Interview: Valerie Stone Hawthorne, Ph.D. aka….Mompetition

We thought it would be good to get to know our users a bit more, here is the first interview of many:

Who are you and where do you live?

I’m just a chick on the internet.  My name is Valerie Stone Hawthorne, PhD.  I’m an at home mom of boy/girl 2.5 year old twins.  In my former life, I was a cancer researcher and grant writer, specializing in breast cancer.  In my spare time I’m a blogger who is known as “Mompetition”.  I currently live in a suburb between Fort Worth/Dallas, Texas, but we tend to move a lot.

Do you have a blog or website?

I have a blog called The Mompetition and a YouTube Channel (Mompetition) that features my videos.

You are behind which Xtranormal Video?

Tons!  The two most viewed ones are entitled, “Why I Can’t Make Mom Friends” and “Moms of Multiples are Freaks of Nature.”  In addition, I’m also behind the movie Date Night?, which won your February Movie Contest.  All in all I have made 34 videos that I would call  for “entertainment purposes”.  I have a few more that revolve around me giving information out to my blog and YouTube audience, which I won’t count.  All my videos focus on the theme of motherhood and/or the competition that exists between mothers.  We all can’t be the alpha mom.  But some moms sure try their damnest to shimmy their way up to the top rung, which obviously provides plenty of material for satire.  It is my hope that the videos showcase the complete ridiculousness of mompetition and extreme parenting.

What is your xtranormal favorite video (apart from your own)?

One of my best friends is a pediatrician so Peds ED vs Ortho, cracks me up. As in,  I snorted the first time I watched it.

What is your favorite book?

I am finally getting to the stage where I’m no longer buried in “How to not accidently screw up or kill your child” books so I’ve been moving on to more enjoyable reading material.  I was turned on to David Sedaris almost 10 years ago by a friend and have devoured each of his books.  I love his style and dry verbose nature.  I’m temped to lie and sound cool by saying The Dharma Bums or something deep like Dante’s Inferno but, alas, I truly love Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  Great, I’ve now lost all street cred.

Your favorite movie?

Can I just say I hate favorites questions because I don’t have an ultimate of anything and my tastes are forever changing. I have a collection of movies I would call great and I can’t go all Sophie’s choice here.  I could watch Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind on any given day. I also love a lot of “popular movies” because, well, they are excellent films and deserve the credit, no matter how cliche it is to like them.  Memento, Se7en, Batman Begins, Fight Club, Love Actually, High Fidelity etc.

Your favorite TV show?

Six Feet Under, LOST, House, Fawlty Towers, Jeopardy and sadly, Wipeout.

Your favorite band?

This would be the longest answer ever so I’ll just give you what would play on a relaxing mainstream mixed tape road trip compilation.  Bob Schneider, Amos Lee, Guster, Jack Johnson, as well all of those Indie peeps that, if listed would make me sound completely pretentious.

Your favorite drink?

If I’m buying? Coca-cola fountain drink with a straw and lots of ice.  If you’re buying? Shiner Bock or Sauvignon Blanc (depending on the attire for the evening).

What famous people (dead or alive) would you like to see make an Xtranormal Video and why?

Seth MacFarlane – I’m sure he’d be able to give good chuckle.
Greg Giraldo – A brilliant comedian who was gone too soon.
Michael Ian Black – Although it would probably be censored too much to be understandable.
Jesus Christ – So he can clear things up a bit.

Thanks Valerie, we look forward to see your latest videos.

Bruno

Marketing Director