Monday - Go Yankees and ... croak ... WTF?

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers. It is a beautiful early fall day in The Greatest City In The World.

Yesterday was a terrific day. Let me start with a report card on the BROADWAY ORIGINALS concert @ Town Hall==>A<==very entertaining and well performed. My comp. ticket was in the upper balcony section but at intermission I snuck downstairs and found a very good seat in the rear orchestra.

After the concert saw the Bruce Willis movie RED==>B<==story totally unbelievable, but so what. It was fun seeing the old guys kicking butt and taking names. Definitely a guy movie. Suspend your concepts of reality and you will have a good time, trust me on this guys ... see it.

It is Monday and that means my errands and stuff during the day, then --

8:00==>YANKEES/RANGERS @ The Stadium for game 3, with Andy Pettitte on the mound vs. Cliff Lee. Without question, this will be a nail-biter.

I’ll be there with my buds for all 3 of the home games: Monday @ 8:00; Tuesday @ 8:00; and, Wednesday @ 4:00.

The trouble with the 8:00 games is that it will be way past midnight when I finally get back to PHC. Oh well ... ain’t nothing I can do about it, is there?

On a sad note==>Yankee Stadium fixture Freddy (The Fan) Schuman, who banged his trusty metal frying pan to rally Yankee fans for over two decades, died on Sunday. It was always very exciting when Freddy would show up in your section, banging his frying pan and encouraging fans to “get into the game.” He will be missed by everyone.

Wow, in 2010 we have lost The Boss, The Voice of God, and now Freddy The Fan.

Let me close by saying that, unfortunately, my warnings against anti-Gator emails and texts totally failed, especially as it relates to Her Druidness Mizz S. Mullon of Anna Maria, FL. When I tried to neutralize her powers with my own spell, she threatened to turn me into a frog, resulting in Billi Pod having nightmares last night, frog-like in nature. It was so scary dreaming about eating flies etc, so ...

OK OK Your Druidness==>Billi Pod surrenders. You may spew forth whatever you see fit ... and ... croak ... I got things I gotta do, so ... croak ... WTF? ... croak ... damn, there’s another fly I wantta eat ... croak ... seeya ... croak ... latter ... croak ... blurp ... yum ... croak ...

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-10

Billi Pod Says==>Barf, Puke, Vomit!!

On this beautiful early fall Sunday Billi Pod is in recovery from the two puke-inducing sports events of yesterday==> Hughes’ implosion in the Yankees 2-7 loss to the Rangers and==>the Gators painfully inept 7-10 loss to Redneck State University aka Mississippi State.

Spent a goodly part of the morning just walking around PHC sucking my thumb, then I called my longtime friend Gil Goshorn, who lives in Gainesville, seeking his sage advice, comfort and solace, but that only partially worked. Dammit, still in a major funk.

Hold on there. I want no emails, texts, calls etc of the “It’s Only A Game,” variety. No it’s not!! Send them at your own peril==>You Are So Warned!!

Anyhoo, one thing for certain==>there will be no sporting events today, so ...

3:00==>BROADWAY ORIGINALS! @ Town Hall-“an unforgettable afternoon of songs and memories featuring the original performers reprising the roles they created on Broadway.”

Immediately afterwards I will catch a movie==>the newly released RED starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and others as retired spies forced back into action.

Oh yes, Billi Pod needs to see older people causing mayhem, gore and chaos. Oh yes!!

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-11

Saturday - An Amazing Win Last Night

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers. If you read the sports pages you know that it was a mega-dramatic comeback win for The Yankees last night as we overcame a 0-5 deficit to win 6-5 over The Rangers, in Texas, despite a dreadful performance by our ace CC Sabathia.

This was truly a “team win” as everyone contributed to the amazing 5 run 8th inning rally. Ah yes, how sweet.

As might be expected, today is a sports day for Billi Pod and he will be in his couch potato mode for:

4:00==>YANKEES @ RANGERS (TBS), with Phil Hughes on the mound. It will be interesting to see how The Rangers react to last night’s devastating loss. I have a feeling that they will be looking for revenge, so be careful Phil==>watch your back.

7:00==>GATORS/MISS STATE in The Swamp (ESPNU). It is Homecoming and we gotta have a win in order to restore a modicum of credibility to the season. Come on guys, we in The Gator Nation can’t handle 3 losses in a row, so get with it, OK?

Also at 8:00==>PHILLIES/GIANTS with 2 of the season’s best pitchers, Doc Halladay and Tim Lincecum, facing each other. Should be an awesome game and a must-see for the true baseball fan. Of course Billi Pod will be watching The Gator game.

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-12

Friday - Let The Games Begin

OK, my loyal and faithful readers==>Let the games begin!! Tonight at 8:07 on TBS is game one of YANKEES/RANGERS ALCS, in Texas, with Ace CC Sabathia on the mound for the Yankees.

Billi Pod is majorly psyched==>already walking around PHC sucking his thumb==>is it time for the game yet? Oh God==>don’t wantta write about anything else (dammit, stop the f**king applause, I know who you are and I am taking names) but will make a few comments just to pass some time.

First, about my rant yesterday against The Post and The Daily News for their coverage of the miner’s recovery==>Billi Pod sent the following in an email to each paper--

“RE: Thursday's Front Page==>Shame Shame Shame!!

I am appalled at your craven front page coverage on Thursday of the miner’s rescue mission when your editors trivialized the moment by focusing on a miner’s mistress vs. his wife, rather than the magnitude of the effort that saved 33 lives. First of all, who cares who met him and secondly, it is none of our/your business, now is it?

This was tabloid journalism at its worst. Shame Shame Shame!!!”

Of course, this will garner no response nor does it have any chance of being published, but ... how about this ...

The Daily News was not outside the door this morning. Coincidence? I wonder.

Anyhoo, now Billi Pod’s brief (stop it I said!) report card on MIDDLETOWN==>C<==it just didn’t work for me for some reason and that is disappointing because I like the playwright Will Eno.

Oh God==>is it time for game yet?

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-13

Thursday - They Are All Safe!!

Good morning everyone from The Greatest City In The World.

As with everyone else, I find the fact that the 33 miners and 6 rescue workers are now all safe and sound to be==>AMAZING!!

Last night I watched the final rescue worker reach the surface and felt a wave of relief that the mission was complete and successful despite overwhelming odds. Human spirit did indeed prevail.

I was absolutely appalled this morning when I got the morning papers to find that both The New York Post and The Daily News front page coverage was not about the successful completion of the rescue mission but ... get this ... that one of the workers was greeted by his mistress rather than his wife. Full front page pictures of them hugging, with the following headlines:

“HOLE-Y SNIT! Miner’s wife skips hubby’s rescue but mistress gets big smooch” - The Daily News

“HE’S ALL MINE. Mistress greets her man - as wife stays home” - New York Post.

This my loyal and faithful readers is repellant and tabloid journalism at its very worst. Shame Shame Shame!!

Billi Pod’s session with his dental hygienist was as uncomfortable as expected ... and, the rose had no effect because my dentist has a new dental hygienist. Oh well ... on to other stuff ...

A report card on EDWARD ALBEE'S ME, MYSELF & I==>WTF?<==as in what the f**k was that all about? It is a typical Albee mega-hyper word game, saved in the end by an extraordinary cast. It is, however, worth seeing, I think ... I guess ... I mean ... WTF ...

Tonight-8:00==>MIDDLETOWN-“a moving and humorous exploration of the universe of a small American town as the lives of the inhabitants of Middletown intersect in strange and compelling ways.”

Off-Broadway in early previews.

Quick YANKEES/RANGERS ALCS note before closing --

Manager Joe Girardi has announced that AJ Burnett aka Loser Boi will start in game 4 on Tuesday at The Stadium, so ... what does Loser Boi do in a simulated game yesterday? Why he hits two of his teammates, that’s what. Unf**king believable. Joe==>have you taken under-the-table money from some Texas oil tycoon, or, sold your soul to the Devil, or, simply just gone stark-raving mad? Hum ... or, maybe all three? Unf**king believable?

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-14

The Recovery Is-->AWESOME!!

The recovery of the Chilean miners was awesome to watch last night live on CNN. As the rescue operation continues today, please God, let all of them be returned to family and friends.

You know, it is totally beyond my ability to imagine the true horror of being trapped underground for that length of time. It goes to prove how resilient the human spirit can be when put to the ultimate test.

Last night, Tuesday, Billi Pod screwed up, big-time. How, you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, I had booked a show called LOVE DIVIDED BY/TIMES THREE for 8:00, at a theater on my block. When I went to the box office @ 7:30 to pick up my ticket I discovered that the correct time was ... tada ... 7:00. Man, was that embarrassing. What makes it even worse, Billi Pod knows that on Tuesday most of the shows, Broadway and Off-Broadway, now start at 7:00. My bad-->and, will probably be surcharged by my ticket service for not picking up my ticket. Barf!! Oh, well ...

Came back to PHC and settled in to watch the RAYS/RANGERS game, alternating with the rescue efforts on CNN.

As you know, The Rays lost a game they could have won, so it will be YANKEES/RANGERS for the American League Championship and on to the World Series. I am truly sorry ‘bout The Rays-->now, bring on those sorry-ass hillbilly Rangers.

This afternoon I have my semiannual cleaning/checkup session with my dentist. I, frankly, have this only because his office kept calling and “reminding” me that I need to schedule an appointment. I hate this, I really do. I call it my “chisel and bleed torture session,” or, “the dental hygienist's pay-back time.” OMFG!! I always bring her a single rose. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. OMFG!!

Anyhoo - assuming I don’t end up in a mental institution with a nervous breakdown--

Tonight-8:00-->EDWARD ALBEE'S ME, MYSELF & I-“Mother can't tell her identical twins apart. But when Otto announces his brother doesn't exist, the household descends into chaos.” At a theater on my block.

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-15

Billi Pod Says-->Happy Columbus Day!!

Happy Columbus Day my loyal and faithful readers. I hope that each of you had a great weekend, I know that Billi Pod certainly did up here in The Greatest City In The World, which is so full of amazing things and stuff to do and why I love living here.

Let me start by giving report cards on things since my last posting on Saturday morning:

Of course the highlight was The Yankee game on Saturday night-->behind a remarkable performance by Phil Hughes, the Yankees won 6-1, sweeping the Twins and advancing to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on Friday against either The Rays or The Rangers. It was an exciting game to watch and be a part of.

The picture is of two of my buds/seat mates, Erik and Mike. During the game I was basically unable to use my iPhone because, I have been told, almost everyone in the stadium was also trying to get online, texting etc. As a result I didn’t get much timely info about the dreadful GATOR/LSU game until it was over. Maybe that was a blessing in disguise. BARF!!

Anyhoo, it was 12:45am when Billi Pod finally got back to PHC-->tired, hungry, but very very happy that The Yankees had taken a major step toward repeating as World Champions.

Sunday was a doubleheader:

My first show was PERFECT HARMONY-“a comedy about the greatest singing group in High School history, The Acafellas, and their female counterpart, perennial runners up, The Ladies in Red”-->B<--fun, a bit long and kinda cliché-heavy but still worth seeing.

IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY-“an autobiographical movie about a clinically depressed 16 yo boy who checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward”-->B+<--there are laughs but basically it is a touching movie with great acting. I highly recommend it even though I know it has received very mixed reviews

This being a Monday, it is my errands and stuff day. I do have a show scheduled for the late afternoon-5:00-->SHOW CHOIR: THE MUSICAL-“a musical about a TV documentary following the path to fame of a small town High School show choir.”

This show is produced by my FaceBook friend Julie Miller and is part of the New York Musical Festival (NYMF). It has gotten very good reviews. Unfortunately, this afternoon is its final performance. Hopefully it will find a life in another venue.

Tonight I will probably either stay in to watch the crucial BRAVES/GIANTS game or catch a movie.

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-17

PS: Does anyone remember when was the last time The Gators were out of the top 20 in midseason? (awkward sentence, I know).

Saturday - GO GATORS - GO YANKEES!!

Good afternoon everyone. It is another beautiful afternoon in the Big Apple, cool and only a few clouds in the sky.

Let me start off this brief posting (hold the f-ing applause, dammit!) with a report card on last nite’s THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS-->A<--an extremely well performed, very emotional show done in a minstrel show format. I, frankly, liked it much much more than I thought I would. If you are in NYC-->see it.

Today is a mega-sports day-->Billi Pod will be glued to the tube watching college football and The Rays/Rangers game, then --

7:30-->FLORIDA/LSU @ The Swamp (on ESPN). The Gators look to bounce back from the embarrassing ass-whipping they got last weekend at ‘Bama. Hopefully I will get text updates on the game while I am at The Stadium, because --

8:30-->YANKEES/TWINS with Phil Hughes on the mound, going for the sweep. Frankly I am worried about all of the hype that The Twins are out of it, that this game is a mere formality, etc. etc. Hey everyone-->remember 2001? The Yankees lost the first 2 games at home and then came back to win the Division. Again ... it ain’t over ‘til it’s over ... never ever forget that in baseball or any sport for that matter.

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-19

Andy Was Excellent!!

Oh Yes, Andy Pettitte came through in the clutch last night in Minn. with a stellar performance and the Yankees now have a 2 game lead, but-->guys, please remember-->"it ain’t over 'til it's over,” to quote Yogi.

The next game is Saturday at 8:30, at The Stadium, with Phil Hughes on the mound and Billi Pod will be there with his buds, hoping and praying for a sweep.

Man, The Rays are in deep s**t. Their offense is nonexistent. Nothing more to say, except that I have a very very bad feeling about this.

Tonight-8:00-->THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS-“This musical, the final collaboration by Kander and Ebb, is based on the 1930s case in which 9 African-American young men were unjustly accused of a terrible crime.” On Broadway after a very successful Off-Broadway run.

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-20

Roy Halladay Was AMAZING!!

It is a beautiful fall day in The Big Apple and, of course, Billi Pod should be out and about in The Greatest City In The World, but ... it’s not gonna happen ... because ... well, you loyal and faithful readers probably know why, so ... see the details below.

I want to give a brief report card on LE BETE-->C<--as in confusing. Acting was excellent but the book-->?????. It was not what I expected. I have a feeling I may be in the minority with this, but ... it’s how I feel.

Last night’s Yankee 6-4 win over the Twins was very exciting, but I have to say, as a baseball nut, that watching Doc Halladay’s no-hitter over The Reds was even more exciting. I was in the stands when David Cone pitched his perfect game, so I know how it feels to be a witness to baseball history. In Halladay’s case, it was the first post season no-hitter since Don Larsen did it way back in 1956.

In the Yankee/Twins game CC gets only a C. He was ultimately baled out by the Yankee bats and, of course, Mo. Oh, on what should have the last out of the game, the umpiring crew totally blew a call on a line-drive to right field that was actually caught, not trapped. Thank goodness it didn’t effect the outcome of the game. Another reason for limited “Further Review/Replay.”

The Rays may be in serious trouble. Their problems at the plate have followed them into the post season. I hope I am wrong, of course, because I would love to see the Yankees/Rays play in the AL League Championship and the Yankees advance to The World Series.

All of the local newspaper reviews of The Wall have been "Off The Wall" (no pun intended) mega-favorable.

As you might expect, today is 100% baseball on TV --

2:30-->Rays/Rangers

6:00-->YANKEES/TWINS with Andy Pettitte on the mound

9:30-->Braves/Giants.

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-21

The Wall Was AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!

As many of you loyal and faithful readers know, I have been a diehard Pink Floyd fan for most of my adult life (much to the chagrin of many of my older judicial colleagues, I might add) and I have seen the original Pink Floyd in concert at least 4 times, maybe more.

Never seen The Wall performed live, however. I have the DVD of the movie, and, of course, several CDs issued by Pink Floyd.

This made last night’s concert, ROGER WATERS: THE WALL LIVE @ Madison Square Garden, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me and I am sooooooo happy to report that the concert was AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!

It began around 8:30 and was over around 10:30, with an intermission. Waters, at age 67, has a mesmerizing on-stage charisma and he was backed by a six-piece band that remained true to the Pink Floyd sound.

Terrific projections, 3-D effects, huge inflatable puppets and, of course, The Wall, helped explore the themes of fascism, conformity, alienation and death.

When The Wall came tumbling down, ending the concert, I felt emotionally drained. I am not being overly dramatic, just trying to convey to you loyal and faithful readers how I felt, and, frankly, still feel.

Yes, I do indeed feel blessed that I had this opportunity in The Greatest City In The World.

Now, briefly, on to other things--

2day-2:00-->LA BETE-“stars David Hyde Pierce and Mark Rylance and sinks its teeth into the age-old debate of high art verses popular entertainment.” Broadway. This show had a sold-out run in London.

8:30-->YANKEES/TWINS @ Minn. with ace CC Sabathia on the mound. The march toward the World Series begins.

Will also watch the rest of the Rays/Rangers game and then the Reds/Phillies game @ 5:00

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-21

OMG!! - The Wall Tonight - OMG!!

Tonight-8:00-->ROGER WATERS: THE WALL LIVE @ Madison Square Garden-“Roger Waters, cofounder and principal songwriter of Pink Floyd, is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the original release of The Wall.”

“Featuring a full band and a state-of-the-art production, this masterpiece of alienation and transformation is performed in its entirety.”

“The Wall was America's top-selling album of 1980, is one of the top-selling double albums of all time, and is still in the US Top 5 best-selling albums of all time.”

Nothing more for me to say-->I am soooooooooo F**king charged-->I can’t wait.

Billi Pod

BMS-24

Monday in the Big Apple

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers. I hope everyone had a great weekend. This being Monday, errands and stuff are on my agenda, so this missive will be somewhat shorter than usual. What is that? Do I hear applause in the background? Be careful what you wish for. You are warned!!

Well, on to the post season. As you know, The Rays won the AL East outright and will host the Rangers and Cliff Lee on Wednesday.

The Yankees, who limped in as wild card, play the Twins in Minn. on Wednesday @ 8:30 with ace CC Sabathia on the mound. Two games there. The first home game is Saturday @ 8:30 and the 2nd, if necessary, on Sunday, starting time not yet announced. As previously reported, I have tickets to all post season (including the World Series) home games in my regular season seat.

A bit of information in response to a message from a FaceBook friend-->post season ticket prices are determined by Major League Baseball, not by the individual teams. The season ticket price for my seat is $70 per game, reflecting a $10 discount for being a season ticket holder. The day of game price is $90. These are the post season prices:

Division Series - $60

Championship Series - $120

World Series - $160

Last year World Series tickets in my section were selling on Stub Hub for $400-$500 a seat

The Gators fell out of the Top 10-->barf!! We are 7 1/2 point favorites over unbeaten LSU in The Swamp. Go figure.

Billi Pod’s report card on THE DIVINE SISTER-->very funny and just what I needed. It has an open run, so my Big Apple readers-->see it if you can.

Tonight-8:00-->BORN FOR BROADWAY-“a benefit for the Christopher Reeve Foundation-hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford-featuring dozens of Broadway performers.”

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting, Billi Pod has to admit that it actually will be kinda nice to have a break from baseball, for a couple of days that is.

Oh, just compiled the entertainment stats for September and they are pretty awesome. Will post later today.

Got things and stuff to do, so ...

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-25

Billi Pod's September 2010 Entertainment Stats

The stats for September 2010 reflect Billi Pod’s “involvement” with the Yankees as the season moved toward its nail-biting finale. This was exemplified by my decision to get additional tickets for all of the games in the final week of the season not in my season ticket package.

The result was 7 consecutive nights at The Stadium. That, my loyal and faithful readers, is way-too-much of a good thing and something I don’t anticipate repeating in the future.

Anyways-->here are Billi Pod’s entertainment stats for September 2010:

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

4 Broadway shows (The Pitmen Painters; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson; A Life In The Theatre; and Lombardi); 5 Off Broadway shows plus 2 New York Fringe Festival Encore shows; 2 movies (Going the Distance and The Virginity Hit); 1 New York Philharmonic concert; and 9 Yankees games, including the last 7 consecutive home games (5 wins & 4 losses - season record-->32 wins & 18 losses).

Was out of town for 5 nights for the trip down to Columbia, SC, to be with family and friends for an early celebration of my oldest grandson Alex Falletta’s 30th birthday. This was the highlight of the month, without a doubt.

Because of “commitments” Alex was not available for his actual birthday, September 12th, and he will not be available for his next birthday in 2011. Soooooooo happy we could all be together.

Other highlights of the month: the ongoing medical recovery and 80th birthday of my dear friend actor David Huddleston; my sister Ann Parker’s 73rd birthday; and quality face-time with student/General Manager Scott Reed.

During the month there were 5 days/nights when Billi Pod stayed in PHC without attending some entertainment event. On each of these Billi Pod was in a couch-potato mode glued to the TV, watching ...tada... Yankee games.

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 a somewhat abbreviated format.

So, my loyal and faithful readers, there you have it. Was it another outstanding month in The Big Apple? I humbly think so, but it is up to you 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.”