Happy Chinese New Year!

I don't know about your family, but we have a real diverse "Chinese Zen Zodiac" crowd under this roof. We have an Ox (Matthew), a Pig/Boar (Me - c'mon, keep it together, it's supposed to be "LUCKY"), a Dragon (Abigail - duh!), a Monkey (Benjamin), and soon-to-be a Rat (Baby Sam). Judge for yourself if you believe that the proposed characteristics match up with the individual:

Ox Attributes: A born leader, you inspire confidence from all around you. You are conservative, methodical, and good with your hands. Guard against being chauvinistic and always demanding your own way. The Ox would be successful as a skilled surgeon, general, or hairdresser (Matthew missed his calling on that one! Tee Hee!!). Some Oxen: Napoleon Bonaparte, Walt Disney, Clark Gable, Richard Nixon, Rosa Parks, Sylvia Porter, Vincent Van Gogh.

Pig/Boar Attributes: (Note Bene -Because my birthday is Jan. 18th, it actually falls under the year usually associated with those born in 1971): You are a splendid companion, an intellectual with a very strong need to set difficult goals and carry them out. You are sincere, tolerant, and honest but by expecting the same from others, you are incredibly naive. Your quest for material goods could be your downfall. (Oh yeah, right!) The Boar would be best in the arts as an entertainer, or possibly a lawyer. Some Boars: Lucille Ball, Ernest Hemingway, Michael Jackson, Albert Schweitzer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Dragon Attributes: (notice - she is not just ANY Dragon, she's the feared RED DRAGON!!!) Full of vitality and enthusiasm, the Dragon is a popular individual even with the reputation of being foolhardy and a "big mouth" at times. You are intelligent, gifted, and a perfectionist but these qualities make you unduly demanding on others. You would be well-suited to be an artist, priest, or politician. Some Dragons: Louisa May Alcott, Susan B. Anthony, Joan of Arc, Pearl Buck, Sigmund Freud, Theodore Seuss Geisel, John Lennon, Florence Nightingale, Pat Schroeder, Mae West.

Monkey Attributes: You are a very intelligent and a very clever wit. Because of your extraordinary nature and magnetic personality, you are always well-liked. The Monkey, however, must guard against being an opportunist and distrustful of other people. Your sign promises success in any field you try. Some Monkeys: Julius Caesar, Bette Davis, Annie Oakley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Betsy Ross, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor, Harry S. Truman, Leonardo da Vinci, Alice Walker.

Rat Attributes: You are imaginative, charming, and truly generous to the person you love. However, you have a tendency to be quick-tempered and overly critical. You are also inclined to be somewhat of an opportunist. Born under this sign, you should be happy in sales or as a writer, critic, or publicist. Some Rats: Charlotte Bronte, Truman Capote, Catherine I, Mata Hari, Wolfgang Mozart, William Shakespeare, George Washington.


So there you have it! Is it any wonder that our house is in constant upheaval!! I am a lucky Pig with a Monkey on my back, a Dragon breathing down my neck, a Rat that's getting fatter, and one big stubborn Ox in the house!