Earlier today, I hopped in my '96 Jeep Grand Cheroke to purchase some extra cans of spray-on popcorn ceiling texture paint (2 square feet costs $10!). The minute I opened the door, I knew something was wrong. My between-the-seat glove compartment was open. There was a roll of packing tape on the driver's seat. The sunglass compartment (is that what you call it?) was hanging open just overtop of the front seats. My checkbook (yes, I left my checkbook in my unlocked car) was in plain view, wedged underneath the emergency brake. I immediately knew someone had broken in - the 10 or so quarters in my storage tray were taken. Also missing - my iPod car cigarette lighter car charger but not the tape adapter or cell phone charger. Odd.

Maine is a safe place. The local news is usually litered w/ stories of petty crime and boring stories about the local town fair. It has the lowest cost for car insurance in the US. I think we pay something like $260/ year for the Jeep. Oh yeah and apparently people up here have average taste in music as you'll soon discover.

Back to the story. I panicked. What was stolen? Did they steal anything of value? My Jeep is always a mess. There is always a hodgepodge of "stuff" to rumage through on any given night. Bath Bath and Beyond 20% coupons, demolition gloves, an Angels & Airwaves hoodie, an LL Bean messenger bag (with still about $1.50 in change still in the pocket) containg my lesson plan book (who wouldn't want my lesson plans???). There were bags of returns to various chain stores in the back, untouched. My wife's check book was torn from it's case (yes, my wife also left her checkbook in the unlocked car), but her checks also were still in tact, soaking wet, lying outside the car door near the cover, drenched from last night's downpour. Then, I realized, - MY CDs!!!

How many horror stories have you heard, of people having tens and tens of CDs stolen from their car? If you haven't, I've heard of enough for the both of us. I have a CD visor (yes, I'm still stuck in 1994 apparently) w/ roughly 15 discs of authentic, non-burned full length albums. My factory model CD player is extremely tempermental in deciding what it wants to play w/o skipping. Regardless, I'm often a little to lazy to bring the iPod into the car, hook it up and choose something to play, hence why I have a stash of discs to play. Murray Street was in the player at the time. That was safe. I looked at my visor. Guess they didn't want? Johnny Marr & the Healers. Our theiving frined isn't a fan of Mogwai I guess. I'll agree Some Loud Thunder is sort of unlistenable. Suede Dog Man Star? Still there. I'll be able to play The Weakerthans again someday. J Mascis & The Fog must not be too popular north of the Boston city limits. I went through all of the CDs and they were all still hanging out. Not a single one touched. Even my Beyonce album was there. Relieved, I vowed to never again to think "Oh, I don't have to lock my car doors at my house, I'm in Maine for crying out loud." Never again.