SWITZERLAND FORUM

[Emeritus]

LOL. I believe that I got your point. Ireland has proved that he is an ass kisser and back stabber. Sparano was supposed to be his friend. If you were a top coach, would you want to work under him?

[cklaurence]

I wouldn't want to work in the same State as Ireland OR Ross, Em! They're both assholes, back-biters, snakes and rotten to the core... Ireland MUST go as well, and oh--if only someone would come along and offer huge sums of money to Ross to buy the team. MMMMMmmmm, someone like, well, let's say, Daniel Constantine Marino... Yeah, that's the ticket!

[Emeritus]

Perhaps somebody will make Ross an offer that he can't refuse.

[cklaurence]

From your mouth to God's ear, dear sir!

[Emeritus]

I don't know anybody from New Jersey, but I'll ask around.

[cklaurence]

[color=#8040BF]Perhaps we could rent a billboard on the NJ Turnpike--or here on DAN MARINO BOULEVARD --DANIEL CONSTANTINE MARINO--YOUR TEAM NEEDS YOU. PLEASE COME BUY IT FROM STEVE ROSS. YOUR STATE IS DESPERATE TO HAVE YOU BACK AND RUNNING THINGS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE--DON'T LET US DOWN~ [/color]

[Emeritus]

Oh Phooey! The Texans lost to the Panthers. We had too many turnovers, which the Panthers converted into scores. This was what I expected when we lost Matt Schaub.

On the other hand, hurrah for the Colts! They finally got rid of that goose egg by beating the Titans. Congratulations to Baglady, Buck and all of the other Colts fans!

[cklaurence]

Sorry about your Texans, Emeritus. You're set for the play-offs though, right?

Our 'new' coach had his first day today. I wonder if anyone saw him move????? I watched him pretty much the entire game, and I don't believe I saw him move even once! Sparano was like a crazy man--all over the place, yelling, screaming, jumping up and down, yada yada yada. This guy never flinched. It was such a complete difference in style, It doesn't matter at all; however. I heard last night that moron plans to change up everything. EVERYTHING. Everything, that is, but JEFF IRELAND--the biggest mistake he has going for the team and THAT ASSHOLE he's keeping!!!!! The Dolphins are finally doomed. The coffin is closed. There is no magic pill. Nothing can save us now...

[Emeritus]

The Texans won their division last week, so they are in the playoffs. They had the longest win streak in the AFC until today. I don't expect us to win a playoff game with our rookie quarterback, however. At least Miami won. If the Dolphins are going to change everything, they should start with the owner.

[cklaurence]

I agree with you one hundred percent about the Fins. Must get rid of the owner, but he shows no sign of leaving--next best person to lose? Jeff Ireland--without a doubt! He is the pits. He has too much power and makes way too many decisions and most of them are bad. We don't move an inch if we don't make huge changes from the top down. We have great talent on the team, we just need to have people who can run the team and coach the team and everything else I've been saying for years now. Ross says Ireland is staying. That means the top two mistakes are remaining, which tells me, we're looking toward another year that we beat ourselves...AGAIN!


CONGRATS ON YOUR TEAM MAKING THE PLAYOFFS, EM!

[dredwak]

im with you ck...i didnt think this was funny...

[Emeritus]

Thanks, ck. I don't expect the Texans to do much in the playoffs. They are just missing too many key pieces. Still, it's our best year ever. Perhaps next year we will have enough people healthy to do something.

[dredwak]

the hoax thingy wasnt funny...the picture is a little funny...

[dredwak]

oops...hi folks...sorry to interrupt...

[cklaurence]

dredwak! You NEVER interrupt. I love your visits and I'm only sorry they aren't more frequent. I suppose, however, it's tough to come here and see how awfully quiet it has become. Em and I can be quite amusing on occasion, however, it is always nice to have extras around, adding to the subject matter and number of teams involved.

With all the rock stars dying -- it was almost 'just another night in the world of pop culture.' I just couldn't accept Bon Jovi. I met him during the Clinton campaigns, and I just could not believe he would be one of those trashy stars who'd lock himself in a hotel room and trash himself with a cocktail of too many and too many kinds of drugs till he killed himself dead as a door nail. It nearly broke my heart! I loved his response--classy, just like the man!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays! I know a certain Houston fan is having a wonderful season--but he's got to stop being such a pessimist about the playoffs! Right, Em?????

[Emeritus]

I will be satisfied if the Texans do the best that they can with what they have left. The way that the playoffs are shaping up, the Patriots, Steelers, Ravens and other really good teams will be in it. I don't think that we can match up against any of them with so many key players out. The Texans beat the Steelers rather easily during the regular season, but we had Matt Schaub then. Still, we have already won more games than ever before and have clinched our first division title. That's progress.

[cklaurence]

I think as a favor to you, Em, I'm going to root against your Texans in the playoffs. It's my holiday gift to you, sir. My Fins, of course, are not going to be anywhere near the playoffs, so I have pretty well a clear road to follow on what teams to root for all the way. You and Reecey--you remember Reeceykins, right?--Well, I'm so happy for the two of you and your Texans, just as I rooted FOR the Patriots the year they lost the Superbowl (and their perfect season ), I'm rooting AGAINST the Texans. You all know what that means. I only hope I'm still in good form...

[cklaurence]

It was nice to see Ms Bags' holiday wishes on my holiday page. I had hopes that our old friends would find their way over to say "hey," over the festivities of Christmas, Chanuka, Kwanza, and all I've left out or forgotten, and of course, the new year!

[cklaurence]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF MY DEAR SWISS FAMILY, PAST AND PRESENT, HOOVERERS AND BLOGGERS. WITH ALL MY LOVE, I WISH YOU EVERYTHING YOU'VE WISHED FOR AND MORE, AND A HEALTHY, WEALTHY, WONDERFUL NEW YEAR AND MANY, MANY MORE TO COME.
AND EM--GO EASY ON THE JAMBALAYA-- I KNOW THOSE LADIES OF TEXAS ARE ALWAYS FEEDING YOU TRYING TO GET TO YOUR HEART!

[Emeritus]

LOL, sometimes I wonder if they are trying to kill me with kindness. A group of us got together at my home for Christmas dinner. Everybody brought food, but there was way to much. We took most of it to a kitchen for the needy. We all had a great time. I hope that you have had all of your family with you over the holidays.

[cklaurence]

I'm so glad you had a great holiday, Em. I know every one of those ladies would like to claim you as their own and be done with all the others sharing you. I can't see you settling down, though. It seems as though you and Sarah had an idyllic life together--yet the studies seem to say that widows/widowers whose marriages were really good, marry quickly because they miss having a spouse and don't know how bad it can really be, lol.

[Emeritus]

LOL, I don't know if I'd describe it as idyllic, ck. After all, it was Sarah who taught me that I was usually wrong. My problem is that few of the women that I know share my interests and fewer share my live-and-let-live attitude.

[cklaurence]

Peter keeps me apprised of all my faults as well, Em--I guess someone has to do it now that my mom is gone. (Although I must say, my kids are probably my most pointed critics, which is somewhat painful to me.) I was so close to my mom, and although we did have our battles, we were inseparable and best friends for sure. Life is full of surprises, though, isn't it?
What is it they say? We plan and God laughs... It sure feels that way! Now as the clock picks up speed and the new years grow closer and closer together, I find my heart is attached to my tear ducts and I cry so readily and so often. Such silliness. It's a good thing there are still some sophisticated comedies on television and of course, once again, with the new publisher I have a reason to throw myself into my writing. Deadlines work for me for some reason. Seems the only deadline I can't handle is the ultimate deadline--probably because it's so nebulous...

[Emeritus]

I'm trying to get into shape for New Years Eve. Everybody always drinks too much, when they could just chill out and smoke something. When there is a lot of drinking there are always the belligerents, the Romeos and the housewives who are vamps for a night. I could handle that better when I was younger (in those days I thought that I was a comedian when I drank too much), but now it just makes me tired.

[cklaurence]

I can't remember the last time we even left the house for new year's eve, Em. I'm pretty sure, though, it was after we went out to a very swank restaurant in The Gables and had a twelve course dinner--you know the kind, when you're finished, you're still hungry, because the portions are so small they couldn't fill a thimble? Yet the alcohol (price not included in the ridiculously high cost of the meal) was plentiful and of course, the couple we were with got so drunk they were impossible to be with--so after splitting the bill (about 80% of which was for their alcohol)--we left for home through hopelessly deadlocked traffic. We live on the Beach and that's where all the best fireworks were scheduled (and I'm pretty sure they still are). Anyway, if we have gone out since then, I have no memory of it. Getting comfy in my bed after dinner with my hubby and any of my kids that could possibly be around, and then, if I'm awake, stepping on to the balcony off my bedroom and watching the fireworks is just about as far as I go. Just love it!

[Emeritus]

Bonne année et bonne santé!

[cklaurence]

Back atcha, Em! I'm off to the game now--they are retiring Jason Taylor pregame, which I am sure will be the high point (or low point, depending on how you look at it). I will surely miss him, he has been a treasure. Have a wonderful day! To you to dred, my love--thank you for coming by and brightening Switzerland's new year's day!

[Emeritus]

When will I quit making New Year's resolutions? There were several that turned out really well, such as resolving to learn ballroom dancing. Mostly though, I have regretted it, but am too stubborn to give up. Now that I'm approaching sixty-four, I should know better.

[cklaurence]

I'm a year ahead of you, Em--you're Peter's age. I guess we're destined to continue our old habits, dreaming our old dreams--we're getting older, but I don't find that my self-perception is aging. My mom used to tell me that regardless of how old she got, she never felt older than she did in her twenties. I'm getting painfully close to the age I was when she passed away, but as you know, my daddy lived to nearly 94 and kept the energy level he had in his twenties. His family's genetics are incredible. His sister is nearing 97 and her mind is as clear as can be, but just in the past couple of years she's starting to lose the energy and physical strength she'd always had. As far as she's concerned, relying on others is poison and I can't see her hanging on if that day comes. She's the last of that generation in my family, and I can't even dare to think of her leaving us. They don't make them like that any more, and that's for damned sure. I think our generation is the last to even come close. Our kids, um, well, maybe, some of them. After that? Pretty much dead wood from my teaching experience. I surely hope I'm wrong...

[Emeritus]

I used to wonder why the life expectancy used to be so much lower when I knew so many old people. It turns out that the infant mortality rate was once much higher and that many more died of childhood diseases like whooping cough, diphtheria, etc. Those who survived to adulthood had fantastic constitutions. Now those children are saved, but they suffer health problems all of their lives. There is no health factor as important as the genes.

I had cataract surgery on my right eye this morning. If that works out well, I'll get the other eye taken care of in March. You should see me trying to wear reading glasses with the shield over one eye.