Sunday’s Report From The Big Apple

Good morning all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers. It is bright, sunny, windy and cold in The Big Apple @ 8:30am==>39º ...  Burrrrrrrrrrrrr!

The Gator’s 14-7 win over Mizzou yesterday afternoon in The Swamp was ugly but ... hey ... a win is a win ... right? This was yet another game where our defense made up for a lackluster offensive performance. Our record is now 8-1 and 7-1 in the SEC.

So==>The Muschamp magical mystery season continues.

Unfortunately, the Georgia Bulldogs won 37-10 over Ole Miss and now will face the woeful Auburn Tigers (2-7, 0-6). Ain’t no way The Dawgs are gonna lose this game so our chances of playing 'Bama for the SEC Championship are virtually nil.

A bit more on the sporting scene ...

Great news in the Yankee Universe==>On Friday Mariano Rivera, our closer, informed Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman that he would indeed return for the 2013 season.

At the beginning of the 2012 pre-season Mo sustained a season-ending knee injury and his return, at the age of 43, seemed to be problematic.

WELCOME BACK MO!!

Moving on some more ... 

Last night’s NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC concert was wonderful, especially Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Lugansky received a well-deserved standing ovation.

Yesterday I posted that I was pretty certain that my comp. seat would be in the upper nosebleed section ... well ... I was totally wrong. My seat was in the orchestra, row N==>AWESOME!!

When the concert was over it was way-too-cold for me to even consider walking back to the apartment. I had anticipated this so I actually got to Lincoln Center about 90 minutes early and spent the extra time walking around the underground areas of the Center, out of the cold.

Oh ... the subway on the way up to Lincoln Center was jam-packed, nose-to-nose, almost Tokyo-like. Very very unpleasant.

Today’s entertainment event is yet another classical music concert in the Lincoln Center area ...

3:00==>CONCERTANTE CHAMBER PLAYERS @ Merkin Hall - “Works by Beethoven, Vaughn Williams and Schubert.” (complimentary ticket)

Hopefully, when the concert is over I will be able to meet up with Dian Crystal aka My Lady for a bite somewhere. 

My Lady is undergoing major foot surgery tomorrow and is in my thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery.

HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.53 miles (or, 9,917 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>678.76

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>400.24

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.”

Most of Lower Manhattan Now Has Power

HOORAY!!==>power has been restored to most of downtown Manhattan<==HOORAY!!

Now My Lady aka Dian Crystal can get back into cyberspace and Fabson aka John Scott Reed can shower and shave.

In response to a wave of biting criticism Mayor Mike finally made the right decision and canceled the NYC Marathon, much to the dismay, of course, of the 41,000 runners from around the World who were either already in The City or on their way. This was the right decision and it should have been made much earlier.

Moving on ...

Last night’s entertainment event was the first public performance of a rock/folk musical SON OF A GUN, that tells the story of Danderhauler Agamenon Khrusty, the heir apparent to the throne of the Khrusty family Appalachian band.

The show was scheduled to open on Thursday but that performance and earlier rehearsals were canceled due to Sandy. Some of the props and technical stuff arrived barely in time for last night’s performance. All of this was explained to the full-house by the company’s artistic director.

For this reason I don’t think it would be fair to assign the show a report card grade and I won’t. I will make some observations, however.

The cast is extremely talented, headed by Van Hughes in the role of Danderhauler. Hughes was in the Broadway and touring casts of "Green Day’s American Idiot."

The music is loud and pretty much “in-your-face” but I sorta knew that going in. 

There were several technical glitches and the lighting was bad most of the time. The intermission was 15 minutes longer than the announced time.

The show needs to have some serious trimming and I am pretty sure that will be done.

Now, having said all of this ... I think the show has definite strong points and will be worth seeing after, say, the middle of next week.

Moving on some more ...

Beginning at noon the Gators will kick Mizzou Tiger’s ass in The Swamp. The game is being carried locally on ESPN2.

I hope and pray that Coach Muskrat has his team ready because, as most of you loyal and faithful readers and followers know==>Billi Pod HATES TIGERS!!

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall.

The program is: Glinka - Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla; Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 3; and, Elgar - Enigma Variations

(complimentary ticket)

Yes, that’s right, I am seeing The New York Philharmonic Orchestra on a Saturday night in New York City with a comp. ticket. Oh, I know that the seat will probably be in the nosebleed section but no matter because the acoustics in Avery Fisher Hall are acceptable wherever you are seated ... and ... I will have my hearing aid thingys too.

The temperature prediction for after the concert is 41º so I am not sure at this point whether I will walk back to the apartment or just subway it.

I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.17 miles (or, 9,132 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>674.23

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>404.77

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.”

A Sandy Update And AWESOME Walking Stats

TGIF for all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the hinterlands, boondocks, and wastelands. Just a reminder==>your weekend DOES NOT start until at least 5:00pm, so don’t even think about leaving early. Don’t do it!!

Yes, New York City is in a recovery mode. Most of lower Manhattan remains without power although ConEd reports that it should be restored by tomorrow. We will just have to see about that.

Subways are partially open. Bus service is pretty much back to normal. Bridge and tunnel access restrictions (must have 3-people per vehicle) are in effect. Massive congestion on roads and highways. There are very long lines at gas stations.

The death toll for NYC is now at 40 with many (mostly elderly) still missing or unaccounted for.

Tempers are beginning to flare, not helped by the decision to let the New York City Marathon go on as scheduled on Sunday. The complaint is about the diversion of law enforcement personnel and electrical power. The counter-argument is that NYC must move on and the event will bring millions of dollars into the now very fragile local economy.

When I went to my ‘hood Food Emporium yesterday I was stunned at the number of still empty shelves. No milk, scant bread, depleted fruit, no orange juice etc etc. One of the employees told me the problem was the difficulty in reaching their supply warehouses.

Despite all of this, the recovery effort continues and we New Yorkers will, of course, prevail.

Again, thanks so much for your continued support via emails, texts, messages and calls.

OK, now let’s move on with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

THE AUSTERITY OF HOPE, about the interpersonal dynamics of a group of gay friends in Astoria Queens and the issues they face==>B+

Very interesting story line and excellent acting. Thankfully, it avoids the usual theater gay stereotypes. 

When the show was over I had a brief conversation with the playwright, Dan Fingerman. This is his first play. Dan is a member of one of the on-line “show-alert” lists I belong to and this is how I “knew” him. I told him how much I enjoyed the show and he seemed to be very appreciative.

Unfortunately the show closes on Saturday.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ... 

8:00==>SON OF A GUN - “A quirky, darkly comic, folk/rock musical that tells the story of Danderhauler Agamenon Khrusty, the eldest of three sons of Winston and Elmadora Khrusty, and the heir apparent to the throne of the Khrusty family Appalachian band.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is the first preview performance and it is playing at a theatre on my block.

I want to take a moment to give you loyal and faithful readers and followers some thoughts on the current status of my 1,079 mile walking adventure/challenge.

For those of you who are new to this blog, the following is an excerpt from the original posting back on August 6th ...

******************

“Between July 1, 2012 and April 23, 2013, my 79th birthday, I will walk at least==>1,079 miles. 

Yes ... that is the correct figure==>1,079 miles<==calculated at 1,000 miles plus an additional 79 miles honoring my next birthday.

For you number crunchers the total days are 296, so the daily average must be at least 3.65 miles, or 25.51 per week.

Of course the mileage will be recorded on my Weight Watchers Pedometer, but you already knew that, didn’t you.”

Why am I doing this I know some of you are asking? Simple. Two reasons: (1) Because I want to; and (2) Because I can.”

*************************

I am now 4 months into the adventure/challenge and these are the stats:

July==>123.25 miles - avg. per day==>3.98 miles

August==>166.74 miles - avg. per day==>5.38 miles.

September==>191.30 miles - avg. per day==>6.38 miles

October==>183.36 miles - avg. per day==>5.91 miles

Total mileage since 7/1==>664.65 miles - avg. per day==>5.40 miles

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>408.94 miles

Total steps==>1,453,590 (awesome)

Extra mileage in storage locker==>215.70 miles, or 59 days @ zero mileage

The extra mileage in my storage locker is very important because the weather here in The Big Apple is becoming colder and colder and the winds coming off of the Hudson River and blowing East on 42nd Street are already uncomfortable for Billi Pod.

Two factors make me more susceptible to colder weather: (1) I was born and raised in Florida and (2) I am on blood thinner.

One of the reasons I have been able to survive up here in The Big Apple during the winter months has been my ability to schedule events in such a manner as to limit my time outside in the elements. This was one of the factors that brought me to 420 W. 42nd Street.

Well, now, my challenge/adventure basically requires me to take the long-way between points A & B, rather than the most efficient. Yes, I know that I have made reference(s) to access to The Port Authority Bus Terminal and Penn Station, but ... dammit ... those routes have already become B O R I N G!!

Yeah, on November 2nd, Billi Pod’s body is saying==>“hey, asshole, get off your butt and let’s go walking” while his inner self is saying==>“self, don’t be stupid, it’s freezing out, you are 78yrs. old and self doesn’t want to die of pneumonia.”

Well, I will, of course, keep you loyal and faithful readers up-to-date as the weather gets colder and colder.

Moving on ...

In Billi Pod’s mind the countdown to Saturday’s noon GATOR/MISSOURI game @ The Swamp has begun.

We are currently 17-point favorites. Not sure I agree with this given our offensive problems. I hope Coach Muskrat and his staff have come up with an offensive “plan.”

Will post this and do some walking and wandering in my immediate ‘hood. At 1:30pm it is 52º and windy.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.41 miles (or, 11,827 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>670.06

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>408.94

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.”

The Recovery Process Continues

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers and followers.

I am pleased to report that the recovery process is very much underway with the subway system now partially open and bus service available in many areas. That’s the good news. The bad news for the hundreds of thousands living in lower Manhattan is that power has yet to be restored down there. Bummer!!

The major source of that problem was the explosion at the East 14th Street ConEd substation. I know this is a continuing source of frustration for those living South of 23rd Street, and that includes my theater buddy Dian Crystal aka My Lady.

My Lady, a native New Yorker, is hanging tough as I knew she would. So are the approximately 251,373 others living in lower Manhattan who remain without power.

The whole power problem is a harsh reminder of how dependent we have all become on our electronic devices - computers, tablets, Smart Phones, etc.,  and, of course, the Internet - and how fragile this reliance is. Just getting your Smart Phone recharged can be a major problem and often it makes you dependent on the kindness of others.

A good example==>yesterday I stopped at the Duane/Reade drug store at 42nd and 8th Avenue and saw that dozens of people were sitting on the floor throughout the store with their devices plugged into the store’s electrical outlets. Of course, those Starbucks that have reopened are jam-packed.

The disruptions in public transportation and the restrictions on bridges and tunnels has closed many businesses because employees simply can’t get to their jobs and/or supply trucks aren’t able to deliver.

This has also caused mass, and I mean MASS congestion on the roads throughout The City and created almost a warlike atmosphere between pedestrians and drivers.

But ... the important thing is that the recovery process is well underway.

Now ... kinda moving on ...

I posted yesterday that my evening’s entertainment event was supposed to be a “Rush Hour” concert by the NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC. Well, it was canceled. 

Luckily I received that notification before I headed out for my matinee. I was able to schedule another Broadway show for the evening, so ... let’s have Billi Pod’s report cards on what turned out to be a Broadway doubleheader ...

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, about the “alleged” murder of young Edwin Drood, where the audience selects who-did-it==>B+

It is fun and very well performed, led by Jim Norton and Chita Rivera. The so-called voting process throughout the performance is interesting. Frankly, the show grew on me as it developed.

It is definitely worth seeing.

My comp. seat was in the very upper nosebleed section, in the very last row of the rear mezzanine. Barf!! I was, however, able to move down to a much better seat just moments before curtain-time.

An additional plus for the show was running into my friends Bob & Lillian, confirmed theater-nuts like moi. We hadn’t seen each other in some time so it was nice to have the opportunity to do some catching up.

When the show was over I came back to PHC and had the usual fruit and cheese plate and then it was time to head back to Broadway for my second show, which was ...

SCANDALOUS - “A musical based on the life of Aimee Semple McPherson, the world's first media superstar whose passion for saving souls equaled her passion for making headlines.” (Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Billi Pod’s report card==>C

Frankly, Billi Pod is giving the show the benefit of the doubt with a grade of C. An incredible performance from Carolee Carmello, as Aimee Semple McPherson, saves the show. I was never into either the story line or the characters. At the end I could have cared less about McPherson. It needs serious cutting if it is to survive the New York critics.

Billi Pod says==>you are warned.

Moving on ...

I have now booked events up until Sunday. Have avoided any show performing below 28th Street.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>THE AUSTERITY OF HOPE - “The interpersonal dynamics of a group of gay friends in Astoria Queens and the issues they and young adults across the country confronted during the 2008 election of Barack Obama - relationships, careers, finances and sex.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This sounds like a lot of fun, doesn’t it?

On the sports scene ...

Hopefully The Gators will bounce back from their pitiful performance last Saturday against The Bulldogs. 

The GATOR/MISSOURI game @ The Swamp is at noon on Saturday, carried locally on ESPN2. Coach Muskrat better have his team back in shape.

Had a decent walking day yesterday. I will post this and then head out. It is cold and windy, 46º, so I think I will check out The Port Authority Bus Terminal, if it has reopened.

Oh ... thanks again for the emails, texts, posts and calls. They mean a lot to me.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.35 miles (or, 11,696 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>664.65

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>414.35

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.”