Hello everyone!

I just got home from watching the torch relay--Todd's leg of course! I thought I'd post a brief report on it. Please excuse me if I ramble all over the place, I'm trying to defrost. IT WAS CCCCCOOOOLLLLLDDDDDD!!!!!

I found a good spot in front of East High, about 1/2 a block down from where Todd actually got the torch and waited....and waited....and waited. The torch was about 49 minutes late. Before the Torch entourage, we were treated to the Coca Cola truck passing out ice cold Cokes to aid us in our warming efforts. The truck also had a scrolling marquee that said "See the Torch!........In 20 Minutes!" Well, the truck was a little on the optimistic side, cuz the torch didn't show up for another 40 minutes. We got some lovely souvenirs along with our ice cold Cokes: plastic Chevy flags and red penants that say "I saw the Flame!"--some of them also said "Utah" on the other side. After two false alarms (traffic was stopped, only to be let through again), the police brigade showed up! Then different models of Chevy cars and a fire truck, a shuttle bus carrying a previous torch bearer, then a few more policemen on motorcycle. The guy next to me was really tall and kept a lookout for me so I could get my camera ready. I knew I shouldn't have appointed him as my watchdog when he yelled out "I see the torch! It's being carried by....I don't think that's Todd...wait, is he really short?" I grinned and said, "Yep, that's Todd!"

Todd jogged by, carrying the torch, wearing the white jog suit with a white hat and flanked on either side by two bodyguard-type of volunteers (in the official blue and black Olympic coats). The best part was how happy he looked! I wish all of you guys could have been there to see the enjoyment on his face. He just looked like he was having the time of his life and it was wonderful to be able to see that! As glad as I was to be there, it took everything I had not to grab the torch from him and set myself on fire. I was a human popsicle by this time. Unfortunately, my camera decided to hibernate from the cold at that moment (Waaaahhhh!) so I don't have any pictures. Hopefully, someone out there got some good shots!

-maia