Groundhog day - please let winter nearly be over

[selenay]

It's Groundhog Day here. The whole province is waiting on a groundhog to emerge from its hole and, hopefully, see it's shadow so we can pretend winter is nearly over.

Yeah.

It's like winter saved up all the horribleness for weeks and weeks, and is now trying to dump all of it on us in what remains of winter. I'd really like to just curl up and hibernate until spring.

There's another storm heading in this afternoon. I was feeling just cruddy enough this morning that I didn't feel guilty about deciding to work from home, because being caught in a snowstorm driving home while feeling like crap is not my thing.

Apparently this storm will bring snow and rain, and the temps will immediate plunge to arctic levels so tomorrow's commute will probably be hell because nothing will get cleared before the temps drop. Apparently today's commute around my office isn't much fun because everything is still ice rink-like after the weekend's ridiculous weather combo of rain immediately followed by double digit minus number temps.

So, groundhog, please tell us winter will soon be over. I know we had a really mild start to the winter, but now we're getting slammed every two days and I need to buy groceries at some stage soon.

Comments

[paranoidangel]

What's Groundhog Day? I thought it was just a film.

[selenay]

Nope, not just a film. It's an old tradition. On February 2nd, when a groundhog emerges from its burrow, its supposed to predict how much winter is left. If its cloudy when the groundhog emerges, spring is supposed to be soon. If it's sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow, it will retreat to its burrow and winter will continue for another six weeks.

I suspect it's mostly a way of giving us hope in the middle of the worst part of the winter, that winter will end, but it's a nice tradition. Each area has their own special groundhog - we have Shubanecadie Sam.

Apparently the little bastard saw his shadow. We are displeased with him.

[paranoidangel]

I suppose early February is pretty much the worse part of winter.

I had no idea there was an actual animal called a groundhog. I have now googled it - it looks like an odd sort of thing. According to Wikipedia, it should still be hibernating. What does the legend say if it's too cold for it to have woken up for spring yet?

[selenay]

I believe we have had years when the groundhog didn't want to wake up and come out of his burrow.

I suspect a poking stick is employed. It would explain why the blood groundhog is so fast to return to his borrow. Furry little git.

*weeps* Another six weeks of this hell? Nooooo!