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Saturday, February 1, 1997
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2:50pm - Time to leave Pittsburgh to head back home for big weekend. Must remember film!

4:30pm - Arrived in Punxsutawney, took a swing by Gobbler's Knob (the place where all the "hoopla" happens). Already a hundred or so people are milling around. Off to Mom & Dad's place for dinner!

7:00pm - Visit high school friends for huge "Groundhog Eve Party." Activities include sing-alongs (including a "nose flute" solo by the host!), and a surprise visit from a member of the Groundhog Club. Attendees of the party are in awe.

7:30pm - Eat snacks, including traditional Groundhog Cookies.

11:30pm - As the only person sober enough to drive, I'm elected to drive a mini-van full of passengers to the "Countdown To Groundhog Day" at Scotty's Donuts. Several hundred people fill the parking lot awaiting the arrival of midnight. A Times Square-style countdown is held to usher in the big day.

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Sunday, February 2, 1997
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12 Midnight - Head back to the party. Visited with friends until most everyone fell asleep (or passed out, as the case may be).

1:00am - Head back to Mom & Dad's for an attempt at some sleep. While being very careful to be quiet while entering the house full of sleeping people, I manage to bump my car horn in the driveway. After a long ten-second honk, I manage to shut the stupid thing off.

4:30am - Alarm goes off. Mental note: If you're going to just get three hours of sleep, just stay up. Why tease your brain?

4:35am - After serious thought as to whether or not it was really necessary to attend Groundhog Day for the 15th year in a row, I got up & showered.

5:08am - Arrive at Gobbler's Knob. Turns out I really should have left earlier. Had to park 3/4 mile down the road. Parking lots were already at capacity, and numerous bonfires were going strong.

5:12am - The usual batch of fearless college students arrives without shirts on.

5:15am - Using my special Groundhog Day Press Pass, I make my way through the thousands of people to get to the front. In the process, I got nailed in the head by two falling "moshers." Didn't appreciate it one bit. Also, I managed to break a wooden fence while climbing into the press area. Woops! Mental note: Diet starts tomorrow.