Friday...Time for Randomness...
...and that mean another questionnaire, this time "Proust Questionnaire". Please answer along with me in your comments, as many questions as you like.  What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being worry-free. What is your greatest fear? Bad news. Which historical figure do you most identify with? I could not for the life of me come up with an answer. Mr Colombina thinks it's Mary Magdalene. Which is...an unexpected choice to say the least. I was actually thinking someone more along the lines of Caligula...or at least the Caligula seen through Camus's eyes, the Calugula who wants the impossible things - immortality, happiness, the moon ... Which living person do you most admire? My mom. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Tendency to worry. What is your greatest extravagance? Bags. What is your favorite journey? To Budapest...a journey taken for all the wrong reasons. What perfume did you wear then? What should you have worn? I am almost sure it was Cerutti 1881 Pour Femme. I should have worn something ill-advised, romantic and not a little crazy, with an ill-fated drydown. I am thinking Poison. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Confidence. Which perfume do you consider to be the most underrated? Chanel N0 22. Diorama. What do you dislike most about your appearance? I think I reached the point when I just accept myself as I am. I guess I am getting old... Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Russian swear words. Which talent would you most like to have? To turn back time. What is your current state of mind? Rather dramatic. What perfume matches your state of mind? Aoud Roses Petals and Voleur de Roses If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? We'd be obscenely rich aristocracy. Nah, make it royalty. What do you consider your greatest achievement? The Noble Prize for Blogging, that is surely in my future. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would you choose to be? No, thanks. When I die, it will be final. What is your most treasured possession? My daughter. Where would you like to live? There is a dark-red house that looks a little strange, maybe haunted, which I really like, on 82 St. in NYC, between Park and Madison. What is your favorite occupation? Reading whilst snacking. Or vice versa. What perfume is good to wear while doing that? Something cuddly. White Aoud. What is the quality you most like in a man? That unique I-don't-know-what that makes me fall in love with him. What is the quality you most like in a perfume? That unique I-don't-know-what that makes me fall in love with it. What do you most value in your friends? Their willingness to be my friends. Who are your favorite writers? Michail Bulgakov, Marina Tsvetaeva, Anna Akhmativa, Françoise Sagan, Albert Camus, John Galsworthy, Pablo Neruda, Milan Kundera, Agatha Christie Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Woland Who are your heroes in real life? Regular people who are kind to each other. What is it that you most dislike? Fanaticism. Self-righteousness. Narrow-mindedness. How would you like to die? Fast asleep. What is your motto? "All I want is a warm bed, a kind word and unlimited power." (Ashleigh Brilliant) Image by Anne Taintor. |
posted by Marina |
12:03 AM
29 Comments:
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
- Both Eleanor of Aquitaine and Rosamund
Which living person do you most admire?
- Modesty.
Which perfume do you consider to be the most underrated?
- Cacharel Gloria
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
- I need some dental work.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
- Clearly! Seriously! I'm generally a bit of an adverb freak.
Which talent would you most like to have?
- I'd love to be able to play the cello.
What perfume matches your state of mind?
- Folie de Grain.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
- Relative stability.
What is your most treasured possession?
- My wedding ring and a book of poetry I've had for a very long time.
Where would you like to live?
- Iceland.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
- Humor and authenticity.
What is the quality you most like in a perfume?
- Beauty.
What do you most value in your friends?
- Individuality.
Who are your favorite writers?
- John Berryman, Salman Rushdie, Rainer Maria Rilke, Joseph Campbell, Louise Gluck, William Gibson
What is it that you most dislike?
- Thoughtlessness.
How would you like to die?
- Very, very quickly
What is your motto?
- "I learn by going where I have to go." (Theodore Roethke, "The Waking")
Thanks for the opportunity to do this again! I love the Proust!
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Have to agree with being worry-free. Securely heathy, wealthy and safe
What is your greatest fear?
The fact that I am in no way worry-free
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I don't really have one
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I am unable to be still
What is your greatest extravagance?
Perfume! Hello!
What is your favorite journey?
Going back east. But then again I have not been to Europe.
What perfume did you wear then? What should you have worn?
I'm sure whatever it was I was crazy about and will not second guess it.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Courage. It's been overused so much that parallel parking is now an act of Courage.
Which perfume do you consider to be the most underrated?
These days, practically anything made before 1980
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Not going there until I can afford to do something about it.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"oh, please"
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Which talent would you most like to have?
The ability to instantly teleport myself and stuff across the world. I wave my arms a la Endora and I am at the Palais Royale. And a magic black Amex.
What is your current state of mind?
Rather scattered- I'm trying to scare up warm clothes for a upcoming trip back East!
What perfume matches your state of mind?
l'Air de Rien
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
They would have been obscenely wealthy, had loads of insurance and invested in real estate in Beverly Hills in the 60's when it was dirt cheap.
Is that 3 things? if so, the first would do.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Er, the second Nobel Prize for Blogging?
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would you choose to be?
A well-loved Cocker Spaniel owned by a nice West Hollywood gentleman. There is no more loved and pampered creature.
What is your most treasured possession?
The watch I inherited from my father.
Where would you like to live?
That changes weekly. Right now there's a mega-cute house in the 500 block of Sierra Drive that my Lotto winnings would go towards. I've also always love One Fifth Avenue.
What is your favorite occupation?
Reading. Driving. Luckily not at the same time.
What perfume is good to wear while doing that?
Reading? A musk. Driving? Perhaps Nostalgia?
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Humor.
What is the quality you most like in a perfume?
Humor
What do you most value in your friends?
Humor
Who are your favorite writers
EF Benson, Thackeray, Proust, Steinbeck, Balzac, Armisted Maupin, PG Wodehouse, Daphne duMaurier, Carl Hiaasen
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Emmeline "Lucia" Lucas Pilson
Who are your heroes in real life?
People who no matter what, remain pleasant to everyone.
What is it that you most dislike?
The idea that people are now finding it socially acceptable to be unpleasant, self centered boors
How would you like to die?
In my sleep, after my impossibly cute BF had an incredible dinner and and, well you can fill in the rest.
What is your motto?
"If you have an ounce of common sense and one good friend you don't need an analyst."
-Joan Crawford (even if it didn't work out too well for her.
Happiness = wanting what I have.
Greatest fear = homelessness
Worst trait in self = impatience
Greatest extravagance = perfume & shoes
Favorite journey taken = Seattle in spring for the arts festival.
Perfume worn = should have been Datura Noir. Incredibly sexy, perfect in rain.
Most overrated virtue = chastity
Current state of mind = unfocused
Perfume for current state of mind = something nice but not quite there: Barbara Bui
Greatest achievement = recovery
To die & come back as = I'd rather not but if I must, someone talented, enlightened & joyful. And yes, wealthy. Sorry, not enlightened enough this lifetime to reject materialism ;)
Most treasured possession = my mind and spirit.
I'd like to live ... in a townhouse on West 10 Street btwn University & 5th Ave in NYC. Or, Seattle perhaps ...
Favorite occupation = being fully engaged in making art.
Perfume to wear making art = Something that makes me feel smart, sexy, strong & centered without taking too much of my attention. These days, that's Dior Bois D'Argent.
Quality I admire in a man = Integrity & intelligence
Quality I admire most in a perfume = seduction & mystery (ok ok, that's 2 both times.)
Quality in friends = intelligence & creativity. integrity & humor (whoops, 4)
Favorite writers = An unfocused, incomplete list: Dorothy Allison, Donald Westlake, Douglas Adams, Amy Tan.
Real life heroes: Those who recover, from whatever. Those with the courage to embrace their truth & their passions and find joy.
What I dislike most: dishonesty, cruelty, bigotry.
I'd like to die: painlessly, without fear.
Quote:
Art is never chaste and should be kept away from all innocent ignorants. If people are not ready
for it, they must not be allowed to get close.Yes, art is dangerous.
If it's chaste, then it's not ART". Pablo Picasso, 1971
Being in an unfocused state of mind, I forgot this:
Talent I'd like to have = hot damn financial whiz money management skillz
Heather,
"I learn by going where I have to go"...Love that!
Tom,
Please take a big, big umbrella :-(
And please list some perfumes that you think have sense of humor!
Divalano,
I absolutely agree. Totally overrated.
PS. I'd like that talent too.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A serene mind.
What is your greatest fear?
That, despite reassurances to the contrary, I am mad.
That I will die before my children can cope.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Only men, I’m afraid !
Thomas Jefferson- for his versatility, insatiable curiosity, courtly ways, and love of nature.
King David- for all his flaws and talents, his sensuality and spirituality.
Which living person do you most admire?
Rabbi Arthur Green.
The man is one of the holiest, most unassuming people in the world- and he resembles a big Teddy. You’d never know he wrote amazing tomes of scholastic merit.
Google him- you’ll be stunned.
I’d like to marry him.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Self-doubt.
The inability to see my own beauty.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Perfume.
What is your favorite journey?
The ones I take in my mind- climbing Macchu Picchu, floating down the Amazon, surveying ancient ruins, swooning in the Taj Mahal, Shivering in the forests of Finland in winter, bathing in Icelandic hot springs….
What perfume did you wear then? What should you have worn?
Anything I like.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Audacity.
Which perfume do you consider to be the most underrated?
Madame X.
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
My lack of comfort in my own skin.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Swears- but delivered in dulcet, ladylike tones- so that you doubt ever having heard them.
Which talent would you most like to have?
The healing touch.
What is your current state of mind?
Contemplative and brutally truthful.
What perfume matches your state of mind?
Ambra Tibet, with Incense Noir.
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change my DH and sons.
For the others, though-
I would wish them to be able to love reciprocally, be whole, and less cruel.
What do you consider your greatest achievement
My glorious sons, hands down.
A miraculous achievement for such a royal screw-up, if I do say so myself.
And sanity.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would you choose to be?
A black Belgian shepherd, a Borzoi, or an otter.
What is your most treasured possession?
My compassion.
Where would you like to live?
One of those Hobbit houses would fit the bill nicely.
What is your favorite occupation?
Besides sniffing?
Being outside, in contact with nature. Kissing dogs, babies, old folks.
What perfume is good to wear while doing that?
Whatever I need at the time- as long as it's primarily a natural composition.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Humor, sincerity, and comfort in his own skin.
What is the quality you most like in a perfume?
Individuality, authenticity ,mystery.
What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty, authenticity, truthfulness.
Who are your favorite writers?
Wow, that's tough.
Angela Carter, Herman Hesse, Guy de Maupassant, Federico Garcia Lorca, Leonard Cohen, Arthur Green,
Garcia Marquez, Blake, Yeats, Edna O'Brien, Dylan Thomas.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Harry Heller.
Who are your heroes in real life?
My patients and their families. The ‘ordinary’ people I encounter every day, who brave hardship and despair with infinite courage and faith.
What is it that you most dislike?
Cruelty and callousness. And duplicity.
How would you like to die?
Quietly yielding myself to the unbending Will of the Eternal.
What is your motto?
Hillel's refrain :
"I get up, I walk, I fall down..
Meanwhile, I keep dancing ".
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being free from worry, fear, anxiety (what a worried bunch we are).
What is your greatest fear?
Bad news about DH (that’s specific enough–one doesn’t want to tempt the fates)
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
No idea. Asked DH and he said “Queen Elizabeth.” Asked him whether that was b/c I worked in the period or b/c I had red hair (assumed any pretensions to virginity were out of it). He said, “No, b/c you must defeat the Spanish Armada at all cost.”
Which living person do you most admire?
Really no idea again, though looking through others’ choices, I think Arthur Green is a good one–in that vein, maybe Reb Zalman Schachter-Shlomi, though I wouldn’t want to marry him:)
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Anxiety, fear, worry. Also gossipiness.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Um, I think you could guess. . .
What is your favorite journey?
1. Trek across the Andes to 16, 600 ft. and then to Machu Picchu
2. Greek islands for my honeymoon.
What perfume did you wear then? What should you have worn?
1. No perfume. Are you crazy?
2. Probably 24 Faubourg. Should have taken, among others, Carnal Flower, Aoud Rose Petals, Habanita, Musc Ravageur, Rose de Nuit, Diorling, Miller et Betaux 3 (for hot days), etc., etc.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Consistency
Which perfume do you consider to be the most underrated?
Diorling (probably b/c it’s not easily available)
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Marks of age (if M. is “getting old,” I am ancient)
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Actually” (hi, March), um, “um”
Which talent would you most like to have?
To prolong life
What is your current state of mind?
Reasonably settled
What perfume matches your state of mind?
Encre Noire, because it’s sitting near me.
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
Parents would still be alive.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Writing a couple of books
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would you choose to be?
A happy and kind person.
What is your most treasured possession?
Leaving aside people, I don’t really know.
Where would you like to live?
NYC in a townhouse or large apt.
What is your favorite occupation?
Reading.
What perfume is good to wear while doing that?
Lately, Chergui.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Humor, loving me.
What is the quality you most like in a perfume?
Being mysterious, striking, sensuous–and, apparently, smelling like leather.:)
What do you most value in your friends?Humor, intelligence, loyalty.
Who are your favorite writers?
Impossible to pick. Well, some are Marlowe, Webster, Middleton, Shakespeare, Sidney, Donne, Marvell, Milton, George Eliot. Not sure yet about more recent ones, though mystery writers include Reginald Hill, Lawrence Block, Josephine Tey, Ian Rankin, Iaian Pears, etc.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
The Duchess of Malfi and Vittoria Corombona (in two plays by Webster).
Who are your heroes in real life?
People who help others.
What is it that you most dislike?
Fanaticism. Self-righteousness. Narrow-mindedness. These are M’s and they are good! Adding “smugness” just for another variation,
How would you like to die?
At peace.
What is your motto?
“All the purists are tourists”–Pavement
or, on the more sentimental side, “Try to remember that any person could be Elijah and any spider could be Charlotte.”
I meant to say first that it was great fun reading these! When I saw what you were doing, I had NO intention of doing it, too, but having missed my spin class I felt like wasting some time, so I wrote down my VERY provisional, off-the-top-of-my-head answers
Columbina-
I think that most of the ones that I truly love (enough to own) have some sort of humor about them. A lot of Lutens have a wink and a nod to them, l'Air de Rien and L'Anitimatiere both have that "anti-perfume" antic aspect.
Tom, it's finally gotten chilly in NYC! I just this AM turned off my ceiling fans & started closing windows. You might need a cashmere something for evening after all!
And btw, you inspired me to retry my l'Air de Rien sample last night. It's still not me, and despite scrubbing & an application of unscented deodorant, it's still with me this afternoon. Very sad, seems it should be loved & I just can't.
My own state of mind is too random to respond, but loved your choices and esp. the quote at the end, which I had never heard. Have a great weekend!
divalano-
I will need one; it turns out that I will be in the city for about a day tops- my friends in the country shamed me into a longer stay! (I haven't seen them in a decade, so I couldn't say no.)
Hope it's not too cold!
Sorry about Rien, but it took a while for it to work on me; now I get weird minty musty musk and I love it!
I very much enjoy these in VF every month and often imagined my answers – but who’d be curious about them ?! Anyway, I try. Marina, I love you for your choice of fave journey !
Perfect happiness : a good yoga class
Greatest fear? Illness – mine, or someone else among family & friends
Historical figure you most identify with? Vita Sackville West (+ Peggy Guggenheim + Virginia Woolf + Sylvia Plath + Elizabeth I.)
Living person you most admire? HH XIV. Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama
The trait you most deplore in yourself? Loosing self confidence (in situations when I needed it most…)
Greatest extravagance? Expensive skin care
Favorite journey? To London, always (oh, in 10 days again – hurray !)
What perfume did you wear then? Jo Malone
What should you have worn? - Something mundane (Colombina, you probably could suggest something here…)
Most overrated virtue? It’s not exactly virtue – but it’s bad enough : globalization…
Perfume most underrated? No idea !
You dislike most about your appearance? Short legs
Words or phrases you most overuse? actually & in fact
Talent you’d most like to have? Being a real nose…
Current state of mind? with one leg already out of the midlife crisis…
Perfume matches your state of mind? Dzonghka ! (and sometimes Louve…)
If you could change one thing about your family : I’d made my father a Scottish aristocrat ( with loads of money…)
Greatest achievement? Establishing my life completely alone in a foreign country 16 years ago
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would you choose to be? As a cat, at least as much beloved as my own ones at the present…
Most treasured possession? my jewelry from H.Stern (one can’t possess other people …)
Where would you like to live? in a “cosy” castle in Richmond (near London), or in a buddhist convent in Sydney (a nice combo, isn’t it…)
Your favorite occupation? a perfect yoga class; rummaging for hours in a bookshop & reading
Perfume good to wear while doing that?
Jo Malone Nectarine blossom & honey (Marina could probably help me out again…)
Quality you most like in a man? Responsibility, humour, “fortress in the storm”
Quality most liked in a perfume? Originality
What do you most value in your friends? Lovingness, honesty
Favorite writers? Camus, Garcia Marquez, Hustvedt, Milne, Plath, Vonnegut, V. Woolf
Favorite hero of fiction? Yossarian
Heroes in real life? People they sacrifice their own life for helping others
You most dislike : Cockiness, self-righteousness, small-mindedness.
How would you like to die? Asleep, with people around I love
Your motto? "The root cause of happiness is compassion” (HH the Dalai Lama)
Well, folks-
I think I scared you all.
I didn't mean to upset anyone...
I thought you all were serious, and wanted the truth.
Despite all my humor, ribaldry, etc.-
I'm probably one of the more terminally serious people alive.
Hey, Chaya--Not sure what you mean, but I REALLY liked your answers. Really. Seriously. :)
And, in a different vein--looking at Tom's again reminds me how much I love Carl Hiassen (though I do think he is repeating himself somewhat lately)
Chaya,
I absolutely loved your heartfelt answers. I want to come visit you in the hobbit house, we could read Lorca together.
Judith,
“No, b/c you must defeat the Spanish Armada at all cost.” LOVE that!!!
And omg, why have I never thought to amazon you! I am so, so impressed and bow down to you!
Tom,
I don't know why, but I find SL scents absolutely humorless. That is not a negative thing for...nor positive...just how I perceive them. One line that I do hope is doing what it is doing out of a peculiar sense of humor rather than in full seriousness is Etat Libre.
Divalano,
I finally deemed the weather to be cold enough to wear boots. Which are one of very few good things about cold weather :-)
Robin,
You too! Luxuriating in Encre Noir as I type this, all thanks to you!
Melinda,
Budapest tops the list of cities where I'd love to live. I just love everything about it. Even the utter incomprehensibility of the language :-)
Chaya,
I loved your answers. Will repeat what Judith said, "really, seriously". Hugs!!!
Please don't bow. One is very obscure (and old) and one isn't published yet (here's hoping. . . )
Judith,
Say what you want, I am no end impressed.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Columbina,
Here's a link to the Roethke poem from which I stole my motto: http://plagiarist.com/poetry/2501/ It's in the form of a villanelle, in which lines are repeated at set intervals throughout the poem. I think it adds to the impact of "learning by going where I have to go" because sometimes, I have to go there several times before I learn what I need to learn!
(I removed the previous post for that very reason - hopefully I will get the link tag right on the second try.)
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