I’ve arrived in San Francisco. With a bit of fanfare and a late night at the Jupiter Hotel. Dr. B and I rode off into the sunrise with a wee hangover and a overloaded Buick.

I’m in a cafe down the street from my house. Post manicure/pedicure watching the flat panel monitors barrage me with information. The weather is 68 degrees and partly cloudy and my horoscope for today says that today is the day I’ve been waiting to take that risk.

I think I’m at my limit for risks today.  I’m waiting very patiently for the AT&T guy to show up and give me some internet. Once that happens I’ll have much more for you.

This is Chinese New Year; This is the year of the Rat.

Photo by Chantel Williams, 2008

 

I’m a rat
If you listen to my new Flickr Stalker then I’m also a mean and, evil person.
In Chinese New Year, that means that evil and mean people like myself have fantastic years.

According to a very reputable site, Rats are;

Rat people are so charming and attractive they are always surrounded by friends and admirers. They can also be lone tumbleweeds, seldom making lasting friendships. Known as Perfectionists, they never want to lose face. It takes an understanding friend to get them to “put on the dancing plumes.” Rat people have vivid imagination and are known for creating extraordinarily magic moments in time. Not surprisingly, the sensitive Rats have the gift of insight and clairvoyance, so you better watch out what you think around them! Rats enjoy being leaders and pacesetters and usually enjoy extraordinary success in life.

There are also different types of Rats and I’m a water Rat, born in 1972;

When water rats talk, people listen. Commanding and eloquent, always the center of attention, the Water Rats also have a soft side that endears them to the world. When the world needs, Water Rats are there. Humanitarian fighters against hunger, illness, sadness, they try to bring happiness to others through their compassionate endeavors and smiling warmth. When the world wants a friend, it’s the loyal and sincere Water Rat which draws them in. The Water Rat has a successful career but money-wise, it’s pretty much middle of the road. Changing free-spending ways could lead to financial security if they are willing to make the effort. Their natural charisma attracts members of the opposite sex like wildfire, but Water Rats often don’t set their standards high enough and are quite indiscriminate in seeking love affairs, until they finally settle down later in life. Once this happens, they advance pretty far exhibiting oodles of charm with their loved ones.

My favorite astrologer has levied another warning my way this week. I guess I’ll have to cancel a few things and return a few items I bought on a whim.

From Rob Brezy at Freewillastrology.com 

In some places, you can’t buy a gun 15 minutes after you get an itch to hold it in your hand. In America, for example, a few of the states force you to delay your purchase for a short time. Many countries also require couples seeking marriage licenses to endure a cooling-off period of a few days before they can officially tie the knot. I urge you to adopt this approach to making important decisions, Virgo. Impose a waiting period on yourself if you’re thinking about acquiring heavy artillery, intensifying your relationship commitment, altering your consciousness, or initiating any other big action. 

Things to do:

Cancel that trip to Vegas and return the wedding dress I just purchased
Rethink the breast implants
Put down the cheeseburger I just bought because I can’t leave a burger homeless at the holidays
Reconsider the Irish Coffee I’m currently making
Change my shoes - oh how I love Animal Print, Patent Leather
Forget dusting my shelves because whew, I only do that on the spur of the moment
Call Santa and take back the sentence where I said I don’t want presents for myself this year and asked him to grant world peace.

I’ve been tagged by the Miss ladauphine to reveal 5 (only five?) of my idiosyncrasies, I call them neurosis because that is the only way to describe me. I am deeply neurotic, I try to hide it and most people don’t notice it right away but my friends and family wait for it when we are together because it is endlessly entertaining for them.

Open Cupboard Doors - This has caused great stress for me. My ex-husband and ex-father-in-law still to this day work very hard to pick on me about this. They come over to my house and open some or all of the cupboards in my kitchen and then ask me for help in the kitchen - just to see my face twist up. When I was younger and less able to control myself, the open doors would send me into a rage that might have included me trying to rip off the door. Now I politely close the cupboards, threaten them with their life and smile sweetly. My children close all cupboard doors politely unlike the barn animals I used to be related to.

Obsessive hand washing - I’m a nervous individual this is not obvious to most. I also used to work on cars and spent a good portion of my life working in automotive shops. I had to leave this profession because my hand washing regimen exceeded the normal limit. I can’t pet strange animals or even my own cat unless a basin with hot water is available for immediate cleansing. I still run to wash my hands in uncomfortable situations; which has also led to a need for constant moisturizer. I’m not addicted to the moisturizer just the hand-washing.

Hair obsession - I have the worst hair. You may say how lucky I am because it’s long, lush and curly but, you don’t have to deal with it. Unless I cut it and straighten it I will never look sleek and neat like so many of my lucky counterparts. Someone said I was exotic - I beg to differ. As a child I was threatened and teased because of this. I remember all the names everyone called me; Little Orphan Annie, Fro (for the size and shape), Pippi Longstocking, Red-Headed Step Child, Wild Banshee and my favorite Celtic Madwoman. My hair has this desire to be big and out of control and well I don’t. I am obsessed with controlling it, straightening it, covering it with gel, pomade and any other product that promises to control or enhance its never ending need to be big. The last time my type of hair was “IN” was in the 80’s and Poison was the rock band of the moment. When you wake up with dreadlocks every morning you tell me I have it good.

I Won’t leave home without lipstick - If I’m on my deathbed I will ask for two things; a cigarette and my Dior Lipstick.

I don’t like to wear socks in fact I hate feet - I’ve always thought feet were unattractive. You know when you get old and they get hard around edges and your toenails start getting thick? On top of it all I have extremely sensitive feet. I get regular pedicures to help but I nearly bite a hole in my lip while the poor lady is massaging them. I only have about five pair of socks, I’ll wear them if I have to but I don’t do it willingly. I think funny, printed socks are stupid and I would never consider a pair. Something about feet and all things feet freak me out. Although, I have a shoe obsession like you couldn’t imagine. I believe I covered that in a previous meme. You can find it here, if you are so inclined.

Travel - I cannot travel without some sort of freak out. I have to be medicated and I worry the entire time about returning home. It stems from child-hood. I used to be homeless but now I’m not. In fact, I’m secure, employed and quite happy and, I’m terribly stable, organized, safe and aware but the question always lingers, will I return home? On the bright side; I love to travel. I would love to live in a foreign country someday but I’m sure I will have to take a serious amount of Xanax to do it. Have you heard me say, God Bless the Xanax Fairy?

That’s not all folks but I was limited to 5. Allright already, I’m crazy (neurotic) enough.
Should I tag you?
Do you wanna?
If you want to do this then shoot - do it, leave me a comment so I can come check it out.

Drink count:
2 Glasses of Red Bicyclette Chardonnay (Little Red Bicycle, it looks sane on the label.)

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You sparkle like a star, which is pretty much what you are. So go ahead and twinkle

I dont think I sparkle. But hey who am I to judge. I usually feel the grime of life has permanently attached itself to each and every one of my freckles. The type of attachment that takes steel wool to scrub away. So tonight when Im on the bus listening to music and watching people walk by; Ill imagine myself sparkling.

I bet Ill just look high! Now theres and idea!

I miss my children. They left on July 4 to stay with their dad and then go see their great-grandma Spike. Yes her name really is Spike.
Spike and I don’t like each other very much. She thinks I like to be the center of attention and she doesn’t like it when she isn’t the center of attention which led to a big argument 15 years ago when I was pregnant and still married. After the argument, I stormed out and went home to my mother’s house. ( I had never ever went home to my mother in the past ) This must be why they call her Spike.

I never saw Spike again until my ex-brother in-laws wedding a month ago. She stared at me for the longest time until she finally introduced herself. I introduced myself (again) and thought nothing of it. An hour or so later, she came up to me and finally acknowledged that she had no idea who I was. I reminded her that I was Mr. Bug & Ms. Puddin’s Mom. (her great-grandchildren)
Oh - you were married to Mr. X?
Yes, you’re grandson!
My, you have changed haven’t you?

I didn’t think I had changed that much. My friends from childhood always comment on how I haven’t aged. Except for finally getting a nice set of hips and a rack! This is the awesome part about having kids.
But then again, my freckles were heavier with grime when I was young. Maybe in comparison I do sparkle.