Going back to school after being out of school for 8 years is exactly like going back to grade school. Well, without my colored braces, awkwardly huge glasses, underdeveloped body, and poor fashion sense. I'm sure someone out there has a picture of me in my horrific glory that was grades 6-8...maybe give or take a few years..
I digress.
First day of grad school. So, there is really no parking at my campus. It is in the city and the parking permits are ridiculously expensive and mostly exclusive to undergrad-campus dwelling students and faculty. Night students have a couple of options:
1. Public Transportation
2. Paid parking lot
3. Metered parking that stops needing to be fed at 6pm
On Tuesday, my first night of class, I looked for a metered spot. Class starts at 4 and I am in classes until 9:15. I would have to sneak out and feed the meter one quarter at some point. However, my nerves got the best of me and I felt I was running out of time. I investigated the parking lot. Doing the math in my head I realized it was going to cost $15 to park. WHAT?? No freakin way.
However, someone pulled in next to me, time was running out and I read in parenthesis that I could validate my ticket by showing a receipt from a store in the building. They had a space for how much money you were required to spend. It looked like this: ( ). I took this to mean, you could buy anything--a pack of gum perhaps and only pay $8. This of course was also too much, but I didn't really have a choice.
If you are wondering why I didn't take public transportation at this point let me tell you that it would cost me $7 to park at the T station and $3 round trip. This would also tack on at least an extra hour to my day.
After dodging snow banks and angry students and almost hitting several pedestrians as they leapt out at me from behind said snow banks I found a spot and made my way inside.
I had a pack of gum, so the first thing I saw in the book store was Mentos. Good choice.
I will bring my receipt for $1.00 to the desk and validate that ticket!
Funny thing. The minimum requirement for your receipt at the security desk is $50. Huh. That's a little different. Now I'm stuck with a $16 pack of 'the fresh maker'.
However, these came in handy when I realized at about 7pm that in my anxiousness to get to class I didn't even think about packing dinner or a snack. You'd be surprised at how satisfying the entire pack can be when you are starving!
The rest of the week went something like this in my head:
*This is amazing, I am so excited to learn
* It is kinda awesome to be in class when you actually care
* These teachers are so great!
* Wow I feel old.
* Wow I feel young.
* I hope I didn't get a ticket
* Wow I feel stupid
* Pull it together your fine
* I'm never going to see my friends and family again...well, at least until next year
* How the heck am I going to fit in all of that class observation time
* Was this a good idea?
* Shit, I have to go feed the meter
* Is that girl seriously on facebook in class?
* Is that girl seriously online shopping in CLASS???.... cute shirt...what's that website..?
* Am I smart enough to teach children?
* Shit..I have to feed the meter
* Are they going to explain that assignment?
* What class am I in?
* Shit..I'm next...'Hi, my name is Alison... (shit..what's my major???)'
* How do I write a bibiliography? I can't even spell it!
* THANK GOD I HAVE SOMETHING TO DO AGAIN!!
* What time is it...I have to feed the meter...good thing I wore my boots seeing as I have to climb a snow bank over my head to get to it!
*
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Mom..what are you doing in the woods?
I'm not going to lie, going to get my nose pierced alone made me feel a little brave...a little bad ass. You know, in an I'm almost 31 and this is about as bad ass as I'm gonna get kinda way. Maybe in my own head it made me a little cocky. Yeah. I'm so tough. When I was a little kid I wanted to go on every ride. The faster, the higher, the scarier the better. Fearless.
Apparently, nothing brings you (and by 'you' I mean 'me') back down to the reality of your own truth like a sled and a snow mobile.
As I wrote in my last post, I went sledding. Did I mention I wouldn't go from the top? I may have...Oh..I didn't? Yeah. I was too scared to go from the top. I picked what I thought was a 'safer' place on the hill about 5 feet from the top. That extra 5 feet really could have done me in you know.
Then, Saturday night there was the snow mobile incident.
We were at MFC's sister's (gorgeous) house to watch some football and hang out. The prospect of a little ride around on their snow mobile was tossed around. I was totally up for it. Totally excited. I had never been on one before!
I'm not nervous at all as his sister suits me up in some snow pants and a warmer jacket than I had brought. Looking totally ridiculous--yet warm we head outside.
I *might* have had a twinge of anxiety as I saw her husband peel out and tear around the path that went around the house. However...I'm totally bad ass. This is fine.
Fast forward to me on the back and MFC driving. The engine revs and we go about two feet before I scream in his ear bloody murder. I am now certain death is near.
He laughs at me and picks up a little speed. As we take the first corner I do the only natural thing when you feel panic. I try and take control of the situation. By 'take control' I mean letting go of MFC, reaching around and GRABBING THE HANDLES. Because, someone on the back who has never been on a snow mobile never mind driving it taking the handles is certainly safer.
The rest of the ride sounded something likes this:
Me: 'JASON!!!' (MFC's actual full name...that I never really use..I call him Jay...unless I am with my family where that has been banned as my father's name is Jay and people get confused and nervous, or I have taken to callinng him by his last name. However his full name is the name that naturally came out of my mouth when I saw certain doom.)
Me (again): 'JAAASSSOOONN!!!!!!!!' (imagine the most annoying screaming voice your own mother can make when you have just sent her over the edge. That was my voice. I think I turned around to check that my mother was not in fact standing in the woods..because that voice couldn't be coming out of my mouth...that sounds exactly like...OH MY GOD...I JUST TURNED INTO MY MOTHER!! --You're welcome mom!)
Me..(still): STOP TRYING TO SCARE ME!! JAAASSSOONNN!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
MFC (stopping the vehicle): Umm...I have to give it some gas for it to go...you are screaming everytime I give it ANY gas...
Me: JUST LOOK AT THE PATH!!! Stop looking at me!!
For some reason he thought I wasn't having fun...hmm..that's weird. However, it was a blast and the tear tracks that were frozen down my face were more from laughing at my ridiculousness than from you know actual sadness.
We went around a few times, and was never more relieved than when the kids tied sleds to the back..you know..cause you have to be careful with kids.
The difference between the two of us was never more apparent than after I drove just slightly slower than I drive on the highway (about 30 miles an hour...OK 20...my friends don't call me grandma for no reason!) barely making it through the snow because I wasn't going fast enough.
Then he took off alone and you see the boy with a toy come out as he flew around the house with pure abandon.
On my next trip around his sister encouraged me to 'let go! be one with the snow mobile! loose control!!'......
My entire body god stiff..'lose control'??? Who does that??? What does that mean?? People DO that??
So much for my inner bad ass...sigh..
Next time I may not lose control..but, I may just try to not scream in his ear..or at least lower my volume.
Apparently, nothing brings you (and by 'you' I mean 'me') back down to the reality of your own truth like a sled and a snow mobile.
As I wrote in my last post, I went sledding. Did I mention I wouldn't go from the top? I may have...Oh..I didn't? Yeah. I was too scared to go from the top. I picked what I thought was a 'safer' place on the hill about 5 feet from the top. That extra 5 feet really could have done me in you know.
Then, Saturday night there was the snow mobile incident.
We were at MFC's sister's (gorgeous) house to watch some football and hang out. The prospect of a little ride around on their snow mobile was tossed around. I was totally up for it. Totally excited. I had never been on one before!
I'm not nervous at all as his sister suits me up in some snow pants and a warmer jacket than I had brought. Looking totally ridiculous--yet warm we head outside.
I *might* have had a twinge of anxiety as I saw her husband peel out and tear around the path that went around the house. However...I'm totally bad ass. This is fine.
Fast forward to me on the back and MFC driving. The engine revs and we go about two feet before I scream in his ear bloody murder. I am now certain death is near.
He laughs at me and picks up a little speed. As we take the first corner I do the only natural thing when you feel panic. I try and take control of the situation. By 'take control' I mean letting go of MFC, reaching around and GRABBING THE HANDLES. Because, someone on the back who has never been on a snow mobile never mind driving it taking the handles is certainly safer.
The rest of the ride sounded something likes this:
Me: 'JASON!!!' (MFC's actual full name...that I never really use..I call him Jay...unless I am with my family where that has been banned as my father's name is Jay and people get confused and nervous, or I have taken to callinng him by his last name. However his full name is the name that naturally came out of my mouth when I saw certain doom.)
Me (again): 'JAAASSSOOONN!!!!!!!!' (imagine the most annoying screaming voice your own mother can make when you have just sent her over the edge. That was my voice. I think I turned around to check that my mother was not in fact standing in the woods..because that voice couldn't be coming out of my mouth...that sounds exactly like...OH MY GOD...I JUST TURNED INTO MY MOTHER!! --You're welcome mom!)
Me..(still): STOP TRYING TO SCARE ME!! JAAASSSOONNN!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
MFC (stopping the vehicle): Umm...I have to give it some gas for it to go...you are screaming everytime I give it ANY gas...
Me: JUST LOOK AT THE PATH!!! Stop looking at me!!
For some reason he thought I wasn't having fun...hmm..that's weird. However, it was a blast and the tear tracks that were frozen down my face were more from laughing at my ridiculousness than from you know actual sadness.
We went around a few times, and was never more relieved than when the kids tied sleds to the back..you know..cause you have to be careful with kids.
The difference between the two of us was never more apparent than after I drove just slightly slower than I drive on the highway (about 30 miles an hour...OK 20...my friends don't call me grandma for no reason!) barely making it through the snow because I wasn't going fast enough.
Then he took off alone and you see the boy with a toy come out as he flew around the house with pure abandon.
On my next trip around his sister encouraged me to 'let go! be one with the snow mobile! loose control!!'......
My entire body god stiff..'lose control'??? Who does that??? What does that mean?? People DO that??
So much for my inner bad ass...sigh..
Next time I may not lose control..but, I may just try to not scream in his ear..or at least lower my volume.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
I sled like a dude.
I was told by two men this week that I was like a man. Once by a good friend. Once by my boyfriend. I'm not sure how I feel about this, because in this case--they were right.
It all started the other night when MFC was coming over to get snowed in. I have been hell bent on going sledding--one problem, no sled. Certainly this would be easy to find. On Tuesday I was at Target picking some things up. I wandered for about an hour looking for sleds. I didn't see any. I was one of the first people there that day--it was not busy. I made eye contact with several associates, and smiled. I did not ask if they had any sleds.
I left.
Later in the afternoon as I called around to multiple places I was informed there were no sleds. I chatted with my friend Matt, who asked me about Target. I told him I didn't see any...'Did you ask?'.
'Umm..no..'
He then told me I was like a guy who would rather drive around lost for 3 hours than ask for directions. I couldn't argue. He had a point.
I called Target. They had sleds (of course).
When MFC arrived I told him we had to go on a field trip. Off we went to Target. As we made our way through my small town past all the local shops there was one store with all different kinds of sleds in the window. I pointed it out. Did we stop? Nope. We pressed on to Target--where we found one kind of sled that was really more like a boogie board. Over-priced and not what we wanted.
As we wandered around looking---MFC also pointed out that I was like a man..because I didn't want to ask.
So, we asked. Nope, no other sleds. We left to go back to the store on the main road in my town. Yeah. They were closed.
We drove to the center of town. On our way we past a sporting goods store with sleds in the window. Closed.
We got to the center of town and at the toy store there they were. Taunting us from the closed storefront. Sleds just calling my name.
Seriously?? It is 7:30. Everywhere is closed.
Fast forward to yesterday morning. After shoveling I insisted on driving my little Nissan Sentra around the slippery streets to take in the scenery, find coffee, and..a sled.
The store I initially passed did NOT let us down this time! Sled success!
Like any man who finds his destination...EVENTUALLY...I found our sled, thank you very much!
Then to find a hill. We drove until we saw kids with sleds and trying not to be weird adults we pulled over and asked where we could sled. The 13 year olds gave us directions to a great hill and off we went.
I just want to say...we had a blast-the only childless adults at the place, and the only adults going down the hill. One 2/3 year old remarked 'WOW! They havin' fun muma!'...but, it sure is different when you sled in your 30's. You are very aware of everything that could go wrong--and the fearlessness in the kids faces around us as they build huge bumps to fly off of was priceless..I don't have that fearlessness unfortunately. Yeah. I didn't even go all the way from the top! This fact reminded everyone that I am-in fact, a girl.
It all started the other night when MFC was coming over to get snowed in. I have been hell bent on going sledding--one problem, no sled. Certainly this would be easy to find. On Tuesday I was at Target picking some things up. I wandered for about an hour looking for sleds. I didn't see any. I was one of the first people there that day--it was not busy. I made eye contact with several associates, and smiled. I did not ask if they had any sleds.
I left.
Later in the afternoon as I called around to multiple places I was informed there were no sleds. I chatted with my friend Matt, who asked me about Target. I told him I didn't see any...'Did you ask?'.
'Umm..no..'
He then told me I was like a guy who would rather drive around lost for 3 hours than ask for directions. I couldn't argue. He had a point.
I called Target. They had sleds (of course).
When MFC arrived I told him we had to go on a field trip. Off we went to Target. As we made our way through my small town past all the local shops there was one store with all different kinds of sleds in the window. I pointed it out. Did we stop? Nope. We pressed on to Target--where we found one kind of sled that was really more like a boogie board. Over-priced and not what we wanted.
As we wandered around looking---MFC also pointed out that I was like a man..because I didn't want to ask.
So, we asked. Nope, no other sleds. We left to go back to the store on the main road in my town. Yeah. They were closed.
We drove to the center of town. On our way we past a sporting goods store with sleds in the window. Closed.
We got to the center of town and at the toy store there they were. Taunting us from the closed storefront. Sleds just calling my name.
Seriously?? It is 7:30. Everywhere is closed.
Fast forward to yesterday morning. After shoveling I insisted on driving my little Nissan Sentra around the slippery streets to take in the scenery, find coffee, and..a sled.
The store I initially passed did NOT let us down this time! Sled success!
Like any man who finds his destination...EVENTUALLY...I found our sled, thank you very much!
Then to find a hill. We drove until we saw kids with sleds and trying not to be weird adults we pulled over and asked where we could sled. The 13 year olds gave us directions to a great hill and off we went.
I just want to say...we had a blast-the only childless adults at the place, and the only adults going down the hill. One 2/3 year old remarked 'WOW! They havin' fun muma!'...but, it sure is different when you sled in your 30's. You are very aware of everything that could go wrong--and the fearlessness in the kids faces around us as they build huge bumps to fly off of was priceless..I don't have that fearlessness unfortunately. Yeah. I didn't even go all the way from the top! This fact reminded everyone that I am-in fact, a girl.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
I feel like a girl of 15!
I've been talking for weeks now about wanting to pierce my nose. Truth be told, for years I've wanted to pierce my nose. No particular reason, I just kinda really like it..and I always think when I see people with a small tasteful one that I would like to do that.
For my 30th birthday I was suppose to get a tattoo. I bailed out of that. I have never been able to think of anything I would permanently want on my body that I wouldn't regret. I also couldn't decide where to put it. I will be 31 exactly 2 months from today. Still no tattoo.
I realized today that I seem to do important things on the 9th of every month.
I was born on March 9th. I quit smoking on November 9th. I pierced my nose on January 9th.
The very uncharacteristic thing about today's nose 'blinging' is that I went totally alone. I was planning on dragging MFC along with me but, we really haven't made it happen, so today before I drove home I asked my roommate if she was around to come--she was not...hmm.
I thought to myself 'Self, you know what? Just put on your big girl panties and do it alone. Suck it up.'
I knew no one could come in with me anyways...just go do it. And, I did. I felt kinda brave. I mean as brave as I get really when I'm in the eclectic city I live near with a seriously tattooed up dude holding a needle to my nose.
Of course when I walked in I demanded to know about the sterilization methods they employed and he was a champ and walked me through it all.
I knew I could be in trouble when I started to sweat and started rolling up my sleeves. It was not unlike the feeling I get when taking off in a plane that makes me start peeling off my clothes at an alarming rate to my friends and fellow passengers. It's called anxiety.
Within 30 seconds it was over and I must say my left nostril feels very fancy.
I called my mother to tell her she said simply: 'Why?' (in that vaguely heart-broken mother voice that says I created you in my womb and I'm pretty sure I made you a lovely face and now you have screwed it up by putting a piercing in it WHY?? WHYY???)
My father called and I told him and he said: 'Hmm...Hmmmm...huh..well. Huh. Call your cousin' (the one who is 18 and has a bunch of piercings because she will be happy for you and I am not that happy for you because number one I'm afraid you look like a freak, number two your 30 and I thought we were past this and number three I could barely handle when you lost your baby teeth never mind putting something in your nose on purpose) 'Enjoy your piercing'.
I kinda feel like a rebellious teenager...maybe I should sneak some wine out of my own house and have a party in the woods to celebrate?
For my 30th birthday I was suppose to get a tattoo. I bailed out of that. I have never been able to think of anything I would permanently want on my body that I wouldn't regret. I also couldn't decide where to put it. I will be 31 exactly 2 months from today. Still no tattoo.
I realized today that I seem to do important things on the 9th of every month.
I was born on March 9th. I quit smoking on November 9th. I pierced my nose on January 9th.
The very uncharacteristic thing about today's nose 'blinging' is that I went totally alone. I was planning on dragging MFC along with me but, we really haven't made it happen, so today before I drove home I asked my roommate if she was around to come--she was not...hmm.
I thought to myself 'Self, you know what? Just put on your big girl panties and do it alone. Suck it up.'
I knew no one could come in with me anyways...just go do it. And, I did. I felt kinda brave. I mean as brave as I get really when I'm in the eclectic city I live near with a seriously tattooed up dude holding a needle to my nose.
Of course when I walked in I demanded to know about the sterilization methods they employed and he was a champ and walked me through it all.
I knew I could be in trouble when I started to sweat and started rolling up my sleeves. It was not unlike the feeling I get when taking off in a plane that makes me start peeling off my clothes at an alarming rate to my friends and fellow passengers. It's called anxiety.
Within 30 seconds it was over and I must say my left nostril feels very fancy.
I called my mother to tell her she said simply: 'Why?' (in that vaguely heart-broken mother voice that says I created you in my womb and I'm pretty sure I made you a lovely face and now you have screwed it up by putting a piercing in it WHY?? WHYY???)
My father called and I told him and he said: 'Hmm...Hmmmm...huh..well. Huh. Call your cousin' (the one who is 18 and has a bunch of piercings because she will be happy for you and I am not that happy for you because number one I'm afraid you look like a freak, number two your 30 and I thought we were past this and number three I could barely handle when you lost your baby teeth never mind putting something in your nose on purpose) 'Enjoy your piercing'.
I kinda feel like a rebellious teenager...maybe I should sneak some wine out of my own house and have a party in the woods to celebrate?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Happy New Year! Put on your water socks and eat in the store!
Well, here it is January 6th and as I have not posted yet this year as you can imagine my New Year started with a bang! Bang is a strong word..but, I am hoping it is a good enough excuse to not have posted.
As some of you may know I have already witnessed the human condition at its finest this year. If you don't know, let me fill you in.
Picture this, Target on a Tuesday morning. I was in the baking isle as I was preparing to make our fellow tenants upstairs cookies for the holidays (late, I know) because they are awesome and always take the trash barrels to the curb and shoveled the driveway on our side last week.
I see a woman next to me. I hear something hitting the ground, not unlike marbles. I look and realize it is chocolate chips. I also hear the bag ripping some more. I then see her take a handful and sample them.
She then puts them back. It was all I could do to not say 'excuse me ma'am...I don't think anyone else is going to want to sample that bag after you have, and I'm also fairly certain that no one wants to buy open goods. You may as well bring them around the store and finish them, or throw them away. OR if you really want to get crazy bring them to customer service and say 'Oh, hey I found these open in the isle'. Has anyone told you that is not appropriate??'... Instead I loudly said 'REALLY??!!'
Passive aggressive? Maybe. OK, yes. I couldn't help myself.
Picture this. Boston Sports Club. Tuesday night. My good friend and I are signed up for 'Bodypump'. We circle the parking lot endless times looking for a space. It took forever. New Years resolutions. We got into the class and it was like a junior high dance. Tightly packed sweaty bodies, but no one getting close enough to actually touch. It was so jammed I wanted to turn around and leave. However, I stayed. All will be back to normal in one month. What I didn't find normal was the man on the stair climber with water socks on (lake shoes, water shoes--pick your term) and shorts. He also was sporting a shirt that was too short letting it all hang out--perhaps to remind himself and all of us what his resolution was.
Me personally, I like to stare at those parts in shame in my bedroom or bathroom and do my best to hide them in the general public. Good for him. He is (literally) putting it out there. As for the water socks, a friend of mine suggested it was not an accident. She saw the same look at her gym..she thinks it is preventative as the man sweat so badly he left a pool of sweat at his feet..he had to mop up the floor..
Perhaps his other resolution was foresight.
Which brings me to resolutions. What are mine for the year?
1. Lose the extra 8 pounds I gained in July/August. However, that is a kinda silly goal. Wanna know what it really is? I would LOVE to be able to work out in a sports bra and those super short black shorts. Not at the same time. I would never actually do this, but I would like to know the option is there. That is enough for me.
2. Ask for less opinions. Opinions of friends and family are important to me. I am known to ask for about 11 or so opinions for every decision I make. I've heard a rumor the only on that counts when the decision involves me...is me. Huh. Weird.
3. Not put my life on a time table. I hope for lots of things in my life. I wish for lots of things. However, I've learned that some of these things are not totally in my control. Lots of time is wasted putting life on a time table and thinking more into the future and less into the now. I'm all about the now. The now is pretty fabulous by the way. I definitely like living in it. Even when it scares me.
4. Maybe I need to get a little crazy. Live a little. I'm not talking jumping out of a plane, but maybe I should try something like...water socks and a half shirt at the gym, or snacking on chocolate chips in the store and putting them back. Baby steps.
As some of you may know I have already witnessed the human condition at its finest this year. If you don't know, let me fill you in.
Picture this, Target on a Tuesday morning. I was in the baking isle as I was preparing to make our fellow tenants upstairs cookies for the holidays (late, I know) because they are awesome and always take the trash barrels to the curb and shoveled the driveway on our side last week.
I see a woman next to me. I hear something hitting the ground, not unlike marbles. I look and realize it is chocolate chips. I also hear the bag ripping some more. I then see her take a handful and sample them.
She then puts them back. It was all I could do to not say 'excuse me ma'am...I don't think anyone else is going to want to sample that bag after you have, and I'm also fairly certain that no one wants to buy open goods. You may as well bring them around the store and finish them, or throw them away. OR if you really want to get crazy bring them to customer service and say 'Oh, hey I found these open in the isle'. Has anyone told you that is not appropriate??'... Instead I loudly said 'REALLY??!!'
Passive aggressive? Maybe. OK, yes. I couldn't help myself.
Picture this. Boston Sports Club. Tuesday night. My good friend and I are signed up for 'Bodypump'. We circle the parking lot endless times looking for a space. It took forever. New Years resolutions. We got into the class and it was like a junior high dance. Tightly packed sweaty bodies, but no one getting close enough to actually touch. It was so jammed I wanted to turn around and leave. However, I stayed. All will be back to normal in one month. What I didn't find normal was the man on the stair climber with water socks on (lake shoes, water shoes--pick your term) and shorts. He also was sporting a shirt that was too short letting it all hang out--perhaps to remind himself and all of us what his resolution was.
Me personally, I like to stare at those parts in shame in my bedroom or bathroom and do my best to hide them in the general public. Good for him. He is (literally) putting it out there. As for the water socks, a friend of mine suggested it was not an accident. She saw the same look at her gym..she thinks it is preventative as the man sweat so badly he left a pool of sweat at his feet..he had to mop up the floor..
Perhaps his other resolution was foresight.
Which brings me to resolutions. What are mine for the year?
1. Lose the extra 8 pounds I gained in July/August. However, that is a kinda silly goal. Wanna know what it really is? I would LOVE to be able to work out in a sports bra and those super short black shorts. Not at the same time. I would never actually do this, but I would like to know the option is there. That is enough for me.
2. Ask for less opinions. Opinions of friends and family are important to me. I am known to ask for about 11 or so opinions for every decision I make. I've heard a rumor the only on that counts when the decision involves me...is me. Huh. Weird.
3. Not put my life on a time table. I hope for lots of things in my life. I wish for lots of things. However, I've learned that some of these things are not totally in my control. Lots of time is wasted putting life on a time table and thinking more into the future and less into the now. I'm all about the now. The now is pretty fabulous by the way. I definitely like living in it. Even when it scares me.
4. Maybe I need to get a little crazy. Live a little. I'm not talking jumping out of a plane, but maybe I should try something like...water socks and a half shirt at the gym, or snacking on chocolate chips in the store and putting them back. Baby steps.
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