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February 7, 2007
“I can stop anytime I want”
denial is the first sign of a problem...
We all have them--little pick-me-ups that help us make it through the day. But how to draw the line between harmless habit or full-blown addiction? You decide!
Coca-Cola
I have no idea what’s in Coke’s famous secret formula, but it must be something goooood. My friend Jill is quitting her three-Coke-a-day habit cold turkey and it ain't pretty. Tensions are running high at her house. Very high. “It’s like going through heroin withdrawal,” she says. “Honestly, giving up smoking was easier than this. I’ve had a splitting headache for the last two days and I wake up at night in a cold sweat. I know I’ll lose like 10 pounds after two weeks off the sauce, but at this point, I’d rather be fat and caffeinated.”
Jill is not alone. I have several friends who were forbidden to drink Coke (in any variety) during their pregnancies, and all of them jonesed like junkies for the entire 9 months. One of them sent her husband to fetch an icy cold soda before her C-section stitches were even in place. “That’s how they could break me—the FBI or the CIA or whoever,” she reports. “If I had top secret information and the fate of the Western world hinged upon my silence. I could withstand tons of physical abuse, but if they took away my Coke, I would quiver and cry and spill my guts.”
Side note: I just read a very interesting book on the origins and rise of the American soda empire: For God, country, and Coca-Cola by Mark Pendergrast. Interesting stuff.
TV seasons on DVD
I’ll be the first to admit that I have very little self-control. And even less patience. So the advent of television series box sets has been both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, I never have to wait a whole week to find out what happens after a nail-biting cliff-hanger on "Lost" or "Alias." On the other hand, I seem unable to even wait 8 hours, which means I’ll stay up late into the night, watching episode after episode and promising myself, “This is the last one. I’m going straight to bed after this one.”
Lies, lies, lies.
On the recommendation of practically everyone I know, I recently rented the first season of "24." Big mistake. I’m well into the second season now, and may never have a free weekend again.
Books
What’s one more little paperback on that towering to-be-read pile, right? I have a real problem in this department and I know I’m not alone. There are just so many interesting things to read! And you never know when a freak blizzard might hit Phoenix, leaving me snowed in for days on end with nothing to do but read, read, read. It could happen, right? I better head out to Barnes & Noble and stock up right now!
Here’s a sampling of what’s in my TBR pile right this minute:
Hide by Lisa Gardner
Angels by Marian Keyes
The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren
My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman
Nasty by Simon Doonan
So tell us: what everyday “addiction” can you not live without? (And Eileen, for the love of all that is good and holy, you better not say “working out.” We want vices, people.)
Posted by Beth at 12:25 AM | Comments (15)
Comments
um, working out? Which I really am addicted too. But seriously it's the coke thing for me. I would love to get off the sauce. But I love it. I crave it. I know I would be sick as a dog without it. I would love to try out for Survivor but I can't live without my coke. I'm even on the low coke addiction. Coke Zero. No calories, no sodium but still lots of caffiene. I don't even drink coffee. Just coke.
And Spider Solitaire. How many hours have I wasted playing that stupid game. I get it as far as my trash bin then I weaken and pull it back up. Would someone please come to my house and delete it for me?
Posted by: Cindy at February 7, 2007 9:44 AM
I'd have to say reading in general. If I'm in the middle of a book (new or old), I can't put it down. I will read it during every spare minute that I can (while eating breakfast, brushing my teeth, etc.) until I am finished with it. It's sick, SICK!!! Luckily, I have a very patient and understanding husband who fully supports my addiction. :)
Posted by: Katy at February 7, 2007 9:58 AM
Books definitely, I must have a good 25 books and counting in my TBR pile and I just can't stop. I already have a new list of things to pick up at Borders this Friday. My husband has no problems with the addiction he just resents all the space that the books take up in various parts of the house.
My other fairly new addiction...blog reading. I feel somewhat imcomplete if I haven't checked in on my daily roster of blogs such as this one. Thank God I have a job that requires me to be online the good part of every day otherwise I would have been fired long ago :)
Posted by: HWJ at February 7, 2007 11:47 AM
I have a tea addiction, but I have decided I'm cool with that. I do have a book addiction, and I start jonesing if my TBR pile gets low and worry that I might have to go a few hours with nothing to read! Eeek!
Posted by: RandomRanter at February 7, 2007 1:18 PM
Cindy--With you on the Spider Solitaire addiction. Horrible waste of time, but I just can't stop.
Also, since I don't have a tv, I rely on the internet for all my entertainment...especially for American tv shows. God love those cyber geeks who have the time and initiative to upload episode after episode of my favorites--The Amazing Race, Ugly Betty, Scrubs, Prison Break... the list goes on.
These are also the two biggest reason why progress on my thesis is currently at a standstill.
Posted by: Christina at February 7, 2007 1:28 PM
Coffee. Rich dark espresso (I favor the arabian mocha java from Peet's) with hot foamy milk. Must must must have it. Every day. At least once.
Crocheting. I must have it. Otherwise, my hands dance around all on their own, picking at things and generally being weird.
The LC Eileen
Posted by: The LC Eileen at February 7, 2007 3:39 PM
jelly belly jelly beans. specifically, red apple, blueberry, kiwi, lemon, and all of the sours. i drive FORTY MINUTES out of my way to buy them at a candy store. i have about 10 a day, and have my stash hidden from the kids.
also addicted to working out, one feeds the habit of the other!
Posted by: amy MacDougall at February 7, 2007 4:00 PM
Lately it's been popcorn. The saltier and buttery-er (more buttery?) the better. What's odd about this is that, up until recently, I hated popcorn! The smell of it at movie theatres used to make me gag. Maybe it's because my doctor said I shouldn't eat it. You know, the you-always-want-what-you-can't-have syndrome. But then again, when he told me to lay off the gym for a while, I wasn't exactly heartbroken. Go figure.
Posted by: Janina at February 8, 2007 12:52 AM
TIVO... in fact, I just asked my husband last night "Did we really watch TV before TiVo?" Think of all the time I wasted before, so it's not only harmless but a necessity! LOL
Posted by: Amber at February 8, 2007 8:12 AM
Count me in one the coke addiction. I'm down to one a day (two if I'm in editing mode, it clears the mind! *g*)
Books probably come in a close second. Though I went through long dry spells when I didn't buy any.
Posted by: Lis at February 8, 2007 9:53 PM
You're a Phoenician, too? Coolio. Seeing as how we've been having 80 degree weather during the day..in February no less...I think it'll be a cold day in hell when we get a blizzard. Although we did get snow in Scottsdale that one day. I was kinda freaked about that. I was expecting a swarm of locusts next.
Posted by: Celise at February 9, 2007 1:25 AM
Oh, secret vices - there are just so many of them!
Books and movies, check, check. And Beth, I'm so with you on watching whole seasons on DVD - just don't ask about the Veronica Mars season I and II marathons...
As for food, I am totally addicted to a Dutch sausage called gegrilde worst. It basically means grilled sausage, but in reality it's glorified spam (I know, I know, spam - but it's so delicious cut into rounds, grilled, and eaten hot in a roll with tomato ketchup).
Speaking of which is making me hungry. Time for lunch!
Posted by: Michelle C at February 10, 2007 10:05 AM
Michelle - Spam is not for eating, it's for laughing at.
Posted by: Janina at February 10, 2007 7:24 PM
Janina - LOL!
Posted by: Michelle C at February 12, 2007 11:22 AM
Nearlyweds just got me through Day 2 in the hospital. It was fantastic!!! I want to know more about what happens to Stella!!!!! Please tell me there will be a sequel! :)
Posted by: laurenjharwood ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 15, 2007 10:56 AM
