Hey! I just woke up.
Here I go!
anyone have any suggestions of how I should start?
Listen closely to drummers do their thing.
Eg. Listen to some OLP, but pay more attention to Jer. Try to hear the different sounds of the drums (snare, toms, kick drum) and the cymbals (crash, splash, rides, hi-hats) and they different rhythms.
This is also a good way to get inspired.
Do your research!
Look at websites, get info from music stores, talk to drummers.
Since you're in Canada, you'll probably be able to find issues of Drums/Muzic Etc. in the music stores. They have neat little cards inside them where you can mark which companies you want info from. Send it in, and get free stuff.
I got a SLEW of stuff from all of the major drum and cymbal companies, and they usually send spiffy stickers with them.
Once you have an idea of what you want, and what you wanna spend (I estimate about $1200 for starters), go get a kit.
Doesn't have to be anything too special for starters. You can get nice used kits with hardware and stuff from drummers who are giving them up. Sometimes you just have to change the heads and you're good to go.
You can get great new kits for about $1000. Pearl Forum and Export kits, Yamaha, Westbury, CB, and Pacific are easy to come by in music stores.
I have a Taye kit which I got for about 900. I like the hardware better than other kits (has space for an extra cymbal boom on the tom-toms).
Starter kits will most likely come with the hardware and cymbals you need to start off (cymbal stand, hi-hat stand, kick pedal, hi-hat cymbals and a crash/ride cymbal).
Get the kit, set it up, screw around with it a little to get a feel for it.
Then go get lessons from someone who knows what they're doing.
How difficult is it to learn?
Not all that difficult, but this is coming from a person who's taken music lessons in the past (on other instruments). Being able to read music is good, but they'll teach you if you don't know. You just have to hold up your part of the deal and practice a little everyday.
I figure if the 10 year old kid in the room next to me can play well, then you will too.
.. thanks SO much for all your help Susan but most of that when right over my head and far far away 
I guess the first thing I need to do is find out what all of those words mean and where on a drum set they are. I don't know how to read music unfortunately either .. geesh I have a lot to do! I think I'll definitely pick some magazines up and get some free stuff, at least that way I can learn more about drums and hey, free stickers are always nice 
Wow, you're the best, thanks heaps and heaps 
Yes... You want to be a drummer.