Baby boomer. Youngest of four. Miki, Charli, Paul and me. Two girls two boys. Mom was a librarian. Dad's a golf nut, 86 and going strong. Good suburban school. Underachiever. Scolded regularly for "talking out". Comic influences: my Aunt Jean, Howdy Doody, Red Skelton, Captain Kangaroo, Bill Cosby, Steve Allen, Sherry Lewis, Senor Wences. Music: Beethoven, Harry Belafonte, Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, Beach Boys, Beatles.

"To Kill A Mockingbird" blew me away.

Scarred for life by this encounter, smuj's insanity begins.

Mom passed in 1968. Botched surgery. Lived with oldest sister (Miki) in Germany for 9 months. Fun school...football...soccer. Moved in with another sister (Charli) in Olathe, Kansas. First job: janitor in hospital, then cooked pizza. Some performing in High School. Highlights: Cheshire Cat in Alice...Mordred in Camelot. Lots of female friends, but terrified of dating. Virgin till 19. What a night! Never saw her again, where are you Nina? Comic influences: George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Carol Burnette, Smothers Brothers, Laugh-In. Music: Bach, Beatles, Motown, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, CSN&Y, Hendrix, Led Zep.

Moved to Atlanta in 1975. Joined the stupid Navy to earn money for College. Communications major, switched to computers...dropped out after a couple of years.

Spent next six years wallowing in $4-$6 per hr. Roachy apts. Rough time...no direction. Go to work...watch TV...sleep...go to work...watch TV...sleep...gotowrkwtchtvslp - SIX YEARS! Influences: SNL, SNL, SNL, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, All in the Family, Barney Miller. Music: Steely Dan, Dire Straits, Rickie Lee Jones, John Lee Hooker, Belafonte (again), Chryssie Hynde (Pretenders)...too many to mention...Beatles, still.

Early Bob and smuj (when he still had all his hair).

Autumn 1985: Bored, depressed. Saw a notice in Creative Loafing: 'Auditions' Tiny but juicy roll as 'Mad Animal' in "Marat/Sade" Awful show, but...great cast of 28 party hounds. Life Begins Again! Rehearsals, Make-up, Friends, Manuel's Tavern, and getting laid again! Comedy influence: Bill Hicks, Bill Hicks, Bill Hicks. He's particularly pertinent since W. invaded Iraq like his daddy.

1986: Atlanta Shakespeare Company. Jeff Watkins [director of ASC] Huge influence. Georgia Renaissance Festival. Shakespeare Parodies. 'Tragical Death of Hamlet & His Entire Family' Played Ophelia with coconut tits. Ded Bob first appears as prop in "Shakespeare's Shorts" Next year 'How Macbeth Murdered All His Friends' Played Lady MacBeth and Interpreter for 'Malcolm', son of Duncan. John & Kathy Struchen [Ga. ren fest & Maryland ren fest], "Come play the village idiot in Maryland". Took Bob along and improvised. Big hit. Did Bob at Georgia Renaissance Festival, Big Hit. Did Bob in TX. Big Hit. Colorado...Michigan...Arizona...Big Hit. T-shirts, tips, travel.

It all kind of fell in my lap.