Opinion

Finally, a valid reason for the heat

Friday, June 23, 2006

Ten items or less

* Thank goodness summer officially arrived this week.

For the past month, I've been making excuses and explaining the reasons regarding the seasons to my children, especially the area's absence of spring.

Yes, school was out for "summer vacation" but summer doesn't really start until three weeks after the final school bell.

Yes, the thermometer had reached into the triple-digits several times, but we were still in the midst of spring.

Yes, mommy was crabby from all the high temperatures, strong winds and no rain, but that didn't mean summer was going to arrive any sooner than the middle of June.

With summer now in its third day, my kids feel they are completely justified to run outside without shoes or socks, wear only shorts and tank, and live in their swimsuits for the next three months.

With the exception of pulling stickers out of tiny toes, this is fine and dandy to me because it means just one thing -- less laundry.

* Normally, I would begin this next item with "Unless you've been living under a rock" or "Unless you've been held up in a cave," but there are exceptions to the rule.

Raise your hand if you know what the World Cup is about? All four of you can lower your hands now.

As a primer: The World Cup of Soccer (or Football to the rest of the world) is taking place right now in Germany. It is held every four years.

It takes the best 32 teams out of 170-plus countries which compete. And it's a big deal -- everywhere but in the U.S. even though the U.S. is one of the 32 teams competing.

In other countries, businesses allow their workers to watch the games on TV, if the companies even stay open during game time. Every penalty kick and off-sides is closely monitored by an entire nation glued to the TV.

But since the U.S. didn't invent the sport of soccer, it's just not as big a deal here and this year's showing is not going to help. If you had any plans of watching the U.S. in the World Cup, you missed your chance.

Although it's not official, the U.S. will not advance to the second round of 16 teams, having never won a game. In fact, their only goal during their three-game first round came in a 1-1 tie with Italy, but it should be noted that Italy scored on itself in that game.

So, cheer on highly-favored Brazil or root for Ghana, which was in the same group as the U.S., and hope that four years of practice will enable the U.S. team to make at least one goal for themselves.

* As if guys needed another reason to break open a six-pack -- Researchers at Oregon State University have released a study which says an ingredient in beer seems to help prevent prostate cancer, at least in lab experiments.

While this may seem like a win-win situation, a person would have to drink 17 beers a day for any potential benefit. And no one's advising that.

According to the Associated Press, researchers at Oregon State University say that the compound xanthohumol, found in hops, inhibits a protein in the cells along the surface of the prostate gland. The protein acts like a switch that turns on a variety cancers, including prostate cancer.

So the first 16 beers are for purely entertainment value, while No. 17 is for health reasons.

* On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone who has called, sent cards or simply provided a hug during my mother's long hospital stay and recent passing. The outpouring of sympathy has helped my family cope through this difficult time.

At the other end of the spectrum, I would like to wish Mike Baker and Jennifer Blume a long and happy life together as they exchange marriage vows this weekend in Trenton. We all hope for a quiet, peaceful and meaningful ceremony, although I'm not making any promises with only three weeks left until my due date.

-- Ronda Graff is not a fan of hot weather in the first place. Add pregnancy into the scenario and everyone around her is wishing for either the arrival of the baby or the arrival of winter.

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