Growing up, I was introduced to a lot of music. I had a father who had a large CD collection and an uncle who worked in radio, so I was exposed to a lot of the classic rock they grew up with.

I enjoyed it, sure, but I don’t think I quite developed the appreciation for it until I got older and came to college. I don’t know what it was. Maybe it’s just me getting older, maybe it’s beer, maybe it’s a little bit of both, but whatever it is, I know that I like it. And it’s not just classic rock (I guess now I know why they call it “dad rock”), but other music way before my time. Cheesy 80s music, obscure 90s one hit wonders, and all those other dumb songs that came out in 2003, they all sound a hell of a lot better played at full volume on a Friday night after half a case of Keystone. So, maybe it is the beer.

I heard one of these songs recently, Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend,” and I never thought a song from 1981 could affect me in such a powerful way. I was talking with a friend recently, and we were saying how some people live week-to-week, check-to-check, whatever-to-whatever, but how we live break-to-break. The only structure of time I have is how far away my next day off is. I’ll think things like, “Oh, thank God, President’s Day is only a week away. I could use the three-day weekend.”

That’s kind of the way I’m feeling right now. I’m working for the weekend, just like Loverboy was way back in 1981, except it’s more than a weekend; it’s spring break. I feel, and I know I’m not the only one, that I do so much, whether it be work, school or whatever, that, hey, I need a break, and I’m sure you do too. That’s what keeps me going. That chance to sleep in, stay out late or, you know, not do anything at all, that’s what keeps me going.

So, once Wednesday hits, I know I’m probably going to be down in the dumps, bogged down with this assignment, that meeting, those other obligations, but then I’ll just remember Loverboy and that spring break is just around the corner, and everything will be all right.

Once we get back from spring break, that’s it for a while. After spring break, there are a few weekends in there, but not a lot of days off, not a lot of time to unwind. It’s the long haul until summer. I’m not too worried, though. I’ve got 80s music, Keystone and a whole slew of friends all working toward the same goal: the weekend.

Dominic Renzetti is a senior family and consumer sciences major. He can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].