Since we have grand plans to let the whole universe know a whole lot more about SMG in 2008, it’s probably pretty appropriate to start the New Year by responding to the meme begun by my friend Luis Suarez and continued by my other excellent friend Susan Scrupski. Susan tagged me, and I’ll take up her challenge. So here, without ado, are eight things you (probably) didn’t know about me:

1. I quit my first job to write a book. The book never got written, and my burning passion to become a famous fiction writer eventually faded. Of course I realized a while ago that if I compiled all the blog entries I’d ever written (both personal and professional) I’d have the makings for several books. Whether or not anyone would read them is another matter, however.

2. I love Canada. I love this wild country from tip to toe, and while spending time in other places is nice, I will always call Canada home. I am particularly in love with the northern bits. I often dream about swimming in the cool, clean water of Lake Huron (where we have a cottage), and I am anxious for summer to roll around so we can get back. My ideal life would be our place in Tobermory for the summer and an apartment in New York City in the winter. Best of both worlds.

3. I am an avid birdwatcher. This drives my husband absolutely insane, since it slows hikes in the woods to a stumble. I’m not sure what it is I love so much about orinthology, probably the total quiet and concentration that’s required, and the act of “collecting” sightings and verifying them (I make notes). This past year, one of my highlights was watching a nest of merlins noisily fledge down the road from our place in Tobermory.

4. I am afraid of dogs. I see them, I get stiff, they see me get stiff, they get stiff, and before you know it, we’re both on guard. It’s something I’m actively working to get over. We have friends with a dog that I know quite well, but the fear is always there, and I know the dog knows it, no matter how casual I try to make my body language. I should really get my own dog to get over it, but that seems like a lot of work.

5. I have always believed that if you can imagine it, you can do it, and I have never, ever, been proven wrong. I credit my most excellent and intelligent mother for this perspective. She raised me to believe that nothing was out of reach. Consequently, the notion of gender stereotypes hit me as something of a surprise when I entered the workforce. On the upside, this has made them easy to ignore.

6. My paternal grandfather discovered a star in the 50’s (the celestial kind, not the Hollywood kind). He was an astronomer, chemist and inventor. Uh, I guess that’s not really about me, is it? Well… I’m related to a guy who discovered a star, how about that? My Dad’s family are all mechanically gifted, and through them I am related to the man who invented the modern steel-ribbed umbrella. My three-greats grandfather came to Canada from York in the late 1890’s, and I have a box full of letters from that side of the family that are fascinating (lots about inheritances and family quarrels). I am slowly typing them up and posting them on this blog. I haven’t gotten very far yet.

7. I love fast cars. A lot. Whenever I’m on the west coast, I rent a Ford Mustang and drive at excessive speeds (amazingly, I have never received a speeding ticket – this is nothing short of miraculous). I’m not pimping for a client, either – I come by my love of the American muscle car honestly. My mom had a ’65 Mustang and my Dad bought a brand new one in 1987. I blame my father for my need for speed – he’s always had sports cars and driven them too fast.

8. I am the mother of a brilliant and challenging five-year old. My own mother tells me that this is payback, but I don’t know what she’s talking about – I was a perfect child. My son’s name is Jules (Julien) and he is deeply awesome. He’s super cute and sweet, and his favourite food is sushi (ikura sashimi, to be specific). We often say that he’ll either end up in prison or as a Fortune 500 CEO.

But, enough about me. I’m tagging Collin Douma, Laura Fitton, Shel Israel, Craig Cmehil, Thomas Otter, Kate Trgovac, Leila Boujnane, Jeremiah Owyang and Phil Gomes (yes, yes, I know that’s nine!) to tell us eight things we didn’t know about them.

Happy New Year!