Finals are around the corner, but they're still far enough away that summer seems but a distant dream. In that spirit, The Scene presents the awesome things we're doing once classes let out and the non-stop party starts.
1. Get our lives in order
Summer provides us with the semblance of finally getting our shit together. Other than a job or an internship, our responsibilities are minimal, and stress is at an all-time low. Finally, we are well-rested and feel confident and...oh yeah, we're broke and have no idea what we're doing after graduation. No worries though; summer's the best time to delude ourselves - and hey, when the sun goes down and we break out the popsicles, life is pretty great.
2. Wear at least one item of neon-colored clothing every day
Neon T-shirts, neon hot pants, neon leggings...the possibilities are endless. And what better way to show your appreciation of the summer sun than to emulate it with sassy clothing options? With a wacky neon baseball cap, you'll always be the life of the party, and strangers looking at your Facebook photos will think, "Man, that kid in the neon really knows how to have a good time." And you did have a good time - because wearing neon pretty much requires that you lead a spirited sing-a-long of "Louie, Louie," play practical jokes on other party guests and eat copious amounts of junk food.
3. Camp out in Chicago for awesome music festivals
Come summer, Chicago turns from blustery playground of Oprah Winfrey to rocking host of Perry Farrell's brainchild and music extravaganza, Lollapalooza, which runs from August 3-5 at Grant Park. This year, the fest promises The Stooges in addition to dozens of other bands, for the low, low price of $195. Alternatively, Pitchfork offers an even better line-up (Sonic Youth, Cat Power and Grizzly Bear, among others) for its fest held July 13-15 at Union Park, at a quarter of the price. Of course, you could make an event of it and go to both, but add ticket costs to ever-increasing gas and air fare (for those that don't live in Chicago), and your awesome summer plans will have to include a not-so-awesome summer job.
4. Challenge strangers to dance-offs
If you've planned your summer appropriately, it means you've left plenty of free time to work on your hobbies. Whether your interests include dancing or confronting people on the street, challenging strangers to dance-offs is probably the best use of your free time. Get some friends together, design matching outfits and choreograph something simple yet menacing. Then take it to the streets! Dancing street gangs are living in safe times, with few, if any, other dancing street gangs trying to take their turf; it's time for you to remind them not to get too comfortable.
5. Inject some life into the country club
We tried to turn the quad into our daily hub of relaxation, but simply laying a towel out on the grass and putting on sunglasses wasn't thrilling enough to satisfy our insatiable longing for a tropical paradise. That's why lounging at the country club (where the latest gossip is to be had) every day with our closest friends provides a much better environment for our love of leisure. We'll certainly remind those rich, middle-aged members wearing stuffy polos and elastic khaki shorts what it's like to be young and hip again
6. Reorganize our baseball card collections
There was a point in life when nothing mattered more than 2-inch by 2-inch pieces of cardboard, each depicting a Major League Baseball superstar. To attain these, whining would be initiated at the checkout line at Target until these cries were finally relinquished by a pack of Topps cards. Hours upon hours were spent organizing the acquired cards, all in hopes that this hard work would lead to childhood memories for my cynic adult self, or at the very least, millions of dollars because of their value as the world's currency. Now it's time to see what they can get us, even though there's a good chance that they will only fetch 40 cents at the most on eBay. But those $2 will go a long way during the hot summer days - hello, Dairy Queen!
7. Road trip
Is anything more quintessentially summer than hitting the open road with nothing more than a bunch of good friends, a beat-up car and some rocking tunes? It doesn't really matter where you're going and if you get lost on the way, as long as memories are made. Friendships will surely be built up, then broken down and then built up again. But let's not forget the tunes - summer classics like "How Bizarre," "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Tequila" will be in heavy rotation, testing everyone's sanity and vocal ability. And when the sun starts to go down over the horizon, don't be embarrassed to throw on a couple of slow jams; no one needs to know you cried while listening to "Time After Time" on the best vacation of your life.
8. Work at Quizno's
A job in food services is a job in human services, as the FDA would most likely say. While other chumps are sweating at their construction or landscaping jobs, only the coolest of the cool are living it up at the hottest sub shop in town. In some ways, it's like a summer camp for older kids, and it pays too. Plus, every night ends with food fights; just be sure not to throw those meatballs too hard, guys. School's out for summer, but don't fret - Quizno's is now in session, and Chicken Carboneras are the new textbooks.
9. Lounge 24/7
The versatility of lounging cannot be overstated. On those long summer days that seem to last forever, lounging is sometimes the only option to pass the time in style. Hammocks, couches and even the backyard are all fair game when it comes to pseudo-napping the day away. Best of all, unlike actual napping, lounging can facilitate simultaneous eating, reading and chatting - all worthy summer activities. If Fat Joe (perhaps the bard of summer?) has taught us anything, it's that anyone can lean back.
10. Shop 'til you drop
Although as students we might be low on money, there's not a summer without some retail therapy to make us feel better about the harrowing drama of our most capricious lives. For those who see the mall as their second home (did someone say Pentagon City?), spending the summer endlessly shopping can only mean banging back-to-school outfits.
-COMPILED BY THE SCENE STAFF
