YEAR OF THE RAT

Today is the start of The Rat year, 4706.

I was born in a Rat Year.

I have most of the good and not so good aspects. Some good ones are: charming, passionate, practical, hardworking, intelligent, quick witted, well yes i liek tot hink i have these. Not so good are: greedy, miserly, secretive. But it says i will give all to those i love, yes that is true. Especially Monkey or Dragon peple with blue irises, and of course Rat persons with dark eyes like mine!!

Oma will call soon and tell me the never-ending story of my birth. The Baltic was pounding at the house, there were no lights, no power. I was born in candle light. At day break my Mother saw me for the first time. A wild Viking scream filled the room. What is that, take IT away, she yelled. Well, i was covered in balck hair, had black darting eyes. Yes, i looked like a rat. Every morning the midwife would find a rat curled up with me in my cradle. They could not keep it away, well they brough in a huge cat and that was the end of the poor, wee rat. All of this is the truth!!!

My family will go out for a Chinese meal today. i am the only single person, so i will get more of the "Lucky Money" red envelopes. Greedy old me!!!!

It is traditional in China to buy new shoes and clothes, and get a haircut. I will do all that today. Chinese Wu clan colours are red and black, as are the First Nations clans here on the island. My artist friend Sandra designs wonderful First Nations capes in those colours. There is a Red night at the art gallery. I have given them Sandra, HER art and MY haiku cards to display.

Perhaps someone will buy some....greedy again!!!

Some haiku and tanka
Free form, not 5-7-5 or 5-7-5-7-7...just too lazy this morning.

Wild Baltic night
the baby covered in hair
a woman's screamm

A Rat-woman
searching for a Dragon-man
must have blue irises

Chinese New Year
red packets of money
on her door-step
she rushes to the mall
and calls her hairdresser

Her beloved cats
born in the
Dragon, Monkey and Rat years

Have a wonderful Rat year.

Mozart and Shakespear were Rat persons, no wonder i love them so much!!!

CARNIVAL TIME

It is Carnival time and today is the last day. Shrove Tuesday is always fun...all those big, fat pancakes with maple syrup here in Canada. Here on the island not much is realy going on. I will make pancakes for myself, Mischi and Bling. I have a mask i made last year.

I heard that a man in Rio fell under a foat and died. All that crowing adn drinking, well the poor man had fun until the last moment of his life. My prayers go out to his family and friends. "Moderation in all things" is not in affect during Carnival.

My Nordic Uncle went to Carnival in Southern Germany, when he was young and did not return until the Summer.

Shrove Tuesday
pancake after pancake
scent of maple syrup

Carnival floats
song, dance and beads
rainbow on her neck

Behind her mask
her brown eyes blue
Carnival magic

Grey sea and sky
rain on the cedars
on the intenet
Carnival in Rio
colour, music and Samba