I often wake up in the morning to the sound of banging on my front door. When I say “morning” that is self-employed talk for 10:30 AM and when I say “wake up” I mean “continue to sleep”.

The banging is usually Purolator, DHL, or Canada Post trying to deliver a package. Packages often arrive at my door from gracious friends who like to send me things or from people who just believe my friendship can be bought (It can). This time a package came from my good friend, “Amazon”.

I am a huge fan of Miranda July. If you haven’t seen her brilliant film Me and You and Everyone We Know then you probably didn’t even know about her Learning to Love You More project (a collaboration with artist, Harrell Fletcher). Taken from the introduction of the book:

Sometimes it is a relief to be told what to do. We are two artists who are trying to come up with new ideas every day. But our most joyful and even profound experiences often come when we are following other people’s instructions. When we are making crepes from a recipe, attempting to do a handstand in yoga class, or singing someone else’s song. Sometimes it seems like the moment we let go of trying to be original, we actually feel something new - which was the whole point of being artists in the first place.

July and Fletcher (with the help of some others) came up with 63 assignments and posted them on their website. People all over the world participated, sending in photos, videos, and writings. This book is a compilation of some of the work from the over 5,000 responses to the project. The cover is from Assignment 39: Take a photo of your parents kissing

Another book by Ms. July - short stories this time. She has a hilarious sense of humour and a knack for capturing the most intimate and embarrassingly real moments of life. Hopefully this purchase will help kick my bad habit of “not ever reading anything anywhere”.

Had to support the homie Braille, who just dropped his new album. It features some serious production from Marco Polo, J-Zone, and Ohno! Shameless plug: Braille also owns and operates HiphopIsMusic.

It is sad how excited I was to see this book finally arrive. I will let you know what I learn.