We lived in a small town outside of Punxsutawney so there wasn’t much to do besides spend time at home. My parents are awesome and they always found things to entertain us in the winter months. I’ve been thinking about this home movie for a long time. My dad made it in the winter of 1985 just before Christmas. I was almost 4 years old, Nicki was 15 months.

In the video, I’m wearing my Rainbow Brite costume that my mom had made for Halloween that year.  However I am dressed as Rainbow Randi, because who wants to be someone else when you can be yourself? Dad said that I loved that costume so much that I “would have worn it to church or a funeral.”

Dad was the “writer, director, producer, editor, key grip, financier, and guest star.” Just like Hitchcock. He shot the whole movie sequentially and only edited clips by rewinding the machine and recording over the old footage. I tried to interview him about the film. He claims that I was “always goal-oriented” and “cooperative.”  But I know that I was a crazy person. I remember that I liked knowing that we were going to make a story and I love the special effect where you could make someone “disappear and reappear.”

So you can ask my dad for tips on raising children obedient children. This film is perfectly imperfect. Enjoy!

When I was in college, I took a view camera class called “Documenting the Modern Ruin.” It was a fall semester class, meaning that the weather got colder and colder as the semester progressed. I loved the weather, I loved my instructor, and I loved the cumbersome camera and huge film negatives.  Sometimes I work better when the conditions are extreme.

I visited the Rivers of Steel website and saw an upcoming Photo Safari sponsored by the Silver Eye Center for Photography. So off I went–combining my love of photographing “modern ruins” with my love of cold weather. I was hoping for a snowy February day, but got rain instead. You can see it in some of the photos.

Public tours of the Carrie Furnace site are available April through October. Visit their website and go.

Thousands of people travel to see Phil. We saw a ton of  people who had tailgated before the event including some guys wearing “Occupy Punxsutawney” tshirts and these folks buying hot dogs at 5am.

People arrive throughout the morning, taking a 1.5 mile bus ride from designated parking areas to Gobbler’s Knob.
“I got you, Babe” by Sonny and Cher was playing from the radio you see in the photo. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Groundhog Day,” you’d probably chuckle like I did.

My first time seeing fireworks at 6:30am.

Carmela, me, Nicki. Photo by David Wodka.

Later, I saw a journalist interviewing this man about his hat.

At this moment, members of the Inner Circle of The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club are listening to Phil’s prediction. Only one of the gentlemen is holding a special walking cane that allows him to hear Phil say if he’s seen his shadow.

Last photo by Nicki who got to go up on stage and meet Phil.

Phil’s prediction was for “Six more weeks of winter.” Since we really haven’t had much winter weather in Pittsburgh this year, I’d call this “the first six weeks of winter.” Happy Groundhog Day!