The Year of the Metal Rabbit, Or It's New Year's All Over Again!

That was quick.

Seems like it was just a few weeks ago that I penned my resolutions for the New Year.  Hardly got to them and it's time to start all over.

I don't profess to know a lot about the traditions or celebrations that surround the Chinese New Year.

However, I have checked out Chinese Astrology over the years and I do know that I was born in the year of the Metal Rabbit.  Turns out that this year is also a Metal Rabbit New Year, so this should be a really good one for me.

The whole thing kicks off on February 3rd.   To be certain that I handle the process correctly, right from the start, I went to the web and found this link about traditions surrounding that celebration:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110128/lf_ac/7720370_chinese_new_year_facts_traditions_1

In that article, several items stuck out as things I might add to my all ready long list of resolutions...you can check out past posts in my blog if you've forgotten them all ready (I know I have) or you can just assume that I'm sticking to my plan and looking at these for further inspiration:

* 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit
            My resolution is not to buy a rabbit.  We had rabbits when the boys were young.  It was one of those, "Please, please, I'll take good care of them," deals.  Suffice it to say, besides that fact that I think I was the only person who fed, cleaned and talked to them, it was not a good experience. 

* The 12 animal years are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
             As mentioned, we did the rabbit thing, and had a dog...we once rented from a couple who had the ox, horse, goat, rooster and pig!  There were snakes and rats around the property, as it was a former farm, I guess I could say the boys were "little monkeys" when they were young...that just leaves the dragon, so maybe I'll work on getting one of those as a New Year goal.  I'm thinking something carved, not a real one that will then have me upping my fire insurance limits. 

* Records for the traditional Chinese calendar go back to at least 14th Century BCE.
             I have Johnny Mathis records, a few of Ella Fitzgerald's, and some other older discs to spin, but nothing as old as these about Chinese calendars...maybe add that to the list.  Wonder what the 14th Century BCE record players were made of?  Reminds me of a Neil Sedaka song...



* Food and a family feast are the most important aspects of the holiday. The entire family gathers on New Year's Eve to eat a huge meal all night long. Eating long noodles is a sign of longevity as the noodles aren't cut. Serving a fish as the final course is symbolic of prosperity and the fish is not eaten.
             I like to eat.  Besides the point that it's integral to surviving, it would be nice to say that I'm eating a huge meal as it's a resolution for the New Year...sort of makes it a "must do."  Nobody argues with you when you're fulfilling your resolutions!  Resolve to celebrate each and every day.

* The original Chinese New Year celebration lasted 15 days. Many cities and business still celebrate for that long and workers get a week off to observe the holiday.
            A week off?  The Irish never came up with anything like that...possible resolution, convert!
   

* The color red symbolizes many things in China. For New Year celebrations a red envelope containing money is given to young people to guarantee prosperity. Anyone who has a job or is married gives money to someone younger and isn't working.
            This one is sort of a recall resolution.  We've been giving money to our boys for years, even after they've been working.   Seems like they accept it in any color envelope...actually, they'll just let you toss it to them.  Resolution, give boys money in red envelopes.  Resolution part 2, don't buy red envelopes! 

* Moon cakes are traditional foods served on the final day of the celebration at the full moon. They are round, white dumplings which symbolize completeness and wholeness of the family.
          Might have gone wrong here, too.  My moon cakes are half moon cakes, black and white frosting on chocolate cake (you might remember a recent post of mine).  Maybe that's why I only get halfway with my resolutions!

Oh well, here's a little bit about being a Rabbit, Chinese-astrology-wise.  You'll see that there are different types...I'd wouldn't want to be a Water Rabbit, I hate being the least bit damp and, from experience, I know that after a good rain they smell bad.

http://www.simple-chinese.com/chinese-culture/rabbit-and-five-elements.html

And it seems there are a lot of things to do, including arts and crafts, entertainment, all revolving around fun and food and family.  Check out this link for supplies or ideas you'll need to make the best of the holiday:

http://www.theholidayspot.com/chinese_new_year/

The holiday includes fireworks!   Resolution, buy fireworks to have on hand for holidays.

Although, with my family, forgetting any holiday or celebration, most times just getting together results in fireworks!

Now that I think of it, it's illegal for me to buy and use fireworks, so back to the family thing.


Resolution, be sure to invite family members who will create fireworks!  Oh, and, Happy New Year, again!

Resolution Review

I thought it might be a good exercise for me to review the resolutions I made for 2011, seeing as I've all ready fallen behind!

While I believe that there are some who start out the year listing things they intend to do and never start, I was committed to writing something for my blog every day.  I did it for a whole three days straight!

I didn't get around to it yesterday and I don't seem to have a good reason for not doing it.

I didn't include anything about exercising more for the New Year.  My wife and I were very busy yesterday, shopping, visiting stores for gift exchanges and picking up a few groceries.  We do try to fit in some sort of hike or walk when she's off work and we did start a walk down the road, but it was so cold out we turned around barely 1000 feet from the house.  But, not a prob.  We didn't promise anyone that we were going to do that regularly.  So, I can't say that stopped me.

No commitments for eating less or dieting, either.  We had breakfast at home.  Grabbed a quick lunch at the mall (slice of pizza and a Diet Pepsi), and came home for a not-so-late dinner of leftover soup.

Managed to sneak in a few cookies, chocolates, potato chips, sodas, hot chocolates, snack crackers and cheese...hey, I said I wasn't dieting.

Dinner didn't take long to make, done well before prime-time TV set in.  Can't blame attention to dietary process.  Wasn't busy calorie counting or sneaking to the fridge when no one was looking!

I didn't vow to spend less time on the computer...that would have been at cross purposes to this endeavor.  Can't tell you how much time I spent near the machine, but I know I received and sent email messages and caught up on the news, via my browser.  It appears that I had the opportunity, so I'll need to reflect on this further.

Perhaps, I was upset by a card I received.  A long time friend sent me a holiday card that came in the mail yesterday.  Her message included a P.S., "We live on a corner with a sidewalk in front AND on one side!"  That hurt.  But, would it have stopped me?  Nah.  That's food for blogging and, besides, it means she's reading my stuff...that should have spurred me on!

There were no weather factors involved.  We're more than 100 miles north of New York City and, while they're still digging out more than a week after the last snowstorm,  no one's waiting for me to show up down there and help them out.

And, there were no people distractions.  Our youngest was distracting himself pulling on an in-grown toe nail for hours and the others weren't home last night.  My wife busied herself with helping the toenail patient a bit, some crossword work and some TV, but she did those things on her own, so I wasn't otherwise busied.

I went back and re-read all of my resolutions and there it was!

Or wasn't!

I forgot to list the most important resolution of all.  Resolve to follow through on all resolutions!

Furthermore, I checked around the web and talked to a few friends and guess what?  They didn't have that one listed either.

Unfortunately, I guess I'll just have to do the best I can with the ones that are left.  Without the direction of a directive, I'm not sure how the rest will play out.

I'll do my best and hope that next year I remember to add that resolution resolution.

And, if you forget that one, too, it can't be helped...heat's off for another year!