As we do every year at this time, we went looking for Idle the Iguana, mascot of the V.I. Source, to get his list of hopes, wishes and wisecracks for the new year.

But we couldn’t find him in any of his usual hangouts. He wasn’t lolling in the sea grape or lazing in the sun or up in the tree overlooking the beach. We had just about given up hope and were going to go to lunch when, passing the kitchen, we glanced in and saw his long tail swish past. We peeked in and there he was baking muffins.

"What’s going on?" we asked.

He heaved a sigh. "It’s 2012, the whole year. It really got me down," he said. "Between the refinery closing and the rising homicide rate and the bitter politics and so much else, it just feels like there’s too much, I’ve got writer’s block. It’s just hard to think about the new year. So I thought I’d try something new. I’ve been baking. It’s kind of relaxing, actually, and when you’re finished you’ve got something delicious to eat. Compare that to writing, when sometimes when you finish you have to eat your own words. Baking is better."

But we need words, we reminded him. And yes, we agree that 2012 was a tough year for the islands, but for the purposes of this exercise, didn’t a bad year in 2012 leave plenty of room for making wishes for 2013?

He paused, putting down the sifter where he’d been measuring out flour, and nodded.

"There is that," he said. "And you know, there are a couple of things going on that give a little room for hope."

Such as?

"Well, you know how a couple of months ago the Humane Society of St. Thomas finally got its Animal Care Campus opened? It took years longer than anyone expected, but the island’s animals and animal lovers finally have a nice center where they can meet and form long-term relationships. That’s a big plus in my book. And it’s just the start."

He resumed sifting the flour as he continued.

"I know the idea of ‘soon come’ is a V.I. tradition, but there’s two more projects that are so overdue I’ve stopped counting, and they’re both slated for January openings. Here’s one lizard who’s wishing for both the Tutu Library on St. Thomas and the Christiansted Bypass on St. Croix to finally come to fruition and open. Especially the bypass. It would sure make my commute easier, although my chances of becoming Crucian road kill will probably increase exponentially. Pass me the baking powder … no, that’s baking soda. I said baking powder."

Embarrassed by the mistake, we passed him the white can of baking powder, which he measured out and sprinkled in. Then he put both front paws on the counter and looked very serious.

"I’ll tell you something else I’d really like to see come true," he said. "I sure hope St. Thomas/St. John Police Chief Darren Foy meant it this time when he said police will find some of those New Years gunmen who turn New Year’s Eve into a firefight. When I was a young lizard you planned all New Year’s Eve to make sure you were standing next to the girl you wanted to kiss when the clock struck midnight. Last night I was too busy ducking for cover with all the guns being fired. There are too many people out there who have more ammo than brains. It’s time for the police to catch at least some of them and take their guns away."

"Ideally those weapons would never arrive in the territory but … one step at a time," he added.

The iguana was on a roll, so we asked him about politics. It’s a subject he’s always keen on and this year turned out to be no different.

"I couldn’t be happier about all the new faces in the Legislature. Let’s see, there’s Myron Jackson, Tregenza Roach, Clifford Graham and Clarence Payne on St. Thomas, and Judi Fricks-Buckley, Diane Capehart and … who am I forgetting? Oh yeah! – Kenneth Gittens on St. Croix. Now let’s hope these new legislators and their incumbent colleagues can become real statesmen – and stateswomen," he tossed in before we could admonish him, "and restore the integrity recent Legislatures threw to the winds."

Idle wasn’t finished with the politicians.

"I can’t wait to see if they’ve got the guts to take the hard steps needed to fix GERS and ensure seniors who depend on them will still have pensions," he said. "Year after year the lawmakers kick the can down the road, legislating Christmas bonuses for pensioners in cynical efforts to curry votes but leaving the real problem for some future Legislature to solve. That’ll be the real test for this group of lawmakers."

He also expressed hope that the new Senate president, Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone, will reverse his predecessor’s policy and allow other government agencies and community groups use the St. John Legislature building for meetings.

"I know the Legislature’s St. John workers needed to get out of the moldy, damp old building they were in, but (former Sen. President Ronald) Russell would never say how much the Legislature spent on the new, very spiffy abode. It’s only been used for a handful of meetings since it opened in February," he pointed out as he began mixing the batter. "Meanwhile St. John’s government agencies and groups have been nomads, meeting here and there around Cruz Bay, wherever they could find a space. Sure seems like the Senate could open the doors to some of them."

Idle had one more political wish and that was to the voters and citizens of the Virgin Islands.

"Could we all agree this year that, even when we disagree, we do it courteously? I mean, just because someone has a different opinion than you doesn’t mean they’re automatically evil or a crook. Let’s try to consider the possibility that we all want the same thing – what’s best for the territory – and just happen to have a different idea of what that could be."

"Maybe it’s time for all those who believed and repeated the outrageous accusations of bribery against Gov. John deJongh to apologize," he continued. "Have they noticed that the governor has not been arrested? Maybe because there’s no evidence of wrongdoing, just a bunch of mean-spirited rumors."

But then Idle turned grim again.

"Homicides were up again and for what? So senseless, so useless. I sure hope that across the territory the people who feel the need to settle scores and stake their turf rethink their strategy. The Virgin Islands has lost too many people to violence. Enough is enough. It has to end."

Idle had finished ladling the batter into the muffin tin and slid it into the hot oven, setting the timer.

"One more thing, then I’ve got to get back to work," he said. "Wouldn’t it be great if islanders would stop littering? I mean, come on, the U.S. Virgin Islands are beautiful, they’re stunning, as long as you don’t look down! What’s with all the garbage along the roads? We want tourists to come and spend money, right? When they see the miles of beautiful beaches we take for granted, they fall in love with the place. But when they glance at all the garbage lining the roads, they must wonder what’s wrong with us! We’ve got to stop turning our roadsides into trash dumps!"

Chastened, we agreed to help spread the word about that.

"Do you have enough?" he asked. "I’m kind of busy here."

We had hoped to ask about the search for alternative, renewable energy, and the potential switch to natural gas for at least some of WAPA’s power, and about groups like My Brother’s Workshop doing what they can to improve the lives of others. And of the schools and more. But it was getting late, and Idle kept glancing at the clock on the wall. So we agreed to depart.

As we stood to go, Idle was spreading flour across the counter.

"What are you doing now?" we asked.

"I’m making a couple of loaves of bread."

"Isn’t that hard without opposable thumbs?"

"Well, yeah, but you know I like a challenge," he said. Then his eye twinkled and we began to wonder if the whole baking thing had just been a set up.

"Besides," Idle said. "This has been a bad year economically. And I’m like a lot of Virgin Islanders, so I’m making bread."

"Why?" we asked.

"I knead the dough."

Happy New Year.