It's Groundhog Day!

Ned? Ned Ryerson?

Groundhog Day is my favorite Bill Murray movie. My only wish is that it had been released before I attended college in western Pennsylvania.

You see, I was the redhead from New Jersey. I wasn’t of German descent. I had never said the phrase “yous guys.” Nor had I ever heard the word “yins.”

But what really made people stare at me in disbelief was the fact that I didn’t know that the furry, little, weather-predicting groundhog that comes out every February 2nd was named Phil and that he lived in a town called Punxsutawney, PA. (Yes, you have to say PA after the name of the town).

Once I revealed my blissful ignorance of Phil’s personal bio, I feared that I was about to be cast out of campus life with a scarlet P emblazoned on my chest. All of these Pennsylvanians insisted that Phil was world-famous! They finally relented when I was able to produce and Irish foreign-exchange student that was just as ignorant as me. Thank goodness!

These folks sure are passionate about their groundhog!

This year the little bugger predicted six more weeks of winter. I'm sure some of you aren't too thrilled about that. But what does Phil care? Last I heard he lives the cushy life in the public library.

Keep warm!