I’m not a video game person. I never managed to save Princess Toadstool on Super Mario Brothers 1, and I can’t name the latest video game systems, because I’m still not over how cool the graphics of Donkey Kong Country (for Super Nintendo - holla!) are.
So I couldn’t believe that I bluffed my way into a focus group on video games a few months ago. First, I got a phone call and had to answer questions. I told the woman on the phone that I love the Wii. I had just learned to pronounce it the right way a few days earlier and had heard somewhere that there was a boxing game. The only thing I didn’t lie about was my predilection for computer solitaire. That was true…back in middle school.
At the actual focus group, I stuck out like a sore thumb - a sore, uncoordinated non-video game playing thumb. For starters, I was the only girl without a moustache. And then I repeatedly had to get help to test some sample games that were installed on cell phones. How was I supposed to figure out those things? I don’t even use text messaging. When asked what I didn’t like about one of the brain teaser games I played, I replied, “This game calls itself a mnemonics game, but it doesn’t even use mnemonics!” I’m amazed I got $100 for so blatantly lying.
So tomorrow I’m at it again, but this time for body wash. Phew. Though I’m no bath product connoisseur, I can extol the virtues of exfoliating microbeads and cream-based formulas much more convincingly. For $75, I’ll even hit up the bath aisle of Rite Aid for some more focused fodder.



