1. Who was your FIRST prom date? 

Okay, um, this is awkward and I SWEAR I'm not a redneck, but...my brother.  Explanation: for my senior prom, I didn't have a boyfriend and I'd spent that year outside of Madison (which is where I went to high school and my family has sort of settled).  I came back in time to go to prom, though, and went with a bunch of friends.  Then, my brother (who is two years younger) was all set to go to prom, until he found out that his girlfriend of the past three years was cheating on him the Thursday before the big day.  He had two tickets and a reservation to a restaurant and a hotel room; I would be coming back into town that Saturday.  I felt bad for the poor guy, so I told him that if he was cool with it, I was willing to go in her stead.  So...I packed along my OLD prom dress, flew into town, went out to dinner with him and his friends, hung out at the dance for a little bit, bought a bunch of booze with my fake ID (that I didn't have to use in Canada for the record!), and threw a party in said hotel room for said brother and friends.  It ended up being a blast.  So that's how I went to prom with my brother. 

2. Who was your FIRST love and do you still talk with him/her?  

His name was Andrew, and we no longer talk--it was in 4th grade, and we got caught kissing behind this shed on our school's playground.  Since this was another foreign service brat, he moved a year after that and we haven't spoken since--I have no idea where he is or what he's doing, and I don't remember his last name so Facebook stalking is out.

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? 

A tiny sip of my dad's beer when I was five.  It was gross, at the time.

4. What was your FIRST job?

I worked at this sweet cafe in Beirut, starting when I was 14.  I made coffee, filled water pipes, flirted with the chefs who were dirty not-so-old (early twenties and late teens) men, and ran food to tables.  It was pretty awesome.

5. What was your FIRST car?

I have never owned a car; sometimes it'd be nice to have one, but given that everywhere I've lived has had great public transport and is pedestrian and bike-friendly, I've never really needed one enough to justify the considerable expense.

6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?

My best friend texted me at 1 AM to tell me that 2girls1cup is as gross as everyone says it is.  Thanks, Nadi.  I really needed to know that.  

7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning? 

Nadia (said best friend)--because I got her text.

8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?

This sweet old lady named Ms. Rubin.  She was a great teacher, and the only thing I remember is that her husband passed away from brain cancer a few years later.  

9. When and where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?  

Oh, god.  Probably Puerto Rico, where my dad's family is from.  

10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk? 

Many people have best friends; I have someone I can only describe as an adopted sister.  My first, last, and only best friend is Nadia.  We met in second grade when her family was working for the Iraqi foreign service and our families were both posted in Algeria, and our families worked to try to be in the same place as much as possible, as our parents were friends, too.  When the war started, we sponsored them and helped them stay in the U.S.; she stayed with us for a year while her parents were taking care of business in Iraq and the States.  We didn't always live in the same country, and being reunited with her is probably my favorite thing about moving stateside again--we're in the same PhD program, and are moving in together later this month.  She is vivacious, smart as a whip (intimidatingly so), hilarious, generous, and kind to everyone.  She is pretty much the most awesome person in the whole world, and her hugs will make any emotional boo-boo shrivel up and run away.

This is us in Lincoln Park in Chicago, circa 2003.  Isn't she gorgeous??  Look at that beautiful smile.  I love you, Nadi-poo.  

11. Where was your FIRST sleepover? 

Probably, again, Nadia's house.

12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?  

Does my cat count?  No?  Okay, then, my dad--I'm staying with my parents until lease with ex-boyfriend is over and lease with Nadi begins. 

13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time? 

My high school classmate's--it was weird, we're all standing there like, "shit, someone our age is getting married.  Fuck, we're old."

14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? 

Hit snooze.  Three times.

15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to? 

My mom loves Tori Amos, and we saw her together when I was...too young to stay up late enough for a Tori Amos concert.

16. FIRST tattoo? 

My ex-boyfriend's name on my right butt cheek.  Kidding!  No ink, yet, but I've got a few in mind and am not inherently opposed.

17. FIRST piercing? 

Ears, as usual.

18. FIRST foreign country you've been to?

The Dominican Republic; as I said above, my dad's from Puerto Rico and when we visited family as a toddler we'd go there for a weekend sometimes.

20. FIRST Detention you had?

No detentions.

 21. What was the FIRST state you lived in?

Wisconsin--born, not raised, and educated here.  The rest of Wisconsin is pretty meh-tastic, but Madison fucking rocks.

22. If you had three wishes, what would the FIRST one be?

More wishes, of course! 

23. What is the FIRST thing you would learn if you had the chance?

How to solve world hunger; or, the exact length of time that constitutes "two shakes of a lamb's tail."