My Proust Questionnaire
I’ve long been a fan of Vanity Fair magazine. It’s chock-full of intelligent articles on things I wouldn’t necessarily make myself read (much) about (like the art scene in China and how much the Iraq war is actually costing). And these days, with Bush in office, Vanity Fair is quite critical of U.S. Government, which I fully appreciate. Vanity Fair also has fashion ads which I actually don’t see anywhere else (because I don’t read trashy women’s magazines). So I get to keep up a little with the world of fashion without having to, you know, stoop.
In the back of each issue of Vanity Fair is the Proust Questionnaire; each month they ask a different celebrity to answer the questions. I’ve always wondered what my own answers would be, so we are going to find out:
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A vacation where I have time to exercise for many hours everyday and still have time to read and to play.
What is your greatest fear?
Being bored.
What is your most marked characteristic?
No idea, perhaps my busy self-deprecating mind.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I sometimes have trouble saying “no” when I should.
Which living person do you most despise?
President George Bush.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Moving to Mexico and using so much of my savings in the process.
What is your current state of mind?
Happy and tired.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Chastity (make love not war).
On what occasion do you lie?
When the truth hurts or when I am not brave enough.
What do you dislike about your appearance?
My arms.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
The ability to listen.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
The ability be realistic.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“You know”, “I mean”, there are others I can’t think of.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My husband and my daughter.
When and where were you happiest?
The day I married my husband, April 6, 2001, on “the Hill” in Boulder, Colorado.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would have started taking better care of my body at a younger age.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I always wanted to be a rock star, what do you call the “rock star” talent?
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Raising my daughter to think for herself.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
A cat.
Where would you like to live?
On the coast in Oregon, in the woods in New Hampshire, near my daughter in Colorado, near a trail up a mountain surrounded by wildflowers.
What is your most treasured possession?
My bed, or my hard disk drive, one or the other.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Living without hope.
What is your favorite occupation?
Loving my husband, discussing life with my daughter, petting my cats. Not in that order.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
What are your favorite names?
Calais, Delilah, my family’s names.
What is it that you most dislike?
Dishonesty and lack of integrity.
How would you like to die?
In my sleep, after a long life.
What is your motto?
“If you are going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill
May 6th, 2008 10:54
I just wanted to follow up and say that Vanity Fair prints a slightly different set of questions each month. The questions above were those from the April ’08 issue. The new June issue includes: What is your greatest regret? Who are your favorite writers? And a few others.
May 7th, 2008 08:10
Is this the same questionnaire that James Lipton uses on Inside the Actors Studio?
May 7th, 2008 11:19
Scott it is not the same questionnaire. Lipton’s is discussed here. His questions are:
1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
5. What sound or noise do you love?
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
May 7th, 2008 23:47
Chastity? LMAO I agree. I too dislike George W. Bush. Actually he’s number two on my list of most despised people on the planet.
I like the last question on Lipton’s. My answer would be, “Approved … enter”. 🙂
-Lisa
May 8th, 2008 09:29
Yay! I can comment! Nothing specific to comment about, but I’m just thrilled to be able to!
So many times I’ve wanted to add a thought, but haven’t because I was too lazy to dig around in my email for my special Rivergirl password.
Thanks, Rivergirl!
May 8th, 2008 11:29
Sorry it took my so long to get around to making commenting easier. I was nervous I would get drowned in spam, but so far it’s not the case. I do need to change the colors around, not enough contrast here for these old eyes…
May 8th, 2008 11:34
So Lisa, I wonder who is number one on your list of people you despise? When my daughter read George Bush in this post she said “but mom, Cheney is SO much more evil that Bush.”
May 8th, 2008 23:37
Smart girl mom! Cheney is evil but I still hate Bush more. Growing up I had a truly evil, gold digging, stepmother I despise more than any single person on the planet.
If I ever saw her again I’d like to strip her and horse wip her culo. lol…too graphic?
I’m gonna answer the questions on my spot in a few days so I can try to forget your answers but that one about the chastity cracked me up for some reason; can’t forget it!
-Lisa 🙂