Brooklyn Back When - Open Thread (Continued)

HI GUYS

JUST PEEKING IN :roll:

WARREN.. I DO NOT & WILL NEVER BE ON FACEBOOK. IF I AM ON HERE WITH JUST 1 OR 2 PEOPLE, I AM HAPPY. I AM ON HERE JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY. I LOVE READING THE POSTS ON HERE & YES, I DO WISH SOME OF THE OLD TIMERS FROM THIS BLOG CAME BACK ON, BUT WHATEVER!!

KUDOS TO US THAT DO COME ON. :thumright:

HI DANNY..NICE TO SEE YOU ON HERE.XX

DEB!! SO GLAD YOU'RE FEELING BETTER.. XX

HI ANNA.. YOU & JUDY PLANNING SOME KIND OF SHOWERS FOR YOUR GIRLS.. HOW EXCITING!! HAVE FUN WITH IT ALL!!

GLAD YOU & YOURS ARE FEELING BETTER.. COME BACK SOON..

C U ALL, LATER... :-)

On this day in 1887, Groundhog Day, featuring a rodent meteorologist, is celebrated for the first time at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to tradition, if a groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather; no shadow means an early spring.

Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas Day, when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal--the hedgehog--as a means of predicting weather. Once they came to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition, although they switched from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in the Keystone State.

Groundhogs, also called woodchucks and whose scientific name is Marmota monax, typically weigh 12 to 15 pounds and live six to eight years. They eat vegetables and fruits, whistle when they're frightened or looking for a mate and can climb trees and swim. They go into hibernation in the late fall; during this time, their body temperatures drop significantly, their heartbeats slow from 80 to five beats per minute and they can lose 30 percent of their body fat. In February, male groundhogs emerge from their burrows to look for a mate (not to predict the weather) before going underground again. They come out of hibernation for good in March.

In 1887, a newspaper editor belonging to a group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney called the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club declared that Phil, the Punxsutawney groundhog, was America's only true weather-forecasting groundhog. The line of groundhogs that have since been known as Phil might be America's most famous groundhogs, but other towns across North America now have their own weather-predicting rodents, from Birmingham Bill to Staten Island Chuck to Shubenacadie Sam in Canada.

In 1993, the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray popularized the usage of "groundhog day" to mean something that is repeated over and over. Today, tens of thousands of people converge on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney each February 2 to witness Phil's prediction. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club hosts a three-day celebration featuring entertainment and activities.

STATEN ISLAND (WABC) -- Staten Island's famous groundhog disagreed with his Pennsylvania counterpart at sunrise Thursday.

Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair and saw his shadow, in the process predicting six more weeks of winter. Staten Island Chuck, on the other hand, did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring.

But at this rate, thanks to the mild winter, either scenario might not be so bad.

Chuck, whose formal name is Charles G. Hogg, made his prediction at the Staten Island Zoo. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in announcing the prediction, also told onlookers at the zoo to root for the Giants in the Super Bowl.

Bloomberg handled him with heavy gloves. They became part of the mayor's fashion attire for the annual event after Chuck chomped on his finger in 2009.

Phil's prediction came on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill in the town for which he's named about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. "Many shadows do I see" declared the Pennsylvania prognosticator.

Temperatures were near freezing when he emerged at dawn - unseasonably warm - and are forecast to climb into the mid-40s in a winter that's brought little snow and only a few notably cold days to much of the East.

Thursday's ceremony is largely that: Phil's prediction is determined ahead of time by the Inner Circle, a group which dons top hats and tuxedos and decides in advance what the groundhog will predict.

Lol Joe we posted at the same time only you gave much more info :-)

Okay, Gecko Palm Tree Warren says that we will have some cold mornings and nights but the afternoons will stay beautiful with 70-80 degrees. Outside of a few mornings and nights, this was the most decent January since I moved here in 1997. Hopefully February will continue to warm up. I have not worn shorts since November and every day I look at them in the closet and say "well, maybe next week". Some days we have had the heat on in the morning and the A/C in the afternoon. I do not think we have groundhogs but we have Geckos, Nutes and other small Lizards as well as Alligators, Wild Boars, Panthers, Snakes, every insect known to mankind etc:. The birds (animal & human) are here in great numbers this winter except for the Mocking Birds. I do not know what has happened to them. They are usually plentiful in this area. They fight with the crows all the time. Also we have a lot of Turkey Vultures. They are large and menacing looking but they eat dead animals and therefore we have little road kill to worry about.

GO GIANTS...... :thumright:

HI WARREN..

ME, TOO...WE ARE 'BLOG TROUPERS'.. LOL

ENJOY YOUR NIGHT.. :-)

Anna, you may need to buy one of these garden gnomes: http://www.brooklynian.com/2012/01/28/the-new-york-giants-are-super-bowl-bound-because-of-jennifer-pernice-and-her-lucky-blue-garden-gnome/

Kudos go out to all of our die-hard bloggers, Patsy, Warren, Joe, Judy, Debs & Terry for keeping this great blog going!!!!!!!

Hello There All,

This avatar is one section on my Lanai dedicated to the Giants. It is the only way I could find to have the blog accept my pictures. There is more to the display but at least you get the idea!!!

I wore one of my many Giant caps to a Medical Expo at one of our clubhouses this morning. You would not believe how many people stopped me and wished the Giants well. Only 1 Patriot fan said a word and even he was pleasant about it. By the way, that picture frame has a picture of Phil Simms in it in uniform!!!:cheers:

A little over 24 hours to go.!!!! Unfortuneatly my heart jumped the gun. It did not wait for the Super Bowl. Had an A-fib attack last night and it is still hanging in there a little today. Carol was just getting over a digestive attack and my telling her about my A-fib has her upset again. Talked to one of my Cardiologists last night. I will call the office Monday and see what they want to do. I know the least they will do is check my blood with an PT/INR test to see if I am protected from clots or a possible stroke.

Jerry, glad you are still finding people you knew on this blog. Either everyone that lived on my block died or they do not have computers. Can not find any of them. #-o

Hi everyone..Honorary Fellow-wish they sold that cute Gnome here in Chicagoland...fans only interested in Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs & White Sox...they don't like New York teams..(I think it's a jealousy thing)..LOL..Warren-hope u & Carol are feeling better...I'm going to Tina's house tomorrow to watch Justin while she & Scott go to a Super Bowl party..Chicago people like to party regardless of the teams (LOL) so if I don't come on again, enjoy your day tomorow-I know the Giants will give a hell of a fight!!! Happy Super Bowl..........bye

Three Hours to go. I am trying to stay calm. I finally converted from the A-Fib attack I suffered Friday night. If this would have happened during the game I would understand it better, but I was sitting in a recliner watching "Wheel of Fortune" when it hit me.

Carol still has some discomfort but is feeling a little better. She took a roast beef from the freezer to defrost for today's dinner but it will have to wait until tomorrow and maybe she will be able to enjoy it.

No party here at our house. I have had them in the past when the Giants were in the Super Bowl but now we are lucky to be able to take care of each other much less company!

I am of course rooting for a big win but win or lose they will still be my Giants!!! :thumright:

It can't get any better than this. Tom "Who"? Bill Billi (What)? Billichek would not come out for the press conference. SORE LOSER!!!!!

Hooray for the Giants :salut:

GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS

WHAT A GREAT WIN..WHAT A GREAT TEAM!!!

CONGRATS TO THE NY GIANTS... I KNEW THEY WOULD WIN. :cheers:

BUT I MUST SAY

I LOVED THE M&M'S COMMERCIAL, THE BEST,

BUT I HATED THE HALFTIME SHOW.

I WAS NEVER A MADONNA FAN, & NOW I KNOW WHY..

OF ALL THE ARTIST THEY COULD HAVE HAD TO PERFORM. WHAT A

DISAPPOINTMENT. :thumbdown:

WARREN.. I KNOW YOU ENJOYED THE GAME..

IT WAS A NAIL BITER NEAR THE END.

HOPE YOU & CAROL ARE FEELING BETTER.

EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT DAY!!! :-)

Hello All,

I have come back down to earth some since the game. I am feeling better but a little discouraged regarding the attack I got. Thought the Ablation would end them! Carol is feeling menza-menza. Still has some stomach discomfort and eating sparingly.

Saw a video of the Giants players & staff coming off the plane in Newark. People were cheering but I could not see how many were there. I hope it was plenty. People all around town here are talking about the game and when they see my shirts & hats they have a lot to say. Only one B.B that works in a grocery store gave me a bit of a hard time. He said "I bet you were not wearing that stuff before yesterday" I told him that he should open his eyes when I come in the store because I have been wearing Giants stuff for months, win or lose. He made another smart ass remark and I moved my face close to him and said "BULLSHIT". Most every one else was congratulating me. Not that I helped them win but I stuck with them as a fan. I am going to attempt to put another view up from my lanai when I finish this message. :cheers: