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August 3, 2012

Summer Short And Sweets - Week 5

Woo-hoo!  Time for Summer Short & Sweets! :)
badge created by Loni Edwards
I am so happy it's Friday!  Visiting colleges is tons of fun but also tiring and all those donuts that driving is not good for my fitness.  I am learning things, though.  Do you know what the smallest private college in the United States is?  Apparently that distinction belongs to Alaska Bible College with an enrollment of 38 students.  Who knew?  I hope you all feel as enriched by that little tidbit as I do.  We will not be visiting Alaska Bible College (our loss I'm sure) but I cannot possibly put up with Jo-Jilly for that long of a drive!

So let's have some fun, shall we?  Let's see what we can think up today...

First, choose an emotion.  Just in case you can't think of any, here are a few:

Interest, politeness, surprise, anger, annoyance, contempt, disgust, irritation, serenity, relief, relaxation, contentment, calmness, anxiety, embarrassment, fear, helplessness, powerlessness, worry, courage, hope, pride, satisfaction, trust, doubt, envy, frustration, guilt, shame, affection, empathy, friendliness, love, boredom, despair, disappointment, hurt, sadness, amusement, delight, elation, stress, shock, tension, excitement, happiness, joy, pleasure...

Got one?

Second, choose an animal that emotion makes you think of - either similar or opposite - but you can also go random and see what you come up with :)  Again, a list for anyone who's feeling uninspired :)

Aardvark, anteater, badger, beaver, camel, cat, chimpanzee, cow, deer, donkey, gazelle, gorilla, hamster, hippo, horse, jaguar, kangaroo, lamb, lion, lynx, mink, moose, monkey, opossum, ox, ocelot, polar bear, porcupine, pony, porpoise, puppy, raccoon, rhinoceros, ram, salamander, squirrel, skunk, tiger, turtle, toad, walrus, warthog, wolf, wombat, yak, zebra...

Got one?

Okay.  Here's what we're going to do:

1. Pick an adjective that compares/relates/associates your animal to your emotion (e.g. if you chose angry and cat, you might choose hissing, spitting, or twitchy for your adjective)
2. Write an action filled phrase describing how the animal moves (e.g. if you chose cat you might say slinking, slitted eyes shifting suspiciously)
3. Write a phrase telling where the animal lives (e.g. if you chose monkey you might say in the crown of the rainforest)
4. Write a phrase that either tells readers why the animals acts the way it does, or possibly how others react to it (e.g. if you're writing about an angry monkey you might say screeching for the baboon's banana)

Put it all together like this:

Emotion
is [a/an/the] adjective from #1  animal
action filled phrase from #2
phrase telling where animal lives from #3
phrase telling why animal acts that way or how others react to it from #4

and you have a) a short poem and b) great practice in simile/metaphor!

Here's mine for satisfaction and cat

Satisfaction
is a purring cat
curled warm and soft
on a noontime windowsill,
soaking up sunshine because she can.

Here's another for bewilderment and penguin

Bewilderment
is a tuxedoed penguin
tiptoeing tentatively
at the icy ocean's edge
wondering where his dinner dove.

How about one for shame and snail?

Shame
is a slump-shouldered snail
creeping, head down,
in the shadow of the stone wall
hoping to escape scrutiny.

The fact that I have barely been home for two weeks, I'm cross-eyed from driving, and I've been dulled into a creative stupor by innumerable college info sessions and tour guide spiels should make you all feel very brave about attempting this because you can be sure whatever you write will not be the worst thing up here - I have helpfully put my own attempts in that place of dishonor :)

Now you try!  Not only will you be sharpening your simile/metaphor skills, perhaps you will inspire a story - for yourself or someone else - or perhaps you'll read someone else's and get a great idea!  Do as many as you want - they're totally fun!  I can't wait to read what you come up with!!!

Of course, as I will be driving home from Ohio, which is very far away, I will probably not get to read your sterling work until late sniffle sniff...  But that's just more to look forward to :)

Have a great weekend everyone!!! :)  And remember, if you want to be eligible for Short & Sweet prizes, you must submit at least one entry for each SS&S week's prompt.  Please see HERE for full details!  So far, 44 people have done at least one, but only a dedicated 9 have done all 4 to date... in case you were wondering :)

87 comments:

  1. Blind rage
    is a powerful mother bear
    charging, frothing, hackles raised
    in the cool of the forest floor
    toward anything foolish enough to come
    between her and her baby.

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  2. Ooh! Excellent, Delores! I feel that rage, and have no desire to ignite it! Well done!

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  3. First, I LOVE your snail poem. Just the idea of a shamed snail is hysterical. I mean, what has he done that he must escape scrutiny? Fabulous!

    Here's mine. I added a couple of extras on the end because I just couldn't help it. I may turn this into a longer piece. Thanks again for the AMAZING writing exercises. I've loved them all (and I think I'm one of the nine, right?).


    Satisfaction
    is a smug sloth
    slouching along in his slumbering way
    in the solace of rain forest trees,
    thumbing his nose at progress
    with a savvy smile
    and his own type of swagger.

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  4. Sucko here! *raises hand*

    Excitement
    is a contented horse
    loping, galloping, surefooted,
    through the verdant grassy pasture
    contented it all belongs to HIM.

    Love your cat, penguin, and snail. They made me sleepy, smile, and mortified. Did you say donut?? I'M ON A DIET!!!!!! WAAAAHAAAAAAAAAA...

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  5. It's Friday already?! Yikes, where did my week go?

    Frustration
    is a thorny porcupine
    waddling woefully
    through his lonely forest
    wishing only for a warm embrace

    OK, so I've been fighting with my 9-year-old this week. Where's my little boy who used to freely give hugs? He's left the building...and I'm frustrated!

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  6. You and Jo-jilly keep things safe with all that driving :-)
    Here's my Short and Sweet:
    Relaxed
    is a lazing lion
    stretched out long, head upon his paws
    over a thick patch of grass
    beneath a savanna shade tree
    away from the blazing sun.

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  7. Grrr. Make that "his own SORT o swagger."

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  8. Double grrr! "OF" - unless he's an Irish sloth...

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  9. Sweet! I love this one, Kim! Poor porcupine...

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  10. Anger
    is a raging, charging rhino
    it gores and tosses aside
    anything that crosses its path

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  11. What fun! I don't know what an opossum is and that makes me feel stupid but I've chosen a wolf. At least I know what wolves are!

    Worry
    Is an orphaned wolf cub
    Shivering in the shadows on the hillside
    As darkness descends and hunger bites.

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  12. I've been thinking about you...driving...I always thought I'd want a GPS...but I drove with my daughter and they can be frustrating (not daughters, although they can be also sometimes)...especially when you've changed your mind about where you are going and the voice says, "turn left, turn left, turn left).
    This was fun, Susanna...thanks again for the brain exercise. :) Sorry I used an ant...which is not an "animal" but an insect, I guess...but it popped into my head (not the ant, fortunately) and I've always been fascinated with them.

    Tenacious
    Is a steadfast ant
    Tirelessly laboring with strong jaws excavating
    In the subterranean tunnels under my feet
    Creating a new home for his queen.

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  13. Hi Kim,
    I had to respond...here's a few from us: xoxoxoxo...and most boys go through that stage. :)

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  14. The emotions you are going through is good fuel for creativity. This is great, Kim!

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  15. Tension
    Is a dark, creepy spider
    Lurking with shifty eyes
    At the corner of the ceiling
    Ready to pounce when threatened.

    ....I need a massage!

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  16. It's 2:27am and I have no idea what my words mean. Still, I had fun! Does that make any sense to anyone? Maybe my blood sugar is low. May I have one of those chocolate delights?

    Doubt is a nervous owl
    Jutting and jerking all jittery like
    In the hollow of a fallen log
    The Horns and Masks balked, “How undignified!”

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  17. I'm so glad you had fun, Pam! And yes of course you may have as many chocolate delights as you like - there is always plenty of chocolate around here! Now go to bed and get some sleep - YOU'RE not an owl :)

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  18. You and me both :) Love your poem! Thanks for joining in the fun, and I hope the tension eases soon! :)

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  19. Jo-Jilly isn't that bad, really. She usually gets us where we're going... eventually :) But I think my husband's GPS is more reliable... and has a British accent which sounds good :) An ant is fine! I love your poem! I commented it on it on your blog already so I won't repeat myself :) Thanks for joining in!

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  20. This is wonderful, Rosalind! I'm right there with that poor little wolf feeling very worried for him indeed! Opossums are not very pretty (except in picture books :)) They look kind of like overgrown rats - grey and white with soft fur, but their faces aren't that attractive and they have nasty long hairless tails. They are marsupials. You might not have them in England - I don't know - just like we don't have badgers over here. Thanks for joining in the fun!

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  21. Yikes! remind me not to get in your way when you've had a bad day :) Thanks for another great S&S entry, Randy! :)

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  22. Oh, I LOVE this Angela! I want to be right there with that lion and just lie in the shade and not do ANYTHING!!! (Especially drive! :)) Thanks for joining in the fun :)

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  23. Oh, poor Kim and poor porcupine :( I know that feeling all too well. My little boy will be 17 in 2 weeks (he's the one who's looking at colleges) and the hugs are few and far between these days while the criticism comes all too easily as he reaches for independence. Here are a few hugs from all of us to tide you over until he comes to his senses.. and he will :) It's hard being a parent and it's hard growing up :) (((((((HUGS!!!!!))))))) And thanks for your wonderful entry! :)

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  24. You know I love anything horse-related and this is no exception! Great one, Robyn! As for donuts, no more for me either! All this driving and eating out has done me in and I'm going to have to join you on your mission!

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  25. Thank you, Renee, you are too kind! This was actually my third Short & Sweet idea attempt for this post - I discarded two entire posts because I didn't think they were fun enough - so by the time I got to writing this in a hotel room in Ohio in the dead of night I was pretty well asleep at the switch, so I'm glad you liked my snail! :) I love your sloth, and I love the word swap you added on FB - excellent improvement. I'm so glad you're enjoying Short & Sweets - that's the whole point - to have fun! :)

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  26. Bashful
    is a self-conscious platypus
    Swimming secretively
    In the Down Under delta
    Dodging tourist paparazzi

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh dear. The sloths got into the Bushmills again...(swaggers - or staggers away)

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  28. lol Cathy :)






























    Cathy Mealey (unregistered) wrote, in response to Renee LaTulippe:

    Oh dear. The sloths got into the Bushmills again...(swaggers - or staggers away)

    Link to comment
    IP address: 173.76.159.156

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ooh, another great one, Cathy! Bashful and platypus go perfectly together! Thanks for playing along :)

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  30. I was very excited to be back in time for Summer Short and Sweets!
    Here goes -

    Friendliness
    is a calm skunk
    walking through the campsite, looking for food
    Living in the weeds next to the nice family's campsite
    Fed by crazy campers.

    And yes, when we went camping, we were terrorized by skunks that acted like they owned the place. *sigh* Talk about too friendly animals! >:-(

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  31. Hi Susanna. Thanks for the fun and easy challenge this week.
    I've posted my challenge on my blog and what prompted the story.

    An agitated, stiff-necked, red squirrel

    Chest thrust in a challenged stance

    Flicking a bushy-tail

    Barring teeth sharper than a razor

    Nattering like an old woman

    Atop a carpeted, grassy drey

    Wedged between steamy pipes

    Under the hood of my BMW

    Guarding winter’s walnut stash

    Yeah! I'm batting 5 for 5.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love this, Erik! How great that you were able to combine your camping experience with Short & Sweets :) Skunks are something else, aren't they? A few years back we had a grub infestation of some type in our lawn which lured in tons os skunks. They would hang out in broad daylight on the lawn, and when I wanted to let the dogs out I'd have to try to scare them away without getting sprayed. I used to bang on the garbage can lid with a giant stick and they couldn't care less! It was as if they knew they had the upper hand!

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  33. Yay! Good job! I'll have to pop over and see what prompted your entry :) And yes, srry if this week was too easy :)

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  34. Love it, Cathy! And you kept within the guidelines.

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  35. Great story, Erik. And it's great that you were able to use your camp adventure.

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  36. Oh, did I say "too" easy? No no no. It was just right. That's what I get for opening my big trap.

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  37. You described "blind rage" to a tee. Wonderful!

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  38. You painted a great picture, Robyn. I see we share the same last name. Great name too!

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  39. I'm yawning, but not from boredom. Ah, a lazing lion.

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  40. Yikes! I'll stay out of its way. Great job!

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  41. I like it, especially "hunger bites"

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  42. Hey Vivian.
    You know I left a comment on your blog,
    but thought I'd say "hi".
    Still love that word "tenacious"

    ReplyDelete
  43. Great use of "s" words and the ending was perfect.

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  44. Sorry to hear you're frustrated, but you did a great job of showing your frustration.

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  45. Susanna I loved all three of yours. If you didn't give such great examples, this week's challenge wouldn't have been as easy. Note, I didn't say "too easy".

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  46. :)





























    Tracy Campbell wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:


    Oh, did I say "too" easy? No no no. It was just right. That's what I get for opening my big trap.

    User's website
    Link to comment
    IP address: 24.138.105.219

    ReplyDelete
  47. Glad you liked them - i was worried :) And I'll see if I can step it up for next week... (just kidding :))

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  48. Joy
    is a shimmering porpoise
    diving and leaping gracefully
    with speed through the foamy waves
    delighting in his freedom

    ReplyDelete
  49. Oh, this is lovely, Pat! Thanks so much for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  50. Jennifer RumbergerAugust 4, 2012 at 9:27 PM

    Okay, here goes!

    Excitement
    is a jumpy gorilla
    lumbering along at a slow gait
    along the forest edge
    beating his chect for the attention of others.

    I'm not sure the "jumpy" works, but I wanted to stay with my firest thoughts. HOpe you had a safe drive home!

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  51. Determined
    is the baby sea turtle
    quickly climbing out of his nest
    on a dangerous sandy white beach
    making his way to his ocean home

    ReplyDelete
  52. Excellent! Thanks for joining in! And thanks - it was a LOONNGG drive home but we made it! :)

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  53. Oh, I love this, Saba! Baby sea turtles ARE determined, aren't they? So certain of their mission when how can they even know? Thanks for joining in!

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  54. Thanks for all of the virtual hugs! Much appreciated!

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  55. :) Not the same as hugs from your boy, but at least you know you have friends who understand and sympathize...





























    Kim Murray wrote, in response to Kim Murray:

    Thanks for all of the virtual hugs! Much appreciated!


    Link to comment
    IP address: 71.227.3.30

    ReplyDelete
  56. There's something super fun about "s" words. Especially swagger. Great job!

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  57. Eek. I'm tense just thinking about this spider. Nicely done!

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  58. Excellent description of a hard-working ant. Great word choices!

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  59. Aww...poor wolf cub. I would be worried, too. Wonderful!

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  60. That's exactly what our lions do when we visit them at the zoo!

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  61. Wide open spaces do bring a sense of excitement. Excellent!

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  62. Well done! Blind rage and a mother bear go hand in hand.

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  63. I can totally picture that little determined little turtle. Perfect.

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  64. Squirrels do seem agitated. But if I had to "squirrel away" a bunch of food for the winter I'd be agitated, too!

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  65. I thought campers only had to look out for raccoons. Note to self: watch out for the skunks!

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  66. A bashful platypus dodging paparazzi? I love it! Great job!

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  67. Even baby red squirrels chatter and scold each other constantly. How do they ever propagate the species? Give me a docile gray squirrel anyday...as long as he is not in my car engine!

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  68. Surly
    Is a snorting rhino
    shaking his head with rage
    on the sultry African savannah,
    stampeding to be first at the watering hole.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Ooh, surly! Good one, Laura! I can just picture it. Thanks for playing along! :)

    ReplyDelete
  70. I'm late!!! But better than never, huh?

    Boredom
    is a babbling buffalo
    bending, bulgy biceps befuddedly
    at the Bent Bar back forty
    because Big Bob always serves biscotti for breakfast.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Not too late and worth the wait, Penny :) Thanks for playing along :)

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  72. One day, a skunk walked into our friends campsite while I was there at 7:00 PM, an hour or two before dark! It went away, but came back! AND went into our friend's screen house where their cooler was! My friend's dad scared it off by throwing a shoe at the screen house. A minute or two later, THE SAME SKUNK CAME BACK!!! It walked around, then headed in my direction! I was already scared, but then IT TURNED AROUND!!!! My friend's Dad yelled at it, and it started towards the weeds. He threw a log at it. It didn't come back *whew* I am sorry about your useless garbage-can lid and your giant stick. Try shoes next time. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  73. This time, I responded sooner...hope you arrive home safely!

    Courageous
    Is a valiant buck
    Fearlessly forging ahead
    In the quiet cool of the forest,
    Rescuing his fawn from the fox's clutch

    I just noticed Kim wrote about the forest, too. It a serene setting!

    ReplyDelete
  74. Wonderful, Jarm! Thanks for joining in :)

    ReplyDelete
  75. Oh, my! What an adventure! And thanks for the shoe advice! :)






























    This Kid Reviews Bks wrote, in response to Susanna Leonard Hill:


    One day, a skunk walked into our friends campsite while I was there at 7:00 PM, an hour or two before dark! It went away, but came back! AND went into our friend's screen house where their cooler was! My friend's dad scared it off by throwing a shoe at the screen house. A minute or two later, THE SAME SKUNK CAME BACK!!! It walked around, then headed in my direction! I was already scared, but then IT TURNED AROUND!!!! My friend's Dad yelled at it, and it started towards the weeds. He threw a log at it. It didn't come back *whew* I am sorry about your useless garbage-can lid and your giant stick. Try shoes next time. ;)

    User's website
    Link to comment
    IP address: 173.86.41.249

    ReplyDelete
  76. I'm very, very late! Here's mine:

    Determined
    is a fluffy hamster
    running furiously
    in a wire cage wheel
    to stay fit.

    ReplyDelete
  77. What a great image, Tina! I love this. After all my time in the car lately, I think I need to join that hamster! :) Thanks for joining in!

    ReplyDelete
  78. My brain hurts...not used to doing these little exercises...I'm not complaining...haha...I'm glad I did it...

    Anger...
    Is a growling dog...
    Teeth barred, muscles tensed...
    Waiting waiting...
    in a cold damp basement...
    Hungry and lonely...

    ReplyDelete
  79. Wow! This is a great one, Karen - a very good description of anger!

    ReplyDelete
  80. great exercise for the brain!! Thanks...

    ReplyDelete
  81. I've been having a great time this morning catching up on the Short and Sweets!


    Interested
    is a curious kangaroo rat
    scurrying, exploring the hidden spaces
    in the dry, scrub filled desert
    endlessly seeking new seeds to eat.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Ooh! Good one! I can picture it exactly. Thanks for joining in :)

    ReplyDelete
  83. I've been having a great time this morning catching up on the Short and Sweets!


    Interested
    is a curious kangaroo rat
    scurrying, exploring the hidden spaces
    in the dry, scrub filled desert
    endlessly seeking new seeds to eat.

    ReplyDelete

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