The Caribbean Hurricane Page

Updates from the Islands

- - St.Croix (USVI) - -

• From: "Linda M. Baxter" <baxterlm AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 21:24:57 -0500

• From: "Linda M. Baxter" <baxterlm AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 19:20:55 -0500

• From: "Linda M. Baxter" <baxterlm AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 18:08:07 -0500

• From: "Linda M. Baxter" <baxterlm AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 15:00:45 -0500

• From: "Linda M. Baxter" <baxterlm AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 12:07:39 -0500

• From: "Linda M. Baxter" <baxterlm AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 12:07:39 -0500

• From: "Max J. Mizejewski Sr." <maxwho AT viaccess.net>
• Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 06:14:01 -0500

• From: "Toby O'Neill" <tobyo AT raex.com>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 21:06:46 -0800

• From: rican AT mindspring.com
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 19:42:46 -0500

Hello again Gert,

I heard from my mom around 6:45 EST and she said the worst was behind them.  The winds had calm down and they were getting ready for a quiet night.  It looks like lady luck was on the virgin islands side again.  I only wish everyone else gets by with little damage.....

Raul

• From: Susan Dick <sbdick AT gis.net>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 17:41:08 -0500

As of 5:30 EST the winds are still very strong on St. Croix and coming
out of the northeast.  My brother, Eddie Beach, tells me that the
approach bridge to the pier has been severely damaged;  according to his
friend, downtown F'sted is still in
pretty good shape.  I was able to get through to my parents via
telephone who live in the central part of the island and they are still
under sustained strong winds, but the roof is holding!  Good luck to
everyone in Lenny's path!

• From: Susan Dick <sbdick AT gis.net>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 15:42:49 -0500

Hello Gert:

I spoke to my brother in Frederiksted at 3:30pm EST--they are okay--it
is windy and Lenny has "mowed" their yard.  He stated that wind gusts
were to approximately 120.   He is still in touch with my parents who
live up in the hills near Sunny Isle and they, too, are fine (still both
have phones!).  They eye wall is reported to be southeast of the island
now.

• From: Paul Rhodes <prhodes AT aoc.nrao.edu>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 14:23:36 -0600

OOPS!  We finally lost our communications with the station,  Good news
is that the winds were down to 40-50 MPH range when it happened.  All
calls to STX result in fast busy signals. Will report more when or
station comes up.  good luck to all!
-- 
***************************************************************
Paul J. Rhodes                          Array Operations Center 
VLBA Field Group Leader                 P.O. Box O 
National Radio Astronomy Observatory    Socorro, NM 87801 
***************************************************************

• From: Paul Rhodes <prhodes AT aoc.nrao.edu>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 13:07:21 -0600

Winds now averaging 70-80 MPH  Pressure still dropping at 975 MB.
Gusting to 100+  Station still reporting data.  More after lunch in New
Mexico.
-- 
***************************************************************
Paul J. Rhodes                          Array Operations Center 
VLBA Field Group Leader                 P.O. Box O 
National Radio Astronomy Observatory    Socorro, NM 87801 
***************************************************************

• From: Paul Rhodes <prhodes AT aoc.nrao.edu>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 12:38:41 -0600

Hi again Gert,

	Winds increasing at our VLBA Station.  Currently averaging 60 MPH and I
have see one or two gusts to 85 MPH.  We still have our monitor
connection and our generator is powering our weather station.  NexRad
radar at 1912 UT shows eye of Lenny to be about 30 miles straight south
of Udall Point.  We are seeing the higher winds because we are no longer
protected by the hills to the south.  
-- 
***************************************************************
Paul J. Rhodes                          Array Operations Center 
VLBA Field Group Leader                 P.O. Box O 
National Radio Astronomy Observatory    Socorro, NM 87801 
***************************************************************

• From: Gert van Dijken <gert AT vandijken.com>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 14:18:36 -0500 (EST)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 14:22:05 -0500
From: TOBY <tobyo AT raex.com>
Subject: Re: Lenny

[...] 
I just talked to [my parents] again at 2:05
pm. Wind is swirling and gusting in excess of 100 mph. My dad said that it
is picking up the standing water and hurling it about. He had also heard
that the Fredrickstead was getting heavy winds, but was not sure of extent
of any damage.

• From: Paul Rhodes <prhodes AT aoc.nrao.edu>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 11:42:56 -0600

Hi Gert,

	We are monitoring our Radio Telescope Station at Cramers Park on East
End of St. Croix.  Weather Station is reporting winds of 35 MPH with
gusts to 60 MPH. Pressure is reporting 986 mb. Talked with our people in
Christiansted and phones were still working in some areas.  Power has
been off since noon.  Nexrad Radar shows eye of storm about 20 miles off
south shore area.
-- 
***************************************************************
Paul J. Rhodes                          Array Operations Center 
VLBA Field Group Leader                 P.O. Box O 
National Radio Astronomy Observatory    Socorro, NM 87801 
***************************************************************

• From: "Raul Garcia, Jr." <rgarcia AT pobox.com>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 12:54:44 -0500

Hey Gert,


I was able to speak to my mom around noon eastern time.  She said the
winds were starting to pick up but everything was still as good as can
be expected.  She also mentioned that the F'sted dock and the
fisherman's market have been hit very hard and may be totally gone.  All
in all everything is well.  She also mentioned that telephone service
has been on and off periodically.  My Uncle who lives on the east end of
the islands told her that it was not to bad there yet......  Best of
luck to all on the islands and thanks much for this page.......

Raul Garcia, Jr.

• From: Gert van Dijken <gert AT vandijken.com>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 11:49:19 -0500 (EST)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 12:25:06 -0500
From: CynthiaTaylor <cmtaylor AT viaccess.net>

I am on the East end of the island in Teague Bay.  Winds are picking up but we
are not seeing any damage here.  There are reports of damage in Fredricksted
to the Pier and fish market.

• From: "Linda M. Baxter" <baxterlm AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 10:32:41 -0500

• From: "Graham A Bell" <gbell AT cablenett.net>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 07:03:28 -0400

• From: "gloria danielson" <zuggly895 AT hotmail.com>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 06:07:49 CST

hi
it's 8am and the tropical storm force winds have arrived on time, how 
polite.
i believe it is also raining off and on.(can't see outside and the winds are 
howling)
we retrieved the rain gauge, and have
3.6" so far....and the hurricane isn't even here yet. the winds are from the 
southeast.
i am going to unplug the computer, so have a safe day to all in Lenny's 
path.
gloria

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• From: "Max J. Mizejewski Sr." <maxwho AT viaccess.net>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 05:37:54 -0500

• From: "gloria danielson" <zuggly895 AT hotmail.com>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 03:17:55 CST

hi
it's 5 am here, and we have had two huge thudnerstorms--the
next thing is 105 miles away and it is hurricane lenny-125mph and headed
RIGHT FOR US --i know i will lose power soon so this is my last message out. 
  so far we
are just fine.
no water, just a drip in the computer room ceiling. the winds haven't been 
too bad, yet.
the thunderstorms were at 5 pm last night and then again about 4am this 
morning.
the rest of the time was calm and dry.  i would estimate we have had about
2-3" of rain....i'm not going out there to look. the winds seemed to be from 
the sw the first
storm, and the next band, the seemed to be from the ne.  it's hard to tell 
when i can't
look outside, i have to go by the sound of the rain hitting the metal 
shutters.

if i have power, i'll log on again. so far we are doing OK.  but-the
hurricane hasn't hit yet.
it looks like the eye will pass right over the top of us.  sometimes that
is better....remember the eye is perfect calm.  the bad stuff is in the eye
wall. good luck to all-stay safe.
gloria


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• From: "Max J. Mizejewski Sr." <maxwho AT viaccess.net>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 03:05:10 -0500

• From: "Max J. Mizejewski Sr." <maxwho AT viaccess.net>
• Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 02:23:30 -0500

• From: "DORY" <dorytom AT virginislands.net>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 23:20:21 -0400

JUST AS I STARTED TO WRITE YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR WEATHER, A HUGE LIGHTNING
STORM HIT AND THE POWER WENT OUT.  WE WERE DARK FOR ABOUT 4 1/2 HOURS, THEN
NOT ONLY DID THE POWER COME BACK ON, BUT ALSO THE PHONES AND CABLE T.V.  GO
FIGURE.  ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER PARTS OF ST CROIX ARE NOT SO
LUCKY.  SO FAR, PHONE SERVICE SEEMS TO BE FUNCTIONAL THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND,
BUT ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS ARE NOT SO LUCKY.

LENNY IS NOW A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE, AND EXPECTED TO HIT US SOMETIME
AFTER MIDNIGHT.  WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE RIDING OUT THE STORM WITH US TONIGHT.
WE ARE ALL TRYING TO GET ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO OF SLEEP BEFORE LENNY HITS.
AT LEAST WE CAN GET UPDATES ON THE STORM RIGHT NOW VIA THE WEATHER CHANNEL
AND THE INTERNET.  OUR RADIO STATIONS HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEMS,
POSSIBLY DUE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES (I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS
BEFORE - THE SKY WAS LIT UP MORE THAN IT WASN'T, AND IT LOOKED & SOUNDED
LIKE IT WAS AT OUR FRONT DOOR.)

CURFEW DIDN'T START UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK TONIGHT, AND IT'S SORT OF LIKE
PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS.  WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS, YOU PARK WHEREVER YOU CAN.  I
HAVE RECEIVED SOME E-MAIL FROM PEOPLE I'VE NEVER MET, BUT WHO READ YOUR
WEBSITE UPDATES AND WISHED US LUCK.  THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, AND WE'LL TRY TO
KEEP YOU POSTED AS BEST WE CAN.

• From: "gloria danielson" <zuggly895 AT hotmail.com>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 19:01:12 CST

hi
it's almost 9pm, and we got one huge thunderstorm about 5:30pm the had some 
big cloud to
ground (water) lightning strikes.  we have been with out power ever since.  
the lights just came
back on (never lost the phone) so i will try to rush this out.
i left the rain gauge out, and we got 1.3" of rain in less than an hour.  
the winds were gusty
and seemed to be from the SouthWest.  we sit high, and the winds swirl, so i 
can't be sure of
the direction.
i think we are in for a long night.  the last i heard, the eye is to go 
between st t and st x.
right now it is just rumbling in the background, light rain. at this point, 
i would rather lenny
just go due east...but i don't think he has asked me for directions.
i heard the pressure has dropped again, so that isn't good news either.  
well, i'm going to send this
and i hope to log on again.  everyone stay safe.   gloria

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• From: "Allan M. Woods" <amwoods AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 16:53:28 -0800

There is a now a 9 pm curfew scheduled for the Virgin Islands.  There is
a price freeze in effect.  The garbage bins on St. Croix will be remove
to cut down the spread of debris by the storm.  Still no rain and a very
light wind.  The St. Croix airport will close at 6 pm.  The airport in
St. Thomas will close at 9pm (they are expect a commercial flight).  All
the ports in the V.I. were closed earlier today for ship in excess of
200 tons.  Information is being given out as to the location of areas to
get sandbags.  Thank goodness that the worst part of the Hurricane Lenny
is on the south side.
	That's it for now.

• From: "Allan M. Woods" <amwoods AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 16:40:30 -0800

At 4:30pm we just got a report via radio that St. Croix can expect
tropical force winds (30+ mph) between 12 midnight and 1 am tomorrow
morning.  We will see Hurricane force winds starting around 4 am until
noon Wednesday.  After that it should subside.  Hurricane Lenny will
affect the west end of St. Croix more.  That's the word the the VITEMA
chief Col. Walker.
There is still confusion over exactly where the center will go--some
reports say over Puerto Rico; other say, that it will go south of us,
but no matter which way, we will get rain.
	That's it for now.
	Allan Woods

• From: "Allan M. Woods" <amwoods AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 16:28:19 -0800

Hello, all.  After a very quiet overcast day, some rain has started here
in Christiansted, St. Croix.  As of 2pm our time, the center of
Hurricane Wrong-Way Lenny was located about 334 miles west southwest of
St. Croix. We are under a hurricane watch.  Earlier today the governor
proclaimed a state of emergency and all public schools were closed at 1
pm.  All banks closed at 2 pm and all ATM machines were shutdown at 3
pm.  It seems that everyone is calmly going about preparing for what is
to come.  Some forecasted tracks show the center passing over Puerto
Rico sometime early tomorrow morning.  But an ever slight shift in the
track to the east will sent the center over the Virgin Islands
tomorrow.  It seems that the main danger from this hurricane is the rain
and there seems to be a lot rain associated with Hurricane Lenny.  Since
the ground here in St. Croix is already fairly soaked, any rain that we
get will be runoff leading to flooding in various low locations here. 
As of 2 pm Lenny's winds are 100 mph and the storm is moving eastward at
16 mph and is expected to turn northeasterly sometime (and when it does,
is the key to where it will strike).
Right now the rain has stopped.  It was a light wind and there is a
light wind.  We still have no word on when a curfew will be in effect.
So, we wait for Hurricane Lenny-the first hurricane to my knowledge and
research to travel west to east.  It odd and folks are still talking
about the reverse path and how fast it formed and became a threat.  But
that is Mother Nature; she does not follow the laws of science.
Any take care in Puerto Rico, the other Virgin Islands, and the other
Leeward Islands.
	Allan Woods
	Estate Welcome, east of Christiansted.

• From: "gloria danielson" <zuggly895 AT hotmail.com>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 08:17:54 CST

Hi
i just looked up the latest path projections, and i really don't like what i 
see.

http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready-bin/plotmdl1.pl?Filen=16

my husband just came back from getting extra gasoline and he said the roads 
are very busy
and people are rushing around.  dr. grey was right about late season storms 
this year, huh?

still just partly cloudy here, no rain, slight breeze about 8mph from the 
NE.  clouds are starting to
get darker.  gloria

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• From: "DORY" <dorytom AT virginislands.net>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 09:00:01 -0400

WE GOT MOST OF THE HARDWARE PUT BACK ON OUR HURRICANE SHUTTERS YESTERDAY, SO
ALL THAT REMAINS TO DO THERE IS CLOSE THEM AND SECURE THEM WITH THE BARS.
WE STILL NEED A FULL DAY TO GET FINAL PREPARATIONS READY.  FORTUNATELY, WE
STILL HAVE MOST OF OUR SUPPLIES LEFT FROM THE PREVIOUS STORMS (FUEL FOR THE
GENERATOR, FOOD, WATER, BATTERIES, CANDLES, ETC) BUT IT'S A MAD RUSH TO GET
PET FOODS, BEER AND PRESCRIPTION REFILLS.  MY HUSBAND WILL BATTLE THE STORES
TODAY, WHILE I START BRINGING IN PLANTS, REMOVING EVERYTHING FROM THE
OUTSIDE WALLS, AND BRINGING INSIDE WHAT FURNITURE I CAN CARRY.  THIS IS A
MAJOR PROJECT, AND IS THE THIRD TIME THIS SEASON WE'RE DOING.  IT'S
EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE JUST FINISHED RESTORING EVERYTHING FROM
THE LAST STORM, AND TEMPTING TO CATCH THE LAST PLANE OUT AND LEAVE IT TO THE
INSURANCE COMPANIES TO DEAL WITH!

AS OF 9 A.M., THERE IS NO BREEZE OR RAIN (WE LIVE MID-ISLAND, WEST OF
CHRISTIANSTED, ON THE NORTH SHORE.)  OBVIOUSLY, WE STILL HAVE ELECTRICITY
AND OUR DATA PHONE LINE (OUR REGULAR PHONE LINE HAS BEEN DOWN FOR ALMOST
ELEVEN WEEKS NOW, UNRELATED TO STORMS.  VITELCO STRIKES AGAIN!)

OUR FOUL WEATHER GEAR IS READY SO THAT WE CAN FINISH UP PREPARATIONS TODAY.
IF I HAD A CHOICE, I'D SPEND THE NEXT 24 HOURS IN LABOR.  HOWEVER, IT LOOKS
LIKE WE'LL BE SPENDING THE NIGHT IN OUR APARTMENT DOWNSTAIRS (MORE LIKE A
BOMB SHELTER.)

• From: "DORY" <dorytom AT virginislands.net>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 05:21:26 -0400

THIS HURRICANE WAS SO UNEXPECTED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MUCH TIME TO
PREPARE, BUT ARE DOING OUR BEST.  WE'RE WORKING AS FAST AS WE CAN (ONE MORE
TIME!)  A STORM COMING FROM THE WEST IS UNPRECEDENTED HERE TO MY KNOWLEDGE,
SO ALL WE CAN DO IS BATTEN DOWN AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

THERE WAS A LITTLE RAIN ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, BUT NONE LAST NIGHT AND THE
RADAR IS STILL CLEAR.  THIS SHOULD CHANGE DRASTICALLY LATER TODAY, AND THE
WIND SHOULD PICK UP CONSIDERABLE AS WELL.  INDICATIONS ARE THAT LENNY IS
STRENGTHENING.

• From: "gloria danielson" <zuggly895 AT hotmail.com>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 02:08:51 CST

hi
it about 4 am Tuesday, and there hasn't been a breeze all night.  we had 
light showers from
about 6-9 pm.  i even closed the windows and slept with a blanket, as it's 
about 76 degrees
and feels quite damp.  hurricane warnings are up for us.

we spent all day yesterday getting ready, again.  i hope this is another 
close call, and not
a direct hit.  even though this isn't a huge storm, as you have read, we 
have already had a lot
of rain, and the ground will not absorb anymore.  the low lying areas are 
full of water that
has not evaporated since the middle of october.  then to add to the water 
breaking up the roads,
a new hotel is being built on the east end, and they have been driving much 
heavy equipment on the
soft road (on the north side of the east end) while they are working on the 
"new" road on the
southside of the east end.  so the roads in the last week and really full of 
huge pot holes.  i am sure
if we get 10" of rain, that whole road will be a wash. progress.

the only thing i can say about a hurricane this late in the season, is 
getting ready for the third time
gets easier after all these "drills", but the mental fatigue is high.  i 
have no adrenaline left for this one.
we started to eat up the canned goods stored, put everything back outside, 
and cleaned up...feeling
like it was over for another year.  i bet you one thing, those shutters that 
are hard to reach will
be up till Christmas next year!

well, this is getting too wordy for 4am....goodnight.  gloria


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• From: Your Name <amwoods AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 00:23:40 -0800

It's 12:27 am Tuesday and all is very quiet.  There has been no rain in
the Christiansted area for the past 4 hours or so.  Right now there is a
very very light wind.  It's cloudy though stars are visible.  As of 11pm
the center of Hurricane Lenny was located about 578 miles west southwest
of St. Croix.  The winds have decreased to 80 mph and the hurricane is
moving east at 14 mph. According the lasted forecast tract, we could get
a direct hit or it could go west and north of us sometime early
Wednesday morning.  So I guess we here in St. Croix wait and hope for
the best.
	Take care all,
	Allan Woods

• From: Your Name <amwoods AT worldnet.att.net>
• Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 18:28:32 -0800

Well, well, we thought that the hurricane season as virtually over but
no.  From late Saturday when it was a tropical depression to Sunday
afternoon it was a hurricane with winds of 100-Hurricane Lenny. Many
here were surprised at how fast if came to be and also surprised at its
eastward track which is unusual.  It's around 6:30pm Monday, the
afternoon the skies become overcast and it began to rain off and on. 
The storm has weakened to day.  The winds are down to 85 mph.  According
to forecasts, the predicted track of Hurricane Lenny puts it somewhere
around Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Either of the two places could suffer a direct hit sometime Wednesday
morning.   We expect heavier rains tomorrow through tomorrow night. 
There is no panic here.  People are just warily keeping an eye out and
tracking the storm.  The only problem with more rain is that the ground
is already fairly saturated.  More rain can cause more flooding as the
water will just run off.  It appears that we are ready for whatever.
	Later from east of Christiansted, Estate Welcome
	Allan Woods

• From: "gloria danielson" <zuggly895 AT hotmail.com>
• Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 05:33:35 CST

hi
well, i guess we'd better stop saying "i can't beleive it" and get with the 
program.  hurricane shutters
that were just stored away, are coming back out. gloria
                                                               Hurricane 
Lenny Discussion Number 8
                                                        Statement as of 4:00 
am EST on November 15, 1999

                                 lenny is strengthening rather quickly this 
morning. Reports from an Air Force Reserve
                                  hurricane Hunter indicate the central 
pressure has dropped to 971 mb...with maximum 850
                                mb winds of 100 kt. An eye appears 
intermittently on infrared satellite imagery.

                                  Lenny moved East-Southeast during the 
evening. However...the latest satellite imagery
                                 indicates a more eastward motion and the 
initial motion for this advisory is 095/8. A
                                  large longwave trough dominates the 
western Atlantic...and this should keep lenny on a


                                     generally eastward track for the next 
24 to 36 hours..

                                  An upper level ridge or anticyclone 
remains over lenny...so further intensification appears
                                  likely. The biggest question is how Long 
will the current rapid strengthening continue? The
                                  intensity forecast calls for further 
strengthening for 24 hours followed by a leveling out.
                                  Although major november hurricanes are not 
unheard of...they are uncommon enough that i
                                  will not forecast lenny to become one just 
yet.









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• From: "gloria danielson" <zuggly895 AT hotmail.com>
• Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 16:30:11 CST

sunday nov 14
Hi
I just saw Lenny is a hurricane as of 4:50pm today.  So far, it is predicted 
to just clip the Northwest
corner of Puerto Rico.  Here we go again.

October brought us 7.4" of rain.  The skies were very dark today, but just a 
few sprinkles.  The winds
are from the West, so the planes are landing over us instead of taking off 
over our house.  The humidity has
been at or about 100% for the last few days.
I will keep an eye on Lenny for you.
gloria


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