I've got a problem, and rather than just let it smolder, I figured the best way to confront it is to go public

You see, I like the white stuff. I'd tried it a few times when I was in high school and college, but in the past few years I've developed the symptoms of a full-blown addiction. It was the stereotypical scenario. "C'mon, it's cool," said my friend. "It feels good and everybody's doing it."

So I did, and it was the beginning of the end. Before I knew it I was a powder hound. I found myself on the train, staring at ads for ski package tours, dreaming of carving into soft banks of virgin snow, slurping ramen in a mountain-top cafe sipping sake apreªs ski in an open-air bath. If you've been there you know: The pain of something being so close and yet so far is excruciating.