Tuesday, December 27th, 2011 EST~Altamonte Springs, Florida USA

Yes, today marks the 8th month mark of my sobriety from alcohol.  I FEEL FANTASTIC!  Although I have to confess, yesterday–the day after Christmas–I had a food hangover.   Groan.  You guys have to remind me next year, that it’s not a good idea to indulge in holiday foods at holiday parties in the deep-fried, sausage-loving South.  And talk about processed foods…my God, the crap is irresistibly delicious!

I am glad the holidays are drawing to a close and the new year is soon to be dawning.  When the calendar changes after every 12 months, I feel EXCITED!  It is a fresh start and the most important time to set goals and make an annual plan.   And oh-boy, do I have PLANS!!!  This is going to be my year, people.  2-0-1-2….the year of the Dragon!  I was born in the year of the Dragon; in 1964.

Dragons (This personality description is TOTALLY Me–Those who know and love me will have to agree.  So, if you are reading this and seek to be my friend or lover, read this first and consider yourself forewarned!)

Force and power are the symbols attributed to the Dragon. There is a decidedly exotic air about Dragon people, especially among the women, who fairly exude sexuality. Indeed, whether male or female, Dragons are libidinous and score quite a hit with the opposite sex.

To the Chinese, the Dragon is born in the most desirable year, blessed by the gods and goddesses in heaven. Possessing magical powers, the versatile Dragon is capable of soaring to the highest heavenly heights or diving to the depths of the sea. On one hand shrewd, healthy and full of vitality, the Dragon also possesses a mystical side, intuitive, artistic and strangely lucky. However, Dragons can plunge pretty low, becoming irritable, stubborn and impetuous. The Dragon’s mystical allure may become a bit too other worldly, making him or her difficult to get close to. A Dragon’s unsatisfactory love life may lead to a string of loves and marriages. Believing themselves invincible, Dragons must beware of excesses, for with their uncommon strength, they can harm themselves, or “scorch their wings.”

Flexible and accommodating, they fit in with whatever is going on around them — but for only as long as it suits them. This is because they are self-determined types and don’t take kindly to being dominated by others. Although seemingly affable and agreeable, they can be as ferocious and dangerous as the mythical beast on whom the sign is based.

Temperamentally, Dragons are somewhat hot-headed and quick-tempered; when angered they will give as good as they get. Dragons can also be hypercritical if things are not quite right or not up to their expectations. Dragons are idealists and perfectionists; they demand a lot and they give a lot. Enthusiastic to the point of impetuousity, Dragons have big mouths. Their words overrun their thoughts, and their hearts run away with their heads. This often causes social blunders.

Another difficulty for the Dragon is that life experiences are very intense. There are no casual friendships for Dragon; every interaction is a continuation of heavy pastlife karma that must be resolved now, as if ten lifetimes were being lived out in the current incarnation.

Intellectually, they are clever, bright, sharp people, yet on occasion they will throw all logic to the wind and follow their hunches. Fortunately for them, they are strong on intuition and invariably all works out well. In a confrontation, Dragons have a tendency to misjudge the situation, and are not too adept at extricating themselves from difficulties. Interestingly, no matter what surprises Fate may have in store, whatever difficulties or hardships these people may encounter along the road, Dragons will always ultimately land on their feet. They will be a success wherever they go, regardless of their chosen careers.

Dragons may devote themselves to a great cause or work, and if so, they will see it through to the end. This talent work two ways, as they can be equally devoted to a bad cause and equally successful in it. Dragons can’t help but win! This is undoubtedly due to the fact that of all the Chinese signs, those born under the influence of the Dragon are considered the luckiest of all and good fortune simply follows them wherever they go. They have strong karma to lead and succeed. If a Dragon takes action to realize dreams, there is no limit to the heights that can be achieved. Not only that, they also have the Midas touch. It is said that the Year of the Dragon is good for business and all money-making schemes. Consequently, those born in this year have an inherent knack for attracting money and they generally enjoy financial prosperity. The Chinese say that the Dragon leaves wealth and prosperity in his path. Hence, the Dragon leads the street processions during Chinese New Year. The Dragon brings the Four Benedictions of the East — wealth, virtue, harmony, and long life.

The Stimulating Dragon

Romance for the Dragon is never simple, with one crazy state of mind following another, creating a series of highs and lows in his love life. There are two types of Dragon lovers: those who fall in love and commit themselves to a serious relationship when they are fairly young, and those who tend to be loners and perhaps never marry at all. In general, the former enjoy a stable and satisfactory married life while the latter flit from one love affair to another, never really giving any of them a chance to develop.

Since Dragons are not prone to marrying young, many committed bachelors and spinsters are born under the influence of this sign; truthfully, the Dragon may be happier alone. In any partnership Dragon folk will first and foremost seek an intellectual rapport, because these people get as much of a charge from mental stimulation as they do from having sex. Of course they bring to any relationship their own inimitable touch of magic and that Dragon element of good fortune. But the male Dragon is perhaps happier in love than his female counterpart, for this, being a strongly masculine sign, often produces dominant women who tend to take over the relationship and rather blindly tread all over the sensitivities of their partners.

The Monkey, Snake and Rat are dream partners for the Dragon; however, it is worth remembering that the only sign that can fool the Dragon is the Monkey. The Boar and Ox cannot deal with his excesses. The Dragon should avoid the down-to-earth Dog, who is his opposite.

May is the month of the Dragon. The time of the Dragon is from 7:00 a.m. to 8:59 a.m.; their direction of orientation is east-southeast. The Dragon’s color is aquamarine.

And lastly, in sharing with you from my personal history, here below is a poem that I wrote in 2003; inspired by my late finance, Shabtai Levi of Ashkelon, Israel: born July 12, 1951, died December 27, 2003–exactly 8 years ago today! Miss You So Much, Shabushy!

SALSA ANYONE?

Tasting salsa-
dipping, chipping, sipping
my margarita…
Ahh, I can’t wait-
to get there
home
H-O-M-E
Yeah, home.
To Israel!
“Israel?” you ask
face screwing up
like I’m crazy
or worse
Yes, say I
I-S-R-A-E-L
My home.
Ancestral
and future.
You must not know her
or her people
‘cuz if you did
you wouldn’t query.
How lusty they are!
Mm-mm good.
Lusty, lovely, luscious!
And dips?
Talk about dips!
Not one
Not two
Mm–So many!
Hummus
Zhoug
Tahina
Babaganoosh
Turkish Salad
Olives, Olives.
Spicey ones
tangy ones
pitted ones
chewy ones
red ones
green ones
ones with flecks of garlic
with herbs; oregano, coriander
and this is only the beginning….

You’re sitting across the table
from a drippy-eyed, gorgeously
sexy Israeli
Uzi at his side
Feeling quite oozy yourself
munching olives
sucking pita
smothered with eggplant salad
intoxicated by garlic
but he doesn’t care
about the garlic, I mean
Oh no!
Just go ahead and
b..r..e..a..t..h..e….
on him
and he’ll tell you
“I love garlic”
while he strokes your inner
thigh
with his warm, olive colored
suntanned hand
heavy
that’s how the air feels
at your pita, garlic, olive
table
in the salty air
of the Medditeranean
of Israel
Spell it out now…
I-S-R-A-E-L
Oh yes!
Now that’s poetry!…..
And suddenly your senses
begin to understand why
all the whole world has fought
over this tiny piece of property
for so damn long
It’s simply
in the air
in their air
Israeli air….
garlic air.
By the way
did you know
garlic is an aphrodisiac?

Salsa?…forget about it!