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Usually two times a month my two sisters and I have breakfast. Adds up to a total of four hours a month. I go to the east side, so there is about 1.5 hours travel time in that total. I was gone 1.5 hours today, and came home to a surprise.
Ok, you say, goodie for you. So what does this have to do with the price of rice in China?
Well, this, I got back and on the porch, there is a box under two carpet runners that were hanging on the side of the porch airing out.
And in that box there are three ferrets. Two silvers and a chocolate.
Now to whom ever did this, what were you thinking????? I have no idea if there is a fourth ferret or not, and if there was and it escaped, well, there are some really nasty feral cats in our neighborhood, along with a couple of people friendly but hate other animal dogs that escape their yards.
Did you even bother to think that maybe, just on the remote possibility that I may have been out of town???? Or in the hospital???? What would have happened if I were dead???? You left them to whatever happens to them. THEY COULD HAVE DIED.
Did you think of that???? You can't wait for an opening in the shelter?? Did you think of maybe emailing and explaining the problem or situation? That maybe there could have been a way for us to solve the problem????
Did you call?? Everyone I speak to is told the same thing, we are at capacity. Give us some time to find homes, call a couple of times a week, if it is an emergency, we can find a solution somehow, but I need to know and time to work it out.
When someone is coming to surrender, I tell them to call and make sure nothing has happened, you know those little things in life, like emergencies, or the simple idea of forgetfulness?? But I know I didn't talk to you.
The answering machine tells you to fill out the surrender form on the website, the voice mail tells you to call back, because it is not the most reliable way to leave a message.
What were you thinking?
I know, you have read this before, but come on, it is free!!
Just click this link, http://www.squidoo.com/FerretsUnlimited/hq and create a Squidoo Lens on any subject your little heart desires!! Ferrets, music, art, anything as long as it isn't adult content (come on now remember we try to keep this G rated, or at least GP).
It is really easy to do (hey if I can do it, the QUEEN of it it can be screwed up it will screw up on me) anyone can.
The more lenses, the better, and if you really make a cool lens, it can become lens of the day and 23,000 people will get to see it!!
Hey someone made one on baby poop, and it was lens of the day, so why not yours?
Let's make this the most popular Squidoo Lens Headquarters, I mean, wouldn't it be cool to see like 25000 lenses connected to our headquarters?
So come on all of you Artists, Crafters, Musicians, Moms, Dads, Sisters, Brothers, MARINES (Semper Fi and good job from USMC MOM). Show off your talents, sell your stuff, let the world know what you think.
And help the shelter all at the same time!!! Now this is a REAL WIN WIN!!
Just use the Good Search to do web searches, don't forget to put Ferrets Unlimited as your charity.
They donate for every search done, so while you are looking for stuff on the net, you can be helping our cause!!
So just click away and go searching for the elusive answer to the burning question of life.....WHY?
http://www.goodsearch.com/
Big numbers aren't they? Don't know about you but those kind of numbers make me want to pass out.
The first one, the nine thousand four hundred fifty dollars and fifty six cents (spelling it out doesn't make it seem any more realistic) is the amount of money that we spent at the vet's office from January through June.
That doesn't include the distemper shots that we do ourselves, the Lupron Depot, the over the counter stuff like Pepcid and ammonium AD that we use for the ill ferrets, that doesn't include the costs of the ADV tests, there are lots of things that doesn't cover.
That amount represents check ups, dental work and surgeries, and we are no where near close to being done with the surgeries, we have 9 more adrenals, three spleens, and 10 that need a serious teeth cleaning, that along with a few mast cells tumors that need removed.
We will double that by the end of the year, and donations are WAY down. So if you can spare a dollar it would help.
Better yet, if you have a couple of good fundraising ideas and can help get them organized, we would be most grateful.
The second amount, the make you pass out on the floor, toss your cookies amount, represents the amount the building project is over budget. (I think I mentioned that before, but the memory fades, and I really don't want to rewrite this so please bear with me.)
Right now, whether it is $1000 or $40000 it may as well be $100,000,000,000,000,000.00
Why do you ask? Fund raising isn't working, begging and pleading doesn't work.
I have even written a few letters to news programs and papers begging them to do a story on the little shelter with 107 residents.
I judged Skunkfest (Skunk show that Skunk Haven puts on) and channel 19 and channel 3 were there, I walked up to the reporter after they finished taping, handed them a card and said, please, we need help, we are over 100 shelter residents.
So far, haven't heard anything.
Now I am at the favorite thing I always seem to try to get across. Please donate, please volunteer, it doesn't matter who you help, this shelter, or another, animal or human, what matters is that you got involved, you have become a part of changing the world for the better.
You can't make huge sweeping changes, but you can make small little changes that end up adding up to great big huge changes.
A person filled out a building survey, and in the comment the below statement is posted, and I thought I would respond to it.
"If something happens no one is there. Bad idea. Especially for 10 hours!!! At least they are in the same house. Why are you doing the survey ,you will be doing whatever YOU want to do...You don't care what ppl think...And are very rude about telling them about it!!Thus many donations aren't given,so the ferrets miss out cuz of your attitude,ppl are tired of putting up with it.."
You are correct if I was working like I used to, 10 to 12 hours a day, no one would be at the house, and if there is a separate shelter building I would be going home for that 10 hours. There are times I am not here because of things that need done.
Perhaps the question was put the wrong way. Maybe it should have read: Assuming the shelter operator does not work outside the shelter, if the shelter operator goes home for 10 hours, would you feel it is any different than if the shelter remains in a home, and the shelter operator leaves the home based shelter for 10 hours to go to work? Even that really doesn't ask the question correctly.
Many are assuming I am still working, well I am if you count the shelter. I have tried to get a "jobby job" (one that has a pay check) but there are complications so to say because of the cancer.
First, you ask, why a small company? Because it is easier to convince them that if I have sick ferrets in the shelter that need nursing to allow them to come to work with me.
So, by leaving the shelter, I would just be going home.
If something happens here while I am gone to the vet or the grocery store or those wonderful doctors appointments, the consequences would be very grim.
If a fire happens in this house (remember 102 years old) and no one was here, I doubt that all of the ferrets, two cats and dog would survive depending on where and the severity of the fire. What makes matters even worse now is the fact that the city CLOSED the fire station that is only .75 miles away from here. They feel that the ladder truck is better utilized on the east side.
There is no sprinkler system in the house, and there is no alarm, well, as long as you don't count Nipper.
In the building, there will be a sprinkler system, and security system.
We cannot put a sprinkler system in the house. And this is a residential area. By the good grace of the city this shelter operates in a residential district, in a home. If we get new neighbors that decide they don't like the shelter, all they have to do is complain, and it can be closed down.
I do care what people think, and ask because I need to have input. Some people have brought up some very good questions, and without them asking the questions, no one would know the answers.
The ferrets have been and always will be first here.
This is the first time I have heard I have been rude. I have tried to stay very factual, and answer any and all questions asked, even offered proof if someone so requests it.
I try not to be over enthusiastic, or allow my frustration with the number of surrenders come across. I feel each person have a valuable opinion, and has a right to voice it. I also believe in answering questions when asked.
If I have offended you, I apologize. And since I have no way of knowing who you are, I hope that this will be an acceptable form of apology.
Ok, enough on the comments. This was not intended to start something.
I try to be truthful, yeah, I can be tact less, but I don't color the truth, or sugar coat, to some that may very well be rude.
I am no saint, never will be. Never claimed to be either (too much pressure on saints).
PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO THEIR OPINIONS, and if that is this person's opinion, it is their right to express it also. But, if I had inevitably said or done something that is rude, then an apology is called for. Simple as that.
And April, after the amount of money you had spent on veterinary care for your ferrets, I knew that really all you needed was a chance to regroup. That was why I offered the solution I did, it gave you room to step back, take a breath and reorganize, but that also gave me the idea, that people need to realize that ferret math even though the heart has the best of intentions, can back fire.
Enough now, and remember that it doesn't matter what shelter you donate to, or what shelter you volunteer at, what DOES matter is the fact you are INVOLVED.
Shelters cannot go on with out volunteers and donations. Changes can't happen with out volunteers and donations.
So, help make changes in the world. VOLUNTEER!!
Well, things are running a bit behind with the building. Any thing worth having is worth waiting for, right?
We ran into some "issues" with some of the requirements Parma has when it comes to new construction. You can't blame them, most cities don't want an eyesore put up to replace an eyesore.
The "issues" put the whole project over budget by A WHOLE LOT!! So, we are taking a step back, working on a time line, getting some fundraising together (which hasn't been bringing in much but every penny helps) seeing what can be cut where, and figuring out what we can do and what a licensed builder/contractor has to do. (Yep, you are right, we kind of put the cart before the horse.)
We anticipate a ground breaking in Spring, 2007, which allows for some working on the budget and other necessary things. Like donations, adoptions, and the such.
I think the whole idea put rose colored glasses on a couple of us, and we thought, yeah this can be done by fall. We learned the hard way, not everything goes smoothly or according to plan.
So it will happen, just not as fast as I hoped, but it will happen.
First, thank you to those who have filled out the survey, there have been a couple of concerns raised, so I think I will address them first.
What about the ill ferrets? Will they be left alone over night? No. It would be no different than when I worked 65 hours outside of the home. The ill ferrets went to work with me and home. The kids who had surgery went to work with me and home. They actually will receive *MORE* hands on attention. A shelter is a shelter whether it is in a home or in a building. What is the difference? A public building would allow for standard operating hours. A shelter in a home is strictly by appointment, at least here it is. A public building would allow for privacy for the shelter operator/s. A spot of sanity. You need really deep pockets and a dedicated hard core volunteer staff to make it work. You need deep pockets, or must be willing to give up everything that you possibly can to make a shelter work in a home. You have to make every penny you get stretch till it is so thin you can see through it. You need a hard core volunteer staff whether it is in the home or a public building. Volunteers can make or break any shelter. Many people do not volunteer at home based shelters for two major reasons, the first and foremost, they do no feel comfortable going into a home shelter, they feel they are invading. The second most popular reason is the hours. There are several opportunities for a free standing shelter to get volunteers, private schools require (or some do) volunteer time, there are programs for seniors, there are second chance programs. Why do you want to shake the world up and change the way things are? Things need to change. Ferret shelters have long been, pardon the expression, "the red headed step child". What I mean by that, people do not think that they are necessary, ferrets? In shelters? There aren't that many ferrets out there. For some communities a home based shelter works, and they get the local support. For some larger areas, like here. A home based shelter doesn't work. This place has grown far larger than I ever had imagined it would. A four bedroom colonial, with ONE bathroom. Two bedrooms are shelter rooms, one is storage, the fourth is the humans and surgery recoveries. One small bathroom for you to wash and scrub litter boxes, water bottles and bowls. The dining room is now a quarantine area, and the "sitting" room is the "office/work area". Fecals are done in the kitchen, and the area is bleached after each one. Animal control officers that bring ferrets here are amazed that the shelter is run out of a home and doing what we are doing. Grant writing foundations who come out for visits are amazed, but we are told "You need to be in a building, not a private home, the potential for what you can do is amazing, ." I don't think it is feasible for upkeep or any of that and there is staffing issues. Every volunteer organization has staffing issues, whether in a home or public building. Upkeep in a building or a home is all the same. It breaks you fix it. Period. utilities in a newly built building would be much more economical than in a 102 year old house. All of the items in the building will be the newer more efficient (heater/ac unit etc.), sprinkler systems in case of fire (remember if a fire happens here and no one is around....) if a fire happens at the shelter and no one is around, the sprinkler system goes off, the alarm calls the fire department and the shelter operator. The sprinkler system gives them a better chance at survival. Lighting is an issue I have thought about a lot. With lots of glass block and plexi glass windows looking into the room from others and hallways, it allows for a more natural light source and schedule. Healthier for them, use less electricity for lighting. This building will allow for a boarders area, and a retail gift shop. Not just ferret items either. Since you need support from more than just ferret people, you offer items to more than just ferret people. I already know four artists that would love to have an are exhibit in a shelter. How is that for getting new people through the door? Art openings bring in people and money. This really isn't a question, but a statement, and this person has good points. I'm not sure if a "free-standing" shelter is workable or even a good idea. I have no issue with your trying to make one work and would PROBABLY volunteer and donate to support one if it were in my area. My issue is that I have to support myself and the ferrets I take in. I have issues with those who are professional "do-gooders" constantly begging for financial support from those of us who work at real jobs in order to support our families (human as well as furfaced) and arrogantly assuming that they know better than we how to care for animals as well as who is "qualified" to adopt ferrets. A "free-standing" shelter would almost have to be a "full-time" job requiring a "professional" caretaker/operator leading to the above mentioned situation - at least the financial begging part. I love ferrets and take unwanted/unadoptable ones into my home because I have been blessed with the resources and choose to do so out of love for the animals. I find homes for adoptable ones without charge and resent those who look down on me because I'm not a "real" shelter. I do it because it's the right thing to do for the animals First, shame on anyone who would look down on your for helping. I applaud your willingness to do this, a rescue or a shelter isn't a rescue or shelter because of numbers, adoption fees, or any of that. A shelter is a shelter or a rescue because of the love of the animal, you are a shelter in my eyes. One worthy of respect and gratitude. And you have both from me. A home based shelter when it grows becomes a full time job, whether you want it to or not. The begging for donations is the same whether it is in a home base or public building. Part of what is needed is a good base of donors, to that you supplement with grants, sales, fundraiser. Without donations no shelter would survive normally. But I don't think people need to get bombed with begging requests. I hope that makes sense. There have been a couple asking why we don't just sell our house and buy a bigger house allotting a certain are for the shelter, and for the humans. First, this is a century home, it isn't in bad shape, but in order to sell it, there are several things that would have to be done just to get enough money to pay off the mortgage. The basement floods when it rains, the roof will need replaced in the next three years or so. There are a few places in the ceiling that need fixed due to shelter Mom bleach litter boxes and the tub over flowing. The world's ugliest bathroom would need redone, the kitchen would need cabinets and the floor replaced, the rest of the house would either need carpeted or the hardwood floors refinished. Even if we could find a way to get all that done, where would all the ferrets go while the house was on the market? Currently there are 105 here, that in itself is a rather large road block. We got this house because of the shelter thinking that it would be possible to designate shelter area and human, private and public. It isn't, at least not in a one family home. Most people are assuming that the shelter would be miles and miles away, the maximum distance we have looked for property is 3 miles away. Every one keeps worrying about what happens if there is a fire? I have a better one for you, if the shelter stays as it is, what happens if I drop dead? All I keep hearing is that I am on borrowed time. Fine, if the cancer comes back it comes back, but that is something I have been thinking about. If this shelter is up and operating in a building on its own, and we get grants coming in on a regular basis, there is a better chance that a shelter continues if I die. This area needs a shelter, the ferrets need a place to go for help, or to wait for a forever home. It doesn't need to go on for any other reason than the fact it is needed. I am thinking LONG term for the ferrets here today, and hopefully years to come. NO this isn't a vain attempt at immortality. When I go, there will be no mention of me anywhere in the shelter. The baton would pass from one operator to another, and the board members. Dead is dead and done is done, when I am dead I will be done and my name will be gone period. I don't mean this to sound cruel or mean or anything like that. I do worry that it seems no one wants to shelter in the area, and when shelters do open, so many of them give up from the stress of it in the home. If this building works, then there can be a shelter, and people can get involved and not burn out in a couple of months or years. Facts are someday I will die, maybe 10 years down the road, but it will happen. When ever that happens, I don't want to abandon the ferrets in the shelter and burden other shelters. If this place closes, what happens to the ferrets in the area that need shelter? One last thing in this post, some one mentioned fosters. With fosters you run into the same problem in the hours of operations that you run into with home based shelters. We do utilize fosters with some of our older kids. Hope this made sense, and if I offended anyone, that was not the intent.
Purchased some button supplies so we could make buttons for a show that was in August.
Auction ended: July 24
Payment sent: $14.96 sent on July 25. (Paypal was only able to refund $1.16 of the payment sent with their claim process)
Augst 12 this is a copy of the second email sent via eBay, anyone who wants to get a forwared copy can just email me. HTML stuff taken out since is doesn't seem to post right.
Subject:
Message from eBay Member Regarding Item #260012096751
Received:
Aug-12-06
From:
ferrets_unlimited_ferret_shelter
Expires:
Sep-11-06
To:
kevinzdealz
Question about Item
eBay sent this message on behalf of an eBay member through My Messages. Responses sent using email will go to the eBay member directly and will include your email address.
Question from ferrets_unlimited_ferret_shelter
ferrets_unlimited_ferret_shelter( 161)
Positive feedback:
100%
Member since:
Jan-24-02
Location:
OH, United States
Registered on:
www.ebay.com
Item: 100 BADGE-A-MINIT 2 1/4 PINBACK BUTTON PARTS!!! (260012096751)
This message was sent after the listing closed.
ferrets_unlimited_ferret_shelter is the winner.
Hi I emailed before and didn't get an answer. We really could use the parts for the fund raiser in a week. If you have a problem, just let us know what is going on or refund the money. No problem. We just want to know what is happening. It was paid for 7/25 with paypal. thank you.
This came on Aug 21.
Response from kevinzdealz
kevinzdealz( 5)
Positive feedback:
100%
Member since:
May-20-06
Location:
NC, United States
Registered on:
www.ebay.com
Item: 100 BADGE-A-MINIT 2 1/4 PINBACK BUTTON PARTS!!! (260012096751)
This message was sent after the listing closed.
kevinzdealz is the seller.
HI, I SENT A MESSAGE EARLIER FROM MY SISTERS COMPUTER CAUSE MINE WAS NOT WORKING, IT SHOULD HAVE COME FROM BABYSTACE2006 I AM CHECKING WITH MY SUPPLIER ON THE STATUS OF YOUR ORDER, THANKS AND SORRY
this is what he sent after that on aug. 24
Question from kevinzdealz
kevinzdealz( 5)
Positive feedback:
100%
Member since:
May-20-06
Location:
NC, United States
Registered on:
www.ebay.com
Item: 100 BADGE-A-MINIT 2 1/4 PINBACK BUTTON PARTS!!! (260012096751)
This message was sent after the listing closed.
kevinzdealz is the seller.
hello, again i want to appologize for the delay i contacted my supplier and they said the button parts were sent on july 26 they were sent to Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shetler 4116 Bucyrus Avenue Cleveland, OH 44109 United States i can either have them resend them or send a refund, please work with me,i dont want neg feedback
august 30th
Question from kevinzdealz
kevinzdealz( 8)
Positive feedback:
100%
Member since:
May-20-06
Location:
NC, United States
Registered on:
www.ebay.com
Item: 100 BADGE-A-MINIT 2 1/4 PINBACK BUTTON PARTS!!! (260012096751)
This message was sent after the listing closed.
kevinzdealz is the seller.
HELLO, I AM WRITING THIS TO INFORM YOU THAT MY WIFE SENT YOU A REFUND OF $15.00 TODAY AND TO ALSO APPOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, I WILL LEAVE YOU POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND ALL I ASK IS FOR YOU TO ACCEPT MY APPOLOGIES AND REFUND AND PLEASE DONT LEAVE ME NEG FEEDBACK, I AM VERY SORRY ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING, THANKS
So far the only refund that the shelter got was the money $1.16 from eBay. Oh yeah, I did get an email from him August sometime, it is on the old hard drive, but I still have it, that he was in the Carabean or somewhere and for two weeks and couldn't access a computer.
Never got a confirmation from him it shipped, never heard anything until I started asking questions. And the paypal guarentee is a joke.
In 10 years of being at this address only one package didn't arrive. And a refund check too? It didn't get here either. And if it was paypal, well, it didn't get here either.
There have been several emails back and forth. The minute he found out we didn't get it and I requested a refund, it should have been refunded via pay pal.
There are several other emails on the old hard drive, where I requested a refund since I ended up buying the parts from another ebay memeber, and they got here with no problem. Use the pay pal too. And the same address.
I sent an email today tell him that a refund needs to be here by 6PM. It is now 6:15 PM. Neither Pay Pal or snail mail.
If it ever gets here, I'll update this post.
I have made it no secret that my son is a former Marine. Ten years he served. I am very proud of him for that.
I found this site for Marine Moms. I read many of the stories. Many you will not see on the news, I think that America needs to see them.
These are day to day stories from the Marines, some funny, some thought provoking.
So give a read to Stories from the Field and then read New Addition to a Field First Aid Kit, it is funny yet makes you think about if some mistakes are really a mistake.
One of the down sides of owning a home that is 102 years old, that has a garage built in 1950 is things fall apart. The garage is one of those things, that fell apart, like the back wall fell off. It was a matter of time before the city hauled my happy butt into housing court.
Well, this was the year that it would get replaced. I mean, you really shouldn't have to put tarps on stuff to keep it dry, and the neighborhood feral cat population shouldn't consider your garage their personal sanctuary. Now you have the picture.
Got a quote from Santora Garage, the price was good, I know Bobby Santora from working at a garage door company, I know his work, and I was ready to go for it, but....., yeah you know there always is a but.
Let me start off with the first contractor's crew knew what they were doing when it came to building walls, and plumbing. But as far as cement, they really had only one guy that had a clue. And it wasn't the original crew that I talked to that rehabbed that house.
Long story short, things went against instinct and we ended up with a contractor that didn't know what he was doing. They tore down the garage ok, I mean, you really can't mess up pulling down a garage that was being held up by a prayer.
Then they framed it out. I say, "Um, the door opening you have framed is 7' 2". Nine foot wide doors need a minimum of 9'2" rough opening. (Yeah, I used to be in the business a few years ago). Oh, and by the way, those footers you dug are not city code."
The door opening was fixed, but the footers weren't. Me, I was thinking fine, it won't pass code and you will have to eat the cost, I am tired of not being listened to.
Well, on a Friday, when I had to run to Bowling Green to pick up 5 ferrets that were part of an animal abuse case, they decided to pour the cement. Now, mind you it is HOT as Hades, and even in the newspaper there were comments from cement workers on the problems of pouring cement in the heat. The cement sets up too fast, and it cannot be worked. Even a couple of guys I know (ferret owners) said it was way too hot to pour late in the afternoon.
Nope they didn't listen. And they poured while I was gone, with only one guy who knew what he was doing.
One side of the foundation was bowed, the other was one foot short. Never mind when it rained there was a wonderful lake in the middle of the garage. Not a pretty sight. And it would never have passed inspection.
Let's just say I wasn't a happy camper, neither was hubby. So they had to tear it out. They framed it up a second time, and it was eight inches out of square. No, I don't think that is going to work.
Now, this contractor goes out to find someone to do the slab or foundation for the garage. Enter Mitch Santora (remember the contractor I first mentioned? His brother, small world.)
We get to talking, Mitch's crew has the frame work for the pour down and ready to go, and done right. Footers dug to code, a good gravel base, wire, framed up ready for the pour. The day they poured, Mitch is there early doing some fine tuning and tweaking. The whole crew shows up, and then the cement. Everyone stepped up and did his job, and did it well. No screwing around, let's get it done and get it done right.
The job is impeccable. There is a rise to the slab so if water gets in, and trust me it won't, it will drain to the front and out. The finish is perfect. The parts of the drive that had to be added were added and perfect. High quality work.
Now, I talk to the original contractor and tell him to pay Mitch and he can walk away from this job. This has been in process since April, with an agreed start date of June 1 and a finish by the end of June. I have been more than patient.
Now enter Bobby Santora, Mitch's big brother. (Who by the way helped with the cement work), he orders the lumber, has it delivered, comes out check the stuff, tells me, I'll be back at 6:30 tomorrow morning (this morning, Saturday of a three day weekend) as long as it doesn't rain.
Bobby is good to his word he and his son are here starting the job, the other guys show up within 10 minutes of Bobby and his son. Power tools. What a great sound in the morning, and I mean that.
They did things the old fashion way. One piece headers, the peaks, all done the old fashion way, built to last. Built with quality.
Bobby's crew knew what to do and did it. The walls were built and raised. By 10:30 AM the peaks and roof on. They did this all in an on again off again cold rain. By NOON the garage was up and shingled. Amazing to watch, a symphony of work and motion.
Now, enter Ron Iacoboni, the siding guy, he and his helper sided the garage by themselves in the rain, using hammers, not air tools in four hours, again a quality job.
In the matter of two days, the garage from Hades was done, and done right.
By the way the Santoras do indoor remodeling too during the winter. I wouldn't hesatate to call them and work on this house or the shelter (that is another story for another day).
Bobby Santora's phone number is: (216) 661-7227 (Santora's Garage)
Teamm Construction (Mitch Santora): (216) 374-6907
Ron Iacoboni: (440) 888-1840 (R-Nu-Vinyl Siding)
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