My greatest fear is the zombie apocalypse

Your earliest memory?

I’m not sure why but the song Bette Davis Eyes comes to mind.  

What were you like in school?

I was a lot like Wednesday Adams but more neurotic and way chubbier.  

Who is your hero/heroine?

Howard Stern, Madonna, Charlie Chaplin, John Waters, Matisse, Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie...

Which human trait do you dislike the most?

Neediness. I don’t like needy people. You know the people that enter a room and suck all the air out of it and suck the energy out of you. They are emotional vampires. 

Human trait you value most in others?

People that have a sense of humour and can laugh at themselves. 

Which film character are you?

Miss Hannigan 

Do you believe in fate?

Yip! 

Your greatest fear?

The zombie apocalypse or being eating alive by a shark.  

Most embarrassing moment?

I’ve had plenty!  When I was seven, I was carrying a big bag of groceries home from the grocery store and my underwear fell down to my ankles. A tourist came over and saved the day with a safety pin.  

Property aside, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?

Property aside!?  I wish!  

Your most unappealing habit?

Falling asleep five minutes into a movie.  Apparently, I snore.   

Describe yourself in three words

Crazy Sexy Cool

Anyone you’d like to say ‘sorry’ to?

My daughter when she reads this interview. 

Worst job you’ve ever done?

I was an appliance customer service rep at HWP.  Worst job ever!  Got yelled and called stupid every day. Don’t mess with someone from Fairylands whose maid has left for the night and they have a dinner party and their dishwasher is broken. They’ll have your head.  

Biggest disappointment?

Eating those delicious cookies that my daughter made the other day when I’m supposed to be on a diet.  

Your desert island song?

We Gotta get Out of this Place by the Animals

What animal would you be and why?

I’m going to steal my son’s answer for this one. When he was seven his teacher asked him the same question and his reply was as follows: “If I could be any animal I would be a hippo.  They can live in water and on land and kill people and animals.” Great answer.  

What do you do if you can’t sleep?

Watch TV until I pass out. I’m a grown up now. I can do those things.  

If you had a time machine, where would you go?

I would go back in time to the 1920’s. I wouldn’t stay there too long though. It was a great time for fashion, art and entertainment but not a good time for black people. I just want to see Josephine Baker perform live and then zap back to now. Maybe I’ll go back in time when Neanderthals ruled roamed the earth.  But they didn’t have AC or TV back then. 

Most unpleasant exchange you’ve have had with a person?

There’s not enough room to write them all down.  

Best advice you have ever taken?

Best advice was actually from Willie Nelson’s book, The Tao of Willie, “You’ll never get ahead by blaming your problems on other people.”

If you weren’t an artist what would you be?

If I wasn’t an artist I’d be a lounge singer! I want an excuse to wear shiny clothes and feather boas everyday! 

What do you like best about your appearance?

All of it. It’s a package that I was born with. I’ve earned every scar and every imperfection.  I must live and work with what I have. I’m a work in progress.  

What’s your attitude to money?

It’s a very nice thing to have.  People say money doesn’t buy happiness. I would like to have some and see if that theory is true or not for myself.  

Which cartoon character is most like you?

The consensus among those in my household is that I’m like Cartman. 

Frankly I just don’t see it. 

Nicest thing anyone has ever said to you?

Someone said to me that every time they see me it makes them happy.

Define romantic love.

It’s like ice cream left out of the freezer. It turns bad really quickly. 

Most treasured possession?

I should say my kids right?  But I’m going to have to say it’s a tie between the Jean Paul Gaultier skirt I brought when I was in college in Miami (it was on sale.  It was love at first sight) and the White Stripe concert ticket stub. I saw them in NYC in 2007.  

A dream location for a home?

An apartment in the Village in New York.  

Guilty pleasure?

Watching the movies Flash Gordon, Xanadu, and the Burbs.

Name some favourite:

TV shows/TV series - I love TV! Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, House of Cards...

Movies – Anything by Quentin Tarantino, Charlie Chaplin and John Waters.  — Books – Auntie Mame, Life According to Garp, Grapes of Wrath, Like Water for Chocolate, the Harry Potter Series.  I love graphic novels like the Preacher series and the Walking Dead series.  Vacation spots —  I love cities. Anywhere that has a lot of interesting shops and museums. Being around constant activity is inspiring.

Your proudest achievement?

That my kids are people I enjoy being around. I’m raising some really awesome, talented, funny, intelligent and really, really, really good looking people.  

I’m sure a bit of that has to do with me.

If you were a pigeon, who would you poop on?

Mika Brzezinski from Morning Joe.

If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?

I would move abroad so fast. Not sure where though. But the money would stretch so much further elsewhere. I would buy a house, a car, pay for my kids college and buy a warehouse and convert it into a kick ass print making studio, with paper making equipment and several looms. I’d also buy two pug puppies! 

Most daring thing you’ve ever done?

Packed up my kids and moved to New Jersey for school with my sister and niece. 

Most important lesson life has taught you?

I’ve been told not to burn my bridges.  Life has taught me that if you don’t burn your bridges that they can be fixed and made stronger.