Goodbye Borders, I'll Miss You-- Part 1

It was one of my favorite stores to spend time browsing in and a very nice one to teachers. Twice a year, they would have weekends where teachers got a 25% discount on everything. As a teacher, I appreciated a corporation saying thanks to my efforts.

I especially liked their bargain books which had some really great coffee table type books for music and history. Plus, ever since Woolworth's left us, I have been getting my journals from Borders. I've been keeping a journal since 1978 and used to use Woolworth's Daily Aide Journals.

Then, there was their excellent local sections and all those Acadia books as well as a big history one. And, before the demise of CDs, they had a very deep and eclectic collection along with listening posts, very important when getting a group you're not familiar with.

I was saddened to learn at the beginning of the year that Borders was closing my McHenry store in March. I had spent many hours in that store.

No More From There For Me. --RoadDog


GROANERS: How do crazy people go through the forest? They take the psycho path.

End of An Era for Me: Goodbye CDs

Last week, I was at the Super K-Mart in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, checking out their plants and electronics.

They are completely remodeling their electronics section. It was still a mess, but I did not see where they were going to sell CDs anywhere, other than a mini-section. Maybe there will be a bigger section so I'll have to go back, but, I know CDs are on their way out in this new down-load-it age.

My old record/CD club folded and was taken over by the Your Music site, which featured CDs for $6.99 (including p&h), a huge improvement over the clubs where you paid almost as much for shipping and handling as the CD.

I found out two months ago that they were closing down at the end of June.

I held out as long as I could against CDs, but had to come over once they stopped making LP albums. However, I came to really like the convenience of CDs like getting all the songs on one side as well as remote control and being able to skip around without lifting the tone arm.

I remember WXRT having an April Fool's bit back in the '90s about them finding that CDs deteriorate after a certain time which alarmed me until I remembered what day it was.

At my age, I guess when the last CD goes by, that will also be the last new music I buy as well. Oh well, I have plenty of old albums, cassettes and CDs to listen to to keep me occupied.

I Guess the Real April Fool's Trick Is About to Happen. --RoadDog


CRYING IN MY BEER.

My Last "Brick" of Cassettes?

I may have bought my last brick of ten cassettes at the Fox Lake Walgreen's today for $7.99. Yesterday I saw the Walgreen's in Antioch had bricks of five cassettes for $7.99. The Fox Lake and Spring Grove Walgreen stores also had the five brick packs for $7.99.

I'm not going to pay that price! Fortunately, I have been stock piling cassettes and probably have a year to go before I run out. At that time, I will be "forced" to start downloading and buying that stuff. I wonder if I'll be able to record off the radio which is what I mainly do now?

I stay with something until I can no longer get it or it becomes too expensive.

I knew this day was coming.

Soon, that will happen to my CDs as well.

I am really getting tired of people taking things I like away from me.

Thanks a Lot You Downloaders!! --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: Ever notice that the people who tell you to calm down are the ones that got you mad in the first place?