The new year has started with drama this side of the screen.
There were good things and bad things, and they were all happening simultaneously.
2009 so far:

nearly breaking my leg first thing on New Year´s day (accident prone is my middle name)

getting the news that a dear friend has cancer and being berated by said friend for smoking

resolved to quit smoking (hard, harder, hardest, now gradually getting easier)

getting into a major argument with my mother (still not resolved)

berating my father for not going to the doctor´s (guess where I picked up my stubbornness)

getting an email saying "I am a creature of the night" is accepted for publication ("well...this is not bad")

finishing an important paper for my further education course (yesterday)

finally able to move all my limbs again (today)

All in all, 2009 seems to be gradually improving every day. At that rate, it might still turn out a great year by Christmas.