You'll never hear this, but I think it is my duty to say that comedy is harder for women. You get introduced as "good looking." As if that has some clout on being able to tell a joke, you never hear woman introducing men, by saying "Hey, did you see how handsome that last guy was, Well this next guy is hung like an ox."

Women comics come in so many forms. With regard to the men of comedy there is a bit of jealousy on my part because men do have it easier. Women are constantly having to prove they're funny, whereas men seem to get more stage time because of the fact that they are male. I watch men who I feel do represent a greater whole in comedy and learn. I do sense women can progress in this field too with determination - - - and - - - courage - - - and a lot of makeup.

There are some stereotypes about women comics; they talk about hating men, menstruation, and either lack of breasts or having a good set. I guess I am guilty of this at times because this is a part of my experience and I feel as I grow as a comic I will challenge myself to be as brave as I want to be with coming clean with topics that are truly private and funny to me, but also shed some light on a world which encompasses my notions, my perspective and my hopes as a comic.

What I have gained out of comedy is the more true I am, the better set I have. I have been going on quite an archeological dig of my soul lately, to try to gather any and all tidbits of information about myself that have either been lying dormant for so long or events in my life that are to painful/comic to not put on stage.

You are able to take a seemingly stupid or intensely painful event and make it so paramount that you, yourself do it night after night and people still respond, laugh and validate you. That is my challenge, I am actually forcing myself to put events that I deemed taboo on stage. (Sorry, Mom.)

I try not to base to much importance on other's opinions. However, in a career that requires acknowledgment and approval, I do say that easily after I have had a good set, not so easy if I have bombed.

I have always been committed to a man and felt like that was the end, caput, my life is now complete. However, as I get older and little bit wiser, I realize that this (Comedy) is the boyfriend I have been looking for. . . although, he is not that great in the sack. Ok, a poor joke. Groucho Marx once said, " I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member".

This is true and false. I have found so many good people in comedy. There is a camaraderie that transcends anything I have ever known in comedy. Even though we all are a bit "odd" I think it is because you put yourself on the line, watch yourself be proud of your peers because we all know the struggle, and appreciate it because we all know the pressure, time and the pain that brought us here to this land we call Stand Up Comedy.

Stand-up comedy requires you to be as true to your experience as you can. The more true you are, the more relatable you are. That is what I think is most important for me as a stand-up comedian. However, if you appear to much of anything you're either considered a hack comic or too gross.

To relate to Camus - carrying up that damn rock only to have it fall back down over and over, soon as you reach a peak, you realized that is just a minor breakthrough, seems arduous but you also sense the fact that you're a step closer to yourself and for a second, humanity.

Translation, this is just a minor step ahead taken but I do see in order to take me to the next one. that is the road a comic takes in stand up comedy. I am not negative, I just see the path I have to take, not the road less traveled, just the road I am taking.

For my first set I brought my friends and family. I think if I didn't I would have pissed my pants without the support. However, I have gone in front of 350 strangers and made them laugh. It is sink or swim on a lot of levels and from night to night, but if you love the art itself you will choose to endure all the negatives.

When you laugh yourself on stage it represents a truth and a freedom that is unexplainable and you get that feeling, and all comics have had it at least once. I think that's why we keep doing it...