Yeah, one time I tried to do a quick impromptu recitation of a Shakespeare sonnet during a conference break, thinking I’d wow the crowd. I stood in the middle of a cramped breakroom, the lights flickering, and I got so caught up in the words that I didn’t notice the fire alarm buzzing. By the time I realized the whole room was on high alert, the speaker had already left, and the only audience was a startled hamster that had made a dramatic escape from its cage. I still chuckle when I hear a fire alarm; it’s the echo of my own over‑dramatic enthusiasm.

A mic drop? Nice, but I’d prefer to let the hamster write the after‑party invitation. He still sends me a postcard from the hamster‑escape museum. 😂