Happy Groundhog Day Eve! I don’t have to remind anybody that of all the 382 special observances of the days, weeks, and month during February, Groundhog Day is my personal favorite not to mention the most useful.
Photo: Pittsburgh Patch
But I have to question the blatant commercialism that is detracting from this great day. It’s quite alright that Punxsutawney Phil has his own Instagram page or his own souvenir shop. That’s reasonable for a celebrity of his stature. But it’s all this other stuff that everybody else is doing to horn in on his popularity that has to stop.
Photo: NASA
First there was that movie from 25 years ago about the day that kept going and going and going. Now there’s Mother Nature throwing her triple threat Super Blue Blood Moon into the mix a mere two days before Phil’s annual excursion into the public eye. And then there’s that silly football game on Sunday that’s already hogging up all the television time. Honestly, what does it take to get the world’s greatest weather icon his more than deserved respect?
His lack of respect doesn’t stop Phil from his appointed tasks as well as making personal appearances (take that you big extraterrestrial object) and even inspiring love songs (take that you hardly universal sporting event).
Now just in case you’re too busy tomorrow morning to be in Punxsutawney personally, you can catch Phil streaming his shadow, or lack of, here.
And remember, even if Phil should see his shadow, no matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.
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My favourite Phil moment was that time he bit someone. I practically cheered when I read the headline. Good man, Phil. You tell them they’re rude when they wake you up from your nap to parade you around!
I don’t know much about Groundhog Day (haven’t even seen the movie!) but from his instagram page I can see that Phil is extremely handsome for a groundhog. Are groundhogs also prairie dogs? I’m so confused…
Same genus, different species. The prarie dog is the gym rat of the family. Small, wiry, quick. Phil is like me. His idea of exercise is working the lever on the recliner and occasionally striking out at those who interrupt his nap. He also goes by woodchuck over here and on the European side of the ocean you can find him calling himself a marmot or sousnik, but I think in true American fashion, the groundhog is a bit fleshier than his continental counterparts.
Oh a marmot!!! Not that we have them here but I have heard of marmots. “Groundhog” is a pretty undignified name and probably lends itself to a bit of laziness wouldn’t you say? What kind of a hog would he be if he EXERCISED all the time?!
Let’s see. He does nap for 4 or 5 months at a time. I imagine when he’s up he’s eating. Perhaps that’s where the hog part comes from. For some strange reason a small part of the country calls him a whistle pig. Although I come frightening close to knowing too much about groundhogs, I have no idea how anybody came upon that name. I will say groundhog indeed is a bit undignified and perhaps that’s why even the Punxsutawney area school’s mascot is the Chuck (as in his American alter ego the woodchuck) and not the Hog. Then again, maybe I do know too much.
My apologies, I misspoke or else my auto correct miscorrected. Another name for the European marmot is souslik. With an “L.” A sousnik is an Eastern European gravy boat. I think.
We’ve got our own groundhog here in Wisconsin. He’s often at odds with Phil’s predictions.
Maybe the two of them need to get together before the event and iron their differences out?
They’re not at odds, they’re just predicting for their own neck if the woods. And if that doesn’t do it, then Phil is always right.
OMG a rodentista. Thank God your love of hockey cancels that out. (just kidding!) Happy trails my friend.
I moved to Arizona to escape the harsh winters. Phil’s dead to me now. Sorry, Phil.
I hope you’ll forgive Phil if he hates you.
I respect Phil but his forecasts are meaningless to this desert girl.
Ok then, he loves you again.