Serious? No, Sirius......

     As I mentioned a week ago, I deliver medical equipment.  For those of you who didn't read that blog, and in case I didn't mention it then.....I hate it.  I work long hours, I drive long distances, I have to put myself in harms way by dealing with patients who are infected with a plethora of communicable diseases, etc.  Now, I deliver all the inventory we have to offer, with a large cargo van.  Needless to say, this thing isn't loaded.  Uncomfortable seats, awkward mirrors, no cd player.  I know right.  So, shortly after I started working at Therapy Support, I purchased a Sirius radio.  Which, for those of you that don't know.  Sirius is a satellite radio service.  At the time I purchased the satellite radio receiver, there were two companies, competing against each other.  The other company being XM Radio.   My cousin had purchased his radio, about a year before I bought mine.  So, I had a good idea what receiver to get, what payment option to go with, etc.  Now, the main differences between the two rival companies at the time was.....one had Howard Stern, and one didn't.  Outside of that, you pretty much had the same programming for both the companies.  Rock channels, country channels, pop channels, etc.  I can honestly say that without that radio, I would be insane now.  About a year and a half into my service, the two companies merged, and now today there is only one satellite radio service.....SiriusXM. 

     Now again, when I originally started my service, I was an exclusive Sirius customer.  My monthly payments were around $11.00 a month.  A small price to pay for sanity.  However, there was some court settlement, to a lawsuit, I hadn't ever heard of, before the two satellite companies merged.  Apparently some of the record labels had taken the satellite companies to court, stating that they had to pay them for the rights to play their music.  So, long story short......they tacked on a couple of extra dollars a month to my membership fee.  Again, a small price to pay for sanity.  Then the merger.  And of course, since I had "Double the channels, double the satellite experience!", I also incurred more of an expense.  I think right now,  I pay around $15.00 a month for the service.  And until it hits $20.00, I will gladly pay it.  And here's why.  How many commercials do you hear on the local FM stations here in town?  How much of the local programming, is actually spent playing music?  You might get a good, solid, 20 minutes of music.....in an hour!  It's bad enough, I have to sit through endless amounts of commercials when I watch football on the weekends, I really don't care to be subjected to the same worthless jingles, and pitches when I am in my uncomfortable, worthless van.  For that reason alone, it's worth the money!  Now, how many times when you are going on a road trip, family vacation, etc.  And you are driving to your destination, you actually find an FM station that is playing music.....maybe even good music, you get to listen to it, for about 15 minutes before you get out of range of the station broadcasting it, and you are back to tapping the search button.  You never have to worry about the stations cutting out with satellite radio.  Once you find a station playing what you like, you can enjoy it for as long as your in the car. 

     I sound like a pitchman.  I know.  But if you are stuck in a vehicle all day long, that doesn't have any sort of output jack, or cd player.....man, does it make a difference.  The radio situation at work, is by far one of the best perks of the job.  So, if you are having a crappy day, and you are in your car on your way to work, school, whatever.  And you look over and see a guy in a big white van, with the music turned up loud, singing with it......just know, that it probably won't be long until he reaches his destination, and then he'll be having as bad a day as you are.