Monday Was A First For Billi Pod - The Great God Pan - Larry and Mary Stallings - The Yankees

Tuesday==>Monday, the lst of June, was what I consider to be my first “normal” day in my new apartment and the beginning of what I hope will be an interesting life-style/routine/pattern for Billi Pod here in Winter Park, in The Sunshine State.

Yes, I know I actually moved in last Friday ... but ... up until yesterday things were kinda chaotic, to put it mildly. 

So ... let me share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers what I mean ... please stay with me ...

The day got started with a really good morning walk and wander session in my immediate ‘hood, which included finding a route that keeps me in the shade about 75% of the time.

I then had breakfast and made plans to secure a replacement toaster oven from the Home Depot store about 2 miles from the apartment. As you will recall, the store didn’t carry toaster ovens onsite, which was a bummer ... but ... the experience of using Uber going to and from the store was good. It cost $9 each way.

Being comfortable with Uber is critical in my new “life-style” because I will not ... repeat ...  WILL NOT ... look to my son Bill III to be my chauffeur. I am not going to impose on him and this is a promise I made to him and to myself when I made the decision to leave NYC and move to Winter Park.

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing more stuff around the apartment, making it my own place.

I also addressed the toaster oven issue via Amazon, something I probably should have done to begin with. Oh well ... 

Later in the afternoon had the usual fruit and cheese plate.

It had gotten rather dark and gloomy out and rain was in the forecast for early evening. My show for the evening was scheduled for 8:00pm. I knew I would probably have to address the “rain” issue for the first time.

I decided I wanted to go to the Park Avenue area a bit early ... so I left the apartment around 6:30pm. It had begun to lightly rain ... no problem for this former New Yorker because I had my umbrella ... so ... out I headed, with my backpack, of course.

The distance from my apartment building to Park Avenue is .7 mile. By the time I got to PA it had stopped raining.

Found a nice cafe, Panera, got a cup of coffee and people watched for awhile. Then I leisurely walked over to The Breakthrough Theatre located on W. Fairbanks Ave, to pick up my general admission ticket to see THE GREAT GOD PAN (details about the show are below).

My friend Larry Stallings was in the cast. When I got to the theatre I ran into Larry’s wife, Mary, who was there to see the show. We did some catching up before the show and then sat together in the intimate 40-seat theatre.

Mary knew almost everyone in attendance and she introduced me to a lot of the members of the local theatre community and that felt really good.

When the show was over it had begun to very lightly rain again. Larry and Mary offered to drive me back to the apartment but I declined because I wanted the experience of walking back to the apartment in the evening (and, in this case, in the rain). The distance from the theatre was .9 mile.

About 1/2 way back the rain stopped. It was 10:15pm when I opened the door to the apartment.

Warmed up some pizza using the oven in the electric stove. Now ... I know this sounds unbelievable ... but ... when I turned on the oven it was the first time in 14 years that Billi Pod had used a stove for anything. Not joking ... the very first time.

Watched the Yankee/Mariners game, from Seattle, and the Yankees won 7-2 (details below).

When I crashed at the usual 2:00am I felt for the very first time that I was actually “at-home,” and that was AWESOME!! 

And, how ‘bout them walking stats==>6.64 miles ... AWESOME too!!

Now about the show ...

THE GREAT GOD PAN, Jamie, an up-and-coming journalist, finds the ordered narrative of his life disintegrating when an unexpected visit from a childhood friend brings a disturbing revelation of the possibility of sexual abuse when he was a young boy==>Thumbs Up.

The cast in this often very troubling drama is excellent, headed by: Thomas Rivera as Jamie; BeeJay Aubertin Clinton as Frank, the childhood friend; and, of course, Larry Stallings as Doug, Jamie’s father.

The storyline addresses many issues regarding allegations of sexual child abuse and the accuracy of memory and/or the lack thereof. It does not have a “feel-good” ending.

This was the final performance and I am so glad that I got a chance to see it.

This theatre group has some very interesting upcoming productions ...

June 12-29==>Whistle a Happy Tune: A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein

July 10-20==>As Is by William Hoffman

I am confident I will see both productions.

Now ... on the sports scene ... for you Marty, of course ...

As mentioned above, last night the Yankee bats came alive as we beat the Mariners and “King Felix” Hernandez 7-2 on a grand-slam from Mark Teixeira. We are now atop the AL East by 1-game over the Rays.

Tonight at 10:10pm is game 2 of the 3-game series from Seattle. On the mound for the Yankees (27-25) will be the mightily struggling CC Sabathia (2-7) vs. Mike Montgomery (MLB debut) for the Mariners (24-27).

In closing ... 

Tonight at 8:00pm I will attend an AA meeting at All Saints Episcopal Church, a distance of 1.3 miles. My plans are to walk to and from the meeting. I will be back in the apartment in plenty of time to watch the Yankee game.

Alert==>Tomorrow’s posting will be delayed because at 11:30am I am meeting up with my friend, attorney Rusty Franklin of Lakeland, who is coming to Orlando for an afternoon deposition. Looking forward to this.

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.64  miles (or, 14,517 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>601.04 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.”

Dinner With The Haag And The Bill - The Wankies - Home Depot - The Great God Pan - Walking Stats

Monday==>I hope that all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers had an excellent Sunday because your favorite Sunshine State blogger certainly did.

Had an excellent walking and wandering day==>4.03 miles; watched a lot of baseball on my 42” flat screen TV; and, then ... the highlight ...

Dinner with my son William A. Norris, III aka The Bill and our friend Randy Haag aka The Haag. Randy picked me up at the apartment and then we went to The Bill’s house for some much needed/wanted catching up and then a terrific dinner prepared by The Bill ...  grilled steak, corn, baked potato and garlic bread==>AWESOME!!

I think these pics tell it all ...

So==>thank you Bill, and ... Randy, it was great being with you.

When dinner was over Bill drove me back to the apartment, with the rug he had personally cleaned for me in the back of his truck.

Watched some more baseball, did some entertainment planning, located a Home Depot store to get a replacement for my now dead toaster oven, and then crashed at the usual 2:00am.

Yeah ... it was an excellent day.

This morning I was up a bit early. Did a walk and wander session in my immediate ‘hood and I am happy to report that I have found a route that keeps me in the shade 75% of the time and that is outstanding.

Then I Ubered over to the Home Depot store about 2 miles from the apartment. I had originally planned to walk there but at the last minute I opted to Uber instead.

As usual, the Home Depot store is H U G E. A very pleasant greeter directed me back to the appliance section where ... WTF? ... I learned they didn’t have toaster ovens onsite, only online. WTF? I had checked things out online last night ... but ... I guess I missed the small print.

Was pretty pissed off, to tell the truth ... but nothing I could do about it ... so ... 

I Ubered back to the apartment. Oh well ...

After I finish this posting I will get directions to Walmart and Target but probably won’t head out until tomorrow.

Now, moving on ...

On the sports scene ...

Yesterday afternoon the Wankies lost for the 3rd time in the 4-game series with the Athletics, the team with the worst record in the AL. The score was 3-0. With the loss the Wankies dropped back into a tie with the Rays for the lead in the AL East.

Tonight at 10:10pm is the first game of a 3-game series with the Mariners in Seattle. On the mound for the Wankies (26-25) will be Michael Pineda (6-2) vs. Felix Hernandez (8-1) for Seattle (24-26).

You are welcome, Marty ...

For this evening your favorite blogger has a show ...

8:00==>THE GREAT GOD PAN - “In Amy Herzog’s play Jamie’s life in Brooklyn seems fine until a childhood trauma comes to light. Unsettling and deeply compassionate, the play tells what can happen when a hidden truth is released into the world.” (full price $12 ticket)

This drama is playing at The Breakthrough Theatre at 419 W. Fairbanks Avenue, about a mile from my apartment. My friend Larry Stallings is in the cast.

In closing==>thanks for all of the texts, emails, and postings regarding my request for suggestions for a new name for this blog. Please keep them coming for the rest of the week. Then I will make a final decision.

Oh ... I think the walking stats below for the month of May, with all that was going on, are pretty AWESOME!!

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.03  miles (or, 8,833 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>27.85 miles (average 3.98 miles per day)

Total mileage for May==>125.07 miles (average 4.04 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2015==>594.40 miles (average 3.94 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.”

Things And Stuff From Winter Park Village - The Yankees

Sunday==>Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, at 12:30pm in Winter Park, FL, it is 85º with considerable cloudiness and there is the possibility of showers in the late afternoon. The high will only be 88º.

About  yesterday ...

In summary==>yesterday was spent doing more unpacking and storing. In the early evening did a major walk and wander session and then settled in to watch the 10:00pm Yankees/Oakland game.

I didn’t go to an AA meeting as planned/reported because the group that I wanted to attend doesn’t meet until Tuesday. Oh well ... will go on Tuesday.

Now ... what about today? Well ... 

This morning I did my usual morning walk-around and my plans for the afternoon are to complete the unpacking and then watch some baseball on my 42” flat screen TV.

For the evening ... at 6:00pm I will be picked up by Randy Haag, who was The Bill’s classmate in High School, and then the three of us will have dinner someplace yet to be determined.

Moving on ...

Oh, man, I know this is so f**king boring, especially to all of my New York theater buddies ... but ... it is what it is ...

The only thing that didn’t successfully make the trip from The Big Apple down to Winter Park Village was my toaster oven. It died. As many of you know, the toaster oven is an essential part of Billi Pod’s lifestyle ... so ... tomorrow’s project will be to get a new one.

Unfortunately, the Publix store across the street doesn’t carry them. I have located a Home Depot about 2 miles away ... so ... tomorrow I will walk over to the store, pick one out and then Uber back to the apartment.

And speaking of the apartment ... I am really getting settled in and it feels totally good. I really like the staff and the few fellow tenants that I have met.

Starting midweek I will begin planning my entertainment schedule and I am happy to say that a lot is going on in the area in both the theater scene and the classical music world. So, stay tuned ...

On the sports scene ...

Well, the Yankees continue to have their up-and-down season. Last night we beat the Athletics, out in Oakland, 5-3 to remain in first place by 1-game over the Rays in the woeful AL East.

This afternoon at 4:05pm will be the final game of the 4-game series. The Yankees are hoping to split the series. On the mound for the Yankees (26-24) will be Adam Warren (3-3) vs. Jesse Chavez (1-5) for Oakland (19-33).

You are welcome, Marty ...

In closing==>I need help/input from you loyal and faithful readers and followers on what I should now call this blog. As you know, it is currently: 

“BILLI POD BLOGS - My Adventures in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In the World”

The BILLI POD BLOGS will remain ... it is the second part I need your help with ... so please ... give me the benefit of your suggestions/thoughts, sans irony and snarkiness, please.

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND!

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.77  miles (or, 12,609 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>590.37 miles (average 3.94 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.”

The Move-In Is Done - Thoughts & Comments

Saturday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, your favorite Sunshine State blogger has now officially moved into his 1-Bedroom apartment at Paseo at Winter Park Village.

Yesterday the mover showed up at 12:30pm, as planned, and the move-in process began. When I moved out of PHC there were 3 guys and the process took a little over 3 hours. Incredibly, when the Mayflower van arrived there was only the driver, Greg, and his 12-year old son, Conner. WTF?

Well, I am happy to report that everything went very well, including getting my large leather couch into the apartment without having to take it apart as I had anticipated.

The whole process was over around 4:30pm and then I began unpacking the boxes and putting things away, temporarily, of course.

During the move-in process the Brighthouse installer arrived around 2:30pm, again as scheduled, and he got the TV up and running, along with internet service and a landline. My son, Bill III aka The Bill was able to make the necessary arrangements to secure me a baseball package which will include the Yankee games.

This picture is what the apartment looked like before the mover arrived ...

and this is what it looks like now.

Needless to say, I still have a lot of unpacking and putting things away to do. I will put the paintings up sometime in the middle of next week when I am sure I like the furniture placement and stuff.

You know, everything in this whole moving process went extremely well==>Thank You Higher Power!!

After the movers left ... 

Made a trip to Publix, across the street from my building, did some unpacking, had a fruit and cheese plate for dinner, watched the Yankee game which began at 10:00pm (the Yankees lost to Oakland 6-2) and then crashed around 1:00am.

Man, I was really tired and emotionally drained but it sure did feel good to be in my own bed in my own, new, apartment.

Woke up this morning at the usual 8:00am. I did a walk and wander session in Winter Park Village and adjacent property and then made another quick run to Publix for the papers and some cleaning stuff.

When I finish this posting I will resume the unpacking and putting away. Man, does it feel great to be working on my desktop again. My plans are to spend today and most of tomorrow getting the apartment into shape.

I do plan to attend an AA meeting tonight, in the downtown Winter Park area

Sunday evening will have dinner with The Bill and our friend Randy Haag.

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, you are now pretty much up-to-date ... so ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.32  miles (or, 7,254 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>584.60 miles (average 3.92 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’s Update From The Sunshine State

Thursday - Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... this is your favorite blogger writing to you from Orlando, in The Sunshine State. Billi Pod will now give you an update on what is going on in his New Adventure.

On Tuesday I signed the lease on my apartment at Paseo at Winter Park Village. To take full advantage of the perks I had to sign a 15 month lease but that wasn’t a problem. The lease itself ... well ... the document, with all of the addendums, was a mere 30 pages long. It was only after I reviewed the document later that I discovered that I had consigned the body and soul of my only son, William A. Norris, III, aka The Bill, to the leasing agency as collateral in the event of a default on my part. Oh well ...

With the signing I officially became a resident of Winter Park, FL.

Yesterday, Bill and I went back to the complex to pick up the keys, actually called fobs since there is electronic entry, and did a walkthrough of the apartment. I am the first person to occupy the unit. 

We were given a rather long “Inventory and Condition Form” to complete to list any defects or damages to the apartment. We did note a few minor things and were assured that they would be immediately corrected.

So ... at this point the only thing remaining is to make arrangements with Brighthouse (the building’s provider) for TV and internet service.

Actually, there is one other small thing ... the arrival of my furniture. I still haven’t received a firm date from Mayflower and as I am writing this I am awaiting a callback to get a status report. When I signed the contact with them I was given a window of May 28 - June 7th ... so ...

To say that I am getting antsy is putting it mildly.

Tonight, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm is the “Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Grand Opening Event” at Paseo’s Clubhouse. According to the invitation: “food, drinks and live entertainment will be provided.” Bill and I will be there, of course.

Moving on ... 

Bill III and I have gotten along well, as expected. Yesterday was his final day with his kids and his final work day is Friday. Then is he off for the summer. 

I have gotten into a new walking regime to handle the heat, humidity and sun. I have been going out around 8:15-8:30am and walking for an hour in Bill’s neighborhood. There is decent shade. I would guess I am in the shade about 75% of the time and that is excellent. The temperature at that time has been ranging in the high 70s, low 80s with a light breeze.

Have spent a lot of time in front of Bill’s mammoth home entertainment center, watching more TV than I anticipated. He has Direct TV and gets every channel known to man, including every baseball game, and that is really good.

Tomorrow I will go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in the mall in our ‘hood and get a new Florida ID card with my new address. I will also see what it will take to get my expired Florida driver’s license renewed. Whether I should do that remains to be determined.

So ... I guess the important message is that everything is going very very well for me down here. Do I miss The Big Apple and all of my friends up there? Yes, of course I do ... but ... that was expected.

Bottom line==>I still remain confident that returning to The Sunshine State was the right decision for Billi Pod.

So ... stay tuned!

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.06 miles (or, 8,891 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>576.75 miles (average 3.92 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.”

Hello From The Sunshine State - All Is Well - Billi Pod Has A New Apartment

Monday==>Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, your favorite blogger is now an official resident of The Sunshine State, having made the transition from The Big Apple to Florida back on Thursday, May 21st.

This is being written from my son’s house in Orlando, on my ancient and slow and clunky iBookG4, so it’s gonna be kinda short.

The big news==>the movers were excellent, the trip down to Orlando went well ... and ... then ... Thank You Higher Power ... I secured a new apartment ... yes ... a new apartment.

Last Friday I spent most of the afternoon looking at available apartments at two apartment complexes in Winter Park Village, Paseo and The Lofts. It was kinda stressful, to tell the truth.

In the late afternoon I took a deep breath and selected a 858 square foot 1-Bedroom apartment on the second floor of Paseo, which is a newly constructed complex with 209 units. It features every possible amenity. At present it is about 50% occupied. This is the website for Paseo: paseoatwinterparkvillage.com

And the floor plan for my apartment is ...

It is facing North and will receive plenty of natural light. And, for inquiring minds ... the rent is only 40% of what I was paying at PHC.

My residential application has just been approved so we will have a lease signing at 1:00pm on Wednesday.

I have contacted the movers and delivery will be made to the new apartment although I still don’t have a firm arrival date, but I expected that.

I am now in the process of doing things and stuff in preparation for the lease signing, including securing renters insurance, getting a certified check and setting up the utility account(s). Not fun.

So ... everyone ... please know that I am extremely pleased with how well things have gone thus far. 

Please forgive me for the lack of postings. I hope to get back to my daily routine, soon.

And ... in closing==>thanks everyone for all of the supportive emails, texts and posts. They all meant so much to me.

GO YANKEES!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.68 miles (or, 8,057 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>25.78 miles (average 3.68 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2015==>566.55 miles (average 3.93 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.”