It's so much fun being a Sagittarian

Nazko columbines, originally uploaded by The River Thief. Copyright Ruth Seeley 2008.

My (at times) uncertain sense of direction has got me lost and made me late on more than one occasion. I find it odd that there are times when I can both navigate and tell time by the sun, but this doesn't always work - I've missed planes and been late more times than I care to remember. So when I have to be somewhere I've never been before, I try to make allowances for my own navigational arrogance and at least MapQuest my destination.

My first trip to a Lower Mainland Ikea was an exercise in sheer persistence - I'm still not sure what I did wrong (and I defy anyone who doesn't live there to tell me where Coquitlam ends and Port Coquitlam begins). I was living in Lions Bay at the time and everything went smoothly till I got off the highway. A nightmare then ensued in which I kept following United Boulevard and circling the large blue and yellow Ikea sign without ever actually being able to get to it. I persisted and eventually got to Ikea, but I was in a sufficiently foul mood by the time I arrived that even the Swedish meatballs and lingonberry juice didn't quite mollify me. Fortunately it's not all that tough to get there from where I now live [although if you aren't in the right lane on Columbia Street at rush hour, good luck getting into it to make that turn onto the completely unmarked Brunette (look for Royal City Autobody when heading east - that's Brunette) that leads you to the Ikea in Coquitlam].

So in preparation for a meeting Tuesday at the Libra Room, I went to their web site to make sure I knew exactly where it was (The Drive can be a bit overwhelming at times - so many neat little shops and restaurants and such a high turnover that you're never sure whether a place you visited on your last visit will still be there, or whether it's moved a couple of doors down, or just vanished).

Something about the web site made me wonder whether they were, in fact, open for lunch or not, and so I called them to find out. Having been lost and/or separated from my companions many many times at both Expo 67 (those folks at the British Pavilion were truly wonderful - they took me down the back stairs at least four times to help me get out of there) and Toronto's Caribana parades, I didn't want to be wandering around The Drive in the rain looking for my lunch companion (although we're both pretty good about calling when we're late or lost - I guess I'm just not over the trauma of having once asked someone to meet me at the intersection of two parallel streets). And they're not, so we'll have lunch somewhere else.

But I had to laugh when I read their take on the various astrological signs. And I can't argue with any item in this description of Sagittarians. All I'll add is: 'that's childish in a GOOD way.'

SAGITTARIUS - The Promiscuous One Spontaneous. High appeal. Rare to find. Great when found. Loves being in long relationships. So much love to give. A loner most of the time. Loses patience easily and will not take crap. If in a bad mood stay FAR away. Gets offended easily and remembers the offense forever. Loves deeply but at times will not show it feels it is a sign of weakness. Has many fears but will not show it. VERY private person. Defends loved ones will all their abilities. Can be childish often. Not one to mess with. Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone they meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in bed..!!! Not the kind of person you want to mess with- you might end up crying.