by Jackie Klapak

Yahoo! Summer is here! I am utterly ecstatic. After working hard all year and taking finals, my brain is absolutely fried. It will be wonderful to take a break from balancing chemical equations and conjugating irregular German verbs.    

As for my summer, it looks as if I will be quite busy. In May, I started working at Panera Bread. This is my first job ever, and it sure is a lot of work! So far, I love working with all of the people, although my amount of free time has been greatly depleted. It is simply amazing how much my perception and outlook on aspects of life have changed in this short time, particularly about money.     

The “value of a dollar” is truly starting to sink in. (These horrendous gas prices make me shudder!) I believe that the summer is the perfect time to get a job, especially if you’ve never had one before. In the last month of school, balancing schoolwork with an evening job was quite tricky.    

So, now that summer has arrived, what should I do? (Other than working, of course.) Every summer starts out great, and then by the time August rolls around, I am usually bored out of my mind. I have compiled a list of six good, clean, fun things and ideas for you to do or try this summer. 

1. Go kite flying.  You’re probably thinking, “Kite flying?” Yes, kite flying. It’s so simplistic. Whenever I fly a kite, I feel the same way I did when I was a little kid — carefree and blissful. Kite flying has an almost therapeutic way of making a person temporarily forget reality. Kites can be very inexpensive—you can always just go to Walgreen’s and get one for two dollars. (Those two-dollar kites from Walgreen’s work the best, in my opinion.) Don’t forget to slather on sunscreen! 

2. Hike.  Not only is hiking one of the best forms of exercise, it is tons of fun if you go with great company. My favorite trails are at the Dunes. Make a day out of it — pack a few lunches, pile some friends into your car, douse yourselves with bug spray, and you’re good to go!   

3.  Spend a day in Chicago.  Although going to Chicago is normally a relatively costly ordeal, it doesn’t have to be. The South Shore train can get you there and back for less than ten dollars, so parking is no issue whatsoever. There’s always something to do in Chicago, whether you decide to peruse the kiosks at Navy Pier, catch a free concert in Grant Park, window-shop downtown, check out a museum or two, or merely roam around. Even sitting on a bench and people watching is interesting! 

4. Read a good book. I know reading doesn’t appeal to many teens, and I know that a lot of you are probably thinking, “What a dork!” If you don’t take joy in reading, perhaps you should give it another try.

There are boundless amounts of excellent novels. I recently read Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes. It was one of the best stories I’ve ever read in my entire life. It was grippingly realistic, and one would be able to read it in a day or two. It would appeal to anyone — I’m sure of that. 

For those who enjoy deep, soul-touching stories, I would suggest reading Sleepers, by Lorenzo Carcaterra, or The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold.  If you like playful and humorous readings, you might want to check out some novels by Dave Barry, such as Tricky Business or Big Trouble.  Books can really affect a person’s outlook. 

5.  Go horseback riding.  The number of people who have never ridden a horse is surprising. Horseback riding is really amusing. Everyone’s first time on a horse is undoubtedly memorable. Horseback riding is dangerous only if you take risks on the horse. Trail horses at stables merely walk unless they are instructed or prompted otherwise. People who have severe back, neck, or leg problems shouldn’t ride, though. It’s neat to view everything from the saddle of a horse. Southlake Stables in Crown Point, Indiana is a good place to ride. They even have group hayrides and bonfires there, if you’re not feeling in a completely adventurous mood. Always remember to wear some type of helmet if you decide to go horseback riding! 

6.  Go camping. Camping is quite an experience. My family and I (and friends) take camping trips every summer. Although we have a camper now, we used to really rough it and pitch a couple of tents. Camping makes for a very relaxing time, (as long as your ninety-five pound dog doesn’t go crazy if it rains). Nothing is better than having a close-knit group sit around a campfire to share stories, roast marshmallows, and gaze at the stars (which are plentiful outside of “the region”).

The state parks are the cleanest, cheapest, and offer the best services. Places to try are Tippecanoe State Park, Potato Creek State Park, and Spring Mill State Park.    

MY ALBUM OF THE MONTH! 

If you have been reading the column the last few months, since I took it over from Sarah Lounges… then you know that each month I choose a selected album that I have not experienced before (suggestions from friends, things I’ve read about that sound interesting, etc.).   I spin it repeatedly, scrutinize it and then evaluate it here about my thoughts and opinions…

This past month, I listened to The Strokes’ latest album, Room on Fire.  I previously had not been too familiar with The Strokes, and I am pleased I took the time to listen. Their music has definitive balance – it’s not too intense, but it’s not too laid-back either.

 Their songs were very easy to identify with – they spoke of topics from high school dances (in the song “12:51”) to an overall struggle with life (in “I Can’t Win”).  I really liked the CD booklet – for it contained all the lyrics. That’s good for me, because usually I totally butcher the words to just about every song I hear. I wasn’t even able to get the lyrics right in “Bad Moon Rising,” a two-minute song by Creedence Clearwater Revival! 

For this month, I will be scrutinizing Echoes, which is a compilation of the best of Pink Floyd. (The booklet has all the lyrics written out in it! Yeah!)

I hope your summer begins and goes well. Stay safe and don’t get too sunburned!  Don’t forget to drop me an e-mail at: jackie@midwestbeat.com 

 I’ll see you next month!  Auf Wiedersehen!