Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead - Baseball - Updates

Monday==>This posting has been delayed because your favorite Sunshine State blogger has been dutifully working on his weekly errands and chores list.

Yep, remember that Monday is Billi Pod’s errands and chores day.

I did get in a brief walking session this morning, logging in 2.62 miles, that will, hopefully, get me back on track to have my daily early morning walk and wander routine.

So ... why don’t we just move on to the details of Billi Pod’s entertainment event for this evening ...

7:30pm==>DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD - “This ‘unauthorized parody’ imagines the characters from Charles M. Schulz’s beloved Peanuts’ characters 10 years later as teenagers. But, this is no comic strip as the gang grapples with teenage realities of drug use, suicide, eating disorders, bullying, rebellion, and sexual identity, all wrapped in skewered, funny, and poignant twists.”

This is the final performance of this very well reviewed show that is directed by my friend David Lee. It is playing at the Footlight Theatre on Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando.

I will Uber to and from the show. 

When I get back to the apartment I will watch baseball, Little League World Series and the Yankees for the rest of the evening.

The Yankees lost yesterday to the Indians by a score of 4-3 and in the process dropped to second place in the AL East. We also lost our pitcher CC Sabathia to the DL for problems with his right knee. Bummer!!

Tonight at 7:05pm from Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, will be the first game of a 3-game series with the Houston Astros.

On the mound for the Yankees (68-55) will be Nathan Eovaldi (13-2) vs. Scott Feldman (5-5) for the AL West leading Astros (69-56).

In closing ... the weekly walking stats below are the lowest for 2015 and that concerns me a lot. As I wrote above, hopefully, I can rebound in the upcoming days.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers, you are now up-to-date.

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.88 miles (or, 4,115 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>19.70 miles (average 2.81 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2015==>959.32 miles (average 4.08 miles per day)

Billi Pod

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

Dinner With Randy Haag - Some Baseball - Thank You

Sunday==>We will get today’s posting started with a report on last night’s AWESOME dinner at Randy Haag’s house in Orlando. Yeah, The Bill and I had a great time.

In the picture, left to right, it is Randy, The Bill and moi.

For your further information ... Randy is Warehouse Manager for Cutting Edge Carpets, in Orlando and Jacksonville.

Randy grilled steaks that were totally delicious, with sides of baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and ... gasp ... asparagus.

Yes, that’s right ... asparagus ... WTF? Didn’t he know that no real guy will ever voluntarily eat asparagus? I thought, as a guest, I had no choice so I did eat a couple ... but ... of, course, The Bill adamantly declined.

I have to admit to something kinda scary that happened to me just as dinner was getting underway. What is it, I know you are all anxiously asking your inner selves?

Well ... inner selves ... what happened is that I got something lodged in my throat that took awhile to clear out. Not pleasant and, frankly, kinda embarrassing. Oh well ...

We three just had a great time together, joking, talking about old times etc. etc. and stuffing ourselves with great food.

So ... Randy==>Thank You. You were a great chef and host.

On the way back to the apartment we stopped by the Krispy Kreme to pick up the usual order of chocolate glazed donuts.

Moving on ...

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, the bulk of yesterday was spent in the cool and comfortable confines of my new apartment, in front of my 42” flat screen TV watching baseball. Yeah, it was the Little League World Series and also the Yankees.

The Yankees beat the Indians 6-2 behind an excellent outing from rookie pitcher Luis Severino, who posted his first MLB win.

Before the game there was a very emotional ceremony involving Jorge Posada. His No. 20 was retired and his plaque was enshrined in Monument Park. The other members of the “Core Four,” Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter were present for the ceremony.

Before today’s game Andy Pettitte will be honored with the same ceremony.

The final game of the 4-game series is at 1:05pm. 

On the mound for the Yankees (68-54) will be the still struggling CC Sabathia (4-9) vs. Trevor Bauer (9-10) for the Indians (57-65).

So ... I am sure it will come as no surprise to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that your favorite Sunshine State blogger intends to stay in to watch baseball for the afternoon and evening.

In closing==>Thanks to everyone for the positive emails, texts, posts and calls ... they are so meaningful as, together, we plan to ...

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.28 miles (or, 7,176 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>948.92 miles (average 4.09 miles per day)

Billi Pod

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

Medical Update - The Yankees - Billi Pod’s Thoughts

Saturday==>We will begin today’s posting with an update on your favorite blogger’s appointment yesterday with his urologist, Thomas Cangiano, at his office up in Altamonte Springs.

I Ubered up to his office for my 9:30am appointment. Maddeningly, I didn’t get to see him until almost 11:00am. He was very apologetic about the delay.

He had the results of the renal scan done on Wednesday the 19th, which he explained to me in detail.

In summary==>not good news because my right kidney is only 15% functional due to blockage from infected lymph nodes and the enlarged prostate. The left kidney is fine.

I was given the choice ... in his words ... save it or let it die?

No fucking way was I gonna let a critical organ die ... so ... I said let’s try to save it.

This will be done in a couple of weeks as an outpatient procedure performed at a hospital in Altamonte Springs. I will be sedated and then a tube will be inserted into my urethra and the doctor will attempt to free the vessel from the clutches of the infected node(s) and enlarged prostate. 

So ... that is the update.

When I got back to the apartment, again via Uber, I felt totally emotionally drained for some reason. I wasn’t in the mood to post on this blog. I lay down on the couch and slept for almost 2 hours. Yep, Billi Pod napped for almost 2 hours. WTF?

Was awakened by the sound of the usual afternoon thunderstorm.

The remainder of the day and evening was spent in front of my 42” flat screen watching baseball ... first the Little League World Series ... and then ...

The Yankees/Cleveland game from Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, the second game of the 4-game series.

Well, the Yankees lost 7-3 in a game they never were really in because the Indians pitcher, Carlos Carrasco, and the bullpen basically shut down our bats. 

We now lead Toronto by only a half game.

This afternoon at 1:05pm is the 3rd game. On the mound for the Yankees (67-54) will be rookie Luis Severino (0-2) vs. Danny Salazar (11-6) for the Indians (57-64). 

Billi Pod will, of course, remain in the cool and comfortable confines of his apartment to watch the game.

Then, around 6:00pm, my son, Bill III aka The Bill, will pick me up and we will head over to Randy Haag’s house for grilled steaks and lots of other stuff. Really looking forward to this.

In closing ... some random thoughts and comments on what is happening inside Billi Pod's head, at the moment ... 

Well, first of all I have had to admit to my inner self that I am indeed growing old. 

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, this is really difficult for someone with the Peter Pan Syndrome, coupled with a mighty denial system. But==>81 is old. There, I’ve said it.

When I force myself to look into the mirror in the bathroom after I get out of the shower I see this scrawny skeleton of a person staring me back. Who the fuck is that?

This person: is down to 148 lbs; has prostate cancer that has metastasized; is in danger of losing a kidney; has A-Fib; has virtually lost his vision in his left eye; and, his hearing is so bad that he has hearing aids in both ears.

Then ... Thank You Higher Power ... my sanity kicks in and I tell myself ... FUCK THIS ... you are alive ... mobile ... energetic ... mentally alert ... and supported by family and friends ... so ... together let’s ...

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

and move on, Billi Pod ... just keep moving on ... one day at a time!

So==>HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Thursday’s mileage==>2.54 miles (or, 5,551 steps)

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.70 miles (or, 5,917 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>948.92 miles (average 4.10 miles per day)

Billi Pod

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

Updates - Yet Another Scan - Ricki and the Flash - Heathers the Musical

Thursday==>It is yet another hot and humid afternoon here in Winter Park in the Sunshine State. Yep, at 1:30pm it is 90º with the “feels like” index up to 103º. And, of course, we have rain in the forecast for the afternoon and into the evening.

All of this means that your favorite blogger has decided he will remain in the cool and comfortable confines of his new apartment to watch baseball ... oh yes ... baseball ... first, during the afternoon, will be the Little League World Series and then, for the evening, it will be ... tada ...

7:05pm==>YANKEES vs. CLEVELAND from Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, in the first game of a 4-game series.

On the mound for the Yankees (67-52) will be Ivan Nova (5-4) vs. Josh Tomlin (0-1) for the Indians (55-64).

Last night the Yankees won a thriller over the Twins, 4-3, on two 2-run HRs from rookie first baseman Greg Bird. AWESOME!! 

We now lead the AL East by 2 games over Toronto.

Now, moving on ... or perhaps ... backward ...

I didn’t post yesterday because during the afternoon I had yet another scan at Winter Park Memorial Hospital. This time it was a NM Renal Scan of my pelvic area and it was very uncomfortable, to put it mildly.

I was first injected with a radioactive substance for the first part of the scan that took about 30 minutes. Then I was injected with a diuretic that ultimately caused me to have to piss about every 15 minutes. The second part also took 30 minutes.

I Ubered to and from the hospital. On the ride back to the apartment I had to go so badly that the driver pulled off the street into a parking lot so I would piss behind a tree. Luckily I wasn’t arrested. Totally gross!!

I wasn’t in the best of spirits when I finally got back to the apartment. I certainly wasn’t in the mood to work on this blog.

I considered canceling my entertainment plans for the evening, a movie with Dottie Harris and my friend Carol Powella Barnes, but, luckily the effects of the diuretic were diminishing ... so ... 

Dottie, Carol and I saw this movie at the Regal, in Winter Park Village ...

7:10pm==>RICKI AND THE FLASH - “Three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep stars as Ricki, a guitar heroine who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom, but is now returning home to make things right with her family.”

We totally enjoyed this show. 

Meryl Streep does an excellent job singing and playing the guitar and conveying the angst from making certain choices in the early part of her life/career. The role of Ricki's suicidal daughter is played by Streep’s real-life daughter, Mamie Gummer, and she is also excellent.

Real rock star Rick Springfield is outstanding as Ricki’s band-mate and love interest.

The storyline is believable and very emotionally involving. It is funny and also poignant.

So ... Billi Pod says==>worth seeing ... and ... guys ... it ain’t a chick-flick, so don’t be worried.

PS: I only had to go twice during the show.

Moving on ...

I now want to give you loyal and faithful readers and followers Billi Pod’s report card on the musical he saw on Tuesday evening ...

HEATHERS, the musical about an unhappy teenager, Veronica, and her rebellious new boyfriend, J.D., who team up to rid their school of its most popular, cruelest and toxic students, The Heathers==>A

This was a totally enjoyable show and it is extremely well-acted by a young cast, headed by Nicole Visco as Veronica and Thomas Sanders as her murderous boyfriend J.D.

I had not seen the movie so it was all “new” to me. It is rude, profane, vulgar and very much in-your-face funny.

I saw a production of it in NYC back on April 8, 2014 and gave it an A.

The house was about 90% full and we were very much into the show, giving the cast a well-earned standing ovation at curtain call.

This show has received excellent reviews, is directed by my friend Kenny Howard, has a running time of 1:40, including intermission, is playing at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and runs through August 23rd.

Billi Pod says==>If you are in the mood for something funny and profane, then this is the show for you, if not ... then stay far far away.

I Ubered to and from the show. The cost for the round trip from Winter Park to Orlando and back was $15.30.

Moving on some more ...

Actually, I haven’t anything else to report other than I still haven’t been in the mood for my usual early morning walk and wander session. Hopefully, I will get back into the proper rhythm soon.

So ... my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... you are now up-to-date ... so ... let's ... 

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Tuesday’s mileage==>2.52 miles (or, 5,520 steps)

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.24 miles (or, 7,080 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>948.92 miles (average 4.11 miles per day)

Billi Pod

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

Blah Days/Pity Pot - Lunch with Jon Johnson - A WTF Moment - Schedule for the Next 9 Days.

Tuesday==>Good morning my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

Yes, your favorite Sunshine State blogger is alive, but in all honesty, he has to admit that the failure to timely post since Saturday is a result of just plain feeling blah and kinda sitting on the dreaded pity pot.

Not only did I fail to post, I also recorded the lowest walking mileage of 2015:

Saturday==>1.30 miles

Sunday==>1.67 miles

Not good.

This was largely due to my unwillingness to do my usual early morning walk and wander session, which had become pretty much of a routine. I just didn't feel mentally or physically into it.

On a positive note, I did have the usual great Sunday dinner at Outback Steakhouse on Aloma Avenue with my son Bill III aka The Bill.

When I woke up Monday, at the usual time, I again wasn’t in the mood for a morning walk and wander session, so I just walked over to the Publix and got the usual morning papers: The New York Times, The New York Post and The Orlando Sentinel.

I didn’t have breakfast because I had fasting bloodwork scheduled for the morning at 10:45am at Quest Diagnostics in Orlando. I didn’t have time to read all of the papers.

I Ubered to and from Quest. Everything went OK.

When I got back to the apartment I met up with my long time friend and fraternity brother Jon Johnson and we had a terrific lunch at the trendy Park Plaza Gardens on Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park.

I was in somewhat better spirits when Jon dropped me off at the apartment.

I settled in to finish reading the papers and this is when I had one of those WTF moments, as I read my daily horoscope ... and here it is, unedited ...

Taurus (April 21- May 21) - “You will be put to the test this week but you will, of course, pass with flying colors. No matter how big the challenge you are big enough to meet it. You were born to lead and you were born to succeed and you will do both brilliantly.”

WTF!!

I could actually feel the positive vibes returning to my body ... not joking ... I could. Yes, I could also feel the negativity ebbing away too.

I then spent the rest of the day doing my errands and chores list and then setting up a pretty awesome and diverse schedule for the upcoming 9 days.

For the evening I stayed in the cool and comfortable confines of my apartment to watch ...

7:10pm==>YANKEES vs. TWINS @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, in game one of the 3-game series.

Chase Headley hit a bases-loaded grounder in the bottom of the 10th inning, driving home the winning run in a wild 8-7 victory. Our starter, Bryan Mitchell, was hit in the face by a line drive in the second inning, leaving the game with a nasal fracture.

We now lead the AL East by 1-game over Toronto.

A very positive way to end the day.

When I woke up this morning I still wasn't in the mood for the usual walk and wander session, but I knew that I had to post on this blog ... 

So ... I will now share with you my schedule for the upcoming 9 days ...

Tuesday - 7:30pm=>HEATHERS THE MUSICAL - “Based on the classic 1989 film, Westerberg High is ruled by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather, and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place -six feet under.”

This show has received excellent reviews, is directed by my friend Kenny Howard, is playing at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and runs through August 23rd.

Wednesday - 1:30pm==>NM Renal Scan at Winter Park Memorial Hospital.

7:10pm==>RICKI AND THE FLASH - “Three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep stars as Ricki, a guitar heroine who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom, but is now returning home to make things right with her family.”

I will be seeing this movie with Dottie Harris. It is playing at the Regal Complex in Winter Park Village, just across the street from my apartment.

Thursday - 7:05pm==>YANKEES/CLEVELAND, from Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, in game one of the 4-game series.

Friday - 9:30am - appointment with my urologist, Thomas Cangiano.

7:05pm==>YANKEES/CLEVELAND

Saturday - early evening==>dinner at Randy Haag’s house, with The Bill.

Sunday - 1:05pm==>YANKEES/CLEVELAND

Monday - August 24th==>DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD - “This ‘unauthorized parody’ imagines the characters from Charles M. Schulz’s beloved Peanuts’ characters 10 years later as teenagers. But this is no comic strip as The gang grapples with teenage realities of drug use, suicide, eating disorders, bullying, rebellion, and sexual identity.”

This very well reviewed show is directed by my friend David Lee, is playing at the  Footlight Theatre on Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, and the remaining performances are: 8/22 & 8/24 @ 7:30pm.

Tuesday - 7:05pm==>YANKEES/HOUSTON from Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, in game 2 of the 3-game series.

Wednesday - 3:15pm==>appointment with my oncologist, Raul Castillo, who is part of the Cancer Institute of Florida, Florida Hospital Medical Group, at his office in Altamonte Springs.

Bill will be with me for this appointment as we, hopefully, develop a plan to KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, there you have it. 

Thanks for your patience, love and understanding.

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Saturday’s mileage==>1.30 miles (or, 2,852 steps)

Sunday’s mileage==>1.67 miles (or, 3,663 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>23.90 miles (average 3.41 miles per day)

Monday’s mileage==>3.54 miles (or, 7,746 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>943.16 miles (average 4.12 miles per day)

Billi Pod

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