Friday, November 13, 2009

As Fancy As Proust

Back in the day, questionnaires like this one were popular party games. Proust himself participated in this “game” on two separate occasions and his answers were eventually published in Andre Maurois's Proust: Portrait of a Genius. Vanity Fair magazine uses it as it’s monthly interview questions. Faiqa recently published her answers and I’m copying her – her post, not her answers.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
No worries
What is your greatest fear?
Being without any family.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Impatience AND Judgmental
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Being inconsiderate of others AND laziness/apathy
Which living person do you most admire?
I’m never able to answer this question. I don’t know. There are different qualities that I admire in different individuals and qualities that I don’t admire in those same individuals. There isn’t any one person who I look up to as the person I want to be. I think that’s a good thing.
What is your greatest extravagance?
My housekeeper
What is your current state of mind?
overloaded
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
I don’t know. I think you can make a pretty strong case for most of them.
On what occasion do you lie?
As much as possible Some white lies that might help me or someone else, but that never hurt others (at least I don’t think I do)
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The shorter answer would be to “What do you like about your appearance?”
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Considerate/Sense of Humor
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Considerate/Sense of Humor
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
”Ya know”, “Oh My God!”, “Are you serious?”, “I know!”
Which talent would you most like to have?
musical, languages
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
My dog – she has such a good life
Where would you most like to live?
Looking at water
What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t think I have one.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Going through escrow
What is your favorite occupation?
I don’t know if this means my favorite of my occupations or just any occupation…I’ve been reading a book about Frank Lloyd Wright and I think architecture seems pretty neat – merging of art and science. I’d also have to say a job where international travel is required.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Hard working
What do you most value in your friends?
fun and reliability
Who are your favorite writers?
Marian Keyes, Roddy Doyle, Nick Hornby
Who is your hero of fiction?
Liesel Meminger – The Book Thief
What is it that you most dislike?
Mayo and being photographed
What is your greatest regret?
That I didn’t live out of the country before I had responsibilities like a job and a mortgage
How would you like to die?
In my sleep – fine one day, dead the next
What is your motto?
From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere. - Dr. Seuss

I tag everyone to play along!

8 comments:

  1. Oh boy! I love learning more about my blogging friends. I will have to tackle this meme soon...once I get caught up on so many events still on the back burner...but I'll do it!

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  2. What a cool questionnaire! I'm going to play too. I'm thinking of taking my time with each question and figure out a way to tie it into teaching preschool!

    I hope you don't mind if I steal your introduction too. I didn't know this about Proust or the parlor games.

    You're a cool person and great teacher. Your students are so lucky to have you.

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  3. You know yourself well, almost as well as I know you.

    And I will play along, too. This questionnaire is much more meaningful than many of the ones that have gone around in the past.

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  4. Such a perfect portrayal of you!
    I'm in...

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  5. P.S. Are you liking Loving Frank??

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  6. This is a good one! I hate being photographed too! Big time.

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  7. I loved this. It was so interesting. You are so interesting. If I took your picture I would make you look lovely! I would make your eyes and smile sparkle! Oh, wait, they already do that : ). Here is a tip if someone tries to take your picture again and you are not in the mood! Tell them to climb up on a chair. Then you get directly underneat their lense and look up. You will look good. Trust me, even I look ok like that. Now straight on? That is a whole different situation! I was at a workshop in Dallas last week and lots of people took my picture. It was beyond sickening. And then they would put them on facebook and tag me. Shoot me now. I am revolting. You look pretty to me : )

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  8. Good for you for having a housekeeper.

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