I became much happier when I realized I shouldn't depend solely on my career for my sense of self. So I developed other interests and surrounded myself with a small group of friends I could trust.

The slogan was 'Don't trust anyone over thirty'. Sixty years later the slogan became 'Don't trust anyone over ninety'.

I grew up skateboarding it was fun. I didn't think about money I didn't know how much professional skateboarders made. I just knew that if I became a professional skateboarder I would achieve a lot and get to travel and do these great things.

Through travel I first became aware of the outside world it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it.

Well I actually first got into music as a small child and as I became a teen I sought out making money from music weather that was singing lounge gigs backup in studios or weddings.

I forced myself to think what is the new concept and it became clear to me that it was risk not only in technology and ecology but in life and employment too.

I am fascinated by all the new technology that creates places for us to meet in what is called cyberspace. I understand what it must have meant for the rebellions in the 19th century especially in 1830 and 1848 when the mass circulated newspaper became so important for the spreading of information.

Writing became an obsessive compulsive habit but I had almost no money so I thought about being an urban firefighter and having lots of free time in which to write or becoming an English teacher and thinking about books and writers on a daily basis. That swayed me.

It would be a joy for me if someone who was working with me became a big success.

While I was doing stand-up I thought I knew for sure that success meant getting everyone to like me. So I became whoever I thought people wanted me to be. I'd say yes when I wanted to say no and I even wore a few dresses.