Record stores, mixtapes, and one nerd.

Empire Records and High Fidelity are in my top five movies of all time. Those movies planted a idea in my head and heart, that working in a record store would be the best job in the world. Now the three to four people who are reading this probably think I'm crazy. But think about it, you're surrounded by music, you listen to music (in the background I know.), and you get to talk about music. (Which will lead to discovering new music.)

It is a win-win in my book. When I told my birth dad I wanted to work in a record store like the characters in Empire Records. He wanted to remind me that they didn't have these action packed days of a shoplifter named Warren Beatty coming in the store. Me being the young punk that I am, "I know that. I just want to being around music." I snapped back.

For the music lover, the ultimate dream is work in a record store. You imagine using your music knowledge to impress anyone who will listen. You dream of pulling a Rob Gordon move of selling five copies of "The Three Eps" by The Beta Band. (Yea, I have fallen for that trick on a few occasions. Hey, it's how I discovered Death Cab For Cutie and Coconut Records. Don't judge me.) Every music lover at one point dreams of working at a record store.

While the reality may not be as cool as the movies, I don't care. I still want to work in a record store.

What plugged in the headphones? The XX-"Stars" from the album "XX" (2009)