Happy end-of-2009, year of the Ox. The Ox stands for hard, slow work, and that was my experience, anyway. Resolves for the new year:  more music-making, hiking, sleeping, soup-making, and soaking in hot springs, which I've decided is my winter sport.  More to ponder:  2010 is the year of the white metal tiger - associated with toughness, generosity, and wealth earned by hard work.  The hard work aspect also appears in relation to loved ones - expressing love more through actions than words. I like the sound of that - seems to me that it's the myriad of little acts and deeds that make a strong bond of trust between myself & those whom I love...especially in the case of new love  :)