var patsDay = new Date();
var today = new Date();
patsDay = new Date(today.getFullYear(), 2, 17);

if (today > patsDay)
 patsDay.setFullYear(patsDay.getFullYear() + 1);

 $(document).ready(function() {
    $('#defaultCountdown').countdown('change', {
        until: patsDay
    });
    $('#year').text(patsDay.getFullYear());
    $('#defaultCountdown').countdown({
        until: patsDay,
        onExpiry: liftOff
    });
});

function liftOff() {
    $("#expireMessage").after('<div><img alt="Countdown" src="/images/mcnellies/countdown.png" /></div>').remove();
};