Boring News From The Big Apple/BREAKING NEWS!!

BREAKING NEWS==>At noon there is a major fire at the 41-floor high-rise apartment building, The Strand, at 500 West 43rd Street @ 10th Avenue. It is located one block west of my apartment building. I can’t actually see the building because my view is blocked by another high-rise. It is also majorly foggy with freezing misting rain. As might be expected the streets are blocked with fire engines.

My Facebook friend, Steve Schalchlin and his partner Jim Brochu, live in the building. I think that my longtime friends, David Huddleston and Sarah Koeppe, also lived there at one time.

It is now 1:00pm as I am working on this posting and the news has just reported that the fire is under control but, unfortunately, two residents are in critical condition. The apartment is located on the 20th floor. Steve and Jim are OK, thank goodness!!

Wow ... not a very pleasant way to begin this posting, which, in it’s first draft was already a major downer ... so ... anyway ...  my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... let’s get started with what I had originally planned to post ... BORING!!

BORING!! It is gray, overcast and cold in The Big Apple @ 9:30am, 32º with freezing rain in the forecast for later in the day/evening. BORING!!

BORING!! Your favorite blogger left the warm and cozy confines of PHC once yesterday, for a trip to the grocery store, and it was totally unpleasant and freezing cold outside. The sidewalks and crosswalks were slippery and, frankly, dangerous. BORING!!

BORING!! This meant that there was no way I was gonna brave the elements again ... so ... Billi Pod stayed in for his 4th consecutive day/night and watched football. BORING!!

BORING!! Yes, there were two very “exciting” wild-card games. But, the whole experience was ... BORING!!

BORING!! Just gotta get out today. Will catch a movie, somewhere, someplace, sometime ... Hell ... might even see ANCHORMAN 2 again. Gotta get out. BORING!!

B*O*R*I*N*G!!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.40 miles (or, 3,076 steps)

 Total mileage for 2014==>5.79 miles (average 1.45 miles per day)

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 Has Major Cabin Fever==>HELP!!

Saturday==>Another chilly good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace, from your favorite blogger, who is marooned in his apartment, PHC, in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

It is still freezing cold in The Big Apple. 14º, wind chill 6º @ 9:30am.

The accumulated snow has mostly turned to slush and it is reported that there is lots of dangerous black ice on the sidewalks and at the pedestrian crosswalks. Not pleasant, to put it mildly.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting, I have to share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers that yesterday was my 3rd consecutive day/evening of staying in the warm and cozy confines of my apartment, PHC, which is, as most of you know, located on the 41st floor of my building. I didn’t even walk out the door to go downstairs to check the mail.

This may be a record since I became a full-time resident of The Big Apple back in June of 1998.

This also means that this morning your favorite blogger is suffering from a major ... and I mean M*A*J*O*R case of CABIN FEVER.

It is so misleading. When I look out the windows all I see is bright sunshine and azure blue skies ... but ... when I stick my arm out the window it is almost instantly numbed by the frigid winds blowing off of the Hudson River. 

Bottom line ... it is still extremely unpleasant outside.

And that is a problem because I am so antsy and restless right now. The problem is made even more nerve-wracking because thus far nothing ... and I mean NOTHING, of any interest has shown up on any of my ticket services. I keep checking and checking ... and ... N*O*T*H*I*N*G.

Where are you Theater Gods when Billi Pod needs you? Where?? 

The only movie playing at the two movie theaters in my ‘hood that I have any interest in seeing is THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, and I am not sure I can take, at this point in time, sitting in a theater for 3+ hours.

Moving on ... actually, it really isn’t moving on ... it is just moving ... 

I will have to say that last night had two very exciting college football games ... 

8:00pm - Cotton Bowl: Missouri vs. Oklahoma State, won by Mizzou 41-31.

8:30pm - Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Ohio State, won by Clemson 40-35 in a major upset. The Tigers were 17-point underdogs.

Man, this Bowl season the odds-makers and bookies have taken a major beating.

During the games my son Bill III aka The Bill and I texted back and forth and that was nice.

WTF?? What a boring posting ... sorry ... 

Well, it is almost 1:00pm and still nothing ... so ... your favorite blogger is going to post this, dress warmly, and then carefully walk over to The Port Authority Bus Terminal for a walk and wander session there.

STAY WARM EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>0.71 miles (or, 1,570 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>4.39 miles (average 1.46 miles per day)

Billi Pod

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

It Is Freezing Cold In The Big Apple.

Friday==>OK my loyal and faithful readers and followers, let’s get right to the important stuff here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World==>the weather! 

There is a winter storm advisory until 1:00pm. At 9:30am it is 18º, wind chill 8º. 

As you can see in the two pics below, there is snow accumulation. Brrrr!!

I will share with you right off the bat ... there ain’t no way your favorite blogger is going to leave the warm and cozy confines of PHC to venture out into this mess. No f**king way ... unless, of course, THE BOOK OF MORMON shows up on one of his ticket services ... but ... that ain’t gonna happen ... so ...

What about last night I know you are anxiously asking everyone around you?

As you know from yesterday’s posting, I had a NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC concert at 7:30pm @ Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.

Around 5:00pm I decided I really didn’t want to be out and about in the freezing weather ... so ... I went online and exchanged the ticket for another concert in April.

The NY Phil has a very liberal exchange policy for subscribers and this is a huge benefit.

After making the exchange I settled in to watch The Sugar Bowl, #3 ranked Alabama vs. #11 ranked Oklahoma. ‘Bama was favored by 17 points.

As you sports fans know, it was a very exciting game to watch with the Sooners pulling off a 45-31 upset win behind freshman QB Trevor Knight, who completed a Sugar Bowl record 32 passes for 348 yards and 4 TDs.

It was a sour ending to ‘Bama QB A. J. McCarron’s otherwise stellar career. He passed for 387 yards and 2 TDs but his 2 interceptions set up 2 TDs and his fumble in the final minute, which was returned for a TD, sealed the Sooner victory.

During the game my son Bill III aka The Bill and I texted back and forth. The Bill was pulling of OU and I was pulling for ‘Bama. Oh well ...

Wow ... it is now noon and your favorite blogger is already getting antsy and restless. This is gonna be a long day/night.

Tonight’s football is==>8:00pm - Cotton Bowl: Missouri vs. Oklahoma State; and, 8:30pm - Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Ohio State.

I will be pulling for Missouri (GO SEC) and, I guess, Ohio State because I still kinda like Urban Meyer even though he ran out on The Gator Nation.

Well ... the clock has slowed down to a crawl ... guess I’ll go to work on my sock drawer or whatever ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.82 miles (or, 3,993 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>3.68 miles (average 1.84 miles per day)

Billi Pod

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

Way To Go UCF Knights!!

Thursday==>It is a gray, ugly and cold day here in the Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. There was light snow during the overnight.

At 1:30pm today it is 27º, wind chill 12º. Between 4 to 6 inches of snow is predicted for the next 24 hours and the low is forecast to be 4º. Burrrr!!

Fortunately, my entertainment event for tonight is at Lincoln Center, meaning I will only be exposed to the elements during the block long walk to and from The Port Authority Bus Terminal. The event is ...

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall - “The program is: works by Lindburg (who?), performed by pianist Yefim Bronfman, and Rouse (who?); and, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.”  (season subscription series).

Of course, the highlight for me will be Tchaikovsky’s symphony.

Moving on ...

As I  previously posted, yesterday your favorite blogger was a total college football couch potato. I left the warm and cozy confines of PHC only once, for a very short walk session and a trip to The Food Emporium.

The games were really good and exciting, especially South Carolina’s 34-24 win over Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl and Michigan State’s 24-20 win over Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

For me, however, the highlight was #15 ranked University of Central Florida’s nail-biting 52-42 upset win over #6 ranked Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. The Knights were 17-point underdogs.

The Knights beat the nation’s top offensive team in a rousing BCS debut, finishing the year with an astonishing 12-1 record.

My son Bill III aka The Bill is a UCF graduate, so that made the game even better for me.

During half-time of that game I grilled a Allen Brothers tenderloin steak on my George Forman grill to go with a baked potato and steamed veggies. The Allen Brothers steaks are a premiere product and very expensive. My daughter, Kathi Bendeck, and her husband, Dr. John, give them to me for my birthday and for Christmas. THANKS AGAIN GUYS!!

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... we will close out today’s posting with the last 5 lessons from 45 LIFE LESSONS, WRITTEN BY A 90 YEAR OLD:

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you think you need.

42. The best is yet to come …

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Walking-wise 2014 has gotten off to rather inauspicious start ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.86 miles (or, 4,080 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>1.86 miles (average 1.86 miles per day)

Billi Pod

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

Goodbye 2013==>Hello 2014

Wednesday==>HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace, from your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

May 2014 be a wonderful year for you, your friends and your loved-ones.

I am so happy to report that last night’s concert, NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall, New Year’s Eve Celebration with Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo, was a totally enjoyable way to say a fond farewell to 2013 and to usher in 2014.

In yesterday’s posting I gave some background info regarding Igudesman, violin, and Joo, piano. 

They are both very accomplished musicians plus engaging comedians. Yeah ... I know ... I know ... accomplished musicians who are also engaging comedians performing with The New York Philharmonic???? ... but ... folks ... it really worked and the soldout house was very much into this unusual combination of talents.

It is difficult to describe the 2-hour concert, with intermission, because it was so different. I mean ... for example ... can you picture members of the orchestra dancing an Irish Jig or Conductor Alan Gilbert conducting a piece devoted to ringing cellphones and ring tones?

Well ... that was just a sampling.

Also, there was an unexpected appearance by renowned violinist Joshua Bell, who had been hiding in the audience until called to the stage.

Bottom line ... at 9:30pm your favorite blogger left Avery Fisher Hall with a big smile on his face as he headed back to the warm and cozy confines of PHC. 

The trip back was somewhat nerve racking because: (1) the subway was filled with already blotto riders heading to Times Square; (2) there was a door malfunction that delayed us at the 59th Street station: and, (3) there was also lots of security checkpoints to just getting back to the apartment after finally finding an open exit at The Port Authority Bus Terminal.

It was 10:30pm when I opened the door to PHC. I really wasn’t that hungry so I postponed grilling the Allen Brothers steak until today, opting instead for some pizza and wings I had in the ‘fridge.

I was able to watch the final half of the Duke/Texas A&M, game and what an exciting game it was. Johnny Manziel aka Johnny Football led The Aggies to a come-from-behind 52-48 win after being down by 21-points at halftime.

His talent and enthusiasm reminds me so much of Timmy Tebow. Just hope Johnny has a better pro-career than did Timmy.

When the ball in Times Square fell, signaling the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014, I fell to my knees and thanked my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God, for yet another wonderful year in this amazing life I have so blessed by Him to live. 

Then I welcomed in the New Year with my libation of choice - Fresca.

Moving on ...

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to most of you loyal and faithful readers and followers that Billi Pod will spend today and tonight as a 110% college football couch-potato. 

SEC!! SEC!! SEC!!

Let’s close this posting with the next 10 lessons from 45 LIFE LESSONS, WRITTEN BY A 90 YEAR OLD ...

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

The walking stats for 2013 are below and, IMHO, they are pretty awesome for an almost 80yr old guy ... but ... it is up to you to decided ... because ...

I report - You decide.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.29 miles (or, 9,384 steps)

Total mileage for 2013==>1,368.18 miles (or, 2,992,210 steps)

2013 average miles per day==>3.75 miles

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.”