Tuesday, February 2, 2021

I have always enjoyed the movie, Groundhog Day, with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. For the small handful of you not familiar with the movie, the basic premise is that Phil Connors, an obnoxious weatherman sent to Punxsutawney to cover the emergence of the groundhog, gets stuck in a supernatural time loop and re-lives February 2 over and over again.

Hmmm, sounds like pandemic life, doesn’t it? Haven’t we all caught ourselves saying things like, “What day of the week is today?” and “Did we have spaghetti for supper last week, or was it two weeks ago?” and “I just want to go someplace other than the backyard, again!” ?

We count our daily blessings, sure, but the pandemic monotony goes on…

In the movie, Phil walks into a bar and finds Rita (Andie), who orders a “sweet vermouth on the rocks, with a twist,” her favorite drink. Phil soon learns her favorite toast, too, and then states “I like to say a prayer and drink to world peace.”

Please join me, tonight, in a prayer and a toast to world peace. Repeat as needed.

Oh, and by the way, earlier this morning, Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow, so we are due for six more weeks of winter. Of course we are. Were you expecting good news?

For today’s drink, I suggest a large “rock” of an ice cube. Pour about 3 ounces of higher-quality sweet vermouth over the ice in a low-ball glass. Twist a piece of orange peel over the ice to release the orange oils, rub the peel around the rim of the glass, and drop the peel inside.