She’s smart. She’s funny. She’s kind of a big deal. And she lives right here in Lake Travis. Wendi Aarons is a humorist, author, speaker, producer, mom and proud puppy-owner. I met Wendi years ago when she produced the first Listen to Your Mother show in Austin, which is now running in cities nationwide, and soon to be an anthology from Putnam books.
From writing for US Weekly‘s Fashion Police and Someecards to entertaining millions with a faux Twitter account and being featured in every national and local publication you can imagine, the list of her accomplishments and projects are vast and quite awesome. LT residents, meet Wendi:
Q: You’ve been involved in some amazing projects like writing for Ester’s Follies, US Weekly’s Fashion Police, The Mouthy Housewives and now Someecards. What’s your favorite one and why?
A: My favorite is probably the parody Twitter account–@paulryangosling–that I wrote with four friends during the 2012 Presidential election. We were able to make very funny, yet very pointed, statements about the issues and the account garnered national media attention and almost 1 million followers.
Q: Tell me how you emerged as a humorist? At what point was it confirmed that you are legitimately funny?
A: I don’t know that it has been confirmed as of this writing, but I think I emerged as funny way back when I worked for Warner Bros. My fellow Hollywood assistants and I would send each other subversive emails about our bosses and that was when I first experienced making light of stressful situations.
Q: You founded the Listen to Your Mother show, a stage production for a live audience, which has been extremely successful. How were you feeling five minutes before the very first show started?
A: I was feeling like an idiot for not bringing a bottle of wine with me. I really, really don’t like performing until I hear the first laugh from the audience. Then it becomes fun.
Q: One could say you write things we think, but do not say like referring to Schliterbahn as “Holy s**t, I just swallowed someone’s Band-Aid”, thigh-chaffing, Lunchables and Listeria, rejected names for mobile veterinary services, etc. Have you ever started writing a post and then said to yourself, “No, I just can’t do this one…”
A: I don’t censor myself, per se, but I definitely keep my focus on what’s funny. Mean isn’t funny, so I don’t get too far in that direction. There’s an old saying that goes, “Humor is a rubber sword that allows you to make a point without drawing blood.” I try to follow that.
Q: Where did you attend college and what was your original career path?
A: I graduated with a degree in Film from the University of Oregon and wanted to be a film producer. After working in Hollywood for 10 years, I decided I couldn’t stand how unethical that business was, so I went into something more pure. Advertising.
Q: What do like about living in Lake Travis?
A: We’ve been out here for over 10 years and I love how you always run into someone you know. (Of course, that’s both good and bad.) That’s happening less and less as the area grows, but I do hope we retain some of the small town feel.
Q: Do your children think you’re funny?
A: Absolutely not.
Q: Talk to me about the new love in your life, your BichyPoo (half poodle, half Bichon Frise) Teddy.
A: Teddy is our first ever dog and it’s been a challenge, to say the least. The only reason he’s still with us is because he’s cute as hell.
Q: If I walk into _____ (place) on a _______(day) there’s a good chance I’ll see you there.
A: Trio Life Fitness on a day when I’ve run out of excuses for not working out.
Q: You are, by far, the most amusing person on Facebook. Period. How do you come up with funny posts every day?
A: I don’t try too hard. That’s the key to being funny sometimes. Just listen to what your family is saying and write it down. Also, I start drinking at 8 a.m.
You can follow Wendi and her antics on her blog, Alpha Mom and Mouthy Housewives.
