u/tossedAF

So there's some backstory to this:

We are in a state that doesn't have alot of hockey. To the point there has never been someone in the show from my state. We have less than 5 ice rinks across the entire state. Yet somehow, me and my 3 kids all play hockey here, and love it(wife plays rarely).

So alot of times we go to open skate just to hang out, and my youngest(7, goalie) loves teaching people(usually women older than him; he thinks he has game) how to skate without falling. It's absolutely adorable to see a 7 year old, with goalie leg pads on, teaching a group of college girls how to skate.

Anywho, one day we're their and there's a woman about my age who just keeps falling. So my son skates up and offers to teach her some stuff. I'm off to the other end, talking to some other people; because we're there so often that people recognize us and just come up to talk and ask questions.

So some time passes and the woman comes up and asks if "the goalie kid"(he made sure to tell her he was a goalie, because he wasn't wearing his goalie gear this time) was mine. So we get to talking about how he likes to teach and she gushes over how sweet he is.

Lo and behold here he comes, asking for food. She looks at him and goes "I did two whole laps without falling, is that good?"

This MF, with a straight face, looks right at her and goes "no" then skates away backwards, turns and speed skates some laps to show off.

She was floored and then laughed, and I really couldn't do anything but shrug.

just thought the other dads would appreciate my chaotic 7

So there's some backstory to this:

We are in a state that doesn't have alot of hockey. To the point there has never been someone in the show from my state. We have less than 5 ice rinks across the entire state. Yet somehow, me and my 3 kids all play hockey here, and love it(wife plays rarely).

So alot of times we go to open skate just to hang out, and my youngest(7, goalie) loves teaching people(usually women older than him; he thinks he has game) how to skate without falling. It's absolutely adorable to see a 7 year old, with goalie leg pads on, teaching a group of college girls how to skate.

Anywho, one day we're their and there's a woman about my age who just keeps falling. So my son skates up and offers to teach her some stuff. I'm off to the other end, talking to some other people; because we're there so often that people recognize us and just come up to talk and ask questions.

So some time passes and the woman comes up and asks if "the goalie kid"(he made sure to tell her he was a goalie, because he wasn't wearing his goalie gear this time) was mine. So we get to talking about how he likes to teach and she gushes over how sweet he is.

Lo and behold here he comes, asking for food. She looks at him and goes "I did two whole laps without falling, is that good?"

This MF, with a straight face, looks right at her and goes "no" then skates away backwards, turns and speed skates some laps to show off.

She was floored and then laughed, and I really couldn't do anything but shrug.

just thought the other dads would appreciate my chaotic 7

Running into an issue with my ship build.

I am trying to put my docker between my brig and my infirmary; but my docker puts one door, usually to my infirmary, which makes me run around to look in my brig.

Any achievement friendly mods that would fix this? I know there is one, but cant remember if it's AF or not.

Since we have a format now; I’m editing to put that at the top:

Agency:
DoD

Payroll Center:

DFAS

Separation Date:
12/12/25

Sent to OPM:
Mid-Jan

OPM Received Date:
02/09/26

Congressional Inquiry due to 2 denials of escalation for financial hardship:
4/30/26

Escalation Approved
5/7/26

OPM Assigned to specialist date
5/8/26

Direct Deposit Date:
MM/DD/YYYY

Total Wait Time:
___ days / months

So I'm currently waiting on my FERS refund and I have 2 questions, then I'll go into my timeline thus far:

1. Anyone ever gotten some kind of advance notice from OPM, or did you just wake up to a deposit?

Timeline:

Left agency Mid-December

Submitted in Mid-January, Certified mail so I had proof

Logged in Feb 9th

Been calling weekly and they just recently they went from 11-13 weeks to 13-15.

2 weeks ago when I spoke to them, they said they were working on Mid-November's logs.

So it looks like my estimated timeframe is mid-may.

Will update as I get more information

**as of 31 Mar **

Called this morning and was told they are currently working the ones that were logged in the week of Nov 18

** As of Apr 7**

Called today and they said the system was down today. But without being able to look, they told me they are still working Nov 18 according to some mystical chart that randomly gets handed out.

they said the best guess is 124 days from logged date, which is sometime in June.

They refused to elaborate if that means business days or real days.

**as of Apr 8**

Since the system was down yesterday I gave them a call today. Current timeline is 19-22 weeks due to the backlog

** Apr 18 **

They are still working on Novembers apparently. 19-21 weeks

**Apr 24**

No movement as of yet, 19 weeks is what I was told, and the gentleman could not tell me what weeks they were working or really any information other than that.

** Apr 30**

Still no movement, second escalation denied because apparently being at risk of losing my house and making my kids homeless because I can't find applicable work means nothing to the douches up there.

They're working those in December, and I'm filing with my House Rep today to get some resolution, because this is beyond ridiculous

** May 4th**

working those from 12/20 supposedly.

timeline 17-19 weeks

** May 6th**

yes I called them multiple times in one week.

They are currently working on those that were logged 2/2.

Apparently their "working list" comes out Tuesdays Afternoons

** May 13th**

supposedly assigned on the 8th to a specialist, but expect another 2-3 weeks before I can see it.

So the "13-15 weeks" they mentioned at the start is closer to 16-18, maybe by the end of the month, then I can wash my hands of this insanity.

** May 14th **

Yes, I am calling them every day, because of my situation, I need to be able to budget and everything accordingly.

just FYI to anyone who thinks the congressional inquiry will change anything as far as escalation:

All the escalation means is that it gets put in the assigned queue sooner. After that, you are no different than anyone else.

Honestly, this system is utterly disgusting. Reps do not give consistent effort or information. One told me to call the week after assignment, one tells me sometime within the month, the one I just spoke to says to call in 2 weeks.

This is absolutely atrocious for any government agency. If the roles were reversed and we owed OPM money, they would take it so fast, but when it's us that's owed money; we may as well just forget about it and hope that it shows up sometime within this calendar year. Screw your situations and your families. OPM does what they want

So I'm on my AF run; got alot of mods running, but grinding on XP has always been tough for me, but I think I have a "life hack". I could just be dumb. Feel free to let me know.

Here are the mods that I've been running that I think are needed/help the most:

Watchtower- not necessarily needed, but I've been grinding alot of Arrays, so now can salvage ships

Falkland Systems Ship Services Probably not needed, but it's been where I've been doing most of my ship building because the Reactors are insane

Useful Morgues - Crucial

Galactic Junk Recycler - Crucial

Galactic Pawn Shop - I don't think it's necessary unless you want to level up the shopping skill

Drop off Box & Bio-Organic Converter - Crucial

What to do - Like I said, I could be dumb, but I can't build crap on Venus to mine Xtech, and Serpentis doesn't give me a ton of encounters, so I experimented a little, because the grind is getting tedious.

So firstly, it takes time; a few hours(my guys, I just figured it out this morning).

Anywho:

Play normally, but take the bodies of everyone that you can. Yes, you will be encumbered alot, but trust me; it's worth it later. Whenever you can, harvest the organs in your Useful Morgue. You can then sell to the Drop off Box. I don't know if this is standard, but I'm making about 13K each organ. Plus selling the loot I get from the bodies(weapons, suits, ETC). So after each "eliminate XYZ" quest form the mission board, I'm netting about 100k.

once you have a healthy little nest egg built up; go ahead and find a med building station(pharmacy? idk what it's called).

Go to your settings and max your XP Gain. I think mine was at like +84% gain. Open the med maker and you should see something that says "junk recycler fix" or something like that. 0 item cost but it does cost you 1 credit to make.

open it and hit RB(on Xbox) until you hit 99(the max you can make). When you make it, you should get around 184XP each time.

Rinse and repeat as much as you want(or can afford). Did it this morning and gained a level in about 5 minutes.

Once you finish, make sure to set your settings back to your normal preference.

I heard about a few different ones, but looking for thoughts on them or recommendations on affordable people.

4 trees, 2 in the front yard, 2 in the fenced in back, one overhanging the house.

Thoughts on:

James Tree Service

Rowland Tree Service

Schmitt Tree Service

Luis's Tree Service

L. Roy Tree Service

Coto and Sons Construction

So I want a shell and for the longest I was looking at the normal fiberglass shell. In my area they take around $3K(best price) and 3-5 weeks.

or

I just discovered smart caps were a thing. Place down the road has one in stock for a '19 1500 5'7" bed for just under 4k installed(3750+tax), if they're sold out I can get one within 2 days for about 5k

left side has the tool box drawers, didnt look on the right side.

I think this might be the best bet, but as I don't have too much experience(long way to say I'm dumb); what are the pros and cons of this?

For reference, most of the stuff I haul is hockey gear, sometimes up to 4 sets(myself and 3 kids, one of which is a goalie) and we currently have a roll-up tonneau cover on it. I'm rollin in a '22 1500 Big Horn.

My biggest thing is the security(thefts are going up in my area), and according to ChatGPT, these are more secure than the fiberglass.

Thoughts?

So, there's so much negativity going on and people complaining or worried about their PO.

What is yours doing right?

Mine is a good dude. Texts me when he needs to do home visits to make sure I will be home(I have a very active life), responsive to my messages, gives advice whenever I ask.

I'll have a beer with him when I'm done with Probation if he's down

It's such an annoying term and it's ridiculously overused.

No brenda, you're not a baddie. You sip matcha and go to farmer's markets.

I get it, "female empowerment" or whatever, but just because you are a chick does not mean you're a baddie.

Just super annoying and overused by every chick born after 1993

Hey all;

Looking at something to treat my kids to some treats, just because.

Please bear with me.

I got 2 kids that enjoy NHL teams, so where would be the best place to order blanks from to ship to CSG to add logos and their names to them?

I have a 3rd that prefers the PWHL, so where could I do the same for her? I didn't see PWHL on CSG, but could be wrong.

Help this dad out!

Hey all;

Looking at something to treat my kids to some treats, just because.

Please bear with me.

I got 2 kids that enjoy NHL teams, so where would be the best place to order blanks from to ship to CSG to add logos and their names to them?

I have a 3rd that prefers the PWHL, so where could I do the same for her? I didn't see PWHL on CSG, but could be wrong.

Help this dad out!

paid only.

had an issue with my last game and had to delete at lvl 60.

got the heezdedjim's hideout and found the 1mil cred.

any others that good?

Looking for a reasonably affordable place for a child to learn a combat sport; preferably BJJ.

Jacksonville/sherwood preferably, not necessarily a place that will push him to go to competitive

As the title says.

My 8U goalie wants some kind of contact sport as well; and he’s been watching goalie fight videos, so he’s leaning towards learning boxing.

Since not every conflict is on ice; I’m leaning more towards an MMA-type.

Any thoughts on what will benefit him the more on and off?

So my kids have been asking if there are any games out there to "play music" and I cna think of Guitar Hero/Rock Band.

Since I got multiple kids, obviously Rock Band would be the one to go. I get that it's old; so I know that there would be no online support.

But would it work? I have Xbox Series X and Playstation 5. I know I would have to pay for additional songs and whatnot, which I don't mind, just want to see if it would even work.

So I posted a few days ago and asked for advice on paid mods to get.

Thank you for those who actually gave input.

Here is what I am currently rocking as of this morning. Please feel free to give some advice.

I will say I am slightly annoyed. I thought the NG+ reset would work, so I went through Unity at level 92 after turning off all non-AF mods. grinded through a few missions on Watchtower and noticed my save still had [c] on it. So now I am working my normal save with only AF mods, currently level 42. The grind is annoying me.

Here's the list:

Starborn Gravis Suit - still haven't picked it up from the lodge

Observatory

Deimog

The Perfect Recipe

At Hell's Gate

Blackout (multiple)

Tracker's Alliance

Battle-Hardened Beowulf Skin (Moderated)

Watchtower - honestly this started fun and not I'm getting annoyed with it. I've bounced around and taken out multiple listening posts and alot of small arrays, even one major. My biggest complaint is that it seems like no matter what, when I go to the Settled Systems they Always detect my watchtower components. It is pretty annoying that I seem to have to sell all the watchtower components just to go do other quests

Falkland Systems Ship Services

McClarence Outfitters

Starfield Spacer Overhaul

ASC Deimos

The Veil

Fleet Commander

Lyria

Beyond the Veil

Cryomancers - These guys are ridiculous! Ran into them a few times during Watchtower and was not happy!

Legendary Vendors

Everbright

Starfield Compendium

More Ship Variety

Useful Brigs

Continuum

Choose Your Universe

Landing Bay Cargo Access

Galactic Junk Recycler

Faction Story Expansion

Inventory Through Unity

All Vehicles have storage

thoughts and advice?