For those of you who don't know, my cat's name is HOMIE!. And it usually takes a little cAtnIp to get him to at least THINK outside the box.
3/18/07: Anyway, today I wanna talk about thE 5 mOst ExpEnsIvE AddIctIOns:
And ironically on this st. pAtrIck's dAy wEEkEnd, the MOST expensive addiction is Alcohol, w/ an estimated annual cost of $166 BILLION! Now, I know this is a sensitive subject for A LOT of people out there. And without a doubt, alcohol and I are very, very fond of one another. I had some of the bEst and dEfInItEly thE wOrst experiences of my life UndEr thE InflUEncE. I started drInkIn' at a pretty young age, and although my consumption has definitely decreased over the years, there was never a time that I can remember where I didn't drink ANYTHING for longer than a year or two. We're talking probably a span of 15-16 years (half of my life); and strangely I've never considered myself dependent on alcohol. Hmmmm...? I have thought of completely quitting as a goal. sUch A dIlEmma!
How about this? ...LET'S ELECT SOMEONE WHO WILL MAKE ALCOHOL ILLEGAL!!!
12/30/07:
I've come to realize this year that when you actually USE your brain, you don't like ANY interruptions. Your brain is close to 80% water and there is no greater dehydrator than "the juice." It's getting to the point where I'd rather sprain my ankle than suffer a hangover (which is actually withdrawal symptoms.) Top priority for the New Year! I guess it comes down to having something else, more productive to do. Still a continual battle…
3/18/07: The 2nd most expensive addiction is SMOKING, estimated $157 BILLION ANNUAL COST!
Excuse me if it sounds like I'm taking these personally, but hopefully we can get to one that I'm not contributing to. AAAAHH! So this one is even more personal than the drinking because I'm cUrrEntlY At wAR wIth nEwpOrts! I haven't had a puff since the first week of January! This is a battle I've had many times before, BUT this time, as you noticed, I referred to it as a WAR. And I say that confidently because this time I had the mEntAl wAkEUp cAll!
This story can be confirmed by thIs gUY......but the first day of my quit-smoking-struggle, I was TAKEN to a few bars and I didn't pay for one drink, but I had a lot to drink!!! And I was even voicing my concern to this non-smoking group of unsensitive, peer pressure-applying, unsupportive, drink buyers...but my words fell upon deaf ears. MORAL OF THE STORY: I DIDN'T SMOKE! thIs AlsO hElps! I'll keep you updated...
12/30/07:
Again, as I puff this f*ckin' Newport, it comes down to having a healthier "time-filler." THEY say it's harder to get off Nicotine than Heroin. Though that may explain why a lot of the homeless Vietnam vets were disproportionately strung out on that "China White." They were trying to kick cigarettes! Or maybe not? Nonetheless, squares are tuff to shake, especially during stressful times. My 2008 plans are a little more stable and structured (for now), so I hope this leads to a higher consciousness for me, where WHATEVER void exists that smoking fills no longer exists. Starting/quitting again Wednesday, Jan 2. READ MORE BOOKS!
3/18/07: The number THREE spot also hits pretty close to home. DRUGS! Let's try to look at this at a very basic level. Besides the thE wAr On tErrOr, the WAR ON DRUGS is the most ridiculous idea ever created. It's a great POLITICAL strategy! And executed beautifully I must add. WOW! Drugs are a part of OUR culture! That's what happens when a government recruits the best scientists from EVERY country in the world, and has a pOpUlAtIOn Of OvEr 300 mIllIOn, of which the bottom 1/3 is slowly being exterminated by various physical, mental, economic, etc., experiments and studies. AND DRUGS ARE A BIG PART OF THIS!!! I guess my biggest frustration when it comes to drugs is the hypocrisy involved. Don't get me started on prEscrIptIOn drUgs...and that whole mess! Even if we ignore HOW drugs get in the country, WHERE they end up, WHEN they're available (usually kinda tuff around election time, I've heard), we're left with the WHO and WHY!
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PLACES IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE IT'S EASIER (SOMETIMES CHEAPER) TO GET DRUGS THAN FOOD!!! This is such a SAD and DISHEARTENING subject. Amazingly, it took us till the 3rd spot to come to a partially ILLEGAL addiction.
12/30/07:
I would absolutely LOVE if tobacco was illegal. But overall I feel EVERYTHING should be legal and regulated. Do some legitimate studies on the health effects of cocaine, THC, etc., AND compare the side effects to the ones rolling up my TV screen, requiring 5-minute commercials. Without honest analysis of the facts, which our government seems totally against, the "war on drugs" will continue oppressing us alongside the new "war on terror." Shit's depressing…
3/18/07: NUMBER 4: OVEREATING($107 BILLION)
The mere existence of the chart above is CRAZY! Add to that, ESPN televises these "competitions(?)" now! People are being rewarded for THIS! The direction MY FINGER is pointing on this one is fAst fOOd and vIdEO gAmEs Who knows what's in fast food? YOU?
With all that being said, I must admit that I am yet again contributing to the list. For me though, it's more LACK OF EXERCISE than OVEREATING. But I gotta plan for that too. With the weather trying to break into spring here in the NORTHEAST, my plan is to run the track around my complex on Monday and Wednesday mornings before I go to work. In the meantime, I'll be playing basketball Fridays, 4:30-6:00. AND WHAT ABOUT YOU? START HERE!
12/30/07: Lack of exercise easily can be defined as lack of motivation. Four months of unemployment in 2007 could've been such an opportunity. Shoulda, coulda, woulda's are senseless. It takes a big man to get up and run in the morning with bills on the table. I'm growing, but I ain't GROWN. But on the upside, my NEW house and NEW job are 3 blocks away. Walking distance! I can't wait to be ignorant of the gas prices. Now, I just have to decide between an iPod or the Sirius walkman…
3/18/07: I COULDN'T RESIST THIS PIC! But 5 is GAMBLING! And I can honestly say, I've never had a close affiliation with the gambling community! For me, it never went any further than some scratch-offs or a MARCH MADNESS bracket @ work!
12/30/07:
Slot machines were recently added to Pennsylvania's Lotteries and Horse Racing revenue-builders. Although gambling may be the only vice I DON'T have, this "gambling in PA" hits very close to home. Lancaster real estate taxes are pretty high. BUT, if the gambling revenues hit a certain $ amount, TAX BREAK! So although I could care less in 2007 whether gambling was sanctioned or not, it now piqued my interest. The quandary is "cheering" for people to throw their money away. The hopeless tugs on the nickel slots…
MY STANCE AS OF 3-18-2007:
(ON A SCALE OF 1-5, 5 = QUIT, 1 = IGNORANTLY LOVIN' IT)
1) ALCOHOL: 3, Cutting down, but I'm lOvIn' thIs shIt rIght nOw!
2) SMOKING: 4.8
3) DRUGS: 1
4) OVEREATING: 4
5) GAMBLING: 5
CHECK YOURSELF! IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD! PEACE!
12/30/07:
1) ALCOHOL: 4
2) SMOKING: 3
3) DRUGS: NEED MORE STUDY
4) OVEREATING: 4
5) GAMBLING: 5
MAKE 2008!
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