Groundhog day is not only for real, it's become a national event, celebrated by the network TV morning shows with all the hype and fooferaw that only the God of the Great Blue Eye can muster.

Every Feb. 2, the groundhog is said to come out of his hole and look around. If he sees his shadow, it frightens him back down into his hole and we're in for six more weeks of winter. If not, spring is just around the corner.

The unofficial official national groundhog is Punxatawny Phil, the most famous resident of Punxatawny (sp?) Pennsylvania, whose annual advent is attended by so many television cameras and lights that he can't help seeing his shadow. I lay the blame for the unusual weather we've had the last few years directly in the laps of the TV moguls.