Blogoscopes Week of December 29, 2008 to January 5, 2009

Aries - You're hosting this year's New Year's Eve party which means you have only a few days to decorate the house, organize the food and practice counting backward from ten - prioritize these anyway you see fit. Forget about sending out invites, everyone will be showing up at your place anyway.

Taurus - You suddenly discover that someone has been calling your name for about least forty eight hours. Yes they did ask you a question and yes they are expecting an answer. Buy yourself time by flashing a smile and asking your own question. When that doesn't work - and it won't - just admit that you weren't paying attention.

Gemini - Snorkeling and scuba diving are very different activities. Snorkeling provides an opportunity to watch the sun sparkle on coral, to swim with shoals of brightly coloured fish and play with rays. Scuba is what you do when you want to see an octopus. Fill your tank for a dive but beware of the tentacles in dark places.

Cancer - If you're hosting a holiday meal, whether in home or out, make sure that you've got enough to go around. It's great to be generous and open handed with friends and loved ones, especially at this time of year, but you don't want to find yourself short on turkey or cash. Double check your recipes to avoid embarrassment.

Leo - In line for a bus on Christmas eve, I heard a guy behind me hailing every thing as a Christmas miracle. The bus arrived - Christmas miracle. The bus departed - Christmas miracle. You and I have to face the fact that not every one wants to be rational. Finding the strength to avoid smacking them - Christmas miracle.

Virgo - You're a little bit like Dr. Doolittle's Pushmi-pullyu these days, trying to go in two directions at once and generally settling for not going anywhere at all. Relax, just give in to it and enjoy the stasis. Less rushing around means that more gets done and when your friends come calling they're sure to find you at home.

Libra - Someone really should train a dog or a monkey or some animal that can be your guide and helper for those times when you drift off into the world of daydreams and are prone to wandering out into traffic. It would be a bonus if that helper were also able to speak on your behalf even if only to tell pests to bugger off.

Scorpio - If it's not broke don't fix it. If you just can't keep yourself from meddling then the whole thing will be destroyed before too long. Hairline cracks will become gigantic fault lines if you keep obsessing. Can't leave it alone? Stop picking and take a hammer to it - that way at least you'll know it's broken.

Sagittarius - There is no doubt that when you're right you're right. Or at least there's no doubt that when you believe you're right there's no changing your mind. This week you'll meet someone whose view point tallies so closely with your own that you believe them to be a messiah. Be sure you're not talking to your reflection.

Capricorn - You're in a sticky situation: you're less than certain that you're doing the right thing, and your role models have gone away on vacation leaving you with no guide to illuminate the path. You can just do nothing until they get back or you can decide for yourself what's your best course of action - oooh, scary.

Aquarius - There's a better than average chance that you'll be trying to help out a homeless guy this week and suddenly find yourself in trouble when he turns out to be an undercover cop who misunderstands your offers of assistance. Stay in the real world, talk less than normal and be careful whose hand you take.

Pisces - Give it up. Whatever it is you're trying to sell no one will be buying. You just look as though you're playing some adorable children's version of capitalism and democracy. Many will be drawn to what they view as your eccentricity, no one will be alienated, but you will be incredibly frustrated.