Spring is Coming!

UPDATE: SPRING IS COMING say the GROUNDHOGS!

This winter, 2010/2011, has been nothing less then TERRIBLE so far and it's only half over.

At one point this winter season there was snow on the ground in 49 of 50 states! Can anyone guess which state didn't have snow? ANSWER! 

But wait, there's hope. The end maybe coming soon. For those masters of weather prognosticators are getting ready to fortell if winter has breathed it's last flakes of snow. YES FOLKS, IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY!

The history of this day is said to have originated from ancient European weather lore in which a badger or sacred bear predicts the weather, rather than a groundhog. It also has religious origins, as it shares similarities with Candlemas Day, which is also on Feb. 2. According to an old English song, "If Candlemas be fair and bright,/ Come, Winter, have another flight."

So lets look at the starting lineup:

Since 1886, The most famous groundhog, in various forms, is Gobbler’s Knob Pennsylvania’s own Punxsutawney Phil. Yes this marmot even had a movie made about him. The 1993 "Groundhog Day" staring Bill Murray is now a cult classic. Phil has NOT seen his shadow 14% of the time indicating an Early Spring. He has been right with his forecast's 39% of the time.NO SHADOW 2011


Since 1981, Staten Island Chuck has impressed with his pronostication's. In his 29 years he has been right 22 times which gives him a 76% accuracy rate. From his home at the Staten Island Zoo, he has developed quit a reputaion in a short amount of time. All his celebraty status has gone to chucks head just ask New York City's Mayor Mike Bloomburg as Chuck tries to have his hand for breakfast in this video.NO SHADOW 2011

Since 1990 General Beauregard Lee fromYellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn, Georgia just outside of Atlanta. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Georgia - "DWP, Doctor of Weather Prognostication" and Georgia State University - "Doctor of Southern Groundology." He has been a proclaimed accuracy rate of 94% predicting early springs or late winters.NO SHADOW 2011

Those are the three most well known, the ones we turn too with fingures crossed hoping that spring will arrive early and save us all from six more weeks of cold and snow and ice. One person every year says to me that this day should be a national holiday.

All I'm saying is that there is hope on the horizon that just maybe one of these rodent's wont see his shadow and we can all forget shovaling, scraping, bundaling up and have thoughts of baseball, planting our gardens and starting our spring cleaning. That is until February 3 when that next storm hits us. ENOUGH WINTER!

YOUR PREDICTIONS ON WHAT THE GROUNDHOG PREDICTS:

Early Spring/More Winter