in that Year of the Dragon. (Also, that the rate of elective abortion would go up in the previous year.) However, I read that the birth rate in China that year was the same as in the previous several years.

True confession: I would have loved to have had a baby born in this year. Le sigh. But I am still stuck in singledom. (Also, not even I really believe astrology should be used as a family planning tool.)

I haven't been paying attention. It's my Chinese astrological sign. Does it mean that Dragons have special things happen to them in the year of the Dragon? If it does, it would be so cool, because right now my life is in one big rut. I need a change.

A person's own animal year is typically a good one, at least as far as new opportunities are concerned. Sort of. I like to warn people that not all growth feels good, so this year may be more about personal progress of a practical sort than it is about good fortune. But Dragons are generally the luckiest, healthiest and most prosperous of all the signs. Obviously, I really love them.

This gives me something to look forward to.