Step One: Admit you have a problem
So I was sitting in my room the other night watching reruns of Angel, and playing one of the newest Pokemon games when it hit me.
I have told many a people that I still play Pokemon (hell, I even watch the movies with Jessica and Cherisa) and no one seems to understand. I understand that Pokemon is for little kids, but I feel I must play it. For one I still to this day have not caught them all. Plus when I get even close to catching all of them, they come out with another 200 for me to catch.
Now when I first got the game, it was a simple, yet challenging, 150 Pokemon. Everyone thought you couldn't think of anymore. I worked at it and I dwindled the number down. If I remember correctly I had it all the way up to 115 caught, and I was getting ready to trade with a friend and get the rest. That's when I heard the news. Two new Pokemon games had come out. I was happy because I would get a change of scenery, but I was soon struck with despair and turmoil. There's was now an additional 100 Pokemon. Bringing our total to 250. That's of course not adding the two elusive and secret Pokemon Mew and Celebi.
I was ready though, and I was sure I could handle it. So I bought the new game and I played my little heart out for over a hundred hours, and I only had 134 Pokemon. I hadn't even reached the original 150 count yet, and I was still playing. Soon I lost hope and I had to put the game down. I could no longer play for the stress of cathing them all was starting to take it's toll. I wasn't eating. I had lost all need for sleep. When asked a question all that I could responded with was 'Gotta Catch 'em All'. I became distant from my family, and so I moved myself into the attic. I hadn't used the facilities in days, or taken a shower. The smell was to much. I only stopped to change the batteries in my handy Game Boy.
Finally I thought my Pokemon addiction was over. Even though my Game Boy would sit in my room taunting me everytime I looked in it's direction. It called to me in my sleep, while I was at school, when I went to work. So I shut it out with sleeping pills, cocaine, morphine, heroin, marijuana, and all kinds of other legel drugs. I even went so far as toi try some of the illegel ones such as Vicks Formula 44, NyQuil, and DayQuil. I thought I was going to have to kill myself to end the constant beckoning of the Game Boy game, when I got news of something coming to a store near me in the future. That's right they had come out with a new set of games, and even more Pokemon for me to catch.
This time the count was up to 350, and they cut out a few from the previous games, and they made it only possible to trade from another Game Boy Advance Pokemon cratridge. That made my latest game obsolete, so I gave it to my brother (along with what remained of my drug collection, and a thick cord of nylon rope). So, I purchased this new game that would save me from my addiction.
So, as I sat there watching Angel and playing Pokemon, I realized that I wasn't safefrom my addiction. I had just advanced to the next level, and evolved, much like a Pokeom would if you battled it for long enough. I was in my third evolution. I started on a battered old Game Boy. Then with the second more addictive wave I move to the ever popular Game Boy Color. Now I was on the handier, more form fitting Game Boy Advance.
I only tell this to you so you may help me in my addiction. The first step is admitting you have a problem, and I do. I, Nicholas Anthony Cirignano, am a Pokemon addict and I need help. . .