My Favorite Trees

On By scottpetersenIn My favorite treeLeave a comment

Has anyone ever asked you what your favorite tree is?  I didn’t think so. . . . .

I walk to and from the train station every day. And each day I pass the same trees. Elms, oaks and maples. And a few coniferous offerings — pine and spruce varieties.  But there are two trees – that stand out.  And gather my attention every day.   The first is a copper beech.  A beautiful, old, twisted thick-trunked tree with noble mien and stature.  It has the elephant hide bark and beautiful leaves in summer.  If I was 10 years old again, I’d be climbing it.  

It is the second tree though that has my greatest admiration.  It is a ginkgo.  One single ginkgo in my half mile walk.  The ginkgo is a rarity among trees as it dates back 270 million years.  Its leaf design is the symbol of the prefecture of Tokyo.  Male ginkgos develop cones and the female ginkgos sprout small flowers.  And extract of ginkgo is marketed as a dietary supplement for enhancing cognitive function (I buy it by the gallon).  And ginkgo nuts are edible.

The most amazing feature of the ginkgo is that in the fall, the tree loses its leaves all within the space of hours.  One day, I will walk by my “favorite tree” and it’s full of leaves.  The next day, the leaves are all lying in a thick, yellow, circular carpet around the base (see http://www.kwanten.home.xs4all.nl/leavesfall.htm ).   If one day I come back to this world as an animal – I’d want to be an eagle.  If I ever come back as a tree – I’d want to be a male ginkgo.  In a forest of female ginkgos.  Hellooo there good lookin’ . . . . . .

Old Dutch grape juice

On By scottpetersenIn Old Dutch grape juiceLeave a comment

When I was a State’s Attorney at 26th & California, Friday lunches and dinner when a jury was “out” were often enjoyed away from the Criminal Court Building.  States Attorneys, Public Defenders, judges, police officers and politicians would head over to the wonderful enclave of Italian restaurants at 23rd and Oakley.       

Those were the days. Marconi’s. La Fontanella. Febo’s. Toscana Bakery. And others. All offering wonderful 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 any other alcoholic beverage).

 But as stated on Febo’s menu – 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 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, lawyers and even Alderman (and occasionally the Mayor – Richard J.) all sitting there – asking for “Old Dutch grape juice” (har har hardy har har).  Toward the end of my stretch – the restaurant did get a liquor license.  But they still served Old Dutch.  For old time’s sake. . . .    

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.”