I Need an Intervention

I have a problem. And they say that admitting you have a problem is the first step in recovery. But somehow I don't think a few words is going to help. This is serious. I need real help. It's this compulsion I have and even though I know I shouldn't . . . I do.

What do I do? Are you sure you want to know? It's not your run of the mill addiction. It's not alcohol or drugs or television or gambling or porn . . .

I have this thing for (gulp) college ruled notebooks.

I know. I know. It's a sickness really and I always have the hardest time during all of these back-to-school sales. I mean. They're everywhere! I go to Target and there are aisles of them! I go to CVS and they're practically calling to me from the center aisle! The bookstore! The office supply store - OK. I should know better than to go into an office supply store . . .

Yesterday it was these elusive college ruled composition books that I've been looking for. See, those black and white speckled composition books are great, but they're ALL wide ruled. I don't like wide ruled paper. I just don't. But I like composition books and I haven't been able to find any with college ruled paper. Until today.

I went into CVS after my dentist appointment and (this is hard to admit as well) I bought some M & M's. Yes, I bought candy after my dentist appointment at which I had two cavities filled. I have faults, people. Anyway, I could hear something calling to me from across the store and I couldn't help but heed its call. It didn't take very long until I found them - the elusive college ruled composition books! Thank you, Five Star!!

And since I had some CVS Extra Bucks to spend, I bought three! Not one, not two, THREE!! (This after buying a small, black journal/notebook at the bookstore just 10 minutes before.) So now I have more notebooks than I know what to do with and a son who is only in kindergarten and can only write his name anyway and I know that I have contributed to the deaths of so many trees because of my compulsion . . .

But I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP!!! (I have a thing for pens as well, but find I only need a fix every six weeks or so.)

So if you have any ideas on how to help me or maybe Cheryl can make a call into that cable intervention show . . . At any rate, thank you for listening. I hope none of you are disappointed in me because of my weakness. I'm not a religious person, but if you are - pray for me.


P.S. My five year old's word of the day yesterday? Apprehensive. "It's when you're kind of nervous about something. You know. It's the same as being anxious." -- I say he goes straight to first grade within the first two weeks of school.