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As the calendar moves on and the New Year brings in 2009, it's time to look forward. "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind - Should auld acquaintance be forgot And auld lang syne?" Exactly what does that mean? The song that is traditionally sung at midnight is actually a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song of Scotland.

Famous New Year's Eve Resolutions: Menus of Quotes for 2009

There are many different interpretations of the actual meanings of Auld Lang Syne, but the one I found that seems to fit well enough is that the song 'is about old friends who have parted and meet again. To celebrate their long friendship, they share a drink together and reminisce of memories from long ago. The basic message is that we should not forget our old friends and should celebrate a reunion with them.'

That's a good New Year's message and ranks right up there with those familiar resolutions that you are going to eat better, lose weight and exercise more in the upcoming year. With all that in mind, let's have a drink. light a cigar and kick 2008 right on out the door.

James Agate was a British diarist and critic and these are two well done resolutions for some of us writers in the New Year:

1. "To refrain from saying witty, unkind things, unless they are really witty and irreparably damaging."

2. "To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time."

In that vein let's offer some help. For those that have vowed to lose weight in 2009, try this if you wind up fatter than ever in February courtesy of Jay Leno. "Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average. Which means you've met your New Year's resolution."

Trying to give up smoking and curb that binge eating? Did you fail and need an excuse? Try this from Helen Fielding, in Bridget Jones's Diary, "I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you?"

"Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second."

For those that live their lives with the ups and downs of Washington, DC, I found this but the author is unknown, "This year, I’m going to stay away from all the toxic, angry judgment that seemed to dominate public discourse this past year. I hope to be more positive and work towards being tolerant of those who have no tolerance for others…who seem to think that less knowledge is preferable to more. More than anything, I hope to remain hopeful."

Have you completely failed to even care enough to go through the motions and even care if you make any New Year’s Resolutions, try this if you need a little cover, "Forget it! Resolutions are always made on January 1 and broken on January 2. So, this year I’ve decided I’m not making any — that way I won’t feel guilty about it!"

My Top Seven:

P. J. O'Rourke

The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to.

Mark Twain

New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions.

Eric Zorn

Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self-assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.

Mark Twain

New Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.

Jay Leno

New Year's Eve, where auld acquaintance be forgot. Unless, of course, those tests come back positive."

Bill Vaughan

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."

P. J. O'Rourke

It is better to spend money like there's no tomorrow than to spend tonight like there's no money.