Have you ever watched Vogue’s 73 Questions videos? An anonymous interviewer whose face we never see shows up at the door of a celebrity’s house, knocks, and when invited in, follows them around as they make coffee or pet their cat or walk around their pool, asking them questions the whole time. I’ve always enjoyed watching them, seeing the amazing houses these people live in, and hearing their fun answers and quips in response to the rapid-fire interview questions.

Recently, a content creator I follow did her own little pretend version of it, and I thought, well that sounds fun! But if this was a video version, the interviewer would only get through seven questions before we would have already traversed my whole tiny apartment, twice. Also, videos are not my thing and I get awkward in front of a camera, so you’re getting this in my own favorite format: the humble written word.

Without further ado:

1. Favorite time of day?

Dusk, just after the sun has set. First the sunset colors turn darker and more vibrant, then the sky turns a purply dark blue, and the lights on my Verrazano Bridge come on (yes, the bridge is my personal property, thank you), and everything is moody and mysterious.

2. Biggest weakness?

I get easily bored with life. I’m not good at enjoying steadiness.

3. Biggest strength?

I am good at seeing beautiful things in un-beautiful places.

4. What is your favorite quote?

“Remember, when you write, shoot for the moon, so even if you’ll miss you’ll continue into the cold, unending nothingness of space between the stars, utterly, utterly alone in a featureless black void for the rest of eternity, which is what you and your Art deserves.” Lol

I also love this one by Jonathan Safran Foer: “Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I’m not living.”

5. What makes you angry?

Injustice.

6. A vice you wish you could give up?

Biting my nails. I know, I know.

7. What are you most excited about these days?

I’m sad about moving out of Bay Ridge when I get married because I really love it here, but I am also really looking forward to trying out the Long Island wife life, and to seeing more trees every day.

8. Best compliment you’ve ever received?

Many, many years ago, someone told me, “You look like God intended a woman to look.” I’ve never forgotten that.

9. When are you most inspired?

When I’m up later than I should be. Alas.

10. Sweet or savory?

Yes.

11. Something that makes you smile?

Receiving pictures and videos of my tiny nieces and nephews who live a million miles away.

12. Something people don’t know about you?

As a little girl, I dreamed of being a midwife when I grew up.

13. When do you feel most like yourself?

When I’m writing some dumb little diatribe about something that doesn’t matter. I have so much fun pumping out stupid things like my recent poem “A Pox on Tuesdays”.

14. 3 things you can’t live without?

Coffee, alone time, and books.

15. Window seat or aisle seat?

Aisle. Used to be window, then I discovered I can stretch my legs in an aisle seat.

16. Favorite book character?

Puddleglum from The Silver Chair is one of my favorites. What a delightfully gloomy person. I also really love Mr Knightly from Emma, because anybody that could handle that tempestuous lass with such aplomb is someone I would like to know.

17. Leather or lace?

Lace.

18. Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Probably moving to Illinois where I knew exactly one person, to teach school in the middle of a cornfield. Moving to NYC was technically more adventurous, but Illinois was the first time I spread my wings in such a way, and it was fairly terrifying and a whole lot of fun.

19. Describe yourself in 3 words?

Dependable, adventurous, tired.

20. Favorite piece of clothing that you own?

My slip-on white leather sneakers. I will probably cry when they wear out.

21. What’s inspiring you right now?

Having a little more brain space with my recent new job position in finance has been very inspiring.

22. A good piece of advice you’ve received?

Men will always let you down, so keep your eyes on God.

23. Diamonds or pearls?

Both, but pearls if I had to choose. Or diamonds. Or pearls. I don’t know!

24. First thing you notice about people?

Maybe mouths and teeth, especially crooked ones. Or outfits.

25. Something you regret?

How closed-minded and judgmental I was as a young thing.

26. Music you’re currently listening to?

I listen to a lot more podcasts and audiobooks than music, which is odd given how much I sing. Currently listening to Bindle, the audiobook on Librivox.

27. Favorite card game?

Dutch Blitz. Also a big fan of Poetry for Neanderthals, because what’s better than a card game in which you get to whack people over the head with an inflatable stick?

28. Favorite place to be?

At a well-set dinner table in my home with good friends, with the kind of conversations where bedtime is completely forgotten.

29. What makes you feel most accomplished?

A clean house, or a well-written essay.

30. How do you start your day?

Roll out of bed, start coffee, get ready for work while listening to an audio Bible, then sit and drink my coffee till I have to leave to catch my train.

31. Favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving. Although the last few years I have loved Easter.

32. Looks or brains?

Brains, silly.

33. Who would you like to switch lives with?

Someone very accomplished who isn’t constantly plagued by self-doubt. Hah.

34. One thing you’ve always wanted to try?

I really want to snorkel in a proper coral reef, and to ride a hot air balloon. I know, that’s two.

35. Most recent purchase?

A few dresses for the honeymoon, and one for my rehearsal dinner which did not fit me at all. Lovely. Anybody need a beautiful white dress?

36. Something you wish you knew at 19?

I don’t know, I think I was doing pretty well at 19, considering the life I had just lived the previous few years.

37. What do you always carry with you?

I have a mom purse, so a little bit of everything. Pens and tums and pain pills and pads and mints and lint rollers and chapstick and a mirror and my airpods… like I said, mom purse.

38. If you didn’t live in NYC, where would you live?

Maybe Annecy, maybe northern California, maybe North Carolina, maybe London, who knows?

39. Do you have a degree?

I do not. I have always been interested in too many things to pick just one to study. But if I did go back to school, it would probably be for writing, or possibly for pharmaceuticals, with a side of music.

40. Best vacation you’ve ever been on?

A week in Paris with my bestie. It was my first time to Europe, and nothing will ever be more magical than that trip was. Just the two of us, lounging in parks and exploring crooked streets and eating to our hearts’ content.

41. A city you’ve always wanted to travel to?

I’ve been fortunate enough to check off my top travel wishes in the last few years, and now I have to decide what to see next. I’m dying to go back to Oxford, and I also really want to explore San Antonio, Texas.

42. Something you never travel without?

My water bottle. Ain’t nobody got time for $8 airport water.

43. Favorite food?

Birria tacos.

44. Favorite snack?

Popcorn and double stuff Oreos. Not necessarily together, although I wouldn’t be mad about that.

45. A movie that makes you cry?

All of them. I’m a weeper.

46. Are you confrontational?

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha no.

47. A talent you always wish you had?

I wish I could really sing. I have good pitch and I can sing backup just fine, if you can actually manage to hear me, but I wish I actually had powerful pipes. Same with playing piano.

48. An exercise you enjoy?

Dancing.

49. An artist you love listening to?

Just recently got into Ben Rector, which is fun.

50. Do you wish you had any superpowers?

Yes, I want to teleport so I could just casually go to Paris for lunch, or home to see my family for a Saturday afternoon.

51. What’s something you don’t want to be doing in 10 years?

Sitting for 12 hours a day.

52. What’s the cutest thing on earth?

Chuckling babies.

53. Best thing that’s happened this year (so far?)

I mean, it’s hard to beat someone asking you to marry them.

54. Favorite cocktail (or mocktail?)

Give me anything with passionfruit and I will be a happy camper. I could drink my weight in passionfruit juice.

55. A movie that makes you laugh?

Please don’t judge me, but Austenland. “Tally ho, a hunting we will go!”

56. What’s usually for dinner?

A salad with all sorts of random bits and bobs thrown on it, or some kind of “girl dinner”.

57. Do you believe in second chances?

Certainly.

58. What’s your ideal vacation?

Exploring a new city in a foreign country, with lots of stops at all the bakeries and restaurants, and a few picnics in the most desirable parks.

59. What’s your favorite thing?

My bed.

60. What’s one thing you love a lot?

Striped linen duvets.

61. Favorite color?

Rose.

62. A color you wear most often?

Blue.

63. Describe living in Brooklyn in 3 words

Inconvenient, beautiful, interesting.

64. Do you like surprises?

Only if I don’t have any idea they’re coming. If I catch wind of them, please just tell me what’s happening because I will get anxious about it otherwise.

65. Vintage or new?

Vintage.

66. Something you’re tired of?

Oatmeal, but will I still eat it every morning for breakfast? Probably.

67. Who do you turn to when you’re sad?

Ian.

68. A trend you’d like to see disappear forever?

Huge, shapeless, ugly, brown tee shirts and blocky dad sneakers on all the youths. I enjoy a well styled oversized piece, but when everything is just huge and sloppy, no thanks.

69. Least favorite food?

Steamers. (shudder)

70. It’s 4:00pm on a random Saturday, what are you doing?

Probably still finishing my laundry, since it’s my one day of the week to do my housework and also to sleep in.

71. Ideal date?

Something involving a long stroll in nice weather, maybe an art museum or a concert, and something nice to eat.

72. What lipstick do you use?

Burt’s Bees tinted chapsticks are my absolute fave. I think my go-to is the zinnia color.

73. What are you doing tomorrow?

I’ll spend the day at work, and the evening in choir rehearsal.

And that’s it! Why don’t you drop your answer to your favorite question (or five) of the batch in the comments?