Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has proclaimed an even earlier spring than Sun Prairie's Jimmy the Groundhog, who did not see his shadow back on Feb. 2. Urged on by the folks at Rutabaga -- who are hosting Canoecopia this weekend at the Alliant Energy Center's Exhibition Hall and had issued a press release calling on Mayor Dave to act -- the mayor's proclamation declares:
Whereas, the winter of 2007-2008 will go down as one of the most severe in Madison history with record snowfall, strong winds, freezing rain, below zero temperatures and now on top of it all Brett Favre retires (for cryin' out loud); and
Whereas, these conditions make us better, hardier people of higher character than our friends who have fled to places like Florida where they can't even get a primary election right; and
Whereas, even with those advantages, we've had enough already; and
Whereas, Madison has never been a community that simply accepts the status quo whether that be the results of national elections, the realities of nuclear fallout, general market conditions or, for that matter, mere astronomical forces; and
Whereas, Spring is a state of mind brought on by the thought of paddle sports and the sight of sleek new canoes and other cool canoe gear; and
Whereas, Madison has been described as so many square miles surrounded by reality; and
Whereas, Madison has been growing at a nice pace which must mean that reality is therefore shrinking; and
Whereas, reality is over-rated.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that Spring officially begins in the City of Madison at 2 AM on Sunday March 9th.
It should be noted that this is the exact moment at which Daylight Saving Time is scheduled to begin, and we are supposed to set our clocks ahead one hour -- to spring forward, or, for those among us who view the glass as half-empty, to lose an hour until Nov. 2, when we fall back and regain it. It should also be noted that Canoecopia begins at 4 p.m. today, and continues throughout the weekend.