My name is Agatha, and I have an addiction

I'm addicted to books. There. I said it. It's horribly embarassing. I buy books all the time. My mom is the same way. However, she only buys hardback books, and she tries to stick with classics, or the most popular authors of the day (or of their time). Growing up, there were always loads of books in our house. When my mom and dad built their current home, they put in a library. She's already run out of room, and is contemplating taking the shelves up to the ceiling in the 2 story tall room, and add a brass rolling ladder. The cost of the ladder ($2K) is what is keeping her back.

So, you see where I come by the addiction naturally.

I buy paperbacks. This is mainly due to the fact that they're smaller, lighter, more portable, and cheaper. I reread many of them, so I don't feel like I've wasted my money. I could go to the local library and check them out, but I have an addiction. If there is an author that I like, I can't make myself wait for the library to get the book in. I just purchase it. I *can* make myself wait until the book comes out on paperback. Since we don't have a real bookstore here in our little town, I usually get my books from the grocery store or Walmart. Most of those are paperbacks, so the hardback books don't tempt me. Every so often, I'll see a book from a series that I enjoy and force myself to wait for paperback. My reasoning would be that it would be strange to have books from a series go from paperbacks, to hardbacks, and possibly back again.

I've taken to storing the books in plastic tubs, as I ran out of shelf space years ago. We're going to redo our living room at some point in the next few years, and plan on putting in some bookshelves, but I decided that I couldn't wait any longer. I purchased some el-cheapo shelves from Staples (yay for the 25% discount I have as a premier rewards member and free delivery on furniture). I bought 3 tall book cases. I ran out of room. I've had to double stack books in front of books. I even got rid of a few books from an author I didn't particularly care for, and some books that I received from someone else who didn't have the time to read them. Those are going to go to the thrift store for a new home. I don't throw books away. I still don't have enough shelf space. I started looking at the book genres, and found myself a little embarassed. It was primarily romance novels (usually not the ones with half naked couples on the cover, grasping at each other, although there are a few of the older ones in there that do have that), mystery, and some sci-fi thrown in. There are some comedy books, and a few classics on the shelves. Still, seeing them all out of their plastic tubs, where my addiction can hide, made me realize that I have a problem.

However, I'm not going to do anything about it. As far as addictions go, books can't be all that bad. I do think it's time for me to start rereading some of them, though. Some I haven't opened in a long while, some I haven't reread. It might be worth seeing if there are some that I can bring myself to part with.


Heehee. I'm kinda guessing not many.


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I've been told that I haven't updated my condition post surgery. I'm doing pretty good. I can walk without fear of my knee going out from under me. It is strong enough to go up stairs without too much trouble. I do find that there are times where I still strain it, and it gives me some muscle soreness. This past weekend, we had a water pipe break in the backyard (stupid sprinkler installers from 20 years ago didn't actually glue all of the sections of pipe together so they eventually give way). I had to squat on my knees to turn off the water shutoff valve several times while we were isolating the leak. My knee was protesting for days afterward. It still is giving me some residual soreness. Last night, with all of the bookcases I assembled, I found that there was some lingering soreness today. Still, I wanted to get those bookcases assembled and put up before someone from the county (for my son) came to the house today to interview us for services.

That's a whole other story, but I think I'll wait to post the details on that until after we have some more information. But for now, the county may be able to provide some additional services for the kidlet that he can find of use.