A Sportsman's Guide To Enjoying the Hot Days of Hell (whisper...The Midwest)

Now that we have just snuck into the tunnel that is a long and fiercely suffocating summer it is important to put some things in place...not only to bear the heat and the similarity of every single day, but to enjoy yourself through the months of July and August.
A steady combination of yard games, good summer music, beer, and friends is a good start, but we need specifics. There is a certain kind of song that fits neatly between a 95 degree summer day and a grill layered with bratwursts...there is a certain kind of yard game that fits in between the swatting of vampire mosquitos and "glory day" conversations... and there is a certain kind of beer that works best with the fire burning sun to completely dehydrate your body in all this summer fun.

Music
I think everyone understands the concept of music following the mood of the season. Winter is riddled with The Decemberists (for less obvious reasons), Interpol, Modest Mouse and the Weakerthans. During the Autumn season we listen to The Red House Painters and the Beatles and John Vanderslice and Neutral Milk Hotel.
Summer you listen to Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty and Iron and Wine and Pearl Jam and My Morning Jacket and Blue Sky by The Allman Bros over and over again. Anything with a good "middle america" feel to it will do just fine.

Beer
Something a little lighter. Busch Light has been a favorite, but has given way to Bud Light and now there is a new beer that is taking over and that is Bud Light Lime. At first I was apprehensive... kind of thought it was a sissy beer... and maybe it is, but its so fucking good that I don't care. I mean its not like we are drinking Zimas with watermelon jolly ranchers sitting on the bottom. Its just a beer with a gentle lime taste in a bottle with neon green writing. If thats not masculine enough for you, I don't know what is.

Yard Games
Washers is a no brainer.
Cornhole has become a new back yard favorite. ( I like it because of the high success rate, I can really get those bean bags on that board)
But the yard game of the 2008 summer is Portuguese Horseshoes or Wang. That is the entire title. You don't get to chose between the two names...that is the title.
Now let me briefly explain.
You need two waste high wooden poles sticking in the ground about 10 yards apart. You need an Ultimate Frisbee. And you need two beer bottles. The bottles go on the poles.
Instead of being on opposite sides with your partner you are on the same side.
I am not going to explain much more
You take turns throwing the frisbee trying to knock over the beer bottle. If the frisbee comes at you you must catch it. If your opponent hits the pole and knocks over your bottle you can dive and catch the bottle.
A great game for sure.

Or you can just sit inside and rewatch your favorite television series on DVD while sneaking peaks as everything die from outside your living room window.
Have a great summer!

The Hold Steady [mp3] Constructive Summer