Just need to talk to my friends (212)
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Good morning’!
Sandy, I’m so sorry to hear about your fractured vertebrae. If you remember I ruptured two disks in my neck putting my pants on and took a fall. Nerve damage even has the pain running down my arm and shoulder. Louisiana wouldn’t operate because they said I was high risk. Now that I’m in Missouri they are having different thoughts about surgery. I have to drive to Branson today for primary care visit and not looking forward to it. Just a short drive to the store has my neck hurting.
Ron1 -
Good morning.
Ron— You're up extra early given that I'm a time zone ahead of you. I recall when you had that fall.
Lorita— I'm glad Darwin was able to get his phone working. Do you have to rely on cellular where you are or is a land line still available?
Do you rely on cellular or do you have the option for landline service as well? It's weird, even living in a fairly densely populated metro area, I regularly encounter predictable dead zones where my phone drops. There's a gap on the road to mom's for about 0.5 miles where there's no service even on Verizon. It's annoying.
Sandy— I am sorry to hear of your 10-hour stint in the ED and fracture. What's your objection to the brace? When mom fractured a couple vertebrae after being attacked by a cocker spaniel, she found it helped her a lot. She didn't like "the look" but it did help with pain. (back story: when mom lived on the golf course there was a lady with Alzheimer's who would elope when her DH's back was turned. Mom saw her walking down the 16th fairway and went to their home to let him know when the dog rounded on her)
Gothic G— I always enjoyed Larson's take on things. With the death of the daily newspaper, I really miss comics. Or the funnies as DH calls them.
Iris— I saw a trailer for that film; it's looked promising.
____________________________________________________________________For those following my tales of woe:
Mom seemed chipper yesterday. Her pulmo group ordered a CT scan that shows considerable changes compared to January 2025 when she had sepsis and aspiration pneumonia. Her right lung has a significant collapse. They're culturing sputum and added vibrating vest treatments. I don't think she'll be discharged today. I was supposed to attend a funeral a little over an hour away but I feel like I need to be local and check in on mom instead.
HB2 -
Morning, slept pretty well.last night. Trying to make myself go get my flu shot today. Weather is not going to be good this weekend. We win even have the threat of some snow early next week. Ron, looks you may.have a few flakes, too.
Did you all get both the flu and covid shots at the same time? If so, did you have an untoward reaction?
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Sandy, If your vertebral fracture is a compression fracture, many people get relief from a procedure called kyphoplasty. Ask an ortho or neuro who does backs about it. Do you have osteoporosis? Vertebral fractures without an impact (fragility fractures) are often the result of osteoporosis and perhaps you would benefit from medication. Take care and feel better.
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Iris, that movie sounds good. There is also a book and movie "Killers of the Flower Moon" about the Native Americans on oil-rich ground; the white people would marry them and even kill them to obtain the properties. True story also.
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off to routine Dr appt
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Good morning, rockers. I just finished sweeping the leaves off the deck, and decided to lie down and relax for a moment. It took Birdy about ten seconds to velcro himself to my side. So funny, because when DH was alive, this cat would not give me the time of day.
In half an hour, i will head to the city for a doctor’s appointment. Since his office is on the far East side, i will take the NYC Ferry. As a senior, i can ride for $1.45! It is a pretty big discount from the regular price, and the ticketing is done on your phone.
HB, so very sorry to hear your Mom’s report. I hope they can get her feeling better very soon.
Zetta, thanks for the shoutout. Did everyone come back from the convention, or are you still feeding the menagerie?Iris, I hope you decided to make the NYC trip. New York in December is magical. Crowded, but magical. I feel pretty safe everywhere i go, and I ride the subway a lot. When you live a river away from Manhattan, not going below, as we say, is not an option.
I would like to see the new Wicked movie, too, but going to the movies here is a pain. Order your ticket online, pay a service fee, choose your seat, etc. I miss the days when you could walk up to the box office, buy a ticket and go in. And the half-hour of commercials they subject you to is terrible. Sorry. End of rant.
It looks like Thanksgiving will be clear but cold and windy here. We are hoping the wind stays low, because when it ramps up, they either lower the big balloons in the parade or don't fly them at all. There was a pretty terrible accident that killed a spectator in windy conditions several years back.
I hope everyone has a really nice holiday. I am cooking for DH’s sister. Skipping the whole bird and doing a turkey breast instead. No matter how well I plan, there will be too much to do at the last minute. That’s how that meal is. In the morning, I’ll be watching the parade and waving at the Rockettes from the porch.
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Good afternoon
Lorita I would enjoy watching the cows with you. Is
HB sorry you and your mom are dealing with all this. Seems like you had a lot to deal with here lately.
I hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving.🦃🍁🦃 thought I would say it today in case I don’t get back before and Thursday will be a little bit busy for me.
Take care
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I would.love for you to be here to watch the girls and.babies with me Mint. It is lots of fun
Getting ready to go get my flu shot. Guess I will take the moth balls out first. Who knew they could be so dangerous?
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Good morning. I slept all night without getting up once. What a good night.
Sandy, I'm sorry about your vertebral fracture. Why don't you want to wear the brace? I see online that there are certain postures too avoid, such as bending forward. Will you have physical therapy? If you cannot get out, you might ask for home PT. I hope you have pain relief. Apparently sitting too much is bad.
HB, I hope your mom is responding positively to her pulmonary therapy.
Lorita, last year I got both flu and covid vaccinations together. I developed a fever and was down for about 24 hours, but I anticipated that reaction.
Beth, the Sarah's Oil movie has a scene in which a social worker gives Sarah's family the news that two of her Native American classmates had been murdered by oil speculators who wanted to drive them off their land. What treachery! We don't learn this history in school. I will keep an eye out for that book, it sounds like just the type of book I like to read.
Tigersmom, are you in Staten Island? I can't remember the last time I rode the SI Ferry, probably when I was in high school. It's a nice ride.
When I went to the movies yesterday, I bought my ticket at the counter and I had to choose my seat. Since I went to the 2 pm showing, only two seats had been taken. I understand the concept, but I miss not being to choose my seat once I get into the theater. Actually I was too close because I chose the third row, and the sound was extra LOUD. But the movie ads had already started so I stayed in my assigned seat.
There was a nice article yesterday from the NY T times about the history of motels. The first one was built in San Luis Obispo, between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In those days travelers were too dirty to stay at nice city hotels, so they stayed at campsites. Two brothers opened the Milestone Mo-Tel on December 12, 2925.
If you want to read the whole article, search for "The motel, an American roadside draw, turns 100". It is behind a paywall if you don't already subscribe to the NY Times but there are some videos online about the history of motels.
I'm looking forward to watching Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. Afterwards I will watch the American Kennel Club Dog Show. Then I will visit with my friend who invited me to have dinner with her family. Today and tomorrow I will telephone some relatives and family friends since they will probably be busy on Thanksgiving Day.
Iris
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Lorita, I had the flu and covid shots at the same time, same arm. No effects at all.
A. at the senior center told me yesterday about some good chicken sliders at Walmart, and today she bought me some while she was there. I paid her for them, of course, and declined her offer to get me more. I am capable of getting my own groceries and in fact have been going to the grocery since my mother sent me on foot with a list back in the Eisenhour administration. A pushes pastries on me too, I think she just likes to help people. I am not accustomed to anyone giving any thought to whether "little Carl" gets enough to eat. As I discussed with Iris yesterday, I have been more than adequately feeding myself.
My neighbor B. called this morning and invited me to spend Thanksgiving with him and his wife. I have other plans with my family, but I am grateful to him for thinking of me. In fact, I may call him back. His wife has Alzheimer's, and if it is just him and her for Thanksgiving, I may go by and visit them after the dinner at SIL's house.
NYC sounds beautiful. We have a Mayor's Christmas tree and such, but it isn't the same. DS wants to put up a tree this year, so that will be a good project for Friday while he is visiting.
I hope you with back and neck pain can get some relief. I have had sciatica, and I know it's no fun. TTYL
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Iris, I am in Queens, just on the other side of the Midtown Tunnel. The ferry system i mention goes all up and down the East River to Astoria, the Upper East Side, down to Wall St. and many points in Brooklyn. It is called NYC Ferry. There is even a ferry to Rockaway Point for the surfers. I wish it ran to Coney Island, because that’s a long subway trip. Apparently, they are testing landing locations there.
The ferries run year-round unless the weather on the water is terrible. They are a great way to see the city if you are visiting.
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Now I’m back from Dr visit in Branson and more test in store for me. Seems like with my little problem with balance along with weakness of my left side; which is my dominant side, he now wants a ct scan of my brain. I never knew you could have a “silent stroke”, which is what his concern is. I always thought a stroke had noticeable symptoms, but evidently you can have one and not know it. MRI of the neck is next week and after the scan he will determine what is next. I also had my pneumonia shot and RSV shot, flu shot was given to me in Springfield a couple of weeks ago.
carl, don’t count me out yet, I’ll be back to the senior center to help you if your women has left me a seat.Ron
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Hi ot.imo town and it my flu shot.. Will get the covid shot later.. I asked the nurse about the pneumonia shot. Evidently there is a new one and the health dept.. Doesn't have it. I had one in 2008 there and think I had one in the doctors office. Will check is. She said if you have one after you're 60, no more are needed. I got into town before my appt. Time so went to the Dollar store to get my journals(have kept journals for many years). When you pay you put your money in a slot and your paper change comes out in that slot and change in another. They have quite a few groceries and even fresh vegetables. Did not know that.
Before I left home I took out the moth balls. They did not work! There was a huge ,10" rat's nest made of grass and white stuff. There is a box of Kleenex in the car so might have been that or they're working on the seats. Evidently no wire chewing yet because car ran good with. no weird dash lights. I parked it right under the security light and raised the hood. No nest in the PU have moth balls there. Do you all think an exterminator could find it? They had it 15 days at the dealers and couldn't. Maybe traps!
Tried.calling Darwin to tell him I was.home and.no answer so ran over there to check.. He was ok, didn't hear his phone. He mowed his yard today. I am pooped!
Glad you slept well, Iris. Back later.
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HB - sending all good wishes to you and your mom. She's probably happy knowing you're close.
Lorita - I got my flu and covid shots at the same time and had my usual reaction - tiredness for a day, achy arm for a couple of days, and then back to my normal self.
Mint - I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
tigersmom and Iris - on the rare occasion that I manage to make it to the movies, it's the back row for me! Pretty much always.
Carl - what's a Mayor's Christmas tree?
tigersmom - I've only been to NYC a few times, so I'm mostly unfamiliar with it. My s.o., who is from New Jersey and spent a lot of time in NYC, gave me a book for Christmas a few years ago - "The City We Became" by N.K. Jemisin. It's a fantasy book where certain people become avatars of the boroughs in NYC. I asked my s.o. if the avatar's personalities were fairly accurate for each of the boroughs and he said 'yes', so at least I have a feel now for what each borough is kinda/sorta like. I guess it would be like the Castro in San Francisco (gay), the Mission (Latino), the Haight (old hippies), etc. I really enjoyed the book - great story, well-written, maybe you'd like it?
Lorita - those are some persistent rats!!!!! Is there some place nearby where they're likely coming from?
Today's been kind of cold, okay, really cold, and somewhat damp. The PNW in late fall. I went to the gym, and finished putting everything away from our trip.
Last night at Death Guild they announced "Elder Goth" night in a few weeks - yeah, that would be me. One guy who lives in Seattle already bought his plane tickets! 😄 I'm staying home. I do love their poster for the event though - with Andrew Eldritch of the Sisters of Mercy and Siousxie and their 'get off my lawn' sign. Who says that goths don't have a sense of humor!
Now I'm going to go through all of my sorted photos to see what else I can add to the blog.
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GG, The Mayor's Christmas tree is a big Christmas tree in the middle of the town square, lighted by the mayor on Thanksgiving night amid great ceremony to celebrate the start of the holiday season. It is like the tree in Rockefeller Center and the tree on the White House lawn, except it is erected in a town in which no building is more than 20 stories tall and the lighting is carried on local TV only, not the national news. Like New York, crowds of people stand out in the cold and drink hot chocolate or whatever to watch the ceremony. Don't you do that on the west coast?
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HB I.hope your mother is improvimg. Will she.be.able to. hub e.homr.by Thanksgiving?
Sandy, have you heard anything about you appt yet? Do you think a wheelchair would help you? Mint, I love crackers of any kind You experiment in making different things so have you ever tried making crackers?
My arm Is a little sore so have iced it some tonight, otherwise no reaction.
GG, we are in the middle of acres and acres of grassland and hundreds of stored big bales of hay.. Weather is geting.colder so rats, mice and other things are look!ing for warm homes for the winter so they are everywhere. No way out of it.
Good night, sleep tight.
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Lorita, I don't understand why the GPs don't chase away the rats. We've got feral cats here and they chased away the rats just by being around, they didn't kill any.
The local Home Depots have gotten rid of all the cashier stations, everything is self-checkout now.
You are a good neighbor to Darwin.
Ron, are you able to do balance exercises?
Tigersmom, I used to live in Flushing, at 411 Union Avenue, the most wonderful apartment building in NY in 1981. That NY Ferry came along way after I left NY. I'm a native Brooklynite. I wonder if I could get a chance to ride the ferry when I visit. Many years ago I rode the Circle Line around Manhattan, does that still exist?
NY is truly a fascinating place if you don't have to keep your head on a swivel.
The library will have a sewing class on Saturday, so tomorrow I'm going to Walmart to pick up some fabric. The project is to make a collar.
Good night everyone.
Iris
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Carl - If we do have Mayor's Christmas trees, I've never encountered one. None of the places where I've lived in CA have had one. The most likely place I can think, where I've lived, is Santa Cruz. They have a really nice town square, and I've never seen them do a tree there.
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Good morning!
Iris, during my Dr’s assessment I was wobbly with my eyes open and he had to catch me when I closed them. During a hallway walk I was dropping my left foot and if pulled over I would not be able to walk in a straight line. Also, I am left handed and my left side was weaker than the right. He is putting in a consult for me to see a neurologist and if course the head scan to see is they can find any brain left.
I have been concerned about my memory and that is why they did a slum test on me. The higher the score the better memory you have. My score was 19, 1 to 20 is dementia! If I am going down that road, I will put myself in a home before it gets bad, even though my son says he will take care of me, I don’t want the caregiver of a dementia father to be put in him. Hopefully whatever is wrong with me will not advance much. Funny world..like Carl said “looking at me you couldn’t tell anything was wrong”. I’m going to keep it that way!
Ron
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Morning, Ron I worry about that too. My Memory is not what it used to be and wonder If I get to the point of dementia, will I know it. My mother and sister both had alz so it is something to think about. Scarlet worried about that but MS got her instead.
Cold and sunny here. Twenty five degrees colder than yesterday morning. My arm Is sore from the shot but that's all. All of us slept through the night so that was good.
Iris, I have never seen a rat except the one time I opened the back of the car and glimpsed one. The GPs never leave the yard except on leashes and I doubt a rat would be out in the open. This one comes and goes from the car because the nest was made of grass and paper or something white. Maybe the cedar blocks will help and the spray. Beats me!! Back later -need mote hot tea.
Sandy, hope you feel.better this morning. Have you gotten your appt. Yet?
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Ao can you park your car in the yard????
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Not really, too many trees.
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Good afternoon all. Goodness I'm so sorry so many are under the weather. We just can't be having that! We need happy healthy rockers! But seriously, I'm so thrilled that we're all here for one another when we aren't feeling ourselves. Its nice to have a place where we can be safe and secure.
I don't know about everyone else, but I think watch cows could possibly catch on. I'd do it for sure.
DH's neck is coming along. This last injection really has helped. His neck isn't turned to the left like before. Of course he's quick to point out he's not pain free, he's a # 2 on the chart 1-10. I don't think he can really determine his pain level, I just watch and determine it. He's more himself than he's been in months. For this I'll call it my Thanksgiving blessing.
Its only the two of us tomorrow. That's how he likes it best. He really hinted strongly about a turkey but I just said no. Anything else, but for some reason I just can't make myself do a turkey.
Lorita its going to be quite the football game. The Chief and and Cowboys. The news said its going to be a perfect trifecta for a viewing audience: Chiefs, Cowboys & Thanksgiving. They are predicting records breaking on the viewing audience. I don't doubt it. We'll be watching, that's for sure.
HB how's mom today?
I'll check back in later to check on everyone else. Let's be safe everyone.
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Good afternoon.
Lorita, I was thinking that if the scent of the GPs was all throughout the yard or where the car is parked, the rats would be deterred.
Ron, I first came to this message board years ago because of serious memory problems, diagnosed as cognitive impairment not otherwise specified. After many years the neurologist determined that I don't have Alzheimer's Disease. In fact, he has given me a new diagnosis of adult attention deficit disorder.
Actually, I believe my memory and cognitive problems are due to a combination of several factors, including hypertension and sleep disorders. I have had an abnormal MRI for many years. You have had cardiovascular issues for some time. It may be that your issues are related to poor oxygenation in the brain from your cardiovascular issues. See what you can do to help your brain. Work on your nutrition and on walking 30 minutes, if you can walk safely where you live. You will have to start very slowly and work up. Check with your doctors if exercise is okay for you. You might ask about cardiac rehabilitation because they monitor you during exercise. I know that better nutrition and exercise have helped me quite a lot.
The other things that help are reducing stress and getting better sleep. Good sleep is VITAL for brain health. As I've been reporting, my sleep has been and is still not normal, and I am still working on my sleep. But I believe I am getting a handle on controlling stress in my life. Posting on Lorita's Friends Front Porch is one of my stress relievers. Thanks, Lorita!
I've learned quite a lot about health for older adults from the other Porch Rockers here. For example, watching Bob and Brad videos about walking and balance. I don't believe that regular doctors truly appreciate how compromised we older adults can become by a small bit of poor balance. My balance used to be bad, although I didn't "feel" like I had poor balance. But I did have a few falls. I worked on balance exercises and fall prevention tactics, and they have helped.
Another thing that has helped me is losing weight. Overall, I am down 20 pounds from the beginning of the year. I think having belly fat puts one off-balance. Also, I had neuropathy in my feet which I believe was from undiagnosed diabetes. I've been working on getting my blood sugar under control.
Most of these health measures I have undertaken on my own. I have the belief that doctors don't push older adults too much to make lifestyle changes. It is very difficult. I don't like walking for 30 minutes, but I have to do it for my heart.
Managing my health as an older adult is almost like having a job. But I'm willing to do it. And I enjoy learning about better health and feeling better. Even though I don't like walking too much, I do like the results of feeling better.
I also have a hiatal hernia, or so I was told when I was in my 20s. I have to watch out for my food backing up. But it's automatic now. So Ron, I do hope you can gather people around you to give you good personalized advice on how you can feel better. You have a nice family and they are helping you.
I'd better get out before it gets dark. So long.
Iris
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Eagle, so happy your husband's neck is batter. Indeed a Thanksgiving blessing.
Seems like there is always a cowboy and Indian football game on Thanksgiving but I think it used to be the Redskins and Cowboys. Of course there is no longer a Redskin team. I think that is overkill. I used to call Charles Redskin and he didn't mind.
THe PU and car started and I drove around the road to check on the girls' hay. There are big cedar trees on the east side of the farm and two big ones on the driveway. If rats don't like the smell of cedar I thought I could cut limbs from those trees and put them around both vehicles.. Might work.
Got the check from AFR for the car. Fast work for them.
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The first Thanksgiving Day football game featured the Indians vs. the Pilgrims. I don't remember who won. 🏈
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Lorita - ahhh, now I get it. I didn't have a picture in my head of what your property looks like, now I do. I can see that you'd have little critters looking around for warm spots to be.
eaglemom - that's how Thanksgiving is going to be for us tomorrow - me and my s.o. We did the big family Thanksgiving last week when we went to CA. It was nice to see everyone, and this will be nice too.
HB - I'm thinking about you and your mom. How is she doing?
Carl - you and my trainer with the jokes - the bad dad jokes!! I love it!! 😄
Iris - I'm so glad you made that health post, there's so much good in it . And so much of what you describe is why I go to the gym as often as I do - I'm trying to hold on to as much of what I've got as possible, for as long as possible. I'm very aware that I'm "of an age", and that there will come a day when I can't safely do what I can currently do. And I hear you about walking - I hate the treadmill, yet, I get on it every day. It does get easier, but it's never going to be "fun".
Being Italian, I can gain weight just by looking at food, so I have to be careful (and I am). And I limit my chocolate intake. Definitely my Achilles heel.
I'm signing off until Friday - so I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow! My s.o. is going to make a seafood paella tomorrow, and I'm sure it'll be delicious. I may stop by for a moment and post a photo of it.
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Seafood paella sounds delicious! Bon appetite!
I'm upset and a bit angry! Someone I've known for about 20 years called me but left no message. When I called her back, it turns out that she had been accosted and chased in her home which is in a rough neighborhood. The thug drove away in her van with her house keys and money which were in her purse in the van. Fortunately she was not injured because she ran and screamed and her neighbors came out to see what was happening.
I think she called me to give her a ride, but by the time I called her back she had found someone else to give her a ride. I'm glad, because I'm not driving into her neighborhood. Last summer I drove with her and her relatives, two women and two men, to her house. I was scared then. We older folks are no match for young thugs who are out for no good. She told me she never thought this could happen to her, it only happens to other people, (duh). She said she always thought she could scare a mugger off by yelling and cursing at him. I don't know who that has ever worked for. She said this guy was high on drugs. Yes, cursing will stop a druggie. (Not!)
I had to hang up. This was traumatizing to me. I am always so careful about my own personal safety because I know that as an older woman, I am a target. I don't know why she is so naive. I'm still trying to calm myself down and it didn't happen to me.
I'm going to say good night now.
Iris
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I'm going to have to have to read more often. Iris, I.missed your post about exercise -very good and I should do those more often. I can tell my. balance is not as good as it should be. Who was it who gave a link to foot exercises? I need to do those for my Morton's Neuromas.
I'm ready for bed so will say good night. Weatherman is talking about very cold weather and high wind with maybe a bit of snow this weekend.
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