This cute little critter is a gift from the hotel that my husband Niks and I dealt with for our Groundhog Day fun. The mug has the name of the hotel, Pantall Hotel, on the backside of it. If you're interested in the hotel, I have provided the link. I doubt you're interested. You guys. Shallow.
We had a bunch of fun. The hotel took us up to Gobblers Knob early on February 2. Early as in get up at 2 AM if you want breakfast, which they provided "free." The knob opens at 3 AM, and we were in place by 4 AM. We were quite close to the stump where the groundhog was being kept. He usually sleeps all day in the Punxsutawney library. Yep. He lives in their library. It's a small town. Very small.
So, there we were. It's the middle of winter. In the middle of the night. In the middle of the woods. Expect to be cold. Only we were dressed for it, and I can honestly say, I wasn’t cold. 'Course I had on two pairs of long underwear, a turtle-necked sweater, a light jacket, and a winter coat. I was not making a fashion statement. Niks held up beautifully. I had a small chair for him. He couldn't have stood that long, but he did great. (I had him so bundled up he couldn't get away. That left me free to explore.)
The "Inner Circle" of old guys in long black coats and black top hats attempt to entertain the crowd in various ways. It's all cornball, but that's appropriate. It's a cornball event.
They use a small cannon to shoot themed tee-shirts, and groundhog beanie babies into the crowd. They throw giant beach-ball-type balloons into the crowd. Those are flying everywhere all the time, with folks hitting them back and forth. There was a magician who thought he was a comedian as well. They get people up on the stage and hold quiz contests and such. They talked a bunch of newscasters up onto the stage and then dressed them as The Village People. Then we all sang and did the movements to YMCA. There's lots of music and dancing.
There is an area for "family" types and an area for "student" types. Think drunk for that last area. But there was co-mingling. It was easy enough to check out the fun with the rowdies and then get back to the saner area.
It's a party. It starts the night before with the Prognosticators Ball at the hotel. A good time was had by all.
One of the best parts was the fireworks! They were as good as any I've seen anywhere.
You know of course that Phil saw his shadow and there is to be six more weeks of winter. I call bullsh*t on that. It was cloudy. If he saw his shadow it was because of the TV lights. Whatever. Actually the scroll that Phil produced said "six more weeks of a mild winter."
You know, I forgot to mention: Phil peed on the old guy who hauled him outta the stump. That Phil. That was a highlight for me.
Would I do it again? I've made reservations at the Pantall for next year. I'm hoping a daughter or two or three will go with me. I do love a party.
32 comments:
I just love your social activism!
Yippee! Count this daughter in! Sounds like fun.
I've been watching parts of the reruns on Pennsylvania Cable Network but haven't seen you two yet.
That sounds like a fun time Lucy, glad you enjoyed it and didn't lose Niks
what a hoot! it sounds like good clean cornball fun! thanks for the report and welcome back!
That's really interesting, actually. All I knew about the event is from watching groundhog day and buying a tank of gas and a sandwich at a place in Punxatawney with a mural of a groundhog on the side. That's a lot more production than I realized. Why 2AM, for Pete's sake?
Hey, seeing Phil pee on some guy would amuse me, too! :)
btw, mom, I fixed the coding on your sidebar links. now your blogroll will work.
That sounds great, Luce!! I was always under the impression that the groundhog wasn't disturbed by screaming crowds and fireworks, though. Also, that he came out of his own free will. Kinda loses some of the majesty when he's forcibly removed from his home ... I'd rather think of him as some sort of Schrödinger's Groundhog, and remain blissfully in a state of winter and not winter. AT THE SAME TIME. :P
But I ramble. Must be my lack of sleep.
I had a pretty crazy weekend myself. Can't wait to share!
6 weeks of mild winter is still too many weeks of winter. Sounds like a good time.
no wonder phil peed on the guy...he was probably curled up all cozy & here's this old fat guy forcing him up!! i'd pee on him too!!
Glad to have you back! It does sound like a lot of fun, cold but fun. And you're right, the best part was Phil peeing, as Libby says... that's what they get.
That does sound like fun. Glad you are back home safe. To think of it, Spring is April 20 or 21, something like that, and it is six weeks away. But I still hope it isn't a cold and snowy six weeks.
Welcome back, TLP. Sounds like it's going to be a family affair next year.
Love the fact that Phil decided to urinate at that moment. Priceless.
Hmmm...summer will start here around june, so my shadow is proclaiming in a thunderous voice...16 weeks of winter. How do you like them apples?
:)
Boy, blogger is weird this weekend! Finally I can comment on someone's post!
I'm glad you had such a good time. I look forward to it next year. :-)
Phil actually PEED on the guy?? I'd pay good money to see that!
I think I saw you on TV. Were you that 5-8" lass with nice hooters and straight teeth who was laughing over the pee-on-arm incident? Or the sanguine schoolmarm in the size 6 sweats wearing red velvet gaiters? I only got a side view.
Welcome back, TLP! I'm so glad you had fun. :-)
Sounds like you had a great time!! I don't know how you could move with all those clothes on though.
Welcome Back!!!
So glad to hear you & Niks had such a fun time. My 7 yo was really wow'd that mommy had a friend that was actually there (they discussed it in her 2nd grade class).
Good to have you back, TLP, you were missed.
How fun! Sounds like such a great party, and I'm always up for fireworks.
Mild winter, huh? Well, okay.
I would have been bundled up too. I hate to be cold!
YAY
Sounds like a good time, and I am totally with Phil on this one, that is too early to be grabbed up and hauled around to predict ANYTHING, piddle on the man!
Glad you had fun and wish you lucky on getting the entourage together for next year.
Growing up "next door" as a Buckeye for many years, I was always quite interested in Phil and his prognostications. Glad to finally get a first hand account on the big event after all these years. I believe he made a profound statement re the error of their prognostication, thus confirming yours! Glad you had a good time.
Welcome back. That Phil. Doesn't he know that we're drowning out here?
That sounds like it was a lot of fun! I am going to check out that Hotel, just cause I like looking at pictures of Hotels and their rooms.
I love that Phil peed on the guy!!! LOL, LOL, LOL! Too cute!
sounds like you had fun!! ya, i thought thepeeing part was the best! i live in FL si i am not at all worried about 6 more weeks of winter...good luck to everyone else in that dept. :) glad to gave you back.
Replay - we need a replay. Let's issue a challenge and have them go under the hood. i think we need to verify - if that shadow was real or not.
Or just do it all again tomorrow. Like the movie. It gets better each day.
Sounds great TLP! Though I'm not sure about the 2am part!
Phil peed on the guy? Classic! Sounds like great fun. And very nice to get the inside scoop on the proceedings. :)
Freeland Fil from under my garage couldn't see his shadow although the sun peeked out briefly later in the day. I luv the way you guilt the girls into going with you next year!!! Gonna try that one. ;-) Well... not to Punxatawney, but.....
Sounds like FUN! And if *I* were Phil, I'd pee all over anyone who was manhandling me, too!
We missed you, but knew you were out for a good cause!
I love those gift items. SOunds like you had a glorious time.
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