I don’t normally reference Drake in my writing unless of course I’m quitting a job or making a cute little Instagram post but when he recently declared Denver as having the hottest amount of girls in a city (the actual phrase was ‘highest density of tingz’ which I looked up via Urban Dictionary because what is a ting), I concluded such specific and kind commentary warranted a response.
Normally, I am pretty eh about Aubrey Drake Graham. Like someone I refer to as “nice” at a networking event, I have nothing definitive against him. His music brings up a bit of nostalgia, his face reminds me of Degrassi and I hate for The DM to ‘go there’ but something about him also declares a forewarning of dirty old man, even though he’s neither overtly dirty nor glaringly old (at least in terms of my standards). For now, he’s simply a 30-something guy in a fugue state between Wheelchair Jimmy and Ice T. And that part I get frankly, because I am also in that floating space where I want to stay relevant and I also don’t GAF.
The DM is a manifestation of this. Like a 36-year-old rapper, we write to keep you cool but more importantly, we write about the inane stuff we care about, regardless if it’s cool or not. And you probably read it for both reasons.
Anyway, we are neither the arbiters nor the originators of cool, and if you’re reading this it’s probably already so and therefore, too late. So give up, read on, and just join the jump rope already. The game might already be invented, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play (Drake didn’t say this, but it sounds like something he would support).
From the hottest city in the world (Denver) to your tiny handheld computer, this is The DM. It goes there.
From Meg
Listening to: Janelle Monae’s The Age of Pleasure, the whole album is a joyous jam but in particular, I like “Champagne Shit” mostly aspirational but also because sometimes I am actually on my champagne shit. Also no offense Beyonce but why aren’t more people talking about Janelle?
Buying: This tiny adorable serpent matchbox will cost nearly as much in shipping as it does in goods but pro tip if you close your eyes when you press the buy now button on Shop Pay, it doesn’t exist or count.
Reading: Remarkably Bright Creatures in my cute little book club with my friend Kari. It’s a story about an unlikely friendship between an octopus and an elderly widow. Sounds weird, is weird, but also so sweet and fun and snarky. Marcellus is an excellent octopus name.
Hosting: A very chic dinner party! The theme is Mayo. Not like Spanish for May but rather, like condiment slang for mayonnaise. Every dish must feature mayo and Devon is making a cake. I am one-decimal point away from ecstasy in anticipation. Not to get into my food fantasies, but this is definitely a top 10.
From Devon
Planning: to make my own homemade soft serve ice cream, olive oil and sea salt flake toppings included. Since my favorite soft serve spot in Denver is a bit too far of a drive to make it a weekly/daily summertime outing, blending it up in the luxury of my own little kitchen sounds pretty nice (that said, I’ll still need to solve for the shoestring string fries I always order to have with it - help me, Mickey D’s!).
Watching: all of this guy’s dancing-floral-arrangement-transitions, how to tuck your shirt, and bite-sized French lessons.
Loving from afar: this house - and the life that seems to be associated with it - in the Cotswolds, and a home bar I feel like was made for me.
Reordering: my favorite fancy notebook cause it’s back-to-school supply shopping time, even for adults, okay?
Reading: the below poem, which I read in Ashley’s newsletter. And, though I’m not a parent, I am trying to take the sentiment to heart in these quick-moving “I should be doing this or that” summer days. The little ordinary things - not just trips to Europe - can be Kenough.