A Good Day Almost Gone Bad

So I've been waiting for a new album to come out for about 2 months. It's by my favorite band and it came out today. System of a Down is the band name.

I got up bright and early and went off to school. I spent part of my time in school thinking about the CD. I'm clearly obsessed. Knowing I'd be slightly late to work and not caring, I stopped off at the nearest Target to buy it. That way I'd have time to hear several songs on my way to work. Still obsessed.

I get to the new release rack and there are two blank slots. The tags say "System of a Down - Hypnotize" but there are no CD's. I look up at the sale poster and there's the CD front picture with the Nov. 22nd release date written underneath. I frantically browse the regular section and find several more empty spaces. SOLD OUT!? ALREADY! It's 9:30am! (Of course I think they’re sold out cause everyone wants it … right? Right.)

I call over a Target associate and point to the sign... "Are they all sold out?!" The young man says, "No, we didn't get the shipment in. If UPS brings it today, it won't be until after noon."

Okay, no problem. I'm sure the Target near my work has them. So I suffer through my drive to work, without my new CD. :( Now I'm pushing 5 more minutes of being late to work. Oh well. It's SYSTEM!

I run in the "work" Target and there they are, new and shiny, waiting to be heard. Oh but what's this? A special version? With DVD footage? COOL! So I ponder a moment... "Will I really watch it? It's 5 dollars more... What the hell, it's SYSTEM!" So I grab the special 2 sided CD/DVD version and head to the register. It rang up for the regular version sale price... $9.98. Hmmm... cool indeed - good choice.

I rip it open on the way to the car, get in the car and start the engine. As I pull out the CD/DVD, I observe the label on the CD side and the DVD side, so I know which way to put it in. But I also notice it's a bit thicker than most CD's. No matter, I'm sure it'll work fine.

I push it in, and in seconds I'm hearing track 1. Brilliant! Fantastic! My heart is racing, I'm laughing manically. Good times.

I whip into the work parking lot and hit the "eject" button. ... "Err" "SHIT” I hit "CD" to play it... "Err" "SHIT SHIT!" "eject" ... "Err" "ejectejecteject" ... "Err" "NO!!!" ... breathe ... "CD" ... "Err" "Fuck."

I turn the car off and storm into work.

I try and think calmly... I'll get it out. I'll keep it for the DVD side and go buy the normal album. Crap, what if I can't get it out... then I can't even listen to the normal one in my car. Crap. No no, I'll get it out. Maybe Target will take it back even tho it is open. Maybe they'll swap it for the other... yea.

A couple of hours later I head out for lunch.

I took a paperclip with me hoping to find a reset button of sorts that may help in getting the CD out. I found the button, but it didn't help. I pushed eject and CD several more times to try and get it out and it just wouldn't come. So I gently slip the paper clip in the slot to.... I dunno... help. After a few delicate passes I hit something and POP! The CD came out. I snatched it with lightning speed so I wouldn't get pulled back in. Whew. GOOD! I was highly relieved.

Okay, step 2. Go get the normal CD and maybe not have to pay for it. So I get to Target and take in the opened one. I approach the return counter not expecting to get what I want, but proud of the try nonetheless. They were reluctant. I even said "If you can't, its okay - I just thought I'd try." I guess they didn't install their backbones this morning, cause they let me swap the CD. :D:D:D

I get back to my car... the new, normal CD is already unwrapped. I put it in and listen to the whole thing through my lunch break. And then back to my first favorite song for a good jolt of energy so I can get upstairs and put it into my work PC.

Hehehhe, it's playing for the 3rd time in a row now, quietly in the background while I work.

I'll play it over and over and over again until I know every word, every musical note and queue. And certainly until I drive Honey insane.

Obsessed you say? Yes. I freely admit it.