rousing rodent weekend

couldn't ask for a better weekend... time with great friends, fulfilling a lifelong dream of seeing phil, giants with the superbowl (I am a fair weather fan).

flew to da 'burgh and met up with beloved cincy folk to begin the pilgrimage to punxsutawney. yes, friends, i flew in to see an obese rodent predict the weather for the rest of this winter... and i am proud of it, because it has been a lifelong dream, and has been accomplished with zeal. we parked in the walmart parking lot, along with some RVs. we were given a family discount, and rode the Knob Bus at 3am up to Gobbler's Knob. we stood for a good 4 hours, at least, with chilly, "we hope they're still attached" toes and eyelids fluttering and fighting to stay open. of course, there was dancing and entertainment (phil has his own dance group), and an inner circle "flava flav" councilman who wears a giant alarm clock, and helps us count down the hours until phil's prediction. other fun tidbits: there was a person dressed in a full groundhog costume, people wearing groundhog hats, three proposals in a row, and fireworks at 6:30am. we almost fell over from falling asleep standing up. at around 7:30am, the inner circle paraded down the main aisle to the "Pennsylvania Polka" through 30,000 awaiting enthusiasts, ready to wake up phil, the "prognosticator of prognosticators." each of the inner circle men, dressed in coattails and tophats, with names like "stump warden" and "sky painter" were jolly men, eager to continue the 122-year tradition, and bring the biggest smile i have had in a long time to my face. i felt like i was 8 again. i never got into boy bands, but i feel like the love and affection for them felt something like this. after phil was pulled out of the stump, and held up like simba on pride rock, phil selected the appropriate scroll, which was read to "the believers and uninformed." friends, there are SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER. you wouldn't believe how rowdy people got when that prediction was released. but as the inner circle says... "do not blame the messenger."

after a risky drive back (we were all dead tired), we of course, came back and slept, and partook (is this a word? it is now!) in olive garden. i am blessed with wonderful friends.

back in the city that never sleeps (but i sure will be). the giants win the superbowl. people ran down the streets in boxers and giants flags as capes, beating drums and drunkenly stumbling by. a man came into starbucks and screamed, proclaiming their victory. in true new york spirit, he was reprimanded by the wee barista and refused service. there's a guy throwing his phone high in the air, and he just destroyed it when it hit the sidewalk. but he is laughing. people are walking down the streets smiling, with a bit of spring in their step, calling their patriots friends and rubbing it in a bit...because somehow the giants' win is their victory as well. i am sure by morning they will find something to be bitter about.


I cannot take credit for this. It is an amazing website from Alex:
http://freshpaint.tv/TCM_web/


a short poem for phil... (written pre-pilgrimage)

When I was young
I dreamt of the day
When I would meet you
When we'd first say "hey"

I'll be in the crowd
I may be tired and cold
But I will finally see you
Even though I am old.