Southern Comfort

I'm not sure if it's the pregnancy or what, but lately I've been missing my Southern Comfort. And no, I don't mean the liquor. I miss everything about North Carolina, even though Virginia has been incredibly wonderful to us. I miss our old townhome, I miss the ladies I worked with, I miss my family, I miss being an hour and a half to the beach and 3 hours from the mountains. Yes...I say the mountains because there are no mountains here like the ones in Boone, NC. I miss my favorite mexican restaurant, El Rodeo, my favorite pizzeria, I *heart* NY Pizza... I broke down sobbing last night because I miss grocery shopping at Harris Teeter. What is the DEAL with some of these grocery stores up here. I swear, it's like stepping back in time once you've experienced the joys of shopping in style at Harris Teeter. And the thing of it is, I'm crying because I miss a freakin grocery store! What's more, I miss my friends... my brother, our church, our friends... I miss knowing exactly where everything is, and where the fun things to do are. So last night, Forrest came home, and the only thing I could do was cry. I cried for an hour straight, listing off the various things that I missed from NC. I felt terrible, because the last thing I want is for Forrest to feel that I regret moving (since it was his job that relocated us). Because there are wonderful things about living here. I haven't forgotten that. It's just there are days when I wish I was home.
Maybe I'm too isolated. I just have no idea where to begin with the search for friends. Am I just supposed to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger? Or do we have to post an ad in the paper... "Married couple, looking for fantabulous friends to hang out with, who share our sense of humor, either have or will have children soon, and who aren't bleeding right wing conservatives." I just feel lonely... and honestly, the only connection I feel to the real world is the time I get to come out to Panera or the Library and check blogs. I relish in the details of other peoples lives, and wish somehow I could be friends with them. But then reality sets in, and I realize how incredibly awkward that would be. "Hey, you don't know me, but since I read your blog everyday, I feel like I know you... do you want to be my friend? Check yes or no" HA!
As much as everyone in my family likes to say how outgoing I am, and how I never meet a stranger, on the inside? I'm terrified. I'm incredibly shy when it comes to meeting new people. I'm scared they won't like me. I'm afraid of sticking my neck out there to make new friends. It's like stage fright, only worse. I can get up in front of people and read or act, even if I've never met them... but making friends??? That's a whole other ball game. Have you ever gone through this? What suggestions do you have for making new friends?