Countdown (-3) - Justin’s Celebration Luncheon - The Wankies - Dinner with Dian Crystal & Marty Kosarik - Plans

 Monday==>Sunday was a super-excellent day that went down like this ...

At 11:15am I met up with John Scott Reed, Maria Claudio, and Justin Archibald (known as Archie) and we Ubered up to Yonkers for the luncheon in celebration of Justin Allen Pifer’s graduation earlier in the morning from Pace Law School in White Plains, NY.

In the picture it is Archie, Maria, Moi, and Scott.

We arrived at the trendy restaurant,  X2O Xaviar's on the Hudson, around noon. 

When the crowd finally gathered I estimate that there were about 60 people in attendance, with 8 tables.

It was an excellent experience as we spent time getting to know one another and how we were all connected to Justin.

Scott had met him at a dance camp back when they were Juniors in high school and they maintained that friendship through the years. I met Justin through Scott, as did Maria. Archie met him at Penn State.

Scott made a very thoughtful toast to Justin and Justin followed up with remarks and thank-you’s to family and friends. Frankly, it was all kinda emotional, at least it was for me.

The luncheon was over around 3:15pm and our group used a car service to get back to Manhattan. Frankly, Uber was the best of the two rides.

So ... Justin==>CONGRATULATIONS and now let the next part of your adventure/life begin.

Also==>a MAJOR shout-out to Amber Lee who also graduated from Law School on Sunday, American University - Washington College of Law. 

The picture is Amber and her father, Robert Lee.

Moving on ...

Another good thing about the luncheon==>I didn’t have to watch the Wankies getting their asses kicked by the Royals, as they lost 6-0 for their first shutout of the season.

They have tonight off and then Tuesday will start a 2-game series against the Nationals, in Washington, DC. 

After I post this I will spend the remainder of the morning and early part of the afternoon doing some more packing.

This final bit is the most difficult because it entails, among other things, assembling the boxes for my 4 largest paintings, not an easy task for a total klutz like moi.

Oh well ...

Moving on ... 

At 4:00pm I will meet up with my dear friends Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever at our favorite Ethiopian restaurant, Meske, on West 47th Street in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood, for our final time together.

After dinner I will come back to PHC to conclude the final (hopefully) packing, which will include deciding on what I will take with me on the plane Thursday.

Oh ... yes, I know I haven’t posted about the show I saw on Saturday afternoon, TUESDAY AT TESCO’S. Honestly, I am just not in the mood to say anything about the show other than it just didn’t work for me and it gets a report card of==>C.

In all likelihood tomorrow’s posting will be my final one from The Big Apple. I will, of course, attempt to post daily on my Facebook Timeline.

Have no fear==>Billi Pod Blogs will resume once he gets down to The Sunshine State.

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.03 miles (or, 6,621 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>27.49 miles (average 3.93 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2015==>540.77 miles (average 3.95 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.”

Departure==>-3

Countdown (-5) - Conan O’Brien & Anderson Cooper - Tuesdays at Tesco’s - The Yankees

Saturday==>I cannot believe that I am now down to Departure - 5. It seems as if the clock has speeded up and I am beginning to feel some concerns in my gut about the progress I am making in getting stuff prepared and packed for the arrival of the movers on Wednesday morning.

One of the things that is slowing me down was my decision early-on to go through my “stuff” and discard things that I no longer need/want. Well, let me tell you ... after all of this time in The Big Apple, I had accumulated a lot more “stuff” than I realized. Just going through it all has been very time consuming.

And, then, in the typical Billi Pod fashion, I have also scheduled entertainment events and things.

Oh well ... it all will get done ... so ... let’s get this posting underway with ...

Billi Pod’s report on ...

FIRE AND ICE: A Conversation with Conan O’Brien and Anderson Cooper, Conan O’Brien discusses his latest foray into international relations - a special episode of Conan filmed in Cuba, in recognition of its evolving relationship with the U.S. - and other matters, with esteemed journalist and host Anderson Cooper.

This was totally enjoyable and very informative. The auditorium was full.

It started @ 6:00pm with a showing of the entire hour-long film on Conan’s recent trip to Cuba. Then Conan and Anderson came on stage and spent about 30 minutes in a back-and-forth regarding details of the trip. Bottom-line==>The various scenes in the film were mostly improvisational and without structure as Conan was basically interested in just meeting Cubans and getting involved in their culture.

The program ended at 7:30pm and Conan and Anderson received a roaring round of applause.

I am very glad that I booked this event.

Came back to PHC, fixed a bit of food ... and then settled in to watch ...

Game 1 of the 3-game YANKEES/ROYALS series, from Kansas City.

And, man, did the Yankees suck. We lost  12-1 as Michael Pineda got pummeled and our bats remained nonexistent. It was a painful game to watch. Our fourth straight loss.

Game 2 is tonight at 7:10pm. On the mound for the Yankees (21-16) will be CC Sabathia (1-5) vs. Danny Duffy (2-2) for the Royals (23-13).

My plans are to stay in and watch the game.

Moving on ...

Today’s entertainment event is an Off Broadway show ...

2:00==>TUESDAYS AT TESCO’S - “Every Tuesday, Pauline visits her elderly father to do household chores and take him to the supermarket. Desperate to connect with her father between the aisles and in line for the checkout, Pauline is met with gruff disrespect and embarrassment. For her father much preferred things when his daughter used to be his son, Paul.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Starring in this drama is Simon Callow, one of Britain's greatest actors with a remarkable career that spans “Amadeus,” “A Room with a View,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” and “Shakespeare in Love.”

It is playing at the 59E59 Theatre Complex, on East 59th Street (duh), one of my favorite venues, has a running time of 1:15, without intermission, and runs through June 3rd.

Alert==>tomorrow's posting will be delayed because in the late morning John Scott Reed and I will Uber up to Yonkers to join Justin Allen Pifer, and his family, for a luncheon celebrating Justin's graduation from Pace Law School earlier in the day.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it is time to post this and then do some packing ... so ... 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.61 miles (or, 7,909 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>533.09 miles (average 3.95 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.”

Departure==>-5

Countdown (-6) - Churchill - Conan O’Brien & Anderson Cooper - The Yankees - Winter Park Plans.

Friday==>Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, the sorting, throwing away and packing process continues here in PHC in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Trust me ... it ain’t fun ... so ... let’s get positive with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s Off Broadway show ... 

CHURCHILL, in March 1946 Winston Churchill has been defeated for re-election. Sitting in forced retirement, he  receives an invitation from President Harry S. Truman to speak in Fulton, Missouri==>A.

This one-man show, performed to perfection by Ronald Keaton, is highly entertaining, educational and emotionally involving as it follows Churchill’s life from early childhood to becoming one of the most powerful men in modern England's history.

The audience was very much into the performance and we gave Keaton a well-earned standing O at the end of the show.

Billi Pod says==>see this show.

It is playing at New World Stages on West 50th Street, has a running time of 1:50, with intermission, and has been extended through September 13th.

When the show was over I came back to PHC, had the usual fruit and cheese plate, did some more packing ... and then settled in to watch ...

Game 4 of the 4-game YANKEES/RAYS series from that disgrace known as Tropicana Field, in St. Petersburg, FL.

Well, the Yankees basically sucked as they lost the game 6-1 as their bats went limp once again.

To add to the misery ... starting pitcher Chase Whitley had to leave the game in the 2nd inning due to what may be a serious right elbow injury.

The loss reduced our lead over the Rays to only 1-game in the AL East.

Tonight at 8:10pm the Yankees will be in Kansas City for the first of a 3-game series against the Royals, who are on top of the AL Central.

On the mound for the Yankees (21-15) will be Michael Pineda (5-0) vs. Chris Young (2-0) for the Royals (22-13).

Moving on ...

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, your favorite Big Apple blogger has something interesting and kinda different scheduled for today ...

6:00==>FIRE AND ICE: A Conversation with Conan O’Brien and Anderson Cooper - “Late-night legend and amateur ambassador Conan O’Brien will discuss his latest foray into international relations - a special episode of Conan filmed in Cuba, in recognition of its evolving relationship with the U.S. - and other matters with esteemed journalist and host Anderson Cooper, a magnificently coiffed, nimble wit in his own right.” (complimentary ticket)

I really like Conan and Anderson. I watch the first 30-minutes of Conan almost every weeknight on TBS. After 30-minutes I then switch to Fallon.

This event is taking place at the Paley Center for Media on West 52nd Street. I am assuming it will be about an hour in length.

When it is over I will come back to PHC and settle in to watch the YANKEES/ROYALS game.

In closing==>in response to several inquiries regarding my plans when I leave the Big Apple next Thursday ...

I will stay with my son Bill III in Orlando until I make a final decision on which of the two Winter Park Village apartment complexes, The Lofts or Paseo, will be my new residence. Hopefully, I will be able to make a final decision before my stuff arrives. If not, then it will be temporarily stored in Bill’s garage.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.15 miles (or, 9,078 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>529.48 miles (average 3.95 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.”

Departure==>-6

Countdown (-7) - Les Miserables - Churchill - The Yankees

Thursday==>Good morning my loyal and faithful readers and followers. We will get today’s posting started with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s Broadway show ...

LES MISERABLES, the revival of the musical about a Frenchman who steals a loaf of bread and lives to regret it==>A++

This is the same grade that Billi Pod gave it when he saw it on his 80th birthday back on April 23, 2014.

Everything about the show still works. It is a stellar production, without a weak link.

Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean is terrific as is Earl Carpenter in the role of Valjean’s archenemy Javert. The electricity between these two characters is palatable.

My discounted TDF ticket for this matinee performance was excellent, row B in the orchestra, house left.

The house was almost sold-out and there were a lot of young people in the audience. The audience was very much into the show and we rewarded the cast with a well-deserved roaring standing ovation at curtain call.

Billi Pod says==>if you haven’t seen this revival yet ... do it now.

It is playing at the Imperial Theatre of West 45th Street, has a running time of 2:55, with one intermission, and is an open run.

Yeah ... I left the theatre with a big smile on my face. 

On the way back to the apartment I picked up some more masking/shipping tape so I could put together some more boxes.

Did that, had a small fruit and cheese plate and then settled in to watch ...

Game 3 of the 4-game YANKEES/RAYS series from that disgrace known as Tropicana Field, in St. Petersburg, FL.

Unfortunately, the Yankees lost 3-2 despite an excellent outing from our starting pitcher Adam Warren. We just couldn’t get the necessary hits with runners in scoring position. Same problem as in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss.

The loss cut our lead over the Rays in the AL East to 2 games.

Tonight at 7:10pm is the final game of the 4-game series.

On the mound for the Yankees (21-14) will be Chase Whitley (1-1) vs. Erasmo Ramirez (0-1) for the Rays (19-16).

Unless something of serious interest shows up on my ticket services, I plan to stay in to watch the game.

Moving on ...

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for today is a matinee performance of an Off Broadway show ...

2:30==>CHURCHILL - “Set in March 1946, at the culmination of World War II, Winston Churchill has been defeated for re-election. Sitting in forced retirement with wife Clementine at his home, Churchill receives an invitation from President Harry S. Truman to speak in Fulton, Missouri.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This drama opened to mostly favorable reviews and my friends who have seen it have all enjoyed it.

It is playing at New World Stages on West 50th Street, has a running time of 1:50, with intermission, and has been extended through September 13th.

In closing==>At this time (11:00am) one week from today your favorite blogger will be in an empty apartment, waiting for his car service to take him to LGA for his flight down to The Sunshine State ... thus ending one adventure and beginning another.

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.53 miles (or, 7,724 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>525.33 miles (average 3.95 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.”

Departure==>-7

Countdown (-8) - Packing - The Yankees - Les Miserables

Wednesday==>As the countdown continues I am happy to report that I was able to do some major packing yesterday, mostly books, my extensive CD collection and misc. stuff.

It took a bit longer than I had anticipated, largely due to having to put together the boxes, which is simple for most people but kinda complex for klutzes such as Moi.

As anticipated, I stayed in for the evening to watch the YANKEES/RAYS game down in St. Petersburg in that disgrace known as Tropicana Field.

Unfortunately, the Yankees lost 4-2 before an embarrassingly small crowd of only 10,417.

Nathan Eovaldi pitched 6 shutout innings but then gave up two runs in the 7th inning and another two in the 8th. Oh well ...

Moving on ...

Today’s entertainment event is a Broadway show ...

2:00==>LES MISERABLES - “This brand new production of the world’s most popular musical is set against the backdrop of 19th-century France and is an unforgettable story of heartbreak, passion, and the resilience of the human spirit.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This is one of the top five of my all-time favorite musicals. Over the years I have probably seen it 10 times on Broadway and in London. I saw this revival back on April 23, 2014 and gave it an A++ back then even though it doesn’t have the usual turntable set.

The show features a timeless score with such beloved songs as “I Dreamed A Dream,” “Bring Him Home,” "One Day More,” and “On My Own.”

There was no way Billi Pod could leave NYC without seeing it one time more.

It is playing at the Imperial Theatre of West 45th Street, has a running time of 2:55, with one intermission, and is an open run.

When the show is over I will come back to PHC, do some more packing and then settle in to watch ...

7:10pm==>Game 3 of the 4-game YANKEES/RAYS series.

On the mound for the Yankees (21-13) will be Adam Warren (2-1) vs. Nathan Karns (2-1) for the Rays (18-16).

Recorded some decent walking mileage yesterday==>5.01 miles, as a result of some errands and my usual ball-game walking program/regimen.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it is time to post this and then put together some more boxes and then head out for my show ...

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.01 miles (or, 10,964 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>521.80 miles (average 3.95 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.”

Departure==>-8