Tomorrow is Leap Year Day. This is what makes February so special ” and it only comes around once every four years.

You see, our solar year is 365.24219 days. Just under an extra quarter of a day, which, thanks to Pope Gregory, we make up every four years by adding a day. If we had a leap year every four years, we would get 365.25 days and we would eventually have our seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall) in the wrong months.

The good pope figured out how to compensate for that by skipping a few leap days.

The formula is only off by .00031 or one day after 4,000 years. Pretty smart thinking back in 1582.

Rather than add that day at the end of the month, where it pretty much goes

unnoticed, wouldn’t it be better to give us a week with eight days? Now that’s some extra time I could really use.

While you’re out there celebrating Leap Year on Friday night, you might want to order a Leap Year cocktail ” 1.5 ounces gin, a .5 ounce Grand Marnier, a .5 ounce sweet vermouth, and a squeeze of lemon. Shake with crushed ice and pour into a chilled cocktail glass. We let bartenders garnish with either a lemon or an orange twist. Sounds good to me.

The Grand Lake Juniper Library has several events coming up. On Wednesday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. Watch the slideshow, “The Armchair Traveler: Go to Africa the easy way.” Join in for a fascinating slideshow presented by Grand Lake residents Joan and Steve Boyle. Their travels took them on safari in Botswana, where they saw abundant wildlife including elephants, lions, baboons and giraffes. Learn about tent camps, game drives and bush walks. See a “wet and wonderful” side trip to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Refreshments will be served.

Next, on Thursday, March 13, at 12:30 p.m., join the Brown Bag Book Group. Bring your lunch and join the discussion of America Alone, by Mark Steyn.

“The future, as Steyn shows, belongs to the fecund and the confident. And the Islamist are both, while the West (is) wedded to a multiculturalism that undermines its own confidence.” ” from the publisher. Call Edie at (970) 627-8353 for more information.

The Snow Shoot 2009 is in Grand Lake once again for the second year through March 12. This is a private media event hosted by our town and the Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce. Although most of us will not be allowed to participate in the actual event, there are many opportunities for us to show off. All businesses are encouraged to stay open extended hours. There will be magazine and other media representatives here writing about and photographing Grand Lake, and we need to show our best side. It is anticipated that several hundred people will participate in this event ” and they will all be in town to shop, eat and even stay for awhile.

While we were on our recent vacation, the General and I spent a day at the races ” the Daytona 500. Tailgating with Gretchen and Matt Woody and Gary and Scott Hammond (Highland Lumber) was part of the adventure. We pooled our cash and drew names of the drivers and the winner would take the pot. I won.

While you’re out and about this week ask the General if he’s found the cure for hiccups. Ask Gary Hammond if he’s a shopaholic. And ask Matt Woody what goes on in the pits.

Happy Leap Year.