Tag: Groundhog Day

Weather or not

February 3, 2025

Cindy and I celebrated the second day of February in a manner that we have had for years. Yes, it is ground hog day. Not because of some rodent in Punxsutawney, PA that came out this morning and did or did not see his shadow. We ate link sausages for breakfast.

Years ago, I told my daughters that we were going to celebrate Groundhog Day by eating ground hog. I am a man of words. I like to use them to communicate with you. Do not believe an animal that is far away can predict your weather. I could believe that this universe happened accidentally before I could accept that.

There are four meteorological seasons in our world. Scientists who are smarter than I have set these up. Winter begins in December. March starts in spring. Every different part of the country has a Winter or Spring feel. Here in southwest Missouri winter is not filled with snow and temperatures below zero. Other parts of the country enjoy more snow and cold than we receive.

If we ignore the meteorologists and look at what we expect our local forecasts to give us we can see warmer temperatures six months earlier than usual. Where I have a problem with a groundhog in Pennsylvania telling me my weather goes back fifty years. I spent ten weeks there in 1975.

On July 4th it dropped to 32 degrees in Gifford, PA up in the Allegheny Mountains. In my seven decades in Missouri, I never had a single July below forty. I had to light the heater in my house. This Ozarks boy never needed the heat on in the summertime at home. My hosts warned me this might be needed before they left on vacation.

If you have done any traveling, you know that what is expected in one area is uncommon in another. One December I was speaking to a business associate in Fort Worth. He told me they had an ice storm coming in. I was worried it would be like the ones we have. They can mean days of things being shut down.

In Texas, these storms normally hit in the evening, and the ice melts by the next morning around nine or ten. I could not believe it. I checked that out with other Texans and discovered how usual these temporary ice storms are in warmer climates.

This winter, Texas, Louisiana, and other southern states dealt with days of below-freezing temperatures and snowstorms. Phil could not predict that. The Farmer’s Almanac did not even suggest this possibility. No one knew the frozen north would drop thousands of miles this year.

So, in conclusion, I would like to wish you a Happy Ground Hog Day. For next year, celebrate it by eating your ground hog instead of letting him predict your weather. And remember, it’s all related to your zip code.

©Copyright 2025 by Charles Kensinger

Ground hog day

January 31, 2024

Yes, February second is just around the corner. Most of us just ignore the note on the calendar. There are no sales on Amazon, Penney’s, or Kohls. We do not have the day off from our jobs unless we schedule vacation. What is there to say or write about this stupid holiday?

I want to promote traditional meals like Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chanuka. We do receive time off for some of these festivals. We still put together a big meal for our families. They are full of traditional dishes from our cultures that have been passed down for weeks, months, or even years. Some are traditions spanning over ten years.

This year it falls on a Friday. Your family may want to celebrate on Saturday or Sunday. Be like the Reagans from the “Blue Bloods” show and have a Sunday dinner for once. They do it every week and someone is almost always called during the meal. Your group does not have to solve a murder, a terrorist crisis, or even the New York Times crossword puzzle.

Eggs are for Easter, barbeque is for Independence Day, turkey for Thanksgiving, and green beer is served on St. Patrick’s Day. What could we possibly serve for Groundhog’s Day? When my children were young, I served sausage on a Saturday that was designated on the calendar as this neglected holiday. I informed them that we would begin this special day by eating the ground hog.

They were not reading my words. They thought I said groundhog. No space between two words. I continue this tradition when I can. This year I decided that instead of promoting what the politicians are trying to shove down our throats I wanted to encourage the hog farmers to keep up the good work. They have a legitimate reason for slinging slop.

At some point on Groundhog Day weekend serve your favorite kind of ground hog. It can be links, patties, Italian sausage on a pizza, or any other form of ground pork in whatever recipe your family enjoys. For those of you in the northern states that have never heard of it you could even serve biscuits with sausage gravy. I remember asking for them in a hotel restaurant in Philadelphia one morning and the waitress looked at me like I was crazy.

That may have been justified because some know I am crazy. She had just met me and had no other clue about my mental status. Family recipes can be used to enhance any celebration. Do you have a breakfast casserole recipe that you use for Christmas which includes sausage? This is the perfect time to serve it for lunch or dinner.

I know some of my readers may wonder why I am having fun with this whimsical holiday. I enjoy trying to be funny when I write. It is difficult to insert humor when you are speaking of serious subjects. I have the most fun when I can sound ridiculous in what is a truly outrageous column. Join me on the second of February with possibly your first Groundhog Day ground hog feast. Enjoy.

 ©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

It’s not a Groundhog Day

February 1, 2023

Remember the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray? His day just repeats and repeats. In the book, there are many more days in the cycle than we see in the film. He has enough time to learn to play the piano, create ice sculptures, study French, and conquer the Heimlich maneuver.

What would you do if you had unlimited days and knew what would take place every twenty-four hours? I think I would do like Phil does and go insane at first. Once I determined that nothing would change, I would concentrate on one thing at a time. The last scene shows how he has changed during the years he has been stuck.

We all have things that we can improve on. I may not be as self-centered as Phil Connors. I could work on my interpersonal skills. I could learn to play the piano better. I have never carved an ice sculpture or performed the Heimlich Maneuver. I would like to give them a try.

What personal changes do you need to make? Are you a jerk? Are you prideful? Do you hit on women, or men, incessantly? Is your life full of sarcasm and nastiness? Do you need a change?

Let’s look at what we can learn from this spiritual video. Life can be full of the same old stuff, or we can work to change things for the better. It is our turn to be the one that hates everything and everybody, we can run from them, or we can do as our lead character does and begin serving others.

Set a goal. Remember my column from the first of January? Don’t worry if the resolution you made for this year has already fallen by the wayside. Pick it up again and be ready to continue as often as you must.

Life is not the same all the time. Look for ways to help others. Make this a great winter no matter how long it may last.

©Copyright 2023 by Charles Kensinger