Happy Groundhog's Day!

[rae519]

Regardless of what our pint size prognosticator Puxatawny Phil says - I predict clear skies, calm seas and wonderful adventures ahead for the Disney Cruisers!

Ohh, yeah, and a Happy 47th Birthday wishes to my dear "OLD" friend and local Sports Announcer Extraordinaire Mark Ramsey - got'cha!

Rae

 

[padisneyfan]

I read that their were 40,000 people at Punxsutawney, to hear Phil's weather projection.

Sorry you aren't coming with us on the 10/11 cruise.

Nancy

 

[rae519]

Nancy,
Okay, you forced it out of me. (It doesn't take much!!!)

My Puxatawny story.
Driving with my children years ago from IN to NY to visit my parents, we decided we should stop and see Puxatawny. First mistake. Second mistake, believing that they actually did film the BIll Murray movie "Ground Hog Day" there.
The road off the interstate was long, windy and only two lane. Okay, get there and first thing I do is get gas and ask directions.
All through town I see NOTHING about the Ground Hog. Turn around, go back and learn I have to keep driving out of town.

Finally Gobbler's Nob. "That's it?"
Back in the car, now looking for the groundhog.
Stop at a Hallmark store that is closing. Buy two postcards and ask THE question.
Ohhh, the ground hog is sheltered in a museum that is closed.
Okay.
Night has fallen.
No hotels or motels.
Arbys for supper and back on the road to the highway.
Deer all over the place (beautiful but at night, deadly!)

Finally stopped, kids asleep and I'm exhausted. Paid way too much for the room and all I had to show for it was two postcards and some cold leftover french fries.

If you ever get in the mood - rent the movie. Just my opinion!
(Apologies to Puxatawny, Groundhogs everywhere and the State of PA).

Maybe you are glad I'm not on the 10/11 cruise now!!!!!!

Rae

 

[padisneyfan]

LOL at your story. Even though I live in PA have never made the trip there and certainly won't put it on my list of places I need to go.


We will miss not having your sense of humor on the 10/11 cruise.

Nancy

 

[rae519]

Nancy -

I will miss you all also!

Thanks!
Rae

 

[Samsma]

Wouldn't it be nice if we could just live our cruises over and over like the movie! Maybe after that I could concentrate on something else.

 

[padisneyfan]

What a wonderful idea. Better than being stuck where I'm at right now. I feel like this winter has been Groundhog Day movie, the same thing over and over cold and snow.

Nancy

 

[rae519]

Yup, we are reliving the cold/snow cold/snow cold/snow!!!
Too bad it's not our best day from our best cruise!!
Now that would be delightful!

Okay, what is your best one memory of the cruise?

Mine is the first time we cruised. We sat down at the open deck of Topsiders and I ate that wonderful shrimp out in the warm sunlight with blue skies and white clouds. HEAVEN!

Rae

 

[plutospup]

Loved your "Groundhog Excursion" story! I've taken that trip, too, and I would much perfer a "Grand Cayman" excursion!

 

[rae519]

Did you at least get to see Phil? !!!!!

Rae

 

[kramer_clan]

I have been through Punxatawney thousands of times. Will be there next week. My mom lives in Brookville and I am going up to visit next weekend. My Aunt is turning 90 years old and we are all taking her out to dinner ( a surprise....she will be happy that all of us show up).

Punxsy is a great place to drive through, but not worth visiting. I was a little disappointed too that the movie was not filmed there. I believe that it was a town in Indiana or Illinois that was more assessible to movie making.

I have never been there for the actual Groundhog Day, but I hear that thousands of people show up each and every year. It seems kind of silly for an old German superstition.

Vicki

 

[plutospup]

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the real Phil, however, in town we did see a large, wooden cutout of "Phil"!

 

[rae519]

Kramer_clan -
I think it was filmed in Illinois. I know I was soo very disappointed that the town didn't look like the one in the film.

Many years ago when we lived in Maine, DH and I drove ALL up and down the coast to see the lighthouse from "Pete's Dragon".
AND Guess What?!
It isn't in Maine at all!!!! But Maine is just breathtaking around the coast. (We lived in Presque Isle - south of Caribou).

I bet your Aunt will be thrilled to have everyone there for her birthday celebration! Wow! 90 years old. That seems so very old right now, but I can recall when 25 seemed ancient! It looks good as I start approaching 50 though!

Plutospup - Ohhh, I should have taken a picture of that sign! At least it would have proven that we were there!!!!! But I "ain't a goin' back"!

Rae

 

[PNO4TE]

Well, now I have to stand up and be counted... I am from Punxsutawney and it was a great small town to grow up in. It is a great place to go visit, but not anywhere I would particularly like to go visit except on Groundhog Day. Ever since the movie came out it has become almost a cult experience to visit Punxsy for Groundhog Day. Stopping by the town on the way through to somewhere else is not the best way to experience it. There were 40,000 people in town this past weekend and it must have been grand.

For many years before he died my father was one of the men you see on TV every year who are in the background with their top hats on. They are called the Inner Circle and they make certain that all is well with Phil.

Oh, and the film was made in Indiana. Too bad they decided it looked more like Punxsy than the real thiing!!


Hope that helps~!

Elin

 

[rae519]

No offense intended PN04TE - it's just that (1) I spelled the name of the town wrong and stand corrected and (2) I fell under the Hollywood spell making something different from the "real deal".

I think what bothered me the most was that we went out of our way to see it and there was no way to see "Phil"! There wasn't even a hotel for us to stay at. Everything closed up at 5PM and we were so far off the main highway that it was a long, dark and animal threatening drive back.

My home town makes Punxsy look LARGE. We didn't have and still don't have any fast food restaurants. I think there is a stop light now in town though. So it's not the small town thing since I both grew up and am now living in "small town America".

That's pretty neat about your Dad being one of the "Inner Circle". There is NOTHING wrong with pride in your hometown or community/civic pride.

The woman at Hallmark told me that it was filmed in Illinois - that's why I stated it. Since I'm in Indiana now, I'm going to try to find out where it was filmed and see what Hollywood did different.

Thanks for setting the record straight!

Rae

 

[PNO4TE]

Rae -- no offense taken at all in your posts! I guess I was actually kind of agreeing with you. There is not a lot there to see or do, and definitely not much in the way of motels. There are a couple, but not the chain kind you look for. And everything does close up at 5:00. When I was young they also closed every Wednesday afternoon-- for a siesta? Not sure why!

Again, I never thought any of you were being nasty in your posts. As for the spelling of Punxsutawney... it was the first thing we learned how to spell in school so that we would know how to do it too

Elin

 

[rae519]

PN04TE - glad you took no offense. We all have pride in our towns - yeah, even as a transplant to Indiana, I do care a lot about this little "podunk" I call home - but my heart stays in that town that I grew up in and always will - everyone knew everybody and it was safe and cozy!

Since I am a playwright and only do comedies, sometimes I let my mouth run away from my brain for the sake of being funny. I've told that story about our trip to P..........y many times because of it being Mark's birthday and I call him our "groundhog".

I'm just glad that you weren't offended and we could agree on the lack of worldly things to do there -

You are a grand person, Elin!

Rae

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

sometimes I let my mouth run away from my brain for the sake of being funny.

Rae - I think I missed it. Where exactly were you funny?








Sorry. Couldn't resist. lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rae519]

Hi Buckaroo's Dad!!!!

Been waiting for you to "take the bait" and join this discussion!
See, I know my men pretty well!!!!!

As for my being funny - it's part of my sweet "passive-aggressive" nature!

What have you been plotting lately, by the way?
You've been TOOOOOOO quiet!! (And that's scary!)

Get back on track!

Rae