Well, now is the time for all those lists and awards for the best of the year. Since I’m fortunate enough to have this column and therefore can pretend my opinion is actually important, I thought I’d give Explorotica readers my own kind of list. So here, in no particular order, are my choices of Sexy Things of 2005:

Sexiest Guy in a TV Comedy: John Krasinski, Jim on "The Office”
Sexiest Chef: Alton Brown (okay, he’s a geek, but he’s really funny and really smart)
Sexiest Speaking Voice: Alan Rickman (even as the robot in "Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”)
Sexiest Guy in a TV Drama: Josh Holloway, Sawyer on "Lost”
Sexiest Food: Godiva Raspberry Sparklers
Sexiest Look: Hayden Christensen’s tortured glare as Darth Vader in "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith”
Sexiest Guy in a Reality Show: John O’Hurley, "Dancing with the Stars”
Sexiest Drink: Chambord
Sexiest Restaurant Chain: Outback Steakhouse (okay, it’s the Australian thing)
Sexiest Home Improvement Host: Clive Pearse, "Designer’s Challenge” (okay, it’s the British thing)
Sexiest Woman Even to the Heterosexual Female: Natalie Portman
Sexiest Guy in a Movie Comedy: Steve Carell, "The 40 Year Old Virgin”
Sexiest Outfit: Nathan Fillion’s tight pants and brown coat, Captain Malcolm Reynolds in "Serenity”
Sexiest Guy in a Movie Drama: Christian Bale, "Batman Begins”
Sexiest Creature in a Kid’s Movie: James McAvoy, Tumnus in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”
Sexiest Male Vocalist: Harry Connick, Jr.
Sexiest Guys in a TV Commercial: the two office workers dancing to "Push It” on a boombox, in the Sprint/Nextel commercial (believe it or not, I’m serious)
Sexiest Scent: Xeryus cologne
Sexiest Song: "A Thousand Sweet Kisses,” from "Rent”
Sexiest News Reporter: Carl Cameron, Fox News (and if anyone besides me thinks so, please write!)
Sexiest Man Based on Sheer Talent/Ability to Give Rapturous Delight: composer John Williams

That’s my list, for what it’s worth. And the great thing about all these people and items is that they brought joy and spark to 2005, which is what sexy things are supposed to do. I for one look forward eagerly to what lively, inspiring, life-enhancing, erotic fun 2006 will have to offer!

Happy New Year!

Diana Laurence is the author of the Soulful Sex anthologies published by Living Beyond Reality Press (www.livingbeyondreality.com). Visit her at www.dianalaurence.com, and read her blog at www.eroticawithsoul.blogspot.com. Download her free fiction from the LBR Press READ FREE Project at www.livingbeyondreality.com/readfree.html.