Weeks remain before the semester draws to a close, and already I’m entering that mode of thinking of “what precisely will my arse do this summer? What adventures will I have? What colossally cool conundrums will I find myself in as I blaze an epic trail that will forever be uttered as legendary?” Chances are I’ll do nothing of any serious significance. Some things necessitate more thorough planning – and much earlier, too – than I’ve even had the time. How the hell can I even consider a trip to San Diego Comic Con when I’ve had dates with Mark Twain, Shakespeare and Technical Communication Today, not to mention countless interviews to schedule, papers to write, naps to take (because…naps), and this pesky hindrance called a job.

Okay, are you sobbing in sympathy just yet? No? Well, forget y'all! Someone needs to feel some sympathy, ‘cause I ain’t got no time for that. I’ve got to throw some plans together with a quickness. And when I say “plans,” I really mean “dreams,” because very few of them are even remotely likely.

Go to a music festival

While I’d like to coordinate some of the aforementioned activities (and some not yet mentioned, too) with my friends, it’s hit or miss whether I can even get them on board. Everyone is either too busy, too broke, too burdened down with kids, or just not in the mood for shenanigans, but I’ll definitely see more them with a lighter load of coursework.

Just so you know, I've never actually watched a full episode of "Friends." Fight me! #SorryNotSorry

Workout a.k.a. Operation: continue being dead sexy

Chances: 50/50

I lwill find some time to get on board the fitness train, which is vitally necessary because more recently it’s been more like “fitness whole pizza in my mouth.” Other things (great things, truly) distracted me, and I stopped eating as well and my nutrition took a turn for the worse. Not that I’m quite there yet, but I need to slap a photo of Wilford “Diabeetus” Brimley on my wall for motivation. That said, I’m on board with this. I need to lift some heavy shit.

Go to more professional sporting events (a.k.a. Tigers games)

Chances: unlikely

One would think in a state like Michigan that going to see the Detroit Tigers is not only desired, but required, too. Going to a Tigers baseball game is akin to a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or Mecca, but your heart and soul tugs at you to make the trip multiple times during the summer months versus just once in a lifetime. Whether or not it’ll happen is an issue of logistics. Who will go with you? Can you get anyone to commit?

Go to an amusement park

Chances: highly unlikely

Not that I couldn’t make the hop, skip, and jump over to Michigan’s Adventure more easily, but for most Southern Michiganders, crossing over to enemy territory for Sandusky, Ohio’s resident park of excellence is well worth the trip. The problem is less about money and getting enough people committed to going otherwise those roller coasters will be road with your large entourage of just yourself. It’s so depressing. Every year I want this to happen, and it hasn’t happened in more than a decade.

Seeing an ocean

Chances: so, unlikely I’m considering selling my soul to Satan

The unlikelihood of this coming to pass is much like the above-mentioned dilemmas. It seems silly to drive or fly alone. It’s too expensive to just plan, especially if trying to plan later rather than sooner. Hell, I said I’d hit up North Carolina coastline ever since I got out of the Army. How many times have I gone since then? That’s right, zero times. How long have I been out now? 9 years.

Intense wishful thinking is the source of many sighs and curses this evening. Sitting here on my ‘puter, wishing to do all the things is almost depressing to even contemplate. Maybe, just maybe, I can do one of the less likely dreams? Only Time will tell.

What about you? What are your plans for the summer? Are they just loose dreams or are they feasible? Do tell!