By: Jim Dittmann
Well here we are: – Volume 3 Issue 2
Wie geht es dir?
Winter of ‘14 huh! Well I’ve taken on a new attitude – convinced myself that if I ignore it – it will go away. By now it is mid March – is the snow gone yet? News story the other day says this is almost as bad as the winter of ‘78. Oh yeah – I remember that one. Snow was so deep I could touch the electric lines while walking to the grocery – “just kidding.”
That year – still living in Watertown when I bought my first new car. It was a 1977 GMC pickup – two-wheel drive with an in-line six – three on the tree. Those days a rear bumper was extra and I took mine without. But after a close call with a fence post – I sucked it up and for an extra $179 ordered a painted one – chrome was a whole lot more. Soon I learned that these trucks with an empty box don’t go so well in the snow. I was working at a print shop and our plates came in these really nice plywood crates. Carl the boss said I could have an empty one. I placed it right over the rear axles – blocked in good so it wouldn’t slide around and filled it up with “free” sand from the orange boxes that the city had all over town. Now I was set…
We lived in this great farmhouse with your typical long driveway – just north of the hospital in Watertown. It was January of ‘78 – started snowing early and I made a quick run to town for supplies. Then it snowed some more and the wind picked up – I made it back and buried that little jimmy right in the driveway. This is the day I learned a bit about family – my “future” father-in-law loved big snow. Sonny ran an excavating business in Watertown with his trademark red pickup 4X4 – had to be a Dodge. He would go non-stop for days during the big snows – running on coffee – cigarettes and crawlers. Kathy got word to him that I had the whole works plugged up. In almost superhero fashion, he and the red truck would appear. Boom – tires were a spinnin’ – snow was giving way – I was rescued. “There you go, Dittmann – don’t do that again!” Then he would vanish – off to rescue another idiot. Sonny loved the snow…
Friday Fish Fry is a Wisconsin tradition! I do like a good fish fry – and I always chuckle thinking of Mike over at Gene’s Tires when he says – “Fish Fry on Friday, it’s a state law!”
So, here’s what I have in mind: Reader’s choice award – favorite fish fry place in Dodge County. Enter your favorite in the form below. Deadline is April 11, 2014. We’ll do a follow up story in our May / June edition.
Here’s your chance to share with everyone your favorite Dodge County Fish Fry!
Cheers!
