It’s New Years Day in February


Today is new years day 2008 for the Chinese Calandar. (The year 2008 translates to the Chinese year 4705–4706.) It is once again the year of the Rat. I was born in the year of the rat (1948). According to Chinese legend people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in rat years tend to be leaders, pioneers, and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, William Shakespeare, and Mozart were all born in the year of the rat. I may be practical and sometimes hardworking but I missed out on the charming, passionate and charismatic stuff. Maybe I was really born in the year of the mouse.

For you dog owners, on the second day of the new year, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.


May you have a ratty year!


We did the stuff we had planned today. Penny went to the dentist and all is well. She gets her implant on the next visit. Brie went to the vet and he didn’t find any sign of infection when he looked under the microscope at the swab he took. That’s good news. If this infection doesn’t go away he will have to do surgery. Brie is a little wary of us. Each day we hold her down and force her mouth open to give her the antibiotic. In addition she was on the road with us to 2 different places for the past 6 days. I had to dig her out from under our bed today to take her to the vet. Then this evening we had strangers in the house—the FOCCUS couple came over for their first session. Brie is not happy with us. We still have 2 or so days of medication left for her. I’m going to have to block off under the bed so she can’t hide there.


The couple, Darin and Erin, appear to have a good relationship as they head toward a June wedding. They are mature and are communicating well with one another. Penny is going to make ravioli for them for the next session. We stocked up on soda for them and got key lime cheesecake for dessert only to find they had given up soda and sweets for lent. After they left Penny and I had coffee and cheesecake—someone had to eat it!

Tommorow we get back into our weekend routine with our Target visit. Penny plans to see Pam after that. Sunday we have Pre-Cana all day and Monday we see Darin and Erin again.