At the end of last school year, I had my summer all planned out. I’d sell golf equipment, take journalism law and pretty much slack off and enjoy being 21.

But one random phone call changed my summer and my life, forever.

A contact I have in Chicago called and told me about a possible internship at Chicago’s alternative rock station, Q101.

Thinking I wouldn’t have a chance, I sent off my resume and didn’t give it another thought.

Four days later I was driving out to Chicago for an interview. Two days after that, I was in Omaha for a wedding when I found out that I got the internship. And three short days later, I was working in Chicago.

Since I had all of my summer plans worked out, I wasn’t super excited to change everything. But then I realized that I needed an internship, and this is one I couldn’t pass up, even though it wasn’t paid.

And of course, Q101 is also the station that shock jock Mancow is the star of – which I assumed would make for some interesting stories, or perhaps a column.

Parts of my internship included the usual duties: making copies, running errands, etc. But there were days that made an entire summer of being poor and working long and weird hours worth it.

A big part of my job was working promotions at different bars with a radio personality from Mancow’s show.

I was usually working with Turd (a large and hairy man who pretty much lives up to his name).

It was rumored that Turd didn’t like some interns so he would refuse to work with them. But when I told him I was from Des Moines he told me, “there’s a bunch of whores there,” and then he bought me a shot.

It is also rumored that if you refuse to drink with Turd, he won’t like you. Let’s just say he always liked me.

One night I was forced to do a promotion with Turd at a strip club. And once again I was forced to drink with Turd, and I was forced to get the lap dance that Turd bought me. And as this naked woman stood before me, I realized that I was getting school credit.

A lot of people ask me questions about Mancow and his crew, so here is the lowdown. Is Turd really a Turd? Yes. Is Freak’s Niece hot? Sort of. Is Brian the Gay Mule really Gay? No. Does the Yelling Guy yell all the time? Pretty much.

Is Mancow cool or a dick? He started as an intern himself, so he was always pretty cool to us, but right after his show he would take off with his girlfriend (phone girl) while the rest of the crew stayed around all day.

Some of the cooler people who came to the studio while I was there included Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, Billy Idol, Slash and a couple of true pimps decked out to the fullest.

But hanging with turds and naked chicks wasn’t my whole internship.

I was very blessed to be a part of a number of cool things such as Taste of Chicago, a world-famous festival that features the wonderful food of the city.

I was able to see Weezer live at a roller rink, Radiohead in a huge park and the guys from MTV’s “Jackass” perform stunts for an upcoming season.

One Monday I strolled into work and found out that I was to work a Q101 Live session with 311, my favorite band.

The day consisted of watching 311 perform its only acoustic set ever in a recording studio with only 75 people. Afterwards I got autographs and pictures while visiting with the band.

My excitement that day proved that was one of the best days of my life.

Kyle Moss has been here for four years but is still a junior in journalism and mass communication because he stupidly takes 12- credit semesters. He is from Urbandale.