So, if you've been reading me for a while you'll know that I've never done a product review before. I'm not much into that sort of thing, unless, well, unless you hit me with something that strikes my fancy.
And we're talking jewelry here, folks. Pretty and shiny and the kinds of stuff that sparkles for you! So how could I pass that up? You're right. I couldn't.
So here it is. I was allowed to pick any of their beautiful items and so I decided, especially with Passover upon us, that I wanted to wear my heritage in style. So I opted for this beautiful Star of David solitaire necklace.
It's super pretty, isn't it? Yeah, it is. I love it. I love that the chain has a few spots that you can latch it on, adjusting the size. I love that I don't have to worry (it's CZ, so it's valuable, but not crazy pricey, ya know?) that my daughter might tug it off my neck, or that my crazy hectic self might lose it and be devastated. Because, yes, I'd be sad, but it's not a family heirloom or anything, so that works for me, as well. I like how shiny it is, too. I'm a girlie girl after all, I suppose.
I've only had it for a few days, so I really don't have anything negative to say. I am hopeful that the item stays in good condition after more wear and tear and day-to-day use.
LuShae Jewelry is Australian based, but they ship throughout the US from their California location. The ordering process was simple and I received my item in just a few days.
**This review was an open and honest review of the item I received compliments of LuShae Jewelry/Jewelry Art Designs. While the item was given to me for free that did not sway the comments I made here about my experience or the item I received.**
I'm so excited for the new followers and friends I've been fortunate enough to "meet" over the past week or so. (Except for you, the one who left me, whoever you are! But I won't stay bitter for long, I promise!)
And I'd like to tell you a little about myself. But I'm lazy. And STARVING. My husband and my mother-in-law went to pick up our Chinese food for dinner, and it's been way too long. They should be back by now. But it's cool, cause the wee one and I rolled some chocolate chip cookies up while father-in-law watched w. a beer nearby. Fun times. Lucky to love my ILs.
Anyway, about me ... you probably have read my header, and probably have skimmed some of my posts, and probably, well, if you're back here following me or stopping by now and then, you must have liked something, right?
I'm a not-quite-40-year-old-mommy of a 3-going on 13-year-old princess. I'm really not 40 yet, but I have about 2-1/2 (holy schnikies!) years to go before I get there. Oh, and a month. Cause my 1/2-birthday is in April. Late April. So I can't forget that month.
So right now my daughter is singing the alphabet for my FIL. And it goes, "Now I know my ABCs, next time won't my ABCs.' And now she's screaming her head off at him for fun. Oh, the joy of being in the torturous threes. Love it. I mean, gotta love it, right?
I relocated from NYC to NC almost four years ago. I was a child and family therapist (social worker) in NY after completing my masters while finishing up a 9 year (yes, you read that right, NINE) run in TAX publishing. Bored yet? And so, that's me, in a nutshell. Ah, and so I'm back. Did you miss me? Nope, right? Because if I didn't tell you I was gone you wouldn't have known! The Chinese food was depressing. The best place and they changed owners and now, well, it kind of sucks. But we did make decent chocolate chip cookies, and I think I'm going to have some strawberries and ReddiWhip for dessert. Yum.
I've been blogging for a little over a year, but have not yet hit my one-year-public-Blogiversary yet! I'm psyched about meeting new people and I love to talk about lots and listen to whatever is on your mind. I'm a loyal friend, an honest person, and I STILL don't drive. You still like me, right? I have diagnosed myself with PTSD when it comes to that, as the last driver's ed lesson I took some old guy ran a stop sign and crashed into me. And the instructor made me drive home. Which probably seemed like it was supposed to work, but for me made it worse. Stupid old guy. Stupid old guy instructor, too.
OK, enough about me. Tell me about YOU! Leave me one comment with one sentence about yourself. And say whatever else you need to say, too, of course. And no rules whatsoever on how long that sentence can or cannot be. Fun, right? ;)
So, if you haven't noticed all of the new comments on my blog from my new and fun commenting friends -- yesterday I was the Spotlighted Comment Addict on CCWA -- which used to be Comment Crack Whores Anonymous, but has now been changed to something less, uhm, harsh, shall we say?
Anyway, I was not prepared to link up yesterday because my laptop had malfunctioned (or so I thought) and I figured a WW post would be easy to get through. Also, I thought I was going to be on their site on Friday, but I was an early bird, I suppose! Always after the worm.
And so, today I'd like to tell you about their site. And try to do it on this "borrowed" laptop, as guess what? Mine is HOSED. I am so so so NOT HAPPY. I have a ton of work to do, you know, REAL work, and the ability to do it on this mini-PC is not easy, I mean, this is a laptop, too, it's just super tiny and I am still trying to figure out how to have two different browsers accessible at once. But I digress.
My point of this post is not entirely to complain about my MAC being on the fritz, but to direct you to CCWA if you, like me, are a Compulsive Comment Worshipper. That's the new name. I think I spelled it correctly, but forgive me if I didn't. As hubby says, I have fat finger issues. This laptop is tinier than, well, a lot of things. Many of them on my body. Not my fingers, necessarily, but other parts, certainly.
And on that note, I truly need some breakfast. And maybe to put some clothes on that I haven't slept in. That would be nice.
So here's the link over to CCWA:
Go check 'em out. Join us, and you could be a celeb Comment Worshipper like me. Tee hee.
(Oh, cr@p. This laptop isn't giving me an option to change my font, so I have no idea how this post is actually going to look. Argh. OR my color. Let's see how that works out. TGIT, INDEED.)
As you may know already, I'm participating in a 100 books in 2010 challenge with some friends from my mommies' group here in the Triangle (hence, the name, TriangleMommies!) over on Goodreads.com.
Anyway, I'm tracking the books I read in my sidebar through a Goodreads widget, so it's all fun and easy and inspiring. And yet, it's not enough!
So I found out about this challenge on my friend Julie's blog: My Book Retreat, and I decided to jump into the fray!
So, basically all I have to do is create a small list of books that I plan to read/finish from now until the end of spring (June 21st, I believe) and post them here, and then try to read them all. And if you know me, you know that I certainly have a nice batch of books waiting for me, so I figured I'd pull some titles out, and move ahead from there:
** Belong to Me/When Love Walked In, marisa de los santos ** The Whole World Over, Julia Glass ** True Colors, Kristin Hannah ** On Folly Beach, Karen White ** Our Promised Land, Michael T. Darkow ** No Dress Rehearsal, Marian Keyes ** Knit Two, Kate Jacobs ** The Accidental Mother, Rowan Coleman
And I would like to finish reading the following books, as well:
** Inconsolable: How I Threw My Mental Health Out With the Diapers, Marrit Ingman ** Further Under the Duvet, Marian Keyes
So, if you're interested, click the button for this challenge to head on over to Callapidder Days for more info! See you there!!!
My Aunt passed a year ago today. She suffered from pancreatic cancer, but my immediate family (my father, my mother, myself and my brother) did not know she was sick. And I mean really sick. My dad (her brother) had a week with her, give or take, before she left us.
I try to avoid multiple posts in one day, but today is the kind of day that I need to pay a small tribute to her memory. She was in her early 50s - but thought she was 22! She was a bundle of energy always. She was beautiful. She was a survivor. She beat breast cancer and stayed strong, and then the beast of pancreatic cancer beat her down.
I didn't get to see her before she died. She never met my daughter. She was the only person my father had left of his immediate family, having lost his own parents many years ago.
My aunt was a spitfire. 100% of the time. I can still hear what was her voice when I spoke to her before she left us. Just the night before, or I think it was.
Yesterday my husband spent some time cleaning the garage, and he handed me a box and said, 'You're always asking me for boxes to clean, so have at it!' And so I did. And found a ton of memories from my bridal shower. One that was timely and hit me hard, while I was talking to my mother on the phone, no less, was a handwritten "memory" from my Aunt. Who said that her "memory" of me was when she was pregnant with my cousin, and we went to the beach, and she wore my mom's bathing suit. And I was in a bikini (ha! Imagine that!) ... and her scrawl was across the tiniest piece of paper. Without a signature. But I know it was her. And she leaves me with that memory. I know I was her first niece, her favorite. And I know how special she was. And will always be, as she lives in our hearts and our memories.
If you want to read my posts from last year, please feel free:
Today is Monday, and it has also been some time since I've done a Not Me Monday post.
And so, here I go ... can I possibly sum up all the wonderful things I've NOT done over these past weeks for you readers?
I did NOT leave my daughter inside watching TV and eating her waffles while I met with a customer to accept her inventory this morning. Nope.
I also did NOT ignore her screaming yesterday after I buckled her into her carseat and she decided "I want Daddy to do it!!!!" I did NOT totally pretend I could not hear her until she passed out. Hubby did NOT pretend the same thing. Nevah. Not us.
I also would NEVER be the kind of mom who would tell her child that we'd make cookies tomorrow just to get her to go to sleep. And then realize like 4 days later that we haven't made them yet. Oops. Nope. Not this mommy!
I'd never break my resolution to keep our kitchen table completely clean at dinner time by pushing stuff to the side/seat we don't sit at (I mean, there ARE four seats and only three of us,) nope. Not me!
I'd also NEVER tell my lil one that we can take a walk after 3PM, and then have her look at the (digital) clock at 4:30 and ask if it was 3 yet!!! Oops. NOPE.
Now that was fun, right? I think so. I feel much better. It's a blogger's confession. Or what I'd imagine confession would be like, since I'm Jewish and have no clue. So, if you enjoyed yourself here just head on over to MckMama's and share with everyone else what you haven't been up to lately!
**Oops, looks like MckMama hasn't posted a NMM linky today ... but you can surely check out some of the older ones for fun!**
Well, it's been WAY too long since I've participated in Muffin Tin Mondays, so I'm happy to pull up an MTM I did a few weeks ago, but neglected to post. It's not a creative one, it's not even really an *official* one, but we made carrot muffins together and had so much fun.
AND they were so yummy! They had an interesting spice flavor to them, too. I used a Pillsbury box mix, but they had a "from scratch" feeling as they were freshly-baked, ya know?
So, despite the complete MTM feel, we are participating this week anyway! Hope you are, too, and that you're having fun doing it!
That is one of the most recent books I have read. Actually, it's a re-read for me. I read it many moons ago, in what I'd call another life. Does everyone have those? That feeling that you used to be a totally different person, all the while still being YOU? Odd, maybe, but I have improved greatly from the me of many years ago.
Enough therapy can do that for a person. ;)
I have learned, over time, that I can be happy being me. I can be comfortable in my own skin, despite wishing there were less of me within it. I have recognized that I do not need to follow the strictest of diets while living my life, as I tend to fail on those anyway, and hate myself more afterward.
I learned to be comfortable being ME. To recognize I can wear pretty things, find clothing that flatters my body, and be happy wearing them. I can wear RED. I can wear bright colors. Black, white and blue are not the only colors an overweight woman can wear.
I've learned that it's okay to say overweight. It's even okay to say FAT. But man, I hate that word. Just too much history with it, I guess. I often refer to myself as chubby. That's cool, right? I am a short and chubby girl. Who is a mom, a friend, a sister, a daughter and a wife. A therapist, a volunteer, a writer and a reader. A blogger, too, of course. These are the me-s of today. The me-s that I've become as my life has moved along, while I watched the old/younger me fade away.
So reflecting back while reading this book was an interesting experience for me. I remembered my younger self. Funny, I almost said old self, but she wasn't old at all. Anyway, I knew that girl, I was that girl, I struggled with being that girl. I spent some time in therapy recognizing what was wrong with that girl, and started to understand there wasn't really anything wrong with her, she just kept herself down for too long.
So she got married, finished her master's degree, found a job, moved forward. Lived her life. And suddenly realized that she loved who she was. Who she is. And still does.
On the days that I feel like sh!t and think to myself, 'What is WRONG with me?' and 'Why can I not ...' (fill in the blank) I remind myself of that girl I found so many years ago. And I remind myself that she is still here. She is still me.
Sometimes an old book reminds me that the world will not fall apart if I eat ice cream every night, chocolate every day, and cookies now and then. The world will not implode on me if I don't document everything I put in my mouth. If I don't step on a scale weekly to monitor my poundage. Is that even a real word? Poundage? It sounds so (forgive the pun) heavy, doesn't it?
So, I thank Geneen Roth for her book that I pulled back out recently, read and devoured, and reminded myself that I could still be that girl, only now she's a mother, a positive example for her little girl, someone who wants to provide a constant reminder that she is beautiful, she is perfect, she is amazing, JUST AS SHE IS.
And so are we. The lot of us. All of us. For all our imperfections, for all our struggles and concerns, for all of the body image issues, we are who we are. And we are WOMEN! Hear us ROAR!
** And for all the men out there who may be reading this, may you find that same strength within you, as well, because a man with some meat on his bones is a man, indeed! ;)**
Thanks to Erin at The Mother Load I found out about this Spring Swap over at A Family of Shorts.
There's nothing like getting a package of goodies from a fellow blogger, one you don't even know yet, but then become instant friends with after you exchange a package of surprises that you picked out with her in mind! It's loads of fun (I'll be updating with a post shortly about a swap I just completed ... fun stuff!) and who doesn't like getting "presents" in the mail? I know I do!
Anyway, come on over and join us. Today is the last day to sign up, so I'm getting in under the wire. And if you're interested, let me know, 'cause I was actually thinking I might run / plan / host my own swap here. Do you think you'd participate? What kind of swap should we do? I like the ones for the kids, but I like the ones for ME even more. ;) Go figure!
I received an award today from Tami over at Hearts Make Families, which reminded me that I am way behind on the blog award posts. I know many bloggers tend to say they won't accept awards anymore, likely because of the maintenance, but I'm cool w. it. I need to post as many as I can remember, and while I tend to not follow the rules of the award, I do try to pass it along when I can!
So, here's the one that Tami just gave me, too cool, no?
Back in January Mrs. Muffins passed along the Simply Fabulous Award to me. Which I LOVED, because it's all Sex and the Citied-Out. Check it:
And January must have been my month, because Michele over at Finding Trinity gave me this one:
And, I mean, how KICK A$$ is that?
And, yet again in January, I received the following award from two fun blogger friends! Rhaven from Surburban Rebel Mom and Julie from Just Playin' Around gave me the Lemonade Stand Award:
Let me not forget two awards I received last week! Kel, from Between The Lines was too sweet and passed along the Beautiful Blogger award, along with the Sunshine Award. How cute is this?
I am truly grateful for these incredible bloggy friends, and thankful that they've taken the time to pass on some lovin' to me! And so, I toss it right back to them. Check out their sites. Seriously, you won't regret it. And feel free to tell them that I sent you ... because a friend of a friend always becomes a new friend, right?
If you've never had Chick-fil-A, then you don't know what you're missing.
Seriously. Chick-fil-A makes me so happy. I have been jonesin' [sp?] for it for months now, but each time I've thought about it it has either been on a Sunday (they're closed) or hubby hasn't been up for it. He's not a fan. I mean, he'll eat it, but it's not his fave, so I tend to only get some when we go to the mall together, as a family.
But I love it. For ages while living in NC I'd never tried it, never tried their chicken nuggets, and then, my eyes were opened. It's just so good. So damned good. They're the original chicken sandwich, ya know? And I like those. I do. But sometimes you just have to go with the greasy and oily and yummy-licious nuggets. But they make them with peanut oil, so it's good for you. Hee hee. Or that's what I tell myself.
Anyway, they're delicious. And their milkshakes ain't so bad, either. And thankfully they make them in a smaller size now, because in previous summers I've probably put on like 5 lbs because of them. Although that was before I knew hubby didn't love it.
And so, today, while our daughter screamed and cried her little head off in the backseat, we hit the CFA drive-thru, came home, I sat down at the kitchen table and ate my nuggets. And now, now I am happy.
I hope you're all well and enjoying decent weather. Come tell me about it so I can be jealous. We're getting rain, rain and more rain, and it makes me cranky. And headachey. And emotional. And makes me think a lot, about a lot of things.
Yeah, I know. We all go through those kinds of days. Weeks. Months. G-d hopes not years! I guess that I've just been over-thinking, and thinking, and re-thinking so many things, and it makes my head hurt. And I found myself writing a message to a friend earlier today and there were tears rolling down my face. I don't even know why.
Maybe it was the class I attended this week. Did I mention it was awful? It was awful. Anyway, I've started thinking about how it's been so long since I have contributed to the finances in our household, aside from saving pennies by clipping coupons, and saving pennies and other coins, literally.
And I know, I know that I spend time at home with my daughter, and because of that we don't have to pay for daycare, or preschool, or anyone to watch her. And I know that I also don't drive (yet!) and therefore don't have to concern myself with taking a course and paying for it, extra ga$ money, and whatever else I would need to consider. But this week, after having my lil one have a few play-with-friends moments, I started wondering.
I know most of you know I've been working from home for the past two months, and I am truly enjoying the experience. And I think that I'm doing what is right for me at this time. And yet I still struggle, in my mind, when it comes to finances and what I contribute/don't contribute. Perhaps this is the struggle in the mind of many a stay-at-home-mom. Perhaps not. But I can't imagine that it's just me and my inner turmoil. Others have to have experienced it, as well, right?
And so, I spoke with a woman who was sitting next to me at the horrible course the other day. I mentioned that I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my daughter, and she said, you're not fortunate, you made a choice. That has stuck with me. I did make a choice. We made a choice, as a family. And I think that it was the right one for us. It is the right choice. But my daughter won't be three forever. And so then what? Sigh.
I told you I was thinking too much.
And so, I continue to challenge myself with various concepts, ideas, readings and discussions. And sometimes they all happen completely within myself. But as I started to write this post and feel thankful for Friday, with hopes for a nice and relaxing family weekend, well, I guess it all just popped up and out. Go figure.
Thanks for listening. As always, you bloggy peeps rock.
OK, so I'm a mega-slacker, and I'm not doing 52 straight weeks, but ideally I'll get 52 shots of me over the course of however long and be happy to have done it. And most especially happy to post today.
Because I have some exciting news as I post my Shoot Me post this week, following Forever in Blue Jeans!
I chopped off my hair yesterday!!! SERIOUSLY chopped! I love the fresh new 'do. It makes me happy and makes my head feel so much lighter. Which, considering she chopped off four ponytails, two were 13" and two were 15" ... is not surprising!
And for reference, these two shots are from about a month ago, when I was planning to go in and chop it all off, but couldn't get in to see the person I wanted and trusted!
And now SO much happier!
I look like a totally different person. It's crazy!
So I was trying to figure out how to copy the Random.org generator so I could show who the winner is ... and tah dah ... I couldn't do it. It just wouldn't work.
Anyone want a dog? 'Cause I can't decide if I'm going to kill mine, or kiss him.
Our crazy mutt Dexter, who spent much of the winter with some difficulties jumping up on our bed or couch, to the point that hubby had to PICK HIM UP to get him into bed with us at night, yes, that same dog ... found a way this AM to jump up and squish that butt of his through a hole in our back fence.
I kid you not.
See, a while back (I tried to WW post about this, but that particular day blogger was unforgiving of images so it never happened) a tree from behind our yard blew up and over and INTO our yard. Well, not the whole thing, as it's like a zillion feet high. Really. I promise. Anyway, said tree found a way to take the momentum of the wind, and fall over. Onto and through our fence, landing partially on our tree, leaning through this tree and breaking into two once landing IN our yard.
I have the pictures to prove it right here: (And you know what, maybe it's not Blogger. I have a feeling these images are like GIGANTIC and therefore refuse to load when picked. BAH!)
And so, hubby boarded up the fence somewhat, said we should be good to go, and we were. For WEEKS. You know what, maybe even over a month. Until Dexter saw something through that fence. Down in the woods-y area that is partially our property but mostly woods between us and the kennel behind us. I mean completely wooded. Trees and trees and dead trees. Sigh.
So, here I am, calling him. SCREAMING his name. He wouldn't come in. He's still inside the fenced in yard at the time. No dice. I go get hubby's boots and start heading out to him, while seeing that he's decided to go THROUGH the hole in the fence! WHAT!?! Are you friggin kidding me, dog? Seriously? Ahhhhhh!
If the whole neighborhood did not hear me screaming DEXTER I don't know how that would have been possible. I could SEE him for a few minutes, but by the time I went to get a cookie to try to get his attention he was gone. Don't panic. Don't scream. He is chipped. He's not wearing his collar. (Why not, you ask? Because he was in our own friggin yard!!!! Why would he need a collar in our yard!?! I'm sorry, this isn't your fault. Forgive me. Emotions are still running high over here.)
Problem, me, home alone w. the child. Can't exactly take off into the woods w. her, can't exactly leave my 3-yo home alone, now, can I? Thank goodness a friend was home down the street. He took her in to play w. his lil one, they're BFF anyway, so that was easy enough.
I keep looking. Nobody hears me screaming? Really? Nobody? I come home to get the collar/leash and walk down the street. A woman HAS seen him. Down there. She points. I run. No Dexter. I start whistling. A neighbor asks me if I'm looking for my dog. YES! 'We gave him some water. He seemed really friendly. And really thirsty. I knew he was someone's as he was so friendly.' OMG! Where is he? He doesn't know but then, points, there he is!!
DEXTER!!! Come here, buddy! Come on! Come here!!! Get collar and leash on. Start crying. Thank neighbor SO SO MUCH. Neighbor admits to giving Dexter sausage. Of course. Mommy is losing her mind and doggie is living the high-life. Running free and eating sausage. D@mned dog. How much I love you is no reason for you to test me like this. If you'd only be calmer when we have you on a leash we'd walk you more. But that's no excuse. I promise more walks as a family now that it's nicer out. Daddy will come, too. And then you have to promise to never run away again. EVER.
Take that. Now get over here. Mommy needs some lovin'.
I know many of you have been following her story, and so I wanted to post this and let everyone know about an online auction to help support her and her family.
The actual auction starts tomorrow, but I figured I'd give everyone a heads up in case you wanted to check out the items listed. (Scratch that! It has already started! Go bid now!)
You can find out more about Layla and her story here:
Thanks for checking out the items. I've done purchases via these kinds of auctions before and they make you feel FANTASTIC! Plus you actually get something for your donation, which is really cool, and so it's a win-win situation.
Thanks for taking the time to check it out. I don't know anyone involved personally, I just know that I am amazed at the strength shown throughout the blogosphere and Twitter-land for this little girl and her family, and I think of them frequently.
Since I'm lazy I'm going to copy a post I posted here on the blog I write for at my mommies' group:
Confessions of a Slacker ...
I recently started reading a book that I am just loving. And I decided I HAD to share with women everywhere. It's called Confessions of a Slacker Wife, by Muffy Mead-Ferro. And I love her. I'm not even done with the book yet, but I am anxiously awaiting my copy of Confessions of a Slacker Mom, as well.
Basically what I have read so far reminds me that we, as women, are HUMAN. We're not required to do anything but eat, drink and sleep to LIVE, and yet we take on so many responsibilities. We make SO many things priority and often forget about ourselves in the mix of it all.
And we tend to prepare like you wouldn't believe. The best paragraph I have read so far in this book basically tells me that when I'm having people over that it's totally okay to just let things go. Sweep them under the rug, so to speak. Because my true friends won't give a hoot (yes, I did just say hoot!) whether or not there are toys on the floor, ready-made-dip to be eaten, or pre-sliced cheese and salami! And you know what? It might actually help THEM to feel better about themselves and their lives, and help them know that I consider them true friends. Why is that, you ask? Well, when is the last time you hid a dust bunny from a true friend? Or did anything more than say, 'Sorry for the mess, it's a regular day here!' and add a huge eyeroll about being the mother of a 3-year-old, or two 3-year-olds, or however many you deal with at home on a day to day basis!
So, let yourself go! And don't regret it! Because if you don't let it go you won't enjoy that party, that playdate, that time to bond with anyone but yourself and that 3-year-old in person. And man, that'd be the saddest thing of all!
Check out her books for better written words of wisdom without paraphrasing. But hey, it's 8:30AM, I don't drink coffee, so that's the best I could do. But we're friends, right? So it's OK. ;)
**Since this post I have finished both, this book and her other one. I love them. I love her, I truly, honestly, completely think it's great stuff to read. So hop to it!
I stay home with my daughter (she is 4 going on 14!) My husband and I relocated to NC from NYC in May of 2006 and I am still a non-driving, pizza-and-bagel missing, native Brooklyn-born New Yorker at heart ... with a taste for sweet tea and hush puppies!
It's super pretty, isn't it? Yeah, it is. I love it. I love that the chain has a few spots that you can latch it on, adjusting the size. I love that I don't have to worry (it's CZ, so it's valuable, but not crazy pricey, ya know?) that my daughter might tug it off my neck, or that my crazy hectic self might lose it and be devastated. Because, yes, I'd be sad, but it's not a family heirloom or anything, so that works for me, as well. I like how shiny it is, too. I'm a girlie girl after all, I suppose. 
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