Spunky Monkey and Renee Z (not again!)

Three favorite artists: Chris, Iona, and Adam

Our new friend Stephen Heighton (a great NY art collector and not only because he collects works by Adam Stennett) called last week to say he was coming to DC for a weekend visit. I jumped into action and threw together a dinner party on Saturday that I hoped would dazzle a jaded New Yorker or at least show him that DC is not a complete backwater. I don't know if we succeeded, but it was a helluva fun night. Veuve comes through again!

A few people stayed until 2 AM (which turned out to be 3 AM because of the switch to daylight savings time!) and the evening ended with Iona looking up all our Chinese astrological signs on the internet. Ok, so I totally don't believe in this stuff, but please don't hate me because I'm a monkey!

I'm an Earth Monkey and turns out that a celebrity who also shares this sign is none other than . . . Renee Zellweger!! Although I screamed with amazement when Iona announced this fact, not so deep down, I expected it.

The spunky Monkey is the original party animal! Charming and energetic, Monkeys crave fun, activity and stimulation. They truly know how to have a good time and can often be seen swinging from one group of friends to another, attracting a motley crew in the process. Always upbeat, they are considered minor celebrities in their circle thanks to their sparkling wit and that rapier-sharp mind. Perhaps surprisingly, Monkeys are also good listeners and tackle complicated situations with ease. This Sign's natural curiosity lends it the desire to become knowledgeable on a broad range of topics. Monkeys have a show-off side that loves nothing more than to dazzle their pals with all they know.

The Monkey tends to be rather accident-prone due to a certain lack of very high morals. This Sign's first interest is pursuing its own pleasure; this is not a malicious interest, it's just the way the Monkey is. However, this kind of carefree self-involvement can lead to all kinds of scrapes. In love, the Monkey makes a fun, exciting lover -- but one that may have the potential to stray romantically. The good news is, the Monkey’s glib manner and witty repartee can often get this Sign out of a scrape. Perhaps not everyone will be won over by the Monkey -- but do you think the Monkey really cares? The Monkey's world, full of devil-may-care energy and revelry, isn't for everyone. Remember, though, it's not that this Sign is mean; it might just be a bit too curious for its own good. Monkeys often feel the need to try everything at least once, which can make for a merry-go-round of relationships.

The Monkey's love of self-indulgence can also lead to other types of trouble. This Sign may have limited self-control concerning food, alcohol and other pleasurable activities. It's party time all the time for the Monkey, yet when it leads to a monster hangover or a shattered heart (generally someone else's, not theirs), this Sign might actually show a touch of remorse. They won't flat-out admit the error of their ways, but at least they'll pull back and try to tone things down -- for a while.

Monkeys must try to learn to think of others ahead of themselves, at least some of the time. This Sign's world will be more complete once it realizes the world doesn't revolve around it.

The most compatible match for a Monkey is the Rat or the Dragon.