You're forced to repeat the same (groundhog)day over and over, what do you do?

In My Humble Opinion
41

I’d find out about betting opportunities all around the world, so that I could place a big bet when I woke up at 5am, and collect my payoff by 6am, so that I could have all day to spend it.

Since I’d wake up ‘tomorrow’ weighing the same as I do today, I’d eat whatever I damned well pleased. I’d be eating at different restaurants every day - Salvadoran for lunch, Burmese for dinner, you get the idea.

I would explore the D.C. area, where I live, in great detail. I’d do the same with NYC, since it’s only three hours away by train, is a fascinating city, and is absolutely tops when it comes to variety of restaurants.

I’d travel as far as I could in a day (and still have time to enjoy my destination for a few hours) on a regular basis, to all sorts of different locations. I’d do a lot of hiking in the Rockies, and a lot of bicycling in all sorts of different places. (Pity I’d never be in any better shape than I am right now, though.) Now that the Concorde is history, I guess I’d only get to spend late evenings in Europe. But I’d travel there comfortably.

One issue nobody has raised so far is having this happen while being married. If you’re having this happen to you, but your spouse, like everyone else, thinks she’s experiencing this day for the first time, what do you do? Do you let her go off to work none the wiser, while you go off and play on your own? Or do you try to convince her that she needs to call in sick today, because you just won ten zillion euros on a longshot bet on the horses at 6am, for the googolplex’th time, and you’ve chartered a private flight for St. Maarten?

I think I’d probably do a bit of both, over time. But ISTM that being in a ‘Groundhog Day’ situation would be best if you’re either single or in a flexible relationship, i.e. one where your SO isn’t panicked if they don’t see or hear from you in a typical day.

42

Here’s a question:

What happened to Phil if he just tried to stay awake past midnight? Did his day just suddenly end and there he was in bed again?

I’d have to do like RTFirefly and explore some big cities like Miami and Tampa. I suppose I could do things like learn how to sneak into places I shouldn’t be allowed, like backstage at auditoriums and such.

43

I’d bang lots of chicks.

44

Murder, rape, pillage, then do it again in reverse order. If there was no indication of the time loop coming to an end, I wouldn’t stop doing these things until I was bored out of my skull.

45

You’re right. I was thinking of muscle memory, which according to Wikipedia has pretty much nothing to do with the muscles at all (if I understand it correctly). Ignorance fought and all of that.

46

I’d do the “perfect knowledge” gambling thing to get flush with cash, con the guy at the exotic auto dealership by way of convincing him I was a long lost relative. I’d go someplace and work on my pick up skills. [woman in red shirt does not like to be called a sexy bitch] Once I figured out which girl was the best choice, we’d head to the fanciest restaurant where the maitre d and I are long lost relatives as well. Penis would ensue after dinner.

In the process of learning all the info, I’d have days were I would deliver much-needed bitch slappings to those that deserved them, freak some people out, perfect a few instruments, become a national hero, and try to maximize my blowjobs per day ratio.

47

But he DID stay awake past midnight. Remember his “good” day that he spent with Rita? She was giving him a sisterly hug in his room when the clock turned midnight. She said she thought he or she was supposed to turn into a pumpkin or something. he said he never said anything about midnight, and she said, “You rat! You knew I was waiting for midnight!” “Does this mean you’re going to leave”? “Well, no …”

What he should have done was try to stay up until 6am. Well, 6:01, actually, because his day did NOT start at 6, it started at 6:01. But again, I’m sure he thought of this. I’m estimating he spent 10,000 Groundhog Days. We saw only a very small portion. Must have been something cosmic taking care of that.

48

The scene in the bowling-alley bar, where Phil asks, “What would YOU do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?” And Ralph answers, “That about sums it up for me.” Those are my favorite lines in the film, because that was me answering back in West Texas way back when.

This is hands down my favorite comedy and definitely in my top 10 favorite films, maybe top 5.

I remember, too, in October 1998, reading in Time magazine about the summit hosted at that time by President Clinton with Arafat and the Israelis. They were not making much headway, and after a few days Clinton remarked that it was starting to feel like Groundhog Day, with each day the same. Arafat had no idea what Clinton was talking about, so Clinton tried to explain the movie. But Arafat just could not understand the joke.

49

I’d listen to this song every morning and night:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=v-SLr1NiVl0

I already play two instruments so that is sort of dead end but I would have way more time to practice and improve even further. I would get a lot of reading done. I think the longer it went on the more destructive I would become. Drive around drunk with my boomstick and teach anyone that needed it a lesson.

50

Forgive me, but I must mention a couple of oddities in the film.

At the beginning, when he asks Larry if he can keep a secret, because he’s going to tell him he may be leaving the station, why should he worry if Larry can keep a secret if his producer is sitting right behind him, listening to every word?? And when they’re on the railroad tracks, and Phil swerves JUST in time to miss the train, what happened to the police car behind? It looked like lights were still flashing up to the very moment that Phil swerved. COULD it have swerved in time, too, or would the tracks prevent the tires from turning off? Phil could swerve because he had reached a roadway.

But such glitches, if that’s what they be, do not take away from my enjoyment; they’re just something I think of whenever I see the film. Just goes to show that if you have a truly excellent product, the audience will forgive little things like that.

51

I’m sure you’re familiar with You Suck! one of their early live albums. I saw them a Lollapalooza '93, and got crowd surfed right up to the stage as they were playing. As I was being passed over the security gate, I shouted “Larry, you’re a bastard!” He gave m the finger, completely off the guitar (not a power chord that shared such a fingering), and I was whisked off by security.

I once scared the shit out of Les Claypool too. Those of us waiting outside the building didn’t know which exit he’d come out from. I was at the wrong one, and when somebody yelled that he was there, I ran over. I rounded the corner fast enough that I was close enough to kiss him. I didn’t though. He said “Whoa there buddy”. I removed my face from his personal space, and still got an autograph. Cool guy.

52

I’m another one that would be freaking everyone out with my mad l33t gambling skillz. Riverboat casinoes about an hours drive.

First I’d win 10 or 20 roulette spins based on what I’d memorized from the previous day. It would take a little while for that series to stabilize because my actions would be affecting subsequent spins.

Then I’d go play blind poker and blackjack for a while. Leaving the cards face down on the table and never looking at them until payout. Somewhere along the way casino security would get real interested in me and want to have a chat. Then I’d have to demonstrate my psychic abilities.
Other days I would have to play with my image. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be completely bald. Or even not have any body hair at all.

I’d find out if some of the women at work are as interested as they appear to be or if they’re just naturally friendly/flirty.