Federal Pensions

[Sam Wilson]

Hi Joe,

> I'm on a different retired Fed. health program (GEHA) ...

> If there is a Govt shutdown, do retirees receive their retirement payments?

I would have answered this a few days ago on the other CR forum, but I quickly grow weary of their heavy handed censorship and "moderation" of messages.  I thought maybe that might have changed after Paul went on to his Pura Vida in the sky but some of my messages helping SeaTurtleWoman were taking hours to go through.  Obviously that is how conversations are stifled rather than how they flourish.

Anyway... plus I thought that was a rhetorical question and you already knew how that works...  ;-)

GEHA - Federal government shutdown update

https://www.geha.com/geha-blog/healthy-living/2025/10/government-shutdown

We are monitoring the federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1, 2025. Our team remains focused on providing continuity of care and resources for our members during this time.

You will have full access to your health benefits throughout the shutdown, including mental health resources through MDLIVE.  During the shutdown, claims will still process as usual.

And from the Federal News Network...

FNN - How the government shutdown impacts federal pay and benefits

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2025/09/how-a-government-shutdown-impacts-federal-pay-and-benefits/

Retirement processing during a government shutdown

Those who are already retired will continue to get their monthly annuity payments with no interruptions, OPM said. That includes annuitants in both the Federal Employees Retirement System and the Civil Service Retirement System.

Looks like business as usual for GEHA and federal gov't pensions.

I hope you don't need the health services none the less.  ;-)

How's the rain treating the Ramones?

--

Sam

[Joe Harrison]

Hola Sam, Thanks for doing research that I should have done myself!   I'd never heard of Russell Vought until a few months ago, but he seems (as head of OMB) to have extensive power these days.  And he has weird ideas, all of which result in cutting spending.   Vought and  Stephen Miller seem to be Co-Presidents, with Trump serving as their  (very loud) mouthpiece.   While I was pretty sure my FERS pension deposits wouldn't be interrupted, I  decided to raise the question.  So far, so good. 

Well, on to a more (or less) benign topic:  How's the rain in San Ramon?  Fairly predictable, actually.   Between noon and 2 pm come heavy thunderstorms.  They inundate several parts of SR, but my area in centro is just high enough to send all the water down to other parts.  But I've had enough of the Green Season.  Every plant is well nurtured by these storms, so Enough Areddy!!!!    

Again, thanks for your research -- good to hear from you Sam.  Hope all is OK up your way!

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[Sam Wilson]

Hi Joe,

Yes, we're cruising through the rainy season okay, but like you we are so brimming with joy that we're ready for it to be dialed back a bit.  The very good news is that the big drainage project we as a neighborhood participated in last summer which involved collecting ¢1.5 million and running about 120 meters of alcantarillas was a big success.  What used to be a big stretch of standing water and muddy road has been reduced to small mud puddles that don't last more than a few hours after a downpour. I even started mowing the farm again after a 1.5 year hiatus. I had some grass that was over 2 meters tall!  Anyway, we've finished the house we were building for the youngest of the oldest girls and so now I keep the rest of the farm nicely trimmed...  jajaja.  The rainy season before did in about 5 aguacate trees that were 2 - 3 meters tall.  Now I'm planting cacao trees.  They haven't had to endure an onslaught from zompopas yet, but the cacao I've planted seem to be happy, sprouting new leaves, etc.

New project is raising quail with the 4 year old moving into the newly minted house out on the farm. I've got 14 quail eggs in 3 batches in an incubator right now along with a double-handful of ponedora eggs that Gene brought by. I'm still trying to get some jardinera eggs and some eggs for pollos de engorde. In 8-10 weeks we'll be regularly harvesting quail and soon then after regular chicken broilers.  No more egg buying or pollo from the meat counter for us! I have to hurry up these hatchlings before Gene takes over as the Chicken King on our side of the volcano.  jajaja.

Whenever you Central Valley guys make it up to Guanacaste we'll toss a couple of fat roosters on the spit and celebrate!  jajaja. I'm not much for chicharrones borrachos. For quail I run 1 roo to 5 hens which is not very good odds for the hatchlings that identify as little boys. After a 6 month abstinence to start off the new year, I have enthusiastically started back to enjoying my Flor de Caña and Pilsens.  Life is good!  😉

I hope you and yours are all healthy and prospering.

What would you pay for a baker's dozen of fresh quail eggs?  (It takes 3-4 quail eggs to match 1 good sized chicken egg by volume.)

--

Sam

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[Joe Harrison]

Never having eaten a quail egg, I have no idea what I'd pay for the privilege.  And are you talking about quail when you threaten to cook a rooster for visitors?   Haven't had that pleasure either, as far as I know.   I gotta cook my own dinner tonight (chicken) cuz Fernanda has to be in the hospital to accompany her 15 year old daughter, who has some difficult reactions during her developing female self.  Stuff I don't understand.  So, while you bask in the luxury of Flor de Cana, I, a retired Federal employee receiving a pitifully tiny retirement benefit which you assure me won't be denied due to this absurd shutdown, will treat myself to some cheap, but delightful, white wine from Chile.   I can celebrate cuz Notre Dame won its third straight today, after a dismal start!  Cheers amigo!!!!!

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[Sam Wilson]

Hi Joe,

I figured the King of Tonga would have had quail eggs at his royal banquets!  Quail eggs, gram for gram, have about double the Riboflavin and iron found in chicken eggs, and about 50% more vitamin B12. They are creamier than chicken eggs due to a higher yolk to white ratio.  There have been a few studies that indicate quail eggs also help with allergies both of the rhinitis kind as well as with food allergies.  They are considered a delicacy in Japan and other Asian countries. Some people, notably Filipinos, like eating partially developed quail embryos on the half-shell as a party snack (or street food.)  Check out Baluts if you think you'd be into that. 

Quail Eggs: Nutrition, Benefits, and Precautions

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/quail-eggs-benefits

Price-wise... I see that Costco Business Center in the US has quail eggs for $3.40 / dozen and AA chicken eggs for $2.60 / dozen.  If you go by the 3-to-1 ratio of quail egg size to chicken egg size, that puts quail eggs at almost 4 times the cost of chicken eggs.  MaxiPalí in Liberia shows chicken eggs for ¢1650 / kilo so maybe quail eggs for ¢6400 / kilo?  There would be about 15-16 large chicken eggs / kilo and maybe 50-60 quail eggs / kilo.

Quite the bargain for gourmet food!  jajaja

As far as cookin' the roos... It is the same for quail as it is for chickens as it is for cows.  You only need a single rooster for a bunch of hens.  So hens lay eggs and roosters get baked!  Two roasted quail make a good meal.

We've got free-range quail out on the farm, but our laying quail we keep in an old rabbit hutch.  If you don't have enough room for chickens in your backyard, you might consider quail in your cuarto pila.  You can pretty comfortably keep 18 quail in a 3' x 2' space if you go triple decker on the jaulas.

As our production ramps up, I can send you a sample platter on the afternoon bus to San José.  Even baluts if you're into that... jajaja.

--

Sam

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[Don Hickman]

You guys are just plain weird. 

Don

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[Joe Harrison]

I'm stickin' with chicken.

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