Proust Questionnaire

I've known Ahnika for awhile, since we went to the same church and high school way back when. She's a blonde beach babe with a pension for cooking delicious foods and being really hilarious. And can I just stress the adorableness of her married life? Just look at her blog, Living With Mr. Johnson for further proof.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Dog sledding to different wineries for tastings… cheese provided.

What is your greatest fear?
Owning a small dog.

Which living person do you most admire?
Probably Cassie Koop.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Quick temper: my mom told me to say that I mostly do this with family (surprise).

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Greed, elitism.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Food. Eating out. Wine.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Shorn legs.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I want to say my height simply because I look like a monster when I wear heels.

Which living person do you most despise?
Nancy Pelosi. Just kidding… but her face freaks me out.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Excuse you,” “always,” “negative,” “I’m gassy,” “stupid”

What is your greatest regret?
Not inviting Maddie (aka Spidatter) to my wedding. I’ll never live that one down.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My husband. But wouldn’t it be funny if I said Val Kilmer?

When and where were you happiest?
Unemployed, gallivanting around Europe with my man.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Speak French fluently. Not just conversationally… like have a theological conversation in French.

What is your current state of mind?
Thinking about when I can go to France again.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Writers award. 8th grade. Santa Barbara Christian School. Graduating from college was a joke in comparison.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
1. I wouldn’t come back 2. If I had to, my parents cat Lily. She lives like a wild animal by day, and sleeps soundly on a cat bed in the garage by night. And she hasn’t gotten eaten yet.

What is your most treasured possession?
My external hard drive or Grant’s new camera.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Life without Christ.

What is your favorite occupation?
I’m married, what do you think?

What is your most marked characteristic?
Outspokenness.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Patience.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Confidence.

What do you most value in your friends?
Taking the initiative.

How would you like to die?
“How did Mary die? A tire hit her in the face.” Please see.

Proust Questionnaire

Kelsey is someone I always enjoy being around. That's probably because she is so easy to talk to, knows how to enjoy life, and is just plain hilarious. Literally one of my favorite people, this girl.


What is your current state of mind?
Pretty damn content

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Besides swear words... well, actually, probably just swear words

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I think that perfect happiness is the ability to be content even when things are crazy in life, being grounded in a sense of self, and surrounded by people who care when shit gets real

What is your greatest extravagance?
Clothes and yummy food

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Worry. I can get really anxious and worried about things that are definitely not important. Sometimes I have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Selfishness and just general meanness. Life is too short to be an ass and think you are the only person that matters

What is it that you most dislike?
Dry hands and anything that resembles nails on a chalkboard

On what occasion do you lie?
I probably lie to kids a lot

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Selflessness

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
A woman who knows who she is and what she is about, or at least realizes she is on a journey to figuring it out

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My friends and family (I wouldn't have said this about my family a few years ago, but as we have grown they have become some of my best friends)

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
We will see how law school goes, but I think that might be at the top of the list :)

When and where were you happiest?
I think right now and here. Things are crazy and there is a lot of in-between, but I feel pretty damn happy. I have a stronger sense of self than I have in a long time and I am pretty excited about what this next stage of life will hold

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would love to stop biting my nails

Where would you like to live?
In a treehouse

What is your favorite occupation?
Taking down the man
:)

What is your most treasured possession?
A good pair of jeans

What is your greatest regret?
I really don't think I have any. I have made some pretty unfortunate decisions but I move on pretty quickly; it's all part of living life and figuring our shit out

Proust Questionnaire

Aneisa is a fairly new Seattleite, but it didn't take long for me to fall in friend-love with her, thanks to her lust for life- girl knows how to have a good time. You can currently see her as a tour guide for the Harry Potter exhibit, where she speaks in a British accent.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
This question makes me overwhelmed….I will get back to this one.

What is your greatest fear?
Arachnophobia: 1990. Thank you, Janna, for making my greatest fear, reality.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Oprah….yeeeah Oprah.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Procrastination.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
To be selfish and close-minded.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I tend to be a fairly stingy person in general but when it comes to food, I find no problem spending a good dollar amount.

What is your favorite journey?
Ones in which you become wiser.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Pride.

What is your greatest regret?
I do have regrets.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Travel. He treats me real nice…

When and where were you happiest?
December, the thirtieth of the year two thousand and eight. Bruges.

What is your current state of mind?
One part grateful, one part Cabernet, two parts energized and a dash of Christmas blues.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would delete my legs’ ability to grow hair.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
To be closer, geographically speaking.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
To speak with a British accent for over 11 hours straight.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A well-made cello.

What is your most treasured possession?
A jewelry box of my sito’s (grandma’s) and mother’s jewelry.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The day the Wallingford taco truck closes down.

Where would you like to live?
England, NYC, Minneapolis, Hong Kong, Florence, Switzerland, Vancouver B.C., Stockholm, Brussels…

What is your favorite occupation?
Two words: Anthony Bourdain.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Mine eyes?

What is the quality you most like in a man?
To be humble.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
To be ‘classy’...

What do you most value in your friends?
They aren’t afraid to pull their pants down in a crowded street.

Who are your favorite writers?
Writers = Composers = Debussy, Vaughn Williams, Mahler, Whitacre.

What is it that you most dislike?
Awful, cheesy singing television shows/reality shows with teeny-boppers who either lip sync or can’t sing in tune!! Why are there so many of them!?!

How would you like to die?
I wouldn’t like to die… not anytime soon anyway.

What is your motto?
‘What’s a motto?’ ‘Nothin. What’s a motto with you?’
...Thank you Lion King for the wonderful childhood.

Proust Questionnaire

Jake is one of my favorite guy friends; which makes it appropriate that he is the first male to answer the Proust Questionnaire on my blog! I love Jake for his honesty, his humor, and his loyalty to friends. Hope you enjoy his answers as much as I did!


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
This is a tough one because I feel like it's always changing... I'd have to say perfect happiness are those rewards in life you get after working hard for something, or waiting patiently for something you have been looking forward to, and that happiness is the most special moments that are seared into our memory forever. For example this year at Sasquatch when LCD Soundsystem played "All My Friends," my friends and I all embraced each other singing together at the top of our lungs. It was their last song, we were all in the front, and there were thousands of people doing a synchronized dance. I almost cried. Some of us did. It was such a special moment and one where I realized I had people in my life that truly care about me. I would say that moments like that you have in life with your loved ones are what create perfect happiness, and it's important to build those memories so when times get hard you can remember them, and look forward to good times again.

What is your greatest fear?
Going bald.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Tough one, I'm a very modern person... And terrible at History. How about JFK because I can't decide between blonds and brunettes. Boom.

Which living person do you most admire?
Joel McHale. He makes fun of everything that deserves it. Plus "Community" is the second-most funny show on TV behind "Modern Family."

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I think a lot of times I let things bother me so much and then days later I realize it wasn't worth getting upset about. I wish sometimes (internally) I didn't let myself get upset about really small things, like someone writing something you don't like on your status. Dumb stuff like that. I also say 'like' a lot.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
I hate it when people give off the vibe that they are more enlightened than you.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I dropped $300 on bottle service at a night club in Chicago this year. THAT was a good decision. Let's see, before I moved to Seattle I bought a brand new Scion tC, it was beautiful. Then Kyle totaled it.

What is your favorite journey?
The first time I went to Alaska for work was a trip. I did a lot of soul searching. And it was the first time I was really 'by myself.' It was awesome.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Purity. However I don't think purity is a negative thing, but... Well, just go see Black Swan and you'll know what I'm talking about.

On what occasion do you lie?
If it protects the other person, or if I am talking to a girl.

Which living person do you most despise?
Either Kim Jong-il or my ex-step dad. They are equally terrible people.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My friends, no question.

When and where were you happiest?
I would have to say now and Seattle. I think picking a time in your past when you were the 'happiest' just makes you sadder.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Singing.

What is your current state of mind?
Anxious!

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
My mom wouldn't worry so much about me and she would find a way to be at peace.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My college degree.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A dolphin, it would be amazing.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
A dolphin :)

Where would you like to live?
San Francisco has been calling my name for some time now. I need to talk to that city.

What is your favorite occupation?
Watching sports with my buddy Tyler.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Uh, I guess that most of the times I'm not being serious and say irrational things, but that has changed a lot living with three feminists :)

What is the quality you most like in a man?
One that has at least an ounce of masculinity left. Seattle has a bunch of really nice guys, but a lot are pretty weak and have thin skin. Someone that gives you a firm handshake, but doesn't try to break your hand to prove he's tough and is compensating for something else. A well-balanced guy. And yes, I am straight.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Confidence. Someone that you can be with that lifts you up and has a positive effect on you. Someone that isn't insecure about trivial things or what they don't like about themselves. Confidence is huge for girls these days, in my opinion.

What do you most value in your friends?
Their spontaneous nature.

Who are your favorite writers?
Bill Simmons (sports) and J.D. Salinger I guess.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Wolverine.

Who are your heroes in real life?
My brother Luke is someone I really look up to. He is a cancer survivor and is on his way to becoming a doctor. He has overcome a lot.

What are your favorite names?
Oliver, Cooper, Natasha, Melia.

What is it that you most dislike?
When you make up expectations about something in your head and the experience isn't as good as you expected it to be.

How would you like to die?
Something instant. Like a car crash, or a heart attack. Or in my sleep. Tough question indeed.

What is your motto?
My motto is a great quote from "South Park": "Butters, you gotta learn to chill. Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while - and do whatever you want all the time - you can miss it."

Current November Status

Current playlist: Have begun listening to Christmas music. Am not going to lie.

Current guilty pleasure: Bought December's issue of Everyday Food Magazine. Domestic guilty pleasure.

Current color: Snow-white!

Current read: December issue of Vogue with the lovely Angelina Jolie on the cover

Current drink: Hot tea

Current food: I made onion gratin last night and it was SO GOOD!

Current favorite show: "Bored to Death"... Jason Schwartzman is amazing!

Current wish list: Snow shoes, buttered rum, a sled and a sled-able hill

Current needs: A new phone :(

Current triumphs: Being on task

Current bane of my existence: Absence of phone

Current celebrity crush: Just watched The Holiday. So in love with both Jude and Jack.

Current indulgence: Cranberry white chocolate scone for breakfast!

Current blessing: Just got word that work is closing at 1:30 today due to snow! Woohoo!!!

Current outfit: Forever 21 wool cardigan, Nordstrom tank top, Citizens of Humanity jeggings, GAP moccasins, TopShop floral ring

Current excitement: Going home in three days for Thanksgiving!

Current mood: Joyful

Current link: Paul & Joe wallpapers

Current October Status

Current playlist: My morning mix

Current guilty pleasure: Watching season 4 of "30 Rock" on Instant Netflix

Current color: Rust

Current read: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, and The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

Current drink: Anything caffeinated

Current food: Really craving Thai food. Or a Chipotle burrito.

Current favorite show: "Modern Family"

Current wish list: Spending money :)

Current needs: Stamina, energy, inspiration
Current triumphs: Working toward the triumph of opening an Etsy shop

Current bane of my existence: Dwindling finances

Current celebrity crush: Danny from "30 Rock" (who is probably gay, but whatevs... but OMG I found the HOTTEST picture of him!!!)

Current indulgence: Taking some of my clothes to get dry-cleaned, haha

Current blessing: The gift of dealing with life's inevitable shit shows.

Current outfit: Forever 21 sheer top, Forever 21 dangly gold chain necklace, GAP skinny jeans, BP red peep-toe wedges

Current excitement: Going to Poppy tonight!

Current mood: Sassy

Current link: "Free Sally"

Current September Status

Current playlist: Found here

Current guilty pleasure: Savage Love podcast

Current color: Neutrals

Current drink: Peppermint tea

Current food: If I just said Goddess dressing, would that be weird?

Current favorite show: "Mad Men"

Current wish list: Lots of cozy sweaters

Current needs: Focus

Current triumphs: I paid off one of my student loans!

Current bane of my existence: Worry

Current celebrity crush: Jon Hamm

Current indulgence: The October issue of "Vogue"

Current blessing: As always, the supernaturally awesome people in my life

Current outfit: Thrifted button-down shirt, GAP jeans, brown leather boots, buck necklace from Forever 21

Current excitement: Autumn is upon us!

Current mood: Soooo over it

Current link: Mrs. Lillien

Proust Questionnaire

Dead Poets Society-esque English teacher, wannabe-fairy princess, whimsical-hippie girl: Greta can be rightly-so described in many fanciful ways, thanks to her lust for life and adventure, and her unique vernacular.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Summer vacation.

Which living person do you most admire?
Maybe my friend Kim Bennett, who is magical. Or Gramps.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Being judgmental. Or being cocky.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
"I am the victim."

What is your greatest extravagance?
On a regular basis? Goat cheese. On a semi-regular-basis? Anthropologie and pedicures. On a summer-vacation basis? Traveling. Grand adventures.

What is your favorite journey?
From fear to hope to trust to freedom.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Why does "chastity" keep coming to mind...? Yeep.

On what occasion do you lie?
When I'm caught trespassing. "No sir, I didn't see the sign, I'm hideously sorry."

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
After years of dejectedly answering that question with various body parts, my final conclusion is that I am practically perfect in every way.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"Phooey." "Gadzooks." "Woe." "Damn," spoken with an exaggerated British accent and a clenched fist.

What is your greatest regret?
No regrets. Life is too short.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Oh drat. Well. Several months ago, I would have given you a name. Today... hmmmm I'll say Seattle.

When and where were you happiest?
I have so many happy moments. Maybe this one.

What is your current state of mind?
Bamboozled. Smackdiddlyatomed.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My inability to teleport.

What is your favorite occupation?
Lately, walking in lovely places with a camera.

What is the quality you most like in a person?
Whimsy.

What do you most value in your friends?
Wisdom.

Who are your favorite writers?
Edna St. Vincent Millay, Jane Austen, Betty Smith, John Steinbeck, Shakespeare, Salinger, Dr. Seuss, C.S. Lewis, Jonathan Safran Foer, Donald Miller, Anne Lamott... Too many names.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A dandelion, ready to be wished on.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
I used to think a manta ray, but I'm not so sure anymore. I'll go with fairy princess.

Current August Status

Current playlist: Those Dancing Days, Sleigh Bells, The Head and the Heart

Current guilty pleasure: Humongo croissant for breakfast

Current color: Camel

Current drink: Coffee

Current food: Vietnamese sandwiches

Current favorite show: I'm just really itching for "Glee" to come back on

Current wish list: Jeggings, silk pajamas, a green thumb

Current needs: Pedicure, a deep-cleaning of my household, bang trim

Current triumphs: I got up and got to work on time this morning

Current bane of my existence: Boys

Current celebrity crush: Sean Hayes

Current indulgence: My Alexander Wang tee that I bought at Opening Ceremony :)

Current blessing: Great people in my life!

Current outfit: Silk top from Forever 21, GAP skinny jeans, BC gladiator sandals, gold flower ring from Top Shop

Current excitement: Getting off work early today

Current mood: Disillusioned yet satisfied

Current link: Sneak peek at Vogue's September issue

Proust Questionnaire

I regard Lana as my kindred spirit through blogging. She's a foodie, a fashion-follower, and a Parisian at heart... Just like me! And she's from Ireland, which earns her many extra cool points.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Right now: A fresh-from-the-oven, slightly crispy/chewy/salty/sweet baguette, slathered in Nutella.

What is your greatest fear?
Failure. And not living life to its' fullest. I also have an irrational fear of llamas, but that's another story!

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Selfishness and narrow-mindedness.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My timekeeping skills... Or lack thereof.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Violet-flavoured eats which, sadly, are very hard to come by in Ireland.

What is your current state of mind?
Excitement about the small things. Like making a Thai Green Curry for dinner tonight!

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Patience.

On what occasion do you lie?
When it comes to protecting the people I love, but I am a terrible liar so I don't do it much.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Honesty.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Self-awareness.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
Elephant, no question.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I use the word 'amazing' far too much. I'm trying to cut down, but there's too many amazing things around me!

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
At the moment the incredible ginger & cinnamon gelato I found in Roma. Deelish!

When and where were you happiest?
Childhood summers in our house in Co Clare in the West. And this past month, traveling around Europe by train with one of my best friends.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Deciding to move to Paris, and living there for just under two years... Everyone should live in Paris.

Where would you like to live?
I've already lived there (see above!), but next on my list: Italy.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
People wearing Crocs. No wait, FAMILIES wearing Crocs.

What is your most marked characteristic?
My voice? I've been told I have an unforgettable voice... I've yet to figure out if that's a good or bad thing.

What do you most value in your friends?
Our shared love of food!!

Who are your favorite writers?
JD Salinger, Jack Kerouac, Joseph O' Connor, Nicole Krauss, Anna Gavalda, JK Rowling to name a few. Food writers count too, right?! Jamie O, Julia Child, Nigella Lawson.

Who are your heroes in real life?
My Mum.

What is your greatest regret?
I wish I spoke my language (Irish) fluently. But in general, 'no regrets, they don't work.'

What is your motto?
Depends on the occasion but in general 'Eat to Live.'

How would you like to die?
Happy and satisfied in mind, body and soul.

Proust Questionnaire

Midwest transplant, nurse extraordinaire, and Jane Birkin doppelganger: Danielle, or D.I.Y., has fast become one of my Seattle besties. She's hella crafty, very generous, and obsessed with everything Norwegian.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Working on a farm on a Norwegian fjord.

What is your greatest fear?
My greatest irrational fear is of seaweed. My greatest rational fear is of being alone, never finding love.

Which living person do you most admire?
My nursing client. I can't get into it too much. Thank you, HIPAA.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I fully intend to overuse many phrases from the "Sassy Gay Friend" series on YouTube, such as "look at your life, look at your choices" and "she's a stupid beaaaach."

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
There is no way I'm drawing attention to it by naming it.

Which living person do you most despise?
My ex-boyfriend Andreas. I had known him and been best friends with him for six years. After dating for a year he broke up with me completely out-of-the-blue three days before I was flying to Norway to see him. All this isn't unforgivable. The real worst, rotten, without-a-doubt part is that I haven't seen or heard anything from him since that day. Six years of friendship down the drain.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Seattle. My mistress on the side: Norway.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Being able to sing.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
As I've been working nights, I've been really zoned out. This results in forgetting who I talk to, what I talk about, and, oh, I dunno, what day it is. I would change my sleep deprivation. Thankfully, that's not a permanent problem.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
I would change that they would care more about the environment. Come on, Dad! Global climate change!

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
I would be a bat, my newly decided-upon power animal. Not a vampire bat. A fruit bat?

What is your most treasured possession?
My photographs.

What is your favorite occupation?
Ha. Fashion designer.

What is your most marked characteristic?
It has been said I am blunt. I think that it's what sets me apart from the rest.

What do you most value in your friends?
Creativity.

Who are your favorite writers?
Haruki Murakami. Erland Loe.

Who are your heroes in real life?
People who donate their bone marrow to sick people that they will never meet.

What is it that you most dislike?
Making fun of the mentally handicapped.

How would you like to die?
Bleeding out because you lose consciousness. It would be great if no one had to clean up my blood, too. Actually, it would be great if my blood landed in a compost pile.

What is your motto?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Proust Questionnaire

Katie is a cute little bug who I love dearly. We first became friends through blogging, and she also happens to be from my hometown. Cherry on top: She'll be moving to Seattle to go to college! She is well-read, smiley, and has wonderful musings on life.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Late summer evenings, magic hour and golden dusks- preferably surrounded by people I love with plenty of long conversations.

What is your greatest fear?

Not hearing "Well done my good and faithful servant."

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My innate need for control and order in life.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Laziness/lack of ambition.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Driving! I have said "This is my last tank of gas for the summer" each time I've refilled this summer. Oops...

What is your current state of mind?

Giddy. Hanging out with girlfriends and eating cookie dough = lurvvve.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Reserve. I am rather outspoken and have a hard time understanding when other people choose to keep their feelings to themselves.

On what occasion do you lie?

I really try not to, except sometimes when it comes to protecting feelings.

Which living person do you most despise?

How about fictional person: Voldemort.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Humor and musical talent.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Sparkling conversation and sharp wit.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

"I mean...," "Yaz," or basically adding a "z" to anything.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Jesus Cristo.

When and where were you happiest?

Forest Home, summer 2007.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I would love to be extremely musically talented.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I think that friends are a testament to a good person so perhaps my friends would be my greatest achievement.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

Someone living in Central America.

What is your most treasured possession?

Photo albums from my childhood.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Complete loneliness and desolation.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Zeal. And word choice/language..in that I have somewhat created my own.

What do you most value in your friends?

The balance between lightheartedness and trustworthiness.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Samuel Hamilton.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My Grandma Kay, my youth pastor, and my small group leader.

What is it that you most dislike?

Anyone who dislikes babies.

How would you like to die?

Fulfilled.

What is your motto?

No retreat. No regret. No reserve.

Proust Questionnaire

Hannah has a beautiful blog called rethink, which I follow avidly. As she says so well on her blog, she is an "avid dreamer, tree-hugger, and passionate human being." Also, she's from Nova Scotia, which I think is totally cool.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Breakfast here.

What is your greatest fear?
Failure and/or receiving harsh criticism from someone I admire. Also, that humankind will continue on their path of greed and destruction.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Emotional indifference.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Generalization.

Which living person do you most admire?
My grandfather. His quiet strength is my foundation.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Books! I could spend thousands on books and not give it a second thought. Not that I actually have thousands to spend.

What is your current state of mind?
Hopeful.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
How about the most underrated virtue: silence. I think we all need to listen more.

Which living person do you most despise?
Anyone who deliberately harms animals.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Wit and a good sense of style. Also, the ability to remove jar lids.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Self assurance. Cheekiness. Freckles.

Which talent would you most like to have?
To make magic with a piano. I play but less and less often because of other commitments.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
The ocean.

When and where were you happiest?
Flying kites on a cliff in Newfoundland as a very young child. I never again experienced that kind of beautiful, unreserved joy and excitement.

What is your most marked characteristic?
I’m tempted to say my nose – we tolerate each other, but just barely. Perhaps cynicism.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Yet to come. But if I had to choose I’d say earning a full scholarship to university. Or making it this far without losing my mind.

Who are your favorite writers?
Oh dear, this is a long list. Margaret Atwood because of her boldness and wit. T.S. Eliot because he charmed me as a young girl with his Book of Practical Cats. Also, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Miranda July, Pablo Neruda, Monique Proulx, Sylvia Plath, Jane Austen…

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Mr. Darcy. Or perhaps Calvin & Hobbes, who are wiser than I’ll ever be.

What is your greatest regret?
Letting many friendships disintegrate because of my sheer laziness.

How would you like to die?
In my sleep, in the midst of a beautiful dream.

The Proust Questionnaire

Isn't Emme adorable? Yah, that's what I thought! She's also talented in the arts, and a very good list-maker. Not to mention, she has great taste in names (See below)! Extra Credit: Her sis has already done a Questionnaire on my blog!


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Finding that person who, when you're with them, you feel like you've found your home.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My stubbornness.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Nothing. There is Jewish blood running through my veins... I'm a penny-pincher.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Wit.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Dignity.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"I don't know."

When and where were you happiest?
Backpacking through Yosemite.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish I was good at math. Struggling to do even basic multiplication has definitely limited my options in life.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd have more motivation.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Graduating from high school.

Where would you like to live?
Kosrae.

What is your most treasured possession?
My stuffed bunny that I've had foreverrr.

Who are your heroes in real life?
As in someone I know? My friend Lexie, I admire her existence.
In general? Angelina Jolie.

What are your favorite names?
Charlotte, Edith, Lux, Harper, Holden, Harrison, and Finley.

What is it that you most dislike?
Things that smell bad.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
I've always wanted to be a bird; but if I didn't have a say in the matter, then I'd probably end up as a security camera- I'm a huge people watcher.

What is your greatest regret?
Giving up ballet and the violin.

How would you like to die?
In my sleep, but I have really bad insomnia so it'd probably have to be at the aide of sleeping pills.