Happy New Year,

Another year has gone by and we are looking at the entrance to 2009. I hope everyone will live up to their New Year's resolutions. (A word about resolutions: I have dispensed with making the usual new year resolutions if only for the fact that it sets me up for complete and total failure. To quote a line from a Dirty Harry flick, “A man has got to know his limitations.”)

More so than any other recent year, 2009’s outlook gives us the most positive freshness. These are, by far, the four most important things that will happen this year.

• A new United States President
• A Super Bowl without the Patriots
• New small, fuel-efficient cars from US automakers
• A new album of music from yours truly

Let’s not talk about the new Prez. Plenty of people will be doing that around the web. I will leave that to the passionate. (A word about the new President: Contrary to popular belief, Obama is not an Irish name.)

Only a handful of NFL fans are disgusted with the fact New England is sitting home on February 1st, so we need not talk about that either. (A word about Bill Belichick: He led the electoral college vote over Dubya.)

A big yawn rounds out the auto industry’s promise of more fuel-efficient, hybrid cars that the public can get excited about. (A word about hybrid vehicles: They are a lot like fat chicks. They are loads of fun when you are alone but don’t let your friends see you with them.)

That leaves the last most important item on my list – my album.

I am still in the process of recording it. There have been some pitfalls and health scares surrounding it so far – I don’t want to bring you down, so email me and I will tell you all about it – but for the most part, it is going swimmingly.

As we get closer to finishing and mastering, I will divulge the album name, story behind it, and record label – so stay tuned. We have it tentatively scheduled to be released by St. Patrick’s Day. (A word about St. Patrick’s Day: It’s just another way for everyone to celebrate New Year’s Eve again.)

So, dear drunksters, I raise my glass of Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray Tonic and hope you and yours have a wonderful 2009.