The Signs' most memorable day of summer 2021
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The Signs’ most memorable day of summer 2021 By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden and Celestial Minion Aries July 22, 2021: Blowing the last of their MAP stipend on a Bikes To You shopping spree. Fingerless gloves, a helmet with a headlamp, a pair of those shorts with padding on the butt so your booty doesn’t hurt and a hot pink 10-speed. Personality traits CAN be bought, folks! Taurus July 16, 2021: Started off their solo backpacking fantasy with an assertive day trip along the Appalachian Trail. What began as stalwart confidence quickly dwindled to full-blown panic three hours in without even a cellphone tower in sight to signal humanity’s presence. Alas, hope returned in the form of a cheerful Minnesotan family all too willing to offer elaborate directions and a nourishing handful of Chex Mix.
Gemini June 12, 2021: Hometown bar-hopping with the high school besties on Gemini’s 21st birthday turned into quite the celebration. Dingy dive bar lighting looked GOOD on your sophomore year lab partner making eyes at you across the room while dipping his onion ring in a vat of ranch. Gemini always thought he might be bicurious, but it looks like they finally get to put that hypothesis to the test… Cancer August 15, 2021: Today’s the day Cancer turned their life around, their come to Jesus moment, or maybe come to Megan … They redownloaded Tinder, cut all their t-shirts into crop tops and winked at the hottie stacking cans of maize at the grocery store. It’s never too late for a #hotgirlsummer. Leo July 3, 2021: Road tripping to Florida sounded like a fun midnight idea, until Aries’ beat up Toyota broke down an hour outside of town. The tow truck dragged the car over to Riverside, Iowa where (fun fact!) Captain Kirk will be born a couple hundred years from now … Can’t say it made up for their vision of a margarita on the seaside. Virgo July 10, 2021: Showed up to the farmer’s market with a woven straw bag in hand, wide- brimmed hat secured with a ribbon under the chin and a hankering for a cheddar-leek scone – a compliment from a stranger on their hand-stitched linen apron was the cherry on top for Virgo, who’s finally living out the provincial lifestyle they’d always dreamed of.
Libra August 13, 2021: An afternoon in Charleston during their bookshop-hopping road trip along the Eastern Seaboard went from picturesque to scary when a shadowy figure emerged from between the stacks brandishing a dusty copy of “War and Peace” and a piercing gaze. If Libra’s life was to take a turn into the plot of any Netflix Original, “You” would not have been their first choice. Scorpio August 2, 2021: A furtive glance while grappling for a tube in the lazy river line, the slippery brush of a foot in the wave pool … A last-minute trip to the aquatic family wonderland of the Wisconsin Dells has become what were undoubtedly the hottest three days of Scorpio’s life. Sagittarius July 23, 2021: Sagittarius swore they would do nothing but read books, get drunk and look hot. And so, they’ve made it a mission to visit every coffee shop within a five-mile radius, and on this lovely Friday morning, Sagittarius finally got their meet-cute. I mean, the way that barista just said hello … are they going to kiss right now? Capricorn June 8, 2021: Arrived at their summer camp counselor gig eager to develop the skills required for their dream job as a preschool teacher. Watching a kid down two consecutive tubs of Colorations non-toxic paint before 9 a.m. on a Tuesday has got Capricorn rethinking their projected career path.
Aquarius June 1, 2021: First day on the job as your hometown’s hot new barista and things could not have gone worse. Several steamed milk mishaps later and Pisces is starting to wonder whether listing the Grille as work experience was really the way to go. Cafe ́ Bustelo’s cortadito ain’t got nothing on this honey lavender latte. Pisces August 9, 2021: Forming a casual volleyball league with the third years living in a house across the street seemed like a great way to enjoy some healthful time outdoors while making lifelong friends in the process. After today’s game though, Aquarius isn’t going to plan a friendship bracelet braiding session anytime soon. They promise they weren’t aiming for her face, but apparently Aquarius’s spike game is just too good for the minor leagues.
The Signs just got vaccinated! By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden and Celestial Minion Aries Sparring with their weird antivax cousin over Instagram DMs after getting a little too trigger happy with the post-vax story selfies – consequently curating a Close Friends list solely based on their followers’ likelihood to suspect they now have a microchip in their arm. Taurus Protection from an infectious disease isn’t too shabby a birthday present, but this seriously wasn’t the type of headache they planned on having the morning after their 21st. Gemini Brandishing their “I Got the Vaccination!” sticker harder than an “I Voted” sticker in a swing-state. Cancer Eagerly waiting two weeks to give all of their (fellow vaccinated) friends a little platonic smooch and then spooning them while crying tears of joy because physical touch is their love language, okay? Leo Purposefully cleared their schedule for the 48 hours following their second dose in expectation of the oncoming storm sure to
rack their immune system only to make it through without so much as a headache – the definition of being built different. Virgo Taking the shot like a champ but then spending the rest of the day calling out literally anyone who posts unmasked photos with something to the effect of “Yikes…Not a good look…JUST because you got vaccinated does NOT mean that you have immunity or protection from COVID-19!” You’re signaling a little more than virtue, sweaty. Libra Milking the side effects for all they’re worth in hopes that their roommates will take a hint and serve them a delicious breakfast in bed, but only getting a completely crushed Nature Valley bar lobbed at them from the doorway. Maybe this fever isn’t too bad after all… Scorpio Immediately included a shot of their vaccination card as one of their pics on Tinder. “I say, if you’ve got it – flaunt it.” Sagittarius Bragging to anyone who will listen that they got the vaccination back in February. Yes, your nicotine addiction came in handy this time, but enjoy the view while you’re up there because that high horse you’re riding won’t hold you for long. Capricorn Over-analyzing the intimate moment when the woman who administered their vaccine placed the Band-Aid on their arm
and they felt their pulse quicken – did her fingers linger? Aquarius Their love for sleuthing aside – trying to figure out who’s got the vax and who’s just an anti-masker has given Aquarius a bitch of a tension headache. Pisces Just sobbing and shaking uncontrollably. The Signs as MAPs By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden and Celestial Minion Aries Theatrical Clowning: A Portal to Emotion and Gaslighting in the Round
Taurus Pee–wee Herman-eutics: A New Interpretation of 1980s American Children’s Television Gemini The Quantum Realm: Why the Physics in Marvel Movies Makes No Sense Cancer Plant Mythology: The Science Behind the Personification of Nature Leo 90s Horror: Theatre and Dance in the Occult Virgo BananabaBio-Power: Minions and the Foucaultian Panopticon in “Despicable Me” Libra Astrological Destinies: How to Actually Write Horoscopes
Scorpio Hormones, Pheromones and Fake Moans: The Chemistry of Sex Sagittarius Phalluses, Fallacies: Siege Weaponry of the Early Modern Period Capricorn Pretty Little Liars: The Physiological Aesthetics of Post- Truth Politics Aquarius HomoNeoliberal Loco-Motives: The Foundations of Critical Buttigieg Studies Pisces Squirrelly Anthropomorphisms: Rodents in Iowan Imagery and Folklore
The Signs As Oddly Specific Fragrances By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden and Celestial Minion Aries “The Harris Afterparty”: The horrendous but nostalgic combination of jungle juice, cigarette ash from the last 50 years and the joy of finally getting control of the aux. Taurus “Dish Line Darling”: The lush smell of the Dining Hall dish room, spiced with notes of soap and the Nutella-smeared sausage clinging stubbornly to the trough. Gemini “The Cleve Whiff”: A provocative blend of burnt popcorn, loggia brick and … is that a skunk I smell?
Cancer “Burling Breakdown”: The salt of all your wasted tears mixed with the comforting must of the old fourth-floor hardcovers. Leo “Hot Girl Shit”: Mint, lime and white rum baby! Virgo “Know it All”: The overt scent of fresh East Campus laundry and streaks of Sharpie wafting from The S&B articles you edited to shreds two nights before. Libra “The Flirt”: Jasmine dabbed on your neck and inner wrists transported in a bout of tactful touching during the work hour. Scorpio “The Hangover”: The strange but effective concoction of piping hot menudo, Powerade and buttery pancakes.
Sagittarius “New Year’s Eve”: Champagne, strawberries and cherry lip gloss already smeared on the mouth of your midnight kiss. Capricorn “Post-Scrimmage Supper”: The rich tang of sweat dripping down your back and drying in the waistband of your sweatpants. Aquarius “When the Failure is Fresh”: The musk of mothballs and flakes of dried skin floating through the afternoon light to gently land on the artificial plasticky traces of your woven Ikea rug. Pisces “Going Home”: A misty spring rain shower with hints of car exhaust.
The Signs entertaining themselves in the town of Grinnell on your average Saturday morning By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden and Celestial Minion Aries Walking all the way down the bike path, past the high school and the abandoned fields before befriending a group of horses. They’ll have to shower when they get home; they vaguely smell of manure. Taurus Trying on gowns at First Look Bridal Boutique, not a romantic partner in sight but full of hopes for that ring by spring.
Gemini Heading over to Dari Barn for a cool and sweet treat sounds like the perfect pick-me-up on this warm Saturday, but taking so goddamn long to eventually just decide on a mini vanilla sundae with cheesecake bites means their friends have already started walking back to campus, leaving them in the dust. This pick-me-up has turned into a serious drag-me-down. Cancer Choreographing an interpretive dance in Central Park to the symphonic musical stylings of the bird noise machine. Leo Strolling over to Saints Rest with a stuffed backpack, including their organic chemistry binder, their Roman history reading and of course, a little Octavia Butler, because they will not be doing homework. Virgo Waking up at the crack of dawn to get the first pick at Grin City Bakery. You won’t catch a Virgo expecting there will be Buttermilk Bars left at noon! Libra Ending senior year with a bang by single-handedly reviving South Campus’ most holy tradition: Alice. You’ll find them
splayed on fresh grass, arguing with passersby that yes, they have now gained the ability to look directly into the sun. It only takes one to dig a rabbit hole! Scorpio Ready to stunt on all the middle schoolers at the Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center in the new monokini they snatched from last year’s dorm dive. Sagittarius Going to the skatepark to dust off their Walmart-brand board but getting too intimidated by the horde of seventh graders pulling tricks on the half-pipe. Just keep walking – past the park and around the block. Walking with a skateboard is just as cool as riding one, right? Capricorn Enjoying the sunshine during a picnic with friends atop the hill at Ahrens Park trying to ignore the intrusive thoughts reminding them of the last four Tinder dates they brought to this very spot. Aquarius Cooing and shaking a handful of sunflower seeds on the Burling balcony, but there’s not a vaccinated squirrel in sight … @grinnellcollegelibraries needs to answer for this.
Pisces Speed-reading Made for Love on the fire escape between Loose and Read before their HBO Max free trial runs out, dodging cigarette butts dropping from the third-floor landing. The Signs as Spring Breakers 2012 By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden and Celestial Minion Aries Unknowingly beginning their career as a drug mule driving over the border from Tijuana with a unicorn pinata they found at a party – the perfect souvenir to commemorate a week of unbridled debauchery.
Taurus Browsing Pinterest on their iPhone 4S to find Duck Tape™ dress patterns that will really spice up their Effie Trinket costume for the midnight premiere of “The Hunger Games.” Gemini Sitting in the passenger seat of a Jeep in Omaha, Nebraska, bumping Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO while on their way to their externship at Blue Cross Blue Shield with their new alumni friend Eric. Cancer With a week of repose ahead, why not crack open Rick Riordan’s masterpiece, “Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena?” Just hope the ending isn’t too much of a cliffhanger – waiting until October 2013 for the next installment sounds like absolute torture. Leo Slightly disappointed that the gorgeous mountain road trip views in Utah have been smothered by literally hundreds of “Romney 2012” signs every mile. Virgo Just can’t decide between their favorite YouTube collabs this week, but it has to be either Zoella
and SprinkleofGlitter’s Best Friend Tag OR Tyler Oakley’s “Twin Twinks Learn Gay Slang” video with JacksGap. Libra Spring break presents the perfect opportunity for an aesthetic makeover. Beanie? On. Jeans? Skinny. Posts about “the game?” Reblogged on Tumblr. Mustache? Tatted on the inside of your pointer finger. The Lumineers? Streaming on Pandora. Scorpio Now that their English midterms are done, Scorpio can settle down with a copy of this new book called “Fifty Shades of Gray” they just got from the book shop (it sounds kinda hot!!?). Sagittarius After doing a deep dive into the logic behind the Mayan Calendar predicting doomsday, Sagittarius has decided to elope with their two-month lover before building a barricade to grow old together in. Capricorn Defending “The Walking Dead” to their last breath in a “Don’t Talk to Me Unless You’re Daryl Dixon” graphic tee because actually they’re called walkers and it’s more than just a show it’s the modern zombie zeitgeist so get on board or go back to “Grey’s Anatomy” – talk about a show with an
unsustainable narrative! Aquarius Although Miami was meant to bring back Aquarius’s tan, the weather has decreed that they will keep their post–Midwestern winter pale complexion. At least they have Just Dance 2 to keep them entertained in the hotel room. Pisces Channeling their best indie-cool-girl-post-Harry-Potter Emma Watson impression from “Perks of Being a Wallflower,” driving through the I-70 tunnel in Denver, Colorado. The Signs at a Middle School
Slumber Party by Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden, and Celestial Minion Aries Leo’s mom (a Taurus, of course) just brought in the Cheez-It snack packs and cups of SunnyD. Good thing Aries brought the half-empty bottle of Mike’s Hard Lemonade they’ve been holding on to since their sister’s sweet 16 to really get this party starteddd. Taurus Is passed the fuck out on the couch despite how much noise everyone else is making. Nothing, not even the end of the world, could wake up Taurus, except for maybe the vaguely demonic chanting in the bathroom. (Don’t worry, they’ll make up for it in paralyzed silence while lying in their sleeping bag from 4:30 to 7:00 a.m.) Gemini Is locked in the bathroom frantically soaking up their piss from the floor with paper towels. This was not their first Bloody Mary experience – but did anyone else see the lights totally flicker?! Cancer Streaming “The Woman in Black,” (2012) starring Daniel
Radcliffe succeeded in providing inspiration for Cancer’s short king fanfic, but it also has them holding onto their tattered, one-antennae ladybug Pillow Pet for dear life all night long. Leo Just wanted everyone to come over for skin care and a scary movie, and now Libra’s literally in an ambulance, Taurus fell asleep at 9 p.m., Sagittarius is tipsy and Cancer refuses to sit with the lights off. Virgo Helping Leo’s mom figure out the fuse box after a curling iron mishap during their “drag queen makeover” upstairs resulted in a neighborhood-wide power outage. Libra Is moaning on the trampoline, flip cam in hand, after a creative vision for a slomo cartwheel shot in the chorus of their “I Got A Feeling” music video resulted in nothing but a broken collarbone. Scorpio Refused to change into their p.j.s because Leo said their older brother was on his way home from lacrosse practice and Scorpio has been saving this Roxy tank top and Hollister mini skirt set for just such an occasion.
Sagittarius Really wants to play Never Have I Ever but no one else is down. How else will people find out about that time last summer when Sagittarius bumped into Jason Wheeler during a game of Marco Polo and he was totally hard?! Capricorn It’s that time of the night – Capricorn has pulled out their furry cat ear headband and is communicating strictly in meows, purrs and hisses. Aquarius Is walking around with headphones plugged into their iPod Touch filled to the brim with indie music they think makes them “edgy.” Despite their need to mope, they can’t help but smile at Cancer’s ladybug Pillow Pet. Pisces Really, really, really wants to go home but they’ve used up all of their mom’s no-questions-asked-I’ll-pick-you-up-at-any- time-of-the-night passes after last year’s bar mitzvah season. This is going to be a long night.
The Signs’ Tinder Bios By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden and Celestial Minion Aries I’m not saying that I’ll be a better option than the last guy on here, but did he casually invest stocks in GameStop when he was thirteen and is now living it up on a yacht like Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street? No? Is that the kind of guy you’re looking for? Honestly, I hope not because all I’ve got is a Pizza Hut coupon for half-off a two-topping medium pie but if we both learn to lower our expectations…I think we could make it work. Taurus Tell me your plans for #NationalPoundCakeDay send nudes and i’ll donate to a bail fund
Cancer Just your average Hufflepuff looking for the right one to Slytherin it’s a love story baby…just swipe right Leo I’m not saying I’m a s*gar b*by but if you’re a doting daddy swipe right Virgo Reading philosophy books to trick people into thinking I’m smart, but doing it ironically so they know I’m not, like, weird about it Libra Heads up, there’s a reason I’m here and not on Hinge Scorpio I’m so sick of this shit tbh Sagittarius 8’7” if that matters People tell me I look like Jim from The Office haha do you know that show? I’m a simple man, I see a dog, I swipe right Capricorn If you’re lactose intolerant but still eat cheese you’re the right type of nihilistic for me.
Don’t swipe right if you’re not gonna start a conversation Aquarius Letterboxd is linked below if you want to check out my recent review of Pulp Fiction, hint – Tarantino’s magnum opus Pisces Let’s watch old reruns of The Voice while making macarons and streaming Alt-J at your local library The Signs as Independent Majors By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden, Celestial Minion Aries LSAT Test Prep
Taurus Dystopian Young Adult Literature Gemini Astrology Cancer Witchcraft with a concentration in Herbal Remedies Leo The Age of the Ankle Boot: Modern Fashion Design Virgo Racquetball Libra The Lamb of Wall Street: Ethical Hedge Fund Management Scorpio Sex Therapy Sagittarius Column, Cornice and Cupola: Creative Corporate Architecture Capricorn Microblogging Aquarius Spreading God’s Word
Pisces “The Fetal Position”: Postcoital Cuddling Signs as the First Years on Campus for the First Time By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden and Celestial Minion Aries You’ve spent too many afternoons staring longingly through the front windows of Burling, palms pressed to the glass, a single tear falling to your cheek – cursing fate for keeping the jungle gyms just out of sight but never out of mind. Taurus Bummer your scurry absolutely blows, but you’ve gotta stop with the wistful glances at the hordes of Loose kids flaunting the hottest “#1 Grandpa” sweatshirts Second Mile had to offer. What did you expect when you joined the “Dungeons and Drag- CORNs!” Discord last August?
Gemini Weep not over your plastic bag of Iowa Ham Balls, sweet child. You got your pretty penny’s worth when you skipped your tour for the stir fry line on Admitted Student Day. Cancer Every Cancer loves the warm feeling of a freshly decorated room. But maybe hold off printing every photo you’ve ever taken to put on your new dorm room wall? I promise you’re the only one who thinks that blurry photo of your friend is funny. Leo No one blames you for trauma bonding with a cutie from Tutorial, developing a toxically co-dependent relationship online and only coming face-to-face with them on your two- month-anniversary; if we were the only two people left on Earth, I’d let you take my quarantine virginity. Virgo Congratulations on being the nail in the coffin of Grinnell’s institutional memory! To ease your disappointment at the lack of Grinnell culture, dumpster dive through Facebook search results for “self gov” to learn that it maybe never existed in the first place. Libra Your second-year neighbor is one more music-blasting night away from knocking on your door and telling you to fuck off. No one else needs to hear you process your high school love life to early 2010’s pop music.
Scorpio Dutifully doing your research to find creative sex positions that reduce close face-to-face contact – respect the grind (especially because it’s not taking place against a wall in Harris.) Sagittarius While your mom might look furious as she’s forced to retrace the nine-hour route back home just six days after you arrived on campus and decided you deserved the “authentic” college experience, take solace in the belief that she’s probably just really disappointed. Capricorn It’s common knowledge that you tend to love the “serious types”, but that does not mean you should virtually seduce your young professor. It’s just their Zoom lighting that makes them “magnetic.” Aquarius Campus not everything you imagined after doom scrolling through TikTok under that one Vampire Weekend sound? Sorry hun, but this ain’t the East Coast! The only Greco–Roman thing you’ll find around here is that intended econ major in Classics 248 – talk about Adonis. Pisces Isolation was rough on you, Pisces. Ask your scurry to bake with you! Who knows, maybe the guy down the hall who looks like a young Keanu Reeves could give you something to spice up Nana’s ol’ brownie recipe.
The Signs on Valentine’s Day By Celestial Mistress, Celestial Maiden, and Celestial Minion Aries This is it, Aries. It’s time to make a decision. You either need to ask them out or continue to “run” into them in the Dining Hall dinner line. Flirting in a face shield: not the move. Taurus We get that “if you were on campus you definitely would have V Day plans,” but time is ticking baby. Will you make that Facetime call, or is it another early night of Franzia and “Love is Blind” while your mom knits her fourth throw blanket on the couch next to you? Gemini That quarantine romance is reaching its end … but might I suggest not breaking it off on Valentine’s Day? You need to
work on your bedside manner. Cancer At this rate, “Love Story” (Taylor’s version) is guaranteed to make AT LEAST the Top 5 on your Spotify Wrapped – you sure you’ll be alright with that kind of vulnerability on your Insta Story next December? Leo Self-prophesizing as a TikTok bimbo is not the move that will catch your fifth crush’s attention. It’s a polar vortex, baby! It’s okay for hoes to get cold. Virgo Don’t let anyone tell you that giving Valentines is so middle school; if they don’t appreciate your tireless dedication then they don’t deserve your subtle yet snarky flair for the poetic. Libra WebEx is not a dating app. Your behavior is going to turn that breakout group into a break-UP group. Stop the in-class flirting and start a romantic email exchange on Outlook like a normal person. Scorpio Just hold out a few more weeks and you’ll be back on campus telling us all about your latest trysts via the Burling bathroom wall, you dirty dog. Sagittarius Hook up safely, you horny jester. Getting laid doesn’t have to mean getting COVID, but you’re gonna have to mask up with more
than a dental dam to keep Miss Rona out. Capricorn A tender smooch is in your future – better invest in some Burt’s Bees for those crusty lips! Aquarius Brace yourself. The ex that made you play Olivia Rodrigo’s “Driver’s License” on repeat is about to shoot a text your way. And no, they aren’t with that blonde girl that always made you doubt. Pisces Suggested Ao3 search terms for your pleasure: mature – enemies to lovers – consent – frottage – porn with feelings – light angst – wing kink.
The signs as fourth-year, second-semester students By Celestial Minion and Celestial Maiden Aquarius Can be found building their bunker, whispering ‘senior slump’ (referring to the geographical phenomenon that they are building their bunker into). Stay building. Pisces Can be found re-reading their favorite YA novels to their friends in bed. Stay young. Aries Can be found searching for apartments in Bushwick with no plan for a job. Stay optimistic. Taurus Can be found being ‘sick’ and blowing off their responsibilities in order to sleep in. Stay cozy. Gemini Can be found giving themselves a new spring haircut and buying a new wardrobe. Stay impulsive. Cancer Can be found vandalizing all their favorite spots on campus with poems they wrote first year. Stay sappy. Leo Can be found plotting schemes to figure out where their high school ex is going to move to. Stay loyal.
Virgo Can be found lying to their mom about what postgrad programs they are applying to. Stay independent. Libra Can be found going through DB, figuring out who they’ll let kiss them at 100 days. Stay picky. Scorpio Can be found downloading pdfs from JSTOR before they lose institutional access. Stay passionate. Sagittarius Cannot be found… literally where are they? Stay restless. Capricorn Can be found making an excel spreadsheet for all the people they want to get coffee with before they leave. Stay focused.
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