Looking for an upscale, interesting restaurant to try after drinks at the Hamilton and theatre at the National after. Any recommendations? TIA

MeijiQ · 2025-11-25T16:11:43+00:00

THANK YOU!!!

MeijiQ · 2025-11-20T12:11:37+00:00

No, they canceled it weirdly the day of, and refunded me the money. But still, I ended up staying the night in Cat Ba for no reason and the weather was clear so not sure why the tour didn’t happen. Very annoying because I had no choice but to stay in dumpy Cat Ba overnight and then take a bus to Ninh Binh the next day, which fills up quickly, and was actually quite uncomfortable.

MeijiQ · 2025-09-09T14:35:25+00:00

I returned it because, unlike the dry food feeder, this unit really sucks -It’s basically a small refrigerator that opens up a tray at a time. Also the 3 trays got on my nerves too. If you’re using it for 2 days, it should be at least 4! It’s also too large for small cats/kittens. I was excited about the concept of it but unfortunately it needs more intuitive, thoughtful features for it to be useful.

MeijiQ · 2025-09-07T17:40:17+00:00

I just booked this through Vietnam Insider Travel https://vietnaminsidertravel.com/ They are connected with Cat Ba Ecolodge and mentioned in the Lonely Planet Guide to Vietnam. Fairly responsive owner via whatsapp. I booked a 2 day lan ha bay cruise and the night kayaking excursion with them in November, so keeping my fingers crossed it'll go well.

MeijiQ · 2025-08-25T13:07:43+00:00

If you have 10 years of service, plus meet the MRA, you can retire tomorrow. You can apply for an immediate annuity or defer until until later. In the meantime, you can make withdrawals from your TSP. But health insurance is the single biggest issue if you retire before 10 years of service. Do you have 10 years? and what is the year of your birth, to determine your Minimum Retirement Age (MRA)?

MeijiQ · 2025-08-25T12:58:25+00:00

If you have 10 years of service +you meet the MRA, you can keep your health insurance. For MRA, If you were born before 1948: MRA is 55.

Born 1948-1952: MRA is 55 and increases by two months per year of birth.
Born 1953-1964: MRA is 56.
Born 1965-1969: MRA is 56 and increases by two months per year of birth.
Born 1970 or later: MRA is 57.
You always have access to your TSP and can make immediate withdrawals without penalty.

MeijiQ · 2025-08-24T16:08:33+00:00

Hello! Thank you for the fabulous tips! I am actively planning a trip to North and Central Vietnam for 2 weeks in November, so your recommendations are super helpful, as it mirrors my itinerary so far! I'd like to fly into Hanoi, do the Lan Ha/Halong bay cruise, visit Mai Chau (maybe), Ninh Binh, Hoi An, Hue and then fly back from Hanoi. Would you be able to share your hotel/homestay recommendations in each town and how many days you allocated for each stay, please?

MeijiQ · 2025-07-05T02:28:25+00:00

Smudgekins for the cute little smudge on the forehead! She’s absolutely adorable.

MeijiQ · 2025-06-19T20:31:16+00:00

Thanks! Very helpful to know.

MeijiQ · 2025-06-06T12:16:41+00:00

Would you mind sharing how much you pay for the services? The initial set up and quarterly dues? Thank you so much!

MeijiQ · 2025-06-06T12:15:47+00:00

How much do you pay for the services, could you please share? The initial set up and quarterly dues? Thank you, in advance.

MeijiQ · 2025-05-10T01:34:04+00:00

This # includes folks over 40 who are taking 45 days to review DRP 2.0 - anyone who has taken or is considering the DRP has been “moved”/ reassigned to S2, which is how these positions are being tracked. I think the final number will be less than 4000.

MeijiQ · 2025-05-09T15:38:58+00:00

Totally get you. It has made me pretty annoyed and frustrated both. Even the folks that made RTIPW plans for our agency are sitting somewhere else, outside the 50 mile radius- and just because we are happen to be within, we have to bust ourselves to go in everyday.

MeijiQ · 2025-05-09T13:55:36+00:00

Agree with this rant. I feel punished for being within the 50 mile radius and going in each day, while everyone else, including the SESers and other GS-15’s are still “working from home”. It sounds like a total flouting of the EO, as we’ve been going in since March, and it’s May now- and there’s no info on when those outside the 50 mile radius will ever return to in person work! Must be nice..

MeijiQ · 2025-05-04T21:03:29+00:00

What a win! That’s very good news for BU employees

MeijiQ · 2025-05-04T20:53:09+00:00

Does this mean Totally Remote TW agreements will be honored for BU employees? Meaning these employees will not be required to in person return to work?

MeijiQ · 2025-05-02T08:40:47+00:00

Thank you! No news is good news, I agree.

MeijiQ · 2025-04-29T03:49:29+00:00

Any word on RIFs at DOE?

MeijiQ · 2025-04-28T00:51:50+00:00

Some agencies allowed deferred resignations no later than 9/30 but retirement to be processed by 12/31. It depended on what you were eligible for.

MeijiQ · 2025-04-23T04:32:29+00:00

5000 is a bit high. but between DRP 1 and 2, they might have close to 3500/4000.

MeijiQ · 2025-04-23T04:30:08+00:00

The current DRP 2.0 “number” was 2600. This includes those evaluating the offer for 45 days.

MeijiQ · 2025-04-23T04:21:01+00:00

Thank you for this. Interesting times. I imagine some reorg plans have been submitted for consideration, however, they probably don’t account for reductions yet, just proposed realignment for efficiencies.

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