Ground Hog Day

For the record, he saw his shadow so we can expect six more weeks of winter.  Hey what’s the rush, we’ll only get more wind!

It is also Hedge Hog Day.  

Did you know?

Hedge Hog Day is the ancient Roman tradition that inspired groundhog Day in the U.S. and Canada. If he Roman hedgehog came out at night and saw his shadow in the moonlight, it meant six more weeks of winter.

1848: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed ending the Mexican-American War. Included in the treaty was the sale of area which is now California, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Texas to the US for $15-million.

Notice on the above map why the Gadsden Purchase is so important here in Las Cruces.

1959: This incredibly influential artist performed for the last time. At the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, he played drums for Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, and Dion. – Buddy Holly

The

comes from a man whose best years seemed to be behind him in 1962 when he reached number one. It took Elton John to get him back to the top.  He had lots of hits in the late 50s and early 60s but then things pretty much dried up from this kid from Brooklyn. By the 70s he moved to London where he lived for a while with his family. There he met Elton John who had just started a new American label, Rocket Records. Elton decided to sign him and a new album was recorded. A cover version of the song they intended to release as the first single suddenly popped up on the American charts and they rushed to get their single on radio stations. When it started to get airplay it raced to the top where it sat on February 2, 1975 and the second half of his career was off and running – Neil Sedaka and Laughter in the Rain.