The UFF DA Reality

[Mitkof]

Hi Jeff,
I had to think about your UFF DA question
Uff Da is Norwegian origin. Commonly used in Upper Midwest states especially Minnisota, as well as Petersburg, AK [known as little Norway] and Puget Island, WA.
It can express surprise or astonishment, total exhaustion, final relief, and disappointment. Roughly means "drats!," "oops!," "ouch!," "Oh no!," or "Oh Crap!."
It has become a mark of Scandinavian roots. Typical UFF DA situation:
Dropping your only egg on the floor [yep]
Discovering your girl/boyfriend loves Lutefisk
Dropping wrench so it slides into the bilge, under the engine [been there]
Having a mouse crawl up your leg on a hay ride
When your friends mock your Ole and Lena jokes
Eating a delicious sandwich, and discovering you used cat food [neighbor did it]
Waking yourself up in church with your own snoring [only once]
Having to take your kids Trick or Treating in a blizzard
Pulling into harbor with trolling poles still out [true event]
Getting ticket for driving without a steering wheel [true event]
Setting parking brake in -20 degree weather
Hanging out your bedroom window at 2am yelling at an Angus in the flowers below only to have it stand-up on hind legs and look back at you [true bear event Uff Da]

If you have a Sons of Norway Hall you are in Uff Da country [most normal people stay away].

 

[Larry Caldwell]

The first BBS I ever subscribed to was called the Uff Da Express.

 

[oosik]

Uff da is when you step over it - Fee da is when you step in it.

 

[Mitkof]

Thanks Oosik, If I was back up in Petersburg, Big House Lars could explain it to me...
Fee da it seems is a way of life. Lars was the fella cited for driving without a steering wheel.

 

[dragoneggs]

Hi Jeff,

If you have a Sons of Norway Hall you are in Uff Da country [most normal people stay away].

Was a Sons of Norway member for many years. Used to sing in the Norwegian Male Chorus too when I was much younger. Lots of lutefisk and lefsa, ya you betcha!

 

[oosik]

The summers spent in SE Alaska - many time we would tie up in Petersburg - waiting for the tides to change - so we had safe passage thru Wrangell Narrows.

Lutefisk & lefsa - ya, good food

 

[CalG]

Lefsa! Now you are talk'n

Home cooked is the best, store bought is a bit spendy.

I'm "Dakota bred and raised" Worked construction through "higher education" summers. A couple of stints with a pair of old Norwegians , One we called "Tootie" and the other "Muldoon". Tootie and Muldoon were always good for an "uff Da" every five minutes or so. It was a hoot trying to guess when.

Ya, For sure

(jag, Forstar)

 

[Mitkof]

Yep, I lived 20+ years in P-burg. Lots of good times and Uff da moments.
Where else can you live with wolves walking down the streets, bears rubbing their backs on your house under the bedroom window, competition herring tossing, …and town so small the defendant is also on the jury. True story, it was an Uff Da moment for the judge.
Otis’s Homestead café and great halibut burgers. Neighbors knocking on door giving you fresh salmon and shrimp because they caught too much that morning.
Life is good …so are the memories.

 

[Mitkof]

Yep, I love the Dakotas. In a previous life I worked in Turtle Mtns and even down to Camp Crook.
Great places with good solid rural folks.
First time in ND I was Uff Da’d… by the ND Blue Laws.
Too funny until you figure them out… then life was good.
God Bless...

 

[oosik]

Got to admit - I had to look up your location. We are almost true diagonal across WA. My 20 years in AK( 1960-1982 ) were some of my best memories also.