The origins of Groundhog Day can be traced back to the 1700’s when arriving German settlers brought with them a tradition known as Candlemas Day. This tradition can traces it’s roots back even further to an ancient Pagan celebration. The dark of winter was a frightful time for the ancients and at the mid point of  the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox – approximately February 2 on today’s calendar – superstition held that if the weather was fair, the second half of winter would be stormy and cold.

The tradition continued with the early Christians in Europe, and it became the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of winter to light their homes.  The weather on February 2 became a harbinger for the future.  If the sun came out February 2, halfway between Winter and Spring, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather – “For as the sun shines on Candlemas day, so far will the snow swirl in May…”.

Since the first recorded trek to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, PA on February 2, 1887, Punxautawney Phil has seen his shadow 102 times and recorded no shadow 17 times (9 years of predictions are missing from the records). When coupled with actual weather records Phil only has an accuracy rating of about 39%.

An anticipated crowd of over 30,000 will be on hand on February 2 in Punxsutawney to see if Phil can get it right this year.

Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086

Thomas Jefferson built and modified his beloved Monticello over a 40 year time span creating a masterpiece of architectural design and a World Heritage site that is one of the most iconic homes in the country.

Monticello was built on the top of a mountain where Jefferson roamed as a boy. Over a 2 year period the mountaintop was leveled in order to create the perfect location for his dream home. The name Monticello is Italian that translates as “little mountain”.

The elevated location of Monticello affords magnificent views of the surrounding Virginia countryside. On a clear day one can see landmarks up to 45 miles away.

Criticized and ridiculed during it’s construction Monticello has become one of the nation’s most recognized homes.

The design of Monticello was rooted in neoclassical design and was Jefferson was greatly influenced by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio.

Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086

I am going to suggest to the people in charge of adding words to the dictionary that the verb “comcasted” be added. I define the word as

com-cast-ed – verb

– an excrucicatingly painful, frustrating, and time consuming experience when attempting to resolve internet or cable TV issues with Comcast

Over the past several months I have gradually watched my Comcast bill rise 42% from $137.00 to almost $195.00, with no additional services being added. I decided it was time to make that dreaded call to them in order to complain about such a sudden rise in my monthly bill.

Actually I did not contact them, I told my wife that I refused to deal with them and she would have to be the point of contact. Knowing from past experience I suggested she chat online with them instead of wasting time trying to speak with them.

– Invariably the Comcast representative will have a limited command of the English language which will be evident upon seeing the chat responses.

– Also it is inevitable that this first point of contact will not be able to resolve your issue and you will have to ask to be passed on to a supervisor in order to get anything done.

– You will be told that your current bill reflects all applicable discounts and there is nothing that can be done

– Raise a complaint again and some action finally will be taken.

Over the past several years I have luckily had only 3 encounters with the cable giant, which is 3 times too many. Every time the service has been abysmal.  The first time I complained it was because I estimated that I had overpaid as much as $70.00 a month over 5 years based upon the revised bill. A year passed and the inevitable bill increases followed.

Be it a wiring issue, as it was 3 summers ago when internet service was constantly interrupted as the cable lines heated up throughout the day. That took only 6 visits by the same Comcast technician who in the end took it upon himself to get the issue resolved by contacting another technician and told him to replace the line to the house.

Warning – your cable bill will rise indefinitely until you call and complain. It seems to be a company policy to overcharge until the customer complains. Then the bill is lowered and you are reasonably safe until for about a year until the bill will start rising again and you have to do the whole thing over.

Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086

As the clock strikes midnight tomorrow night, many of us will hear or sing “Auld Lang Syne.” But did you know that this iconic New Year’s song was not originally associated with end of year celebrations.

The song was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788. The title translates literally to “old long since,” meaning “times gone by,” and is about remembering old friends and good times gone by. The song evokes a feeling of nostalgia and appreciation for family and friendship and was not intended to be a holiday anthem.

The popularity of the song in the U.S. is linked to bandleader Guy Lombardo, whose orchestra originally played the song on a live radio show at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City in 1929.

Since then is has been sung by millions worldwide as tradition on New Year’s Eve when the clock strikes midnight.

Happy New Year!

Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086