J. LEWIS HALL, JR (1931-2010)

I first met J. “Papa” Hall at the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity house at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, in September 1952. He was a Brother, a Senior and a campus icon. I was a skinny blonde pledge who was in complete awe over being in Papa’s presence. Over the ensuing years we became friends and professional colleagues - a friendship that spanned almost 6 decades

J. passed away today, September 15th, at his home in Altamonte Springs, FL, with his loving and devoted longtime companion Vivian Garfein. God Bless you Vivian for everything!!

The following is J.’s obituary (unedited):

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“Retired Circuit Judge J. Lewis Hall, Jr., died at home in Altamonte Springs, Florida, on September 15, 2010. He was born on April 2, 1931, attended Leon High School, the University of Florida for undergraduate and law school, and served in the United States Army before returning to Tallahassee to practice law. He is survived by his son, William Douglas Hall (Lori Elliott), a daughter, Sara Page Hall, one grandchild, Elizabeth Marion Chalakani, and his brother, Thomas M. Hall, as well as his devoted companion, Vivian Fiesta Garfein. He was preceded in death by a son, Bruce Rivers Hall, and by his parents, J. Lewis Hall, Sr., and Martha Buford Hall.

A memorial service will be held on September 20, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bruce Rivers Hall Scholarship Fund, Stubbs' Educational Foundation, 1260 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, FL 32312, or to Hospice of the Comforter, 595 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714.

Judge Hall embodied the best of the legal profession and the judicial system. He received the highest rating as a lawyer, and when he was elected as a circuit judge in 1980, his campaign slogan was simply, "Ask anyone who knows him." He served two terms as Chief Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit. He was chairman of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges and he served on many committees of the Supreme Court of Florida to enhance the quality of justice in our state. He was a teacher and lecturer to lawyers and judges at judicial conferences, law schools, seminars and bar association meetings. He retired on December 31, 1998, because he reached the maximum age the Florida Constitution allows an active judge to remain in office. Judge Hall jokingly said he had reached the age of "constitutional senility." He continued to serve for ten years after that date as a retired judge. He was the first recipient of the Trial Judge of the Year award from the Tallahassee chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and was a charter member, Master of the Bench, and president of the William Stafford American Inn of Court.

His grandfather was Rivers Buford, Sr., a justice of the Florida Supreme Court. His father, Lewis Hall, Sr., was a former president of the Florida Bar, who in 1946 was the first of three generations of the Hall family to serve as president of the Tallahassee Bar Association. Judge Hall (1967) and his son Doug (1998) continued the tradition.

He attended Leon High School in Tallahassee and the University of Florida, where he was a member of Florida Blue Key and was appointed the Cadet Colonel of the Army ROTC program, the highest honor for a student ROTC member. After graduating from Florida, he served from September 1953 until September of 1955 as a First Lieutenant with the U.S. Army First Infantry Division.

Judge Hall was a legendary athlete who acquired the nickname "Papa" as a schoolboy. In 1948 he became the first Leon High School football player to be named as a High School All-American, as well as the first to be named the Florida High School Player of the Year. He was selected to the All-State and All-Southern Teams. Twenty-five years later he served on a committee appointed by the Leon County School Board that eventually named Gene Cox as the head coach of Leon High. He was selected in the inaugural class of the Leon High School Football Hall of Fame in 1977, and has been named to the Leon High School Teams of the Century. He is the only Leon High graduate ever invited to participate on the college all-star team that played against the National Football League champions but he declined the offer to protect his amateur status.

While attending UF, he garnered even greater acclaim for his athletic endeavors. A three-year letterman on the football team, he led the Southeastern Conference in punt returns. He once made a 109 yard touchdown run following a Citadel field goal attempt --a run that was cut to 75 yards by an unnecessary clipping penalty-- in what has been called one of the greatest plays in Gator football history. His team went to Florida's first post-season bowl game, the Gator Bowl, where he led his team to a victory over Tulsa and was named Most Valuable Player of the game. Florida completed the season with a record of 8-2 and finished number 15 in the country, the first time the Gators had finished in the top 20. He was later named to the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame. He is a member of the University of Florida Hall of Fame and the UF Letterman's Association Hall of Fame.

Football may not have been his best sport. The NCAA official records list him as the National High Jump Champion in 1951 and 1953. He also won AAU national championships as a high jumper. His best college high jumps surpassed the height of the gold medal jump at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. The Jacksonville Times Union reported that he once held the indoor high jump record of 6 feet, 11 inches.

Judge Hall received national acclaim for his athletic exploits, but the highest praise may have come from a 1952 New York Times article written by Arthur Daley, the first sportswriter to receive a Pulitzer Prize: "This reporter has been following track for a quarter of a century or so and he can't remember any athlete who came so far and so fast as this 20-year old boy from Florida. A complete unknown, he rocketed from nowhere to achieve the rare Grand Slam of NCAA and AAU championships at tremendous heights in his first year of varsity competition. And his potentialities haven't yet been tapped."

Judge Hall's colleagues, friends and family will attest that his professional and athletic accomplishments pale in comparison to his personal attributes: integrity, congeniality, sincerity, dedication, good humor and resourcefulness. We shall will miss him.”

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With J’s passing I have now lost the 3 fraternity brothers who had the greatest impact on my life: Tom Henderson, Tom MacDonald and J. Hall.

So, rest in peace J - you will be missed.

Bill

A Beautiful Early Fall Day in The Big Apple

It is a beautiful early fall day in The Big Apple and it was 53º when I woke up at 8:00am this morning.

I love the fall up here but hate the winter - I know, I know, I could spend the winter in a warmer climate if I wanted to, but that just ain’t gonna happen, I mean, what in the f**k would I do if I wasn’t in The Big Apple? And, honestly, Mayor Bloomberg would never approve it anyway, so case closed. No my loyal and faithful readers-->do not start a email and/or blogging campaign-->it ain't gonna happen, so case closed again.

Last night was night #2 of Billi Pod’s couch potato modality as he stayed in yet again to watch the Yankees/Rays game from Tropicana Field.

Wow, what a game-->Posada led off the top of the 10th inning with a pinch-hit monster blast over the center field wall, leading the Yankees to an 8-7 win over the Rays and back into lst place in the AL East. Yep, another nail biter.

Billi Pod will remain in the couch potato mode for the final series game 2nite (kinda getting tired of that, however).

I have gotten a couple of emails asking why I am so concerned about the Yankees winning the AL East when it looks like the FuckSox are dead and both the Yankees and Rays will be in the post season. The answer is simple-->home field advantage, meaning I would get to see more games in the post season, simple as that. The AL does not have home field advantage for the World Series, however.

I do have a show this afternoon at 3:00-->JUST IN TIME-THE JUDY HOLIDAY SHOW-“The life of the Original Dumb Blond, featuring such exalted cohorts as Welles, Hepburn, and Durante.”

Part of the Fringe Festival Encore Series and it sounds like a lot of fun.

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

BMS-44

Billi Pod's Awesome Upcoming Entertainment Schedule!!

Good afternoon. Before I talk about my upcoming schedule and stuff I guess, as required by fair and unbiased reporting, I gotta comment on last night’s Yankees/Rays game, so ....

Wham-->Reid Brignac hits a leadoff game winning home run in the bottom of the 11th inning and The Rays win 1-0 over the Yankees and regain lst place in the AL East. Both starting pitchers were awesome, each going 8 innings-->CC 2 hits-->Price 3 hits. A great ball game unless you are a Yankee fan like moi. F**k and double F**k!!

Hopefully 2nite our bats will come alive. If not, look for another low-scoring game. I will, of course, be glued to the TV in a couch-potato mode.

Yesterday, after doing most of my errands/chores, I saw-->GOING THE DISTANCE, starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long-“One’s in New York, the other’s in San Francisco. Can they make it work?” I liked it a lot because of the chemistry between Drew and Justin. Warning-->it gets very profane with plenty of gross out humor for us guys. It is not a “chick-flick.”

OK, now I will close by sharing some info about what Billi Pod’s upcoming entertainment schedule will be for the remainder of the month. I already have booked the following: 4 Broadway shows (The Pitman Painters; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson; A Life in the Theatre; and Lombardi); 3 Off Broadway shows; 1 Fringe Festival Encore show; 1 New York Philharmonic concert; and 7 Yankee games (Tampa 4-FuckSox 3).

I think this is pretty awesome and why Billi Pod loves living in The Greatest City in The World, but it is up to you loyal and faithful readers to ultimately determine because, as you know ...

I report - you decide.

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

BMS-44

Sunday Was A Blah Day

Good morning on a hazy New York day.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod has to admit that Sunday was a wash out/blah day, in more ways than one.

When it was time to leave for my 5:00 Fringe Festival Encore show it had begun to rain, so I said “screw it, I’ll just stay in and watch the rest of the Yankees/Rangers game.” At that point the game was tied, but-->the Yankees then lost 1-4, getting only 2 hits off of Cliff Lee and being swept by the Rangers. Barf!! Then it rained into the early evening. Double barf!!

I did post twice on this blog but the majority of my time was spent in a couch-potato mode in front of the TV watching baseball and/or football games involving teams I didn’t really give a rat’s ass about. Blah!!

Monday is my errands day of doing things and stuff.

Tonight at 7:05-->Yankees/Rays from Tropicana Field, with CC on the mound. We are now only a 1/2 game ahead of the Rays. Thankfully the FuckSox are realistically out of the post season race, but I know they will relish their “spoiler” role in their remaining games against the Yankees.

If my errands are done early I might try to catch an afternoon flick.

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

BMS-45

AUGUST 2010 - ANOTHER AWESOME MONTH!!!

Well, my loyal and faithful readers, since it is a nasty and rainy Sunday evening and I am staying in tonight, I finally have gotten around to preparing the stats for the month of August 2010. Yes, I know it is a bit late, but, none-the-less I want to post them as tangible evidence of why Billi Pod lives in The Greatest City in The World, so ...

In checking my daily log (log, not diary - real guys don’t keep diaries) I find that during the month of August 2010 Billi Pod did/saw/attended the following:

1 Broadway show (Come Fly Away); 6 Off Broadway shows plus 5 New York Fringe Festival shows; 5 movies (The Kids Are All Right; Dinner With Schmucks; The Other Guys; Despicable Me; and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World); 12 Yankees games, including A-Rod’s #600 home run (9 wins & 3 losses. Season-to-date record 27 & 14); and, a tour of Yankee Stadium with grandson Alex Falletta on his final day in The City.

Was able to have some quality face-time with student/General Manager Scott Reed and Dade County Circuit Judge Gisela Cordonne-Ely of Miami, FL.

I posted regularly to my FaceBook Wall http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=100000655659050 and 33 times on this blog, although in an abbreviated format.

I guess the highlight of the month was son Bill finally closing on his new house in Orlando. Man, it was a nightmare dealing with the lending agent and that is putting it mildly.

During the month there were only 5 days/nights that Billi Pod stayed in apartment PHC without attending some entertainment event, with bad weather and baseball (on TV) being the major contributing factors. This stat in and of itself is pretty awesome, in my humble opinion, but it is up to you loyal and faithful readers to decide, because ...

I report - you decide.

GO YANKEES AND 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 - Happy Birthday Alex!!

Good afternoon my loyal and faithful readers. I want to start out with a big shout-out to my oldest grandson Alex Falletta whose “official” 30th birthday is today. Alex has certain “commitments” that require him to be in Alabama rather than at home in Elgin, SC, soooooooooooo ... very proud of you Army Guy. Take care, be safe and be well!!

Since my last posting I have, of course, returned to New York City, The Greatest City in The World, and resumed my usual frenetic entertainment schedule. I had a great time in Columbia, SC, with my daughter Kathi, son-in-law Dr. John, grandson Chris and his new “lady” Ashley, and Alex and Gina, together with their friends. Had a brush with The Norris Travel Curse on the return trip but, thankfully, it wasn’t that bad. Won’t bore you with the details.

Now on to other things, stuff and observations --

First-->the Gator/USF game. I have given this game a rating of B, even though the Gators got off to a rather iffy start. It looks like the offense is coming along and Brantley is making positive steps to create his own persona in the post-Tebow era. I think the results of next week’s game against Tennessee, up there, will be the harbinger of what the rest of the season will be. I honestly don’t think that this team is of National Championship quality, at least not yet. Sorry to admit it, but I have to in the name of fair and unbiased reporting.

Second-->what about my Yankees? In all honesty I have some serious misgiving here as well. Why, you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, just look at the so-called “Core Four” (Jeter, Pettitte, Posada and Rivera) going into the last 3 weeks of the regular season:

Jeter-->with a career low batting average of .260 and mired in a horrific 7-61 slump he was benched last night (of course it was called a “rest”). His fielding is still stellar, thank God. If his name wasn’t Jeter he would be batting 8th or 9th, rather than leadoff or 2nd.

Pettitte-->has been out with a groin injury since July 18. He is, however, scheduled to make his first start next Sunday against Baltimore. The question is: “can he counted on for the remainder of the season and into post season?” Time will tell. The starting rotation desperately needs him.

Posada-->a series of "injuries" have basically relegated him to the DH spot where he has been only so-so. Thank God Franciso Cervelli has been available to catch on a regular basis.

Rivera-->by far the best performer of the 4 but even he has recently faltered, like last night-->coming in the bottom of the 9th with a 1 run lead, giving it up and then losing when he hit a batter with the bases loaded. Very very painful to watch.

In my opinion, there are 3 serious problem areas:

(1) An unstable starting rotation, saved only by the outstanding pitching from the staff ace CC Sabathia. AJ Burnett still sucks;

(2) Failure to get clutch hits with runners in scoring position. This problem has plagued the team for the entire season. There seems to be a lack of the “killer instinct” that was so prominent in past years; and

(3) The Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Hey, guys, they ain’t going away. The Yankees will have a crucial 3 game series at Tropicana Field Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights and Billi Pod will be glued to the TV for each game. Yes, and becoming a baseball couch potato for the remainder of the season. There, I admitted it.

Will we make the post season? Yes, but right now it is very iffy whether we will make it to The World Series.

OK, OK-->I know this is way too much on one subject but Billi Pod has a lot of his time, energy and money invested in this season. He has seen 44 games (29-15); has tickets for each of the remaining 7 home games (Tampa 4-FuckSox 3); and, has paid his invoice for tickets for each of the post season home games.

So, there you are. I report - you decide.

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

BMS-46

We Must Never Forget September 11, 2001

We must never ever forget what happened to This Great Nation on September 11, 2001, a day filled with loss, fear and anger.

I want to post two emails (unedited) that I sent to friends and family back then, one around noon on 9/11/01 and the other on the next day:

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Subject: September 11 - I am OK - NYC Under Siege

Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 @ 12:07PM

From: Wanjr

To: Internet and Snail Mail List

Hi:

Thanks for the emails. I am OK.

NYC is presently in an under-siege mode. I have just gotten back from the grocery store to put in supplies. It reminds me of Fla. just after a hurricane warning. On the corner of 51st and 2nd Ave. looking south you can see the dense smoke downtown. All mass transit is shut down. Manhattan is isolated now, no transportation in or out of the city. A steady stream of people walking uptown. It is scary and very emotional out on the street. Not sure how long my internet connection will stay up. On the TV they just announced that the police now want to clear the streets in Manhattan.

You know, I feel personally violated and very emotional about this whole thing right now - will keep you all advised.

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Subject: September 12 - Thank You Dear Friends

Date: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 @ 02:09PM

From: Wanjr

To: Internet and Snail Mail List

My dear friends:

The email and calls have helped me during a most difficult time - thank you my dear friends.

Like hundreds and thousands of New Yorkers I went to bed very late last night and awoke this morning very early. When I opened the door to get the 3 daily newspapers there was nothing so I dressed and went to the newsstand and only The Post and The Daily News were available - no New York Times. At 7:30am very few people were on the streets and there was almost no traffic. Was able to get a Post and a News, but no Times.

I feel very very unsettled and more emotional than I expected I would be, partly, I think, because I had such a link with the World Trade Center area. As many of you know, the beginning of the Norris Downtown Tour is the World Trade Center and its outside plaza. On Tuesdays the 1/2 TKTS booth offers advance tickets to Wednesday matinees and I had planned to go down there later in the day to get a matinee ticket, but I wouldn't have been there until noon or later.

I can understand the concept of the buildings being damaged, but the fact that they no longer exist is beyond my comprehension.

I felt so restless that I just had to get out of the apartment so I decided that I would take the subway up to Yankee stadium to swap my last night game ticket for the game tonight. It would be something to do, a distraction perhaps. The streets in the neighborhood were still virtually empty. On the way to the subway entrance you pass a Fire Department station and as I was walking past I observed groups of fireman still in dust covered gear washing each other with fire hoses. Their trucks and other equipment were covered with dust and soot. According to TV reports the fire department sustained major casualties yesterday when the buildings collapsed. I got tears in my eyes as I walked past and then I turned around and hollered ..... God bless you guys .... and several guys waved back. I cried and I am not ashamed to admit it.

I collected myself and got on the train. The subway was about 25% full. No one, and I mean no one, was talking even those who were traveling with someone. When I got to Yankee Stadium none of the businesses that border the stadium were open. The stadium was cordoned off with yellow tape and there was a very visible police presence. I asked the police officers about tonight's game and they said that the remaining games for the week had been canceled. I am not surprised. I came back to the apartment and the subways downtown were the same as the uptown ones with the exception that almost everyone was reading either the Post or the News - still no sign of The Times.

Reading between the lines from all of the local coverage I believe that the final death toll will be horrific. The scope of the physical damage is beyond description, the most often used phrase is ...... this looks like a war zone.

I don't know why I am writing this or even if I will send it.

****************************

We must never ever forget 9/11/01

Bill

Sunday - Billi Pod Reports from Columbia, SC

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers. It is a very nice Sunday morning in Columbia, SC. I am so happy to report that my flight from LGA down to Columbia Thursday night went fine, in fact, we arrived a few minutes early and my checked duffel bag arrived too. Whew!! I won’t dwell on the horror of getting to LGA from midtown on Thursday - it sucked. Anyway, I was met by son-in-law Dr. John Bendeck and all was good.

Friday was a day of just chilling. I did have an opportunity to spend about 3 hours just wandering around the downtown Columbia area. John & Kathi’s new condo is located in the middle of the government/university complexes.

I did learn that former Senator Strom Thurmond is revered as a “God.”

We had a very interesting dinner provided by a Mid-Eastern restaurant located next to their building

On Saturday midmorning I went out to Alex’s house in Elgin, SC, with his younger brother Chris and his girlfriend Ashley, both up from Gainesville. Our purpose was to watch the Florida/Miami(Ohio) game at noon. What The Fuck? What was expected to be a walk-in-the-swamp turned out to be one of the most painful-to-watch Gator games is decades. To quote the AP:

“No. 4 Florida opened the post-Tim Tebow era with a resounding thud, maybe the sound of high expectations crashing to the ground ... the real story was coach Urban Meyer’s anemic offense, the one quarterback John Brantley had hoped to ‘keep rolling’ after waiting three years behind Tebow. Instead, Brantley and the Gators spent most of the game in reverse.”

About all I can say is amen and amen. Oh well ...

Of course Saturday was THE BIG DAY, the celebration of oldest grandson Alex Falletta's upcoming 30th birthday. His actual birthday isn’t until the 12th but he has “commitments” that will make him unavailable for the 12th and also for his 2011 birthday. This is the reason for the family and friends gathering and why Billi Pod left The Big Apple. It was a gathering of family, in-laws, friends and coworkers and we all had a great time celebrating and eating way-too-much awesome food.

The photograph is of me, Alex and Chris taken on the deck that Alex built.

So, Army Guy ... Congrats and we will hope and pray for many many more.

Let me close with a bit of baseball ... Saturday was an excellent day for the Yankees because they won their 8th straight game, The Rays lost and The FuckSox lost a doubleheader. The FuckSox losses pretty much knocked them out of the post season race so, it will come down to the wire between the Yankees and The Rays for first place in the AL East.

GO YANKEES AND 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.”

Thursday - The Countdown to Columbia

Well, my loyal and faithful readers, I am in the countdown process, awaiting my departure from LGA tonight at 8:35pm, heading down to Columbia, SC, to be with family and friends for oldest grandson Alex Falletta’s 30th birthday celebration.

I keep checking with Delta and as of the moment my flight is a go. Hopefully it will remain the same and The Norris Travel Curse will not kick in. You hear me Norris Travel Curse-->get outta my way ... and stay the f**k away.

Last night’s Yankees/Oakland game was a nail-biter to the very end. The Yankees won 4-3 when Mo came in to close it out. Amazingly-->AJ Burnett didn’t suck this time. We remain 1 game up on The Rays and 8 games on the FuckSox.

I get back to The Big Apple on Tuesday the 7th and have the Yankees/Baltimore game that night. Counting that game there will be 9 remaining home games and Billi Pod has tickets for each of them.

As I have mentioned many times during the season, I think that the winner of in the AL East will be decided in the last week of the season and it will be between The Yankees and the Rays.

OK, got stuff to do, so ...

GO GATORS AND 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.”

BMS-56

Wednesday - Facetime With Fabson

Just back from having brunch and face time with student/General Manager Scott Reed aka Fabson at the trendy Westville Chelsea-->it was fun.

He brought me up-to-date on all of his birthday doings last week in San Francisco and I brought him up-to-date on my current meds, doctor’s appointments and Bingo Parties at the neighborhood Senior Center.

Last night’s Yankees/Oakland game was great-->Yankees won 9-3 even though Hughes was only so-so.

The Yankees now lead the AL East by 1 game and are 8 games up on the loathsome FuckSox, whose season is about to go down the toilet, where it belongs.

This was my 41st game-->27 wins & 14 losses. Not bad!!

Tonight is game 3 against Oakland with, gasp, AJ Burnett aka Loser Boi pitching. If he has another bad outing I look for him to be taken out of the rotation.

Keeping my fingers crossed about flying South tomorrow night down to Columbia, SC.

Oh, the stats for August are pretty awesome and I will post them tomorrow, hopefully.

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.”

BMS-57

A New Week Begins in The Big Apple

Hello my loyal and faithful readers. It is yet another beautiful summer day in The Greatest City in the World. The humidity is tolerable and the forecast is for a high of 92º.

Looking forward - I hope and pray that Hurricane Danielle doesn’t cause any problems for my upcoming trip down to Columbia, SC. With the Norris Travel Curse you never know.

I am glad that the weather is good because today is Billi Pod’s usual errands day and I need to be out and about doing things and stuff.

I am so very very happy to report that my dear friend David Huddleston aka The Big Lebowski was released from Cleveland Hospital yesterday, and assuming things go well today and tomorrow, he and his wife Sarah Koeppe (who is entitled to sainthood, in my humble opinion) will head home to Santa Fe, NM, on Wednesday, thus ending an ordeal that began on August 14th. Whew!!

As most of you know, Billi Pod isn’t a TV watcher, outside of news, sports and Comedy Central. This was really brought home to me as I reviewed the results of last night’s Emmy Awards. Did I watch the show - of course f**king not. What am I talking about you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, there were 31 categories and out of those categories Billi Pod had not seen a single, repeat, single, episode represented by 28 of the them. Let me repeat that - never ever ever ever seen, not once. The only categories that I had watched/seen were:

Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Comedy Central;

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Betty White, "Saturday Night Live;" and,

Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special: "63rd Annual Tony Awards," CBS.

As I said, Billi Pod is not a TV person - I rest my case.

Report card on THE AUDITION-->not bad. It was only about 50 minutes in length but it was funny and very well performed by the large cast of teenagers. I think I was the only person in the audience who didn’t have either a friend and/or family member in the cast.

Before the show I watched the Yankees/White Sox game, which was a very exciting 2-1 win behind excellent pitching by rookie Ivan Nova and the bullpen.

For the evening I settled in and watched sports, alternating between the Rays/FuckSox game, which the Rays won 5-3, and the Steelers/Broncos game in order to see rookie quarterback Tim Tebow (you do remember him, I hope). Timmy had a pretty good game during his limited time on the field.

Tonight-7:05-->Yankees/Oakland.

In closing - the 2010 U. S. OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP begins today at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing and-->WHO THE F**K CARES????? Not Billi Pod, that is for sure. Whatever ....

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.”

BMS-59

Sunday - Billi Pod Reports-->

OK, maybe I have a bit too much time on my hands as I await the 2:05 Yankees/White Sox game. And, yes, I know, I should get my butt out of PHC and just wander because it is another beautiful summer day in The Big Apple - whatever ...

Sooooooooooooo, what that is mind, let me share a few thoughts with you, like ...

Report card on-->WITH GLEE. As I posted yesterday, this was my 3rd time seeing this wonderful cast and I have to admit that I left feeling happy and sad at the same time. I was happy that they had a long run (for an Off Broadway show on Theater Row), that the house was full, and that each performer was still spot-on. I was sad, of course, because it is closing this afternoon. I wish the cast and crew continued success in their respective careers.

I stayed in for the evening to watch the Yankees/White Sox game, which the Yankees won 12-9. CC won even though it was not one of his better outings.

I will stay in this afternoon for the final game of the series, then ...

After the game-5:45-->THE AUDITION-“A new theater teacher is bringing a production of A Chorus Line to the high school. Though the hopefuls range from shy to outrageous, and from diva-like to determined, everyone has a chance to step into the spotlight. A hilarious and heartbreaking look at the madness of auditioning and the actors who brave the process for that perfect part.” This sounds like fun and it is playing in a theater just one block away from PHC.

As I have previously posted, I have Yankee games for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then Thursday I fly down to Columbia, SC, to be with family and friends to celebrate oldest grandson Alex Falletta’s 30th birthday.

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.”

BMS-61

Sunday - You Know You Are A Floridian --

As most of you loyal and faithful readers know and appreciate, Billi Pod recognizes his responsibility to share his internet research with you, so that you also may become enlightened. This, of course, is done in the name of fair and unbiased reporting.

Last night I found the following materials thanks to a FaceBook posting by my friend, attorney Domingo G. Alvarez. I felt that it was important to immediately share this information with you, so ....

***************************

Finally, a true map of Florida that explains this weird, but wonderful state. Those of you who live in Florida will recognize it, and those who don’t have been warned !!!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A FLORIDIAN IF....

* You never use an umbrella because the rain will be over in five minutes.

* You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average.

* “Down South” means Key West.

* You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn't worth waking up for.

* You know the four seasons really are: hurricane season, love bug season, tourist season and summer.

* Your winter coat is made of denim.

* You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.

* Anything under 70 degrees is chilly.

* You've driven through Yeehaw Junction.

* You know that no other grocery store in the World can compare to Publix.

* You recognize Miami-Dade as “Northern Cuba.”

* You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas and New Years.

* You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. They aren't Hurricane Charley or Hurricane Frances. You know them as Andrew, Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne & Wilma...Irene...Cheryl...Rita Mary... Alison.

* You know what a snowbird is and when they'll leave.

* Flip-flops are everyday wear. Shoes are for business meetings and church, but you HAVE worn flip flops to church before.

* You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.

* You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.

* A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.

* You've hosted a hurricane party.

* You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee, Withlacoochee, Thonotosassa and Micanopy.

* You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself.

* You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn't swim.

* A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade.

* You understand and acknowledge that The Florida Gators field the best teams in all sports within the state. (actually I just added this one).

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You are so welcome.

I report - you decide.

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod