Sunday, July 09, 2023
Apartment Life #274
This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that have gone on in and around my apartment complex and in my neighborhood in the past 25 years that I've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 25 years here in a weekly blog post.
The police have been patrolling my street, the alley across the street and my alley this week. I've been seeing a lot of police cars on my street when I go outside.
Now I know why the police are patrolling so much around here now though. My daughter and her boyfriend were in his car around 11 pm last Sunday and the cops pulled in behind them to check out what they were doing. After they figured out they were just sitting there talking and why they were not on her street because my daughter told the police she's seen too much gang activity like gang members tagging the walls, alley ect...one of the cops got very serious and asked her what she saw. She explained she saw 4 hispanic teens tagging the wall in our alley and the police gave her his card with his personal cell phone number on the back and told her to call him directly if she sees them tagging anywhere around here again or sees them doing anything sketchy.
He told her to be careful because he thinks it was the same hispanic teens that beat up a little 12 year old boy just down the street in what he thinks was a gang initiation and also stabbed a man just down the street from where we live. And this cop really wants to catch them. We finally get rid of drug dealer and now we have this kind of thing going on in the neighborhood? C'mon! Good Grief.
---
On the 4th of July there were a lot of illegal fireworks popping off in my neighborhood. I figured there was going to be at least one fire somewhere around here so I kept looking out the window and sure enough, the dumpster in the alley across the street caught fire. This is the dumpster on fire.
When I saw the smoke and fire truck, I told my daughter and she went right over there to see what was on fire and took a few pictures for me. This is the front of the fire truck that showed up.
This is the middle of the fire truck. it's a little blurry because of the smoke and the bright lights from the truck. They put the fire out pretty fast.
----
The high this week was 114F/45C
The low this week was 78F/25C
So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.
Saturday, July 08, 2023
Favorite Song of the Week
Escape The Fate - Lightning Strike
I just heard this song for the first time this week and I loved it. I hope you enjoy this one too.
Friday, July 07, 2023
Thursday, July 06, 2023
When Was The Last Time You Saw A Floppy Disc?
I was moving things around in my bedroom closet and came across this piece of ancient technology from 1995.
It's a Canon Star Writer Word Processor. Essentially it's an electric typewriter that prints out letters and stores your work onto a floppy disc.
The little display flips up so you can see what you're typing.
And as the title of this post implies, here are the floppy discs. I have about a dozen of them because I had this for a few years before I ever got a computer.
So many floppy discs with all kinds of stuff stored on them. The book I wrote is on one of them and no it's not published and probably never will be because it's awful. lol
And of course I needed a locking box to store all of my super secret floppy discs. *giggle/snort*
Oh and it still works. I turned it on and inserted a floppy disc and it came right on. I've stored it in its original box so it would stay in good shape so I can still use it if I want.
I liked this because I was able to type out a letter to a friend or family and hit print and it would print it out. And I used to be able to read this tiny print on the display with no problem. But my old lady eyes are having none of that now. Had to put on the reading glasses to read anything on the display now. Ah, to be young again.
This is where the ribbon for the printer would go but they don't make this ribbon any long so no printing for me. I might have sold this thing years ago but then how would I read what's on my floppy discs? lol Plus I can't bare to part with it. I spent so many hours pounding away on this thing after buying it. I paid $150 for this back in 1994. And I thought I was the epitome of sophistication. *Oh look at me, I have a typewriter that plugs into the wall!* eye/roll.
I still have the user manual too just in case my old lady brain forgets how to work this ancient artifact. Did you ever have something like this back before we all had computers and smart phones?
Wednesday, July 05, 2023
Book Review: Steele by Margo Bond Collins
Book Description
Mila Wright spent the last year planning her dream wedding in Yellowstone National Park. But that dream becomes a nightmare when those plans fall apart in the worst way possible. Distraught, she runs, not considering the dangers that might await her if she strays from the marked roadways in the park.
When Steele Jacobs goes out for a run in his wolf form and hears a human woman crying, he knows the last thing he should do is get involved. But something about the sound draws him to her—and when he sees Mila Wright, he knows without a doubt that she is his fated mate.
But he’s expected to choose a mate who will strengthen the Moonstone Pack, not a human weakling who brings nothing to the match. Can Mila even accept his werewolf nature? And if they bond together, can the two of them protect the pack against its new enemies?
My Review
Mila finds out her fiancé is having an affair with her supposed best friend. So she leaves for a walk but gets lost and attacked by a bear before Steele can come to her rescue in his wolf form. When Steele does get to her and runs the bear off, Mila is losing blood and is in and out of consciousness so he brings her to the pack doctor and has him stitch her up. Steele feels something for this human right away but he's a wolf shifter and doesn't know if his pack would accept a human as his mate since he's the alpha but the pull towards her is very strong.
While these two are getting to know each other better, there's another wolf shifter pack that's after Steele's territory and his pack and they find themselves in a lot of danger because of the other alpha.
Now this had so much promise and I went into this thinking I was going to love this book but unfortunately I was wrong. First, I don't like cheating in a romance book. I was just talking about tropes I don't like on another blog last week and cheating was one of them.
Another thing I disliked was how many times Mila was referred to as fat. I really hated that and it detracted from the story for me. Why is it that full figured heroines are so often looked down on in books?
Another thing was Mila had just been attacked so bad by a bear that she needed stitches but she seemed to be just fine the next day and day after. She was human so there was no speedy healing going on it was all slow, painful, human healing so why wasn't she in more pain the next day? It made no sense.
The rival pack treated their females badly and even put a pregnant female in danger and threatened her life and the life of her unborn child. I disliked that a lot.
I felt that all the abuse, cheating and putting down the heroine because of her weight really detracted from a sweet romance in this story.
I give this book 1 out of 5 stars.
Disclosure: I was given an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tuesday, July 04, 2023
Everyone Has A Story, Here's One Of Mine
I've been thinking of writing an autobiography or memoir but it just never comes together for me but I figured if I write one story at a time and post it on my blog maybe once a month, I can do that. Maybe one day I'll pull all the stories together and put them in a book but for now I'll just share some stories with you about my childhood. Some of the stories will be happy, some sad and some horrific because that was my childhood. But they will all be real, things that actually happened. If it seems like something that people enjoy reading maybe I'll keep it going. These stories will not be in any kind of order, I'll just write them as they come to me.
Trigger Warning: The following story contains a true story of gun violence and suicide. If this is something that will bother you, please do not read this.
How My Mom Almost Killed Me
If you read last month's story you know that Larry committed suicide with my mom's gun when I was 13 years old. Once we were finished at the police station and headed back home, my brother and I were told to stay downstairs. I didn't realize that they were upstairs cleaning the blood and brain matter from the floor and walls. My mom helped my grandpa clean everything up but he didn't know that while cleaning it all up, my mom put some brain matter and blood in a shop rag and sealed it in a ziplock bag and hid it away. I guess in her grief she was trying to keep a piece of him...literally.
A few months later my grandpa died from the lung cancer that had spread throughout his body. A few months after Larry died my mom went to the police station and was able to get the gun back. On the one year anniversary of Larry's death my mom got drunk and showed my brother and I what she had in the shop rag. I was 14 years old now and this shocked me. My mom's bedroom was right next to mine. That day she got drunk, locked herself in her room for a few hours and I was in my room in my bed reading. I heard the unmistakable sound of a gunshot and another sound near my head and realized that my mom had fired the gun from her room. I looked behind me into the wall and saw a hole just a couple of inches above where my head had been. I knocked on my mom's door and she answered but wouldn't open the door and denied she fired the gun.
I called my grandma and told her what happened. She came right over and when she saw the bullet hole against the wall my bed was on and I told her the bullet almost hit me in the head, she called the police because she wanted them to take the gun away from my mom which they did. They didn't arrest her or anything but she never got the gun back. When my brother and I told our grandma about the shop rag and what was in it, my mom was mad but wouldn't give it to her mother. My mom kept it for years.
Monday, July 03, 2023
Sunday, July 02, 2023
Apartment Life #273
This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that have gone on in and around my apartment complex and in my neighborhood in the past 25 years that I've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 25 years here in a weekly blog post.
I heard yelling and screaming coming from across the street in the same courtyard as before when the two guys have been fighting darn near each week for a few weeks. So I snapped a picture of the ambulance as it arrived while I was outside.
When I got back inside, I snapped a picture from my bedroom window.
Then I saw the same man from the last few weeks being brought out on a stretcher again after fighting with the same guy from the last few times I said this happened. I don't know if it's domestic, friends, roommates, family. I just know they fight a lot.
But this time the police showed up and I was able to get a picture of the police car as it was driving by and going into the alley in the back of that apartment complex across the street. I wanted to get the ambulance in the same picture so you'd see they were here at the same time. I don't know what happened once the police were in the alley though.
The high this week was 110F/43C
The low this week was 70F/21C
So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.
Saturday, July 01, 2023
Favorite Song of the Week
ANNISOKAY - Human
I just heard this song for the first time while scrolling through Youtube but I liked it so I added it to my playlist. Am I the only one that spends way too much time scrolling through music on Youtube? I hope you enjoy it.
Friday, June 30, 2023
Freebie Friday!
Welcome to another weekly Freebie Friday post, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a "Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.
A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.
You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.
This week I received:
Isle of Paradise self tanning drops.
You just add a few drops to your moisturizer and use the moisturizer as usual and it's supposed to self tan without the streaks or staining of cloths.
I don't use a lot of self tanners but have used those lotions that turn your skin a little darker color. I haven't used this yet but I plan to just to see if it works well.
Did you receive any freebies this week?
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Favorite Picture of the Week
This week started out with pretty much clear skies and just a few bright white clouds. I like walking down this path next to the sound wall on the right because there's hardly any people around and it's quiet. Not a whole lot to see except for rocks though.
The next day though we started getting a few darker clouds. No rain but it was a bit cooler.
It stayed cloudy for a few days which was nice as it got between me and the sun so it wasn't beating down on my head.
The cloud cover was nice this week as it kept things a bit overcast and not as hot.
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Product Review: Walmart beauty Box
The Walmart Beauty box is a subscription box that comes out 4 times a year. You sign up for it and it comes automatically every 3 months. They did increase the price of the box a little bit. So instead of $5 it's just a couple of dollars more. These boxes are free and you just pay for tax for shipping, mine came to $7.48.
What was in the box?
No7 Face Serum
Vitamasques Cherry Lip Mask
Scunci Hairbands
Salon Perfect Mani To Go press on nails
I liked all of the items except for the lip mask. I don't think these kinds of cloth masks do much of anything and they are always soaked with liquid which just drips everywhere. They're messy, awkward and uncomfortable to wear. Everything else I will use though. For the price, it's not a bad deal.
Did you get this months box?
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Book Review: Wingman by Cara Bristol
Book Description
He has wings, but this alien is no angel…
Traumatized by the death of his family and the destruction of his planet, Wingman lands on Earth in search of a haven and the solitude to nurse his emotional wounds. When a chance decision foils a kidnapping, he’s drawn into the life of a young widow and her daughter. He’s shocked to discover the human woman is his genmate, the one he’s genetically bonded to.
To escape a stalker, Delia and her imaginative, impressionable daughter flee to a small town where nobody can find them. She’s concerned, but not overly so, when her daughter says she invited an angel to her birthday party.
Until the winged alien actually shows up and all heck breaks loose. After a rocky start, Delia begins to see Wingman for who he really is—a wounded hero, one of the most protective, sexiest men she’s ever met. As passion deepens their bond, past dangers resurface to threaten Delia and her child. Will Wingman be able to confront his demons to make the sacrifice necessary to protect them?
Wingman is the suspenseful, emotional second book of the Alien Castaways alien romance series.
My Review
Delia and her daughter flee to a small town to get away from a stalker but they aren't as safe as she thinks she might be. When Wingman stops a guy from taking Delia's daughter, the little girl invites him to her birthday party. She thinks he must be an angel since he has wings but he's not an angel, just an alien. So when he actually shows up at the little girls party, Delia is scared and surprised to find a strange man talking to her daughter and she asks him to leave. But when she finds out that Wingman stopped her daughter from probably being taken, she apologizes and realizes he might not be a bad guy.
Once they start hanging out and getting to know one another better, Wingman tells her who and what he really is. He shows her his wings and even fly's her around when needed. Wingman is surprised to find out that Delia is his genmate and will do anything to keep her safe when danger starts stalking her again.
Oh, this was a good one. I adored Wingman and Delia was exactly what he needed to start to heal from the tragedy that happened on his planet. I really liked the back story and their romance. I will definitely be reading more of this series.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Monday, June 26, 2023
Sunday, June 25, 2023
Apartment Life #272
This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that go on in and around my apartment complex in the past 25 years that we've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 25 years here in a weekly blog post.
This week the police did show up once for a fight across the street. At least it wasn't for my complex this time. I think it was the same people that I saw fighting a few weeks ago but I'm not sure.
So here's a bit of a weird mystery. I was walking the dog and spotted this rolled carpet in the middle of the street by this van. It looked brand new and there was quite a bit of it. I figured that maybe the guys in this van were installing carpet but the carpet stayed in the street for a while and the van left and it was still there. Later on the carpet was gone so someone got it.
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I haven't been seeing as many of the drug addicts around here since drug dealer left. I actually think he took some of them with him to his new neighborhood. There are still a few around here though but I hardly see them.
---
Things were quiet this past week with drug dealer evicted but now we're seeing more gang activity. One night my daughter saw some guys tagging the alley wall and the next morning I saw 4 guys tagging the alley wall. Metro patrols around here a lot but sh*t still happens. All the tagging sure keeps the maintenance guys around here busy painting over it though.
The high this week was 96F/35C
The low this week was 66F/18C
So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Favorite Song of the Week
Sevendust - Everything
I've been listening to this band for years. They have some really good songs. I hope you enjoy.
Friday, June 23, 2023
Freebie Friday!
Welcome to another weekly Freebie Friday post, where I tell you what free samples and full sized products I received in the mail and how you can get them too. Someone asked me why I do a "Freebie Friday" each week, so I'll tell you.
A while back I listed all the free samples and wins that I had received that previous year and so many people didn't believe that I could have gotten so many free things. So I decided to prove it by taking a picture every week and sharing the sites that I found the links to the freebies at. So now you too can get great free samples coming to your mailbox each week.
You can find links to great samples at Hey It's Free and Freebie Shark.
This week I received:
I cashed out my points on e-Rewards for a $25 Macy's gift card.
I received a box of Indian Food pouches from SheSpeaks.
I always like being able to cashout from the survey places for a giftcard.
In the Tasty Bite box from SheSpeaks there was a pouch of Basmati rice, a pouch of Chickpea Tikki Masala, and a pouch of Madras Lentils.
I liked the lentils and rice but the chickpea tikki masala had a spice to it that didn't smell or taste good. I mixed it with the rice and it was better than eating it alone. My grandson liked it but my daughter did not.
Did you receive any freebies this week?
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Book Review: He's My Cowboy by Diana Palmer, Rebecca Zanetti and Delores Fossen
Book Description
Three celebrated New York Times bestselling authors combine their talents to celebrate Americana, the appeal of the iconic cowboy hero tinged with a hint of danger and romantic suspense. Filled with sizzling tension and well-drawn characters, this anthology is sure to resonate with readers looking to saddle up and find love!
Strong and steady, tough and tender—no wonder cowboys are so irresistible, especially in this trio of novellas from three bestselling authors . . .
THE HAWK’S SHADOW * Diana Palmer
Gil needs to prove himself in his new role as sheriff’s investigator. That means working alongside a hotshot expert from the state crime lab who’s come to Colorado to help untangle a long-ago mystery. But if they stop butting heads, they might discover a surprising connection . . .
RESCUE: RANCHER STYLE * Rebecca Zanetti
Leaving the Marines and returning to Redemption as heir to the family ranch—and guardian to three wayward teenagers—Greg is in way over his head. But he’s learned some deadly lessons since leaving his first love behind. And when she’s in danger, nothing will stop him from saving her.
A COWBOY KIND OF ROMANCE * Delores Fossen
After eight years in the Air Force, Brenna’s hanging up her uniform and returning home to Loveland, Texas. News of her parents’ separation has shaken her faith in love, even if the whole town is eager to matchmake between Brenna and her high-school flame. But never underestimate a cowboy’s powers of persuasion . . .
My Review
Hawk's Shadow by Diana Palmer
Gil has a new job and is trying to prove he can do the job but when they find a buried body, they have to call in an expert to help them solve the mystery. The problem is Gil and Nemara don't get along right from the start. The problem is they both have some baggage that kept them from being as friendly as they should have been in the beginning. But as the mystery unfolds as to whom the body belongs to, they find they have things in common and are a lot more likable than the other one thought they were. Of course there has to be a small misunderstanding what causes some drama between then before they finally talk and clear things up. It was a fun story.
RESCUE: RANCHER STYLE by Rebecca Zanetti
Greg now has custody of his three nephews and niece after a bit of a custody battle. But the judge only granted him custody after he heard that Greg was getting married to Tara, his first love. If they don't get married and fake their way through for a few months, Greg will lose custody of the kids and part of his ranch and Tara can't let that happen so she agrees to this fake marriage, for now. I love a second chance romance and that's what we get here. These two care about each other even though they don't think they other still has feelings. But sometimes faking your way in a relationship and being in close proximity to each other can rekindle the feelings. Dealing with three teenagers is another thing all together and he really needed Tara's help in that department.
A COWBOY KIND OF ROMANCE by Delores Fossen
Brenna and Theo broke up a long time ago but those feelings never really went away. So when Brenna comes home to a whole lot of new news including the fact that her parents are getting divorced, Theo isn't the first person she's wanting to be seeing but Her mom and his mom seem to want to throw them together every chance they get. Not to mention that Brenna's sister keeps throwing them together for one reason or another. There's so much match making going on from both sides of the family. But it was obvious that they still had feelings for each other even if it took them a little while to admit it to themselves and start to let those feelings show once again. This was such a sweet second chance romance.
I really liked these novellas but Hawk's Shadow wasn't as good as they other two for me and I read this because I love Diana Palmer most of the time. It was still good but it was slow to start.
I give this collection 4 out of 5 stars.
Disclosure: I was given an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Book Review: Ancient Guardian by Katie Reus
Book Description
He lost everyone he ever loved before…
Alpha dragon shifter Orion woke from his millennia-long hibernation into a different world—and found a band of humans struggling to survive. He’s been living among them, secretly keeping the predators away, but he’s hidden his true identity from everyone. Until an enemy threatens everything he’s come to love, including the human female he’s obsessed with. The female he can never have but will sacrifice everything for.
Now he has to step up and be the Alpha they all need…
Violet fell hard and fast for the stranger who joined their small farming community after The Fall. He lives with them, works alongside them, but there’s something different about him that she can’t quite put her finger on. When a group of visiting supernaturals upends everything in her community, she discovers he’s been hiding a huge secret. But that’s the least of their issues. If they don’t claim their territory and eliminate the growing threat outside their borders, there won’t be anything left to fight for.
Author note: Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone, complete with HEA and no cliffhanger.
My Review
After The Fall when supernaturals pretty much went crazy and destroyed almost everything, humans, shifters and some vampires are now trying to live together in peace and rebuild what was lost. But each city is now run by an alpha who is in charge of the people and supernaturals in their city, keeping everyone in line.
In the small farming community Violet and Orion have been living among the others who live there but they don't have a lot of communication with other communities. Orion has been keeping a secret from the others in his community, he's a dragon shifter and he's been scared to tell anyone that because of what the other dragons shifters did during The Fall. But he was hibernating when all of that took place so he had nothing to do with it.
Orion has been keeping another secret as well, he's been secretly getting rid of any vampires that have come looking to cause havoc in the community he now lives in. He feels something for Violet but doesn't think he can ever be with her because of who and what he is but she's not letting him get away that easily.
So when some supernaturals from a neighboring city come to ask for them to join them and pick an alpha for their own community so they stay safe from another supernatural trying to take over, Violet and Orion have to work together for the sake of their community and figure out if they should join forces with this new group. And all through that they are fighting their attraction for each other until they can't any longer. Their romance was so much fun to watch unfold.
I've been reading this series since the beginning and have loved all the books so far and this was another great addition. I liked that there are so many new characters to get to know and hopefully get their own books now.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Disclosure: I was given an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Book Review: Anax by Kate Stevens
Book Description
Torn between an alien prince and his brother? That sounds just like Lexi’s luck.
Lexi Seymour thinks she’s seen it all when she finds herself in an arranged marriage. And she hasn’t even met the groom yet...
When she first sets eyes on him at the engagement ball, only one thought pops into her mind: Is it even legal to marry a teenage alien?
And then, another one: Why does his brother seem like a way better option?
Sure, she wants to help Earth keep the peace, but what about her peace of mind?
That arrogant, blue-scaled alien prince and his wicked grin sure are messing with it…
Crown Prince Anax Yio'hyra has his choice of women. His brother’s fiancĂ©e is not one of them.
Too bad his attraction to Lexi is too strong to resist.
He has no clue how this happened, but convincing her that she's his fated mate seems harder and more urgent than ending an impending intergalactic war.
How could he surrender without a fight?
Anax is the first book in the Bride to an Alien Prince series. This full-length story has on-the-page heat, a guaranteed happily-ever-after, and no cheating. While each book has a standalone romance, the series includes an overarching action plot and should be read in order for maximum enjoyment.
My Review
Lexi is to be married off to an alien prince in order to form an alliance with an alien race, and she's ready to do so until she finds out her betrothed is a teenager and she won't be marrying him until he's older. Until then she'll learn their customs and be treated like the alien princess she will be. But her betrothed brother, Anax makes her feel alive and she's more than a little attracted to him. Anax flirts with her and she likes it but his step mother warns her that he's a womanizer and will leave her after he gets what he wants. So now Lexi is torn, should she have a little fun with Anax and risk angering the King and Queen or ignore Anax and marry the other prince when it's time.
But it turns out that the King has big plans and when Lexi gets in the way of those plans, she is kidnapped and held on another planet until she can be "taught" to do what she's told and do what the King wants. But when Anax finds out what's going on, he'll stop at nothing to make sure the woman he loves is safe and his once and for all.
I had such a good time with this book. Not only did it have the romance and hunky aliens but it also had action, intrigue and danger. What more could you want?
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Monday, June 19, 2023
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Apartment Life #371
This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that go on in and around my apartment complex in the past 25 years that we've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 25 years here in a weekly blog post.
Unbelievably it's been all quiet this week. Nothing to report.
The high this week was 101F/38C
The low this week was 73F/22C
So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Favorite Song of the Week
Sleep Token - Alkaline
I first heard this band on Tiktok this week and really like his voice. So I looked into some of his other songs and found this one which has a creepy video to it but the song is really good. I hope you enjoy.
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