Growing up on the fourth side of murder, the one we’re overlooking.
In the second half of the 90s, my uncle bought a pub. My aunt painted the walls with spray cans. Jazz in the night: Manhattan skyline and a sax player. When my mom worked afternoon hours, I loved to stay at the pub, but none of the adults involved felt like it was a good place for a child. Not after 5 p.m., when clients came in to order beers. So, I was left at home with my big brother.
In January of 1999, I was going to turn 10. At the time, my brother was 16. His schedule for…
Spoiler: the stone was not a narcissist.
After four months of living under the same roof, my ex-boyfriend and I were on a Cold War. The last weeks had been excruciating; 10 hours of work, 8 hours of fights, a couple of hours of resentful sleep.
“You can walk out that door, anytime!”, I yelled at him on a daily basis. One night, he replied: “You’re right, I should move”. What a surprise! Me being right! He grabbed his phone and dialed his mum’s number.
His mother arrived in town a few days later. She booked a room and they went on the hunt for an apartment…
Womanhood, relationships and songwriting in 90s pop hits
I recently sold my Baby One More Time 1999’s original t-shirt on Depop. Young Britney was giving me her polished smile while I folded the sleeves to fit the cardboard box. It was harsh, but it was time to let it go. I’m now respectively 25 inches taller and 10 years older than the height and age it takes to wear a crop top without complaining about your belly freezing. 19-year-old Blanca will sure make better use of it.
The packaging felt like a ritual. I was taping, printing, googling a courier and listening to Britney Spears’ debut album.
“My…
OPEN LETTERS
I took the vaccine shortly after speculations about links to deathly blood clots emerged. Here’s why.
On Thursday, March 11, 3 p.m., Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspended the use of the AstraZeneca-COVID-19-vaccine. They put it on hold for two weeks to investigate whether the shot could be linked to reports of blood clots. Shortly after, the Italian police seized a batch of the same vaccine, due to three suspicious deaths. A press release from the Italian Health Authorities stated that they believed all other batches of the AstraZeneca-vaccine were safe.
On Thursday, March 11, 5 p.m. I had an appointment for my first AstraZeneca shot. I got out from work at 4 p.m. and received a…
CALL ME MAYBE
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Hi,
I’m that person. The one with no respect for your private life. You can imagine me as your boss, your professor, your client, your tax accountant — it doesn’t matter to me. But no, not your dad, please, I’m trying to get over Freud.
IMHO, no one should be allowed the luxury of uninterrupted sleep. Don’t try and fool me. I know you will forget to put your iPhone on airplane mode.
BZZZZZZ.
You,
stretching your arm to the bedside table
finding the mail widget
stating
URGENT.
Poetry to my ears.
Anxiety is the first thing anybody should feel…
It’s not courtesy
That’s a wrap on Olivia Wilde’s next movie, Don’t worry Darling. In the past weeks, the director expressed gratitude to her cast and crew on Instagram.
Olivia Wilde is a stunning actress who became known in the early 2000s for her role as Alex in The O.C. She made her debut as a director in 2019, with Booksmart, a critically acclaimed coming of age comedy. Her sophomore movie stars Florence Pugh as the leading and Styles as a supporting. On her Instagram, Olivia addressed Styles with caring words, amplifying the rumours that the two are dating.
The only reason I…
Do we need better ad campaigns to reach herd immunity?
On the road to my workplace hang posters of the European ad campaign for COVID-19 vaccination. They portray a rugby player who “takes it for the team”, and a teacher that gets vaccinated because she cares for her students. The final message: getting vaccinated is more of a moral duty than an individual health decision.
Isn’t it a terrible marketing strategy?
Most ad campaigns for the COVID-19 vaccine are based on risk communication. Spokespeople are scientists and physicians. They talk about the vaccine being safe and its success rates in avoiding contagions.
POETRY PROMPT
A feminist poem about alignment.
I took my will to the supermarket
What a trip! — She said
That’s the only one we’re getting these days
She filled the basket with chocolate and coffee
We queued at the check-out
A man’s will asked if he could be served first
I only have a few stuff — he said
Of course — said my will - go on
So the man called three of his mates
and they all put things on the belt
Excuse me — said my will
This is not fair
Honey, it’s me and my mates there’s the Superbowl going on can’t…
Beware of your dear ones.
January 23, 2020
Dear Giulia,
I’m so happy you found me in the thrift store at the corner of Cornelia Street.
I can’t believe it. We’re getting home. I’ll have a warm bath, a… why the hell are you putting me in a box and not in the kitchen, ya awful b…
Can you hear me screaming from under your slanket?
MY HEART IS BROKEN. You do not toy around with the homeless.
You don’t deserve my love and words.
Mug
February 3, 2020
So, Giulia… am I back in the game?
Were you punishing me for something? That box…
Giulia
A being. Trying to get somewhere. Probably, Mars.
