Fire Pig/ Metal Pig

Well here we are with a brand new year. Any New Year’s resolutions? I have one. I want to play more. What exactly does that mean? Well, I suppose for a start it means getting out and doing more exploring of this place I call home. I have yet to make it out to Lake Las Vegas. I also haven’t ventured very far north of the city. When spring rolls around, I suppose I should also take a trip out to Death Valley. I hear it is very beautiful when it blooms. I also haven’t made it to Mt. Charleston. Not that I am big on hiking, or the outdoors for that matter, but surely there is a lodge or something.

Speaking of new years, I think I have a new theme picked out for next year’s tree. I have decided to go with an Asian theme. For starters that means I am going back to origami. I tried once before several years ago and mastered the crane and nothing else. I ended up giving up and using the paper to make snowflakes. Well, not again! I have no less than 6 books on origami that I picked up over the holidays and almost all of them center on Christmas ornaments. I started a few of the designs and things are going ok so far. My one stumbling block so far is making a reindeer. It is actually 2 pieces that fit together. Making the back end of this thing is fine, it’s the front that giving me problems. I can’t figure out one step that brings the front legs from being spread straight out to being tucked under the head where they belong. My first attempt looks like I made a horny deer waiting to be mounted. I don’t think it says “Christmas” quite yet, but I am hoping that another one of the books I have will have some better instructions.

I haven’t decided what the tree topper will be yet, but I have a couple of ideas. Chinese New Year is coming up in February and we have a rather large Chinatown here. I am hoping to head over there at some point and look for other things I can use as decorations. What I am really on the look out for is a dragon. I would LOVE to find one that I could use as the garland for the tree. Wouldn’t that be awesome? I don’t know if I necessarily want a big dragonhead on top of the tree, but I could be persuaded. My other thought for a garland was cherry blossom. Hey, I have to figure out how to get cherries on the tree, right? I think that is more Japanese than Chinese, but that is why I am broadening the theme to Asian in general.

I was out on the Internet today doing some research on Chinese New Year and came across more information than I intended to research, as usual. I stumbled across all sorts of sites of an astrological nature. So of course I am going to share. We are currently ending the Year of the Dog. In February, we begin the Year of the Pig. To be more precise, it is the Fire Pig. As you undoubtedly know from any Chinese restaurant experience, each year is marked by one of 12 animals representing the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. I happen to be a pig. For once, it isn’t such a bad thing. For all you other lovely people hailing from roughly January 1971 to February 1972, you are all pigs too.

Before you get bent out of shape about it, here is more information taken from one of many web sites out there:

People born in the Year of the Pig are chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all their strength. For Boar Year people, there is no left or right and there is no retreat. They have tremendous fortitude and great honesty. They don’t make many friends but they make them for life, and anyone having a Boar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They don’t talk much but have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed. Boar people are quick tempered; yet they hate arguments and quarreling. They are kind to their loved ones. No matter how bad problems seem to be, Boar people try to work them out, honestly if sometimes impulsively. They are most compatible with Rabbits and Sheep.

In addition to our animal personas, those Chinese have added another dimension: elements. Fire, water, wood, metal, and earth overlap the 12 animal signs. This element designation is adding an extra layer of meaning behind each animal sign. My element is Metal. Hence the fact that I am a metal pig. Lovely, but I don’t think I am ready to buy a t-shirt proclaiming it to the world. Here’s some additional information about the metal element:

Those of you born under the influence of the Chinese Astrology element of Metal are determined, self-reliant and forceful. You enjoy the good life and all it has to offer -- luxury, comfort and freedom, especially. You're like a reclusive film star: You want the acclaim, but you also want to be left alone. You create your own success, building your desired destiny with single-minded focus. Others look up to you in awe of your commanding, confident presence.

While you Metal individuals are strong and virtuous, you can be a bit set in your ways. No arm-wrestling with the metallic ones, either; they might break that appendage in two! You can be a stern taskmaster as well, demanding the most from yourself and those you love.

Outspoken and confident, Metal Pigs give 110% for everything they do. They throw themselves into relationships with others completely, sometimes to a fault. These Pigs are headstrong and diligent in the workplace, honest and caring in a relationship and trustworthy with everyone he meets unless given reason not to be. Metal Pigs usually give people more credit than they deserve but when challenged can be a hard nut to crack.

And finally, as I mentioned earlier, we are getting ready to enter the Year of the Pig, the Fire Pig to be more precise. It looks to be an interesting year. I’ll save a little mystery and space by just providing you a link HERE to read about it yourself. You can also find out more about your own animal and element signs here. Enjoy and Happy New Year!