1D

"Say something random about yourself." 

That was the obligatory prompt given at a social event* earlier this week with friends comprised of the old and new. It's a harmless statement loaded with the potential to induce laughter, shock, or uncomfortable awkwardness. My response to such a command sometimes elicits a range of anxieties from having to quickly sort through a lengthy list of random quirks, preferences, and experiences to then choosing the appropriate one to share. 

I have already forgotten the specifics of what I shared that evening. Translation: it was an innocuous piece of info. I more clearly remember the things that I did NOT share. As it happens, one of those self-banned things was revealed in a gem of a conversation with a colleague in the pursuant days. And since I have not written on this blog for some time, I have decided to share it here... 

Yesterday, as I was working on experiments, a colleague asked about a particular experiment. I eagerly told him the interesting results and he replied, "Ah. That must be why you have been so focused this week. I figured you were busy because of your earphones." He was mostly right. You see, in a lab setting the Kong lab kingdom, earphones are equivalent to Lebron working out in beast mode while using Beats by Dre. It means "I am serious." 

My colleague's acute observation of my experiment heavy schedule was no doubt cued by my bustling activity, but the primary sign were the earphones I wore while loading a gel, setting up for qPCR, culturing cells in the tissue culture hood, etc. Unbeknownst to him and everyone else in the world, I had another reason for wearing my earphones. I smiled at his comment and replied, "Yes, I have been intense this week. But I have another embarrassing reason. [unintentional dramatic pause] I am a fan of One Direction. Their new album came out this week and I've been listening to it [nonstop]." 

I realize that whatever credit I may think I have when it comes to selecting music for family gatherings is now in the negative. I am also fully aware that their lyrics make no sense! Colbert has already expertly analyzed the groups first hit single "What Makes You Beautiful."

http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/463515-one-direction

The fourth album continues with failed logic**, BUT the songs are catchy. I make no apologies for the girly fan girl within. 

So to conclude this post, I plead with those who thought my musical tastes were without fault to overlook this random partiality that I have for this group. These guys make me smile as much as BSB***. 

*family home evening


**In the song "Steal my girl", the chorus of boys sing, "Couple billion in the whole wide world/ Find another one cause she belongs to me." Oh boys. That kind of math is unacceptable.

***Backstreet Boys