Month: March 2026

Observations

On By scottpetersenIn Humor2 Comments

·  A cold seat in a public restroom is unpleasant. A warm seat in a public restroom is worse

·  Apparently an RSVP to a wedding invitation “Maybe next time,” isn’t the correct response.

·  Don’t irritate old people. The older we get, the less “life in prison” is a deterrent.

·  Aliens probably fly by Earth, go home and lock their doors.

·  I really don’t mind getting older, but my body is taking it badly.

·  I miss the 90s when bread was still good for you and no-one knew what kale was.

·  Do you ever get up in the morning, look in the mirror and think “This can’t be right.“

·  My wife asked me to take her to one of those restaurants where they make food right in front of you. I took her to Subway.

·  I picked up a hitchhiker. He asked if I wasn’t afraid, he might be a serial killer? I told him the odds of two serial killers being in the same car at the same time were extremely unlikely.

Tehran

On By scottpetersenIn "Tehran"1 Comment

Did I get your attention?

For the last few months, Donna and I have been watching a T.V. series — “Tehran.” It is an Israeli spy thriller that debuted on January 22, 2020. A few months later the series went global on Apple TV. There are three seasons – with a fourth currently being filmed.

The series is steeped in intrigue and espionage. It follows the work of Tamar Rabinyan — a young Jewish woman who was born in Tehran and raised in Israel. Speaking both Farsi and Hebrew, she is recruited by the Mossad to work undercover and ply her specialty — computer hacking. Her objective? Prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. While the action takes place in Tehran, filming is done in Athens — a city that bears the distinct “feel” of Iran’s capital. With the language constantly shifting from Farsi to Hebrew to English, the subtitles have helped a great deal. Glenn Close and Hugh Laurie have major roles. Laurie assumes the role of nuclear inspector Eric PetersOn. And kindly note the character’s name has a Swedish “sOn” and not the Danish “sEn”. . . . .

In November 2021, “Tehran” received an Emmy for the best drama series. And Rotten Tomatoes gives Season One a 94% rating. Tehran — more specifically the government of Iran — has been a state sponsor of violence, terrorism and evil for the last 47 years (including the murder of tens of thousands of its own citizens during recent protests). If you want to get a taste of the city, the politics and a sense of what’s happening now — you might wish to check out this captivating series.

Old Dutch Grape Juice

On By scottpetersenIn Old Dutch grape juiceLeave a comment

[An oldie from December 11, 2016] When I was a State’s Attorney at 26th & California, Friday lunches and dinner when a jury was deliberating were often enjoyed in the wonderful enclave of Italian restaurants at 23rd and Oakley.    

Those were the days. Marconi’s. La Fontanella. Febo’s. Toscana Bakery. And others. Each offering delicious fish, meat and pasta dishes.  A commodity sadly lacking from the menu of one restaurant was wine. Vino rosso. The restaurant did not have a liquor license and thus could not – technically – sell wine (or other alcoholic beverages).

However — as stated on Febo’s menu (Febo’s did have a liquor license) — Un pranzo senza vino, e come un giorno senza sole (a day without wine is like a day without sunshine). So, to remedy the situation, this unnamed restaurant offered “Old Dutch grape juice.”  Yep.  If you wanted a glass of wine with lunch or dinner, you would look at the waitress and say “I will have some Old Dutch grape juice.”  The waitress would nod.  And disappear into the kitchen.  She’d fill an Old Dutch grape juice bottle to the brim.  With superb red wine from a keg in back. 

Now you’re probably asking if they ever got in trouble – no liquor license and all.  Answer?  Never.  Not with police, judges, States Attorneys, lawyers, alderman and occasionally Mayor Richard J. Daley (who I saw on at least two occasions) all sitting there – asking for “Old Dutch grape juice” (har har hardy har har).  Toward the end of my stretch – the restaurant finally obtained a liquor license.  But they still served Old Dutch.  With a smile. For old time’s sake.

The Pirate Drill

On By scottpetersenIn THe Pirate DrillLeave a comment

Our first cruise on Regent Seven Seas, we navigated through the Arabian Sea, the Straits of Hormuz, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean. On our third day out — in advance of traversing the narrows between Somalia and Yemen, we had a “Pirate Drill.” Seriously.

We attended the mandatory emergency lifeboat drill on the first day. But it was the “Pirate Drill” that had everyone talking. And slightly unnerved. Because of the risk of Somali pirates (“extremely remote, folks“), we had a drill for that contingency.

We were told to listen for “Code” announcements. “Code Yellow” (an unknown sighting) meant the crew and staff had to report to duty stations. “Code Orange” (a possible encounter) required all passengers to leave staterooms and gather in halls and aisles in the center of the ship. And “Code Red” (encounter) meant that all passengers were to sit or lie on the floors and the ship would turn on the after-burners. Going left and right to avoid the pirates. And yes, we practiced a Code Red.

But I was ready for those pirates.  Little did they know that when I was 21, I studied kung fu.  AND I always carried my miniature Swiss Army knife complete with tiny scissors.