Happy Groundhog Day!

If you know me, you know I heart me some groundhogs....see really old blog from May of 2008. And I have a stuffed pet one that I got for Christmas a few years back, sometimes, he calls me on skype when I'm away for long periods of time-true story. Though, he doesn't do it alone. Brenda is usually with him...Brenda...is my teddy bear...duh. :-)

So this year, I had BIG PLANS for seeing the Groundhog live and in person. I was trekking over to Punxatawney to see Phil, but alas, that silly "winter storm" got a hold of the mid-west, and I did not. BOO! So, turns out he did NOT see his shadow this year, and rumor is that "spring is just around the corner"....we'll see...that could also mean that my front lawn may make an appearance in 2011. Wow. So, back to the blog. Everybody knows it's February 2. Right? Well, everybody except "Viktor" (who also swears that nobody in Texas....NOBODY...knows when Groundhog Day is-poor Texas missing holidays.) February 2, is also my 6 month birthday, equally as important! :-)

So why February 2? Why the Groundhog? Well, READ ON! According to Al Gore's internet, it all started with "Candlemas Day". This day originally came from the Germans and was the mid-point between the first day of the winter and the first day of spring. Legend said that if this day was fair (sunny), then the second-half of winter would be stormy. In their native land of Germany, the Germans looked at a badger to see if they could see his shadow. When they settled in North America in Pennsylvania, the local Indians had a great respect for groundhogs so they substituted a groundhog for the badger, and really...badgers sounds meaner-sorry Wisconsin fans.

What, for the love, is "Candlemas Day"? The 2nd of February is an ancient festival that marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. In olden times, many people used to say that the Christmas season lasted for forty days - until the second day of February. (So you slackers with your tree up, can feel justified, but ONLY through TODAY!) So why call THAT day "Candlemas"?

Well, apparently it was was the day of the year when all the candles, that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them - so it was the Festival Day (or 'mass') of the Candles.

Candles were important in those days not only because there was no electric lights, but also some people thought they gave protection against plague and illness and famine. For Christians, they were (and still are) a reminder of something even more important. Before Jesus came to earth, it was as if everyone was 'in the dark'. People often felt lost and lonely. Afraid. As if they were on their own, with no one to help them. Then came Jesus with his message that he is with his followers always ready to help and comfort them. As if he is a guiding light to them in the darkness. Jesus IS 'the light of the World' - and candles are lit during church services to remind Christians of this.

Some Factoids?
-It was a Gopher in Caddyshack, not a groundhog.
-Groundhogs whistle when courting...which seems sweet...until you learn that boy groundhogs take off before the babies are born...leaving it all up to mom.
-IF a woodchuck could chuck wood? He'd chuck about 700 pounds. (Groundhogs are not beavers, but the joke is IF a woodchuck could chuck wood-beaver do chuck wood!) They are not so adept at moving timber, but some will chew wood....(According to a wildlife biologist once measured the inside volume of a typical woodchuck burrow and estimated that -- if wood filled the hole instead of dirt -- the industrious animal would have chucked about 700 pounds' worth. Thanks Cornell University for that!)

SO THAT, my friends, is why the 2nd and why the Groundhog. Perhaps NEXT year, I'll see Phil live and in person, for now? I'm celebrating my 6 month birthday AND Chinese New Year! I went to my Chinese Restaurant today to pick up sushi (yes again, something IS the matter with me, I can't go 24 hours without raw fish!?) Anyway, I told the girl Happy New Year! She got all excited, and asked me if I celebrated. Um...sort of-I support you...and your Chinese Restaurant...by ordering Japanese food?! Taper off.... And then I said, year of the Rabbit huh!? And she got more excited! YES!!! Finally! Should be better!! She says. I said Oh? What was last year? Her face got all serious...and she said....the year of the tiger, the tiger is hard...the rabbit should be better. So there you have it folks....the groundhog didn't see his shadow and it's officially the year of the Rabbit and you have 6 months to find me the perfect present. :-)

I heart groundhog/gophers!

So....a groundhog IS a woodchuck....and a gopher is a gopher. Groundhogs live in our backyard, and? BABIES ARE OUT!! So today...setting up for the bbq...I came upon 2...so cute they were, and I love them. So yay. The background on my obsession is that every year, he-and yes, there is only one and he's always the same, anyway, he waddles out.....and to the nearest dandelion head....CHOMPS down on it...then stands to chew it....and his standing does two things....1. let's him chew and 2. let's him look around for his next treat! So then he RUNS to the next dandelion....CHOMP....STAND....RUN to the next! It's the coolest process in the world. LOVE IT! They are like otters on land! So...speaking of otters? I was just at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago...which I love, and finally this time? No drama....and I got some time to chill and hang with the sea otters. I want one for my bathroom. No picture I take ever does them justice...but goodness they are SO CUTE! I mean they just primp and PLAY! Always cleaning....scratching...etc. Entertaining for sure....and weird! I mean can you imagine them on land? So...I kinda want one for my bathtub....and you cats know I'm not much of a pet person....but an otter? I might be in! I wonder if they make leashes.... Anyway, so...since I won't be getting an otter soon? This groundhog will have to do! Back to the babies...so I came across 2....they let me stare for a while....one was instantly leery of me...and waddled off....the other....just kind of watched me...I don't think he was the smart one....but then figured since his brother went...he should too...so he did, but he only got to the tree line, then turned around to poke his nose out again, then he saw me, and slowly turned around again and went further into the woods. So I turned the corner of the backyard to go in the backdoor? AND THERE HE WAS! Sitting there! And his face...his precious little face....was SCARED TO DEATH! If he'd been a baby rabbit? He'd have been "scared to death". So....there I am...in between him and the woods...but since he's new to living...he doesn't know that he could bolt left and then get to the woods....he only knows straight! So now while I feel bad that I'm scaring him? I also want a picture...and I want to feed him....and I want to cuddle with him. I get my picture....I get mom to hand me some watermelon....and I throw it his way...he does nothing...he's too scared to be curious....and knows that his mom is gonna kill him if I don't. So I go to toss it closer. Then I just GO closer...the whole cuddle part? He kind of jumps at me....and growl BARKS!!! It was SO CUTE! And a little scary...I'm convinced he could hurt me a little! Though....mom was just telling me a story about how a couple babies attacked my dad's feet and it was funny. He? Had on shoes and pants...and they were smaller....I had on capri's and flips! So....alright....I got my picture....I tried to feed you....and I tried to cuddle....missionS accomplished. I stepped aside....he didn't immediately move. But then mom said it best...give him a second and he is gonna take off at a certain point. So I had the video ready and THAT he did. What a hoot. I posted it down below so that you could enjoy as well. Just know that it's me screaming "mommy", not him...just in case you didn't know they didn't talk! You know his mom was watching...knowing I wouldn't hurt him, but she knew he needed to be taught a lesson about staying with his brothers and not wandering off! What fun that was. Sorry for scaring you little guy...but thanks for the fun pictures!!!

And for fun....some internet info...I have no idea what he is....I think a gopher...cuz they aren't that big? But some get pretty fat...and I have no idea if they hibernate or not. Anyway, so the following is stolen...there...will that cover the plagerism?

Q: What is the difference between a groundhog and a gopher?

A: The big groundhog is about 24 times heavier than the little gopher. The animals look somewhat similar, however, with short neck, legs, and tail.

The groundhog (also known as a "woodchuck" and "whistle pig") is a marmot — essentially, a giant North American ground squirrel. The gopher is, like the groundhog, a burrowing member of the rodent order but its closest living relatives are kangaroo rats and pocket mice.

The groundhog hibernates and the gopher does not. By the end of October, the groundhog descends into her hidden burrow beneath a stump or a rock, curls into a relaxed ball, slows her heart from 75 to 4 beats a minute, and drops her body temperature to that of her home. She is so far "asleep" that, even if we warm her, she needs several hours to waken.

Groundhog: species Marmota monax from the squirrel family, Sciuridae, order Rodentia

up to 13 pounds, 6 kg

head and body 20 inches(50 cm) long; tail 18 inches

found in eastern and central United States, across Canada, and into Alaska along forest edges abutting meadows, open fields, roads, and streams.

good swimmers, can climb tall shrubs and sizable trees

Gopher: any of 38 species from the family Geomyidae, order Rodentia

0.5 pound (250 g)

head and body 6 inches (15 cm) long; tail 3 inches (8 cm)

range from southern Canada and the United States, south through Mexico and Central America, to northwestern Colombia. Found from coastal areas to above the timberline in high mountains.

two to three-year lifespan