FOR POUNDSTONE, LIFE IS JUST ONE BIG COMEDY WORKOUT.

Byline: Heather Wood Staff Writer

``My life is pretty much scrubbing the kitchen floor every night,'' says Paula Poundstone. ``Exciting, huh?''

After suffering through the stand-up circuit of New York and Los Angeles to emerge as today's leading ladies of comedy, Poundstone now shares her Santa Monica home with nine cats, three young children and three bunnies.

``I'm supposed to be writing a book and working on new material, but I enjoy nothing more than immersing them all (cats, kids and bunnies) in water. My whole life has been scrubbing.''

OK, she's not kidding. Well, maybe a little. But she does have a reason to thank her cats.

``They are endless sources for material,'' she says as one of the felines meows from an outside door. ``That's OK, Buddy. Mama's working now.''

The scene may seem like a zoo, but it jibes with Poundstone's off-kilter brand of humor. Tonight, she's headlining Marshall's Women in Comedy series at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. She'll be joined by Wendy Liebman and Judy Gold, two up-and-coming women in the world of comedy.

``I appreciate good comics,'' says Poundstone of her company. ``But normally I hate being in a group of women, that's the honest-to-God truth. I mean, just because we're a bunch of women doesn't mean we are going to be entertaining. It would be nice, but it doesn't always happen.''

Poundstone's comments are directed at the tradition of grouping female comics together and categorizing them as one breed.

``I just never found that a selling point,'' says Poundstone. ``I just never have. I mean there is something kind of powerful about that many women doing this goofy-ass job, but we're all individuals with different styles.''

The nationwide comedic tour benefits four groups helping to prevent domestic violence, including the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against and Sojourn, which provides resources for women and children in abusive situations.

``This is such an important cause that is very passionately held. It's great to do something like this.''

Poundstone is making her second run with the Women in Comedy series this year. ``They did one in New York last year, so I joined on,'' she says. ``Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be a part of something like this. Besides, the cause speaks for itself. I don't see how someone could not be a supporter.''

With the Women in Comedy tour and countless gigs throughout the country, Poundstone says she spends more time on an airplane than she does at home. She's thankful to be performing near home.

``I very rarely work this close to home,'' she says. ``Most of my jobs are out and about because there's just no profit in working in L.A.''

But travel, like everything else in Poundstone's life, is a good source of material.

``I was in a hotel last night, and when I went to the mini-bar, there was nothing but candy and cards,'' she says in a sketchlike voice. ``There was a thing called a doctor's kit that was only big enough to hold Band-Aids. Then there was another one the same size called an intimacy kit. You need a kit for everything these days? And it costs you 20 bucks! I can get my floor scrubbed for less than that.''

The facts

The show: Marshall's Women in Comedy Festival.

The stars: Paula Poundstone, Wendy Liebman and Judy Gold.

Where: Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

When: 8 tonight.

Tickets: Tickets are $20 to $35.

Information: [phone] or [phone].

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Photo

PHOTO Paula Poundstone