Yesterday was Independence Day. We celebrated the usual way most Americans do by dressing the kids in red, white and blue clothes, then eating and drinking too much.  Finally we ended the day slapping mosquitos while watching our neighbors try to blow up the neighborhood in a dazzling display of color, hoping we can still high five them, not high four them afterwards.

What a time to be alive.

The pool was warm and the beer was cold as my family arrived to help celebrate America’s birthday. It was 95 degrees outside so everyone dropped their designated potluck dishes off on countertops and headed out back to jump in to that delightful Mecca that is a backyard pool.

We have a love-hate relationship with our pool.  We love it when the water temp is regulated and eve...

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