Written by The Masthead
Art by Greta Scheff
Hello lovely readers! I hope everyone is enjoying the summer sun, lest people need to wear sunglasses when looking at the legs you’ve caged in pants all winter (I apologize to the family in the park I spooked when your baby saw me in shorts). We know you all look to Chivomengro for jubilation and cheer. Perhaps you’ve been wondering who we are. So, we’ve decided to tell you what we’ve been up to as of late, as a way of introducing ourselves, and/or catching up. – Clara
Clara MacMeekin
(She/Her)
Editor in Chief
Currently reading: Just Kids by Patti Smith
What I truly want in life is to live vicariously through a writer, poet, and singer/songwriter. It really makes me feel better about my own talents, which are nil.
Recently read: The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante
Nothing makes me feel more superior than when I go into a bookstore and walk to the “Eastern European and Mediterranean Literature” section. You should try it sometime and then buy an Elena Ferrante book and then send me a thank-you card when your life inevitably changes.
Currently watching: Documentary Now
Back with my parents for the summer and can once again watch Netflix on their television–life is good.
Currently listening to: “Re-Do” by Modern Baseball and The Tortured Poets Department album by Taylor Swift
I’m definitely not compelled to justify my idée fixe with Taylor Swift to you. (She just really understands me).
Interesting snippet of something recently: I was walking home with my dinner a couple nights ago and an older gentleman left the restaurant about 16 seconds before me. He walked ahead of me in my same direction until I got home. I successfully resisted saying something to him when we got to our fifth stoplight together, even though I really wanted to. Where do we stand on the whole talking-to-strangers-in-a-friendly-and-communal-way? Best case scenario I would have been granted an awkward chuckle in response to whatever I said which would’ve plagued my subconscious for days. Best that I just let this stranger be a stranger. Hope your dinner was better than mine, sidewalk buddy (they messed up my order).
Opinion: You should not just stand on the flat escalators in airports. They are called “people movers” for a reason because you have to MOVE. What do you have to relax about anyway? You’re in the airport. I bet you’re also the person directly in front of where people scan their tickets and make everyone maneuver around you when your boarding group is last. You can’t have it both ways!
Julia Cote
(She/Her)
Managing Editor
Currently reading: Citizen by Claudia Rankine
I picked this one off of my roommate’s bookshelf and read it before bedtime (9:30) while my friends were at a bar (I’m 21, but an old lady at heart). In a combination of lyric poetry, essay, and visual media, Rankine presents the implications of American racial history on Black selfhood. When I opened to the first page, I knew it was an important read. The rest, so far, has only strengthened that belief.
Recently read: Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
It’s always fun to read a book written in a different accent. Other than hearing Scottish in my brain for the week that it took me to finish, there was nothing fun or light about this one. Shuggie is the kind of character that you want to hold in your arms forever to keep him from inevitably getting hurt by the other characters he’ll encounter. A tale about addiction and family, and what it means to grow up queer against a backdrop of homophobia. Beautiful. Tore a Shuggie-sized hole in my heart.
Currently listening to: Violent Femmes by the Violent Femmes (1982) and “Nice Mover” by Gina X Performance
I like to listen to this album and pretend to be a teenage guy in the 80s discovering emotions for the first time.
This song is played in a particularly sexy scene of Love Lies Bleeding. Need I say more?
Interesting snippet of something recently: I’m still deciding whether or not I can say that I have a two-year streak of not crying on my birthday: what about pre-crying? does the welling of the eyes count or do tears have to fall? And if you’re wondering what I had to be upset about, the answer is 1) the general sadness and stress associated with a high-expectations day–birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, etc. –and 2) I spent hours trying to decide what to wear, ultimately resulting in a meltdown and then recovery when I realized I should have gone with the first thing I tried on. Girlhood. Then I had vegan enchiladas and my first legal Margarita, by which point I had forgotten all about it. Womanhood?
Opinion: Not sure if this is an opinion but my birthday also happened to be on the day of the Newport Lobster Fest (I know) and while I waded through the crowd to get to the Mexican restaurant, I was reminded of the absolute absurdity of New England pride. You would think the tea was just dumped into the water and the Sons of Liberty were going viral on TikTok. Let me paint you a picture: Irish jig. Why? Not sure. Mob, absolute mob of people, all drunk, all, you guessed it: white. Vineyard vines wearing ladies glaring at my female friend and I holding hands to avoid getting lost (Nancy, I think you could use a little hand-holding from a bestie. Might lighten you up). I happen to have a direct line of contact with the crustaceans and they’ve said enough is enough; there’s no need for all this fuss.
Greta Scheff
(She/Her)
Art Director
Currently reading: Just Kids by Patti Smith
Clara! How are you liking the book? I’ve only just started it but am already fully engrossed in the lives of these two artists figuring it out in the late 60s and 70s.
Response from Clara: I’m absolutely loving it! My life kind of slows down when I’m reading it, like when you’re at a museum and you’re overstimulated from the crowds so find a quieter corner and just appreciate the art for a moment and you’re thinking, “wow, I should do this more often.”
Recently read: Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
This book was a crazy ride, and definitely made me question my lifestyle choice of eating meat… Made me wonder if I would end up participating in cannibalism (if society were to come to that, of course).
Currently listening to: Angels by Shallowater, Ready or Not (feat. Sierra Ferrell) by Shakey Graves, and the entire Vestiges album by Poise
The first choice brings me into the type of melancholy state I never want to escape from. The second two music choices add an extra pep in my step while strolling the summer streets of Burlington, Vermont.
Interesting snippet of something recently:
I had just gotten on the plane to travel home from visiting a friend in Portland, Oregon. I was comfortably sat, seat belt buckled, book in hand. There was slight comotion from a row behind me, a mix-up of seats. I thought, “thank god that’s not me.” One of the flight attendants came to settle the matter and I heard him say my seat number–someone had the same seat on their ticket! Though I was already seated, I was the one who had to get up, walk through the aisle, and shakily stand at the front of the plane while he tried to find me a seat (the plane was at full capacity). Observing my fragile emotional state, a different attendant attempted to comfort me, “Oh it must be that full moon we’re having…” Needless to say little comfort was brought. As I was guided to my new seat after holding up the plane, I caught every passengers’ angry and impatient glare. I’d like to thank the flight attendant who was forced to sit in the cockpit for 4 hours as I comfortably sat, seat belt buckled, book in hand–only this time it was a new seat, squished between two burly men.
Opinion:
A strong opinion I’ve held as of late: Do not overbook flights. This helps prevent passengers from having a near panic attack when they’re forced to move seats! Oh and also, stop man-spreading. Please.
