Seven chicks less than 24 hours old

I guess I have my to do list for the weekend

Things I did not do, and don't want to do just because I have some time, but considered each for a few minutes: do dishes, fold laundry, organize, power wash the deck, straighten up the deck, power wash/rake and prep the patio for all of the trimming and weeding that needs to get done.

- made hummingbird sugar water
-put out hummingbird feeders
- cleaned brooder and the table it lives on with the power washer (yay! Chicks hatching on Friday/Saturday have a grow out home - I've been failing to get it done after work and Saturday will be marginally too late)
- fed all the animals

- Took a shower
- made coffee
- chatted with youngest (who was also painfully awake)
- started a load of laundry because Barney maybe was nervous that the reason I was up and out so early was that I was leaving (which IS a thing when I have to travel) and peed on youngest's blanket.

I woke up this morning way earlier than I wanted to and well before my alarm. I still have over an hour before work (but I'm going to focus on some quiet time. Maybe read, maybe play nonagram games.)

These past few months have been exceedingly tough, and right now I'm still one foot in front of the other, chop wood, carry water. I can't really think about the uncertainty all around me. I can't really plan next steps in ways that would truly help me.

So...

Sometimes when I'm feeling overwhelmed and burned out, sharing my to do lists helps me remember what I HAVE accomplished no matter how meh I'm actually feeling.

Hi back! ❤️

You know that period of overwhelm and burnout where you want to do the thing, you need to do the thing, and you're on a very clear immovable timeline to do the thing, but every step in the order of operations to do the thing feels like it's own insurmountable mountain? Yeah that.

23 hours and ten minutes. I took a yoga break but Sen. Booker has not.

This is an education in civics.

Are you affected by the HHS cuts and restructuring? HHS is set to cut 10,000 jobs and consolidate divisions — have you been affected? @statnews would like to hear from you.

#HHS isn't being transparent about the cuts occurring within the department or its agencies such as #CDC, #NIH, #FDA. If you've received a RIF notice today, @statnews.com wants to know. www.statnews.com/2025/03/27/h...

RIF PREPAREDNESS KIT Pre-RIF Planning • Calculate Your Benefits: Depending on your age and length of service, a RIF severance may be better than taking a VSIP, VERA or fork type offer. GRIF Severance Calculator "- Fact Sheet Severance Pay &Severance Pay Estimation Worksheet . Understand that you are entitled to getting all of your Annual Leave paid out, but not your Sick Leave or Time Off Awards 6 Step 1: Still Employed? Hoard These Before They Boot You Virtual G o Bag: For more in depth information visit this link but find some key highlights below • Unemploym ent Benefits (UI): File day one--delays burn your payout. Your duty station is the location/state where you will file for unemployment benefits d State Ul Directory . SF-50 (Separation Notice): Your VIP pass for UI, appeals, or jumping back into fed work. Bug HR or OPF now--don't wait for the pink slip. ◦ Pay Stubs (Last 18 Months): UI wants proof you're not blufing. Pul'em fromn mypay and send to a personal email/computer. • Official Personnel Folder (OPF): Your career's paper trail. Google how to download your entire OPF folder from OPE. All SF-50s are included in this folder. Tax & Leave Records: ₩-2s, final stub, unused leave balances-crucial for cash-outs or audits. For HHS employees hit up DFAS, or IRS. &- IRS Transcripts d Note: Change your settings back to physical mail delivery (from electronic) foryour W2 to an accessible physical address for a year down the road in case of any iss ues accessing your future 2025 W2 for the whatever time you are left working in the fed • Debt Ledger (Advanced Leave): Owe leave? Get this sorted pre-exit or kiss waivers goodbye. Ask your agency's HR. & OPM Debt Rules • TSP (Thrift Savings Plan): Withdrawal rules shift post-separation-_know 'em now. Call or check online " ISP: 1-877-968-3778 tsp.gov

Apply for SNAP, Medicaid, and/or ACA as appropriate. • Ditch COBRA for ACA unless you'e loaded. • Rewrite your resume-fed jargon flops in private sector. Network a lot. • Consider joining Senate job fair meetings on the Hill on Tuesdays coordinated by Federal Workers Against Doge (look them up on instagram), First 45 Days: • Widen job hunt-fed hiring's frozen, but others in the private sectors are hiring - it has been most difficult in the humanitarian and foreign affairs space so you may need to be adaptable in that case and pivot your career for the time being & Civic Match • For health foIks d Join CMS Alumni group on Linkedin d- Reach out to Schedule F Consulting to put your resumne in their bank. • For education folks: d Open Edlucation Data, Research _ and Palicy Positions For intemational development folks: C Job Seekers _Job Opportunities for Int' Dey Professionals Other Resources • The following chart consists of organizations that are offering resources/support that may be useful to federal employees:

Here is a guide to practical steps to take in the aftermath of a RIF notification. Time is of the essence when you know you may lose access, so take a look here to help you keep track of what you need to do. We can't take credit for guide, but we hope it helps.

From the fednews community on Reddit Explore this post and more from the fednews community

Here is guidance on appealing RIFs and other adverse actions to the MSPB (Merit Systems Protection Board). Take a look and please consider doing so. Remember, you did nothing wrong. Hold the agencies accountable for their actions.

www.reddit.com/r/fednews/s/...

And the Moche!

Design of study using sequencing of B and T cell receptor and A.I. models to unravel information about infections and autoimmune conditions

Other than the brain, our immune system is the most complex part of the human body. For the first time, sequencing receptors of B and T cells, along w/ generative A.I., enabled diagnosis of medical conditions such as lupus. That's just for starters. erictopol.substack.com/p/the-first-...

In botched DEI purge, OSHA trashes workplace safety guidelines The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered the digital and physical destruction of 18 publications on workplace safety practices, according to an internal February 7 email ob...

The federal government just destroyed OSHA’s publications on preventing #WorkplaceViolence in health care, along with 17 other safety resources!

This is critical information to keep health care workers and our patients safe.
popular.info/p/in-botched...

Despite what RFK Jr. might say, germ theory is settled science. Here's a great article about how Louis Pasteur proved it.

bsky.app/profile/carl...

Those of us who work in gender medicine are not going anywhere What’s more, we’re expanding.

“We’re not going anywhere. What’s more: we’re expanding.”

Nearly a dozen of Minnesota’s foremost experts on gender-affirming care collaborated on this beautiful op-ed in today’s Strib. No paywall.

If you want your country to quickly control outbreaks and also prevent them, maybe you don't want to fire your best disease detectives?

Our team reviewed the entire DOGE website. Nothing they have identified constitutes evidence of fraud or corruption—both of which are crimes. Feel free to audit us. The funds were allotted by Congress, and OIGs regularly reviewed expenditures for fraud.

ATTN: HHS EMPLOYEES If you work for HHS, read this BEFORE you open certain emails

ATTN HHS EMPLOYEES: Firing notices are going out. I am in receipt of an email saying they will revoke your access as soon as you read the email that you've been fired. Please download everything you need before you open that email. SHARE FAR & WIDE. My latest: www.muellershewrote.com/p/attn-hhs-e...

Truth

A black and white pup laying amongst a seat full of stuffed animals/dog toys, and blending in

Trying to hide amongst the toys

Please hug your favorite federal employees; it’s been a terrible week. #federalemployee #feds #protectDEI

:(

@yrhtek.bsky.social ?

Pup-corn treats in red, green, and yellow. Puffed treats in the shape of a dog

Pup corn treats for Barney. Maybe he'll stop mugging us for popcorn. (Hah...not)

Black and white small dog with a red bowtie

Barney went to the groomer today and came home with a bowtie. Bowties are cool.

New saltwater tank set up.

Tank update (this was from Thursday). All fish and coral are back in a tank. In this picture sand sediment is still settling so it's a little cloudy but as of yesterday it was perfect .As of Friday morning it looks like 2 fish casualties, no coral casualties.