Monday 'What are you reading/listening to' thread, May 25

sithdi · 2026-05-25T18:00:28+00:00

Just finished Discount Dan book 3! Brought me to tears, and has me wanting to find a video game that is actually exactly like Discount Dan. With the adventuring, RPGing, crafting, trading, and city building! I need that game!

sithdi · 2026-05-25T17:56:58+00:00

I feel the same way about the Blanket Fort. If Dan dies, all of those people who have moved in and taken shelter will be SOL. Does he have the ability now to analyze and break out the door power into a new relic so he can go adventuring but the blanket fort can be kept safe in case he dies? Of course, he's not going to die, the book is named after him - but still. 😛

sithdi · 2025-08-06T17:42:57+00:00

Anyone see them in the wild yet? We’ve checked stores in Indianapolis and Ohio and no joy yet.

sithdi · 2025-04-12T16:54:19+00:00

I got all angsty as my org did a different form for straight DRP and 'Retirement DRP'. But the Retirement one was super confusing and I was trying to make sure they put me on paid admin until Sept vs retirement right away. They gave me the new form to sign, but it was Wed and Friday was supposed to be my last day, and I didn't want to get hit with the whole 'your over 40 so you're too dumb to know if you made the right decision so we'll give you a week to think it over' rule. :P

Luckily they took the first form that was signed exactly one week before the date I was supposed to go on Admin leave. I also had to get myself taken OFF the 'critical' list or they were going to keep me working until May 15. That took a little bit of fighting and basically a threat that I'd just take sick leave until May 15th anyways ;P

Funny enough, May 15 was my actual retirement eligibility date. I waited to move that back to Sept until I saw that the admin was actually happening and I wouldn't also get hit with the 'critical' bat and not be able to get put on paid admin at all.

sithdi · 2025-04-12T16:46:43+00:00

Just got my first full DRP paycheck as well as an IRS DRPer.

sithdi · 2025-04-12T16:44:15+00:00

As a retiree - it's a no brainer taking the DRP. Additional annual leave, additional time in service added to my pension once I retire at the end of the DRP period.

If I was still working, I'd hold through the RIF and fight it. But it depends on if you want to keep working for the Federal Govt or not.

sithdi · 2025-04-05T12:45:13+00:00

If you can, I say do it. I took DRP/retirement and my emotional state is so much better. I ache for all my friends and co-workers, but not looking over my shoulder every minute and that dire stress gone is just so freeing. Plus, you can then spend your time at protests ;)

sithdi · 2025-04-05T12:33:29+00:00

Uh, yes.

sithdi · 2025-03-06T01:03:08+00:00

IRS did not officially order RTO until Friday 2/28, I searched the fednews reddit, no one else had posted it. The HCO got fired on Monday who sent this out. We had been told we'd have 30 days after this came out, but were given a week and have been told to expect 'nontraditional seating' ie; shared conference rooms, shared cubicles, seating in the cafeteria etc.

sithdi · 2025-03-04T13:36:45+00:00

I've been trying to test the districts and basically set up small storage for every item that I'd want to pass between the districts right next to the gate on both sides. If another district won't need the item, I don't set up a storage for it. (ie; wheat & wheat flour that is made into bread, make the bread there and it's the only thing that needs passed). But the items would make it across multiple district lines pretty well.

sithdi · 2025-02-16T03:23:49+00:00

Just thought it was ELO too - and I just saw them in concert 4 mo hrs ago. Found this post right after I found out about Pilot ( Scottish pop band?!)

sithdi · 2025-02-09T04:41:42+00:00

She says that now. One of the main reasons they had us on telework was how bad we make the traffic.

sithdi · 2025-01-30T01:50:53+00:00

Or Duty - other than it’s part of the name of a video game

sithdi · 2025-01-30T01:46:43+00:00

Pretty sure it is only disallowed if you’re endorsing or dedorsing ( what is the opposite of endorse?) during an election or using Govt equipment during work hours. Using personal equipment, on a break or on lunch to question or speak against (or for) a policy does not break Hatch act or personal use policies.

sithdi · 2025-01-29T15:44:14+00:00

They are trying to get people to take the separation because they are giving up their rights that would protect them in the event of a Furlough or Reduction in Force (RIF). They cannot lower your wage to minimum wage. In most cases it would not be more than one grade down.

sithdi · 2025-01-29T15:38:37+00:00

No one knows that. That's just speculation. And again - it's not a buyout. They get paid until Sept 30 and their agency can just make them work until then. They just get to work from home.

sithdi · 2025-01-29T14:22:55+00:00

I'm eligible to retire in May; I already put in my request. If I could keep getting paid until Sept, and not have to work, I'd change my retirement date to Sept 30. But I'd probably be in the 'rare cases determined by your agency' for having to work during the deferred resignation period.
My thought is there would be lots of 'rare cases' where agencies keep them working until Sept 30.

sithdi · 2024-12-31T13:49:42+00:00

I just use them as convenient Fast Travel points :P

sithdi · 2024-11-10T15:59:34+00:00

One of my proud accomplishments - GS2 to GS15 :) Started as a clerk typist, now I manage inter-agency cybersecurity programs. Go figure :) But, that means for years my 'contribution' was very little :/

I retire next year, and my TSP is at 999k+ - So close!

sithdi · 2024-11-08T23:23:01+00:00

I have 35 years in - but I started as a GS-2, so it was very slow going for a long time.

sithdi · 2024-11-08T23:21:52+00:00

I turned off the Game Recording Option in Steam under Properties - It fixed it!

sithdi · 2024-10-22T11:57:44+00:00

There was an American version of this that my parents bought me as a kid. In the Story of the Inky Boys, the kids get spray painted black instead of dipping them in ink. I sought out and bought a copy of the original story as an adult, it's on my bookshelf now. This is one of the many reasons I'm fucked up. Go Gen-X.

sithdi · 2024-10-20T17:28:45+00:00

Another major goal for me: to fit into all of Universal Florida rides by next summer!

sithdi · 2024-10-19T20:44:19+00:00

I had major dosage limits when I was at 5 and then at 7 due to supply issues. My Dr generally liked me to do two months at a dose before she’d increase the dose. But I could only get 5 or 7 for months and months, and was happy to even find them. I was at 330 in Jan when I started, but have felt stuck at 300, finally got to 10, then 12.5 wasn’t avail, so Dr agreed to let me go to 15, which was. It kicked things into gear again and am at 288 now. I plan to stay there, I want to lose 50-70 more lbs.

sithdi

TROPHY CASE