterday afternoon to The Rays, cutting our lead over The Orioles to only 1-game. Our ace CC Sabathia just didn’t have it.

A-Rod was back in the lineup as the DH and he went 1-4.

Remember that I posted about 10 days ago that I had a bad feeling about the remainder of the season. Well folks ... that feeling is proving to be correct, isn’t it?

Tonight is game 2 of the 3-game series at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field and it will be Freddy Garcia (7-5) on the mound for The Yankees vs. Alex Cobb (8-8) for The Rays.

My plans are to stay in this evening and watch the game on TV.

I will also work of the entertainment stats for August 2012.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>10.80 miles (or, 23,599 steps)

Mileage on Dian Crystal’s Walking Adventure==>10.22 miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>312.87

Mileage remaining until

4/23/13==>766.13

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.”

Sunday Was A 50-50 Day.

A HAPPY LABOR DAY shout-out to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers.

It was not a happy time yesterday afternoon out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

It was cloudy and very humid and The Wankies basically sucked with anemic hitting and miserable performances from the bullpen.

We lost to the Orioles by a score of 8-3 and in doing so saw our lead over them shrink to 2-games.

It could get even worse because The Wankies start a 10-game road trip this afternoon with 3 games against The Rays, 4 games against The Orioles and then 3 games against The FuckSox.

This afternoon @ 1:05pm it will be our ace CC Sabathia (13-4) vs. The Rays ace James Shields (12-8).

Thankfully A-Rod will be back in the starting lineup after missing almost a month due to a fractured left hand. 

As the headline in The New York Post put it==>A-ROD RETURNING TO TEAM IN CRISIS.

Thank God my second entertainment event was great ...

TRACES, about a group of friends who leave their mark in a run-down warehouse through acrobatics, music, and dance, fusing the traditions of circus with the energy of street performance==>A.

WOW!! This is still a terrific show and the performers are utterly fantastic, exhibiting amazing physicality from start to finish.

This was the closing night performance after a year-long run. The house was sold-out and there was a very emotional curtain call. I am sooooooo glad I got to see it again.

When the show was over I opted not to walk back to the apartment because I already had almost 6-miles on my Pedometer.

And, speaking of walking ... 

Today will be devoted to a special walk and wander session with My Lady, Dian Crystal.

I will meet My Lady at noon at 14th Street and then we will walk down to Battery Park, walk and wander in the financial district and then perhaps go over to Staten Island via the ferry.

Hopefully the weather will allow this to happen because at 10:00am it is very cloudy and overcast. Please keep your fingers crossed for us.

Oh, she has given me permission to listen to the YANKEES/RAYS game on my trusty but now ancient Walkman.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.73 miles (or, 14,717 steps)

Mileage for past 7 days==>43.14 miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>302.07

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>776.93

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.”

METHTACULAR==>B+

I hope that all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks are having a great weekend because Billi Pod certainly is.

Billi Pod has determined that he will give everyone a break from having to ponder deep things and stuff. Trust me, however, it will only be a short break.

Need to make this a somewhat shorter posting (hold the clapping ... I know who you are and where you are) because I have an afternoon game out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

So ... let’s get right with it with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

METHTACULAR!, Steven Strafford’s harrowing account of his life as a crystal methamphetamine addict in Chicago==>B+.

I have to admit that I had serious reservations about seeing this show. I mean, how could a musical about drug addiction be funny, right? Well, during the afternoon I discovered that my FaceBook friend John McDaniel was the Music Supervisor and Arranger for the show and that was enough to get me to the theater.

Well, I am happy to report that the show was well-performed, funny, extremely profane and thought-provoking. The writer-performer Steven Strafford is very lucky to be alive.

Yes, it is worth seeing but be warned ... it is very much “in your face” about his addiction and sexual behavior/activities.

Earlier in the afternoon The Yankees won a 4-3 nail-biter over the Orioles to increase our lead over The Birds to 3-games. Our lineup was filled with substitute players and they produced.

Then, later in the afternoon I was still in front of the tube to witness an excruciatingly painful 27-14 Gator win over Bowling Green High School. 

Yes ... yes ... I know ... a win is a win ... but folks ... the Gators looked confused and totally undisciplined. Where was the offense? I predict that it is gonna be a painful season for Coach Muskrat.

Today’s entertainment events are ...

1:05==>YANKEES/ORIOLES at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed Ego Built, for game 3 of the series.

On the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be Phil Hughes (13-11) vs. Chris Tillman (7-2) for the Orioles, in another “must-win” game.

The weather report is for cloudy skies and high humidity.

Then for the evening is ... 

8:00==>TRACES - “Follows a group of friends who leave their mark in a run-down warehouse through acrobatics, music, and dance, fusing the traditions of circus with the energy of street performance.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

I saw this show just after it opened about a year ago and loved it. It is closing soon so I am happy that I am getting a chance to see it again.

It is playing down in the Union Square area so after the show I will walk back to the apartment.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.35 miles (or, 11,690 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>295.34

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>783.66

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.”

Friday==>Good and Bad

OK my loyal and faithful readers and followers, let’s start this weekend posting with something that Billi Pod discovered in his internet research that goes a long way to explaining the success of Steve Jobs and his Apple products ...

What a business model!! No wonder Apple has been so successful.

Had a great time yesterday with John Scott Reed and his buddy Bernard Lam. They came up to 420 W. 42nd Street on Bernard’s Harley and I showed Bernard the views from PHC.

Then we went over to an outstanding BBQ restaurant called Daisy May’s BBQ located at the corner of 11th Avenue and 46th Street in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood. This place is the very definition of “no-frills” but the food is AWESOME!!

It was great being with you guys.

Remember, Bernard, you agreed to take Billi Pod for a ride on your Harley.

When we split I did just a bit of walking and wandering. On the way back to PHC I was walking East of 42nd Street. Between 10th and 11th Avenue there is a Police Precinct with reserved parking on the street for the police etc.

I don’t know how this caught my eye but it did and I thought I would share it will you ...

Yes!!!

 As I had planned, I headed out to Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, a bit early for my 7:05 game. The weather was great and it was my intent to do some more walking and wandering in ‘da Bronx, which I did.

Man, when you get about 4 blocks away from the stadium area it is as if you had landed in another part of the World, where English is the second language. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not being snide or disparaging ... all I am doing is commenting, in a positive way, on the tremendous diversity in New York City, The Greatest City In The World.

When I got settled in my seat in the stadium the moon had begun to rise. It was what they call a “Blue Moon.” As it was rising above the stadium it formed a perfect dot to the “i” in the word stadium ...

Really nice!!

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, that was the only nice thing that happened at the stadium for the remainder of the night.

Yes, The Wankies sucked!!! We lost to the second-place Orioles 6-1 as our offense continued its downward spiral. We got only 5 hits, striking out 12 times and had 0 hits with runners in scoring position.

With this loss our lead over the Orioles shrunk to 2-games, yes 2-games. Folks, on July 18th we lead them by 10-games. 

Guys==>what the F**K is going on? This is beginning to look just like the catastrophic collapse by the Boston FuckSox last year.

The fans are beginning to get really restless and with good reason.

This afternoon @ 1:05pm is game 2 of the 3-game series. On the mound for The Wankies will be David Phelps (3-4) vs. Wei-Yen Chen (12-7) for The Birds.

I will be in front of the tube for this game and then at 3:30 it will be ...

FLORIDA GATORS vs. BOWLING GREEN HIGH SCHOOL, on ESPN.

Yes, the Gators are maintaining their tradition of opening the season with the weakest team they can entice into signing a financially lucrative contract to get the crap beat out of them on national TV.

At this point all I can say about the upcoming season is that Coach Muskrat had better field a better offensive team and win some crucial games, or he and his staff are toast when the season ends. Remember where you heard it first.

 My entertainment event for the evening is something really weird sounding ... 

8:00==>METHTACULAR! “Steven Strafford’s hilarious and harrowing account of his life as a crystal methamphetamine addict in Chicago. Told with humor, grace, panache and perhaps most importantly, with honesty and without fear.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

I have no clue why I booked this show. How can being a meth addict be funny? I lost a dear friend to meth addiction. Why did I book this show?

I am seriously considering just ditching the show (probably to incur the wrath of my ticket service) and staying in front of the tube to watch the 8:00 ALABAMA/MICHIGAN game on ABC.

Time to do just a bit of walking and wandering ... so ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.80 miles (or, 12,858 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>289.99

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>789.01

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.”