WELCOME TO OUR NEW HOME!

[dredwak]

how about...i dont know...maybe a topic called...SWITZERLAND...nah...too simple...

[cklaurence]

"Switzerland" would be a great topic name for a place for newbies to 'sign in' when they first arrive. Perhaps, something like: 'SWITZERLAND NEWBIES, START HERE' - or STOP HERE IF YOU'RE NEW... Then we can have a directory there? PEACE! OH PEACE--WHERE ARE YOU??? Anyone else have thoughts on this?

[dredwak]

i vote...just plain...old...SWITZERLAND...nothing new...just a place where we can all get together...and cry about there not being football for 6 months...

[Baglady]

i vote...just plain...old...SWITZERLAND...nothing new...just a place where we can all get together...and cry about there not being football for 6 months...

dred, I love the idea of a simple 'Switzerland' topic and keep it on top of the others. Thinking that could be the main topic / thread - kind of like the old Swiss where we could all be at the same 'place' at the same time w/ out trying to chase each other from topic to topic. Especially now, since Hawk fans (unless there's any NE, Jets, ATL, GB, CHI, PITT, BAL fans around) have the only team still playing....

[cklaurence]

Er, you are aware that all that we see where your avatar should be is a small red X, aren't you, ck?

All I see is the little red X as well for CK's avatar... weird.

I somehow lost my Av when I tried to change my picture (away from my game day face, as my team will not be back until next year (at the very least) and I am considering abandoning football anyway...

[cklaurence]

So it is agreed, just plain old SWITZERLAND. I'll speak to Peace and see if we can get it to be on the top all the time, and maybe get a note up at sign-in telling people who stumble in off the streets telling them to visit that topic first?

[LadyHawk]

If Switzerland is going to ADD another room (to the current 83?!!), perhaps PeaceKeeper should clean off some of the old ones? I mean really... this place is resembling Windsor Castle! 83 rooms... *SMH*

[cklaurence]

Well it looks like there are only 2 rooms with any action at all right now. I guess we'll have to wait until people are missing football and looking to the new season for the place to liven up again. Funny, it gets busier here when season is getting heated and then again when people are missing the game so much they need to look to the future and talk to other fanatics. I guess Facebook has really drained our population as well. At least we have this weekend to watch my Patriots soar and LH's Seahawks to crash. MUAHAHAHAHAHA--I am SO excited for the games this weekend!!

[Baglady]

Hmmm, maybe instead of "adding" another room / topic to the the blog rooms, can 'Switzerland' be one of the featured Forums under Board Index when you first access the site? Think we're all just offering suggestions to make Swiss easy to get around and have a single 'community' type thread that's easy to recognize....

[16Forever]

WELCOME TO OUR NEW HOME - Pardon the dust we're remodeling before the lockout begins in March.

[cklaurence]

JUST A SHORT NOTE TO THE FAITHFUL WHO STILL POST HERE (AND ANYONE *HOOVERING--IF ANYONE IS, IN FACT *HOOVERING ANY MORE)...

I HAVE HEARD TELL THAT THERE ARE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN MAKING COMMENTS OUTSIDE OF SWITZERLAND, REFERRING TO OUR LITTLE HOME AS A 'GRAVEYARD.' EVEN IF THAT'S TRUE, AND EVEN THOUGH THE MEMBERSHIP HAS FALLEN OFF SEVERELY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS--I AM SAD TO HEAR THAT REMARKS TO THAT EFFECT ARE BEING MADE.

TO THOSE WHO HAVE QUESTIONED ME ABOUT SHUTTING IT DOWN HERE, THE ANSWER IS, I HAVE WORKED TOO HARD TO MAKE SWITZERLAND SPECIAL, AND TO KEEP IT RUNNING REGARDLESS OF DROP-OFFS IN MEMBERSHIP, AND I HAVE NOT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INTENTION OF CLOSING IT DOWN NOW BECAUSE THINGS ARE SLOW (REALLY, REALLY SLOW).

SWITZERLAND IS AND WILL BE HERE FOR ANYONE WHO CHOSES TO DISCUSS FOOTBALL--OR TO START A ROOM TO DISCUSS WHATEVER ELSE YOU WISH (EVEN IF YOU FIND YOURSELF TALKING TO YOURSELF EVERY NOW AND AGAIN), WITHOUT DISCUSSIONS TURNING INTO BRAWLS, FIGHTS, ARGUING OR THE LIKE.

WITH THE SEASON WINDING QUICKLY DOWN, IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO GET SLOWER, BUT SOONER OR LATER (AND REGARDLESS OF FACEBOOK) FAMILY AND OTHERS CAN VISIT AND TALK OR VENT OR WHATEVER. THE GAMES WILL ALSO CONTINUE (I THINK THE "EYES" ARE THE ONLY SEASON-'ROUND GAME, BUT OTHERS MIGHT BE ADDED IN THE OFF-SEASON BECAUSE NOT ONLY I, BUT THE REST OF MY TINY STAFF WILL BE HERE TO ENTERTAIN YOU AS BEST WE CAN DURING THE PERIOD OF MISERY (OFF-SEASON).

I HOPE THOSE OF YOU THAT STILL VISIT (THE VALIANT FEW ) WILL CONTINUE TO COME AROUND. PEACE, PETER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AND WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY OUR LITTLE COUNTRY--SWITZERLAND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE -- I LOVE YOU.

[dredwak]

ive read some of those comments...

[StevefromCO]

Hey, ck and Swiss! Pretty crazy year of NFL this is huh? I caught a few of the playoff games so far, entertaining to say the least. May the best two match up in the big dance. I think the NFC Champ game is going to be great again this year. Not sure I want to see the Steelers in Arlington. If they do go and happen to win, that's three in the last six years? I'm a little surprised by that possibilty.

[TryThinking]

Just busy on this end as you know. Treading water like many out there in this economy.
Glass is ½ full......

keep on keeping on

[cklaurence]

ive read some of those comments...

Hey Dred--good to see you (as always ).

Apparently, I was the only one out-of-the-loop about things being said regarding my (still) precious (to me) Switzerland. I guess the people who really care about me didn't want to hurt me, but as it happens--some people who didn't give a rat's ass (about me )(excuse my inelegance) decided I needed to know. That's okay, because I really should know about what is going on in the outside world and/or what is being said (technically speaking, of course).

After I (sort of ) got my act together following the little jolt of reality (big DUH...Zero posts = dead-and-gone Football Forum ), I chose to do the post advising the world (or whoever gave a crap) know that I had no intention of shutting Switzerland down (which I don't). I love this place, and even if I have to blog to myself, I'm just not ready to give up on it.

The funny thing is--my post brought some interesting things to light. I got several telephone calls (I can't believe that many people had my number, lol!) and emails from various and sundry folk who (I guess) figured that since the word was out, they'd add a little something to my grief --or in some cases, to say something kind and encouraging . (You can see how many people decided to come over and post to help bring life back to my dear Switzerland today, right? )

Well, it was interesting to hear from so many different friends (in some cases) AFTER the post. I learned even more about the (unfortunate ) things people have said at those OTHER places --and some very, very nice and encouraging words from others. So, live and learn--live and let live--yada yada yada. And, BTW, let me say one further thing to those naysayers who would like to think Switzerland was closing the doors, borders, pages and topics forever...

I AM NOT, I WILL NOT, I HAVE NO INTENTION AT ALL TO CLOSE THIS SITE DOWN (ANY TIME SOON). SWITZERLAND WILL REMAIN OPEN TO ALL WHO WISH TO COME HERE (WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE LEFT ON UNHAPPY TERMS, HAPPY TERMS, OR JUST LEFT).

Oh yes, one more thing... To those of you who called, wrote or stopped by and rang my doorbell (NOT ) to encourage me to keep Switzerland open--THANK YOU ...

[dredwak]

you know me claudia...im not one to stir the pot...
but if i thought any of the posts were worth mentioning i certainly would have brought them to your attention...
as you know...i think

[cklaurence]

you know me claudia...im not one to stir the pot...
but if i thought any of the posts were worth mentioning i certainly would have brought them to your attention...
as you know...i think

MY DEAREST DRED: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR MY SMILE, TO A CHUCKLE, TO AN ALL-OUT BELLY LAUGH FOR THE WEEK! YOU KNOW THAT I CONSIDER YOU, YOU KIND AND WONDERFUL MAN, ONE OF MY FRIENDS AS WELL. YOU ABSOLUTELY CHARMED ME WHEN WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER IN INDY. THERE ARE SO FEW GENTLEMEN LEFT IN THE WORLD TODAY, AND YOU ARE CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM!

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SMILES YOU'VE GIVEN ME OVER THE YEARS, AND NOW ESPECIALLY, WHEN FRIENDS ARE SO IMPORTANT! (AS ARE THE SMILES !!!!) I HOPE WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER THIS COMING SEASON AS WELL. OF COURSE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME DOWN HERE FOR A DOLPHIN GAME (IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL IT). LAURENCE MANOR ALWAYS HAS A GUEST ROOM OPEN FOR THOSE SPECIAL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE (OF WHICH YOU ARE ONE). HAVE I MENTIONED HOW SPECIAL I THINK YOU ARE?

[LadyHawk]

CK, it was a pleasure to talk to you yesterday. I'd post here in Switzerland if I actually had something worthy to say.

[TryThinking]

CK my dear I think you need to change your avatar, it's been flying the little red "x" for a while now.

[Emeritus]

Since I quit FaceBook over a year ago, all of my posts are here for everybody to read. I've been a big fan of Switzerland from the start, which is why I'm still here. The people here are special to me.

[Baglady]

"Comments"

None that I've seen on FB. And I won't go to any site that repeatedly gives my pc a nasty virus....

Regardless, glad to see Switzerland alive and well - as well as it can be going into the dreaded offseason
Quite a few coaching changes so far - haven't kept up w/ them all and no doubt more to come. The big "lock out" looming and the draft so there is NFL 'news' - just no games for most, if not all our teams.

And, like EM, I value the folks here . Enjoy your Sat and what should be great games tomorrow!

[cklaurence]

Since I quit FaceBook over a year ago, all of my posts are here for everybody to read. I've been a big fan of Switzerland from the start, which is why I'm still here. The people here are special to me.

Thanks, Em. I value your support, your wealth of knowledge regarding football--and nearly everything else as well. You are truly the quintessential man!
I have always been proud of the quality of the people who post in Switzerland. I miss so many of them--and the quips, friendship, and actual sense of family we had developed. Although the numbers are way down here, you can usually catch one or two people here and have a damned good convo! Why anyone would prefer to talk at FaceBook, which has millions of people looking on, or the other (so-called) 'sports' venues that are known best for spreading viruses is beyond me.

[Emeritus]

I think that what made Switzerland great was that people got here by invitation. If you appeared here it was because you had impressed somebody. All of the people that I invited had impressed me as being intelligent, humorous and friendly. Why anybody would want to leave that for sheer numbers is beyond me.

[cklaurence]

I think that what made Switzerland great was that people got here by invitation. If you appeared here it was because you had impressed somebody. All of the people that I invited had impressed me as being intelligent, humorous and friendly. Why anybody would want to leave that for sheer numbers is beyond me.

Agreed, dear Em. Thing is, we do need a little greater numbers than we have right now, simply because we need at couple of people on at the same time so we have someone else to talk to when we are here, . I'd be happy with ten to twenty of our very best family members, or, since they have pretty much shown they don't care to be here, than perhaps we should invite some newbies. I do like the "by invitation" suggestion, though. I'm not big on 'closed cubs' as you all know, and an occasional person showing up (like SteveCO, remember?) accidentally or on purpose, could turn out to be good as well.
On that note (as I was sent the CD from someone VERY dear to me), I wish to add the following statement to my Swiss Family:

I Will Survive
At first I was afraid I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side.
But then I spent so many nights
Thinking how you did me wrong.
And I grew strong!
And I learned how to get along!
So now you're back from out of space.
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face.

I should have changed that stupid lock!
I should have made you leave your key!
If I had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me.

Go on now, go, walk out that door!
Just turn around now‚
cause you're not welcome any more.
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt (crush) me with goodbye?

Did I crumble
Did I lay down and die
Oh no, not I! I will survive!
Oh and as long as I know how to love I know I stay alive.
I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give.
And I'll survive!
I will survive! Hey, hey.

It took all the strength I had not to fall apart.
Kept tryin' hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart!
And I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself. I used to cry!
But now I hold my head up high.
And you see me somebody new!
I'm not that chained-up little person still in love with you.

And so you feel like droppin' in,
and just expect me to be free,
now I'm saving all my loving for someone who is loving me!