Groundhog Day TAF

Well, February 2nd has rolled around again, and it's time for that Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Punxsatawney Phil to make his prediction:

Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/07 at 7:28 a.m. at Gobbler's Knob:

El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.

Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.

On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?

On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way.

I think that Phil must be a pilot, because it sounds like he is tired of plugging in the Tanis heater everytime he wants to go flying. It's really no fun checking the fuel sumps on a cold and windy FBO ramp, and it's definitely no fun skidding off the runway because of low braking response. Not to mention that his cabin heater cable is stuck closed and it's just plain cold at 5000ft. Thanks for the TAF, Phil! Maybe I'll fly over to Punxsatawney this spring to thank you for the forecast, it's only about 135nm from I40.

To celebrate this mid-winter event, common among midwesterners....Well, maybe not so common. Actually, we are the only people that I know of that celebrate this odd little holiday. It's bigger than Flag Day, bigger than Labor Day....It's Groundhog Day!!!! It's really just a fun excuse to have a party in the midst of winter, when things seem the dreariest. It's nice to know that Spring is just around the corner.

The tradition goes....bake a rich chocolate bundt cake (commonly referred to as "Groundhog Cake" by those in the know, regardless of the time of year). Cut out a piece of paper, draw a groundhogish figure on it, and stick it in the middle of the Bundt cake, just as if it is coming out of its hole to view a shadow. My sister Anna, with aspirations of fine art, has provided the groundhog for this year. Next year, I'm hoping for a groundhog sculpture, you know....move into the 3-d world.

The second part of the tradition is to devour said chocolate cake while watching "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray. If I ever have kids, they're going to think that I'm SO weird. Especially when on February 2nd, 2045, we all sit down to watch a VHS version of Groundhog Day. It's a sickness, I know. But it's fun to watch at least once per year. Remember...don't drive (or fly) angry...