tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87667818023833969042024-03-21T22:13:58.211-07:00johanna olsonJohannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-39668346773222973312015-10-22T21:12:00.001-07:002015-10-22T23:39:25.279-07:00<div class="p1">
Today… I lifted up the toilet seat and found two flies sitting on top of it. I waved my hand in front of them to ensure that they were still alive and capable of flight. I sat down trying not to dwell on the unusual occasion of toilet seat flies.</div>
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There’s been a rumbling in the plumbing system of my apartment. An apocalyptic melody moving its way towards me. Water trying to escape from the guts of my kitchen sink.</div>
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Conclusion… Everywhere I look there are signs of non-human activity working behind the scenes in my life.</div>
Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-52947827983455726682012-10-18T17:57:00.000-07:002012-10-18T17:57:08.348-07:00I am so hungry for things that have<br />
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no taste.</div>
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no place.</div>
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no price.</div>
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no words.</div>
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no shelf-life.<br />
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that my insides are beginning to eat themselves out of a hole.</div>
Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-86492453976201424092011-09-02T20:33:00.001-07:002012-09-24T14:25:35.540-07:00Palms<div style="font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My hands hurt from all the productivity they have attempted. For trying to produce something that they can hold and give and see as theirs. They ache at being overworked and under-cared. Still, they want something to hold. They contemplate growing more fingers and palms and nails-that-could-be-painted simply to reach further, grab wider, and grip tighter. Instead, they drop what they were already holding and begin to shake out of both pain and desire. And they wonder - what are hands if they do not hold or push or grip or shape or write or caress. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Meanwhile, they die. They are no longer mine. </span></div>
Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-34495010811299027402011-08-09T15:19:00.001-07:002012-04-26T11:19:26.618-07:00C. Dilemma<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am finding it hard to breath because the bones - that I cannot name - are out of line in the back, which I cannot see. I wonder if they would cooperate if I could simply call their names and expose the way they are restricting my living.</span>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-85934550009410429782011-07-22T22:53:00.000-07:002012-04-26T11:19:38.491-07:00Mama<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She wonders how my mind moves so fast and why I think so deeply about so many things. I am 8 topics past this question and have forgotten the 3 words before her last statement, but seem to notice that the pink ascot she wore last week matches a pink tie that my father received as a gift from some friends who visited Thailand 12 years, 2 months and 5 days ago. She denies the accusations I only partially make because half way through my grown up confrontation I lose the words to explain the thoughts and feelings I swear exist or swear into existence. She tells me who I am and I know she is right.</span></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-83705707780363096852011-07-08T09:55:00.000-07:002012-04-26T11:19:56.174-07:00NYC: 5<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Today I celebrated America.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I shot face-wash into my eye, causing it to swell and then seal itself with puss. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How ironic that the thing I use to clean my face of impurities turns out to blind me. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Independence Day.</span></div>
</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-58991617671091690612011-06-14T18:36:00.000-07:002012-04-25T22:30:43.874-07:00NYC: 3<span class="Apple-style-span">There is something rather uncomfortable about seeing trash on the streets. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Almost as uncomfortable as seeing regurgitated gum ground into the cement.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">I'd rather that the [trashy] products of my mouth be dissolved in my gut or flushed away underground - not publicly showcased for every sole that nears it. I'd like to believe that if I don't see it, it doesn't exist. </span></div>
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<br /></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-24303833221628618272011-06-13T06:51:00.000-07:002011-08-17T08:47:26.840-07:00NYC: 2<span class="Apple-style-span">What does it mean when 3 days in a row you go to visit someplace to discover that it is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays?</span><p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span">With no internet, I find my home on the plastic seats of the F, R, G, L, J train. The ever-changing nameless individuals become my transport family, my germ-infested, silent, gazing "rock". </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span">At least until their scheduled stops. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span">I drop off at 4th and 9th then tread 2 blocks of worn out pavement, while managing to ignore how cliché it must be to speculate about the subway trains. I told you, I'm one of many.</span></p>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-87202012397124075692011-06-09T19:50:00.000-07:002011-08-17T08:47:12.102-07:00NYC: 1<span class="Apple-style-span">The problem with roaming is </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span">that you run the risk of getting heatstroke. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">But then you find kombucha on tap and both you and your intestine are replenished. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span">your feet get sore from walking, so you buy new shoes while hoping that the sweat dripping down your back doesn't leave a big wet spot on the back of your shorts. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">You're already foreign.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">You get used to eating by yourself and contemplate cultural ideologies and wonder which of yours transfer where and what you should be insecure or apologetic about. Then you stop thinking about that and tip 15% before crossing the street to take a picture of the imperialistic mural that you will later post on fb.</span></div></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766781802383396904.post-24517807058112166752011-06-09T19:35:00.000-07:002012-04-25T22:32:07.379-07:00June 5/6: In Limbo<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While waiting for my connecting flight, I begin a snack of wasabi rice crackers. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first bite burns more than anything I have ever eaten. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I take a second bite. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I proceed while my eyes water, my nose runs and my taste buds are eradicated. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I tell myself that I am too smart to voluntarily cause myself that much pain. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I finally seal the bag.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">---</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am herded onto the aircraft and into my assigned seat. I, along with my flock, obediently stare at the highly produced images in front of us. 2 hours pass.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A man three rows ahead of me touches his left hand to his left shoulder and adjusts his neck pillow. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I reopen the sealed bag.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 hrs and 20 mins left.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The man's a woman.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I remain seated with my seat belt on.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I kill 6 more taste buds.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Turbulence. Sleep. Time zone change.</span></div>
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</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04953637565010444631noreply@blogger.com0