The Day After Christmas

Wednesday==>I hope that Christmas Day was totally AWESOME for each and everyone of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

I am pleased to report that it was a great day here in balmy Orlando, in The Sunshine State. As I have previously posted, our family plans were to delay our present exchange until today ... so ... yesterday for me and my son Bill III aka The Bill was basically a laid-back and relaxing day. I was able to have a major walk and wander session in his 'hood and that was very nice. The weather was great, in the mid-70s.

Youngest grandson, Chris Falletta aka Topher, arrived in the early evening, then, as planned, we headed out for our Christmas Day dinner. We were joined by The Bill’s longtime golfing buddy, Kenny.

Where did we eat on Christmas Night, I know many of you are asking your inner selves? Well, inner selves, again as planned, we had dinner at a Golden Corral not too far from where The Bill lives.

Wait a minute ... I know what some of you are thinking ... Golden Corral==>Christmas Dinner ... WTF?

Well, just calm down. The Golden Corral we went to is very upscale, with unlimited buffet choices: steak, roast beef, turkey, chicken, fish, salads, sides, etc. etc. etc. and tremendous deserts. To say that the four of us stuffed ourselves is putting it mildly.

Oh, in the picture it is==>The Bill, Topher, and Kenny.

Bottom line==>we had a great time.

Now ... moving on to today ...

As I posted yesterday ... in the late afternoon oldest grandson, Alex Falletta aka Army Guy, his wife, Gina, and their darling daughter, Saylor, who turns 2 on January 7th, 2014, and Topher’s girlfriend, Ashley Goebel, will arrive. We will do our gift exchanging and then dinner will be an awesome tenderloin to be prepared by The Bill.

This will be a great way to complete my Christmas In Orlando Adventure.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... this brief posting pretty much brings you up-to-date ... so ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.42 miles (or, 11,859 steps)

Total mileage since 1/1/13==>1,352.77 miles (average 3.77 miles per day)

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.”

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ORLANDO, FL.

Tuesday==>MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers, from your favorite blogger who is now in Orlando, FL, The Sunshine State. May each and everyone have a wonderful time with family and friends on this most special of days.

I am happy to report that the flight down went well. We left LGA on time. The plane was packed with lots of young children, of course. We arrived in Orlando basically on time. 

My son Bill III aka The Bill picked me up and we came to his nice urban house, settled in and basically just chilled for the rest of the day/evening.

Today, Christmas Day, we will eat out with one of The Bill’s friends and maybe youngest grandson Chris Falletta aka Topher.

On Thursday the 26th, oldest grandson, Alex Falletta aka Army Guy, his wife, Gina, their darling daughter, Saylor, who turns 2 on January 7th, 2014, Chris and maybe his girlfriend, Ashley Goebel, will arrive in late afternoon. We will have our gift exchanging and then dinner will be an awesome tenderloin prepared by The Bill.

Really looking forward to being with everyone.

As I have previously posted, I will return to The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World on Friday the 27th.

OK, everyone, have calls to make and things to do ... so ... again ...

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.10 miles (or, 6,773 steps)

Total mileage since 1/1/13==>1,347.35 miles (average 3.76 miles per day)

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.”

A Super Sunday In The Big Apple

Monday==>WOW!! In Billi Pod’s head the countdown to Christmas Day has finally begun ... so ... today and tonight will be spent in final preparation(s) for tomorrow morning’s early Delta flight down to Orlando to spend Christmas with my son Bill III aka The Bill.

I am totally charged about being with him and then Chris, Alex, Gina and Saylor Falletta on the 26th. That will actually be our “exchange-gifts” day, followed by dinner prepared by The Bill. Awesome!!

Your favorite blogger will try to make timely postings.

I will return to The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, on Friday evening.

Now ... what about yesterday?

Well, in early afternoon, as planned, I met up with Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever, in the lobby of a ritzy apartment building called The Ritz on West 48th Street. Marty had been staying there with some friends as he dealt with some serious health issues.

Our plans were to leisurely walk up to Zabar’s on West 80th Street and, assuming he was feeling OK, then go with Marty further uptown to his apartment on West 147th Street. If he wasn’t feeling OK, then it would be back to 48th Street for him.

At around 1:30pm out we went and the weather was great. Lots of tourists and stuff. We walked up 8th Avenue to Columbus Circle and then continued northward on Broadway.

Along the way we/they stopped at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and, finally, Zabar’s @ Broadway and 80th Street. Basically Marty and Dian bought lots of “stuff” and I stayed outside just people watching.

When they finished their shopping it was determined that Marty felt well enough to head on up to his apartment on West 147th Street.

At this point we split, with Dian continuing on her walk and wander session and Marty and I heading North on the subway. 

Marty’s apartment is on the 4th floor, no elevator, so we huffed and puffed upward carrying many bags filled with tons and tons of “stuff.”

The important thing was==>mission accomplished.

Marty was happy to be home and Dian and I were happy we were able to be there to help him.

It was around 4:30pm when I got back to PHC. Honestly, I felt just a bit tired and I had logged in almost 5 miles. Had the usual pre-theater snack, fruit and cheese plate, and then it was time to head out for my entertainment event for the evening ...

MY BIG GAY ITALIAN FUNERAL, after Anthony's father passes away, old family members, who haven't been on the best of terms for over a decade, are reunited at a funeral home for the wake==>A

The show is irreverent, profane, and in-your-face funny. It was just what your favorite blogger was in the mood for. It attacks stereotypes - gay, Italian, and family head on.

It has a great ensemble cast. The almost full house seemed to be really enjoying the show.

It is playing in repertory with MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING at St. Luke’s Theatre on West 46th Street, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and runs through March 30, 2014.

Billi Pod says==>if you are in the need of a good laugh, then see this show.

In closing==>I forgot to comment on Saturday’s SNL show, hosted by Jimmy Fallon and featuring Justin Timberlake, with guest appearances from Sir Paul McCartney and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. My loyal and faithful readers and followers, IMHO this was one of the B*E*S*T SNL shows in years. It was totally funny.

OK ... gotta post this and then get started on my travel stuff ...

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Oh, from this point on the mileage stats will be for the year-to-date.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.67 miles (or, 14,560 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>24.75 miles (average 3.56 miles per day)

Total mileage since 1/1/13==>1,342.47 miles (average 3.77 miles per day)

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.”

MACHINAL==>A-

Sunday==>At 10:30am here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, it is 69º, with overcast skies and a steady breeze. Where did Winter go?

Anyway ... gotta get this posting done because at 1:00pm I am meeting up with my friends Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever for a walk and wander session with Zabar’s at Broadway and West 81st Street our destination.

Why Zabar’s? Honestly, I haven’t a clue. I wasn’t given a voice in any of the details and my role, as usual, will be simply to provide humor and liveliness during the time we are together.

So .. let’s move on with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Broadway show ...

MACHINAL, inspired by the infamous 1927 murder trial of Ruth Snyder, this gripping drama tracks the life of a desperate young woman destroyed by the world of money, men and machines==>A-

The cast and acting is incredible, lead by the extremely talented Rebecca Hall.

The sets and staging are totally amazing, utilizing a massive turntable for multiple swift-changing scenes.

Now, the story line, set in the late 1920s, is very very troubling since it involves an emotionally disturbed young woman and cold-blooded murder, for which she is found guilty and sentenced to die in the electric chair.

In today’s world she would have been found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity, without question.

This was the third preview performance and it will only get better.

My friends Dian Crystal, Marty Kosarik, Raellen Foremen, Michael Pederson and Dennis Dohman were also at the performance and they each gave the show high grades.

As I said above, the show is in early previews and it opens on January 16, 2014, has a running time of 1:40, without intermission, is playing at The American Airlines Theatre on West 42nd Street and runs through March 2, 2014.

Billi Pod says==>See this show!!

Moving on ...

After Dian, Marty and moi finish our walk and wander session I will come back to PHC, have my usual pre-theater snack, fruit and cheese plate, and then it will be a funny Off Broadway show ...

 7:00==>MY BIG GAY ITALIAN FUNERAL - “After Anthony's father passes away, family members, who haven’t been on the best of terms for over a decade, are reunited at a funeral home for the wake.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This well-reviewed comedy is playing in repertory with MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING at St. Luke’s Theatre on West 46th Street, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and runs through March 30, 2014.

OK, everyone ... time to post this and then begin my walk and wander session with Dian and Marty ... so ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.13 miles (or, 4,675 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>579.35 miles (average 3.33 miles per day)

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.”

We Scored Tickets For The Taping Of REGULAR SINGING

Saturday==>Wow! What a change in the weather up here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Yes ... at 11:30am it is a balmy and bright 56º and tomorrow’s high temperature is forecast to be 66º. Now, this is just the kind of “Winter” that Billi Pod loves.

And ... today, Saturday, is the Winter Solstice 2013, the shortest daylight period and the longest night of the year. Up here sunset will occur at 4:30pm.

Moving on ...

I am happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that yesterday your favorite blogger, under the supervision of Dian Crystal aka My Lady, was able to score a ticket to the taping of the acclaimed and recently closed Off Broadway drama REGULAR SINGING at the Public Theatre downtown in The Lower Eastside.

I got to the theatre at 12:15pm. The show was scheduled to start around 2:00pm. We had standby tickets.

I won’t bore you with all of the hoops we had to jump through before we were actually able to enter the theatre. Suffice it to say that the Public Theatre staff had done a woefully inadequate job in planning how to handle everything.

Under Dian’s direction I was able to score an excellent seat in the center section, 3rd row, right next to one of the cameras. It was the best seat I had for the 4 show series. Thank you, My Lady!!

Now about the show ... REGULAR SINGING, the final death-haunted chapter in the touching tetralogy involving the liberal Apple family in upstate New York on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK==>B+

The acting was excellent but the story line, dealing with death and old-age, was kinda depressing to me. Sorry, but that is just how I felt when the show was over.

As with the other 3 shows in the series, I have a quibble about the staging that has actors delivering major dialogue with their backs to at least 1/3 of the audience.

But ... the bottom line is that I am glad that I finally got a chance to see the show.

It was about 4:30pm when I got back to the warm and cozy confines of PHC. Nothing of any major interest showed up on my ticket services so your favorite blogger opted to stay in ... and ... gasp ... watch TV.

Now ... now ... calm down out there in cyberspace ... there was a purpose for your favorite blogger to stay in on a Friday night here in The Big Apple ... and ... here it is ...

As you know, ANCHORMAN 2: The Legend Continues, starring Will Farrell, just opened and this will be, of course, a must-see for Billi Pod. 

Well ... last night ... on TBS was the original movie, ANCHORMAN: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, followed by another funny Ferrell movie, BLADES OF GLORY, starring Farrell and Jon Heder. So ... I settled in and watched both movies.

It was a lot of fun, it really was, even with the commercial breaks. I can’t remember when the last time was that I intentionally stayed in to watch a movie on TV.

Anyway ... there you have it my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... now ... let’s move on to today ...

8:00==>MACHINAL - “Inspired by the infamous 1927 murder trial of Ruth Snyder, this gripping drama tracks the life of a desperate young woman destroyed by the world of money, men and machines.” (Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is in very early previews. It opens on January 16, 2014, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, is playing at The American Airlines Theatre on West 42nd Street and runs through March 2, 2014.

I have just learned that my theater-buddies Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever have tickets to the same performance. Nice!!

If you haven’t done so yet ... make sure you check out the reposting of “Condom on the Sleeve” ... 

http://www.wanorrisjr.blogspot.com/2013/12/condom-on-sleeve-nyc-122295.html

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.73 miles (or, 5,979 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>577.22 miles (average 3.34 miles per day)

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.”

Condom on the Sleeve - NYC 12/22/95

Several of my loyal and faithful readers and followers have again emailed and texted about the classic and true “Condom on the Sleeve” story back from the Winter of 1995, my first December in the Big Apple, following my retirement on December 31, 1994, so ... here it is again in its original form, totally unedited, with no revisions:

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

Date: Fri, Dec 22, 1995 11:53 PM EST

From: Wanjr

To: Email list

Subj: December 22 - Only in the Big Apple

Fellow cyberpersons:

This is just too good to wait until the newsletter. It just happened to me.

Picture this - coming home from the theater at about 10:45pm and riding the E train to the Lexington Avenue station. It is very crowded with a lot of shoppers and a lot of women. At the station there is a long escalator ride up to the exit and transfer platform, I would guess it to be about 3 stories. People are crowded onto the escalator and no one is racing up the steps due to the crowded conditions.

To my left, dressed to the nines in a very expensive looking fur, is everyone's matronly Grandmother. Immediately in front of us is a very very blond young man of about 20, I would guess. Very Nordic looking and rather tall. He has a large backpack and a very large duffel bag which he puts down beside him. About 1/3 of the way up, he bends down very awkwardly and opens the duffel bag, reaches in and starts to pull out a scarf, which apparently is stuck on something. He gives it a tug and when he does, out fly two condom packages.

One of the condoms lands at my feet. The other one lands on and sticks to the right sleeve of Grandmother, who does not appear to be aware of what happened because she is staring straight ahead with that far away look only New Yorkers can get. The kid turns ten thousand shades of red, as only blonds can do. I reach down and pick up the package at my feet and hand it to him with a smile but without saying a word. He mumbles something. Grandmother, however, is still staring straight ahead, with the condom on her sleeve, so the kid just turns back around facing up the escalator.

Nothing is said and I decide that silence on my part is the better part of valor. When we get about 20 feet from the top, Grandmother reaches over with her left hand and takes the condom off of her right sleeve. She holds it in her left hand and taps the kid on the shoulder. He jumps a foot. Just before we get off, I hear her say, with the sweetest Grandmotherly smile: "You forgot this one young man, you may need it in this city." She gets off the escalator and walks to the exit without looking back, the kid heads to the transfer platform, still red in the face, and I can hardly walk because I am laughing so hard.

Only in New York, folks, only in New York.

Bill

******************************
Yep, its been 18 years but it still makes me smile.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Billi Pod

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”