You've got a date with a new calendar.

With 52 weeks and 365 days in a new year, you'll need a 2007 calendar to hang on the wall or prop on the desk to tell you what day it is. And just like the pictures you choose to decorate your walls or tack up on your bulletin board at work, your choice of calendar says something about who you are, what your interests may be -- and in some instances, what kind of humor appeals to you.

"People are very passionate about their calendars," says Janet Harris, calendar publisher at Workman Publishing in New York, the nation's largest calendar publisher. Workman has published 140 million calendars since it was founded 31 years ago. "Overall, it's a multibillion-dollar industry, but it's impossible to know who many calendars are sold each year" because not all calendars are sold by publishers, Harris says.

Waldenbooks at Crossroads Center has operated its free-standing calendar kiosk since 1993, says store manager Deb Voelker, and traffic has been steady as the final days of 2006 are counted down. The kiosk remains open until Jan. 30 -- or until calendars are sold out.

"Just about everyone needs a calendar and there is a calendar to fit every person's need -- pocket calendars, engagement calendars, wall calendars, tear-off-the-pages desk calendars, full desk calendars, boxed calendars with projects inside, even mini magnets that fit on refrigerator doors, lockers or in the dorm room. Not to mention the new CD-ROM calendars for computers," she says.

Themes seem endless, but the fastest growing is pop and TV show stars, both current and retro. Perennial favorites include Elvis, James Dean, the Beatles, "I Love Lucy," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Three Stooges." Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw are among hot calendar topics, along with shows like "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives." Popular movies such as "Harry Potter," "Happy Feet," "Lord of the Rings" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" spawn calendars, too.

Men can choose from calendars featuring 1950's pinups by Gil Elvgren to Sports Illustrated's annual Swimsuit Calendar, the usual array of football, basketball, baseball and NASCAR heroes, or the "Sports Fanatic Walmanac." Women can check out the hunk-of-the-month in "Boyfriend of the Month," a 16-month calendar, coo over Anne Geddes' photographs of babies, Mary Engelbreit's whimsical "Days" or hang "The Original Calendar Towel," a nostalgic replica of the calendars once found hanging in their mom's kitchen.

For the busy mom, the best-selling "Mom's Plan-It 2007 Magnetic Mount Wall Calendar" is a 17-month planner with storage pocket, stickers and a large grid to help mom organize the world.

For anyone wanting to get away from it all, "Paradise 2007" offers tropical island escapes, and for those fed up with it all, there's the "Fact or Crap Page-A-Day" calendar.

"Far Side" fanatics will rejoice to learn that Gary Larson's beloved wiseacre cavemen, bears, cows and sundry nerd boys are back for an encore appearance this year. The box version is a best-seller at Barnes and Noble Booksellers in Waterloo, according to a manager. All proceeds from sales will go directly to Conservation International's efforts to halt illegal trafficking in wildlife.

Other humorous calenders include Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be a Redneck if …", Maxine and Dilbert. Pet lovers can choose from numerous puppy and kitten calendars, along with ferrets, pandas, penguins, polar bears, wolves and other animals too numerous to mention.

For nostalgic scenes, few calendars sell better than Thomas Kinkade. People with time on their hands -- or a love for hobbies -- can purchase a kit calendar which includes a project for making paper airplanes, knitting and beading, for example.

The Procrastinator's Planner will give those folks a chance to leave each page blank until tomorrow (or the day after). The Trout of North America is certain to please anglers. Ansel Adams, Georgia O'Keeffe, Vincent Van Gogh and Saturday Evening Post calendars make popular gifts, and there's no doubt about who the Lefthander's 2007 Calendar is for.

"Calendars are affordable, so they make great gifts, too. You can find a pocket version for about $4 and the range goes up to $15. Everyone can use more than one calendar," adds Voelkers.