Wednesday, June 16, 2010

On The Pool and Part-time Job

I worked yesterday.  I'm working again today.  We've had rainy, cool mornings so I've been able to clean and then still have the pool to myself for an hour or so.
This is the RV park campground where the pool is located. The bath house is the building you see off to the left.  If you look closely, you can see where I set up camp.
Those wooden structures function as umbrellas for shade or avoiding drizzle.  (If it rains too much, I'm out of there.)  They used to have all kinds of plastic chairs for patrons, but they have been destroyed through the years so we are down to three benches and one chair.  Since there are so few chairs for patrons, I haul my own there.  Each umbrella also has a table that encircles the center pole.
The table comes in handy for the pool attendants.  We can stow our gear while we clean the pool and bathrooms. 

That red and white stripe bag is full of all my necessities:  reading material, sunscreen, lunch bag, car keys and extra cover up.  I've always got my phone, towel, and that wide brimmed gardening hat.  (I am making a valiant effort not to get any more wrinkles or age spots! Yeah, hopeless.) 

So that is where I spend about five and a half hours on work days.  I can swim or park in the chair and read.  Yesterday, it was cloudy and rainy early, but by 10:30 or so the sun came out.  When I finished the cleaning, I spent time on my raft just watching the clouds float by  There was absolutely no one in the pool until about 1:00.  I had a lot of reading time, too.  Heaven!

Speaking of reading-- last weekend I finally read the first book in the Mortal Instruments series:  City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.  My students kept telling me I just had to read this trilogy.  It isn't my normal read, but I can see why this series has taken off in the young adult literature world.  I will probably read the next two in the trilogy and then buy the series for my classroom this fall. 

I started City of Thieves by David Benioff yesterday.  This is another book that I wouldn't have picked up, but I am totally engrossed in it.  It is set during the Nazi siege of Lenningrad.  At times it is horrifying and then at other times it is almost funny.  The Mr.'s cousin gave me quite a few books that her book club read this past year, and this was one of them.  (The Help was another one.) 

My next reads will be much more my typical summer reading.  Janet Evanovich and Jane Green always come out with a new book in June.  K and I each buy one, read it, and then exchange books.  This is our week to make our purchases!  

I'm headed to U town after work to meet up with K, so K can figure out what she wants for invitations to the wedding.  Hopefully, I will have time to squeeze in a trip to the bookstore, too! 

Happy Wednesday!  And if you've got some great book suggestions--send them my way.  At this pace, I will be out of reading material by the 4th of July!

PS.  If you haven't been by to visit LC lately, you have to read her post on lightning bugs.  You'll never be able to look at them the same again!  Oh, I love that girl and her little brother!  Stop by and visit Pudge and Zippy.  I'm still giggling!

6 comments:

Ragamuffin Gal said...

What a fun summer you are having ~ I can just picture everything as I read your well scripted words. Now I'm off to visit your friends post ~ Hope your day is filled with many happys!

Gayle said...

Having the pool to yourself sounds wonderful! Have fun looking at invitations. Wedding planning is so exciting!

Kim said...

I liked "The Language of Secrets" by Dianne Dixon. If you like mystery/thrillers, the latest Lee Child "Jack Reacher" novel is out. I'm reading it now: "61 Hours." I recently discovered Rick Mofina. He's also a mystery/thriller author. So far, I've liked everything I've read by Mofina. I am also a Harlen Coben fan. Happy floating and reading!

Katie (Can't Get There) said...

I need your summer job. Heaven is right! As for reading suggestions, I can't recommend more highly The Flying Troutmans by Mirian Toews. It's witty, smart, and fun. You could finish it in a single slow pool day, I bet. Anne Enright's The Gathering was absolutely lyrical, but a little dark (although you forget that it is because it's so engrossing). And if you haven't read Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Mark Haddon), you have to drop everything and read that first! (If you watch Big Bang Theory and adore Sheldon, you'll love it even more. Promise.)

Silly rabbit - you had to use the words "book suggestions" around me, didn't you?

Shannon said...

Ahhh, this post reminds me of how I spent my summers during high school. What a life! Love all the book suggestions above! Once this month is over I plan to catch up.

Heidi said...

So I came over here to see what is up with you and a pool for summer...do I have this straight? You work about 5 hours/week cleaning a bathhouse at a pool in a campground and reading books of your choice on a floatie raft? Really? Don't tell me you make more than minimum wage. This is amazing! And you don't have to find a book for a person who says, "I don't know the author, I don't know the title, but I think the book has a blue cover." You and I both know that really does happen.
Enjoy!
Heidi