SWITZERLAND FORUM

[Emeritus]

I buy Kleenex six boxes at a time. When I die Kimberly-Clark will have to lay people off.

[dredwak]

congratulations to the Notre Dame ladies basketball team...

[dredwak]

[dredwak]

[Emeritus]

When you're retired every day is Saturday.

[dredwak]

guten morgen...

[Emeritus]

Guten Morgen, Herr Dredwak.

[Emeritus]

It's hump day, Swiss. Everybody be happy!

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[cklaurence]

Hello and happy humpday to my Swiss Family!

[Emeritus]

The way that the weather is shaping up, I'm going to be paying huge electric bills keeping this old barn air conditioned this year. I'm seriously thinking of closing the place and spending the late summer in a cooler climate. I wonder what late summer is like in Maine?

[Emeritus]

Good morning, Swiss. I must be a busy week for everybody else. One of the nice thing about being retired is that I have time to visit with friends.

[Emeritus]

Before daylight I made coffee, went out on the porch and greeted Spring. The birds sounded happy. Don't forget to enjoy the day.

[cklaurence]

Hey Em (and all the other Swiss *Hooverers)!

The Blue Jays are out in force these days--noisy bunch, they are. In the mango tree that hangs over the second floor balcony (off our bedroom), they sit and wait until I let Princess out there in the early a.m. As soon as she runs to the railing they all come out screaming and fluttering at her. My tenacious little Princess shows no fear, but I always worry that they'll nip at her eyes or whatever. They are mean little critters. They insist on nesting in MY mango tree and then think they own it. In the summer, when the mangoes ripen and I go out to pick them off the ground, they've pecked at my head more than once.
We have an enormous number of wild parrots here as well. I'm told some have flown in from South America and some were escapees from the Parrot Jungle (nka Jungle Island)--then they all mated and oh my! I think of them as the rabbits of the bird kingdom. At least the parrots don't bother with people like The Blue Jays...

[Emeritus]

Blue jays are mean birds. We mostly have mocking birds here (it's the state bird of Texas). They will attack you if you come near their nest. Mainly they are an annoyance because they sing really loud and they will do it all night long, except during the molting season. They imitate the songs of other birds and other sounds. I have a friend who swears that there is one who imitates his neighbor's car alarm. It makes the bird and the neighbor unpopular.

[cklaurence]

I can't get that picture out of my head, Em. Imagine how often that car alarm had to have gone off for the humming bird to start imitating it?!? I can definitely see that as a problem in the neighborhood...

[Emeritus]

I have no idea how long it takes a mocking bird to learn a sound, but I don't think that it takes it long. It doesn't know what sort of sound it's imitating - birds are idiot savants - but it picks them up easily.

[Baglady]

Not sure but don't think we have mocking birds this far north. Lucky for us the way it 'sounds'.... Blue jays, yes and agree they are mean birds. Cardinals are the IN state and probably the most common bird here.

No NFL but enjoy the day...

[cklaurence]

HAPPY SUNDAY, MS BAGS AND THE REST OF THE SWISS FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Cardinals are beautiful, beautiful birds too. Of course, you all know how much I love all the animals. I even think pigeons are pretty. Ever notice all the iridescent colors on their chests?

[cklaurence]

Hmmm, and speaking of colorful birds--how about my buddy Tom Brady? Amidst all the talk about 'fair pay' for football players and other issues going on, while we fans sit on the sidelines hoping against hope we'll have a football season, we learn he is building a 22,000 square foot mansion in Brentwood, CA. Of course, he and all the players can do whatever they wish with their paychecks, but his timing might be just a little off here. It sends a rather obfuscated message to fans and players. Fans are having problems getting enough money to attend games--or even to pay for cable to watch them, and here's Brady building a 22,000 square foot mansion. I guess he does a lot of entertaining...

[Emeritus]

If he can afford a building site in Brentwood, he can certainly afford to build a 22,000-square-foot home on it. I don't feel any resentment at all. It isn't like he's some first-round draft choice spending his signing bonus. Tom has earned his money. Besides, I wouldn't trade my house for some new mansion. I have the good fortune to live in a house that has been our family home for generations. I was raised from a baby there and played on the porches, the widow's walk and the hayloft in the carriage house. It may not seem like much to anybody else, but it's special to me.

[cklaurence]

He certainly has the right to buy whatever he wishes with his money. I just think his timing leaves something to be desired. I'm not one of his fans, but if I were, I would be thinking twice about now. It doesn't matter what kind of a house he prefers, or whether it has a rich history (not everyone has the opportunity to live in the house they grew up in)--it's strictly about timing (IMHO). The average person in this Country today is having trouble holding on to the homes they live in, much less buying a new one at any price (never mind a 22,000 square foot home in Brentwood, CA). It seems like a thumbing of his nose at everyone. Just sayin'...

[Baglady]

While I understand the 'timing' issue on Brady's ah "home", to be fair, from what I've read, he bought the 'parcel' of land back in 2008 and his new digs have been under construction for a yr so it isn't a recent transaction. And he just sold or at least put up for sale a pricey apartment in NYC. So while I am no NE fan, I'm not sure it's fair to criticize Brady on his 22,000 sq ft, 8 bedroom home. It'll never happen but I sure would love to be invited to see it

Meanwhile, MN judge Nelson has ordered both the NFL and players (no union so I'm not sure of their status) back to mediation. Since they were ordered to mediate in Minneapolis, it would seem to favor the players. Progress Anyone's guess. At least it's "activity"....

[cklaurence]

While I understand the 'timing' issue on Brady's ah "home", to be fair, from what I've read, he bought the 'parcel' of land back in 2008 and his new digs have been under construction for a yr so it isn't a recent transaction. And he just sold or at least put up for sale a pricey apartment in NYC. So while I am no NE fan, I'm not sure it's fair to criticize Brady on his 22,000 sq ft, 8 bedroom home. It'll never happen but I sure would love to be invited to see it

Meanwhile, MN judge Nelson has ordered both the NFL and players (no union so I'm not sure of their status) back to mediation. Since they were ordered to mediate in Minneapolis, it would seem to favor the players. Progress Anyone's guess. At least it's "activity"....

I did not realize it was an ongoing parcel. The way it was brought up on the NFL radio show I was listening to made it seem as though it was just happening now; however, I'm pretty hard core, and even if I were invited, I would not care to go. I have no desire to see how he lives or where. All I want from Tom Brady is a good game when the Phins play against him, and a big loss by the Patriots.

[Emeritus]

You are both welcome to visit me at the ancestral King home in Beaumont, TX.

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[16Forever]

I'll only come visit if your bathroom has a bidet.

[Emeritus]

Uh, we have a very low water fountain. The place was built in 1906-07, so it was lucky to have indoor plumbing. On the other hand, one of the bathrooms has a fireplace, which can be very pleasant.

[dredwak]

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"I remember taking a walk with my mom and dad around the block," Brady said before pausing and allowing his eyes to well up with tears. "It was just a tough day, you know?"hahahahaha...hahahahahaha...

[cklaurence]

Hey dred! Is your boy Brady growing his hair until he wins another SuperBowl?? He really does look like a girly-mon now. Funny, how his hair was thinning and then all of a sudden he has this big, full head of hair. Go figure...

[Emeritus]

Hmm. My hair is thinning - maybe I should let it grow long. No, I couldn't stand it.

[Emeritus]

Good morning, Swiss. It's another gorgeous day in Southeast Texas!