Hick finally had POOLIO ready for swimming last Sunday. Way later than usual. Hick generally starts working on POOLIO in mid-May, getting the cover off, scooping out leaves that escaped the cover-removal, running the filter, taking water samples for testing, and buying chemicals. I have told him he spends about $50 per swim, by the time the summer is over. Not that I begrudge Hick his pool pleasure. He works hard all day, and deserves an hour floating around in the evening.
That's the problem. Every summer, Hick either throws away his floaty things, or they get blown off the deck during storms. He has had a variety over the years. A basic air mattress, a fancy air mattress, a mesh version with a floating rim that left his body below water, a chair shape with a can holder, kickboards, and of course pool noodles.
When the boys were living here, they loved those pool noodles for sword-fighting and clubbing and using to blow jets of water at each other. That's all Hick has in POOLIO right now. Two pool noodles. Not even the long ones. Just the cheap Dollar Store short noodles.
Hick cannot find any pool floaties.
That's what he says. He has only tried the Dollar Store and Walmart. Saying he couldn't find any. Which is different from saying they are out of them. Maybe they are. Maybe everybody bought them for the 4th of July weekend, and they haven't re-stocked.
Hick makes use of his noodles. He sits on them! He looks like a giant baby, suspended in one of those door-hanging bouncy thingies. He can still walk around the pool. His chest and shoulders are above water.
I really hope Hick can find some sort of air mattress. Even a cheap one would be fine. Though Hick says, "Them cheap ones ain't good for me." Heh, heh! That's the point! It is quite entertaining to watch Hick trying to get on a narrow air mattress!
My mom's pool does need new noodles, I got a $12 ring style one and my niece blew it up herself, but the pool noodles are so handy- however they are cheap and then she's left picking it all up which stinks!
ReplyDeleteOOH! I would love to see Hick trying to get into a ring! We used to have one that looked like a tire. The boys could fit through the middle, or plop their rumpus into the middle while standing on the pool ladder. Hick could only get head and shoulders through it, and floated while dragging his feet, with a kind of sideways shark fin from the portion sticking up over his back.
DeleteI didn't think it was possible to sit on a pool noodle. I've never tried, I have no access to a pool of any kind, but it just looks like it wouldn't be possible. I hope he gets a decent air mattress soon, or at least in time for next season.
ReplyDeleteHick puts two noodles between his legs, with the front ends sticking up by his chest, and the back ends sticking up by his back. It's just enough to keep him buoyant, but low on the water.
DeleteNo comment. I'm not getting into this fight!
ReplyDeleteFight? I am only wishing for Hick to find something to float on in the pool.
DeleteSince Covid it seems like stores are not stocking items like they used to and as far as they are concerned, summer is over! They are now starting to stock back to school and Halloween. Clearance items are not as abundant as they used to be! I liked to buy mine on clearance for the camp store. As for the current floating issue .... If you have one of those light weight aluminum chairs, you could attach the noodles to the chair. Or, you could make a casing at either end of a long beach towel and thread the noodle the casings at either end. Maybe you could secure the towel or other lightweight fabric another way. Cut strips and tie the four corners on? What am I thinking ... I KNOW he has duct tape! Well, there you go, problem solved!
ReplyDeleteThat's right. I'm surprised they don't have the Christmas decorations out now! Hick could surely improvise some type of floating device if he wanted to. You know he has enough odds and ends to Frankenstein a floatie.
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