It was less painful getting to 2006 than New Years have been in the past.

Maybe I'm mellowing out, but I actually stuck with what I always say when New Year's Eve starts (don't mix alcohol types), so I'm only slightly pained this morning. Of course, I did have a glass of whiskey when I got home from the party on top of all the beer. Not really a mix, but an end of the nighter (end of the yearer?).

But today is sunny and clear here in the great state of Albuquerque. And it's warm. Looks like it should be a good year.

Everyone on TV is talking about last year. End of the year wrap ups wrap up today. No more retrospectives of all the times the administration told us the war in Iraq is going well, and why are we bitching (nay-saying is treason)? Natural disasters are still raging. California is under water. Well, parts of it anyway.

So what do I think of last year? Do you really want to know? How do you feel about last night?

Personally, it was ups and downs. So 2006 is about keeping the ups up and turning that frown upside down. And more salad. I'm thinking I need to eat some more salads.

The teller at the bank asked me if I was going to change anything in the new year. While she investigated the amount of money I had in my account, I told her I thought I was doing pretty good. She didn't disagree.

But we change all the time. We change our minds. We change our hair. We change our clothes. We change our oil.

The actual calendar change isn't really the end of last year or the beginning of a new one in some cases. The NFL ends its regular season today, but we've still got another month or so of professional football. College football ends for real on Wednesday night, which is close to the year change, but apparently there are so many bowls now they can't possibly finish them all before the end of the year.

I'm ambivalent about work right now. Which, believe it or not, is an improvement over last year. Limbo is better than hell, I guess. But I hear they're getting rid of Limbo now. So are they just changing the name or will all those people who aren't good enough for heaven--but not bad enough for hell--have to make a choice? Is this to increase real estate value in the major afterlife destinations or just a re-accounting of it all? I think a lot of people take solace in the possibility of Limbo. Being average, morally, is pretty good these days.

And so I look to the new year knowing a couple of things: I need new tires for my car (I put this off last year). I should do a little more running (I didn't do this much at all last year). My band will record our music (we're good enough and smart enough and, dammit, people like us).

I figure if I can accomplish all of those things, that's pretty good.

What do you want from 2006?

Matt Worley is taking pleasure in the little things for 2006.