I’m a New Soul

November 3, 2009 at 6:38 pm | In 5k | 3 Comments
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Not so much a new soul, but a new format….so….welcome to the new and improved blog!!!!!! Methinks I shall change the banner title….Anyway. Let’s get started, shall we? (Totally stole that from Meghan)

So first up in new-blog-land we have….

The Work Week:

This week my some of my kids announced to me that I should wear makeup. My response? “I am.” Apparently my version of makeup is not…enough for them.

Here’s what I looked like after getting home from work the day they told me this…

After 10 hours of work...

After 10 hours of work...

So yeah, I have oily skin…but I really don’t think it’s that bad. But apparently the kids do, so whatever.

Also this week in the world of work…our gradebook website went down. All. Weekend. Talk about wanting to pull your hair out…AND with parent/teacher conferences coming up….not awesome.

Parent/Teacher conferences were Monday. It went ok. Some upset parents but I calmed them down by showing them why their child’s grades are the way they are. Most parents were supportive and nice though. It was a busy day though!!

Not much else going on work-wise. Or rather, I don’t wanna talk about work. Ha! So we’ll continue on.

The Workout Week

WHOOO my Runners World for Dec came!!!!!!! Aaaaand I haven’t even read November’s yet. Haha.

This week I did some kickboxing and yoga…when I went home this weekend I meant to grab my P90X DVD’s so I could re-start that again but alas, I forgot them.

I did do a 5K this weekend!!! Carly, Mom and I did the Phi Kappa Tau Phive K. It was decent. They really could use some tips from runners who have done other 5K’s. Honestly, I don’t think we’ll be doing that race next year. Here’s why…

Pro’s:
Costume contest. Fun to see other people out in their festive gear.
Small crowd.
Nice color t-shirt
Raffle prizes from local running store
Gift Certificate prizes for winners
Reasonably fast on results

Cons:
Took forever to start
Started AND finished 1mile run before 5K could line up.
HILLY
Only water at finish to drink
Limited food-age at finish
Only 1st place in each AG got a prize/mention
Parking/bathrooms were a hike from race start

So…even though the list is about even…I weight things like food/drink and time consumption heavily…and the hills. I knew it would be hilly because I’d done the course before but…UGH. That really…sucked. No 2 ways about it.

But hey, I did another 5K this year, and got some rockin pictures. Here ya go.

Carly and me, pre-race.

Carly and me, pre-race.

I'm lovin "Banana Man"

I'm lovin "Banana Man"

I TOTALLY WON....and she totally let me.

I TOTALLY WON....and she totally let me.

Now on to the….

Knitting Week

Oh my gosh, I want to go to Rhinebeck next year. Listening to all my favorite podcasters talk about it…..man, I want to go. Plus I have friends that live near there!!! Free lodging!!!!!!

Also, I’ve requested a drop spindle from Grafton Fibers for Christmas. Apparently now they are DyakCraft. Anyway. I want a spindle. I have already bought wool….so….now I need a spindle. Hehe.

So hopefully SOMEONE will be getting me that for Christmas. They know who they are…but they probably won’t read this.

The spindle desire led me to want more wool….which led me to Etsy. *sigh* Thankfully I convinced myself NOT to buy anything. I have enough to do already.

All purchases and desires aside, I do have a lot of stuff that needs to get knit, and fast. I’m trying HARD to finish mom’s socks this week. I’m on the second sock, on the foot. I CAN FINISH, I CAN!!!!!!! Then once those are finished, I need to start/finish the ones for my aunt by….Christmas. Ha.

Ha.

Hahahaahaha. Yeah this probably won’t happen, but not for lack of trying.

So I have the yarn for the socks, but they were still in a hank….and I do not own a ball winder.

So I made one.

Out of a CD, a pen, and duct tape. Yeah.

I made Tracy help...hehe.

I made Tracy help...hehe.

Ta-da!!! Ghetto fab, but functional!!!

Ta-da!!! Ghetto fab, but functional!!!

I….am so proud of my ghetto-fab ball winder. SO PROUD!!!!!!! Yeah, so it doesn’t make perfect little yarn cakes, but it’s still center pull so HA! Moving on.

Favorites

This week’s favorite is Harry and David pears.

Mmmmm. If you haven’t had one, GET ONE!!!!!!!! They are Royal Rivera pears….apparently very rare….and somewhat pricey….but it’s worth it. Once they ripen, they practically melt in your mouth! They are SO flavorful, juicy, and amazing. I got one when I was in DC and I devoured it this week. It was PERFECT! Mmmm. I heart Harry and David’s.

Other Junk

In other junk….my super-fab-awesome-new ipod player….crapped out. Apparently there’s a recall on it…so I’m going to have to figure that out and take care of it soon. I miss having my ipod keep me company on the way to work!!!

Yeah….I want my ipod back.

I’ve also realized I’m out of town WAY too much this month. Baby showers, weddings, holidays….ugh. My house is going to look like a disaster area. Oh wait!! It already does!!!!!!!!

In other fun news, since I was home this weekend, I got to go geocaching with Miss Kim. It was super fun, although…the weather was super-gross, as it always is when we go a’caching.

There were random bricks in the woods. We don't know why.

There were random bricks in the woods. We don't know why.

It helps to be short when geocaching.

It helps to be short when geocaching.

So this week was my biopsy/coloposcopy or however that’s spelled. Last month my Dr told me they thought I might have cervical cancer. NOT what you want to hear at 25 years old. Not at all.

So….after 3 attempts to get my work schedule to mesh with my Drs schedule, I had the procedure today. Thankfully I didn’t have to have an actual biopsy. Everything um….looks good and….I should have the results from the tests they DID do by next week.

And I also passed out.

AFTER the doctor had finished.

So proud. SO very proud. But I’m good now. I’m resting at home…blogging…and getting ready to do a little bit of school work and then call it a night. Because really, Biggest Loser is on tonight. :)

So that’s where we’ll end. Hope this was entertaining. Feel free to leave suggestions/questions/comments/complaints *that I will ignore*/love/hugs in the comment section!!!!

Stellar Shoutout:

This week’s shoutout goes to Caaaaaaaarly. I am SO proud of you. You’re going to be fine, I’m always here for you, and you need to pack your bags and come visit ASAP!!!!!!!!!!

*cough*Shamrock*cough*

Funny How Time Slips Away

July 8, 2009 at 9:43 am | In 5k, Training | 4 Comments
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Yeah, I know, I know.

First, a quick photo update…. (I say quick, but adding these pictures takes forever.)

I graduated.

I hiked.

My sister had a party.

My sister got married.

Carly and I went to the beach.

I hiked again.

I ran a 5K with mom. She won her age group.

I ran another 5K with mom. She won the Masters category and I got 2nd in my age group.

And I ran one more 5K with mom and Carly. Carly won our age group, mom won hers, and I came closer to my PR than I have in 3 years. 35 seconds away. Screw the age group, that rocks.

I rode Carly’s ponay. :)

I also moved twice (Don’t Ask.), went to 2 other weddings, celebrated my dad’s birthday, and did a lot of other crap that has kept me absurdly busy.

SO. That is where I have been for the last 2 months.

I have been ignoring my computer a lot so that makes it hard to keep up with the blog. Also, since I’m going to be working soon…my first real job…and let’s just say it involves a high school…I’m not sure what to do about the blog. It’s not really professional or that nice…and I’m pretty sure I don’t want my students to find me…Or their parents.

But I doubt they could. I’ve never posted my full name…I just talk about my life and my running. And I don’t know that I really want to transition to making this a cut and dry professional blog. If I’m going to write in a proper format and about specifictopics, that will probably be for the Striders newsletter.

Sooo….I think…I’m going to try and keep up with the blog, and keep this personal, and keep my professional life out of it. Granted I’m going to want to complain and talk about it, for sure…but I’m going to try and do that elsewhere. It’s not appropriate for a public forum such as this.

What do you guys think? Yes? No? Maybe? Get rid of the blog? Keep the blog? Actually write in the blog regularly??? Haha.

Mind you, I don’t write much about my personal life in here, but still, my weekend runs and my friendships…I’d really like to keep those away from my work. And the pictures. Pictures of people running…are not flattering. Since I’m still young I feel like I need to put in even more effort to appear professional than someone 10 or 15 years my senior. So I’d really like to keep my work relations away from this blog. We’ll see how it goes.

Well, in running news, training for the MCM has not been going so well. With everything else, I have not had a lot of time. I have been running regularly, as you can see, for the last month or two, but no real long runs. I’m going to try for 6 miles on Saturday but I think I should be closer do doing 9. Ugh. I am mildly worried. I’m going to have to talk to some people who have done a full before and see if I’m going to be in trouble.

MCM isn’t until October so I do have a few months, but still. I need to be further ahead right now. I also need to figure out how much pain I can expect the day after. I need to know if I should go ahead and take that day off work, or if I’m going to be in pain, but able to sit at work for the day. OH, good. Just looked and I’ve got a half day of work that day anyway. Excellent. So hopefully I can tough it out. After my 2 half’s, I was fine. But…I’m doing double that.

Yes, I need to consult some experts.

Well, speaking of work, I need to go get some done. Enjoy the update!!!!!! Hopefully another will soon follow! Maybe after the long run on Saturday!

You Must’ve Fallen

April 6, 2009 at 8:32 pm | In Uncategorized | 2 Comments
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Out of the sky like rain you must have fallen, baby
Bringing the water and the summer when it’s hot for days
You brought the alien smile, aquarian sage
You must have heard me calling

~Ben Taylor Band

 

I slipped off the updating bandwagon yet again. Totally grad school’s fault. Wheeew.

So. Things you’ve missed…

After the Shamrock….I began knitting on a baby blanket…did I mention that? Yeeah. I think I did. My friend is having a baby. So anyway….I’ve also started another project that will be a Christmas present…I will not be disclosing any more real details because I don’t want people knowing what they are getting!!! If you’re on Ravelry you can catch the details there.

This weekend mom and I did a 5K. It was ABSURDLY windy. Just awful. I was really tired too, maybe still from the half, but I hope not.

OH. OH!!! OH!!!!!!!!! Um….I did something………

Something….um…that might not have been the best idea ever.

I registered for a full.

My first full.

THAT full.

Yeeeeeeeeah. So. Kind worried. Kinda thinking I may have lost it.

BUT anyway. Race last weekend. Dad got a LOT of great pictures because the course lapped the finish a few times.

That’s me and mom at the start.

Mom running past dad on the first lap.

Me finishing!!!!!!!! 29ish minutes. :) Not my best time…but not too terrible. Mom got 1st in her age group. :) YAY MOM!!!!!!! I also met a really cool girl with a really cool dog. :) Hopefully she and I are going to set up a play date for Uri and her dog.

So then Sunday Tracy and I went hiking. We just did a quick 4 mile hike outside of town up to the Cascade Falls. I shall leave you with some pictures from the hike. :)

Something stung Trace. HA.

I is cute!!!

God, What Am I Doing Here?

March 13, 2009 at 8:58 pm | In Uncategorized | 2 Comments
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The cold wind from space
Is blowing in my face
God, what am I doing here?
I wish I was a cat,
Then I’d know where it’s at
Sure has been a funny year

            ~Holy Modal Rounders

Well. It’s been a funny last month or so. I’ve been missing in action, in case you didn’t notice. A lot has been going on…grad school and all that madness, but the good news is I’ve been semi-keeping up with the running and will be doing my second half-marathon in 10 days!!!!!!!!!

I feel a little under-prepared but with the pressures of grad school and the turmoil of winter, it’s the best I can do right now. The good news is that I’m running with my good friend and…well…she’s stuck in the same boat. We’re in the same grad program so we’re both maxed out and pressed for time and our running is suffering.

I’ve wandered to a few new websites so if anyone that reads this is on one of them, please add me as a friend!!! I’m on SparkPeople (sn is PinkCowgirl) and Ravelry (sn is also PinkCowgirl). I’m loving them both and I can get on them from school whereas wordpress is blocked. Stupid school.

Anyway, other exciting things that have happened: Ran 2 5K’s…went to see my sister (http://imamarinesgirl.wordpress.com/) and had an AWESOME time!!!!!!!! I miss her already and she needs to get her little butt up here!!!!!!!

Not much else to report, but plenty of pictures to share!!!!!!!!!

Mom, Uri, and me before the Classic! Mom came in 2nd in her age group in this race!!!

Jo found a cache!!!! She was a cache finding machine this weekend. AND IT WAS HER FIRST TIME GEOCACHING!!!!!!! Love ya, sissy.

OMG OMG OMG NEYLAND!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me and my beautiful sister!!!

Me and mom before the Explore Park 5K. Mom’s first trail run!!!!

After the race! Mom got 1st in her age group and I got 2nd in mine. Mom also managed to come in a full minute under my time from 3 years ago in this race. And she’s about 30 years older than I was. Yeah. Mom is scary-good. And I’m super proud. :)

Well, mom and I have another 5K tomorrow, so I’ll try and be a better blogger and update then!!!

Frosty The 5K

December 14, 2008 at 6:27 pm | In 5k, Cross Training, running | 7 Comments
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Haha.

Today was the Frosty 5K hosted by my favorite local running store. :)

I basically felt like crap. Royal crap. But…I got my butt out there anyway.

And I kinda rocked it.

:)

Granted it wasn’t a PR, but for the hills on this course…MAN I rocked it. 29:56. Sub 30 so that’s decent for me. But what was awesome is the fact I got SECOND in my age group!!!!! SECOND!!!!!!!! And I felt like CRAP!!!!!!! SECOND!!!!!!!!

And second do another member of the tri-team. Second to a triathlete. Mhmm. Pretty awesome. I’m pretty excited.

So second place prize was a pair of socks (hence the running store sponsoring the race) and a mug. :)

My cat was very interested in the mug. :)

Here’s the shirt from the race.

I love a shirt that isn’t white. :) I also love long sleeved shirts. :) And since there were way less participants than expected they sold the extra shirts for 5 bucks so I bought a medium one for me to sleep in, and one for mom and Beth. :)

I’m really, really glad I ran today. I exceeded my goal for 2008, AND did 2 races in 1 weekend, another goal of mine. AND I feel none the worse for the wear. :) Pretty good. :) Pretty darn good. :)

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

December 13, 2008 at 2:47 pm | In 5k | 4 Comments
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We jingled all the way through our 5K!!!!

MOM RAN HER FIRST RACE!!!! YAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a CHILLY CHILLY start. Really chilly. So lots of layers were needed. Here’s me and mom at the start…

Here’s another with our jingle bells on.

So then the race began, there were around 1000 people give or take there. We took it kind of slow since this was mom’s first race. I stayed with her for the entire thing because I’m racing again tomorrow so I just had a nice 3 mile jog. :) Mom did REALLY well. She ran the ENTIRE way which was WAY BETTER than my first 5K!!!!

There were 3 or 4 major hills but she toughed it out. I kept talking to her the whole time and encouraged her. I hope it helped, she was a little too frozen and winded to tell me if it was helping or to even tell me to shut my trap but I kept on! :) I told some of my favorite “run lies” to her that I tell myself…like “This is the last hill!!!” when it really isn’t. :) Anyone else lie to themselves?? Haha.

So anyway, she did manage to run the whole way and I hope I helped some…I tried. She did really well. We got to the finish and she picked it up some!!!! I was so proud. :)

Can you spot us?!?!?!?

We finished together in 37:08. Both exactly the same!!! YAY US!!!!!!!

And you know what’s awesome? If mom had been 6 seconds faster, she would have gotten 3rd in her age group. THIRD!!!! So she was FOURTH in her very first ever 5K!!!!! I ws 5th in mine. :)

MOM I’M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<3

 

******EDIT*******

So I just went back through my logs…and my first 5k? 37:02. Six seconds faster than mom’s first…. :) Pretty darn cool.

******EDIT AGAIN*******

So. Just realized I was so excited about mom’s race I forgot that this race was special for me too. THIS WAS MY GOAL RACE TODAY!!!! This made my goal for the year complete, because this was my 8th race in 2008!!!!! YAY ME!!!!!!! I MET MY GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! And tomorrow…if I feel up to it…I’m going to hit 9 races in 08!!! :)

Good times. :)

Shoes.

December 10, 2008 at 11:00 pm | In 5k, Cross Training, Training, running | 3 Comments
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Mmmm shoes!!!!!!

Who else out there loves their running shoes?!?!?

And who looooves getting new shoes?!?!?!

That’s what I thought. So please, share in my excitement of my TWO, count em TWO, new pairs of running shoes!!!!!!!!!!!

But first, let us say a fond farewell to my old shoes that will now be retired to easy workouts or walking to class.

My beautiful Asics. Nimbus. I really thought I would stick with them…but I went to my favorite local running store, Runabout Sports and ended up with a lovely new pair of Mizuno’s!!!!

Mmmm aren’t they lovely?!?!?!?

So what does every runner do with their new running shoes?!?!? LACE THEM UP AND HIT THE PAVEMENT!!!! I took Uri out for a nice 3 mile run from my house to Beth’s. It was wonderful.  :) Uri was a pain today but I was still super excited about my rockin new shoes!!!

And yes, I did say TWO new pairs of shoes. That’s right. I got another pair. A trail pair!!! After the 4 mile trail run…I decided to get some trail shoes because I DO love trail running. I was going to order a pair online…but 40% off…it woulda been the same to order them online. So without further ado…my new Adidas trail shoes!!!!

Mmm, aren’t they pretty?!?!?!

So now I’m going to have to go for a trail run soon!!! Also, still need to get some YaxTrax. But anyway, in addition to the shoes I got a hat and two of my FAVORITE pairs of socks. Asics Hera’s. I got a discount because I’m a member of a local running group and the Tri-Club sooo….that plus the sale they were having…it was awesome. OH, and when you buy shoes at Runabout you get a discount on all other clothing items as well!!! So…I made out like a bandit today.

Mmmm new gear. Nothing spells fun like new gear!!!

SO…while in the store I noticed race shirts near the register…lots and lots of race shirts and numbers. *gasp* What’s that?!!? The store is having a 5K this weekend?!?!?!? And who do you think is now registered for TWO races this weekend??? One Saturday and one Sunday?!!? THIS GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And who couldn’t be more excited??!?! THIS GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mom is running one on Saturday with me and I’ll be doing the store’s 5K Sunday!!!! SO FREAKING EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And in non-running news, I would like to publically announce my serious lack of attention to my surroundings. APPARENTLY the boyfriend left a rockin present in my apartment IN PLAIN VIEW in FRONT of the TV three days ago…and I didn’t notice. He had to show it to me yesterday. I’m pathetic.

So. Here’s my random awesome for no reason Christmas present. :)

Isn’t that awesome?!?!?!? I was soooo excited. :) Hehe.

So. In conclusion…shoes rock, races rock, boyfriends rock. And I’m a BAMF. :)

We Are Family

December 6, 2008 at 10:58 pm | In 5k, Half-Marathon, running | 5 Comments
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MOM RAN 3 MILES TODAY!!!!!!!!! GO MOM GO!!!!!!!!!!

But first, the JC Half!!!

I “worked” at the halfway mark with a few people from the tri team. It was awesome, I got to see my trainer run, she got second female so that’s awesome!!! However I TOTALLY forgot to take pictures till almost everyone had finished. Lol. Here’s a picture from the halfway point.

And also, in fun-type news I got to play with my favorite baby on Laura’s farm. I’ve named her Lucky.

 

Isn’t she adorable?!!?

But anyway. MOM RAN WITH ME TODAY!!!!! I took her and Uri to the park for a run. Here we are on the way to the park. Uri REALLY liked mom.

So we did the 2 mile loop around the park, mom thought it was longer…she was not too happy but she kept going!!! She doesn’t like the cold and it was snowing on us but she kept running anyway!!! I was SO PROUD!!!! She kept going for the full 3 miles with only a little walking!!! Of course Uri was ready to go another 3…

Mom really liked Uri after the run.

He’s such a good boy. AND I AM SO PROUD OF MOM!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD JOB MOMMY YOU RAN 3 MILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, back to homework. Hopefully mom and I are doing a 5K next weekend since she knows she can do a full 3 miles!!!!!

Every Mile A Memory

October 28, 2008 at 10:21 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
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Ok…so let’s just get one thing straight.

I AM A BAMF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 mile run yesterday. 5 MILE!!!!! And rockin good pace, I might add.

*does a happy dance*

Seriously. SO excited.

It was with my trainer. I did a 1 mile warmup on the dreadmill while I waited on her to finish with her other client…then we went outside and it was SOOO nice and cool. We’ve discovered I do not function well in heat…but give me some crisp fall air and I can rock it out for MILES. Plus we did mostly flat and pavement with some slight rolling hills and a little flat trailwork…in the woods…which was awesome. I prefer woods to grass…but anyway. I rocked it.

Seriously rocked.

I even sprinted at the end…I mean just went ALL out….my trainer was like “30 more seconds!!! Then we’ll have done a full 40:00…” and I took OFF. She said she was thinking to herself “Wait, WAIT!!! We’re going FASTER??!?! WHAT!?!?!?!?”

Hahahahahaha I’m awesome.

I’m still super excited from that run. Can ya tell?????

But in  other UBER fun news, this weekend is the race I’ve been waiting on for a YEAR!!!!!!!!!! I was too sick last year…and goshdarnit I’m GOING this year!!!!

Check it out: http://www.mountainjunkies.net/Into_the_Darkness.htm

I <3 Mountain Junkies races. The race director and his wife are amazing. (If you guys read this, HI!!!!) I don’t get to see them much but they know me via email mostly. Their races are by far the best around here!!! My first ever 5K was a Mountain Junkies race so I MIIIIGHT be a little biased but WHO CARES?!?!?! The shirts are always awesome, food is wonderful, and the course could not be more fun!!! They really know how to do a good race.

Well, back to grad school now…

I CAN’T WAIT FOR SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Dream Is A Wish…

October 5, 2008 at 10:41 pm | In Training, running | 2 Comments
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Hiiiiiiii everyone!!!!!!!!

Or rather, anyone who is still out there!! Ha ha. I’m sorry I’ve neglected my readers, but it appears as though graduate studies have the tendency to consume your entire life and require you to drop everything that is not otherwise academic.

Including running.

Which reminds me, I need to text Trainer.

Mission accomplished.

At any rate. HI!!!!

I’ve been running when I can, mostly with the dogs, Shiloh and Tessa. Usually just 2ish miles. I’m so pressed for time that any long runs are just out of the question. I did manage a rather good cardio circuit on my own last Monday so I was quite proud of the soreness I impressed upon myself.

But I do have some very, VERY exciting news!!!!!!!

Wait, two things.

ONE….I’m TWO RACES AWAY FROM MY ‘08 GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two……..I’m going to start training for a half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the half that we are setting as our dream/goal of the moment is…………………

Oh come on now, who didn’t see that coming!?

So that’s the goal. The backup is Shamrock at Virginia Beach. Backup race is needed due to travel expenses to Disney…but MAN I want that race….and it’s the first one….and…yeah. Gonna have to work on that.

Training should start around Nov 1.

Stay tuned, people.

And hopefully coming this week: Pictures from the USMC MUD RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy trails!

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