When I was a little girl, my first glimpses into the heart of my Mama showed me a woman who, after being blessed with all those God given talents that mothers seem to be naturally born with (the ability to heal with a kiss, to bring tears with only an expression of disappointment and to Just KNOW... ), was completely absorbed in whatever book she happened to have in her hand at any given time. This was a woman who loved to read and, it wouldn't be too long before I would find my own heart just as enchanted by the books that I crossed paths with.

As time passed and Mama began to drift from reading toward listening to audio books, I would, once again, experiment with her choice of entertainment. This time, though, I most assuredly crave the reading experience over the listening. Still, there are those times when a good audio book is the perfect cure for some particularly tedious regimen. When I'm too busy using my hands for trivial chores like driving, cooking, cleaning or any of the other miscellaneous tasks that make up a day to make my peace with the latest bestseller list, I CAN listen. Audio books are an excellent option for those times when you simply can't take the time to sit down, relax and READ.

Since I currently have a position that provides plenty of time for "listening", I was lured into purchasing a Craig Personal Stereo CD Player with Headphones by the three day Thanksgiving sale at CVS. A very affordable $8.88 was enough reason to buy the player, but what really forced my hand was the color choice. Dark Red or Dark Blue. I'm a person who loves to brighten up the most pragmatic and conservative areas of my life with whatever I can utilize to do so. I bought the red one and, yes, it's a lot less ho-hum than the plain old black or silver I'm most familiar with in electronics.

My first use of this player taught me that I didn't have the BEST of the BEST in Personal CD Players. There were a couple of times when the CD skipped and I had to move the little player to a more leveled position to keep it playing. The volume, although adequate, isn't necessarily what it might be with a more expensive player. And, yes, I admit that this player is devoid of all the bells and whistles many portable models offer. Still, I'm impressed.

For less than $10, I can listen to books or music anywhere, anytime and without disturbing anyone else. The headphones surpass any expectations I might have had for them. They're comfortable beyond belief and, unlike some headphones I've had experiences with, they provide ample coverage of my ear to keep other noises from interrupting my listening experience. Plus, they're adjustable and light enough to almost feel as unobtrusive as a barrette or comb. And, yep... they're RED, too!!!

The Craig Personal Stereo CD Player with Headphones comes with a nice little instruction manual which tells you just how to introduce the 2 AA batteries (not included in the $8.88) into your player and insert the CD, plus a listing of the small assortment of buttons on the front. Skip Up, Skip Down, Mode, Digital Display Panel, Program, Stop, Play/Pause. Included in the instruction manual are directions for troubleshooting, maintaining and caring for your player, and for programming the player for repeat playback and memory. The player is CD-R/CD-RW compatible. Too, there is a mention of the side volume control, headphone jack and DC jack. The player doesn't have a AC adapter, but does give the essential connector requirements for those who might wish to purchase one. I don't.

Would I buy this CD Player again? Well, YES. It's a great player for the small amount I paid for it. If you're interested in a sound player that provides decent sound, without splurging, this is the perfect choice. Also, if you're looking for a inexpensive player to take with you when hiking or working and want something you won't need to worry about dropping or repairing in the event that you do drop it, this is a great choice. The CD probably cost more than the player. It's just enough without being too much, in most every way.

And, what I'm currently listening to besides Nickelback? It's getting close to Christmas... The Chronicles of NARNIA!!! And, YES - Mama listened to these first. :)

Thanks for Reading
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