Stress. Germany. Legality.

Well, I have always said this blog would be the good/bad/ugly of my life… and there is no reason to exclude this “fun” that I have had for the last 5 weeks.

When we came back from vacation I was greeted with debt letters from DFAS (Defense Finance Accounting Service).  OK… I knew I was going to have some debt from doing the reconciliation from my housing.  It was inevitable as I had estimated my yearly cost would be:  $32,720 per year and the reality (according to MY math) was: $29,321.  So I expected a debt of roughly $7,000.  Yep, got it, no issues.  I open the letters to find that DFAS states I owe them $21,000.  NOPE there is not a mistaken zero in there.  I FREAKED out.  I contacted my personelist who put me in touch with who I was to work with… but first, let’s talk about HOW this huge “awh, shit” can happen.

 

When I came here I knew I would have to do this estimate stuff… I submitted my paperwork to our personnel office and went on my merry way.  Estimates are based on months, pay is based on 2 weeks, and my brain quite literally shuts down with presented with math after chemo.  It’s a weird phenomenon that is going on, but it is what it is.  I cannot do math in public (OR private).  I ASSUME folks area actually doing the job they are hired to do.  Apparently NOT.  Fail number 1

 

Fail number 2 was when I hit one year, I reached out to my G1 – personnel shop and said “I’m ready for reconciliation”… I was told someone would reach out to me.  They did NOT.  I waited and reached out again… nope, told someone would reach out to me.  NOPE… So I started to research on my own… found the site, found the forms and submitted.  Come to find out it was NOT the right spot, but by dang it, they pushed me to the right person (why didn’t SHE contact me???)  and so the process started.  The first part of idiocy begins… remember I have submitted bills for the year…. Then I’m told that I don’t have the right bills.  I have to have a full year of bills.  Germany bills some things annually and if you get her in January this really throws stuff off.  I’m told to wait.  Keep in mind that they have ALL of my paperwork, bills, etc..  They never say “you are WAY off, let’s adjust this now to cover you until you get your full bills,”  NOPE, they just let it compound and compound… until a get my full bills at the end of the calendar year and beyond (months).  After the fact I’m met with “well, you could adjust this at any time.  HOW is someone to know this if they are not told?  I did all of my due diligence to resolve this time and time again and was met with very unhelpful people.  It’s always “well, you should have known”… exactly how is someone supposed to KNOW these things if they have NEVER lived overseas with civil service in the past?  

 

So the estimate, apparently was never USED.  They were giving me max benefits.  Yeah, that is a receipt for disaster as you can see.  So.  We dicker back and forth on the amounts that H (personnelist) is using for my rent.  My total rent is 27,100 per year.  So, wait it gets better… that is NOT all reimbursable  We used the base contracting office to ensure we were doing all the right things when renting a house here in Germany and they were to go over the contract with us and explain all the nuances of the paperwork.  Well, they glossed RIGHT over the non-reimbursable items on the rent and now just state “well, you signed it.”  Well no SHIT because you didn’t say “do you realize this means that $300 per YEAR will NOT be reimbursable?”  to which I would have gone looking for a new house or re-negotiated the contract.  I mean come on… really?  So – fail #3 on the road to misery.

 

I had to get with the landlord, who also had no clue what the requirement would be for providing the bills to us annually would mean… so they weren’t briefed on this either.  Yeah, effective, don’t you think?  So, I finally get copies of the property tax (the ONLY reimbursable item of three from the contract) and get that added into the mix…. But I digress.  So, the debt letters come to me in three different letters saying they will dock my pay at a rate of $250 EACH per pay period.  Excuse me????  I call DFAS (1.5 hours on HOLD) and tell them there is a problem with the math on these letters, there is a problem overall with these letters and I need to get this worked out.  They tell me I need a ticket.  OK, can you enter a ticket for me?  No, they have to have a service rep do that… there is no service rep listed for my area.  They have no CLUE who can enter a ticket for me.  Perhaps my time keeper?  I ask through email MULTIPLE times for SOMEONE/ANYONE to enter a ticket for me. Care to guess if I have a ticket???  I DO NOT.

 

So, I continue with the back and forth with H regarding this mess.  I keep trying to explain to her (after finally PULLING the information from her and a call to housing to explain the damn contract) WHAT is different in what I think is my rent (it says TOTAL rent for crim-a-nutly) and what THEY say my rent is.  Lord save me from unhelpful people!!  Then we move onto the OTHER smooth move DFAS pulled.  They added $6500 into my paycheck in a lump sum right smack in the middle of all this – the middle of April while we’re working out what my debt total is.  This, in turn, adds more muck to the discussion as now H is including that in her calculations and telling me, “no, the calculations are right, you owe that amount”.  

 

UGH!!  Problem is this: 

Debt letters: I cannot sign and return the debt letters as is as they are not showing the same calculations you (Hs) show in your reconciliation.  

DFAS total debt (letters) for PPE 2/16/2019 – PPE 4/10/2021: $21,975.32

YOUR total debt for 2/16/2019 – PPE 4/10/2021: $15,199.76

2019: DFAS shows $8556.74

Your calculations show $5,932.12

2020: DFAS shows: $10,077.48

Your calculations show $6,949.74

2021: DFAS shows $3,341.

Your calculations in the sheets sent shows $2,317.00

 

One would think this would clarify it all, right?  There is a spreadsheet that she sent me that shows these totals for the timelines indicated.  Note the PPE (Pay period ending) is 4/10/21

What does she key in on?

NOT the pay periods…  She continually loops in the lump sum payment on 4/24/21 that I do NOT have a debt letter for.  AND tells me in no uncertain terms her calculations are not HER calculations but DFAS’s calculations.

 

 

So, fun times.  This is about the time I found out that I could do a formal request for a hearing.  WTF?  This is at day 35 from the debt letter dates. FAIL number FOUR.  Why?  I had 30 days to respond with a formal petition for a hearing… and 45 days when overseas.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME???  Not one of these people told me I could formally petition DFAS to iron this out they simply kept repeating “you owe that total”… again – reference the table above… the debt letters do NOT include 4/24 – so, NO I don’t… and I added up the columns for each of the “years” and that’s some freaking creative math because the math I had was $15,xxx NOT $21.xxx.  Using the columns provided by supposedly DFAS.  So – you can see why I have an issue signing a debt letter that starts off with “I acknowledge and accept the debt as state”   I do NOT!!!

 

So when did personnel start working for DFAS and NOT personnel?  Aren’t they supposed to be here to help personnel???

What I came home with...

I came home with... drum roll.... a COLD sore. My first in years. I swear, I blame Vegas. It starred there. Dry chapped lips did me in. AND a cold. Sigh. Butch started sneezing and blowing Tuesday and I felt FINE until last night. Then blammo. I started sneezing and got a sore throat. Sigh. Sooooi I guess I’ll stay home tomorrow and work from home to avoid sharing the “love” and germs. I did tell my work place and they haven’t responded in what they want me to do. But I’m staying home anyway.

Do you see the rainbow?? It was a wide one but not bright. Pretty though. This was Monday on the way to the grocery store to get odds and ends to hold us over. 

Weird observations after being out of country for two years

1.  Light switches are HIGHER in the US like 6” higher

    I had a hard time finding switches in dark rooms

2.  There is entirely too much water in toilet bowls

    Seriously. Way too much water. It makes it harder to clean the bowl after a flush and harder to clear content as well. Trust me, I know. 

3.  AC is nice because it’s HOTTER there

    BUT I did miss fresh air and cooler nights. However it was 50 COLD rainy degrees (as the high) when we came home. So a bigger part of me misses the warmth however I have to remind myself that was spring warmth. It will get pure HOT in time in the south. 

4.  Humidity yes a killer

    OK so it really took me a day to adjust to the humidity but it’s crazy humid with the heat in the south!!  And don’t get me started on how bloody and buggery my nose was after Vegas. HOW did I live there for FIVE years and love it?  Crazy!!

Macon

 

Look - grandpa clock beside Smitty's painting... the two fathers represented on the mantle

No matter what I do,these photo's load backwards, so this is looking towards the front door from the back of the house.... nice stained glass.

bathroom at the back of the house (it's in an addition that was added some time ago, but odd to have a full bath off the back of the house with a shower/tub)

this is the den - with the bathroom right through that door to the right... 

the kitchen with a nice island and this is the only room downstairs with a functional fireplace and it's gas.

all of the rooms downstairs (4) have fireplaces... very pretty for decorations!  This is the room to the left as you walk in the front door - it does not connect to any other room so it's sort of a formal living room area that Liz is using for her office.

Dining room as it links through the blue "closet" doorway to the kitchen

Each of these rooms has a closet off of it... so the kitchen uses one for the fridge and the dining room has it punched through to the kitchen for a walk through - smart move during renovations later in this houses life.

going upstairs.

yes, this is an 1885 house...

while in town I took Angela's car to have the oil changed (she doesn't adult well) and found that the oil cap was MISSING.  Yep, just gone.  I got that replaced, oil done AND made her register it and got the title turned over to her, so this is now officially HER car.  Considering she had not registered it last year I was a little scared because there was ALSO a brake light out... so here I am driving round with a brake light out AND it's not registered... sigh.  That child!!

BUT she's all fixed now and has a new license plate in Angela's name, not mine!  Yay!

Alex's cat Ash finally trusted me enough to sleep above my head on the couch and you can see Salem up on the shelf as well :)  They tolerate me... not love me, but tolerate me.  I don't feel bad, neither one of them are lovey cats, so I don't feel too off put by the fact they are not loving to me either.

And with that we start the fiasco that was trying to leave the states... the web site stated just get the Antigen tests for Germany... well, we were transiting Amsterdam who wanted a PCR.  We didn't know this so when we got to the airport we didn't have the PCR test... dang it.  We did a mad dash over to an off site rapid PCR testing facility to get it done for $150 per person then cam into the airport with NO time to spare to get our bags checked.... as in less than an hour before take off - BUT we made it.

What didn't happen was time to change out of my summer gear so I was on the plane in capris'.... I did change to pants when we landed in Amsterdam however... so all was well with the world.

We were bumped to Comfort, but not first - drat it!  it was NOT comfortable, but we made it... that's what counted.  I was able to sleep on and off most of the flight.  I slept the WHOLE 2nd flight from AMS to STR.  :)  Woke up to say "no thanks" to snack service - ha!

Las Vegas

 

Again with NO pictures really... I'm getting bad at just living in the moment and forgetting to take pictures of things... 

We got in on Friday evening and met up with the kids to play a bit, then I had to go to bed early to get up EARLY to get a car and to meet with Linda at the airport.  Why?  I was picking up a car to go see mom and dad (NO pictures) and to meet up with Robert, Janet and Sarah there in Cedar City.  

I DID get up early and had a horrible morning trying to figure out the dang shower... really, I was stumped and finally gave up.  I'm not the ONLY one, Angela had the SAME issue!  with two knobs you would think ONE would turn on the water... turned and twisted and all that jazz only to find out we were supposed to PULL one of them.  DUH.  So, bird bath and off I went.  Linda and Mike were early too so I was asked if I could get there sooner... sure... so off I went.  I got a Lyft to the airport, met up with them without issue - gave the chocolate, hugs and sent them on their way.  I then went to the rental agency, got my car and headed to the hotel to get the girls.  They met me at the entrance and off we went to Del Taco for an Egg burrito for breakfast.  Boy, they have gotten CHEAP in their egg burritos - BUT we were meeting Rob and company for lunch in Cedar, so a snack breakfast was good enough.

The drive was uneventful but when we got to town Mom said that she had dad in the lobby already - eek - we were NOT ready... so he pooped out before we even got there to get him into the house.... so, no dad for lunch, but mom came out.  

We had a very nice lunch with everyone to include Caroline and Gail via facetime :)

When we got done I took Mom home and I was able to go up and visit with Dad for a few minutes.  He's healthy but there is a notable decline in cognitive skills, which is sad.  He was asking me if I had gotten that job with Red River Army Depot, so he's definitely moving BACK in time.  BUT he's happy and will engage in conversations even if they are not in this century... :)  I was even able to do ONE computer thing for Mom before I left as well.  I wish I had more time, but trying to juggle everyone into this visit wasn't easy - last time I was out I spent a week with mom and dad, this trip was kids and Sally.  Next time it will be mom and dad again.

Just some cute random pictures with the girls after going to dinner with them at the MGM Grand.

Our view from our room... rooftops but we could also see the Paris' balloon

A win that I landed... I think i got $100 from that one... 

Sunday was Mothers Day so we went to brunch at the Gabbie Mon Ami Gabi - it was delicious!!

AND with that we're off to Macon!

Fort Walton Beach

The trip to FWB was a bit different this time as we had gotten word that Sally had gone into the hospital before we flew out of Germany.  She had a sinus infection that knocked her for a loop.  She was thinking she had pneumonia however that didn't turn out to be the case.  She was simply sick and hadn't been taking care of herself because she was sick and it snowballed.  So, we were on a vigil at Don's house to see if we would need to bump up our timeline to head to FWB for assistance.  She remained in the hospital for our visit, however did get transferred to rehab to get her strength back so that she would be able to care for herself once she was able to go home.

The skies flying into FWB were pretty.... 

While in town I got to see Jennie my girlfriend from college - it was sooo good to get together with her and laugh and have a good time.  We went to the beach to have some lunch and talk!

I MISS these beaches....

The little house is looking a little worse for wear as of late.  I took this picture in preparation for PAINT!!!  Yes, we are finally getting her facia repaired and paint done on the old girl. 

HERE are the paint colors I chose.  The DEEP Juniper berry for the brick paint and the Frost for the body of the house with stark white for trim, doors and for the shutters.  There won't be a lot of difference in color between the body and the shutters, but hopefully you'll be able to tell.  If not, no biggie.  it's not like there is a lot of difference now in colors on the top, right?  It's white on white on the house now with red brick.  It will be interesting to see it all painted up!

For those NOT in the loop Butch is boat obsessed and America's Great Loop obsessed.  So we are looking at boats.  We went to the marina in FWB however they do NOT have any larger boats.  They pointed us to the one in Pensacola, so we dutifully went there to see boats - only to be greeted with boat - singular.  AND not the boat we would want as she's not a trawler, she's a party boat.  NOT what we want.  We want a boat which can go on open seas AND be a like a house boat that can travel well in said open seas.

He does look at home on this boat, but sadly it's not the boat for us.

I spent a lot of my time between (and IN) rain storms chinking the back windows because that stuff is just falling out left and right... we need new windows on that place but we'll do that AFTER the paint job is done..

Sally did make it to rehab the last few days we were there, we were able to get her settled in and bring her items to the place before we left and one day when Butch was dropping stuff off and talking to his mom I made friends with the local cat they had there at the place.  He's a trap, neuter, return cat as he has his ear clipped, but he's SO friendly.  He had a little house, food and water bowl in the gazebo there as well, so he may be a feral, but he's a well cared for faral cat.

Butch gave me such flack because I MISS jets... I have spent 25 years near jets and Air Force.  Being on an Army base is weird to me as there are NO jets... so I have to tourist and take pictures of jets when they go by!  LOVE jets!!

I took quite a few pictures at the airport when we were leaving for the next leg of our trip to Vegas to meet up with the girls.

poofy clouds from the sky - so pretty!!  Our first leg of the flight we were in the back of the plane...

BUT the leg from ATL to Vegas we were in FIRST class - lucky us!!

I could almost lay flat but being of larger size it's NOT comfortable for me as my shoulders are crammed in there and I feel like my feet are touching the end... which they were - add to that flip flops and I was leery to lay all the way down.  I did get to the 80% reclined and just pulled my knees up to be a bit more comfortable... so it was nice!

First class "snack box"

And just like that we're in Vegas.... I'm amazed at what folks will WEAR on planes now.... they are skanky.  There was a gal in the ATL airport in pajamas, fuzzy slippers and a robe for crying out loud.  I mean, really???  NO!  Just NO!!!  This gal was at least in a jogging suit BUT the fuzzy slippers do me in... what ARE people thinking?

 

Visiting with Robin and Donald

 

the one and only picture we took the whole four days we were in DC.  Why?  We were busy talking and visiting and relaxing!

The fun fact is that R&D were in the process of packing their house to move to South Carolina. They were a bit leery to tell us that they were moving as they didn't want to scare us off from the visit!  We would have visited regardless.... but maybe gotten out of their hair a bit by staying at a hotel if needed.  

It was such a fun time catching up and visiting with them!

... and so the travel begins

 I told NO one I was traveling, so if you didn't hear from me it's because we had such limited time.  If you see my schedule you WILL question this as we had a few days at each spot, but if you lived in my shoes, you will discover this was not NEARLY enough

The flight to the states I paid for the upgrade to comfort.  It was nice to have the extra leg room on the trip.  The plane was EMPTY.  Comfort had Butch, Me and ONE other soul on board.  It was nice, but really not necessary on the daylight flight... but I digress 

first flight was in coach, but not horrible... and EMPTY!

Waiting to take off

YUMMY macaroon's  Butch does not like coconut, so these were all mine :)

We had to do the OJ Simpson run through the airport as they changed the gate for our next leg of the trip.  I had stopped to buy a few things on the way to the gate... the gate was empty when we showed up and Butch didn't read the gate that stated it was moved... which isn't horrible, but it was from one gate series to another...as in Fxx to Exx - and for those who have been to Schiphol Airport is a LARGE distance.  UGH.  I do NOT run through airports, and Butch walks fast... I told him to go FAST and tell them to wait for me!  It was awful and we truly didn't have to rush were I looking at my dang phone or checking the gates.  ugh.  lesson learned.  it was a tight connection regardless.

Pretty landscapes flying into Amsterdam, however most flowers have been beheaded to allow the bulbs to grow bigger and healthier for sale and dividing 

This is the overseas flight and we're in the comfort rows... note that there is really NO ONE up with us... you'll note in the picture below that just past Butch there is ONE other person up there who's in comfort with us!

I did want to note how BIG the windows were and the fact I was excited that they were electronically controlled for dimming.  There was no shade, it was all dependant on pushing the "up" or "down" window to dim or brighten the window.  I'm excited by the technology :)

leaving the Netherlands... the northern coast line.  watching the boats and the clouds roll in....

Until most of the clouds were covering the whole of England.  I don't think that the clouds eased until we were well into Ireland.

Our first stop was Washington to see Robin and Donald for a few days.

What I didn't mention was getting out... the debates on what tests were required, what was needed etc..  To leave we had to go to Tubingen to get PCR tests 72 hours prior to the flight and antigen tests at the airport to ensure we could pass through the Netherlands without issues.  They didn't ask for the antigen test, but they did ask for the PCR test to get on the flights.  You'll see why I mention this on the way home...

ICE in the northern part of Nova Scotia.. burrrr  

NYC in the distance in the haze....  and with that we were on the last leg of the trip to head on down to DC.