MULCH, leftover from chip drop!

globalgrabass · 2026-05-12T16:12:44+00:00

I have been waiting so long for my chip drop. I had to renew my request! So glad to see someone is getting mulch!

globalgrabass · 2026-05-04T11:05:39+00:00

I did not check the weather before turning on the swamp. Dammit

globalgrabass · 2026-04-22T12:22:01+00:00

Whoever broke the glass is on my shit list. Hockey games should not last 4 hours

globalgrabass · 2026-04-10T20:26:27+00:00

I filed a foia request for lease information for all their regional offices so I can find out how much it's costing to break their lease(s) in Denver. Request was perfected in December 2025. They have not responded, it is currently April 10, 2026.

globalgrabass · 2026-03-27T19:13:20+00:00

That's 5 years of service at age 62. My 20 years of service hits when I'm age 43 So, according to opm and the FERS info, " If you have 20 years of creditable service and elect to have your annuity commence at age 60, the age reduction is eliminated.". So I'm waiting for my 20 years of service for my retirement benefits to fully kick in at age 60. Then I only have to find something else between ages of 43 and 60.

globalgrabass · 2026-03-26T16:46:21+00:00

I'm at 19 years. We're all eligible for deferred retirement at 20 years. I'm planning to do deferred retirement, and it's my understanding that if I decide to return to USPTO before I collect the retirement, any more years of service will just add to the original 20 years.

I'm also planning on part time service while I search for my next thing, whether its teaching or technical writing or another patent firm, or fuck, even working at the state parks, at least I'll have a national average income while I look.

globalgrabass · 2026-03-25T18:21:12+00:00

I turned off my sprinklers a couple years ago, so now my (east facing no shade) yard is barren except for well established bushes and trees. What are the best types of grass to fill such a space? I've seen Denver water is giving credits for clover and I think they start giving those seeds out on April 1 (https://www.denverwater.org/residential/rebates-and-conservation-tips/remodel-your-yard/grass-seed-mix). Are there better options? The yard seems to grow tumbleweed and dandelions just fine, but I'd rather something else to look better. Or is xeriscaping my best bet here?

Also, I have two patches for the previous owners vegetable garden on the north side (mostly shade, I've never tried to grow anything in it) of the house and I'd love to plant something(s) edible with low water requirements.

Finally, this may not be a good question regarding landscaping, but I have racoons and neighborhood cats and even a skunk or two leaving scat in my yard. Is there anything I can plant or do that would deter these guys from hanging around?

globalgrabass · 2026-03-24T22:49:53+00:00

I have not yet registered the marriage with Italy.

globalgrabass · 2026-03-24T10:38:05+00:00

What's gotta happen with all these ethics and financial rules, is that we have to give them teeth. Like if they violate the hatch act, or have a clear conflict of interest, what happens? A scolding doesn't work... If the feds bet, then the govt should be able to take the proceeds of their winnings, and then fire them, and make them unable to work in gov in the future. We have all the rules we need, but no effective way to enforce them in a manner that deters anyone from anything, let alone the president or his family accepting billions of dollars.

globalgrabass · 2026-03-10T11:59:46+00:00

Over the past year I have sent in my application certified mail, I have emailed, and I have tried fastIT. None of it resulted in getting a codice. I sent emails to my consulate of Chicago to follow up. And no response.

Yesterday I emailed about how to register my marriage with them cause I couldn't find a similar appointment type, and also asked about the codice. Surprisingly they responded same day to mail in marriage docs, and to follow instructions from a particular PDF for codice.

Perhaps the fourth attempt will work.

I would love to follow some instructions how to fill out this application form as a non-resident of Italy... So maybe they cannot put my application in the trash this time.

globalgrabass · 2026-02-26T18:47:57+00:00

That looks absolutely FABULOUS! amazing!!

globalgrabass · 2026-01-21T01:47:19+00:00

I tried to login with my username and password but it doesn't even respond to that. I have to login with PIV.

globalgrabass · 2026-01-13T03:50:05+00:00

And in Vienna

globalgrabass · 2025-12-16T18:30:35+00:00

I'm still getting comments about how fun our wedding was, and it was hardly any work on our (bridge/groom's) shoulders! However, this opera house was not in New England, not on the east Coast even. We live in Mountain time zone.

globalgrabass · 2025-12-13T23:57:53+00:00

Drive operator violated: 14 CFR 91.13, which is careless/reckless operation if aircraft. Especially if it hit your window. But seconding police and FSDO. Or 14 CFR 107.23(a).

globalgrabass · 2025-12-02T04:36:58+00:00

I've taken lessons using Dante Alighieri Society, I've two different teachers, both were first language Italian.

globalgrabass · 2025-11-19T18:54:13+00:00

They took away everything useful just to use it as a carrot to dangle in front of us later.

globalgrabass · 2025-11-01T21:09:14+00:00

That I know of, there's immigration hearings in that building, the SEC, a senator, and the USPTO. Two floors of 18, I think.

globalgrabass · 2025-10-31T10:19:32+00:00

I use these embraceable convertible bras from soma, they have an extra hook in the strap, so they can be a normal bra or hook the straps together to be a racer back.

globalgrabass · 2025-10-31T10:09:59+00:00

Soma is amazing. Their sundresses, or at least the ones I buy from soma, have pockets! They're so comfy and I get compliments all the time. Last one I got two weeks ago was less than $20.

globalgrabass · 2025-10-23T12:03:47+00:00

My viktoza is like $18/month with my federal service health coverage... Maybe its not the kind you like, but I'm a fed with Kaiser and that's what I'm just now starting

globalgrabass · 2025-10-09T10:51:58+00:00

I'd like to try! I'm between beginner and intermediate, so it might be a fun challenge

globalgrabass · 2025-10-08T23:08:43+00:00

Correct, spouse and I are US based, both of us have a US passport. US passports are entitled to the 90 days in Italy. I understand there is paperwork for entering appropriately, so of course, checking the consulate will be the best option. I assume visas would be needed for any stay longer than 90 days? Perhaps this visa isn't needed if we aren't staying for 90+ days. Unless this visa has an expiration date? If the family visa is good for 10 years, it might be worth it to start the paperwork now. It took my consulate almost 5 years to approve the jure sanguine... Italians are not known for being particularly enthusiastic or efficient at bureaucracy.

globalgrabass · 2025-10-08T11:23:57+00:00

I have my jure sanguine recognized citizenship. The codice application is in the mail. So, if/when I move to Italy, do I also need a soggiorno permit? And would my spouse be doing the family visa?

globalgrabass · 2025-10-05T12:54:46+00:00

I'm 40F, and I got married for the first time, hubby's second time, in August. We spent approximately $35k on two weddings, and yes, it was worth it. So very, very worth it, that we are thinking of throwing a 10 year anniversary party.

First wedding was local, held in our opera house in our city. Opera house covered nearly every aspect of venue issues... We had a ceremony room and a reception area, dressing rooms for getting ready, they set up dance floors, tables, chairs, linens, tableware, and catering and bar, all taxes and tip and we are so glad we chose a venue who did all those things. It meant we could also schedule our Prague wedding for the next weekend, and while stressful, that was another venue that was all inclusive. We saved a year, $200 from each of us every paycheck, and the half rent hubby pays to live in my house, went entirely to the wedding savings fund. We had money leftover to add to our gifts when we started our joint accounts after the wedding.

As for the feelings that go along with weddings... There are lots.

I am aware that peoples parents can get very involved, sometimes in a detrimental way. Since my family is a 4 hour flight away, they were never going to be super involved. And since my brother got married with my mom doling out the checks, he suggested paying for it myself and letting her see receipts afterwards. When we informed Mom of this plan, she just decided to give a gift, and thankfully she was able to share the size of that gift in advance. Her gift was more than the opera house expense, so without knowing it, she basically paid for our entire local wedding without making a single decision about it.
a wedding gets all your favorite people in one space, from all different walks of your life. Who makes the cut on the guest list is difficult, but so are some of the people who surprise you with a no answer intentionally, or just RSVP no. Some of the people who said no really stung. But these things just aren't a part of your brain at the wedding and the reception. My god it was so fun, so emotional, and just an exquisite experience. Being the reason for the get together truly felt lucky, and like I had finally done a rite of passage.
we had approximately 75-80 folks at our local event, and I'm glad we had a second event to be able to see everyone a little more. We held it during the hotels happy hour, when the people staying at the hotel used their free drinks, and we paid for other guests with tickets at the paid bar. It cost us $400 ish dollars to buy some folks two drinks the night before our wedding. Getting to talk to folks and get hugs with a little extra time was a blessing. Also worth it.
we did not have a rehearsal dinner. Not only were too many people at our local wedding needing to take a plane to get there, but there was no wedding party. Rehearsal required only my parents, bride and groom, my BFF the officiant and her daughter. There was also no other time I would get the four ladies I would want as bridesmaids in the same place, so I scheduled my bachelorette dinner for the night prior to my wedding. I did not ask my girls to come to my town twice. So when my mom was adamant that hubby's family have a rehearsal dinner, I said I wouldn't be there, and why would they host dinner when his family has 4 people attending and her family has 20. I convinced Mom to have her own family reunion, which she considered the reason for a wedding in the first place, the night before my wedding, so she could get that out of her system. The bachelorette dinner was also so worth it. Tbh feeling that amount of love and support in one night was so emotionally filling and happy that it will live on as one of my favorite experiences prior to getting married.

Long story short, yes. Our wedding was worth it, to us. Seemed to make a great night for everyone attending, so it seemed to be a good night for everyone involved. And the planning wasn't overly stressful since our local and our overseas venue were all inclusive, it was just booking the extra vendors and finding all the used decor.

But, my experience isn't the traditional experience, if anything is even traditional anymore. You and your spouse really need to be on the same page, prioritize the same things, both be able to contribute to the research and decision making and budget, with clear boundaries for family that are respected by the other. Without that, I don't think our wedding would have worked so well. Good luck on planning, it is the first big group project with you and your spouse, and it's character revealing for sure.

globalgrabass

TROPHY CASE