I promise not to do anything dumb like this in 2007

When New Year's day rolls around, people have to go and spoil it all by asking the dreaded question, "So, what are your New Year's resolutions?" While some folks are convinced that going on record will hold them to their newly forged promises (who doesn't fear public humiliation?), isn't a New Year's resolution something that goes in one Year and out the other?

Well, maybe it's time to try good, old-fashioned honesty. Fellow blogger Dave a Midwest farmer intentionally sets the bar at a level that assures him of resolution success. Take a look.

"Smoke and drink more, gain weight, miss the market highs, not take a vacation or read most of the books that I have bought, forego the restoration project on the old 72 pickup…or start one of the other project vehicles that are in line, not get my barn all cleaned up and organized, not make it to the meetings around the country that I have been missing the last three years and assuring others that I would be attending."

I asked a few elementary school kids what resolutions they were going to adhere to in the coming year. After explaining what a resolution was, I got the most interesting answers.

1) wear clean underwear to school in case my pants split open in gym

2) make sure the teacher isn't looking when I hit the bully back on the playground

3) do what my mom says before she yanks the plug out of the wall (hmmmm, less TV?)

4) try at least one new food this year that isn't green

Along that optimistic vein, my husband and I have decided to come up with a few 'doable' resolutions of our own:

1) save trees and our time by placing all UNOPENED junk mail right in the recycling bin including sales flyers.
2) resist the urge to answer the telephone when it rings during mealtime. After all, answering machines do have a purpose other than annoying callers.

3) have a conversation once a week that isn't interrupted by telemarketers, children, pets, salesmen at the door, and doesn't include anecdotes from our jobs.

4) resist ordering a McSlurry at the drive-up window at McDonalds (this is husband's vow)

5) not go to another movie about penguins for another 5 years

6) try to find something to smile about each day...even if it's a joke I've heard before.