"I like a woman with a head on her shoulders...I hate necks."

Today, it is thunder-lightening-pouring pleasure and there's nothing better to cure the doldrums that come with it than the words of a great comedian.While my cohort Laura wades history and the Sierra Club, I wade balloon animals, banjos, and San Francisco right alongside Steve Martin in his thrilling memoir of sorts, "Born Standing Up: A Comedic Life", in which the famous actor, writer, and former stand-up king details his childhood, and his early career in show business. It's at times heart breaking, altogether goofy, and downright pissah--as he details an eye-opening account into the life of a former comic, a breed so intriguing who wouldn't want to read about their thought process, the pains that come with being funny, and of course, the little nuances of what becomes one's stage persona and those beforehand nerves and after show flues one rarely gets a glimpse at.Steve Martin is one of my most favorite men in show business. He's private, yet introspective, and downright hilarious. Plus, he plays the banjo, and he's done it on Letterman with Bela Fleck, and he's done it with the muppets. He continues to make me bowl over in his role as George Banks in Father of the Bride--his tantrum over hot dog buns and big shots at the wiener company, and his most famous line, which I stole for my own famous line, which any family member of mine can attest to me saying on repeat, and in similar intonation: "Oh...wellllll....thanks!"Well, thanks Steve Martin for this account. I was first intrigued when I read several excerpts in the New Yorker magazine last year--which he is a sometime contributor--and have had the book for time thanks to giftage from my Mum. It's a shame I haven't cracked it till now, but cracking (up) I am doing now.In honor of Mr. Martin, I urge you to peak your interest with a few of his most wonderful bits. Now read this book.[Steve Martin in his tux. "Don't call us, we'll call you."][Steve Martin does "Dueling Banjos" with The Muppets. Amazing.][Steve Martin does his famous banjo act tune "Grandmother's Song", which he recounts in detail in "Born Standing Up."][Brilliance on smoking. "Do you mind if I fart? It's one of my habits."]