Author: scottpetersen

Lawyer, guitar player (the Blues), magic man, chess player, father, grandfather, husband, linguist, etc.

5 Guys

On By scottpetersenIn 5 Guys, Friends, Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are2 Comments

When I was a kid, my father used to tell me – over and over – “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are.”  I think I learned.  We all want friends we like but more importantly, we want friends who are good for us.  Friends who enrich us.  Make us think.  Make us better.  I work with really good people.  And in my off hours, I try to hang around good people.   Really good people.  Smart people.  Good golfers.  🙂   I have a vague idea of who I am.  But the jury’s still out . . . . .

And I tend to view food the way I do friends.  I normally want food that’s good for me.  Food that likes me.  Food that’s not going to cause me trouble – if you get my drift.   I have avocados for breakfast (August 20, 2013) and Saturday lunches are pretty healthy (March 15, 2012).  Donna feels the same way about food.  It’s gotta be nutritious.  So dinner can be pretty boring. . . . .  

But on Friday night, the planets aligned.  The stars stood still.  Sages from ages past looked down.  And rubbed their chins.  Looked at each other.  Solemnly.  And gave the nod.  Donna’s been home recuperating from the hip replacement.  And Friday we had no plans for dinner.  I threw out “how about some burgers and fries from 5 Guys?”  I quickly ducked.  But no missile was forthcoming.  I looked.  Donna was rubbing her chin.  She looked up and said brightly “sounds good.”  Oh my socks and shoes.  I grabbed the keys and dashed off to 5 Guys before she could change her mind.  The last time we’d had 5 Guys was maybe four years ago.   I walked in and ordered.   Got the goods.  Burgers.  Dripping with onions, cheese, lettuce, tomato and ketchup.   Crisp greasy, salty fries.  And I returned home.  And we ate.  Slowly.  Seriously.  O’m’gosh it was delicious.  We looked at each other and resolved right then and there that we are going to do this again.  At least once a year. . . . . 

Excellence

On By scottpetersenIn Edwards Deming, ExcellenceLeave a comment

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might . . . . .”
Ecclesiastes 9:10

Edwards Deming (1900-1993) was an American engineer and management consultant who is best known for his work in getting Japan back on its feet after World War II.  I have read several of Deming’s books, watched some of his lecture videos and I remain a devotee of his management style.  He was a stickler for quality, knowledgeable effort and excellence.  And I love his words of wisdom.  “There is no finish line for excellence.”  “It is not enough to do your best.  You have to know what to do.  And then do your best.”   

Deming was a firm believer that problems within an organization come from the few at the top — not from those below.  “Hold everyone accountable?  Ridiculous!”   Deming believed that those at the top of an organization were fully responsible for pretty much everything within the organization.  “A bad system will beat a good person every time.”  “Does experience help?  NO!  Not if we are doing the wrong things.”   “There must be consistency in direction.” 

If one chooses a book of Edwards Deming – to read and absorb – it would likely be Out of the Crisis.  It is crisp and well-written and speaks to how to be a great manager and respected leader.  The reviews are abundant and positive.  Given the erratic and unpredictable direction of America, I’m tempted to send a few copies to . . . . never mind.

May I say who is calling?

On By scottpetersenIn Who's calling please?1 Comment

When you place a telephone call and the receptionist says “who may I say is calling,” you give your name.  Right? 

One day years ago, I got this question when I called a close friend.   My eyes narrowed and I responded “this is his parole officer.”   A few weeks later, I identified myself as “his tap dance teacher.”   A few weeks ago, I said “I’m from the Garden Shop and I wanna know – do I dump this load of manure on his driveway or in the front yard.”   

I called my Boy Scout pal Doctor Bill in Lexington, Ky.  “Who’s calling please?”  I said I was putting the new roof on his house.  Well – patients took a back seat for the moment.  He quickly answered and said “WHAT??”   Apparently he’d just asked for a quote on a new roof and was debating the subject.  We all gets the “who’s calling please” business and — maybe it’s just me — one day I decided to be different.  “My name is Marv McClurg from the Reader’s Digest.  I’m calling about his million dollar prize.”  And I hear in the background . . . sir – this man’s calling about your million dollar prize.   

At this point, when I call and say “This is Nelson Snodgrass from the White House,” receptionists will giggle and tell the recipient – always with a smile – “Scott’s on the phone. . . .”

Ylvis

On By scottpetersenIn Gangnam Style, Psy, What does the Fox Say?, YlvisLeave a comment

No, I don’t mean “Elvis.” Do you know about Ylvis?  Ylvis is a comedy team comprised of two Norwegian brothers (ages 33 and 36).  They’ve done some television gigs and recorded a few songs in Norway — famed hits like Kjempeform; Sammens Finner Vi Frem; and Jag Heter Finn (as I recall, this was our wedding song).   Anyway, one of their songs has rocketed this Nordic duo into the stratosphere of pop culture. 

In 2013, the boys published a children’s book titled “What does the Fox Say.”  It soared to the top of the New York Times bestseller list for children.  And then they wrote a song.  Based on the title of their book.  WHOOOSH!!    It is the song – an electronic dance video – that draws the “wows.”  Since first posted on September 3, 2013, this music video became the most intensely watched YouTube video of all time.  Today it has over half a billion (with a “B“) views.  See www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofNR_WkoCE  (you may have to copy and paste this link into your browser).  The music videos I referenced on January 5, 2014, aren’t even in the same league. 

If you don’t know Ylvis, you may not know Psy – the South Korean phenom.   “What does the Fox Say” pales in comparison to Psy’s incredible “Gangnam Style” video (see  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0 ).   Psy’s electronic dance video is the most watched – ever – video with 2.2 billion views.  Very cool.  I really gotta learn to speak Korean. . . .    

 

Hip Hip Hooray

On By scottpetersenIn Hip replacementLeave a comment

On Thursday morning (2/26), Donna had a total hip replacement. The hip had not been painful but it had been “giving out.” What made matters worse was that the bone-on-bone hip socket was causing “transferred pain” to the knee joint and to the IT (iliotibial) band.   The pain was sometimes a 9 out of 10.  Seriously.  Soooooooooo, the decision was easy. 

Donna got a brand new hip in the morning and in the afternoon she was up walking.  It was a few steps, but she was walking.  Friday she walked with a walker down the hall.  Today – Saturday – she got out of the hospital and went to a rehab facility for some intensive physical therapy.  Tomorrow she starts the tennis program but it will only be doubles for a while. . . . .    

No Guns Allowed!

On By scottpetersenIn No guns allowedLeave a comment

It must give some folks a warm and fuzzy – and safe – feeling when they walk into an office building, shopping mall or store and see the sharp red circle and diaganol line superimposed over the image of a handgun.  “Pfew – nobody has a gun here.”  And it must give politicians and store owners that sense of I’m gonna make a political statement.  And they smile as they adhere their signs to door after door.   Some folks even put these signs on their windows at home.    

Prohibited Area Sign

But I have to wonder if those who post – and favor – these signs are fools, stupid or just uneducated.  Tell me — what do these signs convey?  Are people that dumb to believe that the bad guys will see such a sign and go “oooh oooh – Khalid tell Hasam we better not go in there. . . .”   With the increasing, dark drumbeat of threats against America, our citizens and “soft targets” (and the horrific and massive carnage we’ve already witnessed), we actually have people in America who want to make these targets more vulnerable.  For my part, I’d prefer to leave the bad guys guessing.  And if something bad happens, wouldn’t it be refreshing to have a few brave souls stand up to the bad guys as the masses stampede toward the exits.  

Birthdays

On By scottpetersenIn Birthdays1 Comment

I had a birthday this week.  Funny how music brings things home.

I remember with clarity listening to John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High.”  The music opens “He was born in the summer of his twenty-seventh year . . .”   At the time I was 26, recently married and I wondered what being 27 would be like.  A few years before, the Beatles had released “When I’m 64.”  And I thought wow is that old.  And now 64 is history.  Pretty soon, God willing, it will be Paul Simon’s “how terribly strange to be seventy.”

There’s the classic question posed to Maurice Chevalier on his 80th birthday – “how does it feel to be eighty years old“?   To which he replied “sure better than the alternative.” And now he’s long gone.

We are but flickers of light. Our task – if not obligation – is to shine as brightly as possible for family, friends, the underprivileged and our world.  And then be remembered.  Monsieur Chevalier also said “you don’t stop laughing because you grow older.  You grow older because you stop laughing.”  That’s pretty good counsel.

Time Out

On By scottpetersenIn Time Out1 Comment

For the last 3-1/2 years, I have been posting 2 or more times daily. Until mid January, it’s been every Wednesday and Sunday – for two years. A combination of “stuff” put posting on hold. I hope to be back on track shortly.

Animals

On By scottpetersenIn Evil, TortureLeave a comment

In Pakistan, 145 students (mostly Muslim children) are slaughtered by the Taliban. And the civilized world calls the perpetrators “animals.” In Western Iraq, 322 men, women and children (all Muslim) are massacred by ISIS and dumped into a well.  And we call the perpetrators “animals.” In the Syrian town of Abu Hamam, ISIS assassins murder every male over the age of 15. More than 700 victims. And the media calls the perpetrators “animals.”  In France – Islamic radicals just murdered 17  And the world decries the “animals” who did this.  Thousands killed by Al-Qaeda in Pakistan.  Thousands exterminated by Boko Haram in Nigeria. And let’s no forget 9/11.  Mercy – when will this madness stop? 

When you read and hear – day after painful and sickening day – of massacres and horror beyond belief perpetrated by Muslim extremists (and their insatiable craving for more blood), one comes to the conclusion that some people really are “animals.”   Yet using that term is an insult to a lot of respectable dogs, cats, lions, frogs, turtles, porpoise, jellyfish and pigs.  These “people” are worse than “animals.”  These “animals” are rabid.  And we all know what we do with rabid animals.  They are destroyed.  I don’t think even the ASPCA or PETA would object. . . .   

9.5

On By scottpetersenIn 9.5, Scoring points1 Comment

Last Saturday, Donna asked if I would want to make dinner.   I was quick to say “sure.”   And I trotted off to Fresh Market to reconnoiter. The result was a 9.5.

I took flounder filets, rolled in gluten-free bread crumbs, basted lightly in olive oil and then baked for 14 minutes at 375.  Flounder is a buttery, tasty fish.  Hard to go wrong.  My vegetable medley was a take off on a prior theme.  Fresh shiitaki mushrooms, washed, dried and sliced; a sweet onion – sliced; and some organic carrots – chopped. All was put into a covered skillet, smothered in olive oil and nipped with pepper and turmeric.  After about 40 minutes (stirring frequently), I drained and added a wee bit of honey to caramelize. Finally it was my fresh guacamole (avocado, cilantro and lime juice) with gluten-free hummus chips.  And a few slices of fresh mango.  We enjoyed a Liberty School pinot noir and some San Pelligrino.   Dessert was a Talenti Sicilian pistachio gelato to which I added small chunks of 72% dark chocolate. 

It didn’t hurt that I hand crafted a menu with my usual art work, put on a little Gato Barbieri, lit a few candles.  And I did the dishes. 

I know what you’re thinking . . . .”Petersen – you &@^$x#!% – you’re making me look bad.”