happy new year, again.

Today begins the Year of the Dragon.
I'm a Dragon.  A Fire Dragon specifically, since I was born in 1976.
I'm a Dragon almost to the letter.  Though I like to think I'm not quick tempered, I'll admit that I'm very knee-jerky. 
I'm also a Leo, albeit a sort of self-conscious, but people are always surprised to learn that about me if they know me in real life.
So, you know.  All that.  Don't say I didn't warn you.
(you'll  note the number of "I's" up there)

Just in case you're a dragon too, here is something I lifted off www.chinesezodiac.com.  It's a little more in depth than the placemat at your local take out.

"Occupying the 5th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks (eh- not so much me. I don't like risks). They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion. Unfortunately, this passion and enthusiasm can leave Dragons feeling exhausted and interestingly, unfulfilled.

While Dragons frequently help others, rarely will they ask for help (ever see me receive something?  I'm not good at it). Others are attracted to Dragons, especially their colorful personalities, but deep down, Dragons prefer to be alone. Perhaps that is because they’re most successful when working alone. Their preference to be alone can come across as arrogance or conceitedness, but these qualities aren’t applicable. Dragons have tempers that can flare fast!

Health
Considering their hard-working nature, Dragons are healthy overall. They do get stressed and suffer from periodic tension/headaches, likely because they take so many risks. Dragons could benefit from incorporating mild activity into their lives. Yoga or walking would be good as these activities can work both their minds and their bodies.

Career
Dragons prefer leading to being led. Jobs that allow them to express their creativity are good choices. Some good careers include: inventor, manager, computer analyst, lawyer, engineer, architect, broker, and sales person.

Relationships
Dragons will give into love, but won’t give up their independence. Because they have quick, sometimes vengeful tempers, their partners need to be tough-skinned. Dragons enjoy others who are intriguing, and when they find the right partners, they’ll usually commit to that person for life."

My child is a dog.  And a fish.
Zodiacally speaking, of course.
He's got both right down to a t (tee? tea? T?) too.  Funny how that works.
I guess some people are born with conflicting signs, but not us.  Or maybe some of us are just so good at wanting to fit in that we read into these things with a mindset that can let us buy into anything we read.

You might not know this about me, but I'm a sucker for this mumbo jumbo.  Not the daily blurbs you find in the paper, but birth signs and star charts and ancient wisdoms.  When I was in between college and grad school, at the beginnings of a useful internet but while real library research was still en vogue, I spent months plotting out this personality chart based on the time and place of my birth and the moon hanging out in the seventh house and Jupiter aligning with Mars and when it was all done, for just that moment, peace guided the planet and love steered the stars.