shrunt
Forum Elite
Topics: 1
Posts: 158
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hi zenith,
i am not amazing or anything at all really. i've been trying to prepare for step 1 since 1 year now but owing to a full time job and lots of other things i never got to carrying it for long after starting. i'd start and then feel overwhelmed and would then start a new topic and then give that up and start something new and so on. i then eventually started realizing it was not my tight schedule that is keeping me away from doing proper prep for step 1 but my refusal to face and admit the real cause behind it which was that after being out of touch with regular study hours for a few hours i had lost both the ability to concentrate for enough time as well as my ability to stay disciplined about meeting my deadlines. i would find tons of excuses for not being able to prepare for step 1 but deep inside that the real problem was that i was not being strong enough and keeping my schedules. so last month i decided that i would deal with the real problem and would now stick to my study schedule NO MATTER WHAT. and then see how it is after about a month. now it is almost 15 days since i started and i am finally making some progress. its not easy at all and at times i feel its too much but i've read it from these forums now that almost each and every person who has passed with a good score has felt the same way no matter how much more intelligent or better than they were than average person like me. bottomline was that to pass step 1, one had to forget the rest of the world's priorities for 3-4 months and other than the job concentrate on nothing else but on meeting your acheivaqble study target. and after reading the success stories on this forum it made me realize that lots of people have done it before me and that if i stayed discipline for next 3-4 months i could do it too. that became my motivation. there was this guy askdoc i read about on one of the forums who had passed out 17 years ago and did not even know that p53 was a tumor suppressor gene. he thought it was a 53 year old person whose name started with a p! and he wanted to clear his step1! armed with this knowledge that guy studied with determination for total 7 months (4 months serious studies according to him) and he eventually not only passed in 1st attempt but passed with a 256 (99). so if a guy could score like that starting with almost 0 recollection of what he had studied in med school people like me are in a lot better state....but only if i stayed honest to myself like he was and refuse to find excuses for not devoting enough time to preparing for step 1 exam every single day for a few months. so if a 17 year ago passout with literally no recollection of his preclinical subjects can get a score off 99 with 4 months of serious effort then why can't i at least hope to pass the same exam? there a lot of such cases i have read in the last some days on the net and now i am just trying my best to do what each and everyone of them seems to have done, tried their best to stick to their "realistic" schedules no matter what.
and as i said i do have a full time job mon-fri but i do have access to a computer with internet even at work so i keep myself motivated and on track even at work. i would want to take sundays off studies and work though coz that would prevent a burn out.
so far this seems to be working but wont be able to predict a reasonable chance of success until at least a month as to how successful i have been in staying motivated, disciplined and determined. so i am just taking it one day at a time and am hoping to at least do better than what i was able to in my previous efforts at preparing for this exam.
so keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best for all of us in our group....
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
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Hi shrunt , I am glad to know that you made it to the target. Good job girl and keep it up!!!
Don't worry seems and zenith. It is very normal for the initial stages of preperation. Just don't think about the time that is gone . Concentrate on what you can do today . If you can do one chapter a day, just do it. Even if you are able to do one page someday , it is OK. At least you are doing something . Every small step towards our goal matters.I know all of us have unavoidable responsibilites . We have to accept the fact that we cannot cahnge our circumstances and we have to struggle to reach our goal living in the same circumstances.
No studies for me over the weekend too.I did half of the chapter 7 on Friday. On Saturday, I cleaned the house ,did laundry and cooked for the guests. On Sunday went to airport ( 3 hour drive from where I live),to receive our guests . Flight was 2 hours late. Came back home late at night and by the time went to bed , it was 3.00 am. Woke up at 6.30 to prepare the breakfast(which is our traditional one and takes time to prepare). It is 9.15 now and I will try to read for at least and hour . I am very tired and don't know how much my brain can accept.
Thanks to our group that I am thinking of reading a few pages now . If I was studying alone, I would have taken a nap instead ,as I am dead tired.I am sure our soft spoken Dr. Lionel Raymond will put me to sleep.
Come on guys !! Give it your best. We can do it!!!!!!!!
___________________
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
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| target
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 511
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Great ! This is exactly a God given study group for me and for you all too I think. Most of us are working, have other responsibilities but I can feel that everyone is determined to get this done. Way to go!
As for me I join the few who got nothing done over the weekend. I was motivated on Fri evening and was reading CH 4 on my way home (I am gleeing because I cant imagine myself reading on a Fri evening) but when I got home I was so tired to cook and hence went out for dinner had a margarita and crashed!!! (Well I rewarded myself for finishing target 1(ch 1-3 on time)
I did not get anything done sat and sun because I had so much cleaning to do and dishes (thanks to my apartment I have everything except a dishwasher!). I had still some more boxes to open since I just moved to the city. Well the bottom line, I did not get anything done and am still were I started on Fri evening.
Seems - its ok ! Just like Zenith said we can jump back right in. Aren't we doing better than we were before! So commend yourself on that. We can always catch up on the stuff by working harder. Dont think about what you havent done but think about how much you can do this week. Maybe try to beat the target this time. Like unique says "We can do it guys". I am sure this is just because we are in the beginning phase - we are going to be on a rock and roll when this team in few weeks I am sure! Best wishes!
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In Him I trust !
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| zenith
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am i blessed to be a part of this group or what?! thank u soooooooooooo much shrunt, unique and target for your encouraging words. i feel this bonding with u guys which is really amazing - i mean, here we are, each of us juggling with varied responsibilities and trying to study for this exam which truly is an exam of our endurance and trying to motivate one another along the path. i was telling my husband how glad i am to have found this group.
shrunt, u r so right - i keep using my full-time job as an excuse to study less. i mean, yes, a full-time job is taxing, but whoever said life was going to be easy????????????
its 1:50 pm here and i'm at work - feeling very sleepy! can't wait to get home and attack chapter 3.
will report my progress tomorrow morning. Lord, please help me to achieve my goal for today!
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
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Guys , I have just found some good stuff for free download on usmleforum.com . There is some kind person "hellohie" posting the links. Check his posts.
___________________
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
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| dr_ecv
Forum Senior
Topics: 34
Posts: 118
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hi to all of you,
U all are GREAT! Its really inspiring and good to see people in all circumstances, however tough they might be come together and gear up to succeed and give their best. By the time I saw this thread , I had already started on Patho and I did not want to leave it in between. but I definitely would follow up and see u all as it has really inspired me to read all this stuff.
keep up the great work and good luck to all.
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| seems
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 280
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thank u sooo much zenith for all these encouraging and supporting words .
they really mean alot to me.
i think we all except shrunt ,r just in situations ,where ,cannot give hundred prcent of our time ,sumthing or theother comes up ,which is impossible to ignore. sometimes life seems tough. and i know sometime even i miss the single status,offcourse we all know how much our husbands mean to us. but i guess everything good has a small tough part to it.
u r right zenith , instead of wasting our present tme repenting the past ,thats already gone ,the better way would be to utilise this time in doing sumthing much more important.
and INSHA ALLAH i will . i already wasted the day, but still am leaft wz 5 or 6 hourse and INSHA ALLAH willl finsh at least ,the stupid 4th chpter ( ihate that chpter), and 5th , INSHA ALLAH.
please GOD help us .
ok then u guys i ll see u when i m done wz my target.
and the rest of u guys can go ahead na ddo the next3 chapters , if i set the target and am not upto the mark ,then its usless or me to put up any target.
but i guess the rest of th egroup who ever finished can go ahead and do the next 3 chapters, ill cathcup ,wz u guys soon INSHA ALLAH.
GOOD LUCK
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| seems
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 280
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THANKS A MILLION, TARGET ,UNIQUE AND SHRUNT .
i m soo proud of our group. we dunt even know wher we r buut ,we r still soo close ,and every time one feels discouraged or depressed ,the rest of the group is jsut ther right on time ,to lift his or her spirit up . its amazing, what a strong bond we have formed ,in such a short time. .
thnak alot u guys, and goodluck to all of u
hey dr_ecv ,thanx for hose encouraging words ,u r welcome to join when ever u feel like , plzz pray 4 us so that allll of us get over this tough time, soon.
good luck 4 patho .
unique thanx fr that site .
so see ya soon ,i ll try and catchup now.
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| vallia
Forum Guru
Topics: 98
Posts: 889
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very nice study group here, keep going friends
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fight possessed
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
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Thanx dr_ecv! I hope you can for join us for our next subject.
Hey seems! I have a suggestion. Let me know when do you plan to finish upto chapter7? (I know target is upto 6 but I am talking about finishing mol.bio.) .The time you plan to finish chap7, I can revise my mol.bio. and from chapter 8 onwards we can work together. As I am doing mol.bio. very first time in my life, it's revision won't hurt.If anyone else behind schadule wants to join , s/he is most welcome . Just a suggestion.
I really don't know what to do. Shrunt has done a wonderful job and of course we do not want to drag her behind,so she should move on .
Any suggestions group?
___________________
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
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Thanx vallia.Good luck to you.
___________________
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
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| fss
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 17
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Hi guys and gals:
I have just hapeened to read your posts and found quite a few people in the same situation as me (shrunt, unique, target). My new name should be Discouraged. I see that you are far along in your studies already, but I would like to tag along because I feel that this group hits home. I do not want to hold the group back but I can join you at the level that you are and work harder to catch up. Can someone tell me what you guys are up to in biochem and what is the next target.
I am really sorry to distrub you guys, but I have been a silent reader of this forum for a while, and not have been able to find a group that I belong to. I am an older graduate that has attempted taking the test many time in the last 4-6 years by registering, receiving the yellow ticket, extending my date to never take the exam because I could not stay motivated. At the first sight of trouble with recollection I would pack my books.
I can not tell you How many copies of FA that I had. Then I look around and see other friends of mine that Have made it and I know that I am just as intelligent as they are but I am not focussed or motivated.
I know that you already have alarge group but I would really like to join you guys. I love your honesty and your support. I need a group to support me and not to judge me.
Anybody please give me a shout.
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| shrunt
Forum Elite
Topics: 1
Posts: 158
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hi fss,
welcome to the group. i beleive the fact that you completed your med school puts you on par with all the rest of us. just coz you havent taken your step 1 exam as yet by no means proves that the ones who have are in any way more intelligent than you. they just managed to complete one more assignment in their career and you are well on your way to completing it like the rest in our group. so just try to keep moving, might be slow but do keep moving, in the direction of preparing for your step 1. after all you completed much tougher exams during your medical school. so if you could pass them you WILL pass this one too.
good luck to everyone in our group. we must keep going.
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| target
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 511
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Hi fss,
Thank you for the kind words about our group - Yes I feel our group is HONEST and SUPPORTIVE and we at hit home regularly ! Keep it up guys and welcome to our group. I am sure you will catch up. By the time we get our scores our thread would be named "Procastinating Old Medicos finally made a 99!!!" 
I got home and read half of chapter 4 and it is 11 p.m already and I am feeling a little sleepy and hence I thought I will check on you guys. How is it going for you guys. Hey what about the next target ( I know atleast shrunt has finsihed it) - Please post it irrespective of whether some of us have caught up or not. THat will keep us motivated to give ourselves a little push! Good night all of you hardworking fellas ! Where are Dark Gable and aarya? Hop in .........we miss u.
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In Him I trust !
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| target
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 511
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Seems,
I think you should still be the one setting up the target! Atleast to set the target I think you will be more motivated to meet the targets. What do you say guys! Dont worry we are there to pep you up and we know you are there for us.
Sometimes I like to think of this preparation for USMLE as a God given opportunity for us to go back to our basics so we can be better doctors. Atleast in my country we used to have essay questions, short answers, 30 MCQ's for each exam and hence we had to try to know it byheart to sort of regurgitate back. I still remember the Path essay question was composition of bile acid - and the pain of knowing the value of bile salts, bile pigments etc in the bile. I always wished during my YOUNG! college hmmm days  " I wish they just give me time to just understand and know the concepts rather than knowing it byheart. USMLE is that chance God has given me now and it cant be harder that what we did in medical school - the answer has to be one of those choices - IT IS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU! You dont have to dig out or scratch your memory. We did the hard part guys - this should be the easy, fun, Better doctor part. Let's do it........
I know chapter 4 is boring (I second that 3 times) .....but just imagine how fascinating the whole system is-DNA to RNA TO protein , the co-ordination of the fine orchestra to make us what we are !
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In Him I trust !
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| shrunt
Forum Elite
Topics: 1
Posts: 158
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hi guys,
it's 12:30 in the night at my end and biochem is trying its best to put me to sleep. but i have to study another 3 hours at least. i am sleepy and my head is spinning. guess a hot cup of tea wouldn't be a bad idea. am i the only one awake or is there anyone else in the group around to share the tea?
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| target
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 511
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Hi shrunt
I am here ! That sounds like a great idea. I will make myself a cup of coffee and be with you for another 1 hr and try to finish chapter 4. I got to catch the 8 a.m bus tomorrow for work! So I better hit the bed by 12.30 - it is 11.30 here. Keep up the spirit!
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In Him I trust !
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| jaide
say wat!~
Topics: 18
Posts: 539
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hey guys...
im on the opp side of the world...
so its morning here....just had my breakfast....gathering energy to start....hopefully b done with ch 6 and 7.....before lunch....
took the day off from work..just so i could kick some gentic butt!!
wisdom of the day....
Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”
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God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference
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| seems
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 280
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hey guys
welcome fss
than target for ur encouraging words , ill try my best to keep up wz the target. and ill set the next target ,gfor sure , i shdntbe discouragedjust cz i cudnt keep up wz ne target ,thanx guys ,u keep my spirits up ,u guys rock.....unique thanx for thta suggestions ,its a great onei cant really saywhen will i finsh it but i ll try in these two day cz i m off ,to finsh till the 7th chapters .
hey shrunt i think now u a sleep ,butidid have a cup of tea ,at the time u posted ,cz it was raining ,and i felt lik ehaving tea,and thats how i did chpter 4 ,actually right now i m at the last page .
hmm so jaide is up, enjoy ur beakfast ,its a new day ad go ahead and make a good use of it . jaide i love what u write ,all thse encourading words ,its beautiful ,when i see them its a like some kind of energy comes in me and i wanna do better.
so guys ill post the next target and ppl who r done and can go ahead wz it .
guys imagin well soon be done wz molecular bio, the nightmare ,that everyone has. just 3 more chapters .
i think the other part of biochem will be better than this, right
i hope sooo.
ok then see ya soon ,
keep going guys .
we will do it ,INSHA ALLAH
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| seems
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 280
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oopes the next target ,
oh well i m a little confused
cz one chapter frm molecular bio is left ,so i guesswhoever is done shd finsh this as well cz its a part of molecular bio.
then we will see whoever is done can start wz the 8th chapter that is the Amino Acids, Protiens and Enzymes and chapter 9 which is Hormones.
ok..........thse 8 and 9 chapters r a little long so one chapter per day shd be ok ,wz full time jobs.
any suggestions r welcome
take care and good luck
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| Dark Gable
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 9
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Friends:
Coming up for air. For those lagging behind, I am your Captain. With a grant deadline at the end of the month, I have fallen behind. I've just scanned the last couple of pages of this thread and sense that others have too. Take heart! We all have our seasons. I anticipate getting up to speed. This is a marathon and not a sprint. As my research entails Immunology and Molecular Biology I anticipate making up in chunks at that time. I look here for encouragement and to keep myself accountable. I take the approach of an ant moving a grain of sand one grain at a time. If you have seen an ant farm, you can appreciate the results of slow, dedicated work. Keep moving those grains of sand ladies and gentlemen!
Warmest regards,
DG
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| target
Forum Elite
Topics: 3
Posts: 511
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Hi Jaide and Dark Gable (guess you heard my voice inside the ant hill!!!
Glad you guys are back and still there with us. I cant imagine you with a grant deadline trying to prepare for the boards. Kudooos to your drive. I think seems target is okay except that I am so faaaaaaaaaaaaaar behind. I am not even doing the lectures just notes! Am I missing out a lot?
Have a good day!
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In Him I trust !
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| zenith
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wow - you guys simply ROCK! i love this group. thank you all - seems, target, shrunt, unique, jaide, dark gable (sorry if i've missed anyone) for making this group what it is.
fss: welcome to our little world of amazing folks! u'll never regret joining us.
its funny - till now, i thought seems was a guy - anyway, how r u doing seems? did u finish chapter 4? i seem to be lagging behind the most, but strangely, i'm so happy today - i completed my target for yesterday - finished chapter 3!!! so chapter 4 it is - for today - man, thats a long chapter and Dr. Raymon can sometimes work like a sedative. anyway, i HAVE TO finish chap 4 today. no two ways about it.
target - u're doing great girl. you're on a roll here. as for the lectures, i think u should try to listen to them - i can't imagine myself doing it without the lectures, but then thats just me! as long as u can grasp the concepts and retain interest, i guess u're okay. by the way, i love the new name for our thread - "Procastinating Old Medicos finally made a 99!!!" wow, that would be a dream come true.............God willing.............
shrunt and jaide - u're doing an excellent job - good going.........jaide, thank u for your wonderful quotes - very encouraging at a time when i need them the most.
dark gable - continue on........it'll get better - set short-term goals and acheive them at any cost. look at me, trying to tell you what to do - i'm probably behind everyone right now, but its okay - like u said - "Keep moving those grains" - that what i'm trying to do.......
hang in there guys.........the journey of a thousand miles begins will a single step...........
Edited by zenith on 06/20/06 - 08:48 AM
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| unique1
InGodITrust
Topics: 19
Posts: 1,405
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Hey guys, I can't explain in words how glad I am to see everyone of us so determined to achieve our target.
Welcome fss. You will find a lot of support here.
Jaide you are already done with genetics , that's great.
Zenith,seems,dark gable,target! I can see how determined all of you are and will catchup with shurnt soon. Keep going.
Dear shrunt , what chapter are you on?
I will start chapter 8 today and will see how it goes. I am really enjoying to study with this wonderful group. These days I am running all the time picking and dropping my kids from one activity to another, mopping the floor,doing laundery,cooking,keeping my guests well entertained ,peeking thru the pages of my biochem. and listening to Dr.Raymon. Oh my!!!! Can I do all this????? YES I can. Yes ,all of us can. Yes we can do it ......and we will do it ......and procastinating old medicos will finally make a 99!!!!!!!!
___________________
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
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| shrunt
Forum Elite
Topics: 1
Posts: 158
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hi unique,
right now i am at work. will try to complete chapter 8 before going to sleep tonight. how is everyone else doing? good luck to everyone.
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