So I was just thinking about the Chinese Zodiac. Yes I know that is random. I was reading up on my birth year, 1973, which is the year of the Ox. Oxen are described as follows:

People born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. They tend, however, to be eccentric, and bigoted, and they anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with Snake, Rooster, and Rat people. (source)

This describes me well enough, except for the stuff about the temper and being bigoted (although, everyone has their prejudices). So I was talking with some Chinese friends not long ago, and we started thinking of possible things to do to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which falls on February 18. We decided it might be cool to go up to LA's Chinatown for an authentic celebration, especially since it falls on a Sunday this year. All this thinking about the Chinese new year got me thinking about the Chinese Zodiac, and it dawned on me: Since my birthday falls before the Chinese new year, does that mean I was born in 1972 by the Chinese calendar? If so, that would make me not an Ox, but a Rat. Rat's are described as follows:

People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox. (source)

Now, this doesn't really describe me at all. Except, of course, for the part about my charm and attraction for the opposite sex.   So, I'm just going to go with the assumption that I'm still an Ox, even though that may not be calendrically accurate. It seems to be more Zodiacally accurate, however.

*Funniest thing said in our weekly staff meeting at work:
"Sammy is ready to introduce you to his tool."

So, it's my Friday (I have Fri-Sun off every week, envy me) and I'm just pondering potential weekend activities. There are the things that ought to be done (Laundry, grocery shopping, etc) and the things that need to be done (monthly bills, taxes, etc), but none of that takes very much time. Shall it be another long weekend of reading, gaming and movie watching? Not that I mind any of that...

So here's a shocker to those of you that know me. I've started eating healthily. Get up off the floor. The major difference I've noticed so far (it's only been 2 weeks) is in how I feel when I'm hungry. It used to be that when I got hungry, I'd feel like I was going to die. It was a whole body hunger, complete with shaking and weakness. It was almost like food withdrawal, rather than hunger. Now, I just feel it in my stomach. Nowhere else. No shakes, no feeling of impending death or coma. This new way of feeling hunger is much easier to ignore, which means I don't munch constantly. Not sure what other effects there are, yet. But I did play the best racquetball game of my life Monday night. Still lost, but I lost well. I felt like I belonged on the court with those guys, both of whom have played for years. Picture of health, I am.

Music note:
At earthShine practice last night, we were all too tired and unmotivated to apply ourselves to any particular musical task, so we just jammed for a couple of hours. These jams are the birthplace of many of our songs, so they are not an unproductive use of our practice time. Last night's jam was an example of this principle. We came away with a couple of guitar parts that sound really cool together, and that create a very interesting mood. I love interesting moods in music, regardless of how complex or simple it may be. To me, the greatest pleasure gained in music is through spontaneous creation, via improvisation. Nothing is more satisfying to me than pulling something wonderful completely out of nowhere on the spur of the moment with no thought or preparation. Get together with several other people who crave this same pleasure, and you've got a good time in music.