Just a quick update

According to most of the blogs I've been reading lately, I'm supposed to do some deep post on the new year or the end of the old year. That's not really my style. I could try, but it would sound really forced and fake, so why bother? I'd rather talk about things that I'm thinking about and since the new year isn't really much more than a change in the date I write on my checks, I'm not really thinking about it.
After a lot of going out in December, I've gone back to the comfort of seclusion. I got a lot accomplished in terms of things I needed to do, but I like hiding out a lot more. I was out one night and one bar led to another and I got to talk to someone who had crossed a physical boundary the last time I had seen him. I was a little bit scared, but then I went outside with him and we talked it out. I'm really proud of myself for forcing myself to be with him alone. I needed to do that, to get over the fear, and I succeeded.
I need to get out at least once in the near future, to see an old friend who I was talking about hanging out with one night this month. Neither of us is in a huge hurry to hang out, so I'll get around to it.
I'm truly enjoying the coziness of home. I've read some great books and caught up on a backlog of music I've been meaning to listen to. I was listening to the Faces box set the other night, and I remembered why I loved that band so much in the first place. I still have a huge backlog of dvds which is a great excuse to stay in for awhile, not that I've ever needed an excuse to stay in.
I have also been doing a lot of writing. It's a really remarkable feeling to be able to express things in a way that other people might want to read. There's been great feedback and I'm humbled by it in a way. Writing is a cheerfully secluded thing to do and that makes it even better for me. I enjoy being alone and just being able to take the time to work out exactly how I want to say things is a blast.
I've been also trying to quit smoking, but that has settled into just a dramatic reduction, rather than quitting. I've gone from over two packs a day to less than one. Seems like a good start, and by my birthday, I should finally have stopped for good.
The phone has been quiet as well. There's a few new people calling and messaging, but a few have dropped off. That's good. My best text message buddy has dropped, and I miss him, but my former favorite phone buddy is gone and I don't miss him, so I think that's balance of some sort. Maybe that's part of the new year thing, but since there is now occasional variations, it's good.
So, basically life is good and quiet. I know there's going to be drama soon, because there always is and life is weird without it, but for now, it's just a great time to soak up the peace and quiet.
I'll throw on a list of what was on my ipod while I was writing this, but not as a memory thing. I'll do a shuffle post sometime this week.

later-
Me

1. Bus Stop-The Hollies
2. I'm A Believer-The Monkees
3. You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)-Dead Or Alive
4. (Love Is) A Bitchslap-Sebastian Bach
5. Brown Sugar-The Rolling Stones
6. Offend In Every Way-The White Stripes
7. Twist My Sister-Murderdolls
8. Over and Over-Madonna
9. Porno Star-Buckcherry
10. Frankie-D Generation
11. Parental Guidance-Judas Priest
12. Strip-Adam Ant
13. My Sharona-The Knack