Missing...

Tuan truoc, minh kiem hoai ma kiem khong duoc cai tu cho "ecological resources." Cang ngay cang quen di tieng Viet. Neu quen het mot ngon ngu, neu khong con giu duoc tieng "me de" minh co mat di cai net Viet khong? Co con la nguoi Viet khong? Ky uc no dan dan quen tung chu mot, tung chu mot... giong nhu bi mot nguoi la la cuop di cai vat gi quy gia ma minh da cat giau. Quen di tieng Viet, la mat di mot cach de dien ta con nguoi cua minh.

Nhung, xet lai, co phai la bi cuop di, hay minh da hai tay trao cho nguoi khac mang di de khong con kiem lai duoc nua?

a poem from Wideawake Field

Tigers

What are we now but voices
who promise each other a life
neither one can deliver
not for lack of wanting
but wanting won't make it so.
We cling to a vine
at the cliff's edge.
There are tiger above
and below. Let us love
one another and let go.

- Eliza Griswold

Eeeeeeeee

Except for the post I quickly threw together this afternoon regarding the presidential library at SMU, it has been a long while since I've posted anything of consequence. Knowing that I've been relegated to the box of "bi-monthly bloggers" (which reeks of something sub-par, no?) on Pen and M's (mis)Adventures, I sat down at my laptop with high expectations and great intentions for a wonderful blog.

Only to be interrupted by the EEeeeeeeeeee noise issuing from the dryer lodged in the basement of our unit. We share the washer and dryer with our neighbors, so a total of 4 to 6 families have access to it (though only a handful of us dare use the oft malfunctiong machines). The noise is high-pitched, almost only for dogs to hear, but constant. For one hour, the dryer screeches in this distracting way, with an Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee noise that irritates me to no end. Why the building managers don't do anything about it is not a surprise. The school has no money, and where there is no money to clean an apartment, there is certainly no money to buy a new machine. So we are stuck with this thing that seems to be on whenever I am home -- driving me to distraction, preventing me from completing many tasks in the alloted amount of time. I end up frustrated and then have to combat that frustration by, what else but, lounging in front of the telly.

I too am guilty of causing such a noise, thereby slowly driving people to dementia or insasnity, whenever I need to dry my clothes (which is why I air dry 2/3 of my clothes anyway) using the dryer. But, I have always made a point not to dry clothes at 10 or 11 p.m. on weeknights.

Baffling thing is, some of my neighbors, ahem, don't think there is anything wrong with drying clothes in the Eeeeeeeeee dryer at 11:00 p.m. When most people are sleeping and when I'm trying to work on the computer or read a book or God forbid write some poetry. Incomprehensible. Do people not know how frustrating it is to live above the two machines, one of which makes a whirrrrrrring noise at the end of a cycle, and the other of which emits that horrid Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee noise? People don't know because they don't live above the two units. I do. We do. We have to endure it.

What would be the most polite way to notify them that perhaps they should, please, not wash or dry at 11 p.m. because let's just say we want to be friend and I'd hate to have to hurt anyone who will continue to do that...

Unfortunately for me, I can only blog about it and will never ever actually say any of this to any of my neighbors in person (non confrontational, even if you don't believe it) and of course they would never read my blog (knock on wood now someone) so I'm left with the irritating EEEeeeeeeee and a whiny blog.

Why can't we all simply go green, save some electricity and hang dry our clothes? Huh?

* Photos taken by HAT while in Malaysia in Jan. '07

No matter how one feels

Just today, I received the following letter from the President of my alma mater. I am conflicted, and a bit devastated, that my school has chosen to connect itself with the Institute. In a previous post, I stated my personal opinions alongside those of certain members of the faculty senate. How disappointing then, that we have opted to welcome such a political machine into our academic midst. Yet another disappointment.

Dear member of the SMU family:

Although undoubtedly you have heard news reports on this topic, I wanted you to hear directly from me that SMU has been chosen as the site of the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Museum and Institute, after a competition with seven other institutions. The entire complex of library, museum, institute and conference facilities will be known as the George W. Bush Presidential Center. The announcement was made February 22 by the Bush Foundation on behalf of President Bush.

Only a handful of cities and universities host presidential libraries. For Texas to have three of them gives our state a unique triumvirate of resources for studying presidential history during pivotal times. The Presidential Center is another way in which SMU can serve our community, the nation and the world.

The three-part Presidential Center will consist of the presidential library, containing documents and artifacts of the Bush Administration; a museum with permanent and traveling exhibits; and an independent public policy institute. Focusing on topics of interest to the President, the George W. Bush Institute will host officials, scholars and others as fellows for research and symposia. While the Presidential Library and Museum will be operated by the National Records and Archives Administration, the George W. Bush Institute will be operated independently of SMU by the Bush Foundation and will be identified accordingly. The agreement between SMU and the Foundation stipulates that the relationship between the two “will not interfere with SMU’s commitment to open inquiry and academic freedom within the University.”

At the same time, guidelines have been developed for appropriate interactions between SMU and the Institute. These include procedures for concurrent appointments if an institute fellow qualifies to teach at SMU, or if an SMU faculty member wishes to serve as an institute fellow.

No matter how one feels about a particular administration, a presidential library preserves the history of the Office of the President and of our nation during a particular era, and the documents and artifacts making up a presidential library are a tremendous resource for research. As you know, the era covered by the George W. Bush Presidential Center encompasses events such as the tragic attacks on 9-11, efforts to combat terrorism, the current war in Iraq, natural disasters such as Katrina, and a changing economy.

In addition, as an educational asset for students, faculty, visiting scholars, schoolchildren, and tourists from throughout the world, the Presidential Center will enable thousands of people to gain an appreciation of SMU who otherwise might not hear about our University. We should feel pride that SMU has been selected as a repository of historical documents, a purpose that transcends current politics, enabling scholars and others to study this presidency over the long term.

Fund-raising for the Presidential Center will be conducted by the George W. Bush Foundation. Although we will certainly cooperate with that effort, SMU’s main fund-raising focus will continue to be our upcoming major gifts campaign for endowments supporting students, faculty, academic programs and our unique campus experience. At the same time, SMU’s selection as the site of the Presidential Center will introduce us to new audiences who otherwise would not know about SMU’s strengths and potential. Either way, SMU’s momentum is strong and growing.

Our alumni and parents are a major source of that strength, enhancing our reputation through your daily achievements as well as support. We will keep you apprised as more details develop. In the meantime, further information about SMU as the home of the George W. Bush Presidential Center is available at smu.edu, including a webcast of the related news conference on February 22.

I appreciate your interest and support.

Sincerely,

R. Gerald Turner
SMU President

I would like to lift out a paragraph buried in the letter, which speaks however eloquently and sadly of the state of where we are on the Dallas hill:

No matter how one feels about a particular administration, a presidential library preserves the history of the Office of the President and of our nation during a particular era, and the documents and artifacts making up a presidential library are a tremendous resource for research. As you know, the era covered by the George W. Bush Presidential Center encompasses events such as the tragic attacks on 9-11, efforts to combat terrorism, the current war in Iraq, natural disasters such as Katrina, and a changing economy.

Yes, indeed, as a citizen of this lovely, liberated, democratic nation, and as an alumna of the school with this massive presidential library, I will be able to reminisce and reflect upon the "great era" of our current president -- an era marked by war, death, terrorism, and a failing economy. Is this the legacy that we want to protect, cherish, and remember? Yes, indeed, this is the legacy that we can never forget -- if only to build a better nation and never reach this point again.

Golden Beet Veggie Bowl

This past Christmas, my boss gave me a wonderful piece of functional art. It is a piece from Margaret Dorfman's Veggie Bowls collection. It is made of golden beet that has been cured for a long period of time, then molded into the shape of a bowl that holds a candle or potpourri or maybe some small, light candies. The translucent texture of the gold beet is gorgeous and the brilliant gold glows, especially when illuminated by candlelight.

It is a charming gift that reminds me of the eco-consciousness and ecological stewardship that we are called to cultivate.

My problem is what do I do with this fragile gift? It sits on a shelf right now, rather lonesome, and slightly abandoned without anyone admiring it fully. It should be stored away from light and humidity, and can probably crackle and crumble if anyone puts a teeny bit of pressure on it. What do I do? Where do I put it? I'm not used to having to deal with so much fragility!

By the way, you can find these at The Treehouse in Rockridge on College Avenue. Lovely place. "Green" gifts all around.

Please note picture is of Thai Papaya, not Golden Beet.

Cung Chuc Tan Xuan

Xuan nam nay, minh vua buon vua vui. Nua vui nua buon. Buon vi qua nhieu thoi gian da troi qua khong gap lai nhung nguoi ban cu, va cung khong thuong lien lac duoc voi nhung nguoi ban moi quen. Nhung nguoi ban o gan thi dan dan di xa. Nhung nguoi vang con o ke ben thi cang thay xa hon. Trong nhung giay phut yen lang cua mot ngay, minh lau lau ngoi nghi khong biet cac ban do dang lam gi. Khong biet ho dang lu bu nhung cong viec gi. Khong biet doi song cua ho ra nhu the nao. Nhung con song gio cua cuoc doi da doi su the nao voi nhung nguoi ban ti hon cua toi? Vi lau roi khong lien lac voi nhau (da, dung, chung ta ai ai cung xung rang minh qua "ban ron" den noi khong co thi gio de xa giao nua), nen khi ngo loi, cam thay hoi mac co, giong nhu phai lam quen lai tu ban dau. Roi khi tuong nho loi nhung canh do thi thay oi sao chan qua, nen cung danh bo qua thoi, khong bat dien thoai len de goi. Khong cam but de viet thu hoi am. Khong danh email de chao tham. Roi thi ngay nay troi den ngay khac. Roi den Tet. An Tac Nien vui, nhung sau trong day tim thi minh cam thay mot chut ho then vi da bo het mot nam troi. Dung, nhung nguoi ban do ai ai cung co doi song rieng, va chac ho cung dang thac mac tai sao minh khong lien lac voi nhau, nhung roi ho cung bo lo co hoi... Mot ngay them mot ngay. Roi Tet lai qua... Tiec lien hoan cung het. Don Xuan sang. Doi song tro ve nhu cu.

Khong le moi nam se la nhung ngay "hoi tiec" chong chat len nhau?

Trong nam moi, cung ta hay chuc nhau nhung loi chuc don so nhung day y nghia, de minh co the nghi nho nhung loi do trong long, va tuong nho den nhau moi khi nghe nhung loi chao tham ay.

Men chuc tat ca mot nam moi tran day on Chua.

Get @ HAT through The Rumor

On Saturday, instead of doing the 10 things on my TO DO list, which all have similar impending deadlines, I decided to upgrade my Sprint phone. Needless to say, it is an extravagance. Was my other phone working properly? Yes. Did I recently drop it? No. Was it malfunctioning? No. Was it possible for the one or two friends that I have remaining still contact me through said hand-held device? Yes. Could I have used the said mobile device for another 2 years without having any technical problems. Yes. Would I have saved $50 bucks if I'd just kept the old one? Yes.

Nevertheless, I had to do it. The ridiculous retail price is $279.99. What with the instant savings that I qualified for (being the faithful, loyal 2-year customer that I am), and the mail-in rebate, I paid $108. Which isn't bad, considering I didn't need the silly phone. It just looks great. GPS. Bluetooth. Video. Camera. Music. And the pretense of me being "cool." (I'm vaguely aware that by my saying so, any chance of me being cool just flew out the window. Bear with me please.) It's black (but comes in white as well), and slides out sideways to reveal and Qwerty keyboard. Small enough to fit into the palm of my hands, it features a 1.3 megapixel camera and a videocamera, and supposedly also plays music. I have no idea, b/c I haven't the faintest idea the full capacity of this wonderful device. I am now married to my phone, with the single exception of taking it into the bathroom.

Tempted as I am to blame it on the disembodied "evil voice" that persuaded me to purchase The Rumor, I need to take full responsibility for the decision to buy this phone (which I've not had a chance to use except to call my parents, and, Paco). I am the only person to blame for it existing in my world as of Saturday. I have no one to blame or thank. Naturally.

So, this morning, the homily was directed right at me, and The Rumor. As we pass through the first Sunday in Lent, I am reminded that the One much greater than I was able to give up so much in order to attain the Bread of Life, and here I am clutching my Rumor. Not donating to charity (done last week -- does that count?). Not caring for the elderly. Not feeding the hungry. Not clothing the poor. This, sadly, then, was my very first act of Lent -- to shamelessly, heedlessly, ridiculously, unreservedly buy a brand new product of which I have no need.

Help me, Lord, but I do still love it.

Where God is not?

Last week, during our school's annual Epiphany West pastoral conference, one of the speakers was Peter Phan, who gave a talk about being religious interreligiously (in fact, that's the title of his 2004 book currently under "review" by the Vatican and causing much "anxiety").

One of the most interesting statements that he made (and which many others, no doubt, have also articulated) is that as a faith community (whether Methodist, Catholic, Unitarian, Presbyterian, Islamic, etc.), we can define where God is, but we can never say definitively where God is not.

Hearing him, I was reminded of an incident that happened several years ago. I was traveling abroad, and it was during some evening in the Spring when a friend of mine, seeing my intention to enter into a temple, told me not to enter into that particular space because God was not and is not and will not be present there.

That kind of certainty takes a lot of courage, I think. I would not be so assured or confident in denying where God does or does not exist, or where God can or cannot be found. God is a greater Mystery than what I am able to comprehend with the limitations of my human understanding, so I do not dare to say for certain where God is not.

Conversations about intercultural and interreligous living inspire me to look for where God is, and, more importantly, allow me to recognize, understand, and welcome when God reveals God's self to me -- whether it be through the kind gesture of an old itinerant merchant in Saigon, or through the smile of a young child I pass by in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, or perhaps a homeless person on Shattuck Street, or perhaps outside a mosque in Malaysia.

That evening, when my friend barred me from entering the temple, I did not respond, was not able to respond. I did not have the language to articulate what I was thinking or feeling or sensing -- I felt like a child grasping through children's vocabulary, and those words were insufficient tools for me to enter into discourse on a deeper level.

Because of our differences, I may not engage in theological conversations, debating why I believe the Creator God exists and can be found in every space and time. For now, though, I can at least say that the space I occupy would be a space where God exists, and, wherever I go, God would be in that place.

Amen?

Let money flow in like water!

Happy Lunar New Year to everyone! May the Year of the Rat be for you filled with good fortune, good health, and prosperity!

Photo

A Reading from Isaiah for Lent

I've thought often about the meaning of the Lenten season. In the early days of my youth, we would be asked to give up something during this season, under the pretense that we were becoming more spiritually grounded, more faithful, more righteous if we refrained from doing or eating something for 40 days. Television, chocolates, sodas -- those were the easy "sacrifices" offered up by young minds and bodies. We didn't fully understand the significance of such a discipline because as soon as Ordinary Time began, we were back to television watching and soda drinking and chocolatey deliciousness. A few more years and we understood more clearly that this was a way to discipline ourselves and to put our bodies in shape. Sugars were given up, or, all candies and not just chocolates were eliminated. Nowadays, the youth are all about giving up listening to their iPods, refraining from playing on the computer or surfing the net, or checking Facebook only once instead of 10 times a day. Or, read a book instead of Tivo or Netflix.

Moderation is important, but still, these actions are centered on disciplining the self in order to curb our control tendencies. Control issues. We want to determine, define, limit the consequences of our actions.

As I think of the young people in our congregation, I wonder about what they are encouraged to do. Give up chocolates or give away chocolates? Give up internet and read a book, or donate books or teach someone to read a book?

In all honesty, I was thinking of disciplining myself to exercise everyday (which is something I normally don't do -- what's the point of taking up something as a new discipline if you do it everyday, right? it has no significance for Lent, right?). After thinking it over, it seemed a silly, and rather selfish, and wrongly motivated idea. Exercising everyday for 40 days, with the serious risk of lapsing back to no exercise at all after the 40 days are up -- is, for me, all about false modesty, and vanity. Rigorous exercise that doesn't do anything except build up my ego and vanity for a healthy body does not seem right. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high.

I'm not quite certain what I want to do yet, but am leaning heavily towards resurrecting the art of letter writing -- which was something I loved to do. There is artistry and discipline in sitting down to craft a letter of substance. And, to write a letter a day for 40 days, for the elderly people or for newcomers or for the really quiet and distant members of our congregation -- well, could that be a better option than giving up chocolate? Or, what about 40 letters of impact that are sent to our civic leaders, congressman or congresswoman, or to our leader of choice, urging them to take a stand about a global issue (e.g. an MDG goal such as eradicating poverty)?

Does anyone have suggestions?

58:4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high.

58:5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?

58:6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

58:7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

58:8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

58:9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

58:10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

58:11 The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

58:12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"

Take this simple test and find out what the handwriting analysis says about yourself.

http://www.truthstar.com/graphology/free_graphology.asp

Mine says:

Free Hand Writing Analysis Report
Report

You are a confident person and have a positive approach towards life and its events. Hence, you are cheerful and exuberant.

You are unpredictable and moody. You have a self-conflicting nature.

Your writing suggests that you are a committed person, that is, you demonstrate dedication and perseverance in your work.

You believe in saving your money. Hence, you handle money like a miser as you are reserved about it.

You do not give much thought or are impetuous while taking a decision or starting a new venture.

You project just a part of yourself to the world, letting them know your ideas and thoughts a limited extend.

You work with the most-favourable pace and hence, do not have to conciliate between the quality and speed.

You are a dependable and trustworthy person.

You are not very ambitious and hence, do not keep your goals very high.

You do not like to hear any unpleasant remark about yourself or your work and this infuriates you a lot.

You are a dedicated person. You readily and earnestly accept any task.

You like to be in the limelight and center of attraction in the crowd.

You want to project the best of you to the world and hence, you strive to make an impression on the world. You want to get noticed.

You have a distracted and unfocused mind.

You are an extrovert and hence, like to socialize with the people.

You show keen interest in learning new things. You love to explore the ever-changing world.

You believe in living life to the fullest and consider amusement and bliss as very important.

You have an excellent strength of mind and also much desirable fortitude. You put in all your determination to complete your work.

You are flexible and practical which works to your advantage. The balance outlook of yours helps you adapt yourself according to the crowd.

Find out if your handwriting analysis is accurate!

Voting Pains

Immediately after we got into the car to head home after voting tonight, we called T4 to ask him about dinner. He of course cheekily asked if we'd changed the world. Truth be told, dropping the absentee ballot into the box felt satisfying (I was undecided for a long period of time and so delayed the process of mailing in the permanent absentee ballot). It was my one yellow drop in the pool of votes. I make fun of the process, I gripe and complain about many of the results, and I scoff at the choices I'm given, but no matter what, I feel good about the opportunity to make a choice -- right now, at this point in time. Whether it's Obama or Clinton, I would still be relieved.

Cranes

Say Sesame!

Seeing that Paco has discovered Paco's true inner self through the Sesame Street personality quiz, I had to take a test run. And, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce, albeit slightly perturbed by the some of the findings of this quiz, I am Bert.

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you lovable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

In case you missed it the first time, notice the part about "just a little evil." Mwwaaahhhaahhaaa...

Mum: Not Mai, But Cuc

This is a retraction, apology, whatever, for the post Me and My Mum If you were to read my post, then go back to Vietnam during Tet, go to Cho Hoa (flower market) and point to a Mum and called it "hoa mai", they'd have no idea what you're talking about and would think you're crazy. That's because I'm crazy. Perhaps it's been too long since I was in Vietnam, but mums are not "mai" but they are "cuc." Just as beautiful, but not really called the same thing. Mai comes in different colors and the yellow ones are called "mai vang". So sorry for the mistake during language lesson!

Incidentally, because I need to tell someone about it, on the day that I purchased the mum, I also wanted to by a tree of "mai vang". Well, the one I wanted was $70.00. Should I have gotten it? I felt like I was about to rip my arm off and give it to the woman. She didn't seem to care that I desperately wanted the tree but did not want $70.00. Was I wrong? Does it not seem excessive that they would charge that much? I suppose if it were a Christmas tree, I would hesitate less. Still, $70 for a tree? Am I pulling a Scrooge here?

Anyway, so what I did, brilliantly might I add, was to purchase a bunch of fabric yellow mai so that I can hot glue it to a tree branch. It sounds tacky, and tedious. So, after taking it home, I promptly dropped it in a bowl where it still sits. :)

Chuc mung nam moi, ya'all!

3 Colors of Tet

Green: A must-have for Tet is Mut Dua, which is basically candied coconut meat. The young coconut meat is glazed, sprinkled, dipped, covered, what have you, in sugar for a sweet combination of chewy coconut and sugar. The green color, of course, is added afterwards, but the great thing about candied treats during Tet is this: anything can be candied and colored -- Loquats, kumquats, peanuts, cashews, coconuts, ginger, lotus seeds, soursop, tamarind, sesame, etc. The different varieties of sweets add the necessary colors to the household, and green is always important for my house.

The yellow of flowers such as Hoa Cuc and Hoa Mai cannot be left out. During Tet, in every household you will find at least one flower pot with yellow flowers. Might I add, yellow is an auspicious, lucky number for me, and my name even refers to the yellow of royalty.

The red of Li Xi (lucky money envelopes) and of firecrackers are a must during Tet. But red also appears in the form of red roasted watermelon seeds. Eating these tiny seeds is a favorite past time, especially for young kids. It takes SKILLS to crack these things open without breaking the shell so that you can pull out the creamy, crunchy meat in the center. I can't tell you how many I'm able to eat in one sitting, but they are quite addictive. Splitting them open, breaking the shells down the side, then pulling out the meat -- it should take no more than 1.5 seconds, if even that, but you'd be surprised how long it takes some folks to tackle one single watermelon seed. The telltale signs of eating these things? Red finger tips!

Goat Meets Rat in 2008

I was born in the Year of the Goat. When folks ask how old I am, I say that I am "tuoi Ky Mui." Most people would not know how to quickly calculate the biological years -- 20? 25? 30? It is enough for them to know I'm giving them an out by not dueling them. Plus, it's also an interesting turn in the conversation -- their amazement at my ability to count according to the Chinese/Vietnamese calendar diverts their attention away from pursuing the quantitative answer to their question. I cannot recall when this perverse tendency began, but for many years now I've enjoyed the ability to thwart people's inquisition. No matter how casual or kindly the intention, the question, when posed by certain individuals, causes me much irritation. So I say I'm Ky Mui. You figure it out. I didn't ask you yours, so I'm not telling mine. This annoyance I believe comes from the "negative traits of the Goat." According to Wikipedia:

Negative traits of the Goat: (In Vietnamese, Goat = Mui)
Irresponsible, anxious, lazy, self-pitying, capricious, indecisive, insecure, violent, vengeful, resentful, judgmental, discriminating, careless, ultra-sensitive

There you have it. Ultra-sensitive.

Another thing? When I put in my birthday on the Blogger profile, Blogger tags me as a Sheep, and Virgo. Vietnamese would know that we do not call it the year of the sheep even though it can be translated either way (sheep or goat) from the Chinese character. As far as I know, the Chinese call it the Year of the Ram or Year of the Sheep. But Vietnamese call it Year of the Goat. Why? I don't know (more research, anyone?) Sheep or Goat, says Wiki, no one ever calls it the year of the Ewe. Eeeew. Haha.

And the Virgo thing? Well, when calculating my birthdate according to the Gregorian calendar, I'm Virgo, but in actuality, my equivalent western sign is Cancer, not Virgo. And, my lucky number is 2 (I'm the middle/second child. coincidence? I think not).

There's more.

My element: Earth
(In Vietnamese, "tho) earth bears metal in the Generating Cycle of Balance, and earth absorbs water in the Overcoming Cycle of Balance

My polarity: Yin
(In Vietnamese, "am") the dark element: it is passive, dark, feminine, negative, downward-seeking, consuming and corresponds to the night.

The Goat/Sheep/Ram is the 8th sign of the Vietnamese (and Chinese) zodiac. The Goat is the creative sign -- the artistic, temperamental one. Given that 2008 on the lunar calendar is the Year of the Rat, I have to find out what it means for a Goat to enter the new year on the tails of my rodent friend.


*For a good, general description of Vietnamese Lunar New Year, go to this blog, but I suspect there's some plagiarizing from Wiki... but, what do I know?