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| See what else I do on Instagram (@jnnzmm) |
Once I wanted to be a book designer. I interned at MoMA's publications department and had a great conversation over lunch with the book designer. She told me I would need to go back to school. Shame. Writers: do they need school?
I'm in love with my current city (Toronto) and miss my original city (Halifax). I take bike rides in the sun to large urban parks and fantasize about buying organic produce at the weekly farmer's market. Bring on the loose leaf lettuce - I'm sorry, but that's a sexy phrase. Cucumber and carrots are on my list for a container vegetable garden for my partially shaded back yard. I will find (free?) little plants and move them around to find the sun for as long as possible each day.
I dream about things. Places to go and things to try. A constant array of things to do is always with me. They are my biggest comfort. I get giddy when I think about them. Unlike my husband, I love The List. Things to do around the house, people to send a card to, plans for vacation, all the pretty details of my life.
Also, I try to not get obsessed with looking at real estate listings, imagining a future landscaping project to enhance the privacy of a front yard. Does it have room for a small vegetable garden in the back? Does it have a mint condition extra long claw foot tub that I can place a little yellow plant next to and a window above the kitchen sink? Who will my neighbours be?
Thursday we wandered through a community garden that was inspiring in its state of affairs. It was carefully unattended, if there is such a thing. A couple plots recently had the dirt turned over. Some were without borders and overgrown but you could identify a plant here and there that could be salvaged (see: strawberries and brussel sprouts). One day a short kid will walk the same path I did as a dare by his short friends, one of which will be holding a basketball like a weapon. The others will be pointing take it!, standing arms crossed and laughing. Stupid! Get the strawberries! Ha ha ha.
I aspire to be a good neighbour and non procrastinating writer. I like to write. I'm reading Steve King's psuedo memoir On Writing. He says art should support life not the other way around. Leave your desk in the corner and put your family front and centre. (What does he know? His he really learned anything from writing over fifty world #bestsellingnnovels? That's #success folks!)
As a snapshot of my brain today I present The List - it's not complete of course, I am constantly adding and subtracting, but it's verified nonetheless. (I stole this idea for a list of links that are so intriguing you must click them from Clotilde D. - a non procrastinating writer with fantastic cooking abilities on display here - to get her monthly lists you need to subscribe to an e-newsletter, it's worth typing in your email)
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| Photo of Sheila Heti & friends from The Paris Review |
An app that let's you stream songs all day with a concierge to assist you
My sister's store which I adore
World class photographs on display all month at this amazing festival
This online food community
A lovely smelling, natural skin care line made in my neighbourhood - the lemon deodorant cream is a minor revelation for me
This song and performance video - watch out it's sweaty
A Nova Scotia real estate site with a fun, map based search system
Alec Baldwin's podcast
Giving back to the animals
A great place to see what is happening to other people who live in this world
