The Comic Addict's Confessional Room

[djpinkpanther67]

Dear CAA,

It's been awhile since my last confession. I haven't posted a for a book in awhile

 

Well my move to San Diego is complete. I am here and settling in. I have a job interview on Monday :thumbsup:

 

I tried and failed to obtain my grail. I sold about 50% of my raw books and a few choice slabs that will be missed. I appreciated the support and well wishing everyone showed, but since I couldn't pay for the book outright, my wife said no until we are more financially comfortable (in other words - when I am able to get employment ) I respected her opinion, and there was no way I could sneak a purchase that big, so I will have to try again one day :shrug:

 

I have yet to visit any comic shops here in SD, but I will after I get a job. I don't want to be tempted with with stuff I can't get

 

I will be attending SDCC however. My wife said she will attend it with me as well

 

I will be submitting some books this week to CGC. Hope they turn out fine

 

My name is Thomas and I'm addicted to comics

[blue808]

Dear CAA,

It's been awhile since my last confession. I haven't posted a for a book in awhile

 

Well my move to San Diego is complete. I am here and settling in. I have a job interview on Monday :thumbsup:

 

I tried and failed to obtain my grail. I sold about 50% of my raw books and a few choice slabs that will be missed. I appreciated the support and well wishing everyone showed, but since I couldn't pay for the book outright, my wife said no until we are more financially comfortable (in other words - when I am able to get employment ) I respected her opinion, and there was no way I could sneak a purchase that big, so I will have to try again one day :shrug:

 

I have yet to visit any comic shops here in SD, but I will after I get a job. I don't want to be tempted with with stuff I can't get

 

I will be attending SDCC however. My wife said she will attend it with me as well

 

I will be submitting some books this week to CGC. Hope they turn out fine

 

My name is Thomas and I'm addicted to comics

 

:hi:Thomas, Admitting you have a problem is the first step on your long road to recovery.

[oakman29]

Hi Thomas welcome to beautiful Southern California,it's so nice to have you (thumbs u

[djpinkpanther67]

Dear CAA,

It's been awhile since my last confession. I haven't posted a for a book in awhile

 

Well my move to San Diego is complete. I am here and settling in. I have a job interview on Monday :thumbsup:

 

I tried and failed to obtain my grail. I sold about 50% of my raw books and a few choice slabs that will be missed. I appreciated the support and well wishing everyone showed, but since I couldn't pay for the book outright, my wife said no until we are more financially comfortable (in other words - when I am able to get employment ) I respected her opinion, and there was no way I could sneak a purchase that big, so I will have to try again one day :shrug:

 

I have yet to visit any comic shops here in SD, but I will after I get a job. I don't want to be tempted with with stuff I can't get

 

I will be attending SDCC however. My wife said she will attend it with me as well

 

I will be submitting some books this week to CGC. Hope they turn out fine

 

My name is Thomas and I'm addicted to comics

 

:hi:Thomas, Admitting you have a problem is the first step on your long road to recovery.

BLUE!!!! Long time no hear from! How ya doin' Bill?

BTW I NEVER have a problem admitting I'm addicted to the hobby!

[bounty_coder]

Thomas, it is Uncanny how similiar this story is to mine. First off congrats on the marriage. I hope the two of you can find the balance that makes both happy. Relationships are all about compromise. There are going to be things that each side will need to surrender to an extent. With comics, my wife realized how important they are to me, but I needed to realize that nothing is more important than my wife to me, with both of our realizations, we were able to work things out well.

 

My wife and I were together for nearly 6 years before finally marrying this last August. For the price of the wedding I probably could have picked up a full NM run of EC's Tales from the crypt from the 50's , but it was worth it and have no regrets, and would do it again (even though I REALLY want those TFTC's).

 

Great to hear that you guys prevailed through the things that are *less* important than love. Rock on man

 

-bounty

 

Hey everyone! Comic collecting, like anything else, can be an addictive and expensive hobby, especially when coupled with that narcotic known as eBay . I decided to start a thread so people could share their stories of over the top things they may have done to buy comics, to an audience of people who can relate. A sort of "Comic Addicts Anonymous" if you will. Does buying slabs give you an endorphin rush? Does your seratonin levels elevate over Raw SA's?

No stories of prostitution please.

 

Hello all! My name is Thomas and I'm a Comic Book Addict. The last comic I bought was this morning.

 

I used to collect comics as a child from the age of 8 until I was 14, when my stepfather threw away all 7,000 plus of them. That took me completely out of the hobby.

Now fast forward to September 2006. I am in the Army and stationed in Germany. I have a nice girlfriend and everything is going well in my life. I was looking on eBay for a Spider-man DVD for my youngest son when I noticed the word "comic books" under one of the search areas. Comic books? hm hm Well, I hadn't collected comics in 24+ years and was interested at just looking at what was out there. Bad move. Next thing I know I'm browsing through all the comic auctions, bidding with reckless abandon on several. It was like a dormant switch had gotten flipped on. I was helpless. I won eleven auctions that first night. When the books arrived, I was so enamored with them, I decided I would "just look" at a couple of other auctions. Handling the books and smelling that "comic smell" had rekindled the love of the hobby that had so long lay dormant. I started looking up comics for sale on the web and found several sites: Metro, Pedigree, ComicSupply, CL and Heritage. I was now hooked! I saw that a bunch of books on the 'Bay were called CGC graded? Not knowing what the heck that was I decided to do a bit of research. I visited the CGC website and read about the grading process, etc. I was intrigued. Then I noticed the phrase "chat boards" on the site. I clicked on it and started reading the posts. WOW! There are so many people on this site I can halfway relate to! People who understand! I started visiting the site everyday. Not joining, just observing and learning. Not joining because I wasn't sure if I would be accepted. I was already catching it from my girlfriend over my "newfound hobby"! It was getting on her nerves. She thought they were too expensive, and that the army didn't pay me enough to support such a habit. My argument to her was that at least it wasn't drugs or lap dances I was spending my money on :shrug:

Anyways, after a couple of months I finally decided to join the Forums. I placed a couple of posts and had gained some measure of acceptance. Meanwhile, my girlfriend started complaining I was spending too much on comics. "What do you mean?" I replied. There's food on the table, all the bills are paid, you get your hair done on the regfular, and we still have some money left over. What's the problem? So the fussing continued. I resorted to sneaking and buying books. I had a separate APO box created for me at the mailroom for my arriving comics just so she wouldn't find out. I was buying books from every site I could. I would lie, saying I was putting something on layaway, just so I would avoid the conflict and hassle of an argument. Lying, sneaking...yeah, the hobby had consumed me!

After getting burned on eBay a couple of times too many, I decided to not buy anything off eBay anymore. I shared my bad experiences on the boards, and LO! They directed me to the FS threads!!!! (worship) (worship)

 

Well, after all the sneaking and buying books on the sly, I was finally found out. The ensuing confrontation was of epic proportions. I almost lost the woman that I loved! We actually DID break up for awhile, right before I came back to the States. Luckily for me, we stayed in contact with each other. We worked everything out after I was here a couple of months. We got married this past July.

I still sneak and buy books. I have to. They call me. Slabbed or raw, it's an irresistable siren song. I'm a comic book addict. Watch for my

 

Thomas

[djpinkpanther67]

Dear CAA,

My name is Thomas and I haven't bought a comic in over two months.

 

This is probably my last entry for an indefinite period of time, as everyone knows I am taking a hiatus from the hobby, perhaps permanently. I have listed the last of my books from my collection..I hope my last entry here is poignant enough for everyone.

 

My custody battle with my ex-wife and other issues have taken their toll on me, both financially and health-wise. I was forced to sell my collection to cover costs. I have been currently in Texas separated from my lovely (and thankfully PATIENT) wife while I deal with these issues. I'm not working right now and my income level from my retirement check doesn't begin to cover my mortgage, car note and other bills. That's the financial burden I am facing at this time.

 

This entire situation of being separated has caused some minor amount of friction, but my wife is showing more patience than I ever would have thought from her. That's why I love her so much, and giving up the hobby is nothing compared to the happiness she brings in my life.

 

That being said, this whole legal situation has caused me so much negative anxiety.It has completely physically and emotionally brought my health to dangerous stress levels.

 

Four days past (Saturday) I suffered a mild stroke (Bell's Palsey). The left side of my face is currently partially paralized. The doctors stated it was stress related and thankfully I will recover within a couple of weeks with no permanent residual effects. However, this was a disturbing episode. I have survived Cancer and 21 years of a lot of crazy things in the Army, only to have this happen. Crazy. But no worries, as this should be wrapping up soon and I can get back to my normal(?) life.

 

I would like to thank all of the friends I have made on the Boards. Thanks for putting up with me! I hope to keep in touch with all of you. I may still post here on the Boards from time to time..For those who wish to keep in touch offline of the Forums, my email addy is ebonyzivory@yahoo.com

 

My name is Thomas and I will ALWAYS be addicted to comics.

[DrWatson]

Tough breaks, Thomas. Makes me realize just how good most of us here really have it. I wish you all the best in a speedy recovery and a swift resolution to your problems.

[djpinkpanther67]

Tough breaks, Thomas. Makes me realize just how good most of us here really have it. I wish you all the best in a speedy recovery and a swift resolution to your problems.

Thanks James!

[Fazybones]

Sorry to hear about all your troubles Thomas.

 

 

Take care of yourself and hopefully you can come back to the

hobby you love when all of this is behind you. I thought you

were a great member of our little community of ...um...people.

 

Good Luck and get well soon.

 

 

 

fay

 

[djpinkpanther67]

Sorry to hear about all your troubles Thomas.

 

 

Take care of yourself and hopefully you can come back to the

hobby you love when all of this is behind you. I thought you

were a great member of our little community of ...um...people.

 

Good Luck and get well soon.

 

 

 

fay

Thank you Ms. Fay

[BrianR]

Take care of yourself Thomas I hope everything works out well for you.

[djpinkpanther67]

Thanks Brian

[greggy]

[gilbertotorres]

i'm an addict. i just sold some key comics to buy some more and to fund SDCC where i will be buying another key. lately i've been spending about 3000 a month on comics.

[djpinkpanther67]

[slackjawcomics]

Thomas -

 

I never really had a chance to talk to you on the boards, but your story is very touching. I though personally have not gone through a separation on the spouse side, but I did go through it on the child side for about 5 years of my childhood (PreSchool - 4th grade). Though I do understand how hard it is.....my mother did not have to fight for us, my father did not want to take care of my sister or I, but my mother was a stay at home mom, never went to college and now had to fully support two kids on a minimum wage salary. But I know you will make it through it, it is hard and demanding at times, but it will get better.

For I am sure one day you will get back in the hobby of collecting comics. For some reason it brings fans back at all ages. I look forward to checking out future post from you, because this forum, when not buying or selling will take off some of the stress of everyday life. Stay well.

 

Your friend,

Chris Forsberg

[djpinkpanther67]

Thomas -

 

I never really had a chance to talk to you on the boards, but your story is very touching. I though personally have not gone through a separation on the spouse side, but I did go through it on the child side for about 5 years of my childhood (PreSchool - 4th grade). Though I do understand how hard it is.....my mother did not have to fight for us, my father did not want to take care of my sister or I, but my mother was a stay at home mom, never went to college and now had to fully support two kids on a minimum wage salary. But I know you will make it through it, it is hard and demanding at times, but it will get better.

For I am sure one day you will get back in the hobby of collecting comics. For some reason it brings fans back at all ages. I look forward to checking out future post from you, because this forum, when not buying or selling will take off some of the stress of everyday life. Stay well.

 

Your friend,

Chris Forsberg

Thank for the kind words, Chris! I really do appreciate it. I tend to downplay the stress and depression I'm feeling right now, but I can't hide it from my own body. The storm is passing however, and I will be better soon

[benz]

Tell your wife its an investment. =) Actually with me it was my wife who convinced me to transfer to Comics from Basketball card collecting. That hobby was far more expensive. I once bought a $1200 basketball case and after opening the cards the value went down to $ 400.

 

My wife noticed I liked comics so she said I save the money and buy comics. I thought of this and bought my first AF15. I don't buy cards now only comics. =)

 

She supports my hobby and I love my wife for it. =) She's a keeper.

[Designer Toast]

Okay, everyone at once: " Hi, Thomas "

 

 

Some habits are harder to break than others. We knew you'd be back in no time flat.

[Count]

Hi Thomas....