American resolution

In hopes of inspiring the rest of us to ratchet up our goals for the New Year, we asked readers of 225 Select to share their unusual resolutions for 2009.

These were our favorites.

To retool my one-liners about Louisiana political corruption to fit Illinois. —James E. Shelledy, LSU journalism professor

To contact every merchant that sends me surveys and un-subscribe from their e-mail lists. —Jeff Braud, Benton Law

To hand carve wooden boomerangs for my boomerang buddies around the world (Australia, Scotland, Wales, England, Canada, Germany, USA, Latvia and Switzerland). I’ll name the boomerang models “Le Baton Rouge” and sign the underside with well wishes. —Errol Gautreau, retired

My wife is complaining of overcrowded and bulging closets, so in order for me to bring something new home I must get rid of something. Something new, something goes. If you wear my size you are going to get some great items in 2009. —Ronald L. Smith, director of marketing at Southern Teachers and Parents Federal Credit Union

To try to slow down the touring and limit it to one show per year. Got to leave the kids wanting more. —John Kaufman, drummer for The Myrtles, a local band that rarely plays these days anyway

To complete my first—and second—marathons. I can check one off the list Feb. 1 when I run the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon. I’ll go for No. 2 about this time next year when I tackle the Baton Rouge Beach Marathon. I hope to qualify for the Boston Marathon with a good time at either of these events. I’m 32, so a qualifying time will be a challenge. We’ll see if I’m up for it. —Brenton Day, senior accounting supervisor, Lamar Advertising

“I will make a 2009 calendar entitled “LoUiSiAna Five—O” –made in USA. It will commemorate my 50th birthday. Proceeds from sales to my favorite charities. What a 50th birthday party it will be. —Rick Lea, 49, director of business development at ITT-Specialty Plastics

Editor’s note: Lea actually already had the calendar made by a professional photographer in Destin, Fla.

To finally solve the freakin’ Rubik’s Cube I’ve been working on since 1997. They’re the devil! —Trish A., teleservice rep