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Susanita

Susanita

Joined July 2016

Life's too short to read books you don't like.
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Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
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The Darkling Halls of Ivy by Lawrence Block
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Susanita
Hidden Depths | Ann Cleeves
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Another winner from Ann Cleeves. Vera is as grumpy and insightful as ever, and the story is compelling. I want to jump right into the next one, but I have book club selections to read! #serieslove2025

TheSpineView Fantastic! 9h
22 likes1 comment
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Susanita
Hidden Depths | Ann Cleeves
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When I did my journal #wrapup for March, I remembered I also helped me friends find their new cats. A good development, but it did cut into my reading time.

In any event, here‘s a more realistic #serieslove2025 plan for April. Four books instead of eight. 🤣

TheSpineView You got it! 🌞📖 1d
28 likes1 comment
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Susanita
The Secret Place | Tana French
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1. I was a pretty good student in high school and less so in college. (Big fish, small pond,etc.)
2. Tagged book takes place in a school. I enjoyed it on audio.
#two4tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 1d
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Susanita
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I have to go somewhere later today and don‘t think I‘ll finish anything else, so I‘m calling it for March. My reading pace slowed down a bit for various reasons.
-I couldn‘t find an #authoramonth book I liked
-Two book club selections that were a little long and I couldn‘t get into them until about midway through
-Getting ready for tax return prep
-The world in general 🔥

Nevertheless, I tore through SOTR and loved it.

#wrapup

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Susanita
Hidden Depths | Ann Cleeves
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After a little trip to Panem, I‘m back in Northumberland with Vera. I spent most of the afternoon washing the bedding and reorganizing my bookcases. As usual, a little tweak turned into an overhaul of half the shelves. It‘s good to just sit and read and eat chicken with snow peas. #hyggehourreadathon

TheBookHippie ♥️ 3d
Chrissyreadit 💛💛💛💛 3d
AllDebooks ❤️ 3d
44 likes3 comments
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Susanita
Untitled | Untitled
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Yesterday I spent 3+ hours at The Last Word bookstore in Mt. Airy MD. It‘s a little bit of a drive but worth it. They have a smaller store closer to me that‘s in the midst of a reorganization, and I‘m looking forward to seeing the revamped space.

#sundayfunday

BookmarkTavern That‘s an absolutely perfect name for a bookstore! Thanks for answering! 3d
27 likes1 comment
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Susanita
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I went to a discussion thingy at the bookstore today. Besides talking books for three hours (it was only scheduled for two), we drank a couple pots of tea and got some swag. Including the chance to choose two ARCs from a stack. ♥️#indiebookstores

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Susanita
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It was a particularly stinky week IRL but there was still joy to be found.
1. While walking in the woods, I ran into someone I knew, and we noticed this sweet little flower next to the path.
2. The library held Tolkien Reading Day event with the editor of the tagged book.
3. The PetSmart cashier and I were both singing along with Bruno Mars on the PA.
4. I had shepherd‘s pie with Impossible “meat,” and it was delicious. ⬇️
#5joysfriday

Susanita 5. The result was NOT what I wanted, but it was still a joy to attend Opening Day. 6d
Bookwormjillk Gore was so good. I‘m holding on to that and ignoring the ending. 6d
Aims42 It was indeed a stinky week for me too. Glad it‘s Friday!! 💛🧡🩷 6d
TheBookHippie This week was ROUGH. Love your lists! 6d
dabbe @Susanita We attended ours, too, with the same results. ♥️⚾️🖤 6d
36 likes5 comments
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Susanita
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We‘re in the middle of a hostile government takeover, but it‘s still Opening Day.

Bookwormjillk Who‘s throwing first pitch for the Nats? 7d
Aims42 ⚾️😍 7d
Susanita @Jari-chan Thomas Boswell the sportswriter 7d
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Leftcoastzen Oh wow ! Love Boswell ! Happy Opening Day to all who celebrate!⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️ 7d
dabbe At least we can always count on baseball! ♥️⚾️💙 6d
Jess861 Another long year for us Reds fans! 6d
Susanita @Jess861 Tito will be fun to watch though. 6d
43 likes7 comments
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Susanita
Lilies of the Field | William E Barrett
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I have seen 37/100 for this round. Some highlights:

1. Lilies of the Field
2. Mary Poppins
3. E.T.
4. Breaking Away

Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/academy-awards-list-3-nominations-for-best

#TLT

dabbe 🩵 your choices! Thanks for playing and sharing. 📽️🍿🎬 7d
30 likes1 comment
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Susanita
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Sometimes the memes just write themselves.

As a #longtimefed I would receive regular briefings and training about the importance of OPSEC. During COVID my office had to jump through hoops to be allowed use Zoom.

These people are ridiculous.

ETA: “But her emails…”

lil1inblue 😂 😂 😂 😭 😭 😭 1w
CBee This meme is 🔥 1w
AmyG 👊🇺🇸🔥 1w
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dabbe Lock them up! Lock them up! 👊🏻❣️👊🏻 1w
Reggie lol 1w
46 likes6 comments
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Susanita
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1. I hang out with my cat.
2. The tagged book looks interesting.
#two4tuesday

TheSpineView ❤️🐾❤️ Thanks for playing! 1w
34 likes1 comment
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Susanita
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Heartbreaking. #serieslove2025

TheSpineView Great job!❤️📖📚 1w
37 likes1 comment
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Susanita
Facebook For Dummies | Carolyn Abram
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1. I feel okay today. Exercise class was fun, and we got some much needed rain.
2. Yes. It‘s how I stay in touch with some of my friends and get some (but not all) of my news. On the other hand, it can also be frivolous at best and mean spirited. I make a point not to argue with strangers, as tempting as it may be.
3. When I shut it down a couple hours before bedtime (except for Litsy of course), I‘ve found that helps.
#mentalhealthmonday

Kerrbearlib Glad you had fun at exercise class! I have also found that logging off before bed helps. I try to log out between 9 pm and 10 pm every night and then give my electronics to my husband to hide. It‘s helped me sleep better. (edited) 1w
Susanita @Kerrbearlib That‘s a good idea. Unfortunately I have to use my phone to play music that will blot out the faux news in the other room, but I‘m getting better at doing that only and not going off on social media tangents. 1w
35 likes2 comments
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Susanita
Hidden Depths | Ann Cleeves
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That Maryland game was a little stressful, so I‘m going to chill out with some murder and Vera. #hyggehourreadathon

TheBookHippie 😂🙃 1w
kspenmoll Yay for books! and March madness! That nailbitibg scare! 1w
46 likes2 comments
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Susanita
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Reading this on my phone while eating a chicken avocado flatbread and drinking a chocolate raspberry latte in this cafe that suddenly got very busy and loud. I‘m tucked away in a corner. #BandBDay

TheSpineView That looks delicious! 🤩📖☕️🥑 2w
Susanita @TheSpineView It was delicious! A little messy and a little spicy but a nice counter to the latte. 1w
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Susanita
Circe | Madeline Miller
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Yes! Madeline Miller was friendly and approachable at my local indie bookstore. #sundayfunday

TheKidUpstairs Always glad to hear positive stories about authors I love! She's so great. I hope she is able to write again soon. 2w
BookmarkTavern We love to hear positive stories about authors! Thanks for sharing! 1w
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Susanita
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Either we outrun the storm or the storm outruns us.

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Susanita
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1. My friends adopted Snoop and his brother Steve!
2. In my exercise class for a change of pace the instructor swapped out one of the songs for the Cupid Shuffle.
3. Lunch at a local Mediterranean restaurant.
4. I had a good chat with my financial guy who talked me off the ledge…for now at least.
5. We won HERstory trivia at the brewpub, thanks in part to my crack research into the history of women and beer. ⬇️
#5joysfriday

Susanita In the eighteenth century many brewers in America were women. The term for a female brewer was brewster. https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/women-and-beer-forgotten-pairing 2w
Bookwormjillk Fun fact! 2w
Aims42 Way to kick butt at the brewpub trivia!! And to win on such a great question too - victory is even sweeter 🙌 2w
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Sace I‘m so glad Snoop and his brother have found a home! (edited) 2w
dabbe 🩵💙🩵 2w
kspenmoll What a great list! Love the trivia win! 2w
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Susanita

This book should be right up my alley, but for some reason I just can‘t get into it. I checked out something else for #authoramonth so I‘ll see how that goes.

Karisa Same! I was so looking forward to it. However, it felt like a slog to me.😢 2w
Soubhiville Her YA is fairly fast paced, maybe that would work better for you. I loved the Shadow and Bone trilogy. 2w
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Susanita
Daisies for Innocence | Bailey Cattrell
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Welcome back @TheSpineView 😀
1. My favorite spring flowers are pansies. I love their little faces!
2. My mystery book club requested a flower-related cozy for our May selection. I found a “bunch” on cozymystery.com including the tagged book. Unfortunately, it‘s not available at the library, but look at that cover! I mean, a cat AND a corgi?!
#two4tuesday

TheSpineView I love that cover! Thanks for playing! 2w
35 likes1 comment
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Susanita
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While POTUS was cutting IMLS, he was also dismantling Voice of America and Radio Martí. My career as a #longtimefed started at VOA. I later spent a few years at Radio Martí, where I met my husband and my best friend.

These agencies were not without problems, but they didn‘t deserve to be one more tradition thrown on the scrap heap of history. Meanwhile the “champion of Cuban freedom” does nothing.

Susanita But he‘s okay with deporting people to a brutal prison in El Salvador. 2w
Suet624 It just gets worse every day. 2w
BkClubCare I just want to cry. And make the calls. 2w
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AmyG Hahahaha. The face you make when you sold your soul to the devil. 2w
Leftcoastzen 😡 2w
DogMomIrene I thought Kari Lake there was awful, but this is definitely worse! 2w
Susanita @DogMomIrene Holy moly! I totally missed the news that she was put in charge … and then told to shut it down a few days later. 2w
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Susanita
The Missing American | Kwei Quartey
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Last week I was discombobulated by the time change and didn‘t have a #hyggehourreadathon at all. This week it‘s dark and windy, but the promised rain hasn‘t materialized.

We just had corned beef and cabbage, and I‘m settled in with the tagged book. It‘s for book club tomorrow.

41 likes1 stack add
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Susanita
The Sun Also Rises | Ernest Hemingway
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My sister‘s book club was reading this, so I loaned her my copy. Many years ago. In her defense, at one point she offered it back after the meeting, but I suggested she hold onto it until she finished it. I‘m pretty sure she doesn‘t even know where it is now. That‘s okay. I‘ve read it twice and definitely have no desire to read it a third time. 🤣🤣
#sundayfunday

KCofKaysville @Susanita. My uncle returned a book after 20 years! He set a record for that. 3w
BookmarkTavern LOL I usually just buy the book for my sister when I want her to read something! Thanks for answering! 2w
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Susanita
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I have a complicated relationship with Williamsburg. My sister went to college there, and I was determined to go anywhere else (contrary teenager syndrome) but ended up there anyway. As a #longtimefed I sent colleagues all over the world but never traveled myself, for the first 10+ years.

Then my first work trip was to…Williamsburg! My very last work trip was to nearby Chesapeake, to learn more about processing travel reservations and vouchers.⬇️

Susanita I visited again in January to get away from the inauguration and the gloating. It was a somewhat bittersweet trip. 3w
48 likes1 comment
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Susanita
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As a #longtimefed I‘ve seen staff cuts before. Now I‘m seeing some stunning “whataboutism,” comparing the Clinton-Gore cuts to what DOGE is doing.

Though my agency at the time was minimally affected, I had issues with the initiative.
-Government as a business
-OPM staff laid off during the process
-Increased reliance on contractors

However, there was a logic and process to it. Employees were treated with empathy, which is apparently now a sin.

marleed I am sickened at the thought of how long it will take for empathy to become the norm. This admin cracks its self up over who can deliver the next cruel and spiteful line - in this country and across the world. I hope the courts have the intestinal fortitude to act as a barrier to this cruelty. 3w
Leftcoastzen Musk quote on Empathy “The fundamental weakness of Western Civilization is empathy.” And if you have read anything about Donald you know he never had any. 3w
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Susanita
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It looks like the awful CR was passed. Thanks, traitor Dems!

I don‘t have the spoons to write a #longtimefed post today, so I‘ll be back tomorrow with a fresh take.

Meanwhile, I‘ll leave you with this. I was running errands today and saw the most ridiculous cybertruck ever. (Even more than the one wrapped in a realtor‘s ads.) It was painted bright green on the bottom and jet black on the top. I guess it‘s supposed to look like a convertible?

Tamra Sigh 😞 3w
ncsufoxes There is one of those silver monstrosities in my neighborhood & every time I see it all I think is: there goes another mediocre white man 3w
Susanita @ncsufoxes I hope you get to point and laugh once in a while. 😏 3w
BookmarkTavern I sometimes see one on my commute to work with a vanity license plate that literally says cybertruck. 🙄 3w
ImperfectCJ It is kind of impressive when I see a cybertuck that looks more ridiculous than they naturally do. I saw one in the library parking lot yesterday, and it caused me some stereotype dissonance. 3w
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Susanita
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1. Sunday was our associate pastor‘s birthday, and we had this delicious mango cake (no murder, thankfully).
2. Upgrades at the local park.
3. Another art show at the community center. This work is called Basin of Beauty.
4. My spouse made a delicious (but not photogenic) lasagna, using tortillas instead of noodles.
5. My friends are still looking for a cat, but I saw on the shelter‘s website that the mouthy kitten was adopted. #5joysfriday

Deblovestoread Love this post! You just gave me a solution to a what to fix for dinner when my daughter is in town on April 3. I have a Mexican lasagna recipe my family loves that I haven‘t made in forever. Thanks 🥰 3w
TheBookHippie What a lovely week!!!! 3w
dabbe 🩵💙🩵 3w
37 likes3 comments
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Susanita
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Still not many (14) but some are pretty memorable.
1. The Pride of the Yankees
2. 12 Angry Men
3. Gaslight
4. To Kill A Mockingbird

Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/academy-awards-list-2-nominations-for-best
#TLT

dabbe All the ones you chose are extremely memorable. Thanks for playing and sharing. 🍿❣️🎬 3w
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Susanita
OPM, the Year in Review | United States. Office of Personnel Management. Office of Public Affairs
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As GSA is the federal government‘s property management agency, OPM is the HR agency. Perhaps I don‘t have a clue, but it seems to me that when you‘re massively cutting your workforce, you don‘t want to cut the staff that will be processing all those retirements and terminations. At least let the dust settle first!

As a #longtimefed I can verify that retirement actions take months to process in the best of times.

Tamra Zero logic, no common sense. 3w
Chrissyreadit It feels like the cult will never give up its belief while drinking the kool aid that destroys them and everyone else. 3w
Bookwormjillk The lawsuits are going to go on for years. 3w
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Leftcoastzen Insanity. Have you been watching YouTube posts by senator Sheldon Whitehouse ? He‘s working hard ,a voice in the wilderness 3w
wanderinglynn It‘s going to take decades to recover from this insanity. But a DC Circuit Judge did order DOGE to produce records on cost-cutting. We‘ll see if they do it, but at least it‘s something. 3w
dabbe #stoptheinsanity 😳😡🤬 3w
Susanita @Bookwormjillk @wanderinglynn This 💩is going to keep lawyers busy for years. 3w
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Susanita
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For what it‘s worth, this morning I used 5Calls to contact my senators and ask them to vote against the pending continuing resolution.

In “normal” times, I wouldn‘t favor this approach. But we‘re not in normal times. Republicans have proven themselves to be untrustworthy. As a #longtimefed I found the kick-the-can budget process to be disruptive, especially when it would drag on until March. However, we‘re already living under massive disruption.

ImperfectCJ I need to educate myself more about this issue and then follow your lead and call my congresspeople...there's been too much to keep up with, and I don't want to get fatigued as the consequential stuff comes up (which I know is the goal of those holding the fire hose). 3w
TheBookHippie I like the 5calls thing and I agree with everything you said. 3w
ChaoticMissAdventures @ImperfectCJ the point is to overwhelm you. My unsolicited advice, get a group of like-minded friends and parcel out the issues. In my friend group I monitor abortion issues, 1 friend monitors LGBTQ, 1 takes immigration ECT. Then when serious things come up the person in charge of that subject writes a letter to the Congress people and shares it with the group and we all send in a letter. 3w
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Bookwormjillk Have you seen what they want to do to DC? Take away $1.1 B dollars! Think of what that would do to public services. 3w
ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures Indeed. They've said as much while saying the quiet part loud. Between pandemic, job changes/relocations, and now all of this, my friend group has diminished significantly. I'm in a rebuilding phase, but at almost 50, that's challenging. I'm trying to focus on the ways that the Constitution is being eroded rather than specific issues (forest vs trees), but it's easy to get distracted by outrage and fear. 3w
Susanita @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures The point is definitely to overwhelm us. I‘m gonna go out on a limb and say they probably don‘t even mind the lawsuits that much (bitching and moaning and bluster aside), because it keeps the waters muddied. Throw in Tesla publicity stunts and a Hannity rant. Rinse. Repeat. 3w
Susanita @Bookwormjillk I understand that‘s not even federal money! For that the city had to dismantle the BLM plaza?!? 3w
Susanita @ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures One option is indivisible.org which has local groups centered around particular issues. 3w
49 likes8 comments
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Susanita
Death and Taxes | David Dodge
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I‘ve seen a lot of misinformation about government employees on social media. One of the most ridiculous assertions is that government employees don‘t pay taxes. This is news to me! I‘ve been paying taxes on my wages since I started working in high school, through college, and as a #longtimefed for 35+ years. I still pay taxes on some of my retirement income. The same applies for teachers, firefighters, state workers, and other public servants.

Tamra 🤦🏽‍♀️ it‘s inexplicable. (edited) 3w
ImperfectCJ So many misconceptions. I spoke with a medical doctor yesterday who didn't know that the NIH was part of the federal government and didn't understand the link between cutting federal funding and colleges decreasing the number of science graduate students they could accept. I just...ugh. I don't mean to imply that I have a firm understanding about how everything works, but I feel pretty confident that I understand the basic structure. 3w
TieDyeDude That hurts my brain. Why would someone make up a lie like that, unless there is no practical reason for these fed lay-offs and supporters need to make up easily refutable stories to justify this administration's actions in their own minds... 🤔 😵 😔 3w
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marleed I‘m retired fed civil service (38 years). I paid taxes then. I pay taxes now. And honestly, I‘m good with paying taxes to support roads, libraries, education, keeping SS solvent, healthcare, emergency response, military, peace keeping mission, altruistic endeavors and so much more. I don‘t want to pay the taxes of billionaires who have the accountants and the exception‘s to avoid their responsibility. 3w
marleed And another thing… In 2022-23 the average cost of educating one student was $17,650. I have 2 grown children who were in public schools k-13. Without adjusting for inflation, my taxes for those 13 years of education is $458,900. My taxes did not pay the direct education of my own kids. It went to the education of the US. Just stop it with private school vouchers. Our best natural resource is the education of our children. 3w
Susanita @marleed I don‘t think anyone “likes” paying taxes, but I definitely like what taxes pay for, nationally and locally. I like public land and schools and libraries and sidewalks and food testing and so much more. Vouchers are a scam. 3w
Susanita @TieDyeDude The more I think about it, the more absurd it seems to me. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 3w
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Susanita
White Oleander | Janet Fitch
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1. I take an exercise class on Mondays. I‘m feeling a tiny bit sore, but I had a good chat afterwards with a couple who are taking the class together.
2. Bookriot has the tagged book on a list of must-read books about mental illness. It features a young woman who bounces around the foster system when her mother (played by Michelle Pfeiffer in the movie) goes to prison. Movie & book are both intense.
#mentalhealthmonday

Kerrbearlib That‘s cool that you‘re taking an exercise class. I will have to check this book out. Stacked! Thanks for sharing! 3w
DebinHawaii Yay to a good class! 🎉 I read this book ages ago & saw the movie too—you are right, both are quite intense! 3w
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Susanita
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As a #longtimefed the only “DEI” employment initiative I ever saw in action was Veterans Preference, which was established by law in 1944.

Was it sometimes a hassle to “clear” a veteran who had applied for a job? Yes. Did it sometimes feature a qualified veteran who turned out to be perfect for the job? Yes. Did it lead to an unqualified veteran being hired instead of a qualified non veteran? No.

Leftcoastzen Scumbag Idiots! 3w
marleed Yea, as a retired DoD Army civilian the comments made by those ‘advising‘ POTUS infuriate me. He has normalized hateful, off-the-cuff and/or even deliberate, inaccurate speech. It will take generations to recover from all this hate and intolerance. 3w
AmyG You can‘t say you support veterans while at the same time gut veteran services. 3w
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Susanita
Miami Blues | Charles Willeford
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At one point as a #longtimefed I was pretty familiar with the Miami airport, whether as the destination or a transit point. I also spent a long day at the airport greeting arriving participants and getting them onto the right shuttle bus. For another conference, my room overlooked the main runway.

Anyway, in addition to the sandwiches from La Careta, I also like the artwork on the walls.

TheBookHippie I liked it too. Been years since I‘ve flown in there! 3w
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Susanita
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I‘m cheating a little on this answer. This isn‘t the last book I bought. However, it‘s the next book I‘m buying. I ordered it several days ago from the bookstore, and I expect they will have it in pretty soon.

I started reading it on Libby a while ago, but I realized it has a lot of “exercises” that were awkward to do in that format. I finally got around to ordering my own physical copy! It‘s probably even more relevant these days.
#sundayfunday

tpixie That‘s great! 😃 3w
BookmarkTavern I read this one a while ago! It‘s got a lot of good information in it! Thanks for posting! 3w
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Susanita
Men Explain Things to Me | Rebecca Solnit
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Happy International Women‘s Day!

As a #longtimefed I worked with and beside many strong and talented women. While I wasn‘t aware of any job discrimination (or “reverse” discrimination 🙄), I certainly observed micro aggression. Especially within the Defense Department! One year on Women‘s Day the Director gave all the women a flower and acted as if he was doing something.

Be that as it may, Rebecca Solnit has an insightful blog to check out. ⬇️

Bookwormjillk Only 3 months? 4w
Susanita @Bookwormjillk I think that post was from early February. But yeah it feels like forever. 4w
Bookwormjillk @Susanita so much damage in so little time 4w
AmyG It may just be women…who save our country. 4w
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Susanita
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There‘s no new #longtimefed post today. Just a reminder about the Amazon boycott. I understand there‘s also a Target “fast” during Lent.

Meanwhile, if you haven‘t yet encountered the Hostile Government Takeover song, enjoy!

https://youtube.com/shorts/9rgHC9P7FjI?si=EkOXZwaRTfHqIglC

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Susanita
Untitled | Untitled
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1. Nando‘s stores in the DMV will give out free chicken to federal employees 2-5 this afternoon.
2. I‘m helping my friends find a new cat to add to their family. I met a mouthy kitten at the county shelter and learned of a private rescue at a local coffee shop that also has delicious scones.
3. I watched 6888 instead of the performative rally at the Capitol.
4. I got the rest of the way off Goodreads and deleted my account. ⬇️
#5joysfriday

Susanita 5. Nationals tickets have been loaded to my Ballpark app. 4w
Bookwormjillk Go Nats! I‘m excited for the new season to start. 4w
kspenmoll Great week of joys! Love that chickens are given to fed employees. 4w
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Leftcoastzen You are rocking it ! I need to get off Goodreads . I too have some tickets loaded though my team isn‘t in the town I live in!⚾️ 4w
Aims42 Love all your joys!! And I can‘t wait for baseball season to officially start ⚾️💙❤️ 4w
dabbe 🩶💚🩶 4w
DebinHawaii Lovely joys this week! 💛💛💛 Yay for free 🍗 😋 3w
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Susanita
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This book is well written and tells a compelling story, striking a balance between avoiding the dull and dry procedural elements & not turning the spy craft elements into a Bond/Bourne parody. Nonetheless it was hard for me to read at times.

As a #longtimefed I‘ve never been a big fan of real life espionage stories, but it hits differently at this stage in history. That‘s probably about the finest point I can put on it or need to put on it…

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Susanita
The Wizard of Oz | Frank Baum
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When I was a kid this movie was on TV every year at the holidays. It‘s the only movie on the list that I‘ve seen. Some of these movies I‘ve never heard of before, some of these posters are scary, and a few of these movies are actually on my TBW list.
1. The Thin Man
2. Top Hat
3. Goodbye Mr. Chips
4. The Adventures of Robin Hood
#TLT
Survey link: https://shorturl.at/qm3jM

dabbe OMG! Some of those posters are 😱! If you asked me which one of your four above to see first, I'd say THE THIN MAN. William Powell & Myrna Loy are adorable together. The book is excellent, too! 🤩 Thanks for playing and sharing. 💚🩶🩶 4w
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Susanita
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As a #longtimefed I worked in a total of seven different buildings. I saw on Bluesky this morning that the current regime has offered hundreds of federal buildings for sale, about a third of them in the Washington DC area.

You would think a real estate genius would know that selling multiple properties at once, when the agency managing those properties has had its staff cut, might not bring the highest price? Or maybe that‘s not the goal?

kspenmoll OMG they are selling our buildings. Please no one buy them! 1mo
TheBookHippie 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 1mo
Aims42 Real estate genius + 🍑🤡 does not compute. Again, how did a man who declared bankruptcy on his businesses not once, not twice, BUT multiple times become our president??? 1mo
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Leftcoastzen Absolutely correct, unfortunately!😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡 1mo
Leftcoastzen @Aims42 it‘s actually 6 bankruptcies. He‘s a total grifter. 1mo
Tamra Also, to what office are workers being required to return to? 🤔 hmmmmmmm 1mo
AmyG We will become like Russia. A country of oligarchs. Run by a dictator. 1mo
Amor4Libros @Tamra That was my first thought, too! 1mo
Susanita @kspenmoll In “normal” times I would be in favor of selling excess and repurposing the buildings. This happened to the sixth building where I worked, and it made sense. However, these are not normal times. 😒 1mo
Leftcoastzen Many federal workers said when they were forced to come back to the office, no desk , no chair, no computer, no WiFi 1mo
ImperfectCJ It's possible that it's by design...lower the prices so a handful of wealthy investors can buy up the real estate. It's a stated goal of the administration (via its unelected representative) to privatize as much of the government as possible, and it's in line with the Russian model for oligarchs to gather up all they can at prices engineered to be low by intentionally flooding/crashing the market. A good time to re-read the tagged. 4w
Susanita @ImperfectCJ I think it‘s by design. 4w
48 likes13 comments
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Susanita
The Six Triple Eight | Priscilla T Graham
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I watched this movie on Netflix. It‘s pretty good. I also drank some Bailey‘s.

kspenmoll 🍀🍀 1mo
julesG I could watch it tonight. And drink some Bailey's 1mo
50 likes2 comments
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Susanita
State of the Union | Brad Thor
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Even as a #longtimefed when I knew there was a chance he (yes, always a man) would say a sentence or two that pertained to my organization, no matter who was giving the SOTU address, I wouldn‘t watch. It‘s been mostly performative for a while now.

Tonight I might run the floor cleaner to drown out the TV in the other room, but more likely I‘ll watch Netflix with headphones.

melissajayne I‘m not going to watch either 1mo
TieDyeDude It's just a group calisthenics class anymore, though I have a feeling the Dems won't be getting much of a workout this time. If any organization still utilized fact-checkers, I would have felt sorry for the long night they have ahead for them. 1mo
dabbe I'd rather get five root canals. All at once. 👊🏻❣️👊🏻 (edited) 1mo
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AmyG I won‘t watch. Five root canals sounds fun! @dabbe 1mo
dabbe @AmyG We could have a root-canal party! #rcp 🤩 1mo
AmyG We could! I‘ll bring the novocaine! @dabbe 1mo
dabbe @AmyG 💉🦷🎉 1mo
Susanita @TieDyeDude Independent media are the fact checkers now. 1mo
Susanita @dabbe @AmyG Andy Borowitz said: Tonight‘s speech is called a Joint Address because the viewer can only address with a joint. (Not my thing but to each their own!) 1mo
AmyG @Susanita Ha! 😂I read one where they said “the media expects the address to have the highest ratings in Russia”. 1mo
dabbe @Susanita @AmyG Never have wiser words been said. That's one way I'm coping! ☮️✌🏻☮️ 1mo
dabbe @AmyG 🤣👊🏻🤣 1mo
44 likes12 comments
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Susanita
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1. I haven‘t recently lost a friend or family member, but my response to what‘s happening in this country now is a kind of grief. Which is a complicated set of emotions…
2. Last year I attended a grief seminar. I wasn‘t experiencing traditional grief at that time either, but I was “mourning” the loss of what I had thought was a close friendship. During the seminar I received a valuable insight:

YOUR FEELINGS ARE YOUR FEELINGS
#mentalhealthmonday

kspenmoll I understand your feelings about our country right now.💗 1mo
Kerrbearlib I love that insight & am going to keep it in mind anytime I start judging myself for having intense feelings. Thank you for sharing! I‘m also feeling grief for what‘s happening in this country. 1mo
Kerrbearlib Have you read Grief Is A Mess by Jackie Schuld? Highly recommend! 1mo
Susanita @Kerrbearlib I will check it out. Thanks! 1mo
47 likes4 comments
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Susanita
Preventive Defense: A New Security Strategy for America | William J. Perry, Ashton B. Carter
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I spent more than half of my time as a #longtimefed at the Defense Department‘s regional center for Latin America and the Caribbean*, and that‘s where I was working when I retired. The place I knew is completely gone now. I‘m sure this notice I saw on Facebook Saturday was not voluntary, but I‘m disappointed nonetheless. I don‘t know if it will even help them survive the axe. Dr. Perry (but NOT Ash Carter) signed a letter appealing to Congress ⬇️

Susanita …about the firings of senior officers as well as JAGs. That already feels like ancient history but it was only a little more than a week ago. 😳 1mo
Susanita *There are five other centers serving other regions. The mission involves assisting military officers and civilians involved in defense management in their countries. Kind of ironic in light of recent events… 1mo
merelybookish It's heartbreaking, terrifying, and infuriating as an outsider, so can only imagine how much harder it is to be connected to this department and have a genuine understanding of the vital work it does. 😞 1mo
44 likes3 comments
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Susanita
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During tonight‘s #hyggehourreadathon I‘ve been peeking in on the Oscars and reading this #authoramonth selection.

Look at these beautiful endpapers!

DinoMom Beautiful 1mo
Ruthiella 😍 1mo
Chrissyreadit ❤️❤️❤️ 1mo
AllDebooks Stunning 😍 1mo
51 likes4 comments
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Susanita
Untitled | Unknown
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Really bad writing can sometimes be amusing in a Mystery Science Theater 3000 way, but a bad story really annoys me.

I‘ll bail in a heartbeat if the story is so bad that I don‘t even care what happens.

#sundayfunday

BookmarkTavern Bad writing is so much fun to laugh at! Thanks for posting! 1mo
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Susanita
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Another Sunday, another #longtimefed travel destination. I had two trips to Guatemala: one to the modern capital which is fine, and one to the colonial capital of Antigua which is charming and beautiful. Even though the one day I was able to get out of the hotel it rained.

BarbaraBB I loved Guatemala. Traveled across it a long time ago! 1mo
44 likes1 comment
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Susanita
Telling Tales | Ann Cleeves
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I set this aside to pivot to African American authors in February. For March my #serieslove2025 reading will focus on women authors.

This was a melancholy story about murder and family obligations. Vera is growing on me.