“My parents were supportive of my creativity but did not have a lot of patience for whimsy with zero production value. They had stuff to do.”

“I suppose I was artistic as a child. Our house was so full of art and artists that it never occurred to me not to be constantly making things. I just assumed that all kids liked to work with their hands as much as I did. I was an only child so I did have a lot of time to be creative by myself and with my parents.”

“The thing is: It takes a lot of energy to be creative. You don’t have that energy if you waste it on other stuff.”

“I had to learn a new way of playing. I had to practice a lot, and just find ways around the limitations. So it was a bad idea to break my hand.You said you were doing a lot of cocaine. Did that affect your songwriting?No. I think it affected my breaking my hand.”

“...I realized how naive I was. My aunt Tina was right: this stuff does exist, and it does hurt people, and although there are lots of people at Liberty who condemn violence against gays--including Dr. Falwell himself--the number of students who want to give them the Goliath treatment isn't zero. In fact, the number who live in my room isn't zero.”

“Do you promise to help me pack up my apartment and get all my stuff? I have a lot of stuff. A lot. Shoes and purses and clothes and nail polish. I have way more purses than you brought and at least a gatrillion dresses. I can't live without them-''I promise to haul your shit around.”