The kiddie pool: fun and functional for spring
By Maggie Beidelman
What's better than spending an afternoon in the glorious sweltering sunshine that Santa Clarans have nearly forgotten about?
Spending it in a kiddie pool, of course.
The temptation of those sleek, air-filled plastic layers should not be relinquished in the heat of this oncoming summer.
After all, there's only so much time before one passes out from dehydration after he or she has spent hours baking in naked skin, and after only 10 sunblock-less minutes sun damage begins to occur.
Just imagine tens, even hundreds, of multicolored pools filled to the brim with crisp water in the middle of the Graham courtyard.
There's not a thing one could do to prevent the mob of eager Graham residents from diving recklessly into this unexpected oasis since the disappearance of the Graham pool two years ago devastated so many.
Girls, there is no better way to show off that newly reddened skin -- or better yet, hide it, in the shallow depths of a pool adorned with images of Disney princesses or Thomas the Tank Engine trains.
And guys, how could you resist forgetting frugality for once and putting up a few bucks to easily lure a flock of half-naked women into your paradise of refreshment?
Yes, these pools may be made for three-year-olds, but that is no reason to start acting mature.
A kiddie pool is merely an excuse for parents -- or college students -- to enjoy the water without going through the ordeal of planning a trip to the eternally crowd-infested "big kid" pool.
Graham is not the only venue for this grand design. Kiddie pools can be housed anywhere where there's a nearby hose, as their portability allows for functionality and finesse in transport. The courtyard between the Sanfilippo and Campisi residence halls is also ideal for an array of pools, as is the Mission Gardens or the new lawn of Kennedy Mall.
Even a few inflatable pools placed strategically in the corners of the sports fields can prove quite practical for sweaty spectators.
In fact, any number of pools placed around campus can allow for a happier, healthier student body, as students -- and teachers -- will be able to stay cool, taking brief dips between classes to become refreshed and ready to learn.
Kiddie pools are not intended for merely lounging. More than a few intriguing games have been known to involve these inflatable ecstasies.
One of the most popular involves filling them with ice and beer -- no -- soda; one can envision the rest. Other popular games include pool hopping, snorkeling or even diving for rings (the last is not recommended by this staff).
An assortment of kiddie pools can be purchased at nearby children's toy stores, pool equipment shops or even web sites such as Amazon.com and eBay.
Do not wait for the excruciatingly high temperatures to set in to make this shrewd investment. The parched lawns between residence halls await you -- go out, purchase, inflate and enjoy!
Contact Maggie Beidelman at (408) 551-1918 or mbeidelman@scu.edu