Along The Ad Routes

by Mike Reilly

I can’t believe that after all that cold and wind we have been getting that Sunday was almost like spring! It was over 50 degrees in the afternoon, almost like needing to go without a coat! I did shed my “driving” gloves though! By the end of this week, today, to be specific, the temperatures are supposed to be near single digits though. There are a lot of Christmas events happening around the immediate area this coming weekend so hopefully nothing gets cancelled due to the cold!

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I had to go to Arena for their Christmas event last Saturday and Dewey wanted to go to Mineral Point by 9:00 a.m. to watch his grandson play basketball, so we decided to stay close to home for breakfast and we went to Jimmy’s Diner in Dodgeville. It was only Bob, Dewey, Potsie and me there as Tom had to head to Chippewa Falls to pick up his wife. Terry and son Bill were working on his car and couldn’t make it either. I was the only one who recognized Michelle, our waitress. She had waited on us before, and did her usually very good job. Our coffee cups were kept filled and our orders came promptly. Jimmy was doing the cooking, but he still found time ot come over and say hi!

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At Jimmy’s, there are several tables of regulars who we see whenever we make it there. Jerry Whitford came over to talk for a few minutes. He always has some enlightening words to say!

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Sunday it was Bob and Mary Kratochwill, Lyle and Mary Ann Antonson, Fr. Tafadzwa and me at Cafe by Country Kitchen for brunch. We were served by let’s see: Amy Jo, Mary Jo, Jo Jo who has now been called Lizzie Jo too! She is a lot of fun as a waitress who always has a story to tell!

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This weekend is the annual “Little Givers” Market that is held at Dodgeville High School on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It’s a great time for youngsters to get that gift for their big brother or sister, parents or grandparents at very affordable prices with help from “elves”. And you can get it gift wrapped too!

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There’s just two weeks of shopping left until Christmas! I guess I’d probably start (at least) thinking about presents to buy! I don’t want to rush things though!

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Will there be any snow for Christmas? That’s a great question. Advanced temperatures point to maybe a little rain that may cause some icy conditions. Snow,  however, may not happen!

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Today, Thursday, December 12 is “National Ding-a-ling Day”. Now, I know many people I have called ding-a-lings, but that’s not really what this day is meant to be. On this day, the tradition is to call someone you care about, but don’t often speak to. It was started in 1972 by a man named Franky Hyle.  He placed an ad in the paper offering membership in the Ding-A-Ling Club for $1.  The club’s only known activity was placing phone calls to lost friends and relatives on December 12th of each year. Since then the tradition has grown from the original 871 members to millions of people taking the day to reach out and touch someone (figuratively speaking).

I’m more of the in-person type though!