Golf – is 70% Mental and 30% Mental

On By scottpetersenIn Golf, HumorLeave a comment

The only time I ever took out a one-iron was to kill a tarantula. And I took a 7 to do that.  ~ Jim Murray

The only sure rule in golf is – he who has the fastest cart never has to play the bad lie.  ~ Mickey Mantle

Sex and golf are the two things you can enjoy even if you’re not good at them.   ~ Kevin Costner

After all these years, it’s still embarrassing for me to play on the American golf tour. Like the time I asked my caddie for a sand wedge and he came back ten minutes later with a ham on rye.
~ Chi Chi Rodriguez

Give me golf clubs, fresh air and a beautiful partner, and you can keep the clubs and the fresh air.  ~ Jack Benny

Professional golf is the only sport where, if you win 20% of the time, you’re the best.   ~ Jack Nicklaus

The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course.  ~ Billy Graham

If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play at it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.   ~ Bob Hope

If you think it’s hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball.   ~ Jack Lemmon

You can make a lot of money in this game. Just ask my ex-wives.
~ Lee Trevino

Pajamas

On By scottpetersenIn Do men wear pajamas?1 Comment

Do guys wear pajamas? It’s not a topic that I think about much.  The Wall Street Journal asked that question in an article dated August 12, 2015. The consensus was “some men do” but “they’re hard to find.”  This tracks an ABC News poll of 1,501 American adults which found that only 13% of men wore actual pajamas.  

I can see that after getting home from work – putting on a pair of pajamas might provide that demarcation between the work day and personal time.   It’s time to wind down, unlax, kick back.   When I get home from work, I don a pair of jeans that are standing up in the corner waiting for me (I don’t think they’ve been washed in years).  And a t-shirt.  Slippers.  For me, I have not had a pair of p.j.’s since I was in high school.  It’s usually been a pair of boxers or gym shorts and a maybe a t-shirt in winter.  Or nothing.  Depending on the circumstances. 

I have no context on whether guys who are reading this wear real pajamas.  Maybe you don’t want to admit it or maybe you want to shout it from the rooftops.  But I would be interested in an anonymous “yep” or “nope” — if you feel like sharing.   
 

Grilled Peanut Butter

On By scottpetersenIn Augustana College, Grilled peanut butter sandwich, Hitchhiking, Round the Clock RestaurantLeave a comment

(A favorite from December 20, 2012)

Did you ever have a special dish of your own creation added to a restaurant menu? I did.  Twice.  Here’s number one. . . . 

When I was at Augustana College, I was the quintessential night owl.  I would study (or play cards) until the wee hours. And often, as the second hand approached midnight, I and a few other guys would hitchhike (see 9/4/16) to the Round the Clock Restaurant in downtown Rock Island. And I would order a grilled peanut butter sandwich. With a dill pickle on the side. And a tall glass of milk. The interesting thing was that grilled peanut butter was not on the menu.

One evening at the Round the Clock, I had noticed a “peanut butter & jelly sandwich” on the menu. I was not about to order a PB & J sandwich, but it occurred to me that a grilled peanut butter sandwich might be just the ticket.  We slid into the booth and I ordered a “grilled peanut butter sandwich.” The waitress looked at me like I was a moon rock. I said “same as a grilled cheese but use peanut butter instead of cheese.” I felt like Jack Nicholson in the “Five Easy Pieces” diner scene. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wtfNE4z6a8   The waitress walked away shaking her head. She used gestures to explain the order at the window to the kitchen.  And she pointed at the goofy-looking kid in the booth. 

After a few weeks of this, when I walked in the door, the waitress would give me that knowing look “grilled peanut butter“? she would ask. I’d nod and smile “yes ma’am.” A few months later, “Grilled Peanut Butter Sandwich” made its debut on the Round the Clock’s menu. And I became a legend.  At least in my own mind.

Unchained

On By scottpetersenIn Beer for my Horses, Bike locks, UnchainedLeave a comment

When I was a kid, I’d ride my Schwinn Phantom to school and park it in the bike rack on the playground. Unchained. After school, I’d go to the rack, get my bike and ride home. On arriving home, I’d walk in the side door (my parents both worked) which was usually unlocked.  And I’d go about my business of being a 10 year old.  When my parents came home, we’d sometimes go out for pizza.  We’d walk out the unlocked door, get in the unlocked car, drive to Fadaro’s (an old favorite) and walk in — leaving the car unlocked.    

None of my friends locked their bikes.  Even when riding into town.  Most friends left their homes unlocked too.  And no one ever locked their cars.  I mean why?    

Of course today, we live in a much better America.  As some will tell you.  But everybody locks everything.  All the time.   And if someone goes to steal your bike from the rack – or your car – and you give him a punch or two, who gets in trouble?  Yep.  Not the scumbag.  No my friend.  You will get in hot water.  And you might get sued.

Hmmm. . . Vigilante justice?  Is that wrong?  You tell me.   Beer for my horses . . . . . (see April 16, 2015).       

Thanksgiving 2016

On By scottpetersenIn My Favorite Day, Romans 12:5, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

In my post of November 11, 2011, I mentioned an occasion when I was asked what my “favorite day” is.  And I replied “Thanksgiving.”  Why?  Well, it’s a long weekend.  Great food.  Leftovers.  Family time.  On the big day this year, it’s the Detroit Lions playing the Vikings (hmmm); Redskins versus the Cowboys (yawn); and the Steelers against the Colts (zzzzzzz).   Here we are.  Another November.  Five years later.  Christmas is around the corner.  Wow!  The days go slow and the years go fast.  Faster it seems every year.

On this day of thanks, let us put politics and disagreement aside – remembering that “we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of one another” (Romans 12:5).    We are all – family.  My best wishes to you and your families for a wonderful, happy and blessed Thanksgiving weekend. 

Names

On By scottpetersenIn Girls' NamesLeave a comment

Adam and Eve.  The first names of the first people.   These names are still – after millennia – clearly in vogue (I can attest to the latter). 

I saw an article which talked about the most popular girls’ names. The top ten are:
1 Emma
2 Olivia
3 Ava
4 Sophia
5 Mia
6 Isabella
7 Charlotte
8 Amelia
9 Harper
10 Abigail

How quickly time passes.  I remember the top ten girls’ names of my relatives:  LaVerne; Mildred; Edna; Lois; Myrna; Hilma; Lillian; Greta; Ruth; and Bernice.  All are fine names – to be sure.  But today, I haven’t seen many girls being named from this wellspring of examples.    

And then we move to the girls’ names of generations long past:  Hortence; Mona; Gertrude; Fannie; Faye; Mabel; Beulah; Maude; Beatrice; Myrtle; Ethel . . . . .  Good names as well but I don’t see Hortence or Fannie making a comeback anytime soon.  

And funny thing – I don’t see “Bambi” on anyone’s list. . . . .

Shortsworthy

On By scottpetersenIn Knucklehead, ShortsworthyLeave a comment

I play golf during the summer and in the shoulder seasons. And my preference is to wear shorts.  In the summer, that’s an easy sell.  Looking around the golf course on a hot summer day, very few (other than the pros) will be wearing long pants.  You’d have to be incredibly shy – or have a sun issue – to play golf in long pants when it’s 80 degrees. 

However once Labor Day arrives and the temperature begins its inexorable slide down the thermometer, some chaps pull out the long pants.  Even when it’s 60 degrees.   But not me. . . . .

I can’t count the number of times someone has said – as I walk in the locker room on a chilly Saturday morning – “you’re wearing shorts!?!?”  Posed as a question, the answer would be obvious — from my knobby, scarred legs.  Yes.  I am – indeed – wearing shorts.  But when presented as a statement, it might just suggest that I meet someone’s definition of “knucklehead” (see February 13, 2014, for the proper definition of “knucklehead”).  

Hey – I’m comfy in shorts.  But I also figure if a 98 pound cocktail waitress can wear a miniskirt when it’s 10 below zero, I can wear shorts to golf on a day when Andy Avalos says “it’s going to be 59 degrees and sunny.”  Such weather is in my opinion shortsworthy.       

So these two guys. . . .

On By scottpetersenIn So these two guysLeave a comment

Two hunters from Minnesota get a pilot to fly them to Canada to hunt moose. They bag six big ones.

As they start loading the plane for the return trip, the pilot tells them the plane can take only four of the moose. The two lads object strongly. “Last year we shot six, and the pilot let us put them all on board.  He had the same plane as yours.”

Reluctantly, the pilot gives in and lets them load all six. However, even with full power, the little plane can’t handle the load and goes down a few moments after takeoff.  Climbing out of the wreckage, one Minnesotan asks the other, “Any idea where we are?” The second replies, “Yah, I tink we’s pretty close to where we crashed last year.”

The Election

On By scottpetersenIn Hillary, Obama, TrumpLeave a comment

How did this happen?   Was it a vote for Trump? A vote against Hillary? A vote against the sad legacy of Obama? Take your choice. It’s probably a combination of all three.

It’s ironic — Democrats have constantly derided Republicans for being “fat cats” and “those at the top.”  Yet suddenly in midstream the fat cats were joined by “a basket of deplorables” — hard-working men and women who in the words of Obama “cling to their religion and guns.”

I don’t know how this will play out but let’s keep our fingers crossed for all of the good things we had hoped would happen.  Eight years ago. . . . .   

He Could Have Done So Much

On By scottpetersenIn He could have done so much, Obama1 Comment

When he was sworn into office, there was a groundswell of optimism – about what might be accomplished during his Presidency:  economic recovery, stability and prosperity; peace at home and abroad; improved racial relations; improved educational performance and opportunity; cooperation in government; sensible spending and taxation; and on.  And on.  I was one who had hoped.   

After nearly eight years, where are we?  Stagnant economy.  A near doubling of national debt.  More taxes.  Regulations out of control.  Racial tensions.  Open contempt for police.  Anger.  Hatred and disrespect on all “sides.”  Increased danger across the globe.  Terrorism.  A perilous Iranian nuke deal.  Cuba is now our pal and we’ve pulled the plug on Israel.  Trusted allies turning their backs on America.  Many countries and world leaders – giving America the proverbial finger.  A new Cold War.  China/Russia rapprochement.  A dismantled military. Executive orders to openly disobey laws which are on the books (illegal immigration; sanctuary cities; legalizing marijuana and in some cases other drugs).  Pardons for 944 dealers of hard drugs (more pardons than the last 11 Presidents combined).  Trampling on free speech.  Political correctness gone berserk.  Trivializing of religion.  Obamacare in total meltdown.  Corruption.    Poverty on the rise.  Education sinking further into the abyss.  Groveling apologies for America’s greatness.  And on.  And on.

I am deeply concerned about the next four years. If you aren’t concerned, you must be an ostrich.  Or one who cares more about ideology – than America.