I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

YUMM!!!

I just schlurped all over linda's posted picture - tastes deeeeelicious!!! 

Kam - even better than Yaks - are "Everyday Traction Aids" made by duenorth. according to the thingie that came with them, there's a website:www.duenorthproducts, also a walking365.com.

They are much preferred by everyone who has lived in thsee Hilltowns much longer than I have, which is why I bought them - rubber thingies that fit onto bottom of boots, with overgown HUGE spikey thumbtack like thingies sticking out.  And the spikes are replaceable, and they come with extras.   Really think they were probably designed by crazy gollfers who didn't want to ruin their cleats, or give up golfing in the ice.   Will save you all from my opinion of golfing, that game where people run around with sticks trying to hit a little white ball into holes...

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topic/798278?page=1#post_3358397

Found this on the Active Thread:

A lovely woman from CA, is now in Bethesda, MD for a clinical trial.  Probably means NIH, if anyone is in the area, maybe you could stop by & say hello. 

Yey Chickadee!!

Thanks Suzie, I was going to make a similar comment re pavlova. It does seem to have been made here first but was publishised in Australia.  Not sure if the Canadians suffer from similar problems but things get invented or started here and next minute we find that they are Australian.

Suzie and I are actually on the same side, she is a displaced Kiwi.

Raining here but sticky hot, coolled things down for a little last night  but the humidity is back.

Gardengumby you make a comment about coffee. Coffee in North America is generally terrible.  The Aussies and Kiwis are the coffee kings. Starbucks has bluck muck, though the sound of the Cuban cafe interests me. The best coffee I had in the US was in a little cafe in Litiz PA, really good. I drink what we call a long black which is not an Americano. A long black is a very strong double shot with water on the side. If the coffee is good I don't add much water at all. (An Americano is a very weak black coffee). 

Talking about coffee think I need to go and find some. When I was teaching and before BC I drank up to 10 coffees a day (probably the cause) but since chemo I have one or two at the most so really enjoy my coffee these days. So I tend to wander up the road to the shops and have a coffee most mornings.

HL - finally talked to retirement counselor this morning.  Yes, it goes into same pool of money as 7% CSRS and since that is amortized over 310 months for me, it could likely go to my heirs....funny how BC colors all of these retirement decisions, as if I had not had BC before retirement I would be assuming I'd live forever (well, you know what I mean)! 

(((((Kam))))) Lots of change, lots of stress ... But new vistas on the horizon. Wish some of us feds were closer to help!



L

Sending you a hug too, Kam.

A thought struck me and this is in pure ignorance, as I know nothing of the fed system: Is there a fed union or liaison group that provides support or resources to retiring emplyees? Maybe you have looked into this already, so it may be a silly suggestion. You know, some sort of transition program to weather this change a bit for you?

Sandy: Trust the House to refuse to govern - in more ways than one. Losers!

Thanks all....Athena..interesting idea.  We do have a program, forgot it's name, where we can get 6 free counseling days (for anything!), but I imagine, while an employee.  They supply us Retirement Counselors (from or Department's Service Center) that are available to us and she's already told me to call her anytime after my last day (for instance, I want my tax statement before Feburary!), though I'm officially transferred to OPM after my last day.  (OPM is the same agency that will manage the ACA Health Exchanges, btw.)

Uh, I can still change my mind until COB tomorrow.  

Kam, there is NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees). I don't belong (active duty can belong, but I haven't gotten around to joining although a couple of friends have). They actually may have a group in your area.



L

It absolutely makes sense, Kam! I have considered joining DACOR (Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired) because you can join even if you left the Service, but I left for many good reasons and the friends I want to keep in touch with are the friends I am currently in touch with! Lots of new stuff to do and see and accomplish now! (If I had a tail, it would be wagging furiously - I am SO excited to retire myself!)



L

Chickadee, great news!

Kam, good luck with your last day at work!

Alexandria, Governor Chris Christie (who showed great leadership during the Sandy crisis) is sooooo mad about the situation!

From an article, here is some of what he said today in a press conference.....:

"* “66 days and counting. Shame on you. Shame on Congress.”

* “Unlike people in Congress, [governors] have actual responsibilities.”

* “[Boehner] hasn’t lost all credibility, but right now I think what happened last night was absolutely uncalled for. And I’ve been given no credible reason why.”

* He referred to “the Speaker’s irresponsible action in not moving on anything.”

* “Our people were played last night as a pawn, and that’s why people hate Washington. Last night, my party was responsible for this.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/01/02/chris-christies-howard-beale-moment/

And rumors are swirling that Boehner will be resigning.  Have no idea if true or not.  Will be very interesting to see how this plays out.

Wish I could make all of you a pavlova  but Kam don't cut up Suzie and me, we're Kiwis, the green furry fruit are kiwifruit - I know you call them kiwis but it did look funny when you said kiwis were good on a pav.

I took early retirement 4 years ago but have had no pension at all. I cashed up my governemnt pension for a deposit on a house years ago. Luckily we are in a situation where I didn't need to earn and of course most health costs are covered by the state. I will get my superannuation when I turn 65 - every one gets thats no matter what you earn. Of course if you are still earning it is taxed at a high level.

Not going for coffee as I have DGD and DGS but coffee is coming.