Sometimes, when driving, I notice that there is nothing good on the radio--no matter how many stations I scroll through. Usually, this musical anemia corresponds with my mood. If I am pissy, there will be no good songs--I can guarantee a wasteland of commercials and musac. On the other hand, if I am in a good mood, every station promises a potential jewel of a tune. From disco to country ballads, every song hits the spot. I drive along, bouncing to "I'm Walking On Sunshine" or "You Give Love a Bad Name." This song barometer theory is not new; it merely extends the principle that when you are going through a break-up, you will only hear songs about broken hearts. Especially if you listen to country.

However, what is noteworthy about the song/mood correlation (that I discovered the other day while listening to the radio) is how my expectations and my mood relate; how they reinforce one another; how together, my mood and expectations frame the window through which I see reality. Let me explain. [To read more, click here....]