THE GREAT SOCIETY==>B

Monday==>Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it is indeed Back To Work Monday, so I hope that those of you who are working are giving your 110% to earn those paychecks in order to pay those taxes that support the meager lifestyle of all the poor retirees, like moi. Thank you all so very much.

I’m sure you understand that we retirees would be back in the workforce if we could, but ... unfortunately ... we can’t ... so ... it is up to you to keep on working. Honestly, most of us regret that most of you will never to be able to retire ... but ... that’s just how things are now ... so ... I guess you just gotta live with it.

So ... let’s move on to Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ... 

THE GREAT SOCIETY, about Lyndon Johnson’s effective civil-rights battle, while protecting himself from charges of weakness and preventing the Vietnam war from consuming his Great Society==>B

There is lot to like in this educational drama but at almost 3 hours, with one intermission it is way-too-long.

Also, there is way-too-much yelling, screaming and cussing from Johnson’s character. Yes, I know he had a temper and all that, but I doubt he screamed at everyone who came into his office or who was talking with him on the phone.

Why can't today’s directors understand that anger and frustration can be portrayed without continuous yelling and screaming? Jus' askin ... 

I would estimate that the majority of the almost full house was in our late 60s, mid-70s, so the show brought back a lot of personal memories and that, in itself, is worth the investment of time and money.

Even with the above criticisms Billi Pod says==>see it, it is worth it.

When the show was over I came back the few steps to my apartment building and settled in to watch the final innings of the YANKEES/PADRES game from San Diego.

It wasn’t fun to watch as The Wankies lost 6-3 behind another woeful performance from Phil Hughes who lasted only 2 2/3 innings, giving up 5 runs. Hughes’ time in the rotation, and probably as a Yankee, is numbered.

Tonight @ 8:10pm, in Chicago, it will be game one of the 3 game series against The White Sox.

On the mound for The Wankies will be Andy Pettitte (7-8) vs. Jose Quantana (5-3) for The White Sox.

Folks, The WS are in last place in the AL Central and if we don’t sweep this series we might as well forfeit the rest of the games because we are now mired in 4th place in the AL East, trailing The FuckSox by 9.5 games and are 4.5 games behind The Rays in the wild-card race.

Of course, the media focus tonight will be on A-Rod, who will be in the starting lineup even though his 200+ game suspension will be announced later in the day. He plans to appeal and that allows him to remain on the active roster.

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, if GeorgeS were still alive there is no f**king way he would permit A-Rod to play, no f**king way.

Oh ... jus’ askin ... but has Johnny Manziel aka Johnny Football, Texas A&M’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, now become college football’s version of Justin Bieber? Jus' askin ...

I haven’t anything scheduled for this evening so my plans are to stay in and watch the media circus called the YANKEES/WHITE SOX game.

On this happy note, I will post this and then begin working on my usual Monday errands and chores list.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.00 miles (or, 2,206 steps)

Total mileage for week==>25.05 miles (average 3.66 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>125.29 miles (average 3.52 miles per day)

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.”

It’s Been A Good Weekend

Sunday==>It is a beautiful morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. The skies are blue with a few puffy clouds, a nice breeze is coming off of the Hudson River and the temperature is 72º at 10:30am.

I hope that everyone out there in the hinterlands, boondocks and wastelands is having a good weekend thus far because your favorite blogger is ... yep ... a good weekend so far.

So ... why don’t we get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

SHORT STUFF 7, about ... duh ... seven short plays==>B+

Each of the short plays was very well performed and they were mostly very entertaining.

My favorite was “Closing Costs,” about a feisty and aggressive female real estate agent and a young rich perennial “looker.”

The house was full. It is playing at the Abingdon Theatre Complex on West 36th Street, has a running time of 1:50, with intermission, and runs through August 18th.

Billi Pod says==>worth seeing.

When the show was over I was able to watch the final innings of the YANKEES/PADRES game from San Diego. It was an exciting game.

The Yankees won 3-0 on another excellent outing from Ivan Nova, clutch hitting from Curtis Granderson and Mo.’s 35th save.

Derek Jeter wasn’t in the lineup due to a calf problem. There is talk that he might go back on the DL. When will it end??

This afternoon at 4:10pm will be the final game of the 3-game series. Phil Hughes (4-9) will be on the mound for The Yankees vs. former Yankee Ian Kennedy (3-8).

It is now widely reported that both MLB and The Yankees have shut down talks with A-Rod and either today or tomorrow he will be suspended for the rest of this season and all of the 2014 season.

Just do it folks and then let’s move the f**k on.

So ... let’s you and I move on to Billi Pod’s entertainment event for today, the Off Broadway show ...

3:00==>THE GREAT SOCIETY - “Thrust by the assassination of John Kennedy into the office he always wanted, Lyndon Johnson walks a tightrope, standing tall enough to protect himself from charges of weakness, but also preventing the Vietnam war from consuming his Great Society.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This show has just opened and there has been virtually no advance buzz. It is playing at the Theatre Row Complex on my block and has a running time of almost 3 hours, with one intermission.

My show for Monday night, EINSTEIN, was canceled when the producer withdrew the comp. tixs. Bummer. At the moment I have nothing scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, something highly unusual, as you loyal and faithful readers and followers know. 

Oh, well ... hopefully things will show up ... so ...

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.19 miles (or, 6,973 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>124.29 miles (average 3.66 miles per day)

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.”

ALEX AND GINA FALLETTA==>CONGRATULATIONS ON #11

Saturday==>CONGRATULATIONS to my grandson Alex Falletta and his incredible wife, Gina, as they celebrate their 11th Wedding Anniversary today. 

I was honored to have been asked to preside over the event in Lakeland, FL. At the conclusion of the emotional ceremony I said:

“Now that Alex and Gina have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, the giving and receiving of rings, and the lighting of the Unity Candle, by the powers vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Florida, I am pleased and deeply honored to pronounce that they are now husband and wife.”

As Gina said in her Facebook posting ... “Some days it seems like yesterday, others like a lifetime ago.” Yes, a lot has happened, including Gina receiving her degree from the University of South Carolina, Alex being deployed to Iraq and safely returning, and the birth of their darling daughter Saylor.

Have a great time guys ... you have more than earned it.

Now, on to other things ... like Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

 GHETTO BABYLON, about how hard it is being fourteen in 1982 in the South Bronx, with a summer of baseball, bullies, boarding school and girls==>A-

Folks, this show is extremely well-acted, especially Alejandro Rodriguez in the lead role of the 14-year-old Charlie Rosa, whose nickname is Charlie Baseball.

There are many many plot twists and turns.

The play itself is extremely profane, there is a lot of screaming and yelling and the n-word is tossed around often. The twists and turns of the story line keep the show moving, even though, IMHO, at least 15-minutes could easily be cut from the 2:20, with intermission, running time.

It is playing in the small Theatre C at the  59E59 Complex so it is very much in your face. This was the opening night and all seats were taken.

It runs though August 18th.

Billi Pod says==>see this show.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>SHORT STUFF 7 - “About ... duh ... seven short plays.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket).

This is the opening night and it is playing at the Abingdon Theatre Complex on West 36th Street.

Now for your sports fix ...

Last night the Wankies lost 7-2 to The Padres out in San Diego as our former ace, CC Sabathia, had yet another miserable outing, giving up 5 runs on 11 hits in 5.2 innings. Folks, we are in serious trouble.

Curtis Granderson was back in the lineup but he went 0-4, with 2 strikeouts.

Tonight @ 8:40pm will be game 2 of the 3-game series. On the mound for the Wankies will be Ivan Nova (4-4) vs. Tyson Ross (2-4) for The Padres.

The deadline for A-Rod to accept MLB’s plea deal is 6:00pm EST tomorrow. He is putting on a defiant face. Oh the drama.

Speaking of drama==>the ongoing battle between CBS and Time Warner Cable has risen to a new level here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, as TWC just blacked out CBS and Showtime in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and several other markets.

On this happy note, let’s end with this ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.07 miles (or, 6.708 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>121.10 miles (average 3.67 miles per day)

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 Does Jimmy Fallon

Friday==>Your favorite blogger is happy to report that yesterday’s adventure, the taping of LATE NIGHT with JIMMY FALLON @ Rockefeller Center, was a lot of fun even though all of the things and stuff we had to do in the process of getting our tickets/seats were, at times, frustrating.

I won’t bore you with all of those details ... so ... let’s get started with my condensed narrative of what happened ...

As planned, at 2:30pm I met up with my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik aka Whatever at the MSNBC.COM Digital Cafe located on the second floor of the NBC Experience Store in 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Marty is the one who had scored my ticket. Dian Crystal aka My Lady and her posse, Julie Miller and Vera Olichney, were already there.

The photograph was taken just before we started the process. Starting with me it is, clockwise, Dian, Julie, Marty and Vera.

After waiting and then going through various lines we were given our entrance ticket, meaning, we would have a seat for the show. YES!! We had some time to kill so we just wandered around Rockefeller Center, which is huge and packed with tourists.

I didn’t keep complete track of the time so the following will be just my best recollections/guesses.

Around 4:30pm we were finally admitted into the studio. Marty and I were seated about 5 rows back, in the very center. Dian and her posse were in about the same area but house left. These were excellent seats.

There was a warmup performance by a very funny guy whose name I can’t remember. We were given instructions on how to behave ... no cellphones on ... applaud when the sign comes on ... stay in your seat ... be loud ... etc etc.

The show started with a previously recorded performance by Jimmy, Robin Thicke and The Roots singing “Blurred Lines,” with classroom instruments. We, of course, reacted to it at the appropriate time(s).

Then Jimmy came on and did his monologue, which was funny. Then it was Jennifer Aniston, Lenny Kravitz, and the musical guest Goodie Mob with CeeLo Green performing “Special Education.”

That was the end of the show. Jimmy came into the audience to shake hands, hug, etc, but since we were in the center we didn’t get a chance to interact with him. I can, however, be seen in the closing credits for a nano-second.

Once we were in the studio the whole process was a little over 2 hours and things went very smoothly. And, yes, it was more than worth the time and effort.

It took a while to get out of the studio and outside Rockefeller Center. Thank God, it wasn’t raining.

Marty and I split and I walked back to the apartment.

Billi Pod says==>Thank you so much, Marty, for inviting me to this totally enjoyable event.

With this taping your favorite blogger has now seen tapings of: Letterman (2); Jon Stewart (1); John Oliver (1), Colbert (1), and Fallon (1).

It was about 7:00pm when I got back to the apartment. I hadn’t planned any entertainment event for the evening because I hadn’t been sure just when the taping would end.

So ... I turned on the tube and spent the rest of the evening watching baseball. No, it wasn’t the Yankees - they had the day off.

And ... yes ... I watched the entire Jimmy Fallon program @ 12:35am. As I said, in the closing credits you can see me for a nano-second.

OK ... now ... what about today ...

At around 1:00pm Kate Martin of Lakeland, FL, will come to the apartment and then we will have a late lunch someplace in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

Kate is finishing up her fashion-industry-related internship here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. She is going to give me an update on what is next on the agenda for her career path.

Then ... for the evening is an Off Broadway show ...

8:30==>GHETTO BABYLON - “Charlie Rosa receives a letter and his life becomes about big secrets, little lies and a whole lot of pressure. It's hard being fourteen in 1982 in the South Bronx. Luckily he has an imaginary friend to help him get through the summer of baseball, bullies, boarding school and girls.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This is playing at the 59E59 Theatre Complex, one of my favorite venues.

Moving on to a bit of sports for Marty ...

Tonight at 10:10pm, in San Diego, will be game 1 of the 3-game YANKEE/PADRES series.

On the mound for The Yankees will be our former ace CC Sabathia (9-9) vs. Andrew Cashner (7-5) for The Padres.

Curtis Granderson is scheduled to be in tonight’s lineup after being out for most of the season with multiple injuries.

The hammer hasn’t fallen on A-Rod yet. It is reported that “his people” are in negotiations with MLB for a settlement that will result in him being suspended for the rest of this season and all of the 2014 season. 

Oh the drama ...

In closing==>Billi Pod’s profile in Billi Pod Blogs has now recorded over 15,000 views. WOW!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.16 miles (or, 9,100 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>118.03 miles (average 3.69 miles per day)

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 And Jimmy Fallon Tonight

Thursday==>It is an overcast and gray day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and, I guess, a rather fitting followup to yesterday’s WTF day.

I won’t bore you loyal and faithful readers and followers with a rehash of yesterday’s happenings. If you are in a S&M mode then you can just reread yesterday’s posting.

I didn’t see a movie or any other entertainment event. I did get in a good 4+ mile walk and wander session from my 42nd Street apartment down to 14th Street and back.

Then, it was time for the 10:10pm YANKEES/DODGERS game, from Los Angeles.

It was an excellent game and a pitcher’s duel from the very beginning between our starter Hiroki Kuroda and The Dodger’s Clayton Kersaw. The crowd was 53,013. Both pitchers went 8 innings and left the game with the score tied 0-0.

The Yankees scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th and then Mo. came in and got his 34th save and we won 3-0.

The Bronx Bombers have today off as they travel down to San Diego for a 3-game series against The Padres.

OK ... now let’s move on to today ...

As I alerted you yesterday==>today’s entertainment event will be a taping of The Jimmy Fallon Show at Rockefeller Center. Hooray!!

At 2:30pm I will meet up with my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik aka Whatever, who is the one who secured our tickets. Dian Crystal aka My Lady, and members of her posse, also have tickets.

I won’t bore you with the draconian process we have to go through before the taping begins @ 5:00pm. Once we are seated it is estimated that the taping will take about 2.5 hours.

According to the internet, Jimmy’s guests will be Jennifer Aniston and Lenny Kravitz. I am really charged about this.

Soooooooooo ... stay up late tonight and look for me. I will be the older guy wearing a Yankee hat.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.04 miles (or, 13,199 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>113.87 miles (average 3.67 miles per day)

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.”