I participated in ANOTHER music focus group last night, so basically if you're coming to the DC metropolitan area in the near future, you'll be listening to what I like to listen to. "And all was right with the world."

It was a dial focus group where they played long sessions of 8 seconds of different songs right after each other and you turn the dial between 0 (lowest) and 100 (highest) depending on how much you loathe/love the song. Now, in my opinion, a ratings system is of no use without a very top and very bottom standard. Luckily I established them pretty early. At the first hint of Belinda Carlisle, I turned that sucker up to 100 because heaven IS a place on earth. I knew even before the session started what my definition of 0 was and sure enough, not 5 minutes into it, that freaking "I hope you dance" song came on. Not to sound like too much of a NC hick, but i turned the dial down to 0 right quick. From then on, it was a pretty good mix of crap and enjoyable song snippets. Anything by Madonna started out with an automatic 60, while pre-1995 Bon Jovi hits landed in the 90-100 range. Conversely, anything by Dave Matthews Band or Hootie was relegated to the below 20 group, if not 10. (Before anyone starts getting all uppity, it was all pop music so these were my only options)

Want to hear a deep, dark confession? When they played "When I see you smile" by the fine folks of Bad English I laughed out loud and shamefacedly turned the notch to 90! What can I say? It's a nostalgic fave from my formative years. Which reminds me of an interesting, if not lame, dilemma. I was in the car the other day and was faced with having to choose between "When I see you smile" and "Patience." I was in a pickle! It was like Sophie's Choice. I ultimately went with Patience because I always did like how Axl did the snake move. And I like to whistle along.

Before the focus group, I stopped into Anthropologie (what? It was nearby and I was early!! Stop judging me.) and was faced with a most unfamiliar feeling. I had absolutely no desire to buy anything. ANYTHING. AT ANTHROPOLOGIE! That's like going to a goat cheese store and not wanting any of their goat cheese (see last blog). This could be serious. I think I need a doctor. Oh wait, Emma's coming up this weekend. She's close enough.