Just before Christmas, SAWinkler tagged Ann and me in the Seven Things meme that’s been circulating.  Now we have to reveal seven things you probably don’t know about us. I’ll go first! Hopefully, you’ll find at least one of these things interesting…

1. Ann had to drag me kicking and screaming into this whole blogging and podcasting thing. Well, maybe not kicking and screaming, but she had to work hard to convince me it was a good idea. I’m so glad she did; I’m having so much fun, and have "met" so many wonderful people.

2. I check my email way too much. Getting a Blackberry from work has only made it worse. I’ve read all the time management advice that says check it only twice a day, etc. I can’t help it. I love getting mail, real or virtual!

3. My first few semesters in college were spent working toward a Chemical Engineering degree. I quickly realized that wasn’t for me and switched to Graphic Design. I eventually got my degree from Mass College of Art. I only worked briefly in Graphic Design. Instead, I kept working in bookstores, something I started doing when I was 15. I got my current publishing job when I was 29.

4. I have always bitten my fingernails. I try to stop but am rarely successful for more than a day or two. Earlier this year I stopped for several months, then my Dad got very sick and the long nights in the hospital brought the biting back. My Dad got better, the habit stayed. I’ll try quitting again this year.

5. In my spare time (what’s that?), I like to do things with paper. I’ve taken classes in bookmaking, collage, letterpress printing, and papermaking. I’ve just started work on a big project to hang on the wall in my house. Not sure when I’ll finish, but I’ll be sure to post pictures here when I do… It’s all about books!

6. I proposed to my wife near the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park when the daffodils were in full bloom. Her first words when I got down on one knee were, "What are you doing?!" That night we had dinner at a restaurant called Ask.

7. I am the seventh of seven children. I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers. My oldest sibling is 20 years older than me. My youngest sibling is 10 years older than me. My mom and sister were pregnant at the same time and my niece is 5 months older than me. (I’ll give you a minute to wrap your brain around that one!). I’ve got 16 nieces & nephews and 11 great-nieces & great-nephews.

So there you have it. That wasn’t too painful (for me at least). According to the rules, reproduced below, I now have to tag 7 people. Since SAWinkler tagged Ann and me jointly, I’m going to tag 4 people and Ann will tag 3.

Donstuff
lit*chick
Kim Werker
RobAroundBooks

The Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules.
3. Write 7 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 7 people and link to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they were tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry has been published.

photo credit: Kevin Collins via flickr
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