‘Groundhog Day’ is on my list of Top 10 movies of all time.  I especially love that after watching it once, I feel like I just saw it 8 times in a row.  Some of Bill Murray’s best advice: “Don’t Drive Angry!”  I’m a Groundhog Birthday Girl, so this holiday and the movie are near and dear to my shadow and my heart.  Sorry about the shadow this year; the polar vortex reached Punxsutawney PA, and Phil waved the white flag.  Bummer.  I think it’s high time we all consider moving to San Diego!

Speaking of Phil, Groundhog Day 2014 left me with a heavy heart, learning about the tragic, though unsurprising death of Philip Seymore Hoffman – such a talent, and a humble man when greeted by fans.  My hope is that something good can come from something so sad.  I work in an ER in Philadelphia, where I see life-threatening and end-stage disease in very young people on a WEEKLY basis, as a result of Narcotic Drug Abuse – often times in the form of IV drugs, but also in the form of prescription meds such as percocet.  Aside from the Hepatitis C that leads to cirrhosis and Liver Cancer, the HIV, the MRSA abscesses that can lead to limb loss and sepsis, a new batch of heroin is out there that is “laced” with fentanyl – giving people (click on it) a HUGE UNEXPECTED FATAL dose of opiates  . My hope is that celebrities, who have used in the past, will come forward to educate our young people from a Survivor’s point of view.  Here’s an example in Russell Brand.  Addiction is one of the hardest diseases to beat; it requires the ultimate conviction of the patient to want a cure. Prevention is where it’s at, and the media has such powerful influence. As a child of the 80’s the mantra ‘Just Say No’ has been on my mind the last few days.

Switching gears, who doesn’t love puppies?  You know you want to see it again – that Budweiser Commercial!!!

Ciao!

-A