I Was Back in Woodstock... Again-- Part 2: The Groundhog Bit Murray

More Fun Facts:

**  Murray was bitten twice by the groundhog while filming and even had to get rabies shots just in case.

**  The film was not shot in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but rather Woodstock, Illinois.   During a scene with Ned Ryerson, Phil's old classmate,  a sign for Woodstock Jewelers can be seen in the background.

**  Ramis, Murray and  Stephen Tobolowski (Ned Ryerson) have been honorary  Grand Marshals  in Punxsutawney on Groundhog Day.

**  Other famous actors were considered for the role of Phil Connors that director Ramis considered "too nice: were  Chevy Chase, Steve Martin,  Robin Williams and Michael Keaton.  Keaton reportedly turned down the role because he thought it was too confusing.

** Even though the movie was filmed in Punxsutawney, it had a big impact on the town.  Celebrations went from about 5,000 to 35,000 after the movie came out.

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How long was Phil stuck in deja vu?  No one really knows, but a whole lot.  The movie shows him reliving it 38 times.

--RoadPhil

I Was Back in Woodstock... Again for 'Groundhog Day'

This past Sunday, I drove the eighteen miles from the house to Woodstock, Illinois, to partake in the last day of the town's annual Groundhog Days festuival which started on February 1.

I was too late for the pancake breakfast at the Moose Lodge (where the dance/bachelor auction was held in the movie), but managed to get a seat to see the movie on the big screen at the Woodstock Theatre (where the scene with Bill Murray as Bronco Billy and his date went to see the movie "Heidi.")  I found out earlier that day that his date was the wife of Chicago Bear player Gary Fencik of the Super Bowl XX champs.

From the February 2, 2023,  WTAJ, Rochester, NY.  "Bill Murray's 'Groundhog Day' celebrates 30th anniversary" by Bill Shannon.

ANYWAY, SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MOVIE:

**  Bill Murray's character, Phil Connors, evolved into a much nicer human being during the film.  At times when  director Harold Ramis would explain a scene, Murray would ask him:  "Good Phil or bad Phil?" so he would know how to play the character.

--RoadHog

Past Movie Scratches: Scrooged-- Spider-- Grinch-- Goonies-- Black-- Buehler

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2021.

121.  SCROOGED-- 12-11--  As only Bill Murray could Scrooge a Christmas.  Loved the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Ghost of Christmas Present almost beat him to death.  And, then there was Boone and Indiana's girlfriend.

122.  SPIDER MAN: FAR FROM HOME--  12-13--  After the Blip and a summer vacation in Europe for the smart kids.  Fighting the Elementals with the evil (as it turns out) Mysterio.  True love and the attack of the Drones.

123.  THE GRINCH--  12-14--  The animated movie.  Max the Wonder Dog and the Grinch meets Cyndi Who.

124.  THE GOONIES--  12-15--  "Hey, You Guys!!"  Loved Mom and Chunky.   The Pirate and ship.

125.  MEN IN BLACK 3--  12-15--  "Z" dies.  Boris the Animal.  NO, just Boris!  Messing up a Chinese restaurant.  Cape Canaveral.

126.  FERRIS BUEHLER'S DAY OFF--  12-16-  A real con man/boy.  That poor Ferrari.  A real rough day for Mr. Rooney.

A Real Trip Through Chicago with Ferris.  --RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  Why is it called hamburger when it is made out of beef?

Past Movie Scratches: Rangers-- E.T.-- Scrooged-- Beetlejuice-- Ark-- Temple

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2019.

91.  POWER RANGERS--  11-28--  A bunch of misfits  band together accidentally to battle one real bad lady.

92.  E.T.:  THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL--  11-28--  "Phone home," little guy, "phone home."  Sneaking and flying him away to safety.

93.  SCROOGED--  11-29--  Scrooge as only Bill Murray can be.  He finally sees the light.  Great update on the classic Dickens story.

94.  BEETLEJUICE--  11-30--  "Day-O,"  "Jump In the Line."  Learning to be ghosts.

95.  INDIANA JONES AND THE LOST ARK--  12-1--  Have whip, will travel.  Beating the Nazis.  Indiana hates Nazis and snakes and has to deal with a lot of them.

96.  INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM--  12-2--  It's Short Round and Indy to the rescue and the famous roller coaster cart race.  Mighty interesting stuff at that fancy dinner.  Monkey brains, anybody?

Don't Say It Three Times.  --RoadJuice

TRIVIA:  What is the occupation of Frederic Henry in the Ernest Hemingway novel "A Farewell to Arms"?  

Ambulance driver

Bill Murray Got 'Slimed.' I Got 'Fluttered'

Maybe you remember that great scene from "Ghostbusters" where Bill Murray got run over by the gluttonous ghost monster and was covered by slime and yelled out to his buddies, "I've been slimed!"  Very funny.

But this year, we've had a bumper crop of butterflies, and I mean hundreds of them, mostly yellow ones.  Especially around my purple coneflowers which were a bug attraction back when they were blooming.  And I have at least 150 of those flowers around the yard.  I'd get near them and have all these fluttering wings rising up to greet me.

Hey, I can't think of a better thing to have to put up with outside.

And, I still have a whole lot of butterflies as I have a whole bunch of flowers blooming at any given time.

A regular butterfly haven if you will.

They Can Flutter me Anytime.  --RoadFlutter

TRIVIA TEASER:  Which Constitutional Amendment gives Americans the right to "Keep and bear arms"?

The Second Amendment

JSIS: Democrats Behaving Poorly-- Just Mercy-- Congrats Kansas City

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff

1.  DEMOCRATS BEHAVING POORLY--  I watched the Presidential State of the Union Address, or should we have called it, "Democrats Behaving Poorly."  They hit a new low.  A bunch of petulant children.  Had they been in my classroom, especially the one sitting behind the President, they or she would have been sent to the principal's office.  And, both Liz and I did not vote for Donald Trump in the last election.  Maybe not this year, and we'd really like to vote against him again.

2.  "JUST MERCY"--  I just saw this movie this week and in my opinion should have had Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations.  This movie really moved me and perhaps there is something to Blacks saying they don't get proper credit in the film industry.

3.  CONGRATS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS--  What a game!  One of the best Super Bowls ever.  What a comeback!!  Liz and I were pulling for the Chiefs since they are Midwest and win about as often as Chicago.  Loved the Bill Murray Jeep commercial.  We also were pulling for the 49ers with the local connection of quarterback Tony Garappalo from local Arlington heights and EIU, Jimmie Ward from NIU and Robbie Gould from Da Bears.

Well Have to See.  --RoadDog

I'd Celebrate That!!! Nov. 12-18: Thursday Is Clean Out the Fridge Day

**  I'd celebrate that.

NOVEMBER 12,  MONDAY--  Pizza With the Works Day**   Garbage pizza, that's for me.  I have to wonder about people who just like pizza with cheese and maybe one topping.

NOVEMBER 13, TUESDAY--  World Kindness Day**  I wonder if Bill Murray would drink to that even if it is not "World Peace?"  Hey, kindness leads to peace.

NOVEMBER 14, WEDNESDAY--  Pickle Day**  And, as we all know, Mt. Olive Pickles are the best.   Guacamole Day**  Mighty good dippin' stuff.

NOVEMBER 15, THURSDAY--  Clean Out the Fridge Day**  We've got things back there that frighten me.   Smoke Out Day**  Think of how much money you could save.

NOVEMBER 16, FRIDAY--  Fast Food Day**  Me, eat fast food?  Yep!!

NOVEMBER 17, SATURDAY--  Baklava Day**  Take A Hike Day*8  Figuratively or Really?   Adoption Day**  Be it a kid or pet.

NOVEMBER 18, SUNDAY--    Mickey Mouse's Birthday    How old is he?  M-I-C-K-E-Y MOUSE.

Donald Duck.  --RoadDog

IT'S ALL IN A NAME:  Steam shovel operator's name:  Doug

JSS: The Happy Bill Murray-- 3 of 4 Great NCAA Games-- Yardwork-- Cassette Tapes

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.
1.  THE HAPPY BILL MURRAY--  First, his Cubs won it all last fall, now his Xavier is having quite the NCAA run.

2.  3 OF 4 GREAT NCAA GAMES--  Wow, three of the NCAA Tournament games last night were in the great category, meaning close and/or upset.  #1 Gonzaga just barely held off #4 West Virginia 61-58.  #3 Oregon just edged #7 Michigan by one point, 69-68 and, of course, that #11 Xavier win over #2 Arizona late last night.

3.  YARDWORK--  In a few minutes I'll be out in the garage to see if I can start the '85 Firebird after it's sat all winter.  Kind of doubt it.  I also need to get the lawn tractor running as grass-cutting season fast approaches.

4.  CASSETTE TAPES--  I was happy to find our local Meijer store in McHenry still was selling 5-pack bricks of audio cassette tapes for $4.69.  I had cleared them out back in February, thinking that was it for my cassettes in stores, but they evidently had some more.  Good news.  The only other place I know that still has them is our local Walgreen's here n Spring grove, but their five pack is $9.49, way too expensive.

Sad Day When I Lose My Cassettes.  --RoadDog

Bill Murray, Not That Bill Murray

While looking back at popular songs on the #1 Songs This Date, I often come across the name Bill Murray. Of course, I immediately think of the Bill Murray from Saturday Night Live and lots of movies, including "Groundhog Day," but there was an earlier Bill Murray.

The "other" Bill Murray was just as famous, but in the early decades of last century. Born 1877 and died 1954, he recorded numerous number one songs, including:

Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Alexander's Ragtime Band
In My Merry Oldsmobile
In the Good Old Summertime
I've Got Rings on My Fingers
Over There
Shine On Harvest Moon
Yankee Doodle Boy
Tipperary
Under the Anheiser Busch

Now You Know. --RoadDog



UNIVERSAL TRUTH: If you want to make sure you miss all the red lights, just start hoping to catch one so you can look at that map.

Little Steven's Top Ten Bill Murray Movies

Two weeks ago, Little Steven did an Underground Garage show on one of my favorite actor/comedians, Bill Murray in honor of his birthday, September 21, 1950, which puts him a tad older than me by a year.

Steven played songs from the near 50 movies and songs that were appropriate to him. Of course, there were lots of his SNL lounge singer bits.

TOP TEN COOLEST BILL MURRAY MOVIES EVER

10. Five-way tie: Where the Buffalo Roam, Lost in Translation, Razor's Edge, Broken Flowers and Meatballs

9. Tootsie
8. Ed Wood
7. Wild Thing
6. Ghostbusters
5. Caddy Shack
4. Stripes
3. Groundhog Day
2. Mad Dog and Glory
1. The Rutles: All You Need is Cash

My Top 5

5. Stripes
4. What About Bob
3. Caddy Shack
4. Ghostbusters
1. Groundhog Day

Real Funny Guy. --RoadDog


NO PUN INTENDED: Every calendar's days are numbered.