Welcome to the pond

My birthday is coming up next weekend, and of course I have to get CDs for the occasion. So, I decided to try and get some today. I had three specific CDs in mind, and I wasn't going to settle this time. This time, I was going to get exactly what I wanted or I wasn't going.

Sometimes, ladies and gentlemen, it's best not to listen to your own advice.

I wanted Smashing Pumpkins "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness," Elvis Costello "The Delivery Man" and Johnny Cash "The Legend of Johnny Cash." I called my favorite music store, CD World, beforehand to see if they had what I wanted. I assumed they'd still have the Johnny Cash. It was on sale last time I went, so of course they'd have it, right? More on that later.

So, I called them, and they didn't have "The Delivery Man" in stock. The guy answering the phone hadn't even heard of it, and said I could get it as a special order import. Screw that. I figured they'd never have it, and I didn't wanna special order it if it was an import, so I went there anyway. I was due a free CD on their bonus card program the next time I bought anything, so that's why I went there.

After calling two other stores to see if THEY had "The Delivery Man," I decided to go to CD World anyway. I could always order that one on Amazon.com. So I went down there and browsed around. First I stopped at the sale rack for the Johnny Cash disc. What? They don't have it there anymore?! No, folks, they didn't. I'm quickly learning that you should get what you want when you see it. It may not be there next time, no matter how popular it is. I scanned the regular Johnny Cash section, and didnt see "The Legend" there either. My next stop was to pick up "Mellon Collie" before they sold out of THAT.

"Mellon Collie" in hand, I browsed around for other albums to buy. I looked in their other sale bins a while, but didn't see anything I wanted right then. Back to the Johnny Cash section. Maybe I just overlooked it? I think someone restocked it, because there it was! It wasn't on sale, but I decided to get it anyhow. That's what I came for, so that's what I'd get.

I still had to browse for a third disc. What to get? I saw some more sale CDs, and browsed them for a minute. Lots of Pink Floyd. A Lennon disc. What, was that Roy Orbison I saw? Yes, it was. "The Very Best of Roy Orbison." Excellent! What tracks does it have? Oh. My. God. It has both "Crying" with k.d. lang AND "I Drove All Night"! I've never seen both of those on the same compilation. This is the one to get! But do I really want it?

I looked around some more. I could get a Celtic disc. Altan sounds good. Or how about Dave Matthews Band? I've been really wanting "Under The Table and Dreaming." Maybe I'll get that! But what about Roy? I'll never see it for that price again! Well, maybe it'll be here next time (I should get that phrase out of my mind for good). I should get what I *really* want. Do I want two discs by two old rockabilly guys? Ok, I'll get Dave Matthews Band. It sounds good, and it's what I want.

I had chosen my three, so I approached the cash register. The store was having a 25 percent-off sale, on everything but sale items. That would bring the price down considerably. Not to mention the fact I'd get a free disc.

The counterperson says I can have the Smashing Pumpkins for free! That's normally $23. Great! So now I just have to pay for two. "That'll be $21.90," says the counterperson.

What? That's it?? Oh. My. God. Again. I can get the Roy Orbison too!

I grab the Orbison, which was nearby, and end up getting FOUR CDs for just $32.89! (Looking at the receipt, I guess the Cash WAS on sale after all!)

This is excellent! I got all the CDs I wanted, for the normal price of two. What about the Elvis Costello? I'll get it on Amazon in a month or two.

I am so glad I decided to go today. Sometimes things work out for the best. That's certainly true of my experience today. Now I have four new discs to play, and I saved some money in the process!