Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Words for Wednesday - The little pool that couldn't

Words for Wednesday - The little pool that couldn't

I'm linking up with Delores over at Mumblings again with Words for Wednesday, this week I have chosen to weave the prompts into a true situation Cindy and I had this past week.

Here are this weeks prompts:

dominant, carpet, magazine, duster, finicky, display
and/or
carbine, boots, tactical, determination, filthy and disgusting
or you can use the phrase
MANIACAL MEGALOMANIAC

I used them all.

The little pool that couldn't


Melissa and Cindy in the pool on Cindy's Birthday
You all remember the mini pool that our daughter gave Cindy for her Birthday, I told you all about it in Happy Birthday Cindy we had a few days lounging in the pool with Melissa, and then she left us on our own, it was up to us to figure out how to use an 8 foot round pool without getting into trouble.

Actually it was really relaxing, I've never been able to wear my straw hat in the pool before, but Cindy said "It is my pool and if I say you can wear your straw hat, then you can wear your straw hat" so I wore my straw hat and I have pictures to prove it, not like magazine pictures but pictures none the less.
Jimmy floating with his straw hat on
The only mistake I made was to follow our daughter Melissa's instructions completely, she told me before she left "Now when you get into the pool, remember to spray Mom down with this sunscreen" she told me this as she was pointing to the can that she was holding straight armed so that the can of sunscreen and her pointing finger was all that I could see. "We don't want Mom to burn so remember this."

I remembered. Even this morning as I am pulling the skin that is peeling from my itching and red belly, you know that disgusting snakeskin looking stuff that sheds from your body after a sunburn. I had remembered to spray Cindy so I think I did my job, I just didn't think about Jimmy and neither did Cindy until it was too late. I can say she seemed to enjoy spraying the cold sunscreen onto my red belly the day after the burn.

Anyways we have really enjoyed floating around on the little "S" shaped noodle, just floating around and talking about things we want to do in the future. travel, spend time with the grandson, float in a bigger pool maybe, you know dreaming big.

No pump, cover, or net came with the pool. So I came up with a net, one you are supposed to use in a fish aquarium but it works really well, maybe not really well but kind of like using a duster to clean your entire house, you can get the job done it just takes longer, I was able to scoop out all of the bugs and funky stuff that seems to find its way into your pool, my mini net worked for mini poolio.
Cleaning the pool with the little net
After a few days of me scooping the bugs and gunk out, before Cindy and I floated in the mini pool dreaming about our future, with no pump or filter, the water started to get cloudy, Cindy suggested that I fix it, so fix it I did.

Rather than just drain the pool, and run water down the driveway and across the road, I grabbed tubes from the shop vac, left over pvc from some project that I had worked on, some random hose that showed up from somewhere, a piece of pipe and some electrical tape, and now I was watering the flower beds with water that would have otherwise been wasted.

I adjusted my impressive Southern engineering skills from one flower bed to another, then when it was filled I moved it back because this was all the supplies I had, it was quite a display I now had a flooded flower bed and water was running down the driveway and across the road. Oh well at least I watered the flowers.

With the pool emptied and hosed out now I had water filling the mini pool back up, it was filled way before dark and by noon tomorrow the sun would have it warmed enough so Cindy could be comfortably floating on the "S" shaped noodle in clean water.
Cindy and Dixie in the pool
At 9 pm every night I take our little dog, my trusty sidekick Dixie out for her evening "walk" before we go to bed, and this night was no different, while Dixie was "walking" my finely tuned ears that hears nothing but what I want to hear "according to my wife," heard something. I always hear water running, I picked this up while working at the water company, I was always the best at leak detections while I was working.

Anyways while little Dixie was walking I could hear water running, I'm on my hands and knees crawling around the pool trying to zero in on the sound, and just about the time Cindy was ready to throw her hands up and go to bed without me there it is, on the dark side of the pool where you can't see it at night, right there in the dark is a stream of freshly clean water shooting from the side of the pool, kind of like someone had taken an ice pick to it, or even less likely, a sniper with his trusty carbine lying on the hill behind us with a simple mission to "take out" the little mini pool.

Have you ever laid on your side in the night while water is spraying out of the side of a swimming pool and tried to fix it with "Gorilla Tape?", it's a filthy job and I wouldn't recommend it, because no matter how hard you try to stay out of the mud, it still ends up on your boots.

I began by placing one strip of Gorilla Tape (aka duct tape on steroids) over the hole and the water slows down, but from the flashlight Cindy was holding I could see it wasn't staying, so I added another to hold the tape that was coming loose and another to hold that one, and one more for good measure, the water had finally stopped, it was a success.

By morning I had, mud tracked on Cindy's carpet, a wad of tape on the ground, an empty pool, and fresh water running down the driveway and across the road.
Dixie giving me a second opinion on the damaged pool
I have the sad duty to tell you that the mini pool was a goner, no ice pick attack, assassin, or even a coyote, our little pool that couldn't was suffering from an unexpected coming unseamed at the seams incident, too bad this couldn't have happened while the water was still dirty.

Melissa came to the rescue, and with tactical determination she contacted the people she bought the pool from. When Melissa gets serious, things get done.

Melissa is not a finicky person by no means, she is more like her Mom and when something needs taken care of or replaced she is usually the dominant side of the conversation, not a Maniacal Megalomaniac type domination but she gets the job done, and she definitely came up with a better solution than for me to patch the pool.

 The solution was that as long as I would be able to get the pool back into the original box, which was about....way too small for that pool to fit inside anyways, that they would take it back and send out another one, so with determination both Cindy and I tackled the task by twisting, turning, and rolling around on the driveway, we got it back into the box, and shipped off on the big brown truck.

A bigger mini pool has arrived. Cindy and I ordered a filter pump system, a pool cover, a heavy duty tarp for a ground cover, and a net larger that one used for an aquarium to go along with the upgrade, we now have more invested in the free mini pool than Melissa's investment.
The new pool up and ready to go
Now Cindy has clean water to float in, and a pump that if I do some southern engineering to the return water spout just may turn it into a fountain.

41 comments:

  1. Nothing like a pool to beat the heat. Well, wearing your straw hat is a good thing too.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    Replies
    1. Hello Sandee, the straw hat works wonders for keeping the sun off of my face and neck, not so much for the belly though ha ha.

      Delete
  2. I wouldn't even know where to begin to do one of these challenges. Do you write the story, then go back and see where you can tweak to fit the words in? Or do you look at the words and form the story around them?

    The mini pool sure is giving you all a lot of fun.

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    Replies
    1. Sometimes the worrds just speak to people and they can come up with a story BUT the words are only there for inspiration. There is no need to actually use them, or use all of them...it just seems to be what folks are doing. Give it a try.

      Delete
    2. Hello Jean, I started writing this story last night and was going to finish it later this evening, not as a Words for Wednesday story, but when I saw the words this morning they just fell into place as the story evolved.

      Like Delores said the words are there to inspire and using them will write the story themselves sometimes, you don't have to use them all but it's fun to see how many fall into place.

      Delete
  3. I was always curious about if my dog would swim in a pool. She hated baths and rain, but she liked the snow.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hey Adam, Dogs are funny, Dixie hates the rain but will play in a pool or fight with a water hose until she is soaking wet, she likes the snow too.

      You never know your dog just may love to swim.

      Delete
  4. Woo Hoo. Determination brings some wonderful things in its wake. Loved this story. And hope you and Cindy can enjoy the poolio for a long time to come.

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    1. Hey EC, we got in it earlier today and the slightly larger pool is really nice, I think this poolio is going to work our just fine.

      Delete
  5. Is this going to be like how people get started with boats? Start with a dingy and keep moving up until you get something you can live in, but seldom use.

    Maybe you could just run through the sprinkler like in the olden days.

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    Replies
    1. Hey Joe, running through the sprinklers gets you just as wet, just kind of hard to float on ha ha.

      Delete
  6. I can't beliebe Gorilla Tape didn't work. It's supposed to fix everything. Dixie is a dauchsie......just the sweetest of dogs ever. I'm sure if you asked her she could have told you what to do. This week the words took people in so many different directions I'm dizzy..but...they were ALL good.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hey Delores, she is a sweet girl and yes she has her opinions about things such as this, we just need to listen ha ha.

      The Gorilla tape has worked on every thing else, just not on wet applications I guess.

      This weeks words just fell into place for me, I was actually going to continue the original story I had been using but they helped me finish this one instead, this was a lot of fun for me.

      Delete
  7. You look like the King of the World floating in that pool.

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    1. Hey Stephen, sometimes we have to at least look like a king, I felt like one in that cool water :)

      Delete
  8. Dang! Relaxing in a pool sure sounds tiring.

    Those words fit right in with the FLOW of your story!

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    Replies
    1. Hey Val, it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it...Right?

      I am pleased with how the words fell together.

      Delete
  9. Things went from bad to super great with a new and bigger pool. Happy days indeed. Dixie is lovely looking and is a nice name. Greetings.

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    1. Hello there my friend, yes things are much improved now, Thank you for the compliments on Dixie, she is definitely a big part of our family.

      Delete
  10. What a story! I had to laugh at you with the little fish net. I honestly didn't know they had pumps for little pools. Looks like fun and Dixie is a winner weiner in my book!

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    1. Hey Bijoux, that was the only net I could find to begin with ha ha, I am proud to say that now I have a regular pool strainer that looks as good as it works ;)

      Yes these pools are actually set up for a pump, in case you don't have one they come with plugs to seal the holes where the hoses connect.

      Dixie loves the pool, she was excited to find that one drained down because she could get in it without any help.

      Delete
  11. Your Melissa sounds like my Nameless!!

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    1. Hi Fran, I know you are proud of your Nameless then, they do grow up on us don't they.

      Delete
  12. ...one strip of Gorilla Tape (aka duct tape on steroids)

    You know, I seem to remember duct tape being far stronger and stickier years ago. Made its just me, because now I usually can't get it to stay on anything now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That Gorilla Tape is really good stuff, I didn't much expect it to stop the water flow but it worked for a short while.

      Duct tape isn't what it used to be, it's not as strong and it sure doesn't stick as well now days, I agree with your assessment 100%

      Delete
  13. So it's true what they say? Once you've had a pool you can't do without one?
    Good job trying the gorilla tape, if the problem hadn't been on a seam, it might have worked, at least for a few days.
    Good to know the company replaced it though.

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    Replies
    1. Hello River, I'm sure that I could have patched it had it not been on a seam, the company was great in standing behind their product, that is the type of companies I like doing business with.

      Had I been able to get the spot dry I think the Gorilla Tape would have stuck also.

      Delete
  14. Every time I look at you guys in that pool, I want to get one. I don't however, want to be bothered with all the work that goes with it. (lol) What a lovely new pool to hang out in and stay cool for the rest of the summer. I love it! Hugs... p.s. - What a great story!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hey RO, I understand what you are saying about the work, but after the initial setup then it's pretty easy....it's really easy when you are floating in the pool ha ha.

      Thank you RO it good to see you my friend.

      Delete
  15. And a good time was had by all.... goodness only knows why that saying came into my mind... grins. Congratulations on using Maniacal Megalomaniac, I read impatiently for the sight of it in your story, all the time wondering if you would be able to use it.

    I hope you have better luck with the second pool.

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    Replies
    1. Good morning Valerie, I felt sure that I was going to have to skip using Maniacal Megalomaniac but it just fell into place, I got lucky ha ha.

      "And a good time was had by all" is a very fitting saying, I feel our luck is going to be much better with this one, Cindy now has a little more room to float around :)

      Delete
  16. I think joeh has stated a scary truth. Years ago, my cuddy cabin cruiser started as rubber raft. You might be on a slippery slope for an in ground pool:)) Good luck. Thought it clever how you even got "Maniacal Megalomaniac" in the story.

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    1. Hi Patti, Joe is pretty smart on stuff like this and just may have hit the nail on the head, we will see when the next upgrade comes ha ha.

      "Maniacal Megalomaniac" just kind of fell into place, I think it didn't want to be left out :)

      Delete
  17. I enjoyed this latest adventure and glad you were able to replace the pool. It looks like a whole lot of fun, without the leak ;)

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    1. Hi Denise, I am happy you enjoyed our little adventure, it is a whole lot of fun, like you mentioned minus the leak :)

      Delete
  18. Son had a pool similar to yours. He was looking for something to clean the bottom of it since dirt/grass/etc seemed to settle down to the bottom of it. Surprised they had vacuums for it. Not sure what he did. It is totally relaxing to be in a pool though on those hot summer days!

    betty

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hello Betty, it is surprising the accessories they offer for pools this size, a lot more affordable than a big pool and excellent to cool off in.

      I know your son enjoyed having his, and with the size it's not too hard to drain and clean them.

      Delete
  19. I was commenting on your great story when the storm came and shut down my computer. I see it did not get posted. You did a great job weaving the prompts into a true story with pictures and everything.

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    1. Thank you Annie, I'm glad the storm passed and you got to come back to see us, I appreciate you reading my story and for the very kind comment, I hope to see you again.

      Delete
  20. Southern engineering...hahaha!

    Leak detection? Did you use to work for a plumbing company? Leak detection company?

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    1. Yep Southern engineering at its best ha ha.

      I worked for a water utility company, the leak detection part was anything from main line leaks to determining between company and customer leaks, also helped customers determine the causes of their high water bills which sometimes came down to a toilet running.

      Delete

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