Beat the heat.

Days like this I wish I still worked at the pool. On the other hand...if I still worked at the pool on a day like this, I'd be battling it out with patrons who refuse to listen to authority...especially authority half their age. I have plenty of lifeguarding and swim instructor stories...my favorites including the things I'd find in the pool when I opened up in the morning.

Scorching hot days were the worst at any pool site anywhere in the city. Sure it was refreshing. But you're talking about a New York City public pool where admission is free. Picture it now. You got all the kids in the neighborhood hanging out in the pool all day. Not even one bathroom break. Then you have the seniors who bathe in sunblock. Again, no bathroom break. Then you got your troublemakers who just don't listen to the Fox 40 whistle, special to lifeguards and NBA refs. At the end of the day...water turned to soup. Sometimes I just pretended that it was Hudson River water and just jumped in, trying not to swallow any water.

Pool cleaning is a must. As much as I hated vacuuming the pool, it had to be done. If you've ever seen an old school pool vacuum, the thing is like a lawnmower. And you had to pull that thing around the floor of the pool. I'd find glass in the pool among other things. The usual leaves, dead bugs, hair weaves, used condoms, used tampons, diapers, floating poop....don't forget I'm standing in the pool while I'm finding all this good stuff. All this while chlorine is being pumped in at unhealthy levels. My blue uniform trunks turned a nice violet color.

As much as I hated the small things...I did get paid a whole damn lot for a job that required me to teach for 3 hours and sit around watching people the rest of the time, all the while getting that deep Pinoy tan.

Oh and that picture by Greg Miller, is of an actual patron at Asser Levy Pool down on 23rd and 1st, which was my pool assignment my last two years as an "Aquatic Specialist".