Siphon Situation

 After another marathon Zoom session yesterday, I was eager to jump in the pool. I'm glad that I didn't waste any time, because three hours after we started to splash and play storms moved into the area. The rain has not stopped, and is projected to continue through Saturday.

In three hours yesterday evening we received nearly four inches of water. As the rain poured down, I began to worry about the water level in our pool. The water was rising quickly to the top of the pool. I am not sure what happens if an above ground pool floods, but I don't think it is good!

After hours of fretting, I went outside when there was a lull between storms to inspect the situation. Robby and I bailed out some water, but looking at the radar I knew we needed a longer term solution. After a lot of trial and error, we positioned a siphon hose in the top of the filter. We reasoned that the siphon would remove the water until that point, keeping our pool below the flooding threshold.

The rain continued to pour throughout the night, but the associated lightning kept me from checking our siphon. All I could do was hope that it was working. Between the storms and my pool anxiety, I didn't sleep well.

As soon as I woke up I checked our pool. Not only is it intact, but our siphon worked perfectly! The excess water was removed as well as all of the rain water that fell throughout the night. Talk about a relief!

Zoom

 Each morning this week I have been logging onto the computer to attend a virtual in-service. I am used to spending a lot of time behind a keyboard, but 4.5 hours of Zooming a day have left me exhausted. The course is interesting, but I have come to realize that I am more of a recluse than I care to admit. After working from home for nearly a decade, I am simply unaccustomed to so much socialization.

Even though I'm tired and at times uncomfortable during the break-out "share" sessions, I am getting a lot out of the class. Unlike in-services that I attended when I was a public school teacher, this course has real-life applications. I'm learning a lot, and if I were honest, being pushed to socialize is probably a good thing too. 

Covid has reinforced my isolation tendencies, but it is time for me to reenter society. Today Scott is taking Robby for his second vaccine, which will make him the third member of our family to have protection from Covid. We will still be cautious because of Timmy, but I am looking forward to a more normal life.

Swim Time

We are easing into our summer schedule. I worked throughout the morning, played in the pool in the afternoon, and resumed working after dinner. I am so glad that my schedule is flexible enough to allow me the time to play each afternoon. Timmy and I are having a blast in the pool. (I'm sure Scott and Robby will have fun too, but they are waiting for the water to warm up a little more.)

Today it is supposed to rain, so we may not be able to swim. I'm not sure what my little water bug will do! Hopefully the storms will hold off until evening, but it isn't looking favorable.

Schedule Shift

With the World War II weekend behind us, our family is officially in summer mode. Everything is a little more laid back and relaxed in the summer. Unfortunately, the vacation vibe doesn't really impact me because I'm still working. With everybody home and Timmy wanting to swim his afternoons away, I will be getting up early to tackle work while the boys are still sleeping. Quiet time will be at a premium, so I need to take advantage of every opportunity.

Even though my schedule shifts during the summer, I am looking forward to not having to manage the schoolwork for the boys. Timmy requires a considerable amount of assistance with his work and juggling everything has been stressful. Being able to put the books away for a few months will feel like a vacation!

Yesterday we began our family summer by swimming throughout the afternoon. Timmy and I had a blast in the pool, splashing and playing. We positioned the pool perfectly so that a portion of the water is always in the shade, providing relief from the direct sun. Getting up early will be worth it if I get to swim every afternoon with the kids.

Home from the 1940s

Another memorable weekend at the World War II event has come to a close. The weather was hot, which was not a surprise, but that didn't interfere with our fun. With a backpack full of water bottles and smiles on our faces, we fully immersed ourselves in everything the 1940s had to offer. 

In all honesty, watching battle reenactments, exploring military artillery, climbing on tanks and wandering through planes are not among my favorite activities. However, I adore being around Robby, especially when he is passionate. The World War II event is Robby's favorite weekend of the year which makes it one of my mine as well. 

We spent Friday afternoon, all day Saturday (including the evening dance) and Sunday through mid-afternoon at the event, meandering through the exhibits and talking with the reenactors. Robby meticulously combed through the vendors' offerings before picking up a few prized items to add to his museum. This year he added a WWII Navy helmet, a German Officer's Map Case, a print autographed by survivors of the Indianapolis and a German booby trap switch to his collection. 

After we left the fairgrounds we picked up Timmy, who spent a fun-filled few days being spoiled by my Mom and sister, before heading home. Within an hour of pulling into the driveway Timmy and I were in the pool, cooling off and playing games. It was a fantastic way to end a great weekend.

Today, we are back to reality.