How to Get Into Trouble

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's pure luck (and my mother's iron will) that I am addicted to relatively good things. Great things like books, and books and books. It's a big part of my life, and will continue to be. I love all kinds of books. Except maybe science fiction, yet I've enjoyed Matt Reiley's books. Someone told me he's sci fi writer. That's shocking! I thought I would only read romance.

I have tried to quit books. Twice I have discarded over 750 books out of the misguided sense of starting over. I was mistakenly under the illusion that I could just quit and not have to waste real estate on my books. I have so many; I need a different street number to house them. I guess I don't to say how successful I was when you can see this picture. This is just a very tiny part of my collection.


I have also thought that I'd only be addicted to books. Imagine my surprised when I started watching all of Grey's Anatomy on TV. I was 2 seasons late when I got into it. Unfortunately for me, I was 7 seasons late when I discovered Gilmore Girls. I've watched all 3 seasons and working my way through 4th. Surely, it can't be so bad. TV and books have sucked up my time which isn't already booked by my kids and husband.

Then I saw my husband playing backgammon online. I used to play this game through yahoo ages ago. It was too much trouble having to log in and then waiting around for someone to play with, then having to chat while playing or they leave. I would have been better off if I hadn't investigated and found that I don't have to talk to anyone, and that playing is as easy as clicking on the link.

I started playing six days ago and have officially wasted over 10 hours of my reading time playing backgammon. I forgot to strap on my audio book. I could have finished a book while winning all those games. However, addiction to backgammon is quite sinister.


It creeps rather slowly until you're well and truly trapped within its jaws. I will just have to stubborn my way out of this. Look at these pictures above. These are the reasons while it gets so addicting. On the first picture, you can see how I'm so behind and then on the last frame, I won by the skin of my teeth.

Or what about this one? It feels really great when I see this. I also get mad when I can see that my "men" are being knocked off board out of pure spitefulness. Where's the gamesmanship if the other guy is being vindictive? Then I end up investing more time to find a better player and best them as nicely as possible. I don't like dirty playing. It's too uncomfortable.

This has made me realized that gambling places are not for me. I get into the spirit of things and would refuse to let go, thinking I could just do it one more time. Isn't that the very nature of man which casinos the world over are banking on? This bulldogedness* which spells disaster. I have that in spades. No Las Vegas gambling for me. Not unless I can stop at one bucket of quarters and can resist mortgaging my older Aunt.

I wonder how many out there have some addiction of sorts. Does it get you into trouble too?

*I made that up, it might be a word, but I am not sure.