The Lubbock Avalanche Journal

I have long been a subscriber to the Lubbock Avalanche Journal http://lubbockonline.com/.  I remember when there was the Lubbock Avalanche (where would there be an avalanche in Lubbock?) and the Lubbock Journal, and there was a morning edition and an evening edition. Sometimes I got one, sometimes I got both. When Lisenby and I were together, we got both. One of the endearing charms he had was to read the newspaper, and he read it front and back, more intensely than I did then or do now: I read headlines, and what stores that interest me.

I have not always been a subscriber, but I dare say that I have been a subscriber more years than not since I have lived in Lubbock. 

Over the years, when I have talked about local community activities and events, people have wondered how I know about these.  That is a large part of why I read the newspaper.  I do not read the newspaper for state, national or international news.  And, as I have been at local events, and my interpretation of such events was very different than the newspaper story, I do not rely on the newspaper for reports of local events.  But, I have used it for schedules and announcements. 

Until the last couple of years.  More and more increasingly, the reporting of local activities and events has been incorrect.  So, I have had to double check information on line, with independent sources, including web sites for the activities, sporting events, and TV listings.

But, I continued to subscribe to the local newspaper.  I enjoy doing the crossword, word jumble and sudoku.  I use the newspaper for "mats" under the 3 cat litter pans, and food dishes.  But I have struggled with myself in regards to whether or not I was getting my money's worth.

I received the renewal invoice for the newspaper this week.  Last year, I paid $133 for a year's subscription. I thought long and hard about paying that amount, which was about $17 more than the few years previous.  But the invoice, this year, is $180.  Almost $50 more.

I have thought long and hard again about paying that amount.  I had thought to pay the same amount as for last year, and see how long the subscription would last.  Tonight, at a confluence of mystery reading buddies, we discussed this. One of the members said his invoice had last year's amount, so when he called in to renew, and they tried to charge him the new amount, he held fast at the old amount, and they agreed to that.

I am not sure what I am going to do. But, I know I am not going to pay $180 for a year's subscription.

And, I am hatching a plan for mats under the cat pans and cat food dishes.