I love it when, at 41, I hear of something off-beat that I've never heard of before.

&nbsp;

When Sarah told me about the Goldfish Races at <strong><a href="http://www.arcadiatavern.com/" target="_blank">Arcadia Tavern</a></strong> on Thursday nights, I knew that I had to try it.

&nbsp;

I showed up not knowing what to expect, except for the Sweet Potato Tater Tots that Sarah had previously built up to great culinary heights.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_6360" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="They were everything Sarah said they would be and more!"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300032.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6360" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300032-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

At 9:30, they announced that the Goldfish Races would soon begin.  We were asked to choose a cup with a goldfish and name it.

&nbsp;

Sarah and Tim named their fish in a heartbeat:  Hermes and Mark Spitz, respectively.  [Although there was initial confusion with the MC who was born in 1984 (I asked) and wrote "Mark Spence".]

&nbsp;

I took a good ten minutes to come up with best possible name for my fishie.  I finally decided on Fifi Le Rue.  (Or Fee Fee La Roux to Mr. 1984.  Hey -- I was impressed that he knew "roux".  But then again, he does work in the culinary industry.)

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300033.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6362" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300033-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>

&nbsp;

In our first heat, Fifi/Fee Fee and I were competing against the rocket scientist/Beavis and Butthead aficionado named Master Baiter.

&nbsp;

No, he is not a 7th grader.  Take a look.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300042.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6363" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300042-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

&nbsp;

And the winner is...

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_6364" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Sis, make sure to hide this one from World&#39;s Most Precious Niece &amp; Nephew.  Yet another intellectual giant in the heat above me."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300045.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6364 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300045-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

Sarah and Hermes won their first heat as well!  Unfortunately, Tim and Mark Spence/Spitz didn't advance.  Mark Spence/Spitz turned out to be a feisty little fish who had big dreams of being a salmon and swam upstream.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300047.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6377" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300047-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>

&nbsp;

Mark Spence/Spitz continued to rebel by JUMPING OUT OF HIS CUP at the table later on that night!!!!  Was it acrobatics or a suicide attempt to escape the race scene on Thursday nights?  We will never know.  Fortunately, Tim and Mr. 1984 rescued him in time.

&nbsp;

On to the second heat...

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300048.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6367" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300048-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

&nbsp;

And the third...

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300057.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6368" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300057-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

&nbsp;

And the winner is...

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300060.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6370" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300060-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_6371" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Everyone&#39;s been asking about the big band aid.  I burned myself on the barbecue.  :-(  "]<img class="size-medium wp-image-6371" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300052-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" />[/caption]

&nbsp;

Well, well, well...Look who's competing against one another in the finals?

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300061.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6372" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300061-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

&nbsp;

Allow me to share what happened just before the final heat.

&nbsp;

Sarah and I and our fishies had been competing on the same side of the "track" in our previous heats.  I naturally walked to this side for the final heat.  Sarah, in touch with her inner 5 year-old, shouted, "I call this side!"  Me, in touch with my inner two year-old, dumped Fifi/Fee Fee from her cup into the starting "gate" on the coveted "side" before Sarah arrived in her place.

&nbsp;

As if THAT isn't appalling enough...

&nbsp;

Before every heat, I looked my opponent in the eye and wished them good luck.  (Master Baiter is the only one who ignored me, by the way.  What a shocker.  All of the other contestants looked surprised, smiled, and returned the well wishes.)

&nbsp;

I can't say for certain, because my memory is spotty from the final heat nerves (now I know how Olympians feel), but I think that I may have forgotten to wish Sarah good luck.  That's right.  I failed to bestow good sportsmanship on one of my closest friends.  Isn't that special?

&nbsp;

Team Sarah/Hermes and Team Michelle/Fifi/Fee Fee swam <del>neck and neck</del> gill and gill until the very end when I got water in my eye and completely lost track of Fifi/Fee Fee.  Was it Sarah's inner 5 year-old shooting water in my eye or my excited inner two year-old blowing way too many bubbles?  We will never know.

&nbsp;

And the winner is...

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_6373" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Sarah and Hermes!"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300062.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6373" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300062-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_6374" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Sarah won a beach chair, and I won a $15 gift certificate to the tavern!"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300068.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6374" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300068-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

A whale of a congratulations to Sarah and Hermes!  Sarah, my inner two year-old apologizes to your inner five year-old for her atrocious manners pre-finals.  You deserved to win.  :-D

&nbsp;

Fifi/Fee Fee, I never dreamed that we would make it so far.  Thanks for being the greatest fishie that a girl could ask for.  I will miss you.  Sniff, sniff.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_6375" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Heart of a Champion"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300067.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-6375 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P6300067-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

&nbsp;

*****

&nbsp;

I bet you're wondering what happens to these fishies post-race.  Often during these bloggy adventures, I fancy myself a reporter and pepper standers-by with questions.  On this night, Mr. 1984 was my <del>victim</del> interviewee.

&nbsp;

Mr. 1984 explained that the fishies return to the tank after their night of frolic.

&nbsp;

Cutting to the chase, I immediately asked about the death count.  Surprisingly, there are only a couple of casualties a week.  Although there was that one week when someone forgot to clean the tank and ALL of the fishies were doing the dead fish float when he arrived at work.

&nbsp;

My next question was obvious:  Do they have a proper fishie burial out back?  (The tavern has a nice-sized patio.)

&nbsp;

Nah.  The fishies are flushed down the toilet.

&nbsp;

I made a sad face.

&nbsp;

Mr. 1984 quickly recovered by explaining that he often buries the fishies in the potted plants as fertilizer.

&nbsp;

I made a happy face.

&nbsp;

The End.

&nbsp;