SWITZERLAND FORUM

[cklaurence]

No underlining comes up for you, Em. It must just be on the raw typing.

You're a good, kind soul, sir. I am kind of numb when it comes to our former friend. I don't get people who come into my life, break bread with me in my home, allow that they are a good friend, then one day--out of nowhere, with no discussion, no warning, not only drop me from their social register, but somehow manage to break-up my party on their way out.

It's just not in my nature. I was taught that friends don't do that to friends. You talk to one another. If there's a problem, you work it out. You never take an ice pick to their back. Yet I am learning as I get older that there are people like that. If they aren't getting the biggest share of attention, and all the guys aren't completely enveloped by their charms, and they aren't THE most important woman (or man in many cases) in the room, then they pick up their toys and go somewhere that they can be the top dog. I've seen it again and again, so it really shouldn't be such a surprise to me (now that I think about it). Hmmmm. This has been a very cathartic post for me.

I believe I just figured the whole thing out. Answered my own questions. It's all clear to me now. I don't know why it's taken me this long to come to this very easy conclusion. I should have been smarter. Thanks, Em!

As for your boys--they have gotten better each year, and I believe if they continue on the road they've been travelin' , well, I hope it isn't the Fins they'll eventually be fighting for the AFC championship ...

[Emeritus]

ck, I see two underlined words in your post. Both are in black instead of color. Could it be because we are using different browsers?

[cklaurence]

Must be something like that, Em--I don't see any underlining, anywhere. I use Google...

[Emeritus]

Now that our teams are eliminated from the competition for the year, who are you pulling for, ck? I'm really unsure about the NFC game. The Niners look like world beaters, but the Seahawks stomped a mud hole in them and the Falcons beat the Seahawks. They are also playing at home and the Niners will have to travel across the country. It's a good thing that I'm not a gambler.

[cklaurence]

This is a tough one, Em. You know how I feel about the Patriots. I'm totally irrational--so I have to pull for the Ravens--even though I'm no fan of theirs either. I'll be pulling for San Fran, just for old time sake. Also, they seem to play clean, and although if they win, that won't help them much in the SB against either the Pats or the Ravens, I do enjoy watching them...

[Emeritus]

Of course the best outcome for stories would be if the Ravens and Niners won, so two brothers would be coaching against each other for the Lombardi Trophy. I'm sure that the media are praying for that, so they could go on endlessly about it.

[cklaurence]

You are quite right about that, dear Em. I must say, though, it sounds a lot more interesting to me than listening to another round of BB and the golden boy. Another year of Tom Terrific and his Marvelous Master the Cheating Champ of the League...

It's time we get some new gushing, dontcha think?The Harbaughs are pretty f*cking cool in their own right--going back to their own careers as players and onto coaching, then on to their storied teams... I could enjoy that, for sure. You?

They're taking down the awnings from The Manor today. We've spoken of this for years and year, but we've finally gotten to doing it. I hadn't realized just quite how much a difference it was going to make! I knew it was going to streamline things, but some rooms have no window treatments and it looks like we're going to have to make fast work of getting them! I hadn't a clue of how large our windows actually are and what a clear and open view they give into our home! The only room without any shades at all is our living room, thank goodness. All others have either shades, blinds or other....but oh my, we're also going to need a window cleaner, very quicklly (like yesterday)!

[cklaurence]

And so it is--our 2013 SB will be A SuperHarBowl--featuring the Harbaugh Brothers extraordinary coaching skills on both the AFC and NfC side of the NFL. I think we might have a really exciting SB ahead of us.

I'm a bit shocked at the disappointment people are showing (facebook of course). They seem to think it's going to be a boring SB and talk about these two teams as though they somehow slid into the SB by accident. From where I've been sitting, they've beat the teams they had to beat, including the Patriots on their beloved home turf, and surely have earned their places.

I'm looking forward to it...

[Emeritus]

I agree, ck. I enjoyed both games. The Falcons came out and dominated the first quarter, held their own in the second and then went home at halftime. The Ravens simply came out and beat up on everybody in a Patriots uniform, especially the receivers. The Ravens looked like a team with a mission! I think that the Niners have more talent, but if the Ravens keep that focus they will be hard to beat.

[cklaurence]

Well Em, you know my theory on Brady--if you just move quickly enough, keep him pressured with no time to think, he's just an average QB, and he looked pretty damned average--as did his whole team yesterday, heh heh. It was truly a pleasure to watch...

[Emeritus]

He did look pretty average in that one game, but I didn't notice him getting a lot of help. I was surprised at how poorly the Patriots defense played. They made Flacco look like a great quarterback.

[cklaurence]

Aha!!! The point I am always hacking away at exactly... It is the supporting cast that makes Brady look like UBER QB. He, by the grace of BB, has been cared for better than any long term QB I've seen in my time. His protection has been incredible, yet any time it has broken down, so has he. He quickly becomes average (or below) and that game last weekend was the best example I've seen recently. In the past, I've seen the Fins cow him devastatingly as well. If Dan Marino played in this era, on Bellichek's team (aside from the fact I'd have to hate him as much as I hate Brady), his numbers would never be replicated in the history of the game...

[Emeritus]

You won't get any argument from me, ck. Quarterbacks get the stats, but teams win Super Bowls. Quarterbacks don't play defense, or catch passes, or block. I remember when the Cowboys were winning in the 90's and had the greatest offensive line that I ever saw. I was thinking that if Dan had a line that let him stand there all day like Aikman could, he could have make a mockery of the game. Emmit Smith was a good enough running back who had holes that you could run an aircraft carrier though. I've watched a lot of Green Bay games and watched them take my Texans apart. They have receivers who make circus catches on every play. I could be MVP throwing to them! Tom Brady is a good quarterback in a great system.

[cklaurence]

So how come you and I are so much smarter than all those others, Em? All those others who keep running around vomiting undeserved praise on Brady 24x7 ought to take a break and read our brilliant rhetoric every now and again so they could get the real skivvy on who is who, what is what and why. c.k. and Emeritus have the 411 on football, yo?

Have a great night, Em...

[Emeritus]

LOL, maybe it's because we have been around longer and have seen more football. It's easier to rate a quarterback if you have seen a lot of great quarterbacks. I've seen some who were great passers, some who were leaders who elevated the play of their whole team and some who for no reason that you could quite put your finger on simply won. The media like to hype every new quarterback who comes along, most of whom become a flash in the pan.

[cklaurence]

I (for one) took great pleasure in seeing Tom Brady getting fined for his nasty behavior during the Pats sub-par performance last weekend. Interesting how quickly the golden boy goes bad when things don't go his way! I'll bet he could have been a real creep had he not been so carefully groomed and cared for by BB throughout his career...

[Emeritus]

To be perfectly fair, I'm surprised at the fine. Brady kicked his leg up, but didn't make contact. At the time it looked to me like he did it instinctively, to keep the defender from falling on him. I've always believed in no harm, no foul. On the other hand, our quarterback was kicked in the groin by a defender (Suh) who wasn't fined.

[cklaurence]

I think they HAD to fine him, Em. I thought there was 'intent' there (whether or not there was); however, had they let him off, there would have been players (and fans) all over the leagues shouting that (once again) the Golden Boy was given special treatment. Meanwhile, ten grand for Brady doesn't even cut into his petty cash breakfast funds...

[Emeritus]

What are you going to substitute for football in the off season, ck? I don't much care about any other sports, because football was the only one that I was any good at in school. I played basketball, too, but I guess that I was the worst player on the team. I was taller than most, but I had no talent for it at all. Fortunately it is now the concert season and I know a few ladies who share my enthusiasm for ballroom dancing.

[cklaurence]

Alas, my strongest sports' love is football as well, Emeritus. Off-season is brutal for me. I interned in basketball during my senior year of college (the second time around) in the late '80s with the Miami Heat (which was a very young team then. I was very lucky because I needed to find my own internship in Public Relations and the P.R. Director for the Heat was a patient of my hubby's. He was lovely about it and arranged for my group of four to work with him during the season--hands on everything. Free "A"s for doing stuff we all loved, but I pretty much lost interest once it was over. It was through Mark Prey (the P.R. guy) that I learned about the graduate degree in Sports Administration. I was headed for law school, planning to become an agent. Funny, how our lives can change so dramatically like that. I probably never would have written my first book had I gone to law school. Then I'd never have had Switzerland and wouldn't have known you. I'm glad I traveled this path...

Ordinarily I'd throw myself into writing so the time would move quickly; however, I have the procedure for me knee scheduled for Thursday and it will depend on how quickly the kneed heels (IF it heels) and the ARC calms down as to when I will be able to throw myself back into writing full time. I hope it's quick because I am so so so far behind with everything, I'm very upset with myself!

[Emeritus]

Best of luck with the procedure, ck. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I've had a couple of bouts with cancer, but overall I guess that I've been fortunate with my health. Everything still works as it should, I'm never sick and nothing pains me.

[cklaurence]

I'm knocking wood on your statement, sir. I'm a tad superstitious and never give myself or a family member/friend a "kena-hurra" (did your wife ever use Yiddish terms?--that one means, more or less, a pat on the back) without a "poo poo poo" or spitting on it, believe it or not. The Jews are a very superstitious people, and although I'm not much of a believer, I do adhere to many superstitions. Talk about your basic odd ducks, huh? At any rate, I hope you will always and ever be cancer free, so I knocked wood and "poo poo pooed" so as not to leave your blissful statement go unprotected...

They called to confirm the procedure will go ahead tomorrow and I am quite prepared. Peter tells me it will be on the painful side because I'm doing it anesthesia free and hadn't even thought about it. I'm prepared, but I plan to take medication when I get home later that day and stay as relaxed as possible. I doubt I'll be on the computer at all tomorrow unless I'm feeling much better than the predictions. I'm pretty tough, so I'm not counting myself down for the count----yet.

Thanks for your good wishes, and I'll see you soon (hopefully)...

[Emeritus]

You raise an interesting question, ck. Sarah wasn't superstitious, but she would say all of the superstitious things and do the knock on wood, etc. I used to tease her about it. Yes, she would use Yiddish expressions on occasion, usually when she was exasperated. I was impressed with how many colorful expressions there were for the stupid and incompetent.

[dredwak]

happy super bowl Sunday...

[Emeritus]

And a good day to you, Dred. It turned out to be a pretty good game, once they got going again. Did Sean Payton really turn out the light for revenge against Goddell?

[cklaurence]

So nice to see you, Dred! Happy new year, and y'all come back and see us soon, y'heah?

Em--I typed a huge post about Jewish superstitions and curses and must have forgotten to save it before someone turned off the computer. I couldn't recreate it if I tried, but the point was that the Yiddish curses are the very best, but when translated to English, they lose so much of their flavor. There is this one, though, that you can at least imagine the anger behind: "May a trolley car grow in your stomach, along with a conductor walking back and forth collecting tickets and making change." I'm going to call one of my cousins that was smarter than I and took the time to learn Yiddish from our parents, along with the curses, just to learn that one so I can use it every now and again IN YIDDISH. I just love it!

I could have done without the first half of the SB, and would have liked the ending better if it had been SF that won. Other than that, it was perfect...

[Emeritus]

I'm trying to adjust to football season being over. I still go to Fox Sports occasionally to visit friends who never made it here or to Facebook, especially some comical Saints fans. They have mostly disappeared with the end of the season. On Facebook all of the current discussion is about politics, which I find an exercise in futility. Perhaps I need to start taking a print newspaper again, so I can read the comics. I've ordered Valentine's Day Godiva chocolates for the ladies that I take dancing, but I always miss Sarah at this time of the year. Perhaps I just have the winter blahs, although the temperatures are in the Seventies. I hope that you are doing well, ck.

[cklaurence]

I too have the end of season football blues, highly exacerbated by my incarceration due to my torn meniscus, which has caused one of the worst outbreaks of my Arachnoiditis that I've ever had. I'm nearly 3 months in my bedroom, upstairs--totally dependent on people who are not around! Peter gives me breakfast before he leaves early in the a.m. (6ish), then I go the day til dinner. Sometimes, if someone comes around I'm lucky enough to catch lunch, but more often than not, I go without. I refuse to get a nursing assistant or anything like that because I have no problem getting around my room, therefore, no need for someone to dog my steps.

Alas, without Sunday to look forward to, life is just not the same. I'm so frustrated, especially when I listen to sports news and what's going on with the Dolphins vs. other teams...

[Emeritus]

I'm sorry that your mobility is limited, ck. I went through that, although that was overcome many years ago. I have heard no news from the Texans. The management spoke of the needs to be addressed during the off season, but it was nothing that the fans hadn't figured out already. The team made some serious slips during the last off season, losing two important offensive linemen and our great blocking back to free agency. The blocking back, Vonta Leech, was a big help to the Ravens on their way to the Lombardi. He just destroys linebackers! The GM, Smith, has something to make up for in this off season.

[cklaurence]

Well, for Dolfans it's the same as usual. Sit, wait, hope and then watch as they cut the valuable receivers and running backs as well as the protection for QBs then wonder what the problem without offense is. Year after year after miserable year...