addiction

According to the merriam-webster dictionary the definition of addiction is the following: compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal ; broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful

With that being said, I think I am on my way to having an addiction. I definitely have a compulsive need for it. The fact that it is habit-forming is a fact, but I (as of today) haven't found any symptoms upon withdrawal. That might be because I don't think I have ever went through withdrawal but that is besides the point. But, probably the main reason I don't think I have an addiction is, well, because my 'addiction' isn't harmful. Well at least not yet.

I bet you all are wondering what my 'addiction' is, hmm? Well its books.

Now most of you are probably thinking that's not an addiction that's a hobby. Well when does a hobby become an addiction, and why am I not classifying it as an obsession? Well simply put an obsession is compelling motivation or persistent disturbing preoccupation with someone or thing. Books are not disturbing, at least they aren't to the majority of people.

I guess the real reason why I am calling it an addiction is because someone recently has called me a drug dealer or more aptly put a drug pusher and drugs usually are something you are addicted to. Now please wait to hear the explanation before jumping to conclusions.

I have in my possession a lot of books. I have to plastic containers full of them and then multiple dresser drawers and three shelves on a bookcase worth of books. (and this is just the ones in the house) A friend who we will call C, was talking to me one day about how she needed to get some new books because she just kept on rereading the ones she had. (The series she kept rereading was the twilight books and the host) I being the person that I am, came in the next day with a bag full of books. This was a few months ago. She has since started 5 or 6 more series. I have demands for 2 more series she wants to read and a couple 'singles' that I am gonna give to see if she likes the author. The is not the first time I have gotten someone hooked on a particular series or author. A fellow group member got addicted to Janet Evanovich when I made her read the first Stephanie Plum book. I have friends and siblings that are nothing but enablers that I exchange books or authors with. I got my aunt addicted to some different authors, who then has pushed some of the better books on to my uncle. I have even corrupted my own mother and am trying to get her to read some of the newer books. So all of this and probably some that I just can't think of at this moment has me lovingly called a drug dealer. T, another member of my group just laughs and shakes her head whenever C comes in and demands her next fix. Heck, C called me the other day and asked if I could bring the next set of four books in the Charlaine Harris series because she had just finished the fourth and needed to know what happens next.

So maybe you can call books a drug and myself a drug pusher...I just noticed that if you tweak the wording of the above paragraph, it does sound bad. However, I wouldn't say I am at a harmful stage yet. I do budget books in to my finances. Every paycheck I have a certain amount that I set aside for books. This amount changes depending on how many books are being released in that month that I want. And yes, I have a list that tells me when the books I want are going to be released. For you information June is a huge month with 2-3 books being released every week that I want. I might have to give up July's budgeted money to June. Who knows? The main point is, I have this under control. I haven't started giving up food for books. (well I have spent the whole day in bed reading before...on a couple of occasions, but that is beside the point) Its not to the harmful stage yet, which is why I am not qualifying it as an addiction yet.

But com'on, really, its not a bad addiction to have.
I don't know about you but I like my addiction.
I mean if you could be addicted to anything in the world what would it be?
And I would like to know, do you think I have addiction or just a healthy habit?

stumble upon

I just discovered the most marvelous thing.  Its called stumble upon.  If you don't know what I am talking about, google the term, click on a page of interest and then use the little task bar that appears on the top of your page.  I have spent more time than I should using this little thing.  Its great!!  I just had to share one website.  (*just for anyones information, I don't condone this, but think it is pretty art)

Another funny

Okie, I found another one, that I just had to share.

To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice!

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks . Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

5. In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write ' For Marijuana.

6. Skip down the hall Rather Than Walk and see how many looks you get.

7. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

8. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go'.

9. Sing Along At The Opera.

10. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You have a headache.

11. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream 'I Won! I Won!'

12. When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot, Yelling 'Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!'

13. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, 'Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go.'

And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity

14. PICK UP A BOX OF CONDOMS AT THE PHARMACY, GO TO THE COUNTER AND ASK WHERE THE FITTING ROOM IS.

A funny to get you through the day

I realized that I needed a pick-me-up and thought I would share what I found. These are cute sayings that I just had to laugh at. Some are soooo true!


1 . My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he
was God and I didn't.

2. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.

3. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.
(agree)

4. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke. (I never had a handle
on life...)

5. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

6. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.(They are called undergrads...and don't be jealous)

7. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

8. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

9. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.

10. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

11. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck- is-the-room- spinning
medicine.

12. God must love stupid people; He made so many.

13. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

14. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps. (Amen, preach on!!)

15. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again? (Frequently)

16. Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it!

17. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.

18. Procrastinate Now!

19. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That? (A friend gave me this one)

20. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

21. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.

22. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

23. They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.

24 . He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD. (Sad but true kiddies)

25. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand
times the memory.

26 . Ham and eggs...A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment
for a pig. (I seem to recall a vball quote about this one, but I could be wrong)

27. The trouble with life is there's no background music. (I just hum my own)

28. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.

29. I smile because I don't know what the heck is going on.

That was a good one to end on right? Just fake it, but remember to smile!

Time

I just realized that I live in a bubble.

No, really, I do.

I know jokes are made about grad students living at school and grad students having no concept of time but they are only funny because they are true. Since I have come to grad school, I have no sense of time. I have pulled more "all-nighters" then when I was in undergrad. And the crazy thing is I don't really call them "all-nighters". They are just work. (I hope you can follow me here) I remember the strain or the stress that these things would pose. I mean staying up ALL night...come on...and studying during that time? Crazy?! But now, that is in the past. Staying up all night to run an experiment because that is the only time available to use said instrument is not stressful but just pitiful. Or having to stay late (I am calling 3-4 am late) due to the fact that the instrument was throwing a hissy fit and wouldn't work during the day like any normal human being would. Also, this weekend business, what is that. I come in to work once or twice a weekend probably two of the four weekends in a given month. And these are not just rush in and change something on the stir plate visits (or at least the majority aren't), these are make up samples or run samples visits. I treat up-interrupted weekends as holidays. Oh and forget scheduled holidays. Which brings me to the fact that I just realized the Monday was a federal holiday and MU didn't have class. I bring this up because I was here and it was just another work day for me. Most of you are probably thinking well, duh, I had to work too. That isn't the point. I didn't even realize that I could've had the day off. I actually had to look at a calendar today to figure out what day it was and what date it was. Like I said time has no meaning to me. I just am.

I wonder what the 'real' world will be like?

I wonder if I will miss my bubble?

They say ignorance is bliss, hmm, well I guess one day I will find out.

I found the cutest little email forward, but instead of forwarding it around to everyone, I thought I would just post it here. Enjoy!

HOW
DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

-You
got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she
should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip
coming.

-- Alan, age
10

-No person
really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it
all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck
with.

--
Kristen, age 10

WHAT
IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three
is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by
then.
--
Camille, age 10

HOW
CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to
guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same
kids.
--
Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR
MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don't want any
more kids.
--
Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO
ON A DATE?

-Dates
are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even
boys have something to say if you listen long enough..
--
Lynnette, age 8
(isn't
she a treasure)

-On
the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them
interested enough to go for a second date.
--
Martin, age 10

WHEN
IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

-When
they're rich.
--
Pam, age 7

-The
law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with
that.
- -
Curt, age 7

-The rule
goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids
with them. It's the right thing to do.
-
- Howard, age 8

IS
IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

It's
better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up
after them.
--
Anita, age 9
(bless you child )

HOW
WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET
MARRIED?

There
sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't
there?
--
Kelvin, age 8

And my personal favorite...

HOW
WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell
your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump
truck.
--
Ricky, age 10

Hope I gave a chuckle or two.

New Camera!

So Santa got me a ditigal camera for christmas! I have wanted one for a while but always convinced myself that I really didn't NEED one right now. I had other things I needed more and it was a toy. Well santa said that since I was a good girl this year, I could have a camera. Sorry to say the family paid the price. I went a little camera happy on christmas day. Here are a few of my favorites. And yes, I realize that they are of dogs. But Dice and Bailey are just sooo cute!

This is them passed out in the middle of the floor of the living room. They were crazy the first day, goin non stop and then...boom...they were down for the count.

This is pretty much the picture the whole time. Bailey has a little bit more energy than Dice. Okay that is a minor exagaration. She has a LOT of more energy. But anywho, aren't they cute.