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Archive for November, 2006

Whole Hog

November 29th, 2006 at 05:20 pm

Whole Hog


Piggy goes Whole Hog and gets a supersize meal today of $12.29 in a purse cleanout to try and meet the November challenge! $6.29 was in (HEAVY) change alone -- oh my aching shoulder thanks ye Piggy!! A penny of this was found in the parking lot of FrugalSon's employment this morning.

$20 CHALLENGE

$08.02 balance
+12.29 whole hog
______
$20.31 November MTD

Cummulative Total $90.85

Missed November it Seems

November 27th, 2006 at 02:49 pm

Missed November It Seems

It seems I have missed November! Smile

Adding to the $20 Challenge is $2.94 that CashHappySon has left in my desk coaster.

$20 CHALLANGE
$5.08 balance
+2.94 coaster
_____
$8.02 MTD

Cummulative Total $81.04



Offline a Few Days

November 15th, 2006 at 12:55 pm

Offline A Few Days



Just a note to let folks know I'll be off the boards for possibly a day or two as my brother is in the hospital w/a newly diagnosed heart condition. He's 54 and not married and so my sister and I are taking turns sitting with him as his patient advocate!! Which everyone needs when they're in hospital in my opinion. Anyway, please put us in your prayers. Thanks guys!

Nibble Nibble

November 12th, 2006 at 12:32 pm

Nibble Nibble


Photo Credit: Citron

Piggy got a nibble from CashHappy last night.

$20 CHALLENGE
7.51 balance
+.05 nibble
____
7.56 Nov MTD

Cummulative Total $78.10

I Made A Discovery

November 11th, 2006 at 10:57 pm

I Made A Discovery

Just to note - on October 31st I made my online request for Discover Reward $'s to be paid out. Their deposit hit my bank account on November 2nd.

Sometimes it does pay to Discover*!


Have you discovered if they owe you any money??

*No, we don't carry a balance from month to month. Our CC's if used are paid in full on the first of every month.

Piggy Gets A Snack

November 11th, 2006 at 10:46 pm

Piggy Gets A Snack



Found a quarter under my keyboard. Piggy gets a snack!

$20 CHALLENGE
7.26 balance
+.25 snack
____
7.51 Nov MTD

Cummulative Total $78.05

Bank Run Challenge 11/11/06

November 11th, 2006 at 10:33 pm

Bank Run Challenge 11/11/06



Adding $2.56 to the Bank Run Challenge.

$2.52 balance
+2.56 11/11 deposited
_____
$5.08 Nov MTD

Cummulative Total $27.62

A Traffic Ticket Can Screw You Up!

November 11th, 2006 at 01:22 am

A Traffic Ticket Can Screw You Up!


Jayne Mansfield in Miss Traffic Stopper

"Is anything that you own worth living paycheck to paycheck for?

Is the extra square footage and the swimming pool and the new car worth it knowing that something as little as a traffic ticket can screw you up for the month?"
~~ViolentAcres.com, blog entry "You Can Learn A Lot From A Rich Girl"

Lincoln Lover

November 10th, 2006 at 09:54 pm

Lincoln Lover

FrugalSon gave me 80 cents before he left for burgercentral!

I really appreciate him feeding Piggy as it is truly hard for the kid to turn loose of money! He pinches those Lincoln's baby.



Adding it to the challenge:

$20 CHALLENGE
6.46 balance
+.80 Lincoln Lover
____
7.26 Nov MTD

Cummulative Total $77.80

Loving from the Oven

November 10th, 2006 at 08:41 pm

Loving from the Oven

In the oven are some Jiffy banana nut muffins = 29 cents. Thawing is some Owens roll sausage = 99 cents. For supper tonight we'll dig into this along with a couple of cups of milk = 50 cents and some scrambled eggs = 36 cents.

Supper for two $2.14!!

I've been outside and am afraid for my house as it appears it will disappear in an avalanche of leaves. I keep sweeping the patio and keep sweeping but those dog-gone leaves and acorns just keep coming!! Piling up maybe a foot or more deep in the corners! Jeepers!


If you don't hear from me for a few days break out the leaf blowers and come in after me, okay???

Frugal lunch today was leftover spaghetti and earlier FrugalSon and I had a cup of hot cocoa w/marshmellows (20 cent bag on clearance) before he headed out to work.



Got It At The Curbe' Mall

November 10th, 2006 at 06:25 pm

Got It At The Curbe' Mall

Saw a free chair by the curb this a.m. and stopped, asked the lady about it and was able to snag it for CashHappySon who wants to move out. It might not be his first pick but HEY, it was FREE Dude!!

Looks a lot like this:



Worst comes to worst he can toss a blanket over it and viola - a place to sit. And when he's done with it he can sit it out at the curb!

Later I went to a garage sale and the guy gave me a free box of oil paints that had been marked $5.00 for the box. FREE - can't beat it!

Did buy three tables from him - two twig tables for $5 lg. & $3 small that I'll resell at my booth for likely 10 & 6.

Got CashHappy one of those round doowhicky tables the el-cheapo kind you throw a round tablecloth on for a bedside table. He doesn't have one here. Paid a $1 for it.

FrugalSon was with me and he bought himself a little knife in a sheath for $2.50.

A Laundry Tip & Margaritaville

November 10th, 2006 at 03:09 pm

A Laundry Tip & Margaritaville



First off let me just apologize to Jimmy Buffett as I'm not into stealing your hits man!

I'm having to adjust myself to the new schedules of folks around here. Moving the laundry to the dryer (formerly CashHappy's chore upon arising) this morning I found a quarter.

FrugalSon used to fold & put away in between job 1 and 2 at lunchtime and I'm trying to eliminate him coming all the way home in the middle of the day and we're packing him a lunch so when I pick him up at job 1 I can just drop him at job 2 w/o going back out! This taxi business is aging me! The Hubster does his own laundry (his choice) on the weekends. Now I've got the guys starting their wash at night before bed, and I'll move it to dryer in the mornings.

FYI: According to an article in SouthportToday, "Americans spend between seven and nine hours each week cleaning their clothes, according to a survey by Procter & Gamble. That’s a whopping quarter-ton of dirty laundry per person every year."

Uhhhh, I think folks are going to need to leave a bit more than a quarter in their pockets if that be the case. With four of us here currently that means we'll be doing a ton of laundry a year, literally! Egads - remember the days of seven at home!

Even so with just currently four the laundry lady may have to up the anty a bit then!

Taking it to the challenge:

$20 CHALLENGE
6.21 balance
+.25 laundry tip
____
6.46 Nov MTD

Cummulative Total $77.00

I saw a sign once - a smiling apron wearing lady of the 50's thereupon said "I finished your laundry - the ashes are in the fireplace!" heeeheeeee Cute! Guess I'll just waste away here doing the laundry!

I have that same exact washing machine in my garden with one of those neon green Margarita (ornamental sweet potato) vines growing in it! This plant really pops w/it's bright color and looks good trailing over the sides. The bottom of wash tub is painted black to match the shutter trim on the garden barn. Found it in the dump area that the renters/former owners had back behind the house by the creek. We literally had to dig it out of the creekbank.


Pretty!

Need Purchasing Advice

November 9th, 2006 at 09:47 pm

Need Purchasing Advice



Okay folks I need some advice. My shredder appears to have died - it will reverse the papers but not go forward. So, it looks like I may be in the market for a new shredder. I know I want a cross-cut one, but does anyone have recommendations on a brand that you've had good luck with? Hopefully one that won't break the bank.

Anyone???

Thanks in advance!

~~L.L.Frugalis
Shout out to miclason!


Adding To The $20 Challenge

November 9th, 2006 at 09:22 pm

Adding To The $20 Challenge

Let the dancing begin!



$20 CHALLENGE
$4.96 balance
+1.25 addition
_____
6.21 Nov MTD

Cummulative Total $76.75

Emptying The Old Mailbag

November 9th, 2006 at 08:31 pm

Emptying The Old Mail Bag

Time to update you on the generosity of Team Frugalis' Corporate Sponsors!



This past week we received thanks to our hard-working mailman:

1)Swiffer Duster by Proctor & Gamble.

2)Two samples of Cover Girl Advanced Radiance foundation.

3)Coupon for FREE 6.5 lb. bag of Purina One Dog Food.

4)Sample of Tide Vanilla & Lavender Laundry Detergent.

5)Sample of Downy's Rose & Violet Fabric Softener.

6)Coupon for FREE 5 lb. bag of Lassie Natural Way Dog Food.

7)Sample of Folgers Gourmet Selections Vanilla Biscotti Flavor.

8)Sample of Folgers Gourmet Selections Lively Columbian Flavor.

9)Eight Chews of Viactiv Calcium Chews - 5 Caramel and 3 Milk Chocolate.

10)Two Poise Pads - Extra With Wings.

11)Three Samples of Dove Advanced Color Care Shampoo, Conditioner and Reviving Mask.

12)Two Samples of Dove Sheer Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner.

12)Two Samples of Dove Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner.

13)Sniff Sample of Candie's new Heartbreaker fragrance. YUMMY!

14)Large Sample of Cheer's True Fit laundry additive.

15)Sample tube of Olay's Definity Highly Defined Anti-Aging Intense Hydrating Cream.

Many of these were courtesy of Walmart's Sample Program, so thank you Walmart and THANK YOU THANK YOU Corporate Sponsors!! YEAH!!

Regaining **Not Like You Think

November 9th, 2006 at 12:11 am

Regaining **Not Like You Think


Today was also a no-spend for me! YA-LA-LU-YA!!

Regained the $35.00 I loaned to CashHappySon this past weekend for his jeans and end-tables. Good thing as this was part of my allowance and part of husband's allowance money for later in the month. This will balance the ol' wallet back to where it's supposed to be!

Last night The Hubster fixed the wire hanger on the back of the great new mirror I got at the garage sale ($3.00 for this huge big ornate mirror) so it can hang a different direction and got it installed by the back door! Looks good!


FrugalSon is making spaghetti for supper. Smells really good - gotta go get me some!!

Dress Up and Parade Around

November 8th, 2006 at 10:19 pm

Dress Up and Parade Around



I like this quote in relation to automatic savings and 401-K pay deferrals. The commitment frees us up!

"The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating ­ in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around like rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life." ~~Anne Morris, a New York Starbucks customer, seen on a Starbucks coffee cup

(Oh no, I said the S word!!) Big Grin

Clearing Change

November 8th, 2006 at 09:41 pm

Clearing Change

Clearing change of 1.39 in the purse to add to the $20 Challenge!



$20 CHALLENGE
$3.57 balance
+1.39 purse change
_____
$4.96 Nov MTD

Cummulative Total $75.50

Skimming, Rebalancing, Good Pension News

November 8th, 2006 at 04:08 pm

Skimming, Rebalancing, and Good Pension News



Purchased into a new Fidelity account this morning in The Hubster's Traditional IRA - which was a rollover account - in the amount of $2500 to FSUTX - Fidelity Select Utilities Growth Portfolio.

This was done by skimming off some of the profits from some of the other funds in his portfolio that have been performing extremely well.

I call it skimming the gravy - the pro's call it taking or booking a profit. This is how we have been able to diversify and grow this IRA without putting in additional funds.

FSUTX is up 23.62% this year-to-date. Hope it continues!! Cross your eyeballs and hold your tummies in as we all know that past performance is no guarantee of future performance. So far this year we are up about 5,000.00 in this account. YEAH TEAM FRUGALIS!! Wish it were more of course but very grateful for the positive results.

FSUTX is into telecommunications and electrical utilities as their main investment focus.

Also done this morning was an account rebalancing in his 401-K. Made a big play in one particular small-cap that has been doing well the last couple of years - 45% of future contributions into Allianz NFJ Small Cap (Growth) and 22% into American Funds Growth Fund R2 (Growth), 8% in Vanguard 500 Index (Growth & Income), 15% in American Fund Cap Inc Bldr R2 (Equity Income), 5% Pimco (Bond), and 5% Templeton Foreign (Growth). I will be keeping a close eye on performance. The trouble with the 401-K is that we are very limited in the funds available to invest in.

The Hubster has absolutely no interest in finances, just brings home the paycheck. He's signed over administration of his accounts to me - thankful I am that we are seeing positive results then, heh???

I do discuss everything that I do on the account and get his go-ahead first and I have even insisted that he get on the phone w/the CSR and do a few trades that I've suggested just so if something happened to me he wouldn't be a total newbie. So far he seems satisfied with my results. I do appreciate the vote of confidence but it does tend to make one nervous as I'm taking a somewhat more aggressive tack than what's recommended for someone his age it's just that we have limited time to make up for the disappearing pension!

There is some good news on that front but still iffy and even if the rumors I've heard are true then it's good news/bad news stuff. IF we can get some things straightened around with his employer (they claim they have no interest in seeing this thru as it happened before the buyout). We did find out recently what company is holding the funds purported to be in the 4 1/2 million dollar range for the group of about 390 employees but they are missing a contributor's list WITH UPDATED ADDRESSES and have refused to pay out to any more new retirees until said list is updated. SHEESH!!

Anyway - the way they explain it makes sense in some ways but not others...too complex to get into here. I dunno about you but I'd hang on to the 4 1/2 million too and claim that we can't make any more payouts but I think the government and lawyers might have something to say about that. Can you say CLASS ACTION???

But it may be forthcoming!! We have approximately 6 years to get it straight! This investment company that's holding the pension funds is a big one probably one of the top four or five of it's type so it's not likely to disappear, but how to unclench their tight little fists may be the challenge.

Even though present company is not playing along nicely I do believe by law that they are required to do some certain amount of performance like making old records available.

At any rate the monthly $$ amount being touted about is on the smallish side (no worry, we'll happily take what we can get) and will be cut in half upon his demise!

Ladies - SAVE YOUR MONEY you may need it one day!!!

A Suppressed Head

November 7th, 2006 at 11:53 pm

A Suppressed Head

Did some of my Christmas shopping at the grocery store today! Love it - fundies for $4.00 for 3 pair, couple of big bags of peanuts for my brother, giant hot sauce for CashHappySon, de-icer for FrugalSon, t-towels and dishcloths for sister, niece, niece-in-law, ex-sis in law, mother - all five of these gifts for 14.00 total, candy for stocking stuffers, etc. Total here was $48.87, a dollar of which was for a loaf of bread. The rest comes out of the budgeted and saved for Gift Escrow.


Whittling the Christmas list down!!

Voted today.

Took CashHappySon to the orthodontist and found out that they will be putting braces on his upper teeth as well, which is basically a surprise to me as I asked the doc about this when we started and then the answer was No.

...hmmmm...I'll be having further discussions with them about this on the phone tomorrow as the kidster is the one paying for it and the lowers will put him in hock a good little while and if the upper ones will cost him more then I'm gonna up the stink level! His upper teeth appear fine, he just had an extra lower tooth that needed help! Always somethang', isn't it?? Then after the ortho it was off to work time for him.

Picked up and dropped off FrugalSon at his two jobs. Picked up CashHappySon from his job. Tired now. Something off with the blood pressure or some other body parts as today I have had a feeling of suppression.

Just took my blood pressure and will be reporting the numbers to the nurses in the family to see if I'm dead yet! Smile Just an off feeling kinda like the feeling when your ears are stopped up but it's not in my ears but in my head. Weird. A suppressed head. Surely some humor in that but at the moment I can't come forth with it! :/



Budget To Match Reality - Zero Out

November 7th, 2006 at 01:29 pm

Budget To Match Reality - Zero Out



I've posted a new link over at the right that I want all of you to be aware of:

Getting Finances Done has some great ideas on zero based budgeting. Worth your time to read if you are struggling getting your budget to match reality!

Text is
http://www.gettingfinancesdone.com/blog/
and Link is

http://www.gettingfinancesdone.com/blog/


Thanks to HalMd over at the forums for directing us to it!

If you think zero based budgeting is for you then try Jesse's (from this site)

Text is
youneedabudget.com
and Link is

youneedabudget.com

Tired Already!

November 6th, 2006 at 04:10 pm

Tired Already!

Yesterday - Sunday November 5th 2006, was a no spend day! YEAH!

I did have to go into FrugalSon's work last night - thought I was going to have to *beat up* the asst. manager (really only a pup himself) for taking $5.00 from FrugalSon for a scratch that another kid put on his truck! SHEESH!

Anyway, that was FrugalSon's money for getting his haircut today! Ohhhh I was steaming! This place he works at is a mad house I tell ya and the supposedly adult managers are the worst of the bunch!

Yes, we got the 5 spot back but only after making a special trip and no the kid-manager would not come out and talk to me...I think he was scared. He ought to be VERY VERY scared as he has pulled an offense or two w/my kids that could easily land him in jail for a very, VERY long time!! ARRRGGHH!!

We just had an hour long conference with the main store manager on Friday. Good grief what a pain in the posterior!!

FrugalSon is 20 years old but tall, skinny looking couldn't beat his way out of a paper bag kid and he has some 'issues' that left him developmentally delayed. When people go to messing with him I'm ready to go to full scale war! Do not mess w/this Momma's cubs or you'll come away without a limb. That this JERK was trying to take advantage of him did not set too kindly.


Poor Hubster, I was out of my nightgown and into my clothes and out the door so quick that he didn't know what was even going on hardly when pft-zip-shazam I was back w/kid and dollars in tow! I did manage to tell him to be prepared to come bail me out of jail if I need you in a few minutes before we left.

Wha-happun????

heeheeee!

Today I'm going over to rework my booth this afternoon - right after FrugalSon gets off from work, gets his haircut and can go over to help me rearrange the big pieces of furniture. Thankfully he's off from burgercentral this afternoon and CashHappySon is already off at his new job and will be there till 5:00.

Sheets are in the dryer, chicken is in the marinade, dishwasher is run, 2 loads of laundry already done and ready to be put away. While I'm out I'm off to our joint checking bank to make a deposit into our 'Future Foundation' fund of $174.00.

When I get back I have major reading to do on selecting FrugalSon's health insurance coverage for the new year.

I'm tired already!

Coin Slot

November 6th, 2006 at 12:14 pm

Coin Slot



I cleaned out the coin slot on my purse this morning to feed poor starving Piggy!

$20 CHALLENGE
$2.88 balance
+0.69 coin slot
_____
$3.57 Nov MTD

Cummulative Total $$74.11

Yesterday's Bank Run

November 5th, 2006 at 01:11 pm

Yesterday's Bank Run



In between running kids here and there yesterday and helping Aurielle and Rduell make their 100 posts I made my weekly Saturday bank run. Depositing $2.52.

This is from my weekly allowance that I didn't spend and it is extra beyond what I put into my IRA on my own and beyond what The Hubster and I budget for my IRA. It is really never all that much because I don't take a big allowance, but every little bit towards retirement helps!

BANK RUNS
Nov MTD $2.52

beginning 8/23/06 and forward Cummulative Total $25.06

Here Comes Pride In The Backstretch

November 4th, 2006 at 01:59 pm

Here Comes Pride in the Backstretch

And the race is on...

Nahhhh....really the race is over! The Hubster had a treadmill test back in April I think it was, that cost $500.00 more than our insurance would pay! He passed the test so that was good news.

The bad news is that our 'MedicalPrescriptionCoPay Fund' did not have 500.00 in it at the time the bill came starting in June. The hospital agreed to take payments so at $50 a month I've been whacking away at it. I could've put them on the CC, but they weren't charging any interest so I just let them carry it! Big Grin That way my $500 stayed in the bank earning interest in our Emergency Fund!

Yesterday I paid the last payment on it! Sheeeeewee! I'm glad that's over.

That's the same thing The Hubster said when the treadmill test was over. He also said it's hard to run on that thing and suck your gut in at the same time when they put cute little nurses at the helm! Big Grin


I told him that they put them there for exactly that reason...a man's pride will keep him running longer if NymphoNancyNurse is there monitoring him than if Nurse Rachet was on duty!

heheeeeeee...

Nothing like a pretty young filly to spur a guy on!!

...whatever, it worked!

Pride! While it may be frowned upon in the Bible it does ocassionally have it's uses!

The Last Red Hot

November 4th, 2006 at 11:22 am

The Last Red Hot



CashHappySon gave me .72 for Piggy. This may be the last of the CashHappySon donations for awhile as he was called on Thursday to come in to his new job! YEAH!!!

He got four hours on Thursday and ten on Friday and will be going in to work from 7-12 today! This job is a grown up man's job and like I said in an earlier post will give him a lifelong skill and one that he could support a family on if he'll stick with it.

Of course he had to go make expenditures of $109.00 to get himself started with steel toe boots, gloves, safety goggles, box blade, lunch supplies (no more free meals at work Frown ) and a cell phone.

Some days he'll be able to put in 12 hours a day. This boy is 18 years old and still does not have his driver's license. Working on the permit and we'll try to get over and take the written driver's test on Tuesday when he takes off for his orthodontist appointment.

So, in case he gets the extra hours he needed some way to contact me and let me know not to come and get him at 5:00 p.m. AND, once he starts driving himself WE WILL BE in contact about his whereabouts, and his car isn't the latest and greatest, so he bought himself a pay as you go cell phone.

Yes, he has a car but no license. I've been toting him to work for over a year and since he wouldn't put in the work to get the license I saw no need to put the miles on my truck so he anteed up his dollars and bought one earlier in the year. Not the greatest but fit his budget and he was able to pay cash for it. He knew I was going to be going to burgercentral anyway because of FrugalSon who is 20 and only has a driving permit.

Now, FrugalSon does have some learning difficulties (another whopper of a tale) and that may be all he'll ever be able to do, but CashHappy just took it as his right to just ride along and coast on the getting the driver's license dealy-who. Go figure! The Hubster and I both lusted after the freedom that driving would allow us as teenagers. We haven't quite figured out why these two aren't rushing for the gates! Too easy at home I guess. The other three kids took off early in their driving flight for freedom. The difference is that the last two were homeschooled in comparison w/the other three going to public school where peer pressure had to play some part.

So therefore and forthwith, Mom was the big bad meanie who wouldn't let CashHappySon sign a cell phone contract. He's too flightish at the moment to be hooking himself into payments. He's getting better and did make the year at burger place so he's on the right track, but still I didn't want him to be locked into monthly payments on a cellphone.

This ability to pull 109.00 out of the thin air (from HIS Emergency Fund) on a moment's notice has finally shown him the wisdom of Mom's ways. He had fought me tooth and nail over putting his money back, but yesterday he was glad of it!

At any rate the last of the red hot contributions to my challenge may have come to a screeching halt. I think him gaining useful skills and bigger money is worth it! Don't you?

I mean really, at some point we have to wean these babies when they are taller than you and have a five o'clock shadow at noon!! We do, don't we????

$20 CHALLENGE
$2.16 balance
+0.72 last red hot
_____
$2.88 Nov MTD

Cummulative Total $73.42

Steaming!

November 2nd, 2006 at 01:48 am

Steaming!



The Hubster has now announced that two of his siblings (5 kids in all) want to drop the price on FIL's house a whopping $7000.00! We just listed it about a month and a half ago!!

These are the same people who took almost a year to get it cleaned out...all the while I'm encouraging them to please hurry as there is a prophesized real estate bubble about to burst.

Slow shuffle, slow shuffle, slow shuffle...and now they want to run to the finish line????

I mean, I mean, I mean, good gravy people where was all the rush when it would have been useful??

Now, they may eventually HAVE TO drop it 7000.00 but all in one fell swoop? Get real people!

I'm steamed!

...and having a hard time keeping my tongue. Wondering about their logic.

So glad that these folks are no blood relation to me!

Mortgage Update

November 2nd, 2006 at 12:06 am

Mortgage Update



After yesterday's payment posted I have an update on our priority goal of paying off the mortgage:

Drumroll please!! Gotta get these beasties off my back!

11/01/06 Current Mortgage Balance = $23,893.92


November Expenditures

November 1st, 2006 at 11:56 pm

November Expenditures:



11/1 Grocery Expense 83.34
11/1 Paper Goods 34.23

Notations: $4.00 of the grocery was for part of a Christmas gift for my brother. I usually buy him food that doesn't need refrigeration. Got him a couple of those beef sticks.

And $2.00 of the Paper Goods was for candles for some Christmas candleholders to be sold in my antique booth.

Is 0% APR On Purchases Better Than Cashback?

November 1st, 2006 at 09:05 pm

Is 0% APR On Purchases Better Than Cashback?



Neat article:

Text is http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2006/10/is-0-apr-on-purchases-better-than-cashback.html and Link is
http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2006/10/is-0-apr-on-purc...

Forget Cashback??


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