21 Questions with Sarah Haney

Please explain what just happened.

I’m guessing you just clicked on The Nervous Breakdown’s Arts & Culture tab.And perhaps you had to scroll down a little.

 

What is your earliest memory?

Dressing up as Queen Esther for Purim.Which is odd, since I’m not Jewish.

 

 

If you weren’t an artist, what other profession would you choose?

I loved teaching high school — I’d like to go back to that someday.Yes, really.

 

 

Please describe the current contents of your refrigerator.

Milk, yogurt, numerous containers of too-much-to-throw-out-but-not-enough-for-an-actual-meal leftovers in various stages of decay.

 

 

Is there a time you wish you’d lied?

See Question #4.

 

What would you say to yourself if you could go back in time and have a conversation with yourself at age thirteen?

The bra strap slipping down — it’s not sexy.It just looks like your clothes don’t fit.

If you could have only one album to get you through a breakup, what would it be?

Survival Story by the Flobots.

 

What are three websites—other than your email—that you check on a daily basis?

(Insert sound of laughter) I’m lucky if I can check my email on a daily basis.

 

From what or whom do you derive your greatest inspiration?

I love other people’s art — photos, novels, paintings, songs.  As artists, we’re all trying to describe some piece of our human experience, whether it’s a huge, universal idea or one that’s relatively trivial in the grand scheme but that’s important to someone here and now.Seeing the thoughts other people are trying to depict triggers ideas for me.

 

Name a book that changed your life.

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson.Long story.

 

If you could relive one moment over and over again, what would it be?

I feel like the “right” answer is the birth of my daughter — but really, who wants to relive excruciating pain?

 

 

How are you six degrees from Kevin Bacon?

My brother’s college swim coach went to school with Brad Pitt, who was in some movies with Kevin Bacon.Wait, that’s only five.OK, my husband’s brother-in-law’s college swim coach…

 

What makes you feel most guilty?

Things I didn’t do intentionally.If I did it on purpose, I’ve rationalized it to the point that I’m fine with it.

 

 

 

What would you most like to have invented?

A teleporter.

 

 

What is the worst piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?

“Don’t go to bed mad.” Who came up with that?If you stay up, you’re just mad AND tired.Not a good combination.

 

 

What is the best advice you’ve ever given to someone else?

You deserve a relationship with someone who helps you to be more than you already are, not someone who tries to make you less.

 

What do you consider the harshest kind of betrayal?

When you show up on the first day of sixth grade wearing your “Be Fri” necklace, and your friend “accidentally” forgot to put on her “st ends” one.And she keeps forgetting.Not that I’m bitter about this.

 

Of all the game shows that have graced our TV screens throughout history, which one would you want to be a contestant on and why?

Jeopardy. I wouldn’t win, but it wouldn’t be a total humiliation.

 

What do you want to know?

What goes on in other people’s minds.

 

What would you like your last words to be?

“That was AWESOME!”
 

Please explain what will happen.

I’m going to brush my teeth and go to bed.I’ve got no idea what you’re going to do.Goodnight.