2012 Year Of The Dragon

Hi Puzzlers,

The New Year is right around the corner! 2012 is the year of the Dragon. The Chinese dedicate each year to a specific animal. The group of twelve animals includes the Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Rat, Boar, Rabbit, Dog, Rooster, Ox, Tiger, Snake, and Ram. It is thought that each animal bestows certain characteristics onto people born in their year. The dragon year officially begins, according to the Chinese calendar, on January 23rd. The 2012 dragon will be a Black Dragon or Male Water Dragon.

The experts use a system called the Stem-Branch System to determine the years attributes. This system/calendar counts the days, months and years and works in conjunction with the Five Element theory. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each element has a color associated with it and a male or female energy. The system is a tad bit complicated but very interesting.

Water is said to have a calming influence on the Dragon’s fiery nature. Therefore Water Dragons are more receptive and open to other people’s opinions. This means that even the most powerful will listen to others, and will try to see from their point of view, thus forging better alliances and decision making.

A Dragon year is a year marked by intensity, unpredictability, excitement and exhilaration. People respond to the Dragon spirit with vitality, energy and unbridled enthusiasm. But one must use prudence and resist the urge to throw all caution to the wind and take an unnecessary risk - or, this urge may have you starring in your own real life drama.

Those born under the Dragon sign are passionate, brave, self-assured, innovative, enterprising, conceited, and quick-tempered. Dragons are generous and blessed with good fortune. They are smart, and have a wonderful sense of humor. Dragons are free spirits, restrictions quell their creative spark. So, they must be free and uninhibited. Dragons are extroverted bundles of energy, colorful, flamboyant gifted and irrepressible - everything a Dragon does is on a grand scale. Remember, this behavior is natural and not meant for show. You can always count on a dragon for help. Dragons can be solitary people at heart. Their self-sufficiency can mean that they have no need for close bonds with other people.

Famous Dragon People include: Calista Flockhart, Colin Farrell, Courtney Cox, Courtney Love, Dinah Shore, Isabella Rossellini, Julia Ormond, Juliette Binoche, Reese Witherspoon, Roseanne Barr, Sandra Bullock, and Wynonna Judd.

Happy New Year and Happy Puzzling!

Presents for Your Stress FREE Holiday

Hi Puzzlers,

Christmas is only four days away! Yikers!!! If you are like me you’ll be stressed out right to the last minute. So dear puzzlers, I’m giving you the best holiday presents ever; quick tips to reduce stress. I’m not talking about taking a nice long bubble bath or a half hour yoga class. No siree! I am giving you real quick tips. Stuff that will get you relaxed before you walk into the house or holiday party. Tips that get you primed to enjoy all the festivities.

Present #1: The gift of breath. When people get stressed they tend to take short shallow breaths. When you take a long conscious breath it tells your brain you want to relax and unwind. You begin this technique by taking a long slow breath from the belly, not the chest and then exhale just as slowly. Repeat this for a few minutes and you will feel more relaxed.

Present #2: The gift of massage. As we all know when we get stressed we tense our muscles, this includes the muscles on our head. So, a few minutes before you head off to the office party give yourself a mini scalp message. If you don’t want to mess up your hair run a pencil/pen through your hair slowly and feel the stress slowly evaporating away.

Present #3: The gift of progressive muscle relaxation. This great technique can be utilized anywhere. The process begins by tensing, then relaxing your entire body. (Try to keep your mind completely focused on the tensing and relaxing while you do this). Next, tense and relax only the top of your head. Continue tensing and relaxing (one at a time) the neck, shoulders, arms, hips, legs and feet. I taught my teen-aged daughter this technique when she was young and she still uses it and teaches it to her friends.

Present #4: The gift of scent. Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to induce relaxation and no scent is more relaxing than lavender. Keep dried lavender in a sachet in your car, desk draw, and purse, anywhere. Then when you need to feel relaxed take it out and let the sniffing begin. Dried lavender not your style? Why not try dabbing a little lavender oil on your wrist and take a whiff every now and then. This wonder scent is very affordable and can be found in many forms. Just chose which is best for you.

Happy Holidays!

A Christmas Poem

Hi Puzzlers,

Today we have a very special treat for you, a Christmas poem by King Kramer. It was composed by Alicia, one of his favorite elves. Enjoy!

By Kramer, with apologies to Clement Moore

It’s a White Mountain Christmas
And all through the warehouse
Felines are stirring
But not that old mouse.

My friends have gathered
From all over the East
For our yearly celebration
Of a roasted mouse feast.

Packages have been flying
Out of the door,
Bound for Christmas gifts
From shore to shore.

People will “ooh” and people will “ah”
When they open a puzzle sent from Grandpa.
Is it Divas, or Cheers, or perhaps Candy Wrappers?
Or Lewis & Clark, those historic mappers?

The White Mountain crew
Have worked hard for the cause,
While I’ve lounged around,
Grooming my paws.

Now the warehouse is quiet,
Except for MY crew –
Lew Johnson’s cats, Patterson’s too,
All gathered round for a big whoop-de-do.

We'll have Bar-B-Que, Fair Foods,
Maybe Spring Chicken,
Catfish with Olio --
That's so finger-lickin'

Washed down with Tea Time
A little Wine Country, too.
And when Comedy arrives
This will be a real zoo.

But I'm taking a moment
To thank one and all
Of our puzzling friends --
Who have decked our halls.

I heard FedEx exclaim
As they drove out of sight
Merry Christmas to All
And to all good night.

Happy Puzzling!

Eco-Friendly Present Wrapping Ideas

Hi Puzzlers,

I’m still on my wrapping paper jig. If your living room floor looks anything like mine at Christmas time it will be filled with crumpled paper and bows. According to the EPA the 25 percent hike in curbside trash between Thanksgiving and Christmas comes from wrapping paper! Yikes!!! And burning the paper in the fireplace is even worse as many foils and inks contain chemicals that are toxic when burned. Fear not! Listed below are several eco-friendly ideas.

Traditional Eco-Wraps: Use your old newspapers, magazine pages, wall paper (peel it off your wall if you have to) and greeting cards. Or try children’s drawings, coloring book pages or subway and topographical maps. Just layer them to add a creative textured look that doesn’t say cheap!

Give me shine: Why not use recycled aluminum foil or an empty potato-chip bag to dress up your gifts. Just take a peek inside a potato-chip bag; it is shiny white or silver inside! All you have to do is cut the edges with scissors then wash it with soap and water, and let it air dry. Next wrap the present and add some colorful twine or ribbon. Instant eco-bling!!!

It is not just a box: This is one of my favorites, just use a lovely container. Give that gardener in your family a bucket or watering can filled with gardening supplies. The next Iron Chef would love a mixing bowl or stockpot filled with their favorite spices and cookbooks. The container options are endless and they are part of the gift! It is a win-win in my book.

That’s a wrap: Why not try the ancient Japanese art of gift wrapping called furoshiki. Furoshiki uses scarves, towels, fabric scraps, blankets, any cloth will work. The cloth is then folded and tied to beautifully conceal the present. Click here for a few furoshiki tying techniques. The Hon-Tsutsumi will work great for wrapping two puzzles.

And that’s a wrap!

Happy Puzzling!