Jesse Blogs It All

Diamonds in the Dirt..

2008-07-11T03:15:00.000-07:00

These pictures are of my daughter,at 7 am this morning, drinking a yogurt, she had already eaten breakfast and was hungry as a horse again :)

I want to apologise to everyone for often being absent from the Blogosphere for long periods , for not always completing tags and awards, for not visiting the blogs of my wonderful online friends as I used to.

The main reason is that for the longest time, my daughter Cassandra has been ill.The other reason is that I am juggling her illness and my new job: Nope, it ain't easy at all...in fact the word 'easy' is one I wouldn't be using to describe this period of our lives , not even if I was paid by the hour.

Its been totally difficult and frustrating to the core.

On and off through the years my 7 year old girl displayed numerous symptoms which included a post nasal drip which just never stopped.Her nose was always either blocked up or dripping with a vengeance,despite taking vitamins,cough mixtures and various tonics.

She would spend days coughing up huge gobs of sputum/Flem every few minutes.She had to lie in bed with a bucket near her for all the coughing up she had to do.

Every now and then,she would get a high fever for an hour or so and then her temp would go back to normal again.
She complained of a sore tummy,it would be so painful at times that she would cry...and she stopped eating normally,only nibbling on tiny pieces of dry bread and water, poor thing!

Slowly but surely she has been fading,changing...losing her beautiful Spirit and becoming sad, asking always why she is feeling so ill.
These are heartbreaking times for a parent to endure, as your child changes from free Spirited,to depressed and gloomy about life.Illness really does change the most beautiful of souls if allowed to go on for too long.

I took her to many different doctors through the years and they ALWAYS told me Cassandra had the flu or a cold,or a mild nasal infection, they didn't know why her tummy was sore or why she was not eating.I totally believed she was just susceptible to colds and flu...I believed the doctors as most people do.

They would then always prescribe a dose of antibiotics and cough mixture and send us on our way ( for which I paid huge fees,cash of course, the medical aid rates here are exorbitant,and I cant afford the monthly fees,so I ALWAYS pay cash for all doctors visits )

Recently I made an appointment to see a certain paediatrician to find out why Cassie was becoming more and more ill.Her colds and flu never left her, and I was thoroughly sick of spending money on doctors who just seemed to be totally useless!

We visited this paediatrician 2 weeks ago.When Cassie walked into her office, this doctor told me immediately that she suspected Cassie suffers badly from allergies ...that they had become rampant and taken control of her body...It sounds like a weird science fiction movie,but its true!

The doctor could make this judgment simply from looking at my daughters face. She pointed out all the little signs and signals in Cassie's face which showed a severe and prolonged allergy attack. How amazing that moment was for me...at last,a doctor who actually knew something other than ' How to earn a ridiculously high salary and enjoy a new car every year or so'...
I was in awe...and still am :)

After examining her further, she found that Cassie is highly allergic to various things. It was these allergens which have been making her so ill...they needed to be controlled immediately, not with normal medication but with top of the range anti-allergy medication.

She prescribed an antibiotic to fight the infectious hold of the allergens. Alongside that she prescribed various medicines to combat the postnasal infection, and nasal sprays and drops to begin to clean and balance the whole thing.

She told me that the pains Cassie was having in her tummy were caused by the fluid dripping down her nose and throat into her stomach...I had no idea a post nasal drip could cause so much pain and misery !Since taking these new medicines,Cassie's tummy has been sore for days and days.

All in all,this doctor prescribed 7 medicines...and Cassie has been taking them religiously every day.
Her improvements were almost immediate,she is eating again...like a wild wolf, eating me out of house and home,...I don't mind a bit, for so long my little Dove hardly ate anything at all.I was so worried,I had horrible visions of her having some terrible illness.Who would have known that all along it was allergies, not colds and flu, that were weakening my daughter like this??

Now Cassie seems so much improved,as the meds she is taking are loosening the grip of the allergies. Her mood is happier,she is slowly becoming her old self again. Allergies and the 'control 'of them will probably always play a huge roll in her future health...but just knowing the power they have over a body, having some idea of where to begin,..makes it that much easier to understand and deal with.

Thank God I found this amazing Doctor...She is thus far the only medical practitioner who made this diagnosis...and her medications seem to be working so well.I applaud her for her medical knowledge and for seeing what any trained individual should have seen.Especially at the ridiculously high prices we have to pay just to visit them.

What a shame that the medical profession includes a huge number of total idiots...and we often have to sift through the rubbish to find the rare diamonds among them.

I'm feeling really humbled and grateful for the fact that my daughter is finding her feet again.Now hopefully we can go forward with this knowledge.Its always better if you know the facts.Perhaps now,it can even become a little 'easier' :)

Happiest Day to You and Yours,
Don't forget the (((( 'Hugzzzzzzzzz'.....))))

Jesse :)

Blogging Extra-Ordinary...

2008-07-09T04:01:00.000-07:00

My Award from Marzie...

Well,Mariuca recently had an awards ceremony over at her place...wow,so many cool and amazing awards she has been given,and as sweet as she is,she doesnt mind sharing them with all her online buddies.

I was ecstatic to be included as one of the recipients, and I just want to say a Huge Thank You to Miss Mariuca..Lady,You are the Bomb and You Rock Big Time !! Keep the awesome blogging...you are truly an inspiration at all times.You surely do deserve all the awards and accolades you get,as you are one awesome blogger :)

I am passing the award on to these most awesome bloggers:
Az Azura
Karen
Ronnie
Bilbo
Jane The Sane
and of course,Illusionaire....

These are all awesome bloggers in my opinion! If anyone Other awesome bloggers want to take this award and put it up in a post,feel free to grab it with my blessings :)

Ciao ,
Jesse

Lifes Little Moments...

2008-06-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I want to apologize to those friends whose comments and emails I haven't attended to lately,I have just been so busy working,the hours are quite long, and have kept me busy no end ! As for you, dear Mariuca...Thanks Soooooo much for the beautiful award,I shall be posting about it in my upcoming one :)

Well, its been such a strange time lately. Firstly,reading on Karen's blog that George Carlin,the one of a kind comedian and extremely hilarious guy, is dead.

Apparently, he suffered with heart problems and died of heart failure on Monday.What a shock ! He is one of my favourite all time hero's... when I watch his antics on DVD,any sad moment I might have is instantly blasted away by his brilliant,funny and often totally irreligious routine.Its so sad to hear that he is dead...

Another weird thing is the price of fuel this side.Petrol and diesel has just been rising and rising all the time,and really without proper explanations.Within the next few days it will be rising yet again.

What with the food prices at an all time high...lamb chops costing between R50.00 and R70.00 per kilogram...Milk costing around R6.00 to R8.00 per litre, bread around R6.00 to R7.50 for just a common loaf, how must the person earning an average salary manage to eat and enjoy any sort of decent lifestyle..not to mention the poor, of which there are millions here in South Africa!

Worldwide there seems to be something strange going on.Quite a few of my friends overseas have told me the same price increases are happening there too.Many reasons are given for all these incredibly high price hikes... I guess it depends on which country one is living in.The real and scary question is, where does it all end???

Peace out and lollipop hugs..
Jesse :)

You're Simply The Best...

2008-06-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

Many of the bloggers I know have joined Entrecard. If you don't have a clue what Entrecard is, you are missing out on some really important information and should be spanked accordingly. Why? Because Entrecard may indeed be the biggest traffic pulling network I have come across thus far.

But Entrecard doesn't only increase your traffic ...it has something else to it.Its like a little piece of Magic..in a way ! No other network has made me want to join in and take part in the action the way that Entrecard has.

If I had a faster isp...I would be an addict,without a doubt!

Still,even with my slow tortoise isp,I am getting a good few drops in per day :)

I can't say why Entrecard is so Special...perhaps its because for the first time,a blog network actually DOES what it claims to do...and benefits the members hugely in traffic, site exposure and credit rewards.

I have made quite a few new friends through Entrecard already,and I've only been a member for the shortest while.Its the best way to get regular visitors and as for making new friends and discovering new blogs,its truly awesome!

I love Entrecard...and I bet my bottom dollar you will too.

Its works like this..

1) You join up at Entrecard, its totally free and takes just a minute or 2 to create an account.

2) You register your blog on their site

3) You choose a widget and place it on your blog

4) You decide on an image to represent your blog ...and upload it to Entrecard

5) Every time you 'drop in' on another blog which carries the Entrecard widget,you earn credits and your calling card shows up when they log in to Entrecard.

You can use your credits to advertise your own blog on other blogs out there, so make sure you have a really good 'calling card image'...one that does your blog justice.

I decided, after several attempts, on this little Avatar,so be sure and click on it whenever you see it on someones blog..I shall return the favour for sure :)

Entrecard uses a widget which you place on your blog. When another Entrecard member views your blog,they click on the word 'drop' to register their visit....and the next time you log into Entrecard ,you will see who has been visiting your blog.You then return the visit and click the little word 'drop' on the widget on their blog, ...thus creating traffic which could conceivably go round and round and round....

Each time you click the 'drop' word on a blog widget,you are given credits by Entrecard ( and your 'advertising' price increases.People then have to pay you even higher credits to place an ad on your blog)

One of the things you can do with your credits is buy yourself some advertising on other blogs who are registered with Entrecard.That is so cool.

Beginners to Entrecard start off with minimal credits...but by interacting and 'dropping' in on other blogs, your credits soon grow into a nice amount.You have to keep yourself busy though....you cannot just goof off and expect to earn credits for nothing! That's why Entrecard seems to me to have a really good thing going for them.

In some blogging communities, you can see on your blog widget who came by your blog...but very often you might not EVER return the visit.

Entrecard goes a huge step further and offers credits as a nice incentive...therefore increasing the chance that you will visit those blogs and 'drop' your card there and hopefully the bloggers You visit will do the same to you.If only to earn some nice, juicy credits :)

Join Entrecard immediately........ I expect to see you 'Dropping In' on my blog forthwith :)

Peace always...
Jesse

PS....Entrecard also pays you credits whenever you post a new blog post, as long as its at least 3 days between posts.

PPS...To be creative and try your hand at making a nice Entrecard Logo...check out Dollzbliss, they are fabulishus :)

Love and Lollipops always
Jesse (((hUGZ))))

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These Foolish Things..

2008-06-12T09:57:00.001-07:00

...Remind me of You !!

The wonderful team over at NAFASG have tagged me again. Ouch,yes,I took a while to do it,I know and I apologise...profusely !

This tag deals with favourite songs. In my own life,I have an ever-changing music passion...one week I may like a certain song and next week I may hate it! It all depends on my mood. Still,there are a few favourites that stand the test of time. I am allowed to choose 7 songs for NAFASG's tag... that's EXTREMELY difficult and I may well have a different choice by next month.Still, these are some songs that I've currently been listening to in HUGE doses ... :)

Brian Ferry and Roxy Music : 'These Foolish Things'

The Beautiful South: 'Your father and I'

The Beautiful South: 'Dumb,Dumb,Dumb'

Engelbert Humperdinck :' How near is Love?'

Neil Diamond : 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull'

Neil Diamond : 'I've been this way before'

Red Hot Chilli Peppers : the CD called 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik'

Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas : 'Smooth'

Eeeep, OK I included 8 ! Sorry dear NAFASG, It was just too difficult to decide.I am tagging anyone and EVERYONE who wants to do this one . Feel free to let me know when you have finished so I can come by and take a look! I will add your link here too.

In the meantime, here are the lyrics to Brain Ferry and Roxy Music's amazing song ' These Foolish Things'. Its one of those beautiful melodies that is sure to be a hit for all time.This song has the ability to lift my spirits,and set my pulse racing.The more I hear it,the more profoundly it affects me.

I hope you get to listen to it one day and let me know what you think of it.....cos music affects everyone in a different way.

This song, although it was recorded years and years ago, leaves me weak in the knees and foolish in the head !! I started listening to it in earnest only a year or 2 ago and all I can say is' Bryan Ferry, even though you must be about 65 years old by now....you still Rock my world big time !!!!' And you always will :)

'These Foolish Things' ( by Brian Ferry and Roxy Music )

'Oh will you never let me be?
Oh will you never set me free?

The ties that bound us are still around us
There's no escape that I can see

And still those little things remain
That bring me happiness or pain

A cigarette that bears a lipstick's traces
An airline ticket to romantic places
And still my heart has wings
These foolish things
Remind me of you

A tinkling piano in the next apartment
Those stumbling words that told you what my heart meant
A fairground's painted swings
These foolish things
Remind me of you

You came, you saw, you conquered me
When you did that to me, I somehow knew that this had to be

The winds of March that make my heart a dancer
A telephone that rings - but who's to answer?
Oh, how the ghost of you clings
These foolish things
Remind me of you

Gardenia perfume ling'ring on a pillow
Wild strawb'ries only seven francs a kilo
And still my heart has wings
These foolish things
Remind me of you

I know that this was bound to be
These things have haunted me
For you've entirely enchanted me

The sigh of midnight trains in empty stations
Silk stockings thrown aside, dance invitations
Oh, how the ghost of you clings
These foolish things
Remind me of you

The smile of Garbo and the scent of roses
The waiters whistling as the last bar closes
The song that Crosby sings
These foolish things
Remind me of you

How strange, how sweet to find you still
These things are dear to me
That seem to bring you so near to me

The scent of smould'ring leaves, the wail of steamers
Two lovers on the street who walk like dreamers
Oh, how the ghost of you clings
These foolish things
Remind me of you, just you'

(end)

Oddly, this song ALSO reminds me of all the wonderful bloggers I have met online. Each one has something special which makes you unique ! Its sometimes easy to forget how many talents and abilities we are capable of. We can do some amazing things if we are confidant and believe in our strengths.So, don't ever hide away from the world...let your light shine brighter today than it did yesterday !

Peace out,
Jesse

PS...check the video out for yourself. Due to my slow ISP,I cannot view it ...sob,sob,wail! But maybe you can....so enjoy :)

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And the wheel turns...

2008-05-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

It sometimes seems to me that my life moves in stages.

For seven years I stayed home,taking care of my daughter.For seven years I didn't have a job, but that was my choice, I wanted my daughter to have a mothers care and love always.I wanted to be there when she needed me,when she was ill and when she just needed hugs and snuggles..I chose to be her teacher and guide,as I believe its what every child needs. A good foundation.

Financially, Things were NOT as difficult as one would think.Many of my family members were extremely generous and we live in a huge old house,with a garden all the way round.We have NO debt, all her school fees are paid for and there is is always a stocked fridge. Cassie never wants for anything,and has so many clothes,gadgets,toys and books that it often seems that we are extremely blessed and watched over in the most sublimely Spiritual way !!

Now, today, at the age of 7, she must make new adjustments. She will NO longer be collected by ME after school...instead she will be going to after-care for the very first time.I have packed everything she might need and from today on ,someone else will be looking after my precious Angel.

This leaves me feeling extremely nervous,frightened and jittery...but it has to be done.For the AMAZING news is that after seven years,I have found a job!!

My new job, which begins next week once Cassie is familiar with the after-care, entails working in a fast-food/take-out place and oh boy, the money is awesome.I will be part manager of the place...and that is why the money is so good.Its more than I ever expected, more than I dreamed of. And the unique way this job just appeared when the time was right shows me something of the way the universe works!

While I was taking care of Cassie all those years, there were many times when I worried.I believed that I would struggle to find a job and that things were never going to improve. I also believed that I would never have enough savings for the things she would need as she grew up.The fact is,I spent all that time worrying for sweet nothing: because when the time was right,things just SLIPPED into place.

I am feeling afraid for this new challenge for Cassie.But for myself,I feel ecstatic.New things have arrived in our lives and they need to be embraced and learned from and understood.I am so filled with Joy and Happiness at my newest Good Fortune,that I want to share it here with my best online friends, who have played a huge role in making my days bright and fun ALWAYS :). You all are the BEST !

Jesse..

PS....Sadly,the cafe I will be working in doesn't have a computer...I will have to make some changes to that,lol :)

Wish us luck with our New Beginnings... and good luck with yours as well
(hUgs)

' Love Thyself.. '

2008-05-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

Just yesterday while at the mall I observed a mature woman of perhaps 45-50 years old,trotting along in thick make-up and high heels, with whom I assume was her husband and teenage son.

From behind,she looked like a teenager herself,in fact,her hips were probably only as wide as a ten year olds might be. She had dyed her long hair as blond as she could,Jeez...it was almost white.

As she turned round,I saw her face....and it was so haggard and prematurely aged,I was shocked by its appearance. However,she was dressed to kill in a low cut shirt and tight jeans...and was prancing around the store as if she were a highly paid model on the catwalk!!

I tell you,the woman didnt even have any butt in her jeans, but I guess she believes,as do millions of other people,that one can NEVER be too Blonde or too Thin! Go figure....

Tragically, I see the same thing almost every day. Women and young teenage girls starved into skinniness...some of them hunched over as they walk along, most of them looking haggard and tired and worn out. Whats the actual point to all this self abuse ??

Much has been written relating to the problems associated with starving ones body into a state of skinniness.There is surely no way people can plead ignorance of how to live in a healthy,well-balanced way.

Still,the Media, movies..and also ones friends ,partners and family members, play a huge role in keeping the 'Skinny is Beautiful' myth alive.

I call it a myth...for indeed thats what it is. One doesnt need to fit someone elses idea of 'gorgeous' to be happy,well-balanced and loved .... it all begins with having an idea of your own voice, your own strengths and knowing that starving,bingeing and playing rollercoaster with your weight for any length of time will have its own repurcussions.People are literally so scared to put on a few pounds...they would rather be dead than be deemed overweight.

Its a shame that the highly paid models are basically sacks of skin and bones.As role models for the youth they have a lot to answer for.The sad thing about the lifestyles of some Supermodels is the fact that they wont get any high paying assignments if they dont conform to a certain body weight.

Its also a shame that even though they are amongst the highest paid women on earth,they probably cant even have a relaxed meal and a few drinks with friends ... without having an anxiety attack lest they put on a centimetre or two.Which is why some of them have to resort to vomiting it all up afterwards, which totally defies logic! !

And the biggest shame of all is that women, models, females, mothers and daughters WORLDWIDE put up with this travesty. They admire the models and actresses who are ultra skinny and try desperatly to follow in their footsteps, forcing and starving their bodies into a submission that just isnt natural.

Open your eyes, Ladies..stop with the 'Sheep Mentality'

When you starve your body,you may attain the skinny looks you desire,but ask yourself who you are doing it for!

If its to please a moaning,nitpicking partner or friend, then you seriously need to take a good long look at your life and get rid of those people who have too much power over you.You might gain a skinny body by starving and binge dieting,but unless you keep on dieting and taking those pills,the weight is going to return as soon as it gets a chance.You may even end up fatter than before.

A friend of mine told me that her husband swore he would leave her if she ever put on weight.He didnt encourage her to excercise nor did he care how she remained skinny...he just didnt want any of his buddies to see him with a fat chick.

She was so scared of losing the 'Love of her Life' that she was secretly starving herself to achieve HIS ideals. Even though she now has 2 children,he still expects her to keep the body of a teenager.That sucks, man. The other fact that boggles my mind was that he himself is Grossly overweight and has never done anything to lose weight !

Choices:

Regular excercise and healthy eating habits will allow for gradual weight loss while toning your muscles ...and if these habits become ingrained you will most likely be assured of a body that looks great and can bounce back from illness and over-work, no matter what your age may be.That to me is the better option.

A toned and beautiful body can literally take ones breath away..while an anorexic body looks in need of a good meal and some TLC.

Women should decide and make choices for themselves..if you dont,you may end up living your life for someone else , which can be a bad thing.

Being true to ourselves is the very best goal to reach for. Without caring for ourselves first,deeply and honestly, and treasuring our mental and physical health , what lessons will we pass on to the next generation... both males and females??

Expand your mind with some further reading on this subject

Peace out,
Jesse :)

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Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes...

2008-04-20T04:11:00.000-07:00

I believe in changes.I know they hold all manner of growth,learning and are really as good as that holiday you never got to take!! Along with my new short haircut,I am getting into the Spirit of changing at a phenomenal rate.At all times we are all doing it,some faster or slower than others.But change we must :)

I have come to the conclusion that one goes through many stages while on this blogging journey ! I for one cant seem to keep count of the levels I am passing through: from that pathetic Newbie who knew nothing to this Long-Time Blogger who still knows Nothing. Ok,correct that...I do know more than I give myself credit for.Or perhaps I just think I do..

I have learnt so much about fixing my pc,oh yeahhhhhhhh. That must come with the Home Blogging territory.I have also learnt to only write new posts when I REALLY feel up to it...otherwise my heart and soul just arent in it.I am learning to just do my own thaing !!

Another change I am looking at is the actual look of my blog .

I was thinking of deleting this blog and starting over,as I am getting tired of the way it looks.But after reading a post by Ed Philly over at White-Boy Style...I was inspired and decided there is no need to delete ANYTHING.I am simply going to give my blog a new scheme, courtesy of blogger.com.As Ed Philly reminded me,blogging means doing just whatever you want with your blog.And happily, as I have a Blogger blog,I can change the style and color with ease.

Ed Philly also wrote about how boring blogs can become,with the same old look month after month.I agree...I myself prefer freshness...and with that in mind,its time for an overhaul...

How long have YOU had your blog??? Is it stale and boring? If so,make those changes.
You may indeed love them..as for me,from now on,this Blogger is growing up!!! And it feels so awesome to be Free from restraining myself...

Lets get real,Guys.We all have unique personalities.They should truly shine through on our blogs.Now lets see Ed Philly beat this groovy Pink mode !! :)

Huggles to All
Jesse

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Computers...You Gotta Love them,RIGHT ??

2008-04-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Its School Vacation,and my darling 7 year old CASSIE IS BEING sPOILED TO THE mAX !!! :)
All the chocolates and easter eggs,swimming,playing,dvd's.. staying up later than usual and having so much fun all round,it makes me wish I was a child again....Kind of ! Yah, Reallly ! :)

OK..its been SUCH a long while since I last posted to my blog...and its not because I became tired of it,or decided to quit. Rather,I was once again back in the thick of it,having one pc problem after another, and one too many.

What happened was I tried out a free Linux program which I received with a pc magazine.The disc proclaimed that one could run this Linux while also having windows installed (as a duel boot sort of thing).That wasnt the case though,as the stupid Linux program changed my fat 32 drive into a linux drive and I simply couldnt load up windows.

This specific Linux program also didnt have an uninstall feature either,which was really baffling to me. I have tried out other Linux programs before,so its not like I have no clue about them. Still, this one was totally weird..must have been a poorly written one,guess you get that everywhere!

Anyway,I had to format my pc drive back into fat32 and reload windows,which in an ideal world should have taken an hour or 2,but sad to say,the cd which contained all my drivers had cracked somehow...yes, once again !!!!!!!!!!

So off I went to the local internet cafe to download them,only to be told that the interet cafe hadnt had internet facilities for a whole week !! Jeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzz...................thats what you get for living in a dump like South Africa.

I then had an old cd of mine cleaned and luckily it contained drivers enough to get me online somehow,and from their on I had to get hold of the other drivers one by one online from my pc. Now,the lesson I learnt this time is that if your PC is getting old and weird,hey, its time to get a new one.Also,make so many copies and back-ups...more than you think you might need,and keep them safely and neatly in a place oF extreme safety...that way some of your stuff will be available whenever emergency strikes !

I also learnt that pc's pack when they feel like it..so be prepared.Its hell when they do that that though.

I missed being online...and sitting looking at a dead pc is totally soul destroying.I knew eventually it would be up and running though...but things were just moving too slowly for my liking.Sorry to anyone who left comments that I never replied to,I intend to get my hand on that as soon as possible..hey,I have almost 2000 emails backed up in my inbox which I must clear out ( mostly spam ),so I hope you can be lenient with me just a little while longer.
Jesse

PS... I Also hope that your day is going totally great over there,if not,take control and make it shine :)

The Cutest Friday Post Ever ...

2008-03-20T10:33:00.001-07:00

No Words Needed, hope your Friday is Special :)

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Fiction Friday....The Winds Of Change

2008-03-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

I first became aware of Fiction Friday when visiting my friend Kathleen's place.Its so awesome , you get to exercise your mind by writing a short story on Fridays.This cool fiction idea originates from the site of Jane The Sane,and if you want to join in,you can give her a visit and add your blog link to her link chain here.

Here is my fiction Friday utterance.Bear in mind,in Cape Town where I live,the 'South Easter' is a horrible wind that never lets up :)

Here Goes my first Friday Fiction:

"From her earliest memory, the South Easter had always been there. It seldom stopped, never let up; in fact it was always swirling around her like a huge and unwelcome baggage..and now, in the name of all that was Holy, it had suddenly developed a voice... and was whispering in her ear!

Words as real as any you or I might utter.'Why, Anya ??' the South Easter was asking ...'Why do you hate us so much?'

Anya was stunned by these words, and doubting her sanity she found herself answering in a shaky voice: 'Its true,I have always hated you, haven't I ?? .. Why? Because everywhere I go, you are always there, ruining my life, you just never stop blowing.'

Anya found her strength somehow ' The winds have spoiled so many days with bluster and gales. I hate them with a passion you couldn't believe . I wish to Heaven I could live in a place where winds and most especially the South Easter, just didn't exist. What utter bliss that would be ! "

The Voice was laughing playfully now...'But Anya, Angel, have you ever asked us to stop gusting? If you had, we would have hung back for a bit, given you some peace. After all, you are our Priestess.It would have been our great pleasure to heed your request !'

Priestess?? What did they mean by that? Anya was so taken aback she stumbled.' Weakly she asked: ' What are you saying?'... I am a Priestess? Of what?'..she laughed , lightheaded with the craziness of the day.

'Ha, that caught your attention' they breathed... 'Yes, you are one of our Priestesses, and all your life, we have been guarding you. Protecting you even while you loathed us.In fact,we have never left your side.'

The South Easter continued whispering... 'Anya, It was of extreme importance that we kept you safe. See, you have an important task to perform for us and all mankind. Something we could never entrust to anyone else.Its a task bigger than anyone could imagine,something that will change this world in numerous ways.

'We have brought you to this time and this moment, always guiding you into your true fulfillment. Now we believe you are ready to take up your rightful role as our Priestess, and your first task in your new role will be to......"

Thanks to my friend Karen, for the cool Angel image.Happy Easter to all who celebrate it,and to those who don't,have a great weekend anyhow :)
Tread safely and take care of yourself always...
Jesse

fiction,friday,on,my,first,cape,town,south,africa,south,easter,winds,winds,of,change,kathleen,jane,the,sane,karen,the,pitfalls,of,dating,so,grateful,to,be,mormon,you,see,what,you,want,to,see
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Wonderful Woman Blogger Award..

2008-03-14T05:18:00.000-07:00

Zubli Zainordin gave out some very special awards lately.I am ecstatic that he included me in his list of esteemed lady bloggers.

Zubli,you are the best,and I am truly honored to receive this awesome award from you. You are one of the Bright Lights in the Blogosphere and most certainly,you made my day brighter.

Thank You for all your friendship and kindness always ! :)

Jesse..

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Sleepy Jes..

2008-02-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

OK..I need a holiday right now,which is of course out of the question, as Cassie is busy with her grade 2 schooling and a million school functions await me with glee.

So at this moment in time,a picture will hopefully speak more than a thousand words on my behalf ...I hope so, for I am totally exhausted :)

And no,this is not my puppy... my online friend Alan sent him to me via email...still I kinda wish he was..he is so cute!

I guess it would be great to just sleep for a day or so,but for a parent,thats impossible ! Oh well..a girl can still dream..and in some ways I wish I had this puppy's attitude to life.

Giving in to my baser instincts would be wonderful,but sadly,I just cant seem to do it . Dang,dang...and dang again !

I hope your week is AWESOME....and iF it isnt...then make it SO .

PS..and dont fall asleep in your food,its bad manners, yet somehow so appealing right now :)

Jesse

Feasting in the house tonight...

2008-02-19T23:40:00.000-08:00

Hawk tagged me with this Kitchen Ryme a while ago, and I just changed it a little bit to include the links to those I tagged in the actual poem.I also made it into a 'Dream Kitchen' instead of my Real kitchen,as mine is so boring.

I do apologize for taking so long to complete it,Hawk...but as you know,my creative Muse has been absent for ages. Still here is my little effort (Sans Muse!)

Jesse's Feast

I dream of rolling hills and valleys
mountains and rivers all around
there in my cottage
I prepare my pottage
smiling and happy as can be

my kitchen will be beautiful and airy
space to cook and also time to dream
friends shall gather round from far off places
just to pass the time feasting there with me

I'll make pancakes for Janice, Dar and Toadee
with their arrival, life becomes a song..
and of course, no feast would be as brilliant
if Az Azura ,Speedy and Julie werent along

Karen and The Canadian bring the spareribs
we all share Pizza with the Nafasg Team
and while gazing up on high we see Hawk go soaring by
then in comes Marzie .. with Phoebe,what a dream !

Sam Chan arrives simply to surprize me,
Gurushabad is a welcome guest as well !
before they get to leave, I will grab them by the sleeve
to talk of life ...and other awesome things

I'll ask Kathleen to make us all some salad
and beg the Sandman to bring spices from his land
dishes from far away, we will try them every day
until everyones hunger is appeased

all week long we will be feasting there together
tossing our cares and worries to the breeze
in my beautiful, cool kitchen
many dishes will be simmering
waiting to be relished by my friends !!

If your name appears in my 'Poetical Work' above...then you have to write a poem all about YOUR KITCHEN and post it on your blog!

Why?? 'cos thats all part of this tag,lol.oh...and because I REALLY DO want to know ! :)

PS..Anyone else who wants to join in and do this tag, go ahead. Let me know when its finished and I will add your link up here with the others !

Hope the week is going great..
Jesse :)

feasting,in,the,house,tonight,hawk,tag,friends,fun,eating,pizza,with,the,best,of,friends,online,soaring,by
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My Valentine's Linky-Love..

2008-02-13T23:00:00.000-08:00

Yay..its Valentines Day, and I really want to give all the Bloggers I know ( and those I dont know) a beautiful Gift of Love! No matter what your situation, whether you are in a relationship, in a happy marriage,a sad marriage or a second or third marriage ,divorced...or single and proud of it, I still want to send you Love.

Why? Well, apparently Love is the Single most Important Human emotion that we have... it enables healing,helps combat depression and basically just makes one feel really good. Love is after all what makes the world go round !

Valentines Day is not just for young people in love,it can and Should be celebrated by everyone of all ages and worldwide too.Its a really wonderful way of saying I appreciate you for who you are and Thank You So Much!

So I am sending my huge big Valentine Gift full of Love, Respect, Hugs, Peace... and Hope for a Wonderful tomorrow...Zooooooming over to all these beautiful people I am so fortunate to know in the Blogosphere. Hope it arrives over there safe and sound ,if it doesnt, let me know :)

Happy Valentines Day to :

Team NAFASG
That Wonderfully Crusty Redneck
Speedy Cat
Sue
Janice
Mariuca
Toadee
Hawk
Colin
Shinade
Don
Auntie Dar
Ed Philly
Karen
Abhatnagar and the Blogging Den
Kathleen
Illusionaire
Zubli
Sam Chan
Gurushabad
Julie
Aaron Cook
Forging Iron Man
Drifts from the river of Karma
Az azura
Eat Your Maths
Jackys Opinion
Cape Girl
Joezul
Hipmommy
Sam
Sandy G
Bilbo
Sweet Rai

and also to my really amazing online friends who are NOT bloggers,people I met on Facebook and Myspace. This goes to you as well ! Wish you all had blogs so I mention you here.

Take care...and remember to share lots of real and grand Love with all those around you.Hug your loved ones, kiss them and share special moments.
After all...Its what Valentine's Day is about :)

ps..the lovely flower image was forwarded to me by my facebook friend Alan B.The rose is from Janice...and the cats are from Steven,on MySpace.Thanks guys,for making my day brighter than ever :)

Jesse..

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Weekend Wow..

2008-02-08T03:32:00.000-08:00

My first list of Extremely Awesome Things..

The Most Powerful Post this week..
Is over at Illusionaire !

The Most Surprizing Post this week..
Is over at My Life As It Is !

The Most Educational and Necessary Post this week..
Is over at NAFASG !

The Best Making Money Advice..
If you are looking for ways to earn money online,then give Aaron Cook a visit. He has compiled a list of all the places he has been successful with so far. Aarons list is quite informative and I love that he has checked these places out personally....and given his honest opinion of them. He is also really friendly and helpful...and will gladly answer any questions you may have regarding the money making opportunities included in his list.

Learning Mandarin..
Sam Chan has a new site and its all about learning to speak the Mandarin language,in fact,it will be detailing Sam's Journey as he himself studies this language. If you have ever been interested in learning more about it, Sam is using remarkably interesting methods to help himself and other learners understand and grasp Mandarin in all its nuances. His lessons are free of charge...and I think its wonderful of Sam to share his knowledge so generously as he always does.

Girl With Cape..
Nestled in a woody glade up on the mountains of Cape Town lives a blogger that not too many people from Mybloglog and Blogcatalog know about. Cape Girl is a really unique and witty lady and her posts are always so interesting, in fact they often make me laugh a whole lot ! If you are looking for real,down-to-earth South African wit and a warm hearted,genuine blogger with lots of passion and soul as well, visit CapeGirls site...you will enjoy it, for sure.

Kiss My Diet Goodbye..
Mariuca momentarily gave up her 'healthy eating plan'...find out why in this temptingly written post of hers! The pictures are yummy enough to make me give up my own eating plan...except that I dont currently have one! Thanks for sharing this with us, Mariuca... It looks totally delicious and well worth a little lapse of willpower :)

Find My Snakeskin Boots ..
The Story Thus Far: The Redneck has lost his boots, and suspects our dear Friend SpeedCat (among others) of having something to do with their dissapearance ! For some belly grasping laughs and to find out more about this strange story, visit the Redneck and SpeedCat at their respective sites..but remember, you have been warned ! You may collapse from laughing too much...

A Beautiful Lady..
I recently met a lady on Cre8Buzz...and I had to share her link here. She writes from the heart and her gentle humor and love for God and her family and friends is truly heartwarming. Check out Kathleens site for an uplifting viewpoint on life,religion and living in Blessedness. One of my favourite posts by her is 'Priceless'...

Also..
I want to wish a Happy Chinese New Year to all who celebrate it ! May good fortune be yours and a year filled to the brim with many blessings too...be safe, be happy and have a Really wonderful time :)

Jesse

PS... This is the first 'Super-Cool' list I have compiled and I hope to make it a regular happening.

If I come across anything online that I find outstanding, funny, beautiful or especially interesting, I will add to future lists and post them here for anyone who may have missed them or not seen them.

If you have something you would like me to include just message me or email smartwriting@gmail.com

** HAPPY WEEKEND ** :)

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In Memory Of A Beautiful Friend..

2008-02-08T02:18:00.000-08:00

Last night,my friends husband came by to tell me that she had died.For the last few years,she fought a terrible battle with cancer and finally she could no longer fight...the pain was too severe and in her weakened state she finally had to let go.

Glodien,I met you several years ago,and what always amazed me about you was your approach to life! Nothing seemed to ever get you upset or angry...you had ways to solve everyones problems and no matter what was happening around you,you remained the same loving, kind and generous friend, mother, wife and granny.

Cancer changed you into someone who was always tired,though you never complained.It took you away from your grandson,as you were too exhausted to play with him anymore. It took you away from your friends and your family, .. and from me.

I am so saddened by your leaving... you had lots of love for everyone and we will miss you so much !

Still,I know you couldnt go on with the pain...

Somewhere in a far off place I see you
peace and calm surrounding you once more
pain has gone and now you must be sleeping
tended by the sweetest Angels there

know that I will always hold you closely
in my heart I say a special prayer
that you rest in total Peace and Beauty
and may God keep you forever in His care

Thank you for being my Friend
Jesse

PS..I received this lovely Angel image from my friend Steven on MySpace...and it originates from HostDrJack. Once I find out who created it,I will add their details here.For now I want to thank that unknown person( and Steven ) for the Angel,its a picture Glodien would really love !

What's Your Opinion?

2008-02-01T08:14:00.000-08:00

A popular Blogger recently posted that she wouldnt bother blogging if no-one commented on her stuff! In fact she wrote that it would depress her and cause her to give up blogging altogether.

Its difficult for me to understand how deeply attached some people are to their blogs. My blog is important to me, sure..but certainly not to the extent of allowing it to affect my moods in such a negative way.

What is it that keeps You blogging..even as others fall by the wayside and give up?

Somehow, you keep on posting to your blog, week after week, month after month, year after year perhaps... despite the challenges and trials that blogging often brings with it.

Challenges such as:

ISP hang-ups,
PC instability or breakdown,
Software problems,
Writers block,
Times when you lack motivation,
Times when you are ill,
Nasty computer viruses,
Online weirdos and oddballs,
Bloggers with over-inflated egos,

They are often part and parcel of the Blogging Experience.

Yet...some of us ride the blogging wave despite all these setbacks..or perhaps even because of them!
Perhaps we love the challenges lying there in the unknown ?

Would you stop blogging, if no-one read your words? Would you give it all up if there were never any comments made on your posts ?

Would it make you feel like a failure if no-one knew you existed... blogging away all to yourself, a tiny invisible fish in Blogosphere ??

I guess for some people,this situation could be frightening,to say the least !

But in my case, I know the answer is 'no'. I would not be negatively affected by lack of visitors or comments.

My other blog is a good example. Hardly anyone goes there.Its a work in progress and still has a long way to go.

Since its creation, I have not actively tried to promote it much. I wasnt sure just what I was going to eventually do with it. Its become a sort of writing\poetry blog that I enjoy playing around with when it suits me.

And even though it probably has no link-backs to speak of, it has a good enough page rank of 3 , which just goes to show, though WHAT it shows,I have NO idea! I better ask Google,lol :)

I truly enjoy it when bloggers comment on the posts on either of my blogs, believe me,I ADORE that ...its an awesome Honour for me !
But if no-one ever visited,It would not break me down or send me into some dark and horrible depression.

For me Blogging is firstly about expressing whats on my mind , through the use of words ... if people actually read it and leave a comment, then thats the Cherry on top !

Jesse :)

Sosatie...

2008-01-31T09:27:00.000-08:00

Food is such an important part of our lives.Every last one of us needs to eat,and for me, when I prepare a dish,I like to get it tasting really nice.

Perhaps I am a bit of a perfectionist as far as cooking is concerned, well, why not? If you are cooking something,it may as well taste sublime,right?

But believe me,I have made many,many flops, and only experience, and the ability to hang in there, has brought me to a place of semi- confidence.

To me,the secret of any dish, lies in preparation and a slight bit of forethought,plus fresh ingredients,where possible.

I love pizza,pasta, exotic cheeses, savouries,pies, curries and roti.I love dishes of lamb and beef and mutton and chicken. I am not really a lover of sweet things like Cassie is... still, she doesnt really eat much meat.

But as the following dish is so loved by everyone ELSE who tastes it,I thought I would share the recipe here on my blog.Its really simple ,and apart from actually burning the food,you cant make many other mistakes with it.

If lamb is very expensive in your country,as it is here in South Africa,then make it up using Mutton chops..or use only 4 lamb chops in the dish, and smaller amounts of ingredients...at least till you get the whole flavour balance thing right.Then once you are ready and confident, go on and experiment with bigger amounts of lamb.

The resulting dish is not really all that amazing to look at..it looks like a stew or curry...but the taste,when you get it right,is totally out of this world!! Its not stew-like in the least..

And although it may seem to have huge amounts of garlic and curry,etc...those ingredients blend together to perfection...and if it doesnt,just play around with it till you are happy with the flavour :)

I call it 'sweet and sour lamb'...some people call it 'sosatie chops'...you may call it whatever you want, indeed, 'Heavenly Lamb'' is the term that comes to mind,though I am not always able to get very much of it into my mouth,as it seems there is never enough to go round !

Recipe

Take quite a few lamb chops,the amount varies,I usually cook up about 10 or 12,or more...medium to biggish ones.hey,there must be enough for everyone and this dish is just as good,perhaps even better, eaten warmed up the following day!

Ok,make a marinade using the following:(obviously,the more.. or less.. meat you use will determine how much ingredients you need)

about 3 or 4 huge garlic cloves,or 6 to 8 small ones

a chunk of fresh ginger,about the size of a teaspoon or bigger...remove outer skin and add to the marinade dish whole or chopped,it matters not

about 30 to 60 ml basic curry powder (or more if you like) from a packet,plus a huge heaped up desertspoon of curry paste,I use Packo's Curry Paste...but if you have none,just add more curry powder from a packet.Any curry powder will do in this dish,I usually blend 2 or 3 curry powders together and just toss them into the marinade bowl

A fresh chillie,red or green, chopped

4 to 8 cloves

4 to 8 bayleaves

6 allspice (optional)

1 cup ( or more ) of vinegar

huge handful ( or more ) of sugar

salt

pepper

borrie/turmeric powder, as much as you like,to give a yellowish color to the dish (optional)

mix this all together...then lay the lamb chops in this mixture,for one hour, or several hours if the chops are very thick.

Cut up 2 or 3 onions into thinnish slices.

Get a huge pan ( not a pot,thats too difficult to work with ) that has a lid,and lay the meat and onions along with the marinade in it.

Add a bit of water,about one cup to begin with.

Close the lid and cook/simmer for as long as it takes for the meat to become tender and fall from the bone.More than an hour,usually. Check that the pan doesnt need more water while cooking....dont let it burn.

Remove the meat,let it cool.

Continue to cook the onions for a little while,braising them in the sauce until they are cooked up and adding more water,if neccessary.

Remove all the bones from the meat and taste the onion sauce.It should be sharp from the vinegar,and yet sweet and coddling, making you reach for another mouthful.In other words,it should be awesome, rich with all sorts of interesting flavour hints.If it isnt, add more vinegar,sugar and salt,test it as it cooks ...and add what you think it needs.You will know when the flavours are balanced.I usually have to add more sugar and vinegar.
You can also have the sauce as thick or as thin as you want,just decide when to stop reducing it and cooking it down.

Once the sauce and onions have become thick ,leave to stand for a while
to allow the flavours to develop( thats if your friends will let you...its best to make this before your partner or buddies come around,that way the flavours can mature, cos if your friends smell it cooking,they will gobble it up for sure from the pan,the aroma is that appealing )

when ready to serve:
Remove all the spices from the sauce
If fat has accumulated on top of the pan,remove with a spoon
Add the cooked,now boneless, meat pieces and a tiny bit of water to the sauce in the pan and heat thouroughly ,stirring and braising it down just before serving.A bed of rice ( yellow or white) and beetroot go excellently with this dish.

Dont eat it with anything fancy,the sweet and sour notes in it match well with very plain dishes. its a spicy,yet not overly hot dish.It has its own unique flavour, sweetish,sour,piquant.. and doesnt taste of curry in the least...It has to be tasted to be appreciated !

Its Hot in the City...

2008-01-20T11:10:00.001-08:00

This heated up post is for my friends SpeedyCat , The Canadian Redneck ...and Julie ! In fact its also for anyone out there who is currently experiencing very cold weather! I have decided to share the heat!!

Here in Cape Town,its Cooking...as these pictures taken on one of our local beaches can testify.I can tell you I have had enough of sun drenched beaches,sand blowing all over the place , sticky gooey sunblock and melted ice cream cones...I want some cold and snow...in fact,I need a Snowman,like Right Now !

So...I am sending the heat over to SpeedyCat , The Canadian Redneck, Julie and anyone else out there freezing in the winter wonderlands...in the hope that they can send me some cool weather Deluxe! I love the snow and frost and ice...send me some over,pretty please :)

And if these beach pics dont heat it up for you...these potent and fire starting green chillies straight from my kitchen will be sure to do the job!! :)

Hey,are you sizzling Already ?? I think I can hear you way over here...!

Have a truly Hot and awesome Week ...
Jesse :)

Counting those Blessed Blessings...

2008-01-09T08:29:00.001-08:00

in this picture,Cassie has loads of sun-block on ...man,its hot in South Africa !!

My Current Thoughts...

The new year has brought with it many things, so far all of them positive. For me this has alway been the time to reflect on life and on those things I can change.I know that I can do lots better as a human being...becoming the best at being 'me' has always been my goal, though a 'goal' it has remained.I search my soul very often , trying to see where I can shine brighter and which way to steer this ship I call my life!...very often,it seems like a crazy ship,lol.

I know that some people write down resolutions, make plans to quit this or that.I wish them well...but I have never had much luck with resolutions.I take this time to think of all I am fortunate to have...and when I ponder on that,I am speechless and filled to the brim.

To start with, I have my daughter,Cassandra.The one who surely came to Earth to teach me...and teach me she has! With her joys and never ending energy and imagination, she has awakened me from whatever state of sleep I was in and stretched me to the limit.Which is a good thing :)

I never knew how deeply I was able to feel Love until she arrived to make me learn that lesson.
For that,I am grateful.
For every breath,and each minute I can spend on this earth with Cassie and my other loved ones ,I am truly honored and blessed!

And for whatever may come to me this year, in my life and in the Blogosphere....I am happy to meet it and learn from it.

Love always.... for we only have this one moment :)

Hey, 2008 is here..

2007-12-31T07:23:00.000-08:00

Recently I was offered a job...It would have been great and solved all my financial hiccups..but sadly,I had to decline it, as I cannot find a daycare that I am happy with at such short notice.
Yes,I am picky...and I don't want unknown people looking after my daughter...so I decided to say 'no' to that job.

That's still OK,for I have another plan to work from home more or less full time, ghost writing articles for clients whom a friend of mine has been working for with great success.
This will mean cutting down my online blogging time slightly...just balancing it which is always the difficult part,as I prefer to chat and read blogs as opposed to actually doing any work!! But hey...we only have one life,so I have to work harder to find the balance in mine!!

I want to wish EVERYONE a wonderful New Year,many Blessings,Peace and Joy be yours. Have loads of fun! Be safe and happy,and do not drink and drive . Yes,that's an order !

Much Love to all the wonderful Bloggers who I have met online! You all mean more to me than you could guess .I want to thank you for all your support and awards and tags and crazy Love! Lets hope for a wonderful New Year for us ALL and also many cool Blogging adventures ahead in 2008!

Stay sweet,Angels...and shine brightly ALWAYS :)
You make the BlogoSphere such a Special Place ... here's to 2008 !

Happy Holidays...

2007-12-22T22:16:00.000-08:00

Colin sent this card to all his friends,including me, and it think its so cool I'm going to display it here.Thank you Colin,its really awesome..and merry Christmas to you and all my other blogging friends as well!!

Yes..Its almost Christmas and its as hot as anything this side.I do love the heat, but it would be nice to have a snowy Christmas just for a change,lol. However living here in South Africa doesn't cater for snow .Our Christmas holiday period usually brings a hot sun , making for a more relaxed attitude to Chrismas. I guess if it remains this hot over Christmas, many people will flock to the beach to enjoy the heat....well, its a good enough reason to let that 'beach bum' attitude shine through.

I want to wish everyone who celebrates Christmas a really great festive Season! And if you don't celebrate it,well, have a wonderful holiday and may whatever you are doing be filled with good things,including Peace,Joy and Happiness !! Also,take lots of care on the roads,there are many crazy drivers out there...

Be Happy , and I really hope you get that special present under the Christmas Tree :)
Jesse

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Choo-Choo Train is Coming...

2007-12-13T05:01:00.001-08:00

Lets Get on board..

This Christmas has come round with a speed, and we are busy decorating the house and building up a really pretty display for the festive season.
Part of our display includes a stunning motorized train set,crafted by Marklin many years ago...I am not too sure how old this model train set is, but my father used to play with it when he was a child, so its at least 40 years old...and perhaps even closer to 50 .

After all these years, this set is running perfectly and has several authentic looking attachments which make it awesome to see when its whizzing round the track.The little engine headlights glow in the dark and it can even go in reverse !

I am so in love with this train set, I had to share a few pictures here. Because of loading times, I kept them quite small...but I will provide a link to the rest of the pics once I upload them online, for anyone who wishes to view them more closely.Hey, I promise, if you look inside the train, you may actually see Father Christmas bringing all the presents :)

Take care, be safe and enjoy whatever you may be doing !

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