I love Chicago. It was an awesome place to grow up. It's a big city but it doesn't feel like one. I can't imagine that if I had kids I would raise them anywhere else besides Chicago.

I kind of got into music in middle school, although at the time I didn't know it as punk music so much as just rock music.

I'm not ashamed to say that I really loved some of the hair metal bands of the '80s.

Nothing firms up a friendship like a good-natured argument.

Wil ate without enthusiasm. His bacon tasted like nothing. Like a dead animal, fried. His eggs, aborted chickens.

Birds are the eyes of heaven, and flies are the spies of hell.

For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.

Adoption isn't just a childhood experience, it's a life-long experience.

the average cannot be kept high unless the standard of the leaders is very muchhigher.

This life is made to change all reality. We are here for the benefit, happiness, and welfare of a new reality; a new direction.

If life gives you lemons, make apple juice and make people wonder how the hell you did it.

I wanted so badly to have a backup plan for when I'm not performing anymore. Let's be realistic: it's not going to be like this forever.

I love to photograph the tools of one's trade: Duncan Grant's paintbrushes, the typewriter of Herman Hesse, or even my own guitar, a 1957 Fender Duo-Sonic.