The snow came again, this time longer and higher and stronger than a week before. And so, as the new year turns, Albuquerque is buried under a foot or more of snow. But there is about seven hours of sunlight to break down the snow before it gets dark again and everyone goes out to celebrate a new year. Here's hoping everyone is safe tonight.

I've got other hopes for the new year, but that is the most immediate. There are a lot of people who have been cramped at their homes for a the last few days, and they really want to get out and celebrate. Snow and ice be damned, it's time for champagne.

2006 was good for me. I was fired on January 13th and then entered a long decompression period after working office jobs for 9 years or so (two different years long jobs are in this mix). I can't say I know what I want to do for the rest of my life. I didn't think about it much. I thought about a lot of other things. I read a lot of books. I watched a lot of movies and listened to a ton of music. And my band played more gigs in a year than we'd ever played before. Someday, I'm sure, I'll have to go back to work. Maybe in 2007 (but it's not my goal). I do hope I'll finish a first draft of the novel I'm working on. And recording an Old Beans CD would be nice.

The year wasn't so restive for a lot of other people. For the third year in a row, 2006 was to be the turning point in Iraq. And just like 2004 and 2005 disappointed in this respect, 2006 turned out to be rather nasty. My hope is they are right about 2007 being a better year. That, after all of this deliberation in the last few weeks (were they not thinking about it before the election or earlier in the year?), a new, better plan is implemented. And the troops can get the hell out of there soon.

Sometimes I hope for things I don't necessarily believe will happen.

Peace on Earth is a really naive wish. But see above for the explanation.

I hope the economy benefits the common man this year. It's been benefiting the scum floating in the top echelons for way too long. Apparently trickle down takes a really long time (or there is someone right underneath the trickle drinking it up).

I hope the Simpson girls have to go into therapy to wonder why their breasts aren't keeping their careers going anymore. I know, that's kind of mean, but I think celebrities should have to work a little harder to be rich and famous.

But I don't think Britney should have to put her panties on if she doesn't want to.

I don't really have any resolutions, though. I mean, things happen throughout the year that require choices. And each of those choices is like a new resolution. But making them when it's really cold can have a strange effect on your resolution. Apparently people decide to lose weight around this time of year. Or to join a gym or something. Is it because gyms always have membership sales at this time of year, or because everyone thinks they got way too fat in the previous year?

I really should hike more next year. For some reason, I didn't get up into the mountains as much as I should have. I was very urban. I walked a lot around my neighborhood. Maybe it had something to do with gas prices.

And more rock n' roll nights are in order.

I'd love to not have to think too much about the 2008 Presidential Election, if it is at all possible.

Maybe, instead, find a new restaurant to go to. Always good to expand the choices. And hear new exciting bands. There might be good movies in the next year--even though it is reported than every other flick will be a sequel.

What about you? Got any hopes, dreams, aspirations? Want to wait and see what will happen? Yeah, me too.

Matt Worley just wants to say, "Long live James Brown!"