Gov Gab: Your U.S. Government Blog

The Certainty of Change

By: Nancy | January 22, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

If there's one thing you can count on in life, it's change./p> green traffic light

New job. New address. New Neighbors. A new baby.

The country is buzzing with change right now and Gov Gab headquarters is busy creating its own changes too. We're working on new ways like our Facebook page and Twitter feeds to get you the information you're looking for from and about the government.

Change is even happening with me. When my boss Mary retired last month, I inherited some new things around the office that I'm pretty excited about doing, in addition to the public service announcements that I've been producing for the last 18 years.

What I'm finding though, is that sometimes you have to set something down, even if it means a lot to you, so you'll have the free hands to grasp and embrace the new thing. And that's what I have to do today, as I write my last regular Gov Gab entry.

I'm grateful that Gov Gab's parent agency, the General Services Administration has supported Gov Gab since its start as one of the federal government's first blogs. And I'm even more grateful to have been able to exchange ideas, laughs and stories with you every Thursday.

Watch out for bats, and if you see George Clooney, please tell him hello for me.

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Kids in the White House

By: Nancy | January 15, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

Just two streets from Gov Gab Headquarters, they're making a lot of preparations to welcome the new kids on the block.

By this time next week, Malia and Sasha Obama will have joined the exclusive list of kids who have called the White House "home." And while they won't be as little as John John and Caroline Kennedy, who danced at their daddy's feet in the Oval Office, or as mature as the college-bound Bush twins when they moved onto Pennsylvania Avenue, at seven and 10, the Obama girls are the perfect age for Kids.gov.

See, I'm figuring that among the bikes and stuffed animals that will be carted into the Executive Mansion over the next week, there will probably be a computer or two for the girls as well. And like every school kid, they'll have reports to write about art or astronauts, the 50 states or the environment and "going green." They'll definitely be curious about the news for kids that's coming right out of their new home. And they're going to want to take a break, kick back and play a few games.

Malia and Sasha may not be inheriting Amy Carter's tree house or Tad Lincoln's pet goats when they move into the Executive Mansion. But they will be the first "First Kids" who'll grow up online in the White House, learning about the country their dad leads, and the great stuff that the government has for them—and for every kid—online, from Kids.gov.

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National Hobby Month

By: Nancy | January 08, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

Reading. Blogging. Gardening. Collecting piggy banks, or velvet paintings of sad clowns. piggy bank collection

Nearly anything can be a hobby. Celebrate your favorite pastimes and collections, revive old interests or begin new ones with your family during National Hobby Month.

The government web has lots of resources for stamp collectors, Civil War enthusiasts, coin collectors, and bird watchers. Take a look and see what info the government has about the things that interest you.

Me? I collect vintage Little Orphan Annie memorabilia and old time advertising, among other things. I enjoy baking for my coworkers and neighbors. I also fuss around in my garden with flowers and tomato plants—some of which actually survive my tender loving torture.

What are your hobbies?

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Yo, Happy New Year!

By: Nancy | January 01, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

If you and I were in the Philadelphia suburbs where I grew up, we'd be camped out right now in front of the TV, watching the Mummers Parade and discussing our New Year's resolutions.

I'd pull out my list and you'd laugh. I usually make 20 or 30 resolutions; I keep about half. Oddly, it's the same ones every year that I seem not to be able to keep:

I will stop consuming junk food like I'm an eleven-year-old boy on an "all you can eat" spree at the local 7-11.

My five block walk between the subway and my office will not constitute my only exercise for the day.

I will quit hiding my head in the sand and get better-educated about investing.

Yeah, I've got some tough work ahead of me. And I'm starting with USA.gov's special section devoted to helping us keep our resolutions. Whether you're aiming to drop some pounds like I am, or you're resolved to start digging out of debt, breaking habits like smoking or drinking too much or dealing better with stress, this is the place to start.

What resolutions do you keep making—and breaking—like I do?

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Christmas Gov Gab-Style

By: Nancy | December 25, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

If you're celebrating today with family or friends or are just enjoying a quiet break from your daily routine, I'm wishing you a Christmas Day that's marked by

Happiness and smiling

Great musical styling

Something traditional

Maybe even nutritional

And only blue if you really want to.