Late Again==>Sorry!!

Thursday==>yes, I know, I know ... this posting is late again but ... just calm down out there in the boondocks, hinterlands and wastelands ... remember ... a late posting is better than no posting at all ... so ...

Let’s get started with ... what? Oh ... you want to know why this posting is late? OK ... well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, has just gotten back from a wonderful time with some out-of-town friends ...

Yep ... at noon today my longtime friend and judicial colleague Retired Circuit Judge Miette Burnstein of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, her daughter, Kerry, and her granddaughter, Kyla, came over to PHC to check out the awesome views of my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

They are in town to celebrate Kyla’s 20th birthday. Kyla is a sophomore at The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. Miette has scheduled a whirlwind adventure including the Broadway musical Once for Friday and then The Book of Mormon for Saturday. Of course, they have plenty of other stuff included, too.

After showing them the sights from PHC we walked up to 47th Street where we had a wonderful lunch at my favorite Ethiopian restaurant, Meske.

We had a great time and did a lot of much needed catching up. When lunch was over I walked with them over to the subway station on 44th and 8th so they could ride a train downtown to the 9/11 Memorial.

Hopefully, I will join them tomorrow night for a late bite at Joe Allen on Restaurant Row.

So ... that in a nutshell is why this posting is delayed ... sorry ... 

Moving on ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA @ Carnegie Hall - The program was: Brahms - Liebeslieder Waltzes; Mehldau (who??) -  Variations for Piano and Orchestra (U.S. Premiere); and, Beethoven - Symphony No. 3.

I am happy to share that it was a totally AWESOME event, even though my comp. seat was in the upper nosebleed section as I had anticipated. Just before the concert began I was able to move several rows down and that helped a lot.

Before the concert began I had some serious misgivings about the piece that was titled “Variations for Piano and Orchestra on a Melancholy Theme” because it was noted as being the NY Premiere, which usually means that it will be an atonal piece of dreck. Well, I am pleased to report that it wasn’t. It was an interesting juxtaposition of traditional classical style music, with jazz. The composer, Brad Mehldau, was also the pianist. There was a very favorable audience reaction.

The highlight of the evening was Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”) and it was sublimely beautiful as performed by the 34-member chamber orchestra. They received a roaring ovation from a very appreciative audience.

I had walked over to the concert and the weather was great and it felt good. When the concert was over the weather was still good, so your favorite blogger walked back to PHC.

Now ... what about tonight? Well, tonight is gonna be something that sounds like fun ...

7:30==>COLE PORTER’S MEXICAN HAYRIDE - A Staged Concert Reading - “Joe, a small-time American racketeer in Mexico on the run from the FBI, tries to elude the local authorities (and his wife) but runs afoul of a female bullfighter - Montana, her manager - Lombo, and Latin singer - Lolita.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This is a production by Musicals Tonight, is playing at the Theater Row Complex on my block, has a running time of 2:45, with intermission, and runs through October 20th.

The mission statement of Musicals Tonight states that it is a not-for-profit theatre company primarily dedicated to the revival of "neglected" musicals in a manner affordable to most audience members. Since their inception in 1997 they have revived over 70 musicals in staged concert form.

I have seen many of their productions and usually have enjoyed them a lot.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... it is time to post this ... again ... please forgive me for its delay.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.54 miles (or, 7,750 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>346.42  miles (average 3.43 miles per day)

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.”

Billi Pod’s Belated Update

Wednesday==>Good afternoon to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

Your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, deeply regrets the pain and uncertainty he caused many of you by his failure to post anything yesterday on this blog. He did, however, post timely on his Facebook Timeline (hint hint). 

What was the problem(s) I know most of you are anxiously asking your inner selves?

Well ... inner selves ... it went down like this ...

First, Monday has to take part of the blame because it was basically nothing more than a day taken up by boring in-apartment chores and a mind-numbing number of hours spent in front of the tube watching sports==>Cardinals @ Pirates, FuckSox @ Rays, Jets @ Falcons, and Braves @ Dodgers.

For the first time in I can’t remember when I never left the confines of the apartment, even to go down to the lobby to check the mail. My Pedometer mileage was a minuscule .30 miles, all done in the apartment.

So ... there really wasn't much to report about for Monday ... 

Then, on Tuesday, the day started off with what was supposed to be a routine 11:00am appointment with my eye doctor, Dr. Dina Weintraub. Well, it was anything but “routine” starting with an overbooked schedule that resulted in an hour-long wait just to make it back to the examination room.

Prior to going back I was given mega-doses of eye drops to dilate the pupils in both eyes resulting in another protracted delay as the drops did their job. Extensive pictures were taken of the inner workings of each eye.

It was almost 1:00pm when Dr. Weintraub finally came in. Now, don’t get me wrong ... I am not complaining, I am only reporting ... I have only the highest regard of Dr. Weintraub and her staff and she and I get along really well.

I am happy to report that she was pleased with the results of all of the testing and the pressure levels in each eye. This was, finally, the good news that I wanted/needed.

It was around 1:45pm when I left her office. The weather was good and I had planned to walk the 2+ miles back to the apartment.

The only problem was that my eyes were still majorly dilated so that, coupled with the glaucoma, made me practically blind. Not joking, it really did. Did your favorite blogger change his plans and either cab or subway back to the apartment?

Well ... you know the answer ... of course he didn’t.

I won’t bore you with the details other than to say that it wasn’t very pleasant. It was kinda like a blind person walking across the Island of Manhattan without the benefit of a guide dog.

When I finally got back to PHC my vision was still majorly impaired to the extent that it made it extremely difficult to do anything with the computer. Also ... I felt emotionally drained.

I was able to sleep for about 90 minutes and felt much better when I woke up although my vision was still impaired.

By this time I had to get ready for my entertainment event for the evening, which was ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program was: Mark-Anthony Turnage (who??) - Frieze (U.S. premiere) and Beethoven - Symphony No. 9. (subscription series)

My vision was still fuzzy but that wasn’t a major problem.

As I had anticipated/feared the Turnage piece was another piece of “modern” atonal dreck that Billi Pod hates. Thank God, it was only 24 minutes in duration. It received a very tepid response from the audience.

After intermission was, of course, the highlight of the evening, Beethoven's majestic Symphony No. 9, featuring 4 soloists and the Manhattan School of Music Symphonic Chorus (80+ singers).

It was totally AWESOME and the sold-out house gave the performers a well-earned roaring standing ovation.

When the concert was over I briefly considered walking back to the apartment but since I had already clocked in 5+ miles for the day, I opted to subway back.

Was back in PHC in time to watch most of the Rays/FuckSox game from that disgrace known as Tropicana Field.

It was a very exciting game to watch but, as you probably know, The FuckSox won 3-1 and advance to the ALCS on Friday.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers, that brings you up-to-date ... so ... let’s move on to today ...

Well ... tonight will be another classical music concert for your favorite blogger ...

8:00==>ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA @ Carnegie Hall - The program is: Brahms - Liebeslieder Waltzes; Mehldau (who??) -  Variations for Piano and Orchestra (U.S. Premiere); and, Beethoven - Symphony No. 3 (Eroica).” (complimentary ticket)

I have seen this group performance on several occasions and they do a great job. Interestingly, they perform without a conductor.

Of course, I am rather confident that my comp. ticket will be in the upper nosebleed section of The Hall ... but no matter because of the great acoustics in this legendary venue.

Moving on ...

Today my longtime friend and judicial colleague Miette Burnstein of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, will come into The City with her daughter, Kerry, and granddaughter, Kyla, to celebrate Kayla’s 20th birthday. They have scheduled a theater-loaded whirlwind adventure.

On Thursday, noonish, they will come over to PHC for the awesome views of Hell’s Kitchen, then we will have lunch at my favorite Ethiopian restaurant, Meske, on West 47th Street.

Really looking forward to seeing you guys.

In closing, I am happy to report that yesterday was an excellent walking day and that this morning my vision is back to normal ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.00 miles (or, 13,123 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>342.88  miles (average 3.43 miles per day)

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’s Doubleheader==>A Split Decision

Monday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the boondocks, wastelands and hinterlands ... there is no way to avoid the obvious ...

Today is Back To Work Monday ... so ... just get over it and take a moment from your otherwise boring workplace environments to be enlightened by Billi Pod’s timely posting about his Sunday entertainment doubleheader ... starting with ...

NATURAL AFFECTION, about a troubled young man who returns home from reform school to find that his mother is now living with a car salesman==>C+ 

Yes, this heavy drama, written by William Inge back in 1963, has violence, infidelity, alcoholism, profanity, homosexual undertones, latent incest and rampant cussing and screaming. Add to this, totally unlikeable characters, with no hint of redemption and you have==>a very uncomfortable event.

Everyone of the cast, with the sole exception of Chris Bert as Donnie, the wayward son, is way too over-the-top, making their characters totally unbelievable ...

WAIT A MINUTE ... having said all of this ... how can Billi Pod give this show a C+??

My bad ... Billi Pod’s revised grade is==>C-.

Now I feel better.

It is playing at the Theater Row Complex on my block, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and runs through October 26th.

Billi Pod says==>you are warned.

Happily, the second show was much much better ...

BRONX BOMBERS, an examination of how baseball’s most storied franchise has always remained focused on maintaining a great team effort even when dealing with some of the game’s most iconic and tempestuous personalities==>A.

The engaging story line centers basically around a real altercation in the Yankee dugout in June 1977 between the volatile Yankee manager Billy Martin (Keith Nobbs) and the recently acquired “superstar” Reggie Jackson (Francois Battiste). Veteran coach and former star Yogi Berra (Richard Topol) attempts to restore order by espousing the importance of "teamwork."

During the two acts the incarnations of Elston Howard, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Thurman Munson, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter appear.

There is excellent acting with great sets and staging.

The house was full and it was pretty obvious that a lot of the audience were Yankee fans.

Now ... you don’t have to be a Yankee fan (like moi) to enjoy this show because the story line and acting carry it to an entertaining conclusion.

The show officially opens on Tuesday, is playing at The Duke on 42nd Street, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and runs through October 19th.

Billi Pod says==>see this show.

At the moment I haven’t decided what my entertainment plans for tonight will be. 

I have, of course, multiple theater options and am also thinking about catching Woody Allen's highly acclaimed movie “Blue Jasmine.”

So ... stay tuned ...

As you know ... Monday is your favorite blogger's errands and chores day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World ... so ... he’s gonna post this and then get to work ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.84 miles (or, 4,023 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>18.37 miles (average 2.63 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>336.58  miles (average 3.43 miles per day)

GO GATORS!! GO RAYS!!  

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Sunday==>Another Interesting Doubleheader.

Sunday==>Damn, it is a gloomy morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Haze and fog at 10:30am with a temperature of 66º.

Oh well ... no need to be in a funk ... so I will begin today’s posting, as usual, with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

THE NORWEGIANS, a comedy about a pair of nice Norwegian gangsters and two revenge-minded gals, in Minnesota==>A-

Folks, the show is totally politically incorrect but it is also in-your-face outrageously funny. Texas and Minnesota get raked over the coals along with morality, forgiveness and non-Norwegians.

I was in the mood for this type of humor so I really enjoyed the show.

It is playing at The Drilling Company Theatre on West 78th Street, has a running time of 1:30, with an intermission, and runs through October 27th.

Billi Pod says==>if you are in the mood for off-kilter humor, then this is the show for you. If not ... stay far far away.

When the show was over I came back to PHC and settled in for a sports evening in front of the tube.

First was The Rays/Boston FuckSox game from that fetid cesspool known as Fenway Park. 

The FuckSox kicked butt again, winning 7-4 as David Ortiz aka Big Papi hit two homers off David Price. The FuckSox now have a 2-0 lead in the ALDS.

Game 3 is Monday down at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field.

Just remember, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... your favorite blogger predicted that The FuckSox would go all the way and ultimately win the World Series.

Then it was ...

The Florida Gators/Arkansas game down in The Swamp.

As you probably know, The Gators won 30-10 to improve their record to 4-1, 3-0 in the SEC. 

Solomon Patton and Loucheiz Purifoy both had stellar games and replacement QB Tyler Murphy looked very comfortable, completing 16 of 22 passes for 240 yards.

Next up for coach Muskrat and The Gators will be The LSU Tigers next Saturday @ 3:30pm in Baton Rouge.

Moving on ...

Today is an entertainment doubleheader ... beginning with ...

2:00==>NATURAL AFFECTION - “A troubled young man returns home from boarding school to find that his mother is now living with a shady car salesman.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Yeah ... I know ... gonna be a lot of yelling, screaming and cussing ... you can bet on that.

This 1963 drama is written by William Inge (Picnic, Bus Stop), is playing at the Theater Row Complex on my block,  has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and runs through October 26th.

Then, for the evening it will be ...

7:00==>BRONX BOMBERS - “The World Premiere of an examination of how baseball’s most storied franchise has always remained focused on maintaining a great team, even when dealing with some of the game’s most iconic and tempestuous personalities.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

In the cast is one of my favorite actors, Keith Nobbs, playing the hot-tempered manager Billy Martin.

This show is still in previews, is playing at The Duke on 42nd Street, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and runs through October 19th.

So, there you are. I think it looks like a pretty interesting afternoon/evening ... so ... stayed tuned ...

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.42 miles (or, 7,462 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>334.71 miles (average 3.45 miles per day)

GO GATORS!! GO RAYS!!  

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”