MODERN TERRORISM==>B+

Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

I hope that everyone had an AWESOME weekend because Billi Pod certainly did.

Why don’t we get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

MODERN TERRORISM: Or They Who Want to Kill Us and How We Learn to Love Them, about a rogue group of 21st Century terrorists and their darkly comic misadventures==>B+

Yes, despite my early misgivings this show does indeed have its “funny” moments but it gets darker and darker as the story line progresses. It is extremely thought-provoking and very well acted. 

It does take a bit too long to fully develop. I feel that it could use some trimming from its current 2:15, with one intermission, running time.

Three of my theater buddies, Michael, Dennis and Vill’um, all gave the show high marks. It is definitely worth seeing if you are willing to give it the time necessary for the story line to fully develop.

On the sports scene ...

The Yankees lost 5-4 to Oakland, snapping a 7-game winning streak but, thankfully, we still remain 1-game up on The Orioles, who lost to the FuckSox.

Tonight The Bronx Bombers begin a 7-game road trip, 3 games vs. Minnesota and 4 games vs. Toronto.

The first game is at 8:05 and it will be Andy Pettitte (4-3) on the mound for The Yankees vs. Liam Henricks (1-7) for the 64-89 Twins.

How ‘bout them Gators!! We have moved up to 11th place in the AP Top 25 poll.

Our next game is Saturday, October 6, in The Swamp against the #3 ranked LSU Tigers. Can we beat them? Yes we can and yes we will. 

Oh ... did you know that Billi Pod hates Tigers?

Moving on ...

Why no comments about The Emmys? Well ... it’s pretty simple==>Billi Pod does not watch prime-time TV, therefore, he had no interest whatsoever in the Emmys.

Moving on some more ...

Today is Monday so it will be the usual errands and stuff, then ...

In the late afternoon I will do a major walk and wander session in The Upper Westside (the weather is great) and then will catch a movie at The Lincoln Square theater, the just released ...

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER - “An introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world.”

This comedy/drama has received excellent reviews and right now it is on a very limited release schedule. It is showing at only two theaters in Manhattan.

Had a very productive walk and wander day yesterday ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.66  miles (or, 14,565 steps)

Mileage for last 7 days==>43.32 miles (or, 94,741 steps) - avg. 6.19 miles per day

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>436.48

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>642.52

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.”

OMFG!!==>Saturday’s Doubleheader Was Incredible!!

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

OMFG!! What an awesome day Saturday was for Billi Pod here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, so let’s get right to the details ...

First was the YANKEES/OAKLAND game at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

Our starter Ivan Nova just didn’t have it and that does not bode well for him for the post-season. The game went back and forth with both teams squandering opportunities to put the game away.

The game was tied 5-5 and went into extra innings. The scoreboard showed that The Orioles had defeated the FuckSox, so a win for us was crucial. Damn, those Birds just won’t go away.

In the top of the 13th inning The Athletics scored 4 runs to take a 9-5 lead and hordes of the remaining fans began streaming out of the stadium. Billi Pod opted to stay, largely because he was engaged in a running banter with a seatmate buddy over who was the biggest Yankee fan and also because his evening’s entertainment event wasn’t until 10:00pm.

Then ... OMFG!! ... The Bronx Bombers bats exploded and we scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 13th to tie the game again. Unbelievable.

In the bottom of the 14th inning we scored the winning run on a fielding error and won 10-9. OMFG!! Unbelievable. I estimate that there were about 5,000 fans still in the stadium.

The game took 5 hours and 43 minutes. It was 7:45 when I got back to the apartment, happy and starving.

During the game I was able to keep track of the GATORS/KENTUCKY game thanks to my iPhone’s ESPN app and frequent text messages from my grandson Chris Falletta aka Topher.

As you know, The Gators kicked butt, winning 38-0 and advancing to a 4-0 record. Nice!!

I headed out to my evening’s entertainment event a bit early so I could do a walk and wander session in The Village. Then it was time for my next event ... 

Billi Pod’s report card on ...

GAY CAMP, about a camp designed to “cure” homosexuality==>A.

This show was gut busting funny, extremely profane and very well acted. As might be expected, the audience was 95% male and 99.9% gay.

It was just a few minutes before midnight when I got back to PHC and I marveled at what a wonderful day it had been for me.

What about today?

Well, I will stay in to watch the 1:05pm YANKEES/OAKLAND game. 

On the mound for the Bronx Bombers will be Hiroki Kuroda (14-10) vs. A.J. Griffin (6-1) for the Athletics.

Then for the evening is ...

7:00==>MODERN TERRORISM: Or They Who Want to Kill Us and How We learn to Love Them - “A provocative satire about a rogue group of 21st Century terrorists and their darkly comic misadventures.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is playing at a theater in my ‘hood. I have to admit that I have serious misgivings about a “dark” comedy about terrorists.

The weather is great so I will also do some big time walking and wandering. 

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.11  miles (or, 13,742 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>429.82

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>649.18

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.”

Saturday==>Another Entertainment Doubleheader

Good morning all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers. I hope that you have an interesting Saturday planned because Billi Pod certainly does, the details of which are below.

First, let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

 HAVE I GOT A GIRL FOR YOU, about a gay recovering alcoholic who gets a job running the largest female escort agency on the East Coast==>A

This show, part of the Fringe Festival Encore Series, is totally enjoyable, funny, thought-provoking and extremely well acted. The large audience was really into the show.

The final performance is at 7:30pm Saturday night at The Players Theatre in The Village. It is worth seeing.

I am happy to report that last night the Yankees got an excellent outing from our ace CC Sabathia, who went 8 innings, giving up only 3 hits, no runs and striking out 11. He left the game with a 1-0 lead which, unfortunately, was blown by our closer Rafael Soriano. Damn. CC deserved better.

The Yankees won 2-1 in the bottom of the 10th inning on a walkoff homer from Russell Martin, maintaining our 1-game lead in the AL East

I got back to PHC from my show down in The Village in time to see the last two innings and the dramatic win.

Today is yet another entertainment doubleheader for Billi Pod ...

1:05==>YANKEES/OAKLAND @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built.

This is game 2 of the 3-game series and it will be Ivan Nova (12-7) on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Travis Blackley (5-3) for the Athletics.

Weather will not be a factor in this game.

A noon it will be GATORS vs. KENTUCKY @ The Swamp. It is being carried locally on the MSG network, but, unfortunately I will be out at Yankee Stadium. 

I will be following the game on my iPhone ESPN app with, hopefully, timely text updates from my grandson Chris aka Topher.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

10:00==>GAY CAMP - “‘Confused’ campers Josh and Anton are sent to be 'cured' at Camp Acceptance. Prepare for a deliciously evil headmaster, gay Twister, Rick Santorum surprises, and more innuendoes than you can shake a dildo at!” (discounted ticket)

This is part of the Fringe Festival Encore Series and is playing at a theater in The Village. It has received rave reviews and I am looking forward to seeing it.

My plans are to head down to the Village early for another walk and wander session.

Speaking of walking and wandering ... I  had a nice 3+ mile walk and wander session yesterday afternoon. Subwayed down to 23rd Street and then walked East on 24th Street over to lst Avenue and then back West on 25th Street to the subway station at 8th Avenue.

Well, gotta post this and get ready to head out to the stadium.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.28  miles (or, 13,742 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>424.71

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>654.29

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.”

Yes==>TGIF!!

It is a beautiful TGIF morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, so ...

Billi Pod says==>HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

The weather last night at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, was gloomy and chilly. Luckily, just before I left PHC for an early walk and wander session in ‘da Bronx I decided to put on a sweater. I opted not to also bring my windbreaker. Should have done it because the late innings in the stadium bordered on being uncomfortable.

This is a recurring problem for Billi Pod this time of the year. I have a tendency to under-dress at the beginning of Fall/Winter and then over-dress at the beginning of Spring/Summer.

Anyway, I did have a nice walk and wander session in ‘da Bronx before the game.

Phil Hughes struggled and lasted only 5 innings but he did get the win. We won 10-7 on more clutch hitting from Ichiro Suzuki and a grand-slam from the slumping Nick Swisher.

Ichiro has become a fan-favorite and he was red-hot against The Jays. He has brought a sense of energy and urgency to The Bronx Bomber lineup. Girardi has decided to make him a regular starter instead of platooning him with the largely ineffective Andruw Jones. Good decision Joe.

The Bombers are 8-2 in the last 10 games, have a 5-game winning streak, lead the AL East by 1-game and have 13 games remaining in the regular season.

Tonight is the first of 3 games with the Oakland Athletics. Our ace CC Sabathia (13-6) will be on the mound vs. Jarrod Parker (11-8) for Oakland.

Hopefully CC will return to his dominant persona because we need him to be our ACE, not just another starter.

Moving on ...

I will definitely take advantage of the great weather today and do an extended walk and wander session to put some additional miles in my storage locker. At the moment I am not sure where but it will probably be down in The Village.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

7:30==>HAVE I GOT A GIRL FOR YOU - “How does a newly sober gay musical theatre actor get his life on track? By getting a job running the largest female escort agency on the East Coast of course!” (discounted ticket)

This is part of the Fringe Festival Encore Series.

It is playing at a theater down in SoHo so I know I will do a brief walk and wander session there before the show.

In response to several texts and emails asking how I accumulate walking mileage when I am not on a specific walk and wander session ... well ... this is how ...

I have developed a mindset that lets me take the long way between point A and point B, rather than the most efficient way. For example, my ‘hood grocery store is just across the street and a 1/2 block down from my apartment building, but now I make the trip there at least a 1 mile roundtrip. The same holds true with going to the theater at any venue in my ‘hood.

At the end of the day it all adds up and allows me to build up the mileage in my storage locker in preparation for the bad weather anticipated in December, January and February.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.77  miles (or, 14,801 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>418.43

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>660.57

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.”

Wednesday==>AWESOME Entertainment Doubleheader!!

Wow!! Another AWESOME entertainment doubleheader yesterday for Billi Pod in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

The weather yesterday was terrific. I headed out to Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, early in order to do a bit of a walk and wander session in ‘da Bronx. 

The game was nice too. I would estimate that there were about 15,000 in attendance for this makeup game and that felt just a bit weird. The picture was taken 10 minutes before the first pitch.

We got an excellent outing from Andy Pettitte who was making his first start since coming off the DL. He was on a 75 pitch limit and went 5 innings, giving up 0 runs on 4 hits and striking out 4. 

Yes==>Andy is back, Thank God!

The Yankees won 4-2 on the bat of Ichiro Suzuki who had 3 hits, scored 2 runs and made a game-saving defensive play.

In the second game @ 7:05 Ichiro was still on fire, getting 4 hits and stealing 4 bases, leading the Yankees to a nail-biting 2-1 win to remain in first place in the AL East.

Rafael Soriano got saves in both games.

Damn - those pesky Orioles just won’t go away. They won yet another extra inning game.

When the makeup game was over I got off the subway at the Columbus Circle station and walked back to the apartment. This, combined with the session in 'da Bronx, gave me 3.45 miles. Nice.

Unfortunately, I was unable to connect with my theater friends for an early dinner.

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

IF YOU START A FIRE [BE PREPARED TO BURN], the Internet sex comedy for the Recession Generation==>B.

Excellent acting from Lenny Platt and Spencer Rose, and staging, saves what is a mostly unbelievable story line. The final scene is kinda creepy and I thought it detracted from the overall believability of the plot.

The small theater was sold-out.

It runs through Sunday and is worth seeing.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ... 

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

This is the final game of the 3-game series. On the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be Phil Hughes (15-12) vs. Aaron Laffey (3-5) for the Jays.

It is a nice day so I will post this and then do a major walk and wander session, probably down in The Village.

With yesterday’s mileage, 6.54 miles, I am happy to report that I have now accomplished 38% of my 1,079 mile goal/challenge.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.54  miles (or, 14,307 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>411.66

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>667.34 

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.”