Too slow for the Torch run?

Ten items or less

Some ideas look better on paper than in reality. Other ideas remain better in concept than in actuality. This is especially true when the idea is an event involving hundreds of people and throwing off everyone's schedule.

Now my friend is having second thoughts about participating. She fears she's too slow to carry the torch. I reminded her that when I "run," I'm one notch above slow. People who speed-walk are usually faster than I am and I no longer get upset when someone twice my age passes me during a race -- and isn't even out of breath.

Despite those assurances, my friend had numerous concerns about the pace she would set during her time with the torch. Would we throw off the entire schedule for the remaining leg of the Torch Run? Would the final celebrity runner arrive late to the Talent Show in Norris Park on Wednesday night? Would organizers pull up along side one of us during our run and ask for the torch back because we were holding up the procession?

I assured my friend that I was fairly certain they wouldn't take the torch away from her. As long as she kept her legs moving, they would let her keep going. Of course, I could be wrong. We'll find out for sure how much slowness State Games' organizers will tolerate on Wednesday.

***

If you're kicking yourself for not signing up for the State Games' torch run (or even patting yourself on the back for not signing up), there is still ample opportunity to join the festivities. And this year should provide extra excitement.

Along with the addition of baseball to the State Games, the newest sport is Dodge Ball. If you need a refresher course on Dodgeball, ask any person over 25 (since kids today are not allowed to participate in the sport for fear of lawsuits and lowered self-esteem) or rent the movie, "Dodgeball."

If you can't wait until the end of July to catch some Dodgeball, organizers of Medicine Creek Days in Cambridge have included the event in this weekend's activities. Unfortunately, the event is only open to kids in junior high. We can hold out hope that next year, just maybe, us "older kids" will be allowed to play.

***

Since noting that the animal population had been increasing at my household, people have been offering further donations to the cause. Not only do people have an opinion about every type of animal, many are more than willing to part with their animals.

For the time being, our animal supply is adequate.

We are going to be sans ducks, at least this spring season. Several duck eggs had been promised to us earlier this spring. The owners were going to hatch the ducklings for us and then deliver them when they could "withstand" the love of several small children.

But the ducks were not meant to be.

Something ate all the duck eggs. My brother-in-law said he set several live-traps, trying to snare the egg-snatchers, but would only find broken egg shells in the morning. He tried placing the eggs in various positions in the traps and would remain empty-handed every morning.

It's just as well that the duck addition didn't work out, since the arrival of a pet goat. Having owned a goat when I was growing up, I remembered their propensity to be an indoor animal. Our current goat is no different and the kids are just serving as an enabler.

When my 5-year-old walked "Billy" -- we go for practicality over creativity -- into my bedroom, I ordered both of them outside since Billy was not housetrained. My son immediately left, followed by Billy.

A few minutes later, they both returned. I again said that Billy could not be inside because he would go to the bathroom all over the floor.

The 5-year-old had already solved that problem, at least in his mind: "I just showed him where the toilet is. Now can he stay inside?"

-- Ronda Graff is accompanied by her dog during her morning jogs, preparing for the Torch Run. The baby goat stands at the end of the driveway -- just waiting to be asked to go along.