The Proust Questionnaire

What is your idea of perfect happiness? To have completed all of my projects, have no homework and have no need to be stressed out.

What is your greatest fear? Not finding someone to spend the rest of my life with.

Which historical figure do you most identify with? No one at the moment.

Which living person do you most admire? My friend Jamie Zelechowski, for jetting off to Poland and following her dreams.

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

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Dishonesty and procrastination.

What is your greatest extravagance? Shoes, pedicures and chocolate.

What is your favorite journey? Traveling to South Dakota with my aunt, uncle and cousins as a child, right after our family reunion (and my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary party) in Colorado.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Patience.

On what occasion do you lie? I don't anymore. I make a point of being 100 percent honest at all times. If I don't have anything nice to say, I'll keep my mouth shut unless provoked.

What do you dislike most about your appearance? Everything except my eyes.

Which living person do you most despise? I don't despise anyone.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Currently, "OMG," "Wuuuuuuuuuuut" and "I'm sorry."

What is your greatest regret? Before we stopped speaking, not telling my last roommate exactly how she made me feel this spring.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? Until I find a man to fill this spot, I'm going to say...shoes.

Which talent would you most like to have? The ability to make more time in each day as necessary and still get enough sleep.

What is your current state of mind? Stressed out and exhausted but strangely relaxed.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? My mom would have a relationship with my Oma and my dad's family wouldn't be mostly republican.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Graduating from college in four years with two bachelor's degrees, summa cum laude with double honors, perfect GPA.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? A tiger. Or quite possibly a slug.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? A pastry chef.

What is your most treasured possession? My dog, Bijou.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? For me, being sick or having allergies.

Where would you like to live? If I end up in a big city, then in Chicago, Boston, Seattle, London or Berlin. Otherwise, somewhere with four seasons, lots of greenery and beautiful multi-story houses.

What is your favorite occupation? Leading or creating.

What is your most marked characteristic? I am an overachiever, oft condescending and genuinely enjoy helping others.

What is the quality you most like in a man? In general, honesty, respect, intelligence and a fantastic sense of humor. For someone I'm romantically interested in, all of those things plus a great smile, a hearty laugh, and handsome but not in a Brad Pitt way. He knows what he wants and how to get there. Practical and responsible, but also spontaneous. Not afraid to give compliments. Sends flowers often. Must be at least seven inches taller than me. Takes the initiative.

What is the quality you most like in a woman? Great listener, honest and non-judgmental.

What do you most value in your friends? Their honesty and loyalty, and how much they make me laugh (until I cry and/or snort).

Who are your favorite writers? Edward Rutherford, J.R.R. Tolkien, Paul Celan, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Bill Bryson. I'm sure I'll add Anton Chekhov to the list if I ever have time to read any of his short stories--I've been told our writing styles are strikingly similar.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Not sure right now. I haven't had time to  delve into a delicious piece of fiction in a long while.

Who are your heroes in real life? My dad (because I'm a daddy's girl) and Stacey London (because she also got a BA in German studies and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and went on to do great things in the fashion industry).

What are your favorite names? Anitchka, Anja, Ariane, Claudia, Katja; Andreas, Dominick, Nickolas, Vincent.

What is it that you most dislike? Not having enough time to finish everything I need and want to accomplish.

How would you like to die? As long as I'm asleep and don't feel it, I don't care.

What is your motto? Mobilize. Divide and Conquer. Look Good Doing It.

Thank you to Lauren "Moonbunny" LePage for putting this questionnaire on her Web site and inspiring me to use it.