IF THERE IS I HAVEN’T FOUND IT YET==>C

I hope everyone of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks is having a great weekend.

Well, it is time to get back to some serious matters, so I have posted the following for you to consider ...

Hummmmm ... this certainly would go a long way to explaining that weird situation, wouldn’t it? Jus sayin ... 

Now, let’s right to Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

IF THERE IS I HAVEN’T FOUND IT YET, the dark comedy about a foul-mouth drifter who forms an unexpected bond with his unpopular niece, much to the consternation of her parents==>C<==and this is giving it the benefit of the doubt.

I really wanted to like this show, starring Jack Gyllenhaal in his American stage debut, but ... it was a major disappointment due to its totally unbelievable, confusing and incomprehensible story line.

When it was over everyone seated around me had this ... WTF??? look on their faces.

The staging was certainly “different” and the actors did their best but to me it was 1:45, without intermission, of ... of ... dammit ... I still don’t know ... of ... what???

Those of you loyal and faithful readers and followers who know Billi Pod personally, know that he isn’t a prude ... but ... Jake’s use of the F-word every, and I mean every, 4th word gets old very quickly and actually detracts from his character.

What a total disappointment.

I think the critics are going to skewer this piece of disappointment, so, see it at your peril.

And while I am talking about disappointments ... we also have the YANKEE/CLEVELAND game last night.

The Yankees lost 3-1 because they, once again, failed to get hits with runners in scoring position, something that has plagued this team all season long.

Hiroki Kuroda pitched a good game and deserved better.

This afternoon @ 1:05pm is the final game of the 3-game series and it will be Freddy Garcia (7-5) on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (9-12) for The Indians.

What is Billi Pod’s take on the FuckSox/Dodger trade I know you are all breathlessly asking your inner selves? Well, honestly, I am not certain what it all means in the long run for both teams. 

I do believe that the FuckSox have tossed in the towel for this season (pussies) and that is good for The Yankees since we still have 6-games with them, including the final 3-games of the regular season.

My plans for today will be to stay in the cool confines of PHC and watch the afternoon YANKEES/INDIANS game and then, probably, catch a movie in the early evening.

I will close this posting with ...

WOW==>6th consecutive 6-mile day.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.55  miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>252.75

Mileage remaining until  4/23/13==>826.25

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.”

My MOSTLY MOZART Concert Was Wonderful!!

I hope all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers are having a great weekend. Keep on keeping on everyone.

I know that the last several postings have begun with some rather deep issues for you to ponder, so Billi Pod decided to lighten up just a bit with ... 

You are sooooooooo welcome.

Last night’s MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA concert @ Avery Fisher Hall was wonderful, especially Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, performed by internationally renowned soloist Martin Frost.

Watching him perform certainly brought back happy memories of my years of playing the clarinet and serving as Solo Clarinet in the Summerlin Institute band. That was a long long time ago.

The closing piece was Beethoven’s Mass in C major and it was beautifully performed by the orchestra, vocal soloists and the Concert Chorale of New York.

As I posted yesterday, this was the final program in the MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL and I am so glad I was there. Oh, and my seat was excellent, in the rear orchestra.

When the concert was over I walked back to my apartment on West 42nd Street while listening to the final innings of the YANKEES/INDIANS game on my beloved but now ancient Walkman.

The Yankees got a terrific return outing from ace CC Sabathia. He went 7 1/3 innings, giving up only 1 run on only 4 hits and striking out 9.

We won 3-1. Nick Swisher drove in all 3 runs on a double and his 19th homer.

Tonight is game 2 of the series and it will be Hiroki Kuroda (12-8) for the Yankees vs. Justin Masterson (9-11) for Cleveland.

While we are talking about sports, let me pose this question to you==>is there anything more boring than NFL preseason games? I think not!

Billi Pod is really looking forward to tonight’s entertainment event, which is ...

7:30==>IF THERE IS I HAVEN’T FOUND IT YET - “In this dark comedy Jake Gyllenhaal, making his American stage debut, is a foul-mouth drifter who forms an unexpected bond with his unpopular niece, much to the consternation of her parents.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket).

Wow, Jake Gyllenhaal!! The show is in very early previews so there is no advance buzz other than the usual when someone is about to make a debut appearance. Looking forward to it.

Yesterday afternoon I went on an Upper Westside walking excursion with 2 of my AA buddies, X & Y (you know who you are) and that ultimately resulted in Billi Pod having his 5th consecutive 6-mile day. WOW!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.44  miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>246.20

Mileage remaining until  4/23/13==>832.80

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’s Doubleheader==>AWESOME!!

TGIF for all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

Let’s start with something for you to ponder ...

You know, this thought actually crossed my mind too.

Anyway ... moving on to sharing with you loyal and faithful readers and followers my report cards on my awesome Thursday doubleheader, beginning with my final Fringe Festival show, with the usual grading system ...

G==>for good;

B==>for bad; and

?==>for “I have no f**king clue.” 

NON-EQUITY - THE MUSICAL, about six actors living the life of a non-union actor in NYC==>G.

A totally  enjoyable musical romp with a terrific ensemble cast headed by Danielle Trzcinski, who is a performer and the book and lyrics writer.

The audience was really into the show and I left the theater with a big smile on my face.

As I posted yesterday, the show is playing down in The West Village. When it was over I walked back to my apartment on West 42nd Street. The weather was great and it felt good.

After showering and having my usual fruit and cheese plate, it was time to head over to the Theater District for my second show, which was ...

CHAPLIN, the musical that reveals the man behind the legend, from his rise from the slums of London to the heights of Hollywood as the beloved "little tramp" and beyond==>A

What a pleasant surprise. I really had no advance expectations about this show and ... I loved everything about it. My discounted ticket was in the rear orchestra. Excellent.

The cast is terrific, especially Rob McClure in the lead role. The full-house audience gave the cast a well-deserved roaring standing ovation at curtain call.

The show is in very early previews so I am confident it will get even better over time. It opens on September 10th.

I hope it can find an audience. 

Billi Pod says==>See it.

Tonight the Yankees begin a 3-game series in Cleveland against the Indians.

Our ace CC Sabathia (12-3), coming off the 15-day DL, will be on the mound for the Yankees vs. Corey Kubler (0-2) for the Indians.

The sport's sections of all 3 local papers are filled with articles about what a real threat the Rays are and how our starting rotation is so fragile. Yeah, I know ... and Billi Pod has a very bad feeling deep in his gut about the remainder of the season.

No, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... I am not being overly dramatic ... I really do have a bad feeling about what is happening in The Yankee Universe, I really do.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall - The program is: Mozart - Clarinet Concerto; and, Beethoven - Mass in C Major. (discounted TDF ticket).

This is the final program in this excellent summertime series.

When the concert is over I will, as usual, walk back to PHC while listening to the final innings of the Yankees/Cleveland game.

Yesterday was another pretty awesome walking day ... my 4th consecutive 6-mile day. Wow!! Gonna have to force myself to take a day off pretty soon, just to be safe ... I guess ... anyway ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.20  miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>239.76

Mileage remaining until  4/23/13==>839.24

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.”

Great Time With Dian And Marty

Good morning all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers.

I have posted something below for all of you guys out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and wilderness to think about ...

Yeah, I know ... 

Anyway ... moving on ...

Had a great time with My Lady Dian Crystal and Marty Kosarik at our favorite Fallopian restaurant, Meske, located on West 47th Street in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood. 

You know you have become a “regular” when the waitress says, before handing out the menu ... “are you all going to have the usual?” ... and, of course, we did.

Our Fallopian dinner was awesome. In response to several texts and FaceBook postings ... the picture shows the “usual” -  the Vegetarian Combo, which consists of, I think: split lentils; chickpeas; fresh cabbage; potatoes and carrots; and, collard greens served with the awesome bread known as injera.

Yes, I have to admit that Billi Pod is beginning to really like Fallopian food and ... he ... what? What did you just say Marty? OK, OK, calm down ... calm down ...  sorry folks I have been meaning to say Ethiopian food ... IT IS ETHIOPIAN FOOD!!

Satisfied now, Marty?

Anyhow ... after dinner we split and I spent about a hour just walking and wandering until it was time for my second entertainment event ...

DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, about a man and a woman, both lonely outcasts, who meet in a bar==>B+

The not likable characters and hard-to-believe story line is saved by incredible acting from Brandon Walker and Erin Cronican. 

Yes, the performance space is still uncomfortable but the stellar acting makes up for that, too. The show has a running time of 75 minutes.

See it. It runs through August 26th.

When the show was over I came back to PHC to watch the final innings of the YANKEES/WHITE SOX game. Barf!!

We lost 2-1 as the White Sox swept the 3-game series. Phil Hughes pitched a decent game but our bats were dead.

The loss cuts our lead over the surging Rays to 3-games.

The Yankees have the day off and then begin a 3-game series in Cleveland.

Today should be another interesting doubleheader for Billi Pod. Yes, it is a Thursday doubleheader, which is somewhat unusual in itself.

First will be a Fringe Festival show ...

2:00==>NON-EQUITY THE MUSICAL - “It’s 5:00am. Six non-union actors wake up for auditions, survival jobs, and dance calls that require them to be a dancing Kleenex box.” (Fringe Festival - discounted ticket)

This is playing in the West Village. When the show is over I intend to walk back to PHC.

Then for the evening will be a Broadway show ...

8:00==>CHAPLIN - “A musical that reveals the man behind the legend, from his rise from the slums of London to the heights of Hollywood as the beloved ‘little tramp’ and beyond.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This show is in very early previews and thus far there has been very little advance buzz about it.

So, I hope that you loyal and faithful readers and followers will agree that today sounds and looks like a very entertaining doubleheader.

Wow!! Yesterday was my 3rd consecutive 6-mile day. Not bad!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.30  miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>233.56

Mileage remaining until  4/23/13==>845.44

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.”

Great Concert Last Night & A Very Important Link.

It is a beautiful morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, so Billi Pod will post this and then head out for a walk-and-wander session, probably in the Upper Westside.

But first, I want all of you loyal and faithful readers and followers who are Harry Potter fans to give this some thought ...

Good question, right?

I am so happy to report that last night’s MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA concert @ Avery Fisher Hall was wonderful, especially the final number, Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 (“Jupiter”).

I had an excellent seat in the First Tier.

As planned, when the excellent concert was over I walked back to PHC while listening to the last innings of the YANKEES/WHITE SOX game on my now ancient Walkman.

Well, that game was anything but excellent. We lost 7-3.

Ivan Nova was terrible as he continues his downward spiral, giving up a grand slam to our former Boston F**kSox nemesis Kevin Youkillis. I still don’t understand why he was traded to the White Sox.

Nova is now 1-5 in his last 8 starts and may be headed to the minors when Sabathia returns.

Fortunately, the Rays lost, too, so our lead over them remains at 4-games.

Tonight the White Sox go for the sweep. It will be Phil Hughes (12-10) on the mound for the Yankees vs. Chris Sale (14-4) for the White Sox.

Today will be an interesting entertainment day ...

First I will meet up with my theater-buddies Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka What’s His Name or whatever, for an early dinner at their favorite Fallopian restaurant, Meske, located on 47th Street in my Hell’s Kitchen 'hood.

Yeah, I know, it will be my second time there in four days, but it was My Lady’s decision so I had no choice. 

Actually, I am beginning to like Fallopian food. Still don't understand what it is that I am eating, but ...

Then, for the evening is ... 

8:00==>DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA - “A man and a woman, both lonely outcasts and in desperate need of a change, meet in a bar. He is violent and possibly homicidal, she is tormented and possibly suicidal; each is transformed by the love of the other.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This is playing at the ATA Sargent Theater on West 54th Street, one of my least favorite Off Broadway venues.

Why, you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ... the space looks bad, feels bad, smells bad and usually has pretty bad shows. Why then am I going there tonight ... beats the Hell out of me ... I just am ... stay tuned.

As you loyal and faithful readers and followers know, The Republican National Convention will be next week, down in Tampa, FL. 

There is a really interesting article in this week’s VILLAGE VOICE that discusses, among other things, the leak of a document that reveals the secrets of the GOP’s coded language.

The article is called HOW TO SPEAK REPUBLICAN and I have provided a link below:

http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-08-22/news/how-to-speak-republican/

Folks out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks, and especially my Worker Bee friends, you need to take a moment and click on the link and read this article so you can better understanding what will be going on down there and why.

You are so very welcome.

Man, yesterday was another nice day for my walking adventure/challenge as I added a few more “extra” miles to my storage locker ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.53  miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>227.26

Mileage remaining until  4/23/13==>851.74

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.”