newcommand with slides and itemize

Hi,

I'm trying to implement a new command which highlights
non-active `\items' lightgray. Here's what I've come up with so
far:

--8<------------------------schnipp------------------------->8---
\newcommand{\pdSlide}[3]{%
\onlySlide*{#1}{\item #3}%
\fromSlide*{#2}{{\lightgray \item #3}}}
--8<------------------------schnapp------------------------->8---

this can be used like this:

--8<------------------------schnipp------------------------->8---
\overlays{3}{%
  \begin{slide}{foobar}
    \begin{itemize}
    \pdSlide{1}{2}{item 1}
    \pdSlide{2}{3}{item 2}
    \fromSlide*{3}{\item item 3}
  \end{itemize}
\end{slide}
}
--8<------------------------schnapp------------------------->8---

Now I'd like to enhance this command with one more features:

An optional argument. Often I have long text in the items but I
want to reduce this text when I move on to the next item i.e.:

    \pdSlide{1}{2}[item 1 short vers. in lightgray]{%
      item 1 long version long version in normal color\ldots}

Following doesn't work but maybe shows what I'm trying to
accomplish:

--8<------------------------schnipp------------------------->8---
\newcommand{\pdSlide}[4][#4]{%
\onlySlide*{#1}{\item #4}%
\fromSlide*{#2}{{\lightgray \item #1}}}
--8<------------------------schnapp------------------------->8---

Any pointers?

Cheers

Patrick
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