Back when I was in school teachers would always scare me with stories of how my exploits would end up in my permanent record. I believe this is it! – Geoff Fox
I’ve come away knowing a lot more about both Pollack and Murray which is the goal.
Elvis Mitchell was the movie critic for the New York Times. That’s how I got to know him. I’ve also heard his movie commentary on NPR.
He now has a movie interview show on TCM, Turner Classic Movies. It’s probably channel eight hundred something on your cable system.
The first interview was actually Sydney Pollack’s last. Tonight it was Bill Murray. I’m not sure whether Mitchell is a great interviewer or he just chose great subjects. I’ve come away knowing a lot more about both Pollack and Murray which is the goal.
My flight to Chicago was relatively easy. I had the iPod for the first time and listened to a long interview with Bill Murray and This Week in Technology with Leo Laporte.
I love Leo. He’s been a trailblazer in tech. The show was rudderless. I still listened all the way through. I just wanted more meat and more structure.
About twenty minutes out of Chicago a flight attendant came on the PA. “Is there a doctor, nurse or medical person on the flight?”
That only happens in the movies, right?
About ten rows behind me a woman had suffered a seizure. As I’d later find out, she had medication with her. This must not have been a total surprise.
You would guess this sort of thing puts you to the head of the line for landing. We hit the ground, hit the brakes, did a 250 degree turn and pulled right to the terminal.
The door popped open and in rushed three Chicago Fire Department EMTs.
I can’t tell you how the woman is. She looked unconscious as they moved her off in a wheelchair.
Before we landed, the crew asked everyone to stay seated and not go to the overhead bins. The instructions were followed.
The Chicago-LAX passengers are starting to get on. It will be a full flight. I’ve moved back a row and taken a window seat. Maybe I’ll see some snowcapped mountains.
Drunk people in Western Pennsylvania get up early every February 2nd and watch as grown men in top hats and tails hold up a groundhog (aka – woodchuck) by the scruff of the neck. If the groundhog sees his shadow, we get six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, it’s an early spring.
Punxsutawney Phil – rodent
It is Groundhog Day. This is the one day every year when Punxsutawney, PA gets on the map.
Since I know some of you reading this check in from outside the United States, let me quickly explain. Drunk people in Western Pennsylvania get up early every February 2nd and watch as grown men in top hats and tails hold up a groundhog (aka – woodchuck) by the scruff of the neck. If the groundhog sees his shadow, we get six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, it’s an early spring.
This is a media event. Look at how they were set up for this morning
As the Groundhog Day celebration has grown in Punxsutawney over the past several years, so has our preparedness for the many members of the media who visit our town each year.
There are provisions in place to allow for convenient parking for satellite and other press vehicles at Gobbler’s Knob, and a designated press area is available for those covering the events.
Please contact us if we can help you with any aspect of your visit to Punxsutawney, or if you wish to arrange a radio or other interview.
A video feed of the events will be provided by the state of Pennsylvania:
EVENT: Groundhog Day Ceremony
TIME: 5:45 to 8:00 (Eastern)
SATELLITE: AMC – 9 (KU Band Analog)
MHz: 36
TRANSPONDER: K03
CHANNEL: 3
DOWNLINK POL: Horizontal
DOWNLINK FREQ: 11760 MHz
AUDIO: 6.2 / 6.8
By the way, it’s a scam!
OK – it’s not Enron or Tyco, but the Punxsutawney books are being cooked. This morning at sunrise, Gobbler’s Knobb, site of the groundhog, sat under a cloudy sky. That should have meant no shadow for Punxsutawney Phil. Guess again.
As always, Phil did see his shadow and word went out we’ll get another six weeks of winter.
As a weatherman… now a meteorologist… nothing thrills me less than knowing America is waiting to hear from the woodchuck that wants my gig! Damn you Punxsutawney Phil!
There is one good thing that’s come from Punxsutawney (other than my trip there, 30 or so years ago, for my friend Joel’s wedding at the Punxsutawney Country Club). it’s the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, Andie McDowell and Chris Elliott¹.
I originally thought the movie was awful, but as I’ve watched it again and again and again, it has grown on me. Now I willingly watch and enjoy.
I wonder if anyone ever walks up to the woodchuck and tells him, “I wish I could have a job where I’m wrong 50% of the time and still get paid.” No – all the rodent gets is praise.
¹ – Chris Elliott lives, or lived, in a beautiful part of the state, not far from the mouth of the Connecticut River. if you run into him, please tell him I’m a fan.
Steffie had plans tonight and needed to be in Trumbull. With the thought that roads might not be in great shape later in the evening, Helaine and I decided to drive her (instead of her driving herself) and spend the evening out.
We had dinner at Bennigans at the Trumbull Mall (French Dip and Chicken Noodle Soup, it’s an exciting life!) and then went to Fairfield to see Lost in Translation.
Neither Helaine or I know our way through Bridgeport, but I assumed going down Main Street would lead us to I-95. At some point, we became lost. Luckily, there was an electric company crew working on some project. I asked for directions, and one worker gave them.
“Go over that bridge that looks like it’s closed.” It was closed! Thanks.
I have not read anything but raves about this movie and so I wanted to see it. I could not have been more disappointed.
Though beautifully shot and well acted, the movie never got off the ground. I’m still not sure what it was about.
I find Bill Murray much more likable than I did when he first broke out on Saturday Night Live. Though the part he played wasn’t based on him, the character he acted sure seemed it. That’s not bad. As I said, he’s likable.
Scarlett Johansson, as a woman questioning her two year old marriage, was fine. Good acting in a dark role.
She is more attractive than she is beautiful. I’m not sure if that sentence makes total sense other than to say, I find physical beauty only one part of being attractive.
When all was said and done, Helaine complained that the movie had been very slow (though she enjoyed it more than I did). I concur.
There is one thing this movie left me with. I would love to go to Japan. In fact, I’d like to visit Asia in general. I don’t think Helaine wants to go, so this will be something that will only happen if there is another reason for going, and seeing Japan is secondary.
Interestingly enough, this was another movie with an all adult audience. At age 53, I was much younger than the median.
Elvis Mitchell was the movie critic for the New York Times. That’s how I got to know him. I’ve also heard his movie commentary on NPR.
