thanks. yep - i tried plugs with gaskets but they still spun. I went ahead and glued the drain plugs in - it got better (enough that I can open the pool now -yay!) but its still not 100%. I noticed one of the plugs dripping water so I'll need to hit it with the glue again. Looks like I'm on the way. Thanks to everyone for their help - hopefully my wife will stop calling the pool my mistress now