It is a RARE occasion when a normally scheduled practice is cancelled. So you can imagine my surprise when i get a phone call on my way to practice. Caller ID says it is my coach.....what does he want, mear minutes before I am to arrive at the pool?
Coach- "Hi Pete, There was a rat found in the pool today. They shocked the pool(super chlorinated it) and the health department is here to inspectl, so they have officially closed the pool. Practice is cancelled. Will you call all the girls and let them know. So they don't show up."
Me-"Oh yes, sure. No problem. See you tomorrow then."
I hung up and started screaming. As did my two teammates(we car pool- saving the earth one trip to the pool at a time), yet they didn't know
WHY yet. No practice. No practice! A mad dash to grab phone from purses, screams, three conversations at once, a rush of adrenaline- that certainly was not there as were headed back to the pool for practice #2, at the end of the week, of arguable the hardest week in training thus far. A whole three extra hours in our day, where we were not required to do any physical activity! This was a gift. A sign from the spirits.....and hey, maybe the Chinese are trying to tell us something. 2008 is the year of the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac. We needed a rest and the Rat gave us one!
How did I celebrate this monumental occasion? Got a large Pinkberry (green tea with mochi, strawberries and blueberries) and then went home to sit on the couch for a while. Followed by three loads of laundry, a vacum and dusting of my room. Finally, finishing off the day with an episode of Survivor. Exciting I know. :)
P.S. may there be no more rats in the pool because all the chlorine has now burned all the hair off my arms, given my skin a chemical peel and dyed my hair more blonde. i am scared of long term effects.
