The Groundhog Needs an Optometrist

I think Punxsutawney Phil needs a vision test. Back on Monday “the prognosticator of prognosticators and the seer of seers” saw his shadow, meaning that we’ll supposedly experience another six weeks of winter rather than an early spring. This is the second year in a row that thick clouds have failed to prevent the rotund rodent from seeing his shadow. I think something’s fake with this whole Phil thing. This was the 97th time that Phil has seen his shadow, compared against only 15 times he hasn’t seen his shadow (the last one being in 2007, my first time there), and 8 times with no record.
This was also the first Groundhog Day since 2006 that I did not go to Punxsy for the festivities. And I was very glad to enjoy a year off! There’s a chance I might go again at some point, but it’s pretty much the same every year (at least in the two years I went). The whole thing is just such a weird piece of Americana, with more than ten thousand people gathering on a hill in rural western Pennsylvania in the middle of the night, huddling in the cold for hours with cheesy entertainment, all until an overgrown rodent is yanked out of a hole in a stump, paraded around in front of flash bulbs, and then a short proclamation is read. Then everyone turns around and goes home. So bizarre. And then this year add to it a whole bunch of Terrible Towels waving and a bunch of “Here we go Steelers” chants, in celebration of the Steelers winning the Super Bowl mere hours beforehand. Like I said, I’m really glad I didn’t go this year!
Phil’s wintry forecast seemed to have merits for a couple days, as we dropped all the way to one measly degree on Thursday morning (the half-hour walk into campus became much more pleasant once my face lost feeling), but then today we were experiencing a heat wave, with temps soaring into the mid 50s. It felt great! “Troughiness” has persisted over the eastern U.S. for much of the last few weeks, keeping temps cold, but now the pattern looks to be becoming much more zonal (and warm!) for the next week or two. Our piddly snow/ice pack should be melted by Monday or Tuesday for sure. I think Phil’s forecast will turn out to be a bust.
When temps climb into the 50s after January, I’m usually ready for winter to be over. I love winter and I love snowstorms, but I’ve grown bitter over how we’ve gotten screwed storm after storm. Initially there’s the promise of a potentially big snowfall, but then the storm track leads to us getting sleet, freezing rain, dry-slotted, or completely missed altogether. Pretty much everything but significant snow accumulations. Basically, if all it’s going to do when it’s cold out is occasionally flurry, it may as well get warm. 2009 has been one giant, colossal waste of cold air so far. Good riddance to this winter, I say! Bring on spring!