Phyllis would like it to be known far and wide that this is PHYLLIS WEEK! (She wishes there was a way to make that sparkly!) Feel free to send fan mail (and strawberries!) to the Weather Prophet Extraordinaire, and bake yourself a celebratory cake in her honor. Also, she says your boss should be very understanding if you need to take a National Holiday, especially on Wednesday (Groundhog Day)! Or Thursday (Phyllis's birthday)!!
So, when was it that weather became such drama?
Maybe with the advent of The Weather Channel. I'm not sure. But I get such a kick out of listening to radio announcers and TV weatherpeople turning pretty much any kind of weather into As The World Turns :)
"We've got a cold front moving in off the Plains carrying dense quantities of moisture mixed with Arctic temperatures driven by El Nino via the Jet Stream. Batten down the hatches! Stock up on milk and toilet paper! Make sure there are fresh batteries in your emergency flashlights and radio! We may get nearly 1/4 inch of snow with temperatures down near 30!!!"
But this week it appears to be for real. The weather dramatists are predicting... you guessed it!... A LOT MORE SNOW AND ICE! And this brings me to an interesting question: if the entire northeast is supposed to be in the grip of a fierce winter storm on Wednesday morning (and for those of you who don't live with Phyllis constantly reminding you, that's Groundhog Day!), it does not seem possible for any of the weather prognosticating groundhogs (from Punxsutawney Phyllis (NY) - or Phil (PA) for traditionalists - to Smith Lake Jake in AL, Staten Island Chuck in NY, Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia, Wiarton Willie in Ontario, Jimmy the Groundhog in WI, Woodstock Willie in IL, or Buckeye Chuck in OH, among others!) to see their shadows and hideaway for 6 more weeks of winter. On the other hand, given the winter we're having, it seems equally impossible (although it would be awfully nice!) that an early spring could be on the horizon.
Wednesday February 2 is going to be an interesting day!
Phyllis would like to celebrate her week by having all of you write comments on:
a) why she is the most beautiful
b) why she is the smartest
c) why her weather predictions are ALWAYS correct
d) what you would like to hear her sing
e) what you would like to give her for a birthday present (her birthday is Feb. 3!) or,
f) all of the above!!!
Now, she and I are off to the Ridgefield Library in Connecticut for story hour. Woo-hoo!
Happy Phyllis Week, Everyone :)
We just want to say, Happy Phyllis week, Happy Groundhog day and most especially, Happy Birthday, Phyllis!!! We are reading your stories repeatedly as a birthday present to you, and because they are so much fun to read. We're beginning a blizzard today, and I am looking forward to a reading marathon!
ReplyDeleteJenny Anderson and the kids in my home child care
Phyllis says, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
ReplyDeleteWe are beginning a blizzard today, too. Phyllis wishes we lived nearer each other so she could come sing for your kids. She made up a beautiful song about Groundhog Day which she loves to share on school visits even though she sounds like a squirrel with a nut stuck in her throat (but don't tell her I said so :))
Happy Groundhog's Day and Happy Phyllis Week! How nice it would be for Phyllis to one day come to our neck of the woods (Suffolk County, Long Island, New York) and visit Holtsville Hal (Hint Hint) LOL. Enjoy the Day!
ReplyDeleteAlso, Phyllis always has a hole waiting for her at www.mywordplayground.blogspot.com anytime she wants to drop in or pop out. Hugs!
Thank you, Lynne! I think Phyllis might like to meet Holtsville Hal... :)
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