Don’t Take Your Health for Granted

/in /by

Don’t Take Your Health for Granted 

I am in reasonably good health and looking forward to the summer weekends on the beach. I enjoy taking my grandson to the boardwalk to go on rides, eating pizza and ice cream, making sandcastles on the beach, looking for shells, and lots of swimming.

One morning I woke up in Ocean City, NJ at 4:00 AM to use the bathroom. I probably got up too fast and I fell in the bathroom. The next day I found out I broke my foot and would need surgery. Summer is my favorite season. Well, I have been unable to go to the beach or do any of my favorite summer favorites. They didn’t have to be exorbitant. My grandson and I loved to paint seashells and play games.

I was lucky because I could have hit my head and caused much greater harm. Fortunately, my family have been great caretakers. It’s so hard to feel so helpless. I am not one to sit around, but I am trying. I can drive because it’s my left foot, but food shopping and cooking has been a challenge. I work at the office twice a week and it is comical getting up the stairs on my butt. I have a great team and we are making the best of it.

I know this is a minor injury, but it makes me think how lucky I am. I will recover in four more weeks. I am active, especially in the summer but I have not bothered to wear my Apple watch because I’m probably getting 500 steps a day.

One day we could be perfectly healthy, and the next day it can change. The message is don’t take things for granted. Be grateful for every day that you have!

I am fortunate to have long-term care insurance. My husband and I have a chronic illness rider on our life insurance policies. Our son has been very happy to hear this because it meant if we didn’t need it, he and his two sisters would get the life insurance policy.

I hope to make a complete turn-around in August. I need to work off about 5 pounds at least and build back my strength.

Please enjoy the rest of the summer and stay healthy!

Sincerely,

Carol

Project 2025: The Worst-Case Scenario For Veterans

/in /by

Project 2025: The Worst-Case Scenario For Veterans

Project 2025, a comprehensive policy blueprint backed by influential conservative think tanks, aims to reshape the federal government radically. It proposes cutting one million federal jobs, with a significant focus on eliminating managerial bureaucracy and shutting down what it terms “toxic government agencies.” This initiative aligns closely with the policies of former President Trump, reflecting a broader agenda to reduce government size and influence drastically. Follow link to read more. https://bit.ly/465FZPd

TSP Mobile App Gets Update, New Features

/in /by

TSP Mobile App Gets Update, New Features

Users now have the option to use facial recognition or a fingerprint to log into their TSP accounts from their phones.

Participants in the Thrift Savings Plan will see some new features available on the TSP mobile app. Users now have the option to use facial recognition or a fingerprint to log into their accounts from their phones. Once logged into the app, TSP participants can access a summary of their retirement accounts, along with other investment information. The TSP app was first launched in 2022 as part of a major update to the TSP’s platforms. Follow link to find out more. https://bit.ly/4bwSZi0

IRS Increasing Estimated Tax Penalties: What Federal Employees and Retirees Need to Know

/in /by

IRS Increasing Estimated Tax Penalties: What Federal Employees and Retirees Need to Know

Over the past year, the IRS has significantly increased penalties on underpayment of both estimated tax payments and federal income withholding from salary and retirement income. Individuals who are required to make quarterly estimated payments (due dates each year are April 15, June 15, September 15 and the following January 15) include those individuals with large amounts of investment income such as interest, dividends and capital gains that is not subject to federal income tax withholding. Follow link to read full article. https://bit.ly/3Sp2vx5

PEER Sues to Force OPM To Implement Administrative Leave Reforms

/in /by

PEER Sues to Force OPM To Implement Administrative Leave Reforms

Though Congress enacted a law aimed at ending agencies’ abuse of involuntary administrative leave, the federal government’s dedicated HR agency has yet to implement its key provisions.

An environmental advocacy group is following through on the ultimatum it set last fall, suing the Office of Personnel Management in an effort to force the government’s HR agency to implement a 7-year-old law aimed at limiting agencies’ ability to put federal workers accused of misconduct on prolonged stints of administrative leave. Follow link to read more. https://bit.ly/4ePZcbD