I’m sure most people, at least from Canada and the States, are familiar with Groundhog Day. Basically, some cities/towns have groundhogs, and on February 2nd they come out of their burrows, and if there’s a shadow it means 6 more weeks of winter and if not, it’s an early spring, or something.
In Canada, 6 more weeks of winter actually IS an early spring, but whatever.
I’m not here to discuss whether or not this old Amish folk story holds any water, but I am going to show you our local groundhog, Balzac Billy:
…
I… uh… hmm.
…….
Yeah.
I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that isn’t a groundhog. What it is, it seems, is a waste of everyone’s time, since surely I could just see if I cast a shadow. A groundhog casting a shadow? Sure, you know, he’s close to the ground, so he might not cast a shadow. A human, however, casts a shadow on most days, even if it’s not incredibly sunny.
Anyway, Billy said we’ll have an early spring, which by Calgary standards means all the snow should be gone by June. 
On the other hand, all the snow in Vancouver has melted, and is needing to be trucked in from the mountains… which is bad news for the Olympics which are commencing there shortly.
Hahahahaha oh man, I laugh every time I think about Vancouver hosting the WINTER olympics; I saw tulips blooming today! I love it (originally I wanted a snowy christmas, but since that didn’t happen, i’m more than ready for summer now) … but it makes me chuckle to think that Canada can’t make its own snow.
I heard they’re trucking it in from Manning Park (150 dump trucks?) to the local mountains.
Oh man I can’t wait for spring!!!
A bajillion more weeks of winter to go! I love snow but it’s getting depressing…
I don’t think I could live in Calgary, too much snow. And I think “The” groundhog is in Pennsylvania, which is south-ish and so warmer than it is here, and it was sunny here. I didn’t watch to see if he saw his shadow or not. 6 weeks is still too long, and longer than that is depressing.
I just like the amusing names, like Balzac Billy.
Wiarton Willy saw his shadow… 6 more weeks of winter? In Canada? YOU DON’T SAY!
That costume is epic on so many levels. LOL
That looks more like a chipmunk
LOLed at the mascot. I was sad when I found out there would be 6 more weeks of winter, I’ve had enough with the weekend snow storms here in DC -___-
I find it highly ironic that Vancouver ran out of snow while the mid-Atlantic US is getting its ass kicked by a blizzard this weekend
Reply: I find it ironic that Vancouver won the Olympic bid AT ALL, considering they NEVER get snow.
Haha groundhog day sounds like an… err… interesting… phenomenon. You have snow until June where you live? Sounds like the northern Sweden where I grew up.You could find small piles of snow in shady places in early June.
They move snow in dump trucks? o_O
You poor Calgary-ans have awful weather! I’m getting a couple of flurries here and there, but it’ll be done by March. We do get lovely biting winds, however!
You have a *local* groundhog? :O Is that usual? Balzac Billy looks like he’s having a good time lying to everyone.
By the way, it is *really* disturbing me that he’s not wearing pants.