OK, so apparently some of the board of directors of the Thun Tigers are worried that I am bored on the days with no football training sessions here in my “mountainside retreat.” They may call Strattlighugel 46 a homestead on a big hill – but as some baseball umpire once called out … “I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em.” This is a MOUNTAIN I live on!
Trust me, I am not bored. I found a nice gym to workout in. A lot of equipment – not many people. So that is an everyday occurrence for me. A seventeen-minute walk down the MOUNTAIN …. a little bit more going up.
After a workout usually drop by Lidl (LEE del) to buy some food for the day (OK beer as well!) then trudge up the hill … It is pretty damn steep I assure you. Work on some football stuff when I get home. Sometimes walk back down the slope and take a cruise on Bus #1 from Gwatt Deltapark into the Thun Bahnhof (Thun Train Station).
Thun is a nice place to wander around – there are a lot of neat little places to explore and several nice outdoor places to eat as well. And now that you can eat indoors things should start to pick up.
I had fun sitting under a small umbrella a few weeks ago trying to eat a pizza in a driving rainstorm. (They gave the dumb broken down American football coach the table closest to the edge of the covered area – even with several others well under an overhang were available?!?) I did get soaked and maybe they had a laugh.
But, the pizza was really good and the three-dollar tip I left was purposely short. OK I am a dumbass – they must have been really laughing as I walked away. They watched me get totally rain soaked without complaining and since you really don’t have to tip in Switzerland. Well … just maybe I am not really smart.
Which brings me to overcoming my mental deficiencies with “Brain Training!”
My landlord (really my friend as well) .. Ruedi has convinced me that I need to take a class he takes called “Brain Training”with him. Now … imagine this. It is comical for him trying to convince me to go. He speaks just a little English and my meager knowledge of Swiss German is counting to ten …knowing how to say the word “shit”… and the words for left, right, up and down!
If we could video our interactions and conversations it would be hilarious. But, we get along famously. Beer brings everyone closer!
OK so I know … back to “Brain Training.” It really is fascinating and makes sense. Obviously I am not an MD and what do I know? But, I will tell you it is truly a mentally exhausting hour.
Our instructor Mareke Banzinger – Plocher. She is an excellent tennis player here in Switzerland (also played at Kansas State for a year by the way) who teaches this course.
Trust me it will wear you out. We flip balls in the air … then to each other, Then we flip them to ourselves changing hands. flip the balls while doing simple (no – hard) footwork drills. Play games throwing balls, bouncing balls, kicking balls to each other calling out colors, numbers, code words etc. You have to remember what colored ball means what and what names (animals, colors numbers you have to say!)
There is coordination, memorization, movement, combination skills. It is really hard. But, it is fun as well. If you aren’t ready to laugh at yourself – well forget this because you are going to screw up! Awesome stuff.
Constantly thinking and working with other people!
OK have to stop for a second here even harder for my classmates. The other people in the class speak some English .. but they are Swiss German! (They realize I only know how to count to ten … say “shit” and know right, left, up and down in Swiss German) so they do this in English for me. How amazing is that??!!
The nicest people in the world!
So, The board of directors of the Tigers should know I am not bored. Losing money by the minute … but certainly not bored!
Thinking about expanding my blog with stories about my years with the Lions and other football (mis)adventures. My close friend Terry Copacia has always encouraged me to right down these stories for our other friends. He says to write a book.
However, I am not disciplined enough to do that. You have to work at writing a book. All I do well is drink beer. Any way have to think about putting this down in my blog!
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