Bone Thugs 'n Father's Day? You've Got to Be Margot Kiddering!

This week was packed with an interesting flock of characters, from Lois Lane to Bob, the gentleman who bought nine comics drinks for a comedy encore. Throughout the week I desperately tried to make the right eating decisions and I managed, due to the Solstice Parade, to stay 75 percent healthy. However, homemade scones during the parade and Biringer Farm's strawberry shortcake were my kryptonite. 

Margot Kidder, Derek Sheen and Jen Seaman pose for a Black Christmas card.

Through the past seven weeks, I've been working towards losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The majority of my week is spent on the road performing comedy, so I'm subjected to the temptation of fried foods and high fructose delights. It's my goal to lower my cholesterol, drop jaws at my upcoming high school reunion, and perhaps fit into a swimsuit without any overhang.

Tuesday I achieved a personal goal, performing in front of my hometown, Oak Harbor, at the Lava Lounge (not to confused with the Belltown bar of the same). I opened again for Denver-based comic David Testroet and host Susan Jones, who is a personal hero of mine and one of Seattle's leading female headliners.

Prior to performing, we enjoyed a quick bite. What I really wanted was the recommended hot wings filled with delicious spices and fried chicken goodness. I opted for the other form of chicken available: the chicken sandwich.

The difference between Lava Lounge's chicken sandwich and normal pub food is that Lava's is a cold roasted chicken breast versus the typical grilled breast. Although tasty, it was the first I had ever seen served on a hamburger bun with fries. The Lava Lounge will soon receive a menu makeover with the addition of several pizza ovens, creating a new parlor for Whidbey Island.

The Oak Harbor show had me anxious to kill in a "hometown girl makes good" kind of way. My opening line killed:
I never thought I'd perform comedy blocks away from where I learned how to parallel park and lost my virginity... in the same night.

Joke that killed the crowd:
I grew up here in Oak Harbor. I always thought it was funny--leaving Oak Harbor, the sign read, "We wish you Fair Seas and Calm Winds." When I was a kid it read, "Oak Harbor: if your kids don't play football... they're gay!"

Intentional cold chicken sandwich at Oak Harbor's Lava Lounge.

Through the week I performed at the Upstage Theatre in Port Townsend with a fantastic crew of comics and Portland headliner Dax Jordan. The show featured my first recurring fan, a woman who enjoyed yelling that I was adorable between jokes.

Saturday brought the surprise of hosting discussion panels for Crypticon, a horror convention held at the Everett Holiday Inn. Local comedian Derek Sheen and I interviewed Ernie Hudson of Ghostbusters fame and Superman's Margot Kidder. The basement/parking garage was converted into a dungeon for autograph hounds and vendors eager to snag photos of horror geeks in coffins and with their favorite sci-fi or horror legend.

Hudson was late to the interview, which put me in an odd situation.  I spent a half hour entertaining Ghostbusters fans and creating an impromptu fashion show with a superfan who built his own Proton pack. Hudson managed to answer all questions, including whether a Ghostbusters III was in the works. There's been a lot of talk and interest in the film, but despite what IMBD says of a 2012 production date, the future of the film remains uncertain.

Sheen had the honor of interviewing Kidder, who discussed her on again/off again relationship with the late Richard Pryor, who evidently wanted to be taken seriously as a professional actor. She detailed her conversations with Pryor about how directors would simply ask him to be funny instead of giving him a chance to be dramatic, and how it affected him emotionally.  

Sunday I performed for the Solstice crowd in Fremont during the Big Bully Show at Tost Lounge with Chicago-based comic Adam Norwest. An encore was requested by a special audience member, Bob. At the end of Norwest's set, Bob demanded that we keep the laughs a-comin' and enticed us with a round of free drinks. Being the whores of comedy we were, 15 more minutes were added to the clock. This included a song by comic Daniel Duarte, describing in a taunting tone the joys of being 28 years of age when many of the world's biggest stars died at 27.  The show was a success despite the fact that it was Father's Day and Bone Thugs N' Harmony were performing blocks away.