Billi Pod Asks==>Wherefore Art Thou Michael?

First ...

Last night at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, rookie Ivan Nova earned his 16th win as the Yankees shutout The Rays 5-0. Nova just has to be the #2 starter in the post season.

It was very pleasant at the stadium and Billi Pod was in his usual seat. Unfortunately, none of his season ticket buddies were there, they had all either given their tickets away or sold them on StubHub.

Everyone was watching the centerfield scoreboard, keeping up with the FuckSox/Orioles game. Yes ... yes ... the FuckSox lost, increasing our lead in the AL East to 6 games, 7 in the loss column.

The win brought my season record to 20 wins and 17 losses, not what I expected at the beginning of the season that is for sure. But, we lead the American League and are almost a certainty to make the playoffs.

Today is, of course, more baseball for Billi Pod ...

1:05==>YANKEES/TAMPA BAY in the first game of a day/night double header. Phil Hughes goes in game 1 and our ace CC Sabathia in game 2.

I will be at the afternoon game but not the evening makeup game.

So ... Billi Pod’s entertainment event for the evening is ...

8:00==>KITHLESS IN PARADISE - “Another ‘dinner-party’ comedy/drama that questions the ties that hold marriage and friendships together.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket).

Yep, this seems to be the format of almost every new show these days, the ... “let’s have a party, invite our friends, get drunk, tell secrets and let our ‘friends’ know that we really hate them” ... story line.

Oh well, I knew this when I got my ticket. It is playing at a theater on my block.

Thursday is still open because==>Michael, Oh Michael ... wherefore art thou Michael? I await thou response ...

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.”

ALEX-28

MO GETS SAVE #602==>AWESOME!!

As most of you now know, yesterday afternoon Mariano Rivera got his record setting 602nd career save as the Yankees won 6-4 over The Twins.

The win was accomplished despite another bizarre outing from AJ Burnett aka Loser Boi who couldn’t get through the 5th inning because he was about to blow a 5 run lead. He gave up 4 runs. He seemed to be pissed when he was taken out of the game because he later told the press that he hadn’t finished the 5th inning because he “wasn’t given the opportunity to finish it.”

You weren’t given the “opportunity” asshole because you imploded once again.

Note to Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman==>this loser cannot ... repeat ... cannot be trusted in the post season.

More about the game ... this was a makeup for a game rained out in April. My ticket was free because I had used a voucher given as a part of my season ticket package. As reported yesterday, my seat was in the upper tier, in the sun. Long story short, because it was a Monday afternoon makeup game, there were lots and lots of empty seats in my usual area. After the first inning I was able to move down to my usual seat because the “gatekeeper” recognizes me as a season ticket holder. That was nice.

It was very exciting being in the stadium for this historic event. As you may remember, Billi Pod was also present when Derek Jeter got his 3,000th hit, earlier in the season. Yes, these two events really were important to a baseball nut like moi.

Getting to the game, though, was nightmarish at best. What am I talking about you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well, let’s start off with ...

When I got to the subway station in The Port Authority Terminal I discovered that an upper westside water main break had taken the A, B & D lines out of service.

Damn ... but I still had an alternative. I walked over to the Broadway/42nd Street station and took the shuttle train to Grand Central Station where I got on the 4 train, an express train that goes directly to Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. The train was packed.

When we stopped at the 86th Street station, the doors remained open and we began to wonder what the f**k was going on. After about 10 minutes, as the jam-packed crowd was getting really antsy, there came an announcement that the delay was because a passenger needed “medical help.” WTF?

We were told to exit the train, which we did. The station was packed. The doors to the train were closed. Then came an announcement that the train had been taken out of service, and the empty train slowly started moving out of the station. WTF?

In about 5 minutes a 5 train arrived. It doesn’t go to the stadium. I would guess that about 1/3 of the crowd got on it even though people, like me, were saying ... no no, don’t do it, don’t do it ... Most of them disregarded our warnings and away the 5 train went. Bad mistake.

5 minutes later a jammed 4 train arrived and the rest of us shoved our way into the already stuffed cars. It wasn’t pleasant and that is putting it mildly.

We arrived at the stadium 5 minutes before game time, meaning a trip that should have taken about 30 minutes took about an hour and 15 minutes. Oh well ... at least I was there for the game, which turned out to be historic.

Yeah ... yeah ... I know ... much too long and who cares ... but Billi Pod just needed to get it out of his system. He is still wondering why they took the train out of service rather than taking the person out of the subway at 86th Street??? Oh well ... they did ... so ...

Last night I stayed in. I alternated watching the Giants/Rams game and the second of the FuckSox/Orioles game.

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod has to admit that he also watched the season opener of “TWO AND A-HALF MEN.” This was the first time I had ever, and I mean ever, watched it, so some of the in-jokes went over my head.

This posting is being written at around 3:00pm, a bit later than usual because this morning Billi Pod had a routine appointment with his eye doctor, whose office is on East 49th Street, between lst and 2nd Avenues, about 4 blocks from The United Nations Building.

The appointment, and outcome, was routine, but getting there wasn’t routine because that part of Manhattan was in a virtual lock-down because of The President’s presence at the UN, along with other heads-of-state.

I won't bore you any more with the details except to say that the police presence was very very heavy and they were obviously not very happy about things.

Oh, and it was lightly raining too.

My doctor is Dina B. Weintraub, an ophthalmologist, and I have been seeing her for about 8 years. My last appointment was 6 months ago, so I was surprised to learn today that she is expecting twins, a boy and a girl, in about 6 weeks. She expects to be able to continue with her practice.

She reads this blog, so==>CONGRATULATIONS GO OUT TO YOU DR. W. SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR PARTNER.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event is, of course ...

7:05==>YANKEES/TAMPA BAY @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

Rookie Ivan Nova will be on the mound for The Bronx Bombers. Billi Pod will be in his usual seat for this game.

Oh, and, of course, the weather is going to be iffy. Trust me ... they will play this game in all conditions short of a category 5 hurricane.

Wow!! What a boring posting ... sorry ...

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.”

ALEX-27

THE BALD SOPRANO==>WTF?

First, on this Monday morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, it was 54º @ 8:00am, with blue skies.

Now ...

Billi Pod’s report card on THE BALD SOPRANO==>WTF<==as in Weird Though Funny.

Yes, as the press blurb said ... this was indeed an “absurdist comedy” whatever that means. The show was only 1 hour and 8 minutes in length. I found myself laughing and then wondering why ... it was that kind of humor.

Acting was excellent. It is worth seeing with the above caveats.

The Yankee bats went dead yesterday in their 3-0 loss to Toronto. Luckily the FuckSox lost to The Rays, so our lead in the AL East remains at 5 games in the loss column.

The Rays are now only 2 games behind the FuckSox for the Wild Card.

This afternoon at 1:05pm at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, we have a makeup game against the Minnesota Twins.

I have a bonus ticket for the game and it is located in the first row of the upper tier on the 3rd base side of the field. Billi Pod will be in the sun for the entire game, so he will have his sunscreen with him.

Of course, AJ Burnett aka Loser Boi will be on the mound for The Bronx Bombers. Why, Oh Why? Every time Billi Pod is at a game Loser Boi is pitching. Why, Oh Why??????

Billi Pod’s baseball schedule for the remainder of the regular season is as follows:

Mon. 9/19 - Minnesota @ 1:05

Tues - Tampa Bay @ 7:05

Wed - Tampa Bay @ 1:05

Fri - Boston FuckSox @ 7:05

Sun - Boston FuckSox @ 1:05 (final home game)

Will now post this briefer than usual update (hold the applause, dammit ... I know who you are and where you live) and try to get in a couple of errands before it is time to head out to The Bronx.

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.”

ALEX-26

Billi Pod Says==>GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod’s thoughts on yesterday’s Gator/Vols game, won by my Gators 33-23 in The Swamp ...

Make no mistake about it, the win was fueled by an incredible game from Chris Rainey, who incidentally is from Lakeland, FL, who finished with 108 yards rushing, 104 yards receiving, 1 touchdown and a blocked punt that led to a field goal.

It was enough to overshadow an offense that again struggled in the red zone and a lack of discipline that led to 150 yards on 16 penalties, including 5 pass interference calls.

Bottom-line==>It wasn’t pretty but a win is a win is a win.

Next up on the schedule are the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, KY @ 7:00pm this coming Saturday.

Hopefully we will continue to improve.

Next up ...

In the Yankee’s 7-6 win over Toronto yesterday afternoon our closer Mariano Rivera recorded his 601st save, tying him with the all-time leader Trevor Huffmon.

This win and Boston’s loss to The Rays increase our lead over The FuckSox to 5 games in the loss column.

This afternoon is the final game of the Toronto series with Freddy Garcia on the mound.

Next up ...

Billi Pod’s report card on THE LEMON SKY==>A<==Keith Nobbs is outstanding in an extremely difficult role.

The rest of the cast is also stellar. Story line, involving yet again another dysfunctional family, is challenging to follow - Lanford Wilson at his best.

Excellent theater. See it!!

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is ...

7:30==>THE BALD SOPRANO - “Meet the Smiths. They live in a typical house on a typical street, cheerfully entertaining typical friends and typical neighbors ... in a world that's anything but typical."

"Eugène Ionesco's game-changing absurdist comedy tumbles us into a bizarre and brilliant comic universe.” (Off-Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at the 59th Street Theater, one of my favorite venues.

In closing==>For the upcoming week Billi Pod has tickets for 5 of the 8 remaining Yankee home games.

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.”

ALEX-25

The Shadow Box Was Excellent - Happy Birthday David Huddleston!!

Good morning everyone out there in the vastness of cyberspace. Well, it was only 51º @ 8:30am in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World - I guess summer is officially gone.

Let’s begin with Billi Pod’s report card on ...

THE SHADOW BOX==>A<==Fine acting and staging even though in a very small space with only about 50 seats.

The role of The Interviewer was played by a woman with a Mideast accent. She was on stage but always in the shadows.

The final scene is one of the most difficult I was ever involved with because all of the characters are on stage, speaking rapidly in no discernible order. You screw up and the whole scene comes crashing down around you.

Yes, the story line still packs a punch and I highly recommend this show, so catch it if you can.

Last night the Yankees lost 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th. CC had only a so-so outing but he didn’t get the loss, the bullpen did. The FuckSox broke their slide by beating The Rays. Damn!!

I listened to the final inning while walking back to PHC after my show.

This afternoon Bartolo Colon will be on the mound for The Bronx Bombers. A-Rod is still out of the lineup as a result of a thumb injury.

What else about today you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ... here goes ...

This afternoon @ 3:30pm==>GATORS/VOLS at The Swamp, carried on CBS.

Yes ... it is now time to finally see what kind of team our new coach has built. Our first two wins were over Palm Beach High School and Arcadia High School, so that has given only a slight hint on what we can expect for the rest of the schedule.

We are favored by 9 1/2 points but my gut tell me it will be a much closer game than that. We have basically owned The Vols over the past several years and Billi Pod thinks that the “revenge-factor” might come into play.

HELP!!==>Billi Pod is in a quandary over the ‘Noles/Sooners game at 8:00pm because his Inner Gator wants both teams to get their lousy asses beaten. I mean, he doesn’t like Oklahoma and yet, how can a true Gator ever ... ever ... pull for the Semi-holes, regardless of who they are playing? How??

Anyway ... moving on ...

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is ...

8:00==>THE LEMON SKY - “Keith Nobbs leads the cast in the late Lanford Wilson’s autobiographical inspired 1970s drama about a gay teenager who goes to live with his estranged father’s second family.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket).

I really like Keith Nobbs. He is coming off a stellar performance in the Broadway production of “Lombardi.”

This is playing at a theater on my block.

I will close with a big shout-out to my dear friend DAVID HUDDLESTON, the actor, who turns 81 today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!

Please give Miss Sarah a hug from Billi Pod.

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.”

ALEX-24

Billi Pod Reflects on The Shadow Box and Ray Coker

First, let’s start this posting with a big shout out==>TGIF for all of my Worker Bee friends.

And then ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night's THE COMPLETE & CONDENSED STAGE DIRECTIONS OF EUGENE O'NEILL==>A<==it lives up to the advance buzz and favorable reviews.

Very funny and very well performed by an extremely talented ensemble cast. It clocks in at 80 minutes and the time flies by.

Bottom-line==>See it if you get a chance.

Tonight the Yankees begin a 3 game series vs. Toronto with our ace CC Sabathia on the mound.

We now lead the AL East by 4 1/2 games and the Boston FuckSox are fading fast. They are now fighting The Rays for the Wild Card. Go Rays!!

Before moving on I want to share with you loyal and faithful readers the results of a recent NY Post poll regarding the five greatest Yankees of all time. The results ...

1. Babe Ruth - 20,822

2. Lou Gehrig - 17,353

3. Joe DiMaggio - 17,120

4. Mickey Mantle - 15,963

5. Mariano Rivera - 10,411

Billi Pod totally agrees.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>THE SHADOW BOX - “This Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play is set in a northern California hospice for the terminally ill and tells the story of three families attempting to cope with the impending death of a loved one” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket).

I want to give you a brief synopsis of the characters ...

Brian (terminally ill) and his devoted lover Mark receive a surprise visit from Brian’s ex-wife;

Blue-collar Joe (terminally ill) must help his wife and teenage son accept a life interrupted;

Felicity, an elderly, cantankerous, woman (terminally ill), is being cared for by her devoted daughter; and

Their stories are developed through interaction with the largely unseen Interviewer.

In the early 80s Theatre Winter Haven, Winter Haven, FL, received the first permission granted to a “nonprofessional” theater company in Florida to do the show. Because of the theme, profane language and homosexual characters it was, needless-to-say, very very controversial. The Director, Norman Small, made almost no changes in the original script.

I was cast as the Interviewer. This didn’t please several of my older colleagues and that is putting it mildly.

The production received rave reviews but the theater was picketed every night by very vocal church and conservative groups.

We subsequently won first place in a state competition and took the show to the national competition level (but, unfortunately, we didn’t win).

Then in 1994 I was cast as Joe when the show was done by a theater group in Plant City, FL. Our production also received rave reviews, but this time no picketing.

Needless-to-say this is one of my favorite shows and I am really looking forward to seeing this production.

I hate to end this posting on a sad note, but I have to reflect that 8 years ago today I lost Ray Coker of Lakeland, FL, one of my dearest friends. Yes, drug and alcohol addiction is an equal-opportunity destroyer, make no mistake about that.

My thoughts go out to his family: Bud and Louise; Debbie; and, Hac and Sarah and to his longtime friend Ginger Flowers. May God Bless You All.

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.”

ALEX-23

A Call From Army Guy==>AWESOME!!

I can’t believe it. At around 8:30am this morning my cellphone rang. When I answered it a deep voice said ... “hi there soon-to-be great-granddaddy.”

OMFG! It was my oldest grandson Alex Falletta aka Army Guy calling from way “over-there.” I couldn’t believe it, although I had known he had previously been able to call his wife Gina.

We had a great conversation even though my heart was racing during the entire time. When we ended the call I have to admit that I was momentarily overcome with emotion. Yes, technology is indeed awesome.

It was wonderful to hear his voice.

Thanks for calling Army Guy. Be safe!! Love ya.

You know, it’s difficult to sit down and write this blog posting when a loved-one is in harm’s way, but I had previously promised Army Guy that, to the extent possible, I would carry on with my life, so ... OK ... let’s do it ...

But ... dammit to Hell ... Mr. President and those bickering assholes in Congress ... our number one priority has to be to bring our troops home ... NOW!!

Today is also a solemn day for me for another reason. One year ago today I lost my dear friend, colleague and fraternity brother J. “Papa” Hall.

This is an excerpt from my September 15, 2010 posting ...

“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”

My complete posting, with Papa’s obituary, is at ....

http://wanorrisjr.blogspot.com/2010/09/j-lewis-hall-jr-1931-2010.html

My thoughts and prayers go out to Papa’s family and friends and particularly to his devoted longtime companion Vivian Garfein.

OK ... OK ... Billi Pod will now get back on track with ...

PIGPEN PRESENTS: THE MOUNTAIN SONG was a very pleasant evening’s entertainment with a very talented cast of musicians/actors/puppeteers. It clocked in at just over an hour.

Meaning ... Billi Pod had plenty of time to walk part of the way back to PHC, fix a salad and settle in to watch the 10:10pm EST Yankees/Mariners game. The game finally ended around 1:30am when the Mariners won 2-1 in the bottom of the 12th inning on a walk-off homerun. Damn!!

The Yankees thereby missed a golden opportunity to go up 5 games on Boston since the FuckSox lost earlier to Toronto. Damn!!

We have the day off to travel to Toronto for a 3 game series with The Jays.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is ...

8:00==>THE COMPLETE & CONDENSED STAGE DIRECTIONS OF EUGENE O'NEILL, VOLUME 1: EARLY PLAYS/LOST PLAYS - “O’Neills eloquent but often obsessive and often controlling stage directions are unleashed and transformed into rip-roaring physical comedy.”(Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Yeah, I know - it sounds weird doesn’t it? But, it has gotten very good reviews so I thought I would give it a shot.

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.”

ALEX-22

Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling==>Donkey Dung!! Barf!!

OK, my loyal and faithful readers ... let’s get right to it ...

Billi Pod’s report card on the pile of donkey dung aka Adam Rapp’s new so-called “drama” DREAMS OF FLYING DREAMS OF FALLING==>F-<==as in foul, fetid and f**king disgusting.

What is Rapp trying to tell us? I have no clue and neither did several of my theater buddies I talked with after the show. I personally felt as if I had fallen into a fly trap of mediocre melodrama.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, about this cesspool masquerading as a play made any sense at all, like ... ending the show by bringing the carcass of a dead lion on stage. WTF?? This actually induced verbal responses of utter disbelief from the audience. Not joking.

Yes ... the cast is stellar but they are victims of Rapp’s heavy-handed characterizations. None of the main characters are believable or likable. You just don’t care about any of them.

Yes ... yes ... I know what some of you theatre-elite out there are thinking ... Billi Pod isn’t smart enough or suave enough to understand the mind of this brilliant young playwright. Well ... to you he says==>Billi Pod knows shit when he sees/smells it ... this terrible play is a pile of donkey dung.

Case closed.

Now on to something more positive ... like ...

The Yankees won 3-2 last night in Seattle behind an decent but erratic outing from AJ Burnett aka Loser Boi, who went 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits and striking out 11. In typical Loser Boi fashion, he gave up a 2 run lead, walked 2, hit 2 batters and made 2 wild pitches. Yankee bats saved his ass.

Mo closed out the bottom of the 9th getting his 600th career save, putting him 1 behind the all-time leader Trevor Hoffmann.

The Yankees will close out the series tonight at 10:10pm EST with rookie Ivan Nova on the mound going for his 16th win.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is another Fringe Festival Encore production ...

7:00==>PIGPEN PRESENTS: THE MOUNTAIN SONG - “The tale of a carpenter who climbs mountains and traverses rivers in order to attend his daughter's wedding - without a clue as to where it's taking place.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Still have some errands and stuff to do, so will close this out.

Oh, did you understand that Billi Pod thinks that DREAMS OF FLYING DREAMS OF FALLING is puke-inducingly bad? Just wanted to make sure you did.

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.”

ALEX-21

FOURTEEN FLIGHTS==>Excellent!!

Last night’s FOURTEEN FLIGHTS was an excellent theater evening, with a thought-provoking story line and brilliant, and I mean brilliant, acting.

Two airline pilots have a near-death flight experience (for themselves; thirteen passengers will die) . How they deal with it involves the questions of survival and fate.

As I had posted yesterday, I had some serious misgivings about the show, including the running time at 2:30 with an intermission. Well, I was wrong. It has 3 more performances: September 15, 16 and 18 and I highly recommend it.

Thank goodness the Yankees were playing in Seattle last night. The game started at 10:05pm EST, so Billi Pod was able to watch most of it.

The Yankees won 9-3 behind an excellent outing from Phil Hughes. The Bronx Bomber bats finally came alive. We now lead the AL East by 4 games.

Tonight AJ Barnett aka Loser Boi will be on the mound==>barf!!

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is ...

8:00==>DREAMS OF FLYING DREAMS OF FALLING - The world premiere of Adam Rapp’s visceral drama. “Dr. Bertram and Sandra Cabot invite long time friends Dirk and Celeste Von Stofenberg to their beautiful Connecticut Gold Coast home in honor of James, the Von Stofenberg’s only son, who has recently been released from an esteemed private psychiatric hospital.

The feast promises to be delicious, but soon the sky turns a strange color, Canadian geese start crashing into the bay window, and the fate of the evening tilts.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Yeah, I know.

In the past most of Adam Rapp’s plays have made me want to slit my wrists or the like. It will be a love-it or hate-it evening, without a doubt.

Just got back from a useless trip out to the Stadium to exchange a ticket. I won’t bore you with the details other than to say that it was another one of those “please read the fine print” experiences.

In closing==>Billi Pod’s entertainment schedule for the upcoming 13 days is basically full. He has only 1 totally open date at the moment ... September 22nd. Wow!!

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.”

ALEX-20