UFF DA!

UFF DA!

When immigrants came to the U.S. from various lands, they strove to become thoroughly American. It became common practice to speak only English in the presence of the children. However, one expression Norwegian immigrants found it impossible to shed was “uff da!” The term sounds just like what it seeks to convey: disgruntlement.

Professor Odd Lovoll of St. Olaf College (in Minnesota) was quoted in the Norwegian press as bemoaning the lack of conversancy of most Norwegian Americans with the Norwegian language — with the Norwegian vocabulary of most limited to “uff da.” What this reflects is that “uff da” is probably the Norwegian expression best known to Norwegian Americans.

It is a perfectly polite expression which may be used in place of various vulgarisms employed to evince displeasure. One wag has observed, “In Norway, Charlie Brown says, ‘uff da!’ instead of ‘Good grief!.’ “

It is an analogue of such words in other languages as “oy vey” or “carumba.”

“Da” means “then.” Literally, “ja da” means “yes, then,” “nei da” means “no, then,” and “uff da” means, well, “uff, then.”

Dag Petter Eide of Ålesund suggests we might be “a bit too engaged by the little quite meaningless phrase.” It’s understandable that in Norway, little significance would be ascribed to that or any other commonly uttered expression. But in the U.S.A., those of us of Norwegian extraction are united by our memories of our progenitors grumbling, “Uff da!” Eide notes that “søren” is a term that might be invoked on any occasion when “uff da” seems appropriate. But “uff da” has the sound that perfectly matches the emotion, and is the phrase that comes readily to our minds if not to our lips.

“Uff da!” is no longer an expression cognizable only by Norwegians and those of Norwegian extraction. Evidence of that is “Uff Da” page in English posted by a Japanese neurologist, “Dr. Y” (Shunji Yasaki). The website has no relation to Norway except for its inspiration: while in Minnesota, Dr. Yasaki befriended some Norwegian Americans and encountered the expression “uff da.”

The opening of the joke page reads:

Uff Da is — discovering that your male dog is pregnant!
Uff Da is — forgetting your mother-in-law’s first name.
Uff Da is — dropping your only egg on the floor!
Uff Da is — eating hot soup when you’ve got a runny nose!

Norwegian American Hall of Fame | Who Has the Answer? | Norwegian Joke Page

(c) 1998-2007, Roger M. Grace. All rights reserved.

ref:  http://www.lawzone.com/half-nor/uffda.htm?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0AtjYRID952e3kauTahGAkCWlJ1we5vtXlOV-8opEBFT1DlkUXuGtiy4g_aem_ASRs0UyHOQ1-fh7orIdyQcZLPH3MpfpnYvERi3vEp-fGOV_RQCcUALf0pWaAVq21R_YaTZgb5YwwXZJOcB11j-KQ

A Personal Note regarding The Cycle of Poverty

Awhile back, a person with whom I have been acquainted for 35 years wrote on social media:

There is a correlation in America between poverty and lifestyles –inter-generational poverty often comes with unwed parenting and divorce –the inability to sustain a lifetime marriage is an intergenerational problem. The Bible says “the sins of the parents are visited upon the 3rd and 4th generations.” Kids raised poorly may not get to school or be disciplined to do their studies and if their parents don’t role model good character traits and work ethic, they may not develop them either –and be poor, unwed, single mothers –like THEIR mothers –and boys may father several households and support none –following example of parent. And various drug, mj and alcohol addiction may be factors.

The Bible also says that someone’s problems are not necessarily because of parental sin OR their own.
” 1Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, 2and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.…” and then he healed the blind man.

People who do overcome adversity are an inspiration to all. Apparently Carol Burnett and Dr. Phil were children of alcoholics –and he was homeless at one point. But he’s very educated and was successful in sports. He has demonstrated fidelity to his wife and apparently his kids are doing ok.

But no question about it –getting off the narrow road that leads to life onto the wide road that leads to destruction affects anyone badly–though some are not as affected in their finances as others. There are “successful” but evil rich people. Jesus had a lot to say to them and to hypocrites and self-righteous. But He also said , “GO AND SIN NO MORE.” And by the power of the Holy Spirit we may not achieve perfection but we can live to serve Him –we need to stay humble –not proud, knowing about sinners, “There but for the grace of God, go I.”

I had grace from my protective Christian parents who wisely deprived me of a boyfriend i loved –they didn’t let me go to prom with him–and he soon got the girl pregnant that he did take to the prom. And then later I met a nice young man who saw my picture in the paper as the winner of a spelling bee and introduced himself and his friend to me and my friend under the bleachers at a community ballgame—-and they let me date him that year –on a limited protected basis –he could come to church with me –and he later came to my college –I introduced him to his wife –he became a devout Christian. We remained friends.

My mom was not much of a believer in her upbringing –except that she and my dad went to a Christian college where she got saved and had a wonderful group of Christian women friends. Then Mom was an example and protector for me –as was my father. Stable home life is more likely to result in stable home life for the kids in their futures –but church–and church college and strict mother were my saving graces.

I wish salvation and relationship with Christ for all of us.

I replied:

A personal note: I grew up in a single parent home; my mother first wed at age 14 1/2. Her first husband and his best friend went to jail for robbery. My mother later divorced her first husband and then wed his best friend with whom she had 3 sons. The second husband couldn’t keep a job, turned into an alcoholic, and ran around with other women. My mother divorced him after about 5 years. Her second husband did not pay court ordered alimony or child support, but his older brother, a widower with an adolescent son of his own who was being raised by the son’s paternal grandparents, financially helped my mother and her 3 boys, his nephews. A result was my mother repaying him by providing intimacy favors, the result being – – me. That man’s mother encouraged my mother to go to court to file bastardy charges and accompanied my mother to the court. That resulted with the man being legally declared my father and ordering child support be paid on my behalf, which was paid throughout my entire childhood and adolescence, never missing a payment.
A few years later, my mother remarried a man who had a good job and who cared for my mother’s 4 sons. With this man, her third husband, she had a fifth son. That marriage ended in divorce within about 7 years when that man became an alcoholic and lost his job. Once again, my mother was single, and that man did not pay court ordered alimony or child support. My mother went on public assistance, aka welfare. Over the next few years, my mother dated two men who I remember well. My mother became pregnant by the second man and gave birth to fraternal twins, a girl and a boy. As it turned out, that man was married but separated from his wife. Again, my mother went to court, and child support was ordered but never paid. Welfare was the way of life for the rest of my childhood and adolescence.
After my mother’s oldest 5 children grew up and started lives of their own, my mother was able to obtain a job a get off welfare with some financial help from us older children.
I was the only child of my mother’s 7 children to have gone to college and have a professional career. I had a partial scholarhip, but only during my first college year; and, I worked fulltime while going to college fulltime, and was married my last year of college.
The cycle of poverty can be broken!

April Fools’ Day

April 1, 2024.
A day dedicated to people like me.
Happy April Fools’ Day!

Follow the embedded link to read all about April Fools’ Day.

Grandparent Alienation

Elder abuse includes grandparent alienation.

“What is grandparent alienation?

Grandparent alienation is a type of elder abuse, a term for the mistreatment of older people in a society. It occurs when grandparents are unreasonably denied meaningful opportunities to have a relationship and spend time with their grandchildren. It can vary from not being invited to a birthday party right through to no contact with the grandchild at all over a protracted period of time.”

“How does alienation affect grandparents?

It can leave grandparents isolated, anxious, depressed, angry and frustrated. In effect, they are grieving for the living. This can also be called ambiguous grief.

Grandparents can in turn become isolated from their peers as they retreat from conversations about their friends’ grandchildren, or indeed are not included by friends as they know it is upsetting if they talk about their positive relationships.”

ref: Grandparent Alienation Tip Sheet

Roland Hansen, Visionary Philosopher

The following is a copy and paste from an online test I took about 15 or so years ago:

Tickle’ Roland Hansen Classic IQ Test Results

The Classic IQ Test

My Result: Visionary Philosopher

Your mind’s strengths allow you to think ahead of the game — to imagine or anticipate what should come next in just about any situation. Because you’re equally skilled in the numerical and verbal universes of the brain, you can draw from multiple sources of information to come up with great ideas. The timelessness of your vision and the balance between your various skills are what make you a Visionary Philosopher.
In addition to your strengths in math and linguistics, you have a knack for matching and anticipating patterns. These skills and your uncanny ability to detect the underlying blueprint of most of life’s situations add to your Visionary Philosopher mind.
Two philosophers who share the same combination of skills you possess are Plato and Benedict Spinoza. Spinoza had insight into how things worked in the world. He could envision a future based on the patterns he saw in life, and used mathematical logic as a structure within which to present his philosophical arguments. With that base he was able to use logic to formulate his theories. Borrowing from his linguistic strengths he wrote eloquent texts and, therefore, was able to bring his philosophical ideas and structure to the rest of the world. His story exemplifies the talents that are present in the Visionary Philosopher intellectual type.
Whatever you decide to do in life, you’ve got a powerful mix of skills and insight that can be applied in a wide variety of ways. You can expand your mind to understand a situation. Your strong balance of math and verbal skills will help you explain things to others. For example, if you were on an archaeological dig and discovered an object, you could probably use your deductive powers to figure out not only what the object was but also how it was used. Given your ability to put things together, you are more than capable of inventing a life plan that is in synch with your perspective on how things were, how they are, and how they might be one day.

Judgemental Opinions on A Person’s Use of Social Media

I double dog dare you to read the article contained within the attached link, especially those people who judge other people’s use of Facebook and other social media.
Lord knows my use of social media has been judged by quite a few folks. I have even been unfriended and blocked by former ‘friends’ and very close bloodline relatives who do not like the way I use Facebook.

Ask Amy: Friend is uncomfortable with overshares

My Feelings

The attached meme is especially applicable to several members of my own extended and immediate  family who have purposely with mean intent hurt me with their words and actions. These people to whom I refer have also chosen to estrange themselves from me and continue to do so despite my attempts at reconciliation. How people can so easily cast other people aside without even attempting to work at improving interpersonal relationships is beyond my comprehension. Truly sad.