Neil of Citizen of the Month has started the Great Interview Experiment again. He originated this 2 years ago where I got to interviewed Gunfighter and Leigh Ann from Your Home Based Mom interviewed me. Whew! Ya got all that?

This year I have the privilege of interviewing Emma Willer over at Where there’s a Willer…

Without further ado, here it is:

1. For purely selfish reasons, (I have a daughter named Emma), tell me about your name. Where did it come from, do you like it? Any good stories behind it?

I think there was a story that my mother named me after one of the babies that she took care of when she worked in a children’s hospital as a nurse in London, UK, in the 70’s. I didn’t like growing up with it in suburban Canada because I was the ONLY Emma. It was very British, and not normal. Couldn’t I be a Jennifer like everyone else?! Now, there is an Emma in every classroom, as I understand. So I hope your Emma does not resent her name. Of course, what did I do? I gave my boys British names that aren’t common in Canada. Hello, repeating history. Durrrrrr.

2. You have two sons, are you planning on having more? Is two enough? Any daughter desires?

As I like to say, I truly think that I would screw up a daughter more than a son. I would really like some baggage that I have to end with me, baggage that is a lot to do with being a girl/woman. I admit to being slightly disappointed to find out while pregnant that both of them were boys. I don’t know what I was thinking, though. I love boys. Boys are awesome. I just didn’t know what having a boy would be like. I think you sort of expect a girl when you are a girl and you know how to be a girl, you understand girl parts!

3. What’s the one question you hate being asked?

Besides the one that asks are we going to have any more kids?! 😛 I really do hate that question! I just got asked it on the weekend at my son’s birthday party. Did you notice I didn’t answer?!

4. What are you most proud of?

I think my education and my career. I know I should say my family but it still feels like a struggle – we are still immersed in the chaos of two under the age of four. So I don’t feel pride so much as madness, but I hope one day to be able to say my family. I am well educated with a good career. I can’t talk about it on my blog because I want to keep my job, but I love what I do, and I am so happy that I ended up doing what I am doing.

5.Can you tell me something about yourself that would surprise people who know you?

This is kind of tame, but people that know me would be surprised that I can’t even remember the last time I read a proper book. I was always a voracious reader. When I was little, I used to take like 30 books out of the library at a time, and finish 2 in the car on the way home. I don’t know why I lost my reading mojo. I have a bunch of books waiting for me. I still order books by my favourite authors (just ordered the new John Irving). Since having kids, I find it extremely difficult to read a novel. And I like falling asleep to Jon Stewart, rather than the pages of a book. I also find that my blog reading is satisfying that story-reading need, too. Even if it’s actual life rather than fiction. Peoples’ real lives are pretty damn interesting.

6. You have lived all over the world, where did you like living the most? Maybe a pro and con of each place you’ve lived?

I loved living in the UK. It was exciting, it was where I “grew up” (moved there after I finished my Masters’ and found my first real career job), it was where I left home and spread my wings and learned to fly. Wow, I’m about to break into song. But really, it was awesome. I am sure living in South Korea when I was 5 was cool too but it was my parents’ experience, not mine.

7. What is your secret indulgence/guilty pleasure? (Please don’t tell me that you do not have one, if you don’t, get one asap and then tell me all about it!)

I have too many guilty pleasures, I don’t think any of them are secret. A lot of them are food. Some of them are media (tv, internet, podcasts). If I’m doing something for myself (on the internet, going to work, spending time without my family), I’m usually feeling fairly guilty about it! Mom guilt. It’s awesome!

8. You’ve mentioned you’ve met quite a few celebs and attended movie premiers. How’d that come about? Any juicy tid bits, not for me of course, I’m above all that, but you know, others might wanna know.

There’s a guilty pleasure for you – Colin Firth. I fell in love with Mr Firth in 1995 or 1996, quite inappropriately considering the age difference, when A&E was showing Pride and Prejudice like every day. Ooof be still my heart. I promptly forgot about him and then in 2001 I saw Bridget Jones’ Diary on the big screen and fell madly, completely in love. Like seriously became obsessed. I can still recite that movie by heart, I think. I also found a big Firth fan community online. And then I ended up living in England, and through that online community discovered opportunities to meet other fans and attend events. So I got to stand in the crowd outside movie premieres, but I also got to GO to the premiere of Nanny McPhee, holding a ticket just like Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson did that night. That was pretty damn cool. Because I was downtown in London a lot for work and for pleasure, I did also just happen upon premieres – like one for one of the Harry Potter movies – oh, the one with the flying car. It’s like another life now. It was just a little thrill at the time. I suppose I could get my kicks at the Toronto International Film Festival but I think I’m over it now!

9. Why do you blog? (You do a good job answering this on your blog, I just think it needs to included as part of a comprehensive look at YOU.)

I have a compulsion to write. I also like to write a million times better than to speak in person. I never pick up the phone anymore. I’ll write an email. God I wish my grandparents would use their email account. I have no illusions that I am a good writer. I am NOT an author. I read many blogs written by true writers or authors, beautifully composed. I am not trying to be that, I will never be that. I did used to be a very good essay writer at school and in university – a few times in university, I actually got completely perfect marks on essays on fairly complicated topics (e.g. Marxist theory). I’m just compelled to write in my little space. I can’t even really explain it that well. I also enjoy doing written assignments at work, which luckily enough I get to do fairly often (e.g. briefing material for fairly important people in my sphere of work).

10. What is the secret to life? (Sorry I like to ask everyone this question.)

I’ve never been asked that. I sometimes still fall into a panicked line of thought that ponders huge great questions of human existence and why the hell we’re all here and what the hell is really going on. I’m not a religious person at all. I really don’t know what the secret to life is. I am not sure I’ll ever know. I am just carving out a little tiny corner of existence, sometimes doing good, mostly being mediocre, not trying to leave too big or too small a footprint. I guess. That’s a damn tough question!

Oy! Sorry for the hated question and the tough one Emma, but thanks for playing. And a big thanks you too Neil, for rolling this out again. Muh Wha. This was a lot of fun.