Okay, It's Groundhog Day, Again. Did Our Local Varmint, Woodstock Willie, See His Shadow?

It is now 7:36 am on February 2, 2021.  As the old tale goes, if a groundhog sees his (or her) shadow at sunrise, there will be six more weeks of mean old winter.

Sunrise here in Spring Grove, Illinois, was at 7:06.  I am looking at the window here deep in the basement of Key North and, there can be no shadows for Woodstock Willie if they have the same clouds we have (and Woodstock, where the famous movie was filmed) is just 18 miles away.

So, it is going to be an easy winter from here on out, or so they say.

And, it needs to be.  After a fairly easy November and December, January was a real bear.  We received a lot of snow on several different occasions and very little of it has melted because of cold temperatures and a lack of sunlight.  That snow is really piled up.  Just this past week, we received about 5 inches on Tuesday and another 9 inches Saturday-Sunday.

And, starting this Friday and going through to Thursday, Feb. 11 our forecasts call for cold, real cold.  Highs for those days:  15, 12, 3, 8, 10, 12, 14.  Lows for those days:  1, -5, -6, -1, -4, -2 and 1.

It is time for those Canadians to quit sending us their weather!!!!!  Build that northern border wall!!!

By the way, that "other" original groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, did see his shadow.  But that's Pennsylvania.

Are You Sure Woodstock Willie Didn't See His Shadow?   --RoadCold

From Happy to Happy Valley: #1 Place to Enjoy a Football Game is Penn State

#1  PENN STATE

Why, they even call the area where Penn State is located "Happy Valley" even though it really refers to the fact that the area wasn't hit as hard during the Great Depression because of Penn State being located there.

More than 100,000 fans descend into a cozy Pennsylvania town (42,353) every football weekend and transform it into one of the grandest parties in college sports.  Parking lots open on Thursday night as pop up towns of tents and RVs cluster around Beaver Stadium.

Students set up camps for first-come, first-served seating in their section, helping to build anticipation before game day.  Stroll through the tailgating area before kickoff and you're likely to be invited to share a beer or a brat in somebody's tent.

It's hard to beat the raucous atmosphere of a whiteout during a night game in State College with students chanting,  "We Are Penn State!!"

The downside?  Traffic is miserable with a two-lane road in and out of town.

I sure would like to have done some of (or all of) the research for this article.

Can't Beat Fun at the Old Football Game.  --RoadBall

America's Pop Music Hall of Fame Announced

December 29, 2015.

This year's inductees:

Neil Sedaka
Barry Manilow
Barbra Streisand
Temptations
Association
Dion
Grass Roots
Lettermen
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Three Dog Night

Legends inducted:

Bing Crosby
Louis Armstrong
Ink Spots
Mills Brothers

The Hall of Fame is located in Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania.

I hadn't heard of this Hall of Fame.

--RoadDog

Carolina for Thanksgiving in 2012-- Day 2: The National Road

November 19th

Made the drive from Zanesville, Ohio, with that great "Y" Bridge, courthouse, Mickey's and the two "S" Bridges between there and Cambridge.

I had never driven the stretch of the National Road east of Cambridge and its eastern terminus at Cumberland, Maryland, so the rest of the trip was all new stuff to me.  Somehow, I missed a turn by Old Washington and ended up on all sorts of rolling roads northeast of town and through an Amish area.

Back on US-40 and the National Road, I went through Wheeling, West Virginia, with that beautiful 1840s suspension bridge.  Then into Pennsylvania and a visit to George Washington's Fort Necessity, one of the opening shots of the French and Indian War.

Some of the most beautiful driving I've ever done to Cumberland.  Then on to Hagerstown, Maryland, for the night.

I've Now Essentially Driven Most of the National Road.  --RoadDog

Great Day for Bowl Games

There really weren't a lot of bowl games that really cared much about until today. There are WAY TOO MANY bowl games these days. One of them even featured two .500 teams!!!

I was happy to see East Carolina defeat Boise State. Both Mom and Dad graduated from there, and I would probably have gone there as well had we not moved to Illinois. Unfortunately, Central Michigan lost in the last minute to Purdue after coming back and tying the game.

Way to go Mr. Paterno who won his 500th game with Penn State at the Alamo Bowl. I have a lot of regard for this man.

But, today there are lots of great games.

I am a big Wisconsin fan, actually, they're my very favorite Big Ten team. Unfortunately, they're playing my second favorite SEC team, Tennessee. My nephew Andy is one of the biggest Vol fans in the world. Just ask anyone who knows him and walk into his "orange" room. My brother Bob, didn't go to Tennessee, but his money sure did. Tennessee won 21-17.

The Really Big Game today, is the Rose Bowl. Come on Illinois!!!! I attended Northern Illinois, and at one time really hated the Illini, but I have since become a Big Ten, well, Eleven actually. Win one for the Chief!!! The late great Chief Illinewek.

The Sugar Bowl will pit Georgia against Hawaii. I'm pulling for Georgia as I went there one year and my sister graduated from there and my niece goes there now.

I'm pulling for LSU in the championship. Two teams I really don't like are Michigan and Ohio State.

Nothing Like Some Good College Football on New Year's Day. --RoadDog