The Slice: Go ahead. Feed your face until 2008

I have one thing to say to those who started strict new dietary/fitness regimens 25 different times in 2007.

Remember, there’s always next year. There will be a fresh lineup up perfect launch dates. (Don’t forget to binge the day before.)

A few possibilities:

Elvis Presley’s birthday (Jan. 8): Need a better reminder of what can happen when you let yourself go?

Super Bowl Sunday: Make a statement about being active and eating right on junk food and couch potatoing’s biggest day.

Groundhog Day: Nothing says you can’t have a sense of humor about this.

Valentine’s Day: Before you can love someone else, first you have to take care of yourself.

First day of spring, summer, fall or winter: Ideal for a new start.

April Fool’s Day: See Groundhog Day.

Earth Day or Arbor Day: Why not?

Flag Day: Because your Cinco de Mayo regimen lasted half an hour.

July 1 (Second Half of the Year Day): Because those New Year’s Resolutions didn’t take.

Independence Day: This can also mean freedom from the mind-control power of ice cream and chocolate.

Elvis Presley’s death day (Aug. 16): See above.

Columbus Day: Discover a new you.

Halloween: You should be sick of sweets by now anyway. And maybe you look scary in front of the mirror.

Election Day: Vote for yourself by doing a few push-ups.

Thanksgiving: Start being good right after your third piece of pie.

Battle of the Bulge Day (Dec. 16): On second thought, some might view it as stupid and shallow to attach your little self-improvement scheme to that event. Better to wait for …

Boxing Day: This stop on the calendar has nothing to do with pugilism. Still, you can think of yourself as getting into fighting trim.

New Year’s Day (2009): If you aren’t expecting a 21-day miracle, maybe you can make this the target for your “after” picture.

“Just wondering: I’ve been reading Rick Atkinson’s “An Army at Dawn.” It’s good. Still, I’m only finding time to move forward a few pages a night. At the rate I’m going, I should finish it in early 2010.

What’s the longest you’ve taken to read a book?

“Some think women judge one another most harshly about parenting styles: But at this time of year, baking/self-worth runs a close second.

“Warm-up question: What percentage of your use of foul language is provoked by your computer?

“Today’s Slice questions: If one of the companies that makes those miniature Christmas villages produced a special “Holiday in Spokane” edition, what would be some of the featured buildings and landmarks?

How about if they came out with a “Reality in Spokane” edition?