Time To Wake Up


It’s Groundhog Day all over again.

Moments ago (at 7:25am EST) Punxsutawney Phil emerged from hibernation, looked for his shadow, saw it(!) and told us we’ll have six more weeks of winter.  Amazing… considering how warm it’s been.

Every year Phil’s predictions are preceded by a week of partying and fireworks, and accompanied by much fanfare and ceremony.  Thousands attend the celebrations in person and by webcam.  It’s a formal occasion for Phil’s Inner Circle who wear bowties, top hats, greatcoats and gloves.

The gloves are useful.  Yes, it can be cold — it was 8 degrees in 2004 — but there’s a second reason.

Sometimes Phil is grumpy when he wakes up and it’s better for all concerned that he nip a glove instead of a hand.

I’m with ya, Phil.  I’m grumpy, too, before my first cup of coffee.

(photo of Punxsutawney Phil from the Groundhog Day website.  Click on the image to visit Phil’s website and read all about him.)

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p.s. No one had to wear gloves today.  Phil was not grumpy, but some folks in the crowd were quite grumpy about his prediction!

5 thoughts on “Time To Wake Up

  1. I’d be grumpy too, if they took me out of a luxurious warm little den in the library in town and took me out to some hillside outside of town for a “dog and pony show” every Feb 2nd! 😉

  2. Yeah. “6 more weeks of winter.” What winter? This really has been an unseasonably warm winter thus far with only a few brief cold snaps. I define “cold snap” as high temperatures below 30 degrees.

  3. I agree, if the winter is like it has been, spring will be here before we know it…still think the CAMERA LIGHTS cast the shadow…no sunshine here all day…even little spits of snow here and there…

  4. I’m not real sure I agree with Phil’s prediction either. I usually base winter’s coming and going by the arrival/departure of the Junco’s. Over the last few days I have not seen any around my ground feeders. Maybe Old Phil is mistaken this year.

  5. I was born and reared in Pxy, so am entitled to be skeptical! People–I tell you it’s a SCAM!, but one that is very worthwhile for an embattled little town that had grown in the 1900’s on timber and coal. and has seen hard times thereafter.

    Think on it. If he sees his shadow, it’s 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, it’s 42 days ’til spring. When you do the math, you find that March 21 (First day of spring) is exactly on point!

    I hate to debunk, but, guys, it is a SCAM! Long live Phil!

    Anne

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