Dave versus the pool deck

Last summer, I was lucky to get a used pool deck from a friend who was having his above ground pool removed. Er, should I say, In exchange for the deck and his pool filter and equipment, I, (with the help of two of my best friends, Jake and my Father-in-Law), we dismantled the pool for him. Fair exchange, I think.

In my mind, I was hoping after we re-construct it, it will look like this:

 

Or better yet, it will look like this:

But no..., so far it looks like this:

 And it doesn't look better at this angle either....

So far it doesn't look like much, but I'm fortunate to have a Father-in-Law with a lot of construction experience, stay tuned for updates.......

Cayuga Creek, Niagara Falls, NY

 

Sunday Evening Stroll

I decided to take my 6 year old daughter on walk around our neighborhood. With camera in hand, these are  some of the things we seen: 

                                                2 televisions
 

Some flowers:

A windmill:

A defaced "Please No Salt On Bridge" sign.

A yard sale sign:

A local pizzeria:

Either a woodchuck or a beaver:

And some power lines:

We never did get any pictures of a black squirrel. :(

How about a game of "Ultimate Crush" to pass some time?

The Hayward Aquabug, at least I think it's working.

I was lucky to get one of these Hayward Aquabugs from a friend for free who's pool was recently disassembled. It works pretty well, although the key to operation appears to be to have 2 people set it up and it's best to use it in an already clean pool that one has already vacuumed manually. It is used in above ground pools. It operates on the suction of the pool filter and moves around using 4 vibrating, smooth plastic legs. Mine tends to stay in areas of the pool where the ground is at its lowest point. It does seem to help in a  preventative way in helping pick up dirt that might have been missed in an earlier cleaning.
 My best results were:
   *Backwash your sand filter before use
   *Lower the Aquabug by itself into pool and fill with water before attaching hose
   *Make sure your hose is prefilled with water as well
   *Do not leave completed unsupervised, check on its progress once in awhile
   * Have a friend help you set it up

Usefulness: 3 out of 4 stars
Reliability:   3 out of 4 stars
Entertainment value: 2 out of 4 stars

If you find a used Hayward Aquabug for sale at a yard sale, it's well worth picking up. The link below is the official operation manual.


http://www.hayward-pool.com/pdf/manuals/Manual254.pdf

Interview with a Middle School Student

I wanted to help parents and students understand middle school life better, so I interviewed an expert that I personally know on the subject, my own 13 year old son, Colten. David: You’ve just completed the 7th grade in middle school, what was your favorite thing about middle school? Colten: My favorite thing about middle school was: the freedom of going to classes to classes, also the freedom of being responsible for your actions (i.e. being prompt). David: What was your least favorite thing about middle school? Colten: In my school, we had no air conditioning. Also, in my school, we couldn’t choose our own exploratory classes such as wood shop, which does not exist in my school. David: What tip would you give incoming 7th graders next school year? Colten: Get used to combination locks on your locker. Keep your locker organized. A dry/erasable scheduler with magnetic backing inside your locker is good for assignments. Also, usually you will have a short time between classes so; watch your time carefully, like talking to friends. Later in the year, teachers will not baby you when you don’t bring in due assignments. David: What’s some positive ways students can get along with teachers and administrators in middle school? Colten: For teachers: Once in awhile, try to do more than is asked of you on class work and homework. Show positive ideas and greetings to your teachers. Also, in middle school, you get a “lavatory pass” to go to the bathroom, so don’t abuse the pass, by skipping class time. For administrators: stay out of trouble. If there is a serious issue involving a student (such as an injury from falling), tell an administrator about it and lead them to it. David: What are some school security protocols new students should know? Colten: Your gym bag should be a see-through mesh or a plastic grocery bag so that adults in school can easily identify its contents. Medical prescription details should be told to an administrator or principal by parents. Any type of weapon, no matter what, is not allowed in school. David: Do teachers or administrators hold some type of orientations for new students so that they understand what to expect in middle school? Colten: In late August, I had an orientation/open house at my school, where it was held in the auditorium where they explained what is needed to be expected by students, for example, they need the best effort from you. On the first day of the new school year, I was sent to homeroom, where I sat for 2 hours, having explained to me the protocol here; examples are, storing your supplies in your personal locker. Parents/ students will get an invitation from the principal in the mail around July to attend the August orientation. David: Is there anything your middle school lacks that you wish they had? Colten: I wish they had auto shop, wood shop/metal shop, study hall, additional technology classes and chemistry. David: Is middle school scary? Colten: Not at all. It is easier than it looks. David: In conclusion, is there anything else you would like to add or comment on about middle school? Colten: Like I said, middle school is easier than perceived. Also, being on time and putting all your efforts will greatly affect your attitudes to teachers and the like. David: Thank you for the interview, I’ll see you at dinner time. Colten: Your welcome and I can’t wait for dinner. Colten is a student at Lasalle Prepatory School in Niagara Falls, New York and has just recently completed the 7th grade.

Child Vacation Safety

When you're on vacation, and are worried about one of your children becoming lost in a theme park or a shopping center or anywhere else, a simple low cost solution is a necklace for your child using a light fabric cord with a usb flash drive attached. Using the simple Windows program, "Notepad" , you can type and save your contact information on the usb flash drive such as, you and your childs name, your cell phone number, your email address, the contact information for the hotel you are staying at, a relative's phone number (or any other trusted adult) or even your hometown police department. In the event your child ever becomes seperated from you, he or she can present the usb flash drive to either a police officer, a fireman, a theme park employee/security guard or a local business owner or their employees, since they would have immediate access to a computer to view the information on the usb flash drive and contact you. I hope you and your family have a fun and safe vacation, send me a postcard! ---David

How to Reuse Greeting Cards - ArticleCity.com Video

How to Reuse Greeting Cards - ArticleCity.com Video