We'd take a limousine 'cause it costs more

Image from ChrisD.ca

I already feel a stab of pity for people who still get excited about stuff like Groundhog Day. I'm pretty sure that whether or not a groundhog happens to see his shadow or not is a worthy indicator of how much longer we have to deal with sub-zero temperatures.

But here in Manitoba we like to take things a (few) step(s) father.

For insnace, did you know that our groundhog is named "Manitoba Merv"? Yeah, our annual predictor of seasonal change is named after a smelly old guy who used to hang around the clubhouse at one of the municipal golf courses that my dad runs, hanging out around the canteen and harassing the girls working cash to "prime his hot dog" for him.

Great.

If that isn't ridiculous enough, our groundhog is a puppet. It's in the above image. I'm also fairly certain that my dad had a cover for one of his golf clubs that looked exactly like that when I was growing up, and I am going to venture that perhaps that's what Manitoba Merv is. If not, it's a pretty unrealistic-looking groundhog. Where are my tax dollars going, exactly?

We actually have news reporters who are covering the fact that a synthetic, pretend animal used its no-vision to not-see its shadow.

Do any other provinces have silly names for their groundhogs? And if so, are they also potential golf-club covers?

Inquiring minds need to know.