LIGHTS GO OUT-HOLD UP THE PRESS

I was going to write about the great 5ooo-meter relay events that took place on the road last night, BUT..... when we got home it was raining pretty hard.

We ate dinner and I was just ready to sit down with the computer and the lights went out. At first it was fun with all of us sitting in the dark. We had to use my computer to "light" our way around the house to find candles and a lighter. Once that was done we sat at the kitchen table and talked about skating (of course). We had to get the Spanish-English dictionary out MANY times and when there was a misunderstanding we would laugh until our cheeks hurt and had to wipe the tears away.

But then it got old being in the dark. I had things to do and I was really tired of the lights being out. My Colombian family told me that this happens often and they just "go to bed"!

Go to bed??? Who had time??? But that's basically what we had to do. Which of course meant NO internet and no story.

It is raining right now... according to the radio the Jr Ladies are skating. The raido announcer is going nuts... but they always do... I hear Colombia, Colombia, Korea.... but tese are not placements... only leaders.... wow, I wish you could hear him. You would think we are at an Indy 500 race...... I have been told that he is just announcing the countries and numbers. But they have been racing for 50 minutes. But let's remember that it is raining where they are at. That should add at least 20-40 minutes to the typical marathon race.

I promise to put up "my account" of last nights relays... but it won't be until later.

THEY HAVE JUST ANNOUNCED... that Mariah Richardson and Alex Harris have passed the press area.... I do not know what that means... but that's great that Mariah is up with Alex. She has skated many marathons and done so in the rain. We will be back later, Linda and Ananda