Pennsylvania is a happenin' place!

Hey Gang! It's a great day here in Pennsylvania! If you haven't heard, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl last night-although they waited till the end to close the deal. Even though Dad and Mom aren't football fans, they watched it after taking me for a run over the non-icy, mud covered fields. When Mom toweled me off she was afraid she was wiping my brown off when she saw the color of the formerly white rag. Anyway, it was a good game with alot of excitement. (I like the way Mom and I play better. She plays quarterback and tosses it to me and I try to take it past her to the end zone which I might add happens alot. But then I take it back to her again to start it all over again. Simple. Easy. No referees needed.)

But the bestest thing happenin' in PA is already taking place in Punxsutawney. Of course, I'm talking about Groundhog Day!

And the prediction is: Groundhog predicts 6 more weeks of winter. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this tradition I've copied a few frequently asked questions here for ya;

1. Yes! Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors.
2. How often is Phil's prediction correct? 100% of the time, of course!
3. How many "Phils" have there been over the years? There has only been one Punxsutawney Phil. He has been making predictions for over 120 years!
4. Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking the "elixir of life," a secret recipe. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life.
5. On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter.
6. According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.
7. No! Phil's forecasts are not made in advance by the Inner Circle. After Phil emerges from his burrow on February 2, he speaks to the Groundhog Club president in "Groundhogese"(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world.
8. The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May..."
9. Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887.
10. So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br'er Groundhog.

So all that to say, Pennsylvania is where it's happenin' baby!!
**Of course, I have a somewhat selfish reason for Phil to come out of his hole. No matter what his prediction, the fact that he comes out of his hole is an assurance that all his relatives are soon to follow. And my word to all you groundhogs is:

Woofs and slobbers!
Chester