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Post by funkyodar on Oct 2, 2013 9:06:34 GMT -5
How bout a thread where furloughed feds can tell us how they are passing the time? Maybe have our "essential" brothers in arms that are forced into involuntary servitude keep us posted on how its going? And those outsiders that still have biz with the skeletonized agencies, what's your experience?
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Post by moopigsdad on Oct 2, 2013 9:11:39 GMT -5
So funky was it hard sleeping in today??? No furlough for me, still at work for the state without interruption. Sorry for those of you really affected by this shutdown.
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Post by funkyodar on Oct 2, 2013 9:22:26 GMT -5
Def a lil different. But right now trying to look on the bright side. I mean, why be furlough when you can be fur-HIGH.
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Post by moopigsdad on Oct 2, 2013 9:33:36 GMT -5
Did you grow back the beard yet funky? I know you shaved it off for the process. I left my facial hair (mustache and goatee) the way it was, but trimmed nicely. Considering one of my panel matched me in facial hair, I don't think it made any difference. I didn't want to feel naked in front of the panel considering the questions they asked me gave me enough to think about already. LOL!
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Post by sealaw90 on Oct 2, 2013 9:34:01 GMT -5
Funky, I am currently "exempt" from furlough until the agency revolving fund I am supposed to be paid from (but won't receive an actual paycheck until the shutdown is over) is run down. Then I will join the ranks of furloughed feds. Not sure when that will happen, but in the meantime, all my clients are furloughed, the federal agencies where I have cases are furloughed, so I am at a standstill. Fortunately I have things in my inbox which languished during the end of FY13 rush-to-spend-our-money-on-contracts and can now be worked on. The usual flood of emails is barely a trickle... The phone is quiet.... The cafeteria salad bar is blissfully full of items no matter when I decide to get lunch.... I decided to "dress down" since there are no clients, no meetings, etc. It's also a cost savings measure to avoid a big dry cleaning bill while I'm not getting paid. I asked if I could telework from home, but was told 'no'. Oh well if I get any "insider" news, I will be sure to pass along.
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Post by moopigsdad on Oct 2, 2013 9:39:55 GMT -5
Funky, I am currently "exempt" from furlough until the agency revolving fund I am supposed to be paid from (but won't receive an actual paycheck until the shutdown is over) is run down. Then I will join the ranks of furloughed feds. Not sure when that will happen, but in the meantime, all my clients are furloughed, the federal agencies where I have cases are furloughed, so I am at a standstill. Fortunately I have things in my inbox which languished during the end of FY13 rush-to-spend-our-money-on-contracts and can now be worked on. The usual flood of emails is barely a trickle... The phone is quiet.... The cafeteria salad bar is blissfully full of items no matter when I decide to get lunch.... I decided to "dress down" since there are no clients, no meetings, etc. It's also a cost savings measure to avoid a big dry cleaning bill while I'm not getting paid. I asked if I could telework from home, but was told 'no'. Oh well if I get any "insider" news, I will be sure to pass along. Evidently, sealaw90 they feel they can't trust employees to work from home during the furlough. It's a shame that all you can do is odds and ends left over in the process of work, probably why they don't want you working at home. I hope for your sake, along with every other federal employee, this shutdown ends soon, so you can get back to your regular work and OPM can finish grading the exams/interview and get out NORs.
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Post by funkyodar on Oct 2, 2013 9:51:02 GMT -5
Yep, the funky fuzz has returned with a vengeance. Told the wife I was gonna just let it roam now that I'm an unemployed hobo.
sealaw, keep sane bro. Being the sheriff of a ghost town has got to be odd.
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Post by sealaw90 on Oct 2, 2013 10:05:10 GMT -5
Well, I do have legal research to do while I wait for my cases to restart after the furlough, but I have the luxury of putting it off if I want to. But if I am forced to come in without getting paid (but it is guaranteed so I'm not THAT bitter) I thought I would get rid of some nit-noid crap in my in-box. I guess if I was still in private practice I would actually be paying bills, reconciling my accounts, and doing all those other bothersome things that don't make you money but are required by the bar association! I do remember those days, and not too fondly!!!
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Post by sealaw90 on Oct 2, 2013 10:07:54 GMT -5
Yeah, it is eery around here. At least if you keep avoiding the "honey-do" list while you're furloughed, it will be one hell of an easy, albeit unpaid, vacation !! Go for it, I certainly would!!
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Post by hopefalj on Oct 2, 2013 10:34:05 GMT -5
I'm on a vacation right now, which I guess is nice. When I get back, maybe I'll start day drinking and writing country songs. I have a feeling this is going to continue for a couple of weeks, so maybe I'll have a self-produced album out by the time I return to work. I'll use my unused leave from this week to go on tour after its completion.
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Post by sealaw90 on Oct 2, 2013 11:19:07 GMT -5
I'm on a vacation right now, which I guess is nice. When I get back, maybe I'll start day drinking and writing country songs. I have a feeling this is going to continue for a couple of weeks, so maybe I'll have a self-produced album out by the time I return to work. I'll use my unused leave from this week to go on tour after its completion. AWESOME idea hopefal. Maybe that's why my boss won't let me telecommute - that day drinking can be pretty tempting! Actually, I'd probably be surfing the web all day - hold it - I do that at work trying to understand what a revolving fund is, how is it funded, and how much is left in the fund until I get furloughed!! Oh darn, lunch is over, back to some real work!!
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Post by JudgeRatty on Oct 2, 2013 11:26:53 GMT -5
I am catching up on my long to do list, yard work, tire rotation, etc. Anything to keep me busy! I figure might as well take advantage of the down time during the week when these things are easier to do than on the weekends. The whole thing is really odd...I feel like I am playing hookie or something, like I forgot to do something...weird. Hope all is well with everyone!
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Post by crab on Oct 2, 2013 11:46:08 GMT -5
Got some weird virus going on so I can't even enjoy my unemployedness yet! Insult to injury! Slobbin' on the couch now with the remote out of reach so I can't obsessively watch CNN, lol. Did see a great t-shirt that said Happy FUrlough Day with the FU in red. If I had any coin, I'd order one if thems. . Make the most of it my friends!
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Post by minny on Oct 2, 2013 12:50:07 GMT -5
Been rockin out in DC taking little brainteaser tests yesterday and having a pleasant conversation with an OPM staffer and a retired ALJ today. Here's hoping the shutdown lasts one more day (since it started anyway) so I can sleep in one day.
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Post by BagLady on Oct 2, 2013 12:51:57 GMT -5
Welcome to the other side, Minny!
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Post by moopigsdad on Oct 2, 2013 12:55:32 GMT -5
Congratulations minny on finishing with Phase 3. I know it has to be a relief. I don't know if I would call the SI a pleasant conversation, but it wasn't a grilling either. Welcome to the other side and I wouldn't worry about having to return to work tomorrow. My take is that it will be a few weeks to a month before this thing is solved.
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Post by sealaw90 on Oct 2, 2013 15:17:48 GMT -5
Been rockin out in DC taking little brainteaser tests yesterday and having a pleasant conversation with an OPM staffer and a retired ALJ today. Here's hoping the shutdown lasts one more day (since it started anyway) so I can sleep in one day. I think you need to get one of them "Happy FUrlough Day" t-shirts in honor of spending your unpaid time off "crushing" these tests! I'll even buy it for you! It seems injurious and insulting in that sort of sadistic, careless attitude that only our beloved government can devise, in that you spend your furlough days in OPM-testing-land. Seriously crab, are those shirts for sale? I'm not even furloughed (yet) and I want one
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Post by lurker/dibs on Oct 2, 2013 18:17:40 GMT -5
Well, I had one judge who decided that she didn't know how long the furlough will last so she scheduled hearings through January. So I won't have shortages of hearings, no matter how long it lasts. Though I'm not sure if I will be paid. And, as I understand it, if I happen to get locked out of the efile system, there is no one there at the help desk to "help".
Also, I was told by the trustee that bankruptcy court will only be held for 10 days, then it will get shut down. The trustees office isn't effected, but the judges are. So we can have 341s, but no conformations.
My parents farm. They are currently harvesting peanuts. They can "sell" their peanuts but they can't get paid on them because the USDA can't inspect the crops because that isn't "essential". Most people probably never thought about even farmers being effected by all this.
If we can't get paid by SS or bankruptcy court, things will get really bad fairly quickly. Those make up about 80% if our office income. My staff will still want payroll every week. But, life will continue to go on as far as my private practice. Arraignments are Friday so state criminal work will continue with the same problems that we have always had.
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Post by Buffalogal on Oct 2, 2013 18:44:24 GMT -5
My agency has funding for about 30 days. So it was "business as usual" for me. I rode the sparsely-populated bus and metro to work. I'm really grateful to get my paychecks, for now, until the shutdown ends or we run out of money. I feel sorry for the lunch places in our neighborhood that rely on the government employees for their revenues. Althought the government employees may get back pay, these local restaurants and cafes will never recover these lost revenues. I hope their employees don't lose their jobs.
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Post by crab on Oct 2, 2013 18:50:13 GMT -5
Don't know where to get one but saw the pic on google images earlier!
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