Chinese New Year, I mean, which falls on January 26 this year and goes on for the next 15 days. However, nobody takes a break for that long; I resume work on January 30 but that still gives me a couple of days to relax. This is what I’ve been doing since my last post:

1. Settled all my bills (a very important New Year custom).
2. Got a haircut.
3. Completed repairing all the computers sent to me. Funny how computers seem to break down just before an important occasion.
4. Threw away some junk in my cupboard (another New Year custom, but I call it spring cleaning).
5. Last but not least, writing this post, just to let you know I’m still alive and kicking, LOL.

Since it’s my male offspring’s birthday on January 27, we’ll be having dinner at Tao Cuisine, a very nice Japanese restaurant here in Penang. Guess who’s footing the check, but what the heck, the food’s yummy.

To my Chinese readers, GONG XI FA CAI, and may the Year of the Ox bring all of us health, wealth, happiness, and prosperity!

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No sooner have I recovered from Christmas and New Year then Chinese New Year comes rumbling in around the corner on January 26 with the Year of the Ox (2008 was the Year of the Rat—my year, but it was bleh) I’ll be on holiday from January 25 to 29; less than a week, but I’ll take every break I can get. Again this will be another occasion where food and drink will be abundant, but of the Chinese variety. Don’t worry, I plan to squeeze in some pizza somewhere.

Unlike the Western horoscope, which is based on a monthly cycle, the Chinese horoscope is based on a 12-year animal cycle. Here’s the story in a nutshell, quoted from Infoplease:

Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal’s year would have some of that animal’s personality.

Want to find out which animal year you were born in? Glad you asked.

And here’s a quick rundown of your personality. I never take this stuff seriously, it’s just for fun. But (ahem) the traits of the Rat do apply to me

• Rat: quick-witted, smart, charming, and persuasive
• Ox: patient, kind, stubborn, and conservative
• Tiger: authoritative, emotional, courageous, and intense
• Rabbit: popular, compassionate, and sincere
• Dragon: energetic, fearless, warm-hearted, and charismatic
• Snake: charming, gregarious, introverted, generous, and smart
• Horse: energetic, independent, impatient, and enjoy traveling
• Sheep: mild-mannered, shy, kind, and peace-loving
• Monkey: fun, energetic, and active
• Rooster: independent, practical, hard-working, and observant
• Dog: patient, diligent, generous, faithful, and kind
• Pig: loving, tolerant, honest, and appreciative of luxury

The above personality traits are from Infoplease.

Famous people born in the Year of the Ox include Barack Obama, Warren Beatty, Jon Bon Jovi, Jeff Bridges, Richard Burton, Barbara Cartland, Charlie Chaplin, Bill Cosby, Sammy Davis Jr, Walt Disney, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Hopkins, Don Johnson, Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Heather Locklear, Eddie Murphy, Jessica Lange, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Rod Steiger, Peter Sellers, Sissy Spacek, Bruce Springsteen, and Meryl Streep.

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