Happy New Year...Again

Man! I remember those good ol' days when I used to blog almost every other day and now I’m lucky if I do it once a month. I wish I could say that my months are filled with fun and excitement, but mostly my life is boring and full of routines. But that’s all going to change…hopefully.

Yes, it’s New Year’s again! With that statement you probably think I’ve lost it, but oh contraire…it’s the start of the Chinese New Year and the time of year when I make my resolutions. It gives me a few more weeks of preping myself. I’m doing the same thing as most and starting a diet/health plan that my doctor has put me on. I hope this one finally works. I need to look somewhat good when I head to San Diego in May. My other resolution is to get on a decent sleep schedule. Right now my body is so wacked out from sleep deprivation; I honestly think that one reason why I’m overweight and depressed a lot. NO MORE! It starts tonight, at least I hope so.

And I could leave y’all with the mention of Chinese New Year and not give you what this year means, me being the Astrology geek that I am.

February 14 marks the start of the Chinese New Year, the year of the metal. What significance does the tiger have for the fate of the New Year? Headstrong, dangerous, and at times rash, the tiger endows a year with uncertainty and danger, according to the Chinese zodiac.

Consisting of 12 animal signs (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig), and five elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth), each combination occurs every 60 years. The last year of the metal tiger, February 1950 to February 1951, was tumultuous. The Korean War began, Senator Joseph McCarthy started his “witch-hunt” for communists, and US president Truman ordered the construction of the hydrogen bomb. According to Chinese mythology, metal does not go well with the tiger. In other words, 2010 will not be a quiet or peaceful year.

Due to the tumultuous nature of tiger years, success is said to only be obtainable if you act quickly and are proactive in life. Throughout the history, tiger years are associated with turmoil, political and social instability. That is why 2010 is expected to be a challenging year. Another reason for this is a metal element, which is not a very compatible element for the tiger, say Chinese astrologists. Tiger prefers wood and fire. This year is expected to be a tough year and parents who believe in Chinese astrology should observe caution.The Year of the Metal Tiger is expected to be relatively more unsettled and challenging compared with 2009.

The country (USA) will also experience a relatively modest economic growth compared with the Earth Ox in 2009 where it recorded a negative economic growth. Year 2010 is a Metal Tiger or Metal over Wood and since metal attacks wood it indicates it is a turbulent or unsettled year for our country and the world at large. In particular, there will be an increase in social unrest, more political uncertainties and turbulence, and natural disasters.

Overall, sectors or industries represented by the elements of Metal and Wood will experience healthier growth than other industries. Industries represented by Fire and Earth will experience a modest growth while those related to the Water element are likely to experience slower or below average GDP growth for the Metal Tiger Year compared with last year.On the local stock market front, it will be range-bound but on an upward bias, particularly in the first half of the year, with a tendency to consolidate in the second half of 2010.

Although predictions for 2010, based on the Chinese horoscopes, vary, the underlying message of Chinese New Year is one of peace and happiness for everyone.

art by szitakoto on deviantart.com

Gung Hay Fat Choy! - Happy Chinese New Year

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

If you messed up your New Year's resolutions, here your 2nd chance to start over again.

Just for thought, here is what is being said to look for in the year to come:

The first day of the year of Earth Ox is with the solar eclipse, January 26, 2009, indicating a decisive ending and new start in the world. The Chinese astrological conditions on that day and hour show that the element Metal rules the year and that Metal is extremely weak. The chart style, called Proper Authority, points to questions of authority. Weak Metal means weak boundaries, weak resistance. People, nations, institutions and businesses in trouble, or under siege, will have a bad time holding up. World health is poor. War brings starvation. Tyrannical and criminal elements are rampant. The element of Authority is also very strong. Confrontations between forces in opposition are likely. Danger in the world lies in the destructive use of power. Corruption in governments and businesses are going to be exposed. Arrogant people in positions of authority will be attacked. Plenty of rules and regulations are coming down. There will be important reforms made. The year favors those in civil service, government and legal fields. Proper Authority can turn its attention to the problems of feeding the world and to education. Humanitarian and environmental areas are stressed. Authority is best expressed when giving positive attention to earth and common life. Benign characters in positions of authority may see their luck increasing. Western powers are weak. In the US, the western states are weak. There will be fires and floods. On a more positive note, we can anticipate new discoveries and breakthroughs in medical and scientific fields.

Earth Ox is 25th in the 60 year cycle of Chinese years. In the I Ching the astrological signs for the new year give us the 4th line of the hexagram of Opposition. It says, "Isolated through opposition, one meets a like-minded man with whom one can associate in good faith. Despite the danger, no blame." The hexagram shows key elements opposing not cooperating with one another. It suggests group split in two by dispute. There is nothing more to do but pay attention to details and not enter the fight. In time productive alliances will be made.


Picture by Imaginism on devianART

2008…Good Riddance!

I must say I’m not too sad to see this year go away.  What a bummer of a year!  It seems like anything that I set out to do, never happen.   There were many upsets and mostly boredom that surround this year.  Yes I did have some good times, but there were just too few.

For everyone that is celebrating tonight, have fun and enjoy yourself.  Just be safe and please, please, please DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!  Here’s to 2009, may this year be a year of good changes and wonderful experiences!

Quirky Quote:  An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.  ~Bill Vaughan

Merry CHRISTmas!

I just want to tell everyone Merry Christmas…and I do mean Christmas not X-mas. This is something that has bothered me for years. I can’t stand it when people write X-mas! The whole purpose of Christmas is to celebrate Christ and to take him out of the word, to me means that Christmas means something else, something more worldly. I’ve even seen campaigns out there to take Christ out of the holiday because this is a holiday for all. Excuse me? Ah…do you even get the jest of why Christmas even started?!?

I think that’s what I have the hardest time with. I think of myself as a religious person and to see others cut me down because I want to celebrate my religion as well as others strikes a nerve. So to all Christians everywhere, MERRY CHRISTMAS…and let’s keep Christ in Christmas!

Quirky Quote: He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith

Another Reason to Hate the Holidays

If you didn’t realize it yet, it’s Christmas time…again. I’m such a Scrooge this time of year because I don’t feel the Christmas spirit like everyone else and I haven’t for years. I remember having such wonderful and elaborate Christmases when I was younger and I couldn’t wait for it to come around again. Ever since I worked retail, I haven’t looked forward to it. Well after working retail for six years I quit so I could possibly enjoy the holidays season, then I started to work at the Post Office…another hellish place to work for the holidays.

This year, I was going to make it a happy Christmas! I wasn’t going to let anything get me down and it was going great until this past weekend. When I got my work schedule earlier in the week I was delighted to see that I got Christmas day off. The first time in four years, I don’t have to work Christmas day! Yeah for me! While at work I told people how happy I was. Well one co-worker, one that many of us try to avoid, told me “That’s not fair! You should have to work Christmas because you don’t have children”. This may have been a simple statement to most, but it cut me to the core. First of all, thanks for reminding me that my dream of being a mom hasn’t come true and may never come true at that. Second, I still have a family; a family, that unlike many people I know, I WANT to spend time with.

Needless to say, I’ve spent the past few days in a major depression, caused from guilt of not working the holiday, while someone else could be spending time with their family and from the despair of not having a family of my own. I keep on thinking of myself as Ebenezer Scrooge, not caring about this time of year and having the great possibility of dying alone. Yeah it sounds like I’ve taken it a bit far, but when you work a 12 hour shift at a place where you can’t talk, the mind tends to wander. I’ll be so happy once the new year begins…at least that’s what I’m hoping for.

Quirky Quote: There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. ~Erma Bombeck

'Tis the Season – The Annual Meltdown

Most of you have notice that I haven't posted many blogs up, nor been out socializing, or have returned phone calls and this is all because of my Love/Hate relationship with this time of year.

It seems that once Thanksgiving is done and I start my drive back home from a wonderful time with our small family get together in Wyoming, the dark cloud of depression, over worked and just plain stress sinks in. I love the fact that this is the perfect time to give, give, give because that is something I truly enjoy! I love spending time and money on others, but then where does one stop… or should it?

Each time I pass by a Salvation Army bucket, I have to contribute; every time a charity calls up I donate; every homeless person I see I give them any spare change and cash I have on me; angel trees are the worse as I want to take all the names I see on there. I feel it’s because I’m a very fortunate person. Even though I may work many hours a week, I honestly don’t make much, but that doesn’t matter because I STILL have more than I need. Because of the wonderful blessing of being able to say that I have more than I need, I feel that I have to help and give to each and every person that comes my way. It literally hurts me to think that there is someone out there that is need of help and I may not be able to give that help to them. How do you choose who to help and how do you turn down others?!? This is my agonizing dilemma.

Then there is my birthday that’s thrown into the holiday season. Each year I try to forget that I’m another year old and basically haven’t done much with my life yet. Last year, I DID forget that it was my birthday until I got emails and text messages from everyone. Why don’t I enjoy my birthday? The main reason (and this is going to sound sappy)…Christmas cards. Each year I get hundreds of Christmas cards (yes hundreds) and most of them are filled with newsletters of what wonderful things happened to them and their families through the year and each year I have no major news to share and no family photos to take. And this year, I don’t even have my dog to take a picture with.

Even though I can say that I have too much, I still want more from life. The Love/Hate battle is one that I’m afraid is a never ending one.



Quirky Quote: Isn't it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for - I don't know what exactly, but it's something that you don't mind so much not having at other times. ~Kate L. Bosher

Happy Halloween!

Most people know I love, love, love this holiday! I spend months in advance trying to decide on a costume and maybe plan a party. This year it's not going to happen unfortunately because of work, but I'm not going to let that get me down. I may not be able to use my costume this year, but hey...I'll be already for next year :-D

I just want to wish all of you a happy and safe holiday and I can't wait to see all the pictures! To get into the holiday spirit, I'm leaving you with some pumpkin carvings that I found online. Hope you enjoy them!

Independence Day 2008

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays because it’s filled with fun traditions that I get to spend with family, friends and neighbors.

The parents

Some of the neighbors

Each year my next door neighbor, Alan Sharp, holds a block party for bringing in the holiday. We have the roads blocked as we hold a small ceremony and breakfast afterward. We start with Alan, a retired four-star Air Force General, welcoming everyone and letting everyone know who is new, who has moved and who has passed on in the neighborhood since last year. Then we have the Boy Scouts bring in the color guard and raising of the flag, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner.

The General Alan Sharp *~ * Boy Scout Troop 227

A block party tradition is to bring in the holiday with the noise of a shot gun and this year’s honor went to Dave Jeffs and this year a new tradition began…our own neighborhood classic car show. Yeah, there were only two, but I’m sure there’ll be more next year. Hopefully, my dad will has his car up and running by then.

The rifleman Dave Jeffs *~* Classic Cars

Each year we have a member of the military (retire or active) give a small speech, this year was my next door neighbor to the East, Butch Neiderhauser. He gave a more non-traditional talk about the Confederacy and what a great job he did. I kind of forgot that they played a major role in this nation’s history, and to hear of their stories and battles gives new perspective on the Civil War.

Butch Neiderhauser *~* Getting out the grills

Then it’s onto breakfast. We line up the grills, have a feast for all and catching up with the neighbors. Then once we are all full, it’s the kids turn (young and old) to feed the leftovers to the fish in our pond.

Some of the neighborhood kidlets

After the clean up, the folks and I headed East 180 miles, to Green River, Wyoming to see some family. I love spending time with my extended family. My cousin Chris has the cutest little boy, Jackson. He’s our little entertainer, bringing smiles to all our faces. Jackson is so adventurous, that we took him to ride my uncle Kennard’s horse Partner. This horse is the most loveable creature! He just wants to nuzzle up to everyone and was great with Jackson. Partner’s only problem is that his nuzzling ends up with horse gubbers on your shirt, but it’s all for good lovin’ from him.

Jackson riding Partner

Around 7pm we still had to make another stop, 90 miles West in Evanston. My cousin Troy and his family came down from Wheatland, Wyoming to see his mom. It was the first time in 3 years that I saw them and the first time I got to meet my baby cousin Alley, who looks like a cherub and one of the girlest girls I know. I hope it’s not another 3 years before I see them again.
Evanston is known for all of its fireworks stores and each neighbor, store and the city had huge displays going off at the same time. That town had the sky was lit up like no other! The best I’ve seen in years.

This year was filled with fun and I can’t wait to do it all again next year.

Quirky Quote: Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. ~Abraham Lincoln