I've noticed something over the past few years that most people have turned in their stale radios for ever inventive MP3 players, including most recently myself. I tried to stave off technology, fearing change as if it was a dreaded disease. I was always thinking, if it was good enough for my favorite radio DJ's then, it must be good enough for me.

One day, when the Immigrant Song came blaring over the radio for the ten thousandth time that morning, I went begging to my wife for her hand me down MP3 player, not knowing it would afterward send me into a flurry of shopping for MP3 accessories. This gave me the idea of coming up with a small shopping list.

The first thing needed is a case. They can be found in glorious splendor from silver and black to my daughter's favorite purple. I opted for MP3 accessories in the really cute orange, pink and green geometric patterned safety case and as an afterthought grabbed a pink one, it didn't hurt it benefitted breast cancer as well.

Next you need a clip so that your MP3 player won't slip away into the void of your pants, jackets, unmentionables, etc. You can go with the obvious belt clip, thinking to emulate your local handyman with his ever ready hammer, only your hammer would be belting out "Can't touch this."

Armbands are also one of the accessories that allow you to include your Blackberry, I Phone or Taser along with your MP3 player for Clint Eastwood ease in handling. These really come in handy for the jogger or exercise type. I wear one while mowing the yard. Mainly because I don't have to worry about brush knocking my MP3 player to the ground.

I have in fact become so attached to my player that I have opted for one of what I thought were unnecessary MP3 accessories, docking stations. I have one beside my bed so I can listen to every STYX song before I go to sleep. I also have one in the shower so I can sing Journey to my heart's desire as if I was a cast member of GLEE.

The most versatile of MP3 accessories may be ear buds and headphones. Some prefer not to have things sticking into their ear canal while others are perfectly fine with it. Some of the preference is related to sound quality. If you don't mind looking like Princess Lea you can opt for a huge set of headphones and typically they sound nice and are very durable. For the exercise buff and the person trying to put one over on their boss, ear buds are recommended.

The best accessory of all is the user. They are the ones that load their choice of music, play it at ear bursting decimals and listen to the masses. It really doesn't matter what you are listening to, as long as you are listening to something. Anything else would be just beastly.