Vacations Blog

Sally, Conrad and Cat (Photo Universal Studios/Dreamworks)

Like Sally and “Conroy”, I find myself perched at the living room window moping and watching the inclement weather outside.  But instead of rain, it’s snow and there’s no Cat coming to my rescue.  No, my salvo is a furry rodent named Phil.  Punxsutawney Phil.

This coming Monday is Groundhog Day.  And the only hope I have of lasting another winter in America’s Bitter and Cold-Blooded Heartland lies in hands of what would ordinarily be considered a menace to the farming community.  A freaking Groundhog!  Yep!  You got it.  My will, my resolve to last, is at the mercy of that hairy little critter and whether or not he sees his shadow come February 2.

No shadow and winter can end as it should–soon.  But if that little fur faced demon happens to catch a glimpse of anything long and dark then I’m gonna be needing to fill a prescription.  I’m not so sure I can handle an extra six weeks of Arctic Bliss unaided.

Phil

For over 100 years, the little community in Punxsutawney, just northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has held special observances on Groundhog Day in a little area known as Gobbler’s Knob.  Though popular in it’s own right, the town and it’s celebrations were made even more so by the movie “Ground Hog Day” starring Bill Murray.  For the life of me, I can’t imagine getting up at 3:00 in the morning to stand in sub zero temperatures for four and a half long hours waiting for a prognosticating rodent to give me a shred of hope that winter will soon be over.  I don’t care how good the hot chocolate is.

Phil’s not the only groundhog in this gig, either. He’s just the most famous.  Here’s a few other groundhogs that you may or may not be aware of.  Of course, if you ask me they all look the same.

• Jimmy the Groundhog of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin , USA
  

  Jimmy

• Wiarton Willie found in Wiarton, Ontario, Canada
  

  Willie

• Staten Island Chuck found in New York City, New York, USA
  

  Chuck

• General Beauregard Lee, PhD found in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  

  General Lee

• Dunkirk Dave in Dunkirk, New York, USA
  

  Dave

• Malverne Mel and Malverne Melissa found in Malverne, New York, USA
  
  

  Mel

• Brandon Bob of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
  

  Bob

• Balzac Billy of Balzac, Alberta, Canada
  

  Billy

• Shubenacadie Sam of Shubencadie, Nova Scotia, Canada
  

  Sam

• Gary the Groundhog of Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada
  

  Gary

• Spanish Joe of Spanish Ontario, Canada
  

  Joe

• Sir Walter Wally of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
  

  Sir Walter

• Pardon Me Pete of Tampa, Florida, USA
  

  Pete

• Octoraro Orphie of Quarryville, Pennsylvania, USA
  

  Orphie

• Holtsville Hal of Holtsville, New York, USA
  

  Hal

• Buckeye Chuck of Marion, Ohio, USA
  

  Chuck

List courtesy of Wikipedia, links by UpTake

I feel certain that the festivities involving each of these fine groundhogs is nothing short of splendid and each town is a treat to visit even without a groundhog day.  Take, Punxsutawney, for instance.  There is  groundhog festival every year around July 4th.

Summer!  Now that’s more likely to be a time you’ll find me visiting.

But right now, it’s winter.  It’s cold.  And I don’t care if you throw in a traditional spam burger with the hot chocolate, nothing is going to drag me out to watch someone wake up a hibernating groundhog predict the weather.  Just tell me what he said.  I’ll make a note of it and then file it with all of my other 63% accurate weather reports.