Tomorrow is the 125th anniversary of the first Gobbler's Knob Ground Hog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa. As tradition goes, if Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog of honor, sees his shadow when he comes out of his hole in the morning, he will race back into his hole in anticipation of six more weeks of winter. However, if there is no shadow, it will mean an early spring.
We haven't had much in the way of weather yet this winter. As a matter of fact, I'd like a couple snow days ... or three, but spring is my favorite season, so if it arrived early I wouldn't mind. Truth of the matter is though, if I were Phil, I think I'd pretend to see my shadow just to crawl back in the ground and hibernate through the rest of the winter.
After all, I'm more inclined to stay in out of the elements when it's cold outside and I love a good nap. If I could actually hibernate ... wow! Unfortunately, we aren't designed to sleep for months on end, and I'm finding some of my favorite indoor pastimes more irritating right now than relaxing. Political ads are beginning to fill in television air time, so until next November, every time I try to escape into a good television show, I can expect to be bombarded with accusations and smear campaigns between rival politicians.
Surfing the internet can be a fun distraction, but lately it seems online stories are more alarming than fun. Just last week Pat Sajak was laughing about how he and Vanna used to host Wheel of Fortune so drunk that they had a hard time reading the alphabet. Really, Pat? I don't see the humor in that. In the meantime, the 49er's Kyle Williams received death threats for a fumbling the ball in a critical game. Which to me is an oxymoron. How is a football game or any game critical? Even Pat Sajak would agree with me on that one. So Kyle makes an honest mistake and is threatened with death, and Pat purposely fails on the job and continues to spin the wheel for 30 years and going.
That's okay. I do have other indoor options for my free time. I'll read and write. I'll play with my kids. I'll help plan a wedding. I'd like to say I'll work out at the YMCA, but I know better. One of these days I'll actually go to the Y and surprise myself and all who know me, but probably not soon.
Trivia nights are another fun winter option. I've attended a couple of these events with friends recently to benefit worthwhile organizations and I had a wonderful time. By the way ... did you know the only Beatle not to have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame is Paul McCartney?! Who knew? Tuck that one away; you never know when that bit of trivia might come in handy.
One thing I'd like to do more of this winter is to watch movies with my husband. We rarely go to the movies because the idea of sitting in one spot for two hours is almost more than he can bear. He takes guitar lessons and if I didn't know better I'd think he did it so he had an excuse to play with the church praise team and avoid sitting in a pew for an entire worship service. So ... if I want to watch a movie with him, it has to be something we rent and view at home. That's okay. I can't think of anything I'd rather do than warm my cold feet on ... I mean, snuggle with my husband to a good flick, and I know just the one. It stars Bill Murray who is a reporter visiting Punxsutawney, Pa., for an annual celebration involving a furry rodent. The name escapes me, but if you run an internet search you'll figure it out. Just steer clear of game shows, football games, politics, and Fran Drescher who is convinced she was micro-chipped by aliens ... but that's another story.
Kim Dailey, of Columbia, is a wife, mother of five and special education teacher in south St. Louis County who relies on her faith and sense of humor to survive this crazy world. In her free time, she soaks it in, sorts it out and writes about life.
