I had to fill out the Proust Questionnaire for a feature in this month’s Moms Club newsletter. And since I just got the father-son camping photos edited and into gallery, I thought I’d go ahead and share my answers for this blog.

Houston & Daddy swim in the lake @ Hanging Rock.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Hanging out at a comfy backwoods locale with my hubby and the boys. We’ve already done a good hike and set up the site. All that remains is devouring our campfire-cooked feast and relaxing under the stars.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Being a yeller. I grew up in a house of yellers, so refraining from that learned behavior takes constant work. I usually succeed, but when I fail, I feel horrible.

What is your greatest extravagance? Getting an occasional full-body massage.

What do you dislike most about your appearance? My weight. Raising 3 boys, I’m probably stronger than I’ve ever been, but unfortunately, all my muscles are cloaked under a big layer of flab.

What is your greatest regret? I’m not really a regrets kind of person. I feel like learning and growing from my mistakes has made me a better person, wife and mother.

Father & son maneuver the water via canoe.

Which talent would you most like to have? Being able to live happily and healthily on 4 hours of sleep a night.

What is your current state of mind? Positive.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? I suppose I would come back as the cat of a doting pet owner. That way, I could snooze my days away and party at night — similar to college, but without the exams and debt.

What is your most treasured possession? My pictures: three-decades’ worth of 35 mm memories housed in photo albums and more recent moments of time captured and living digitally on CD or in iPhoto.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? The loss of a child.

Where would you like to live? In the mountains, especially at an altitude where the temp never gets above 85 degrees.

This boy is ready for a hike!

What is your favorite occupation? Freelance writer or blogger, where I get paid to pen my thoughts at my leisure and for an exorbitant amount of money.

What is the quality you most like in a man? Self-reliance.

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

What do you most value in your friends? Honesty.

Who are your favorite writers? I don’t have any particular favorites, but I am a nonfiction junkie with a penchant for biographies and political tomes.

Who are your heroes in real life? People who stand up for their principles when the particular position is unpopular.

Waterfalls: the perfect way to cool off from a hike.

What is it that you most dislike? Deception veiled as truth … and drivers who tailgate.

How would you like to die? Any way God wants me to (preferably something quick) and hopefully at a point that I’ve gotten see my boys grow up, get married and get tortured by, I mean, enjoy kids of their own.

What is your motto? One day at a time.

Click the top photo to check out Part 1 pics from Westover’s father-son camping trip, which took place in August. And click the above photo to see Part 2.