We wish...

The Prickly Pineapple wishes it could be like the Samurai Delicatessen.

Happy Explain-Your-Addiction Day

"I am addicted to blogging, knitting, and music (all of these in the psychological sense). I may be addicted to attention and compliments. I am developing an addiction to lazy days. I wish I were addicted to exercise and a healthful lifestyle. I used to be addicted to (but was never dependent on) caffeine. I'm not anymore."

1. Blogging. Perhaps I am addicted to the internet as a whole. Part of it is that I believe I may still suffer from a mild form of PhonePhobia. Blogging is an expressive exercise that allows me to stay in contact with old friends and to make silly jokes with strangers all while trying to keep up my writing skills (although my writing skills seem to have deteriorated). There is an element of instant gratification to it, seeing your words published in a polished format instantly. That is why I like it.

2. Knitting. I have already explained this. Most recently I've discovered that I also enjoy watching things come into shape before my very eyes, and it does take a little bit of patience so I may have my feeling of worthwhile accomplishment as well. And the yarns are soft and their colors are preeetty.

3. Music. What can I say? It lives in me. It helps me live. I go into withdrawal (in many senses of the word) if I go too long without hearing it or making it. Once I gave it up for a whole week. I nearly died.

4. Attention and compliments. Obviously. When you grow up without them and suddenly start to receive them, the rush is even more potent. This may be another reason why I have such a fabulous shoe collection.

5. Lazy days. I am happy to report that I am no longer a workaholic. I enjoy my days at home with no particular place to go. Which leads to

6. Exercise and a healthful lifestyle. Know their benefits. Need them. Wish it could be so easy as to be addicted to them so I could just do them.

7. Caffeine. Though my performance improves markedly while I am caffeinated (I still believe my medical school neurology rotation was my best ever because of caffeine), sudden discontinuation after regular mild use triggers the classic caffeine-withdrawal migraine. Right frontal. Terrible, terrible, terrible. So not worth it, and not worth having one's routine enslaved to it (when can I get some coffee? I don't want a headache today).

And I think that does it.

Explain your addiction

The word "addiction" carries a certain stigma. People are afraid to use lip balm or nasal spray because somewhere along the way, someone labeled them "addictive." That's ridiculous.

Addiction, by strict medical definition, may not necessarily mean dependence nor habituation. It simply means that one's body has undergone change to accommodate for the regular intake, use, or application of the thing in question. It is when this physiological change is accompanied by a psychological change, a perceived need for said substance, that dependence and habituation come into play. One can have true physical symptoms of withdrawal without psychological dependence. Examples of this would be the caffeine withdrawal migraine and rebound congestion from prolonged use of nasal spray.

You know what? Nevermind. I don't want to justify the use of the word "addiction" in a medical context at all.

Anyway, because of the aforementioned stigma, most people consider themselves addiction-free. I seriously doubt that is the case.

I think we should have an official "Explain your addiction" day. What do you think? How about March 15? It'd be a day when you have to explain why you're addicted to something. Oh, and on "Explain your addiction" day other people get to point out addictions of which you may not be aware. I think it would force people to realize what they're addicted to and perhaps stop some their unhealthy addictions. Maybe they'd even share some healthy ones. Things like God, air, sleep, and food don't count, silly.

What are your addictions? What are your former addictions? Is there anything to which you wish you were addicted?

Here, I'll go first. It's two days early, but that ought to give you some time to think about it. Since it's early I'll hold off on the explanations.

I am addicted to blogging, knitting, and music (all of these in the psychological sense). I may be addicted to attention and compliments. I am developing an addiction to lazy days.

I wish I were addicted to exercise and a healthful lifestyle.

I used to be addicted to (but was never dependent on) caffeine. I'm not anymore.

Okay. Now you.

Contentment

So I have downloaded a free thingie from an airline that tells me when there are airfare specials and offers special fares for people who subscribe to this service. I am happy to report that there are special fare offers nearly every day. So all the time I am looking to see where I could fly for cheapcheap from my city. The cities vary from day to day.

I am happy to report that there is nowhere I am presently longing to go.

I have no desire to escape or run away from the place where I am. I am content to hang out here at the Prickly Pineapple and go about my business.

Perhaps knowing that my time here is limited helps. Perhaps having planned a vacationette (5 days is so short!) at the end of the month helps. I don't know. What I do know is that the travel bug within me is currently dormant and has been since Madrid. No, Taipei.

And to those who pooh-pooh the place where I live, I say to you, pooh-pooh too. It is a blessing to be able to be content with life independent of circumstances afforded by your geographic location. I challenge you to try it.

The triangle

If you could learn to play an instrument, what instrument would it be?

If I could learn any new instrument I wanted, I would learn to play the triangle.

I would begin by taking triangle lessons. I'd have a rocky start, seeing as how it is always more difficult for adults to learn new instruments. I would suffer patiently through triangle classes with elementary schoolers, being the "slow adult" in the class. I'd eventually acquire the technical skills but suddenly experience a period of percussionist's block. Just when that affliction faded, my triangle career would be threatened by frightening carpal tunnel symptoms, and I'd have to spend months in rehab, re-vamping my technical skills to be ergonomically correct.

Right after that I'd have a huge breakthrough. I'd become famous for my triangular virtuosity. I'd perfect the delivery of a rendition of Jobim's "One Note Samba" that would rouse audiences to riotous frenzy. After a brilliant career of acclaimed performances I'd being composing. I'd start with simple triangle choruses. Then I'd move on to innovative works such as "Symphony for Triangle with Children and Soapbubbles" (review: a feast for the ears and eyes, with the beauty in the rainbow of bubbles blown from the thirty-two triangles dipped in soapy water rivaled only by the rainbow of diversity in the twenty children so carefully hired from all over the world to hum harmoniously along).

I might even be so bold as to attempt to introduce design variations on my instrument, which I would give such names as the "square," or the "trapezoid." This would be met with staunch opposition from the music world. Critics would decry my descent into "a mindless reactionary style, heralding the onset of either madness or just severe poor taste." Controversy would follow me about, as some would celebrate me, while others would label me a fraud. Drugs would be implicated. Finally, the fat lady would let out a shrill high E, and a VH1 special would be made, signaling the end of my career. I'd be left penniless, my reputation as a musician forever destroyed.

Maybe not the triangle after all.

Ooh, what about the jaw harp?