Groundhog's prediction incorrect

I will be the first to admit Indiana scenery in the winter leaves a lot to be desired (Indiana winters usually leave a lot to be desired period). The gray and brown landscape and the low, dark clouds make a particularly depressing combination. \nWe have had a few warm, sunny days, leading us to believe spring might be here. Then reality breaks through and we return to cold, dark, damp, dreary reality.\nBut have faith; all is not lost. Feb. 2 was Groundhog Day.\nOf course, Groundhog Day is when a large rodent in Punxsutawney, Pa., is, in a process eerily similar to my 8 a.m. Spanish class, dragged out of his nice warm bed early in the morning and forced to look for his shadow. If the rodent sees his shadow, he returns to his den, because it means we have six more weeks of winter. No shadow means break out the pool toys, shorts and tank tops and fire up the barbecue, because spring is coming. \nI have always wondered why any self-respecting groundhog would not return to the warmth of his den after being roused early in the morning and met by a mass of reporters and their cameras.\nYou are wondering why I'm talking about a holiday that happened more than three weeks ago? \nMy reasoning is as follows: I don't remember what the weather was like in Bloomington on that day, but I do recall news reports saying Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, thus condemning us to six more weeks of winter. \nMost people older than the age of 10 are smart enough to realize even if Phil didn't see his shadow, we would still be still be stuck with six more weeks of winter. This is Indiana. Nothing is that easy. \nBut this does nothing to lessen my anger against Mother Nature, large rodents and the state of Pennsylvania. At that moment, six weeks seemed like a long time. But now fast forward to the week of Feb. 26, and you will see three weeks has passed. \nYes, just three short weeks from now, the sky will clear, the trees will bud, the outdoor temperature will hover around 72 degrees, and chipmunks will once again overrun campus. \nBut the important thing is people will once again be able to enjoy the beautiful weather. I plan on dusting off the old inline skates I bought in high school, and for the fourth year in a row, I will spend a couple of spring days attempting to learn how to turn without falling. \nBut, being an educated person, I can see what is really going to happen. Thanks to my sixth and 10th grade science classes, I know a bit about the weather. Spring won't be starting in three weeks. That's what our forefathers called a "tall tale." No, based on my extensive weather knowledge, spring will actually begin in two weeks.\nAnd, yes, I'm so confident in my prediction that I'm giving you my money-back guarantee. If by some unlikely chance my prediction falls through, don't blame me. Rather, blame the groundhogs and, to a lesser extent, the great state of Pennsylvania.