RIP: Unique Razr., originally uploaded by smooth_d.

Your buttons stopped working the way they should so you have forced me into replacing you. I will never forget your pretty shade of hot pink and the countless memories we’ve had together. While your less-cool-shade-of-pink replacement will offer me more reliability, it will never be the same. You were a one of a kind, with your pink shell and black, not silver, lining. And even though your lower quality bottom section was wearing away, you will always be #1 in my heart. *sob*

Also, the new guy doesn’t match the iPod. Bask in your superiority.

If you’ve been following along, you know that I’ve been trying very hard to create a vacation for myself and yet nothing seems to be going the way I’d like, which doesn’t make my desire to get away subside in any way. For quite some time now, I’ve wanted to run off for a few days to a tropical happyland and just forget about work, bills and adult responsiblity in general and experience what it’s like to reward yourself for getting through years of very hard work and difficult times. Now that I’m at a stable place it feels like the right time. Except that it’s not according to the Universe.

The first one, yes, was way too spontaneous and it was just designed to flop, I know. I make mistakes. The second felt more realistic and it only took about 12 hours to really work myself up into excitement over the possibility of going. The crash from that was pretty bad and it really shouldn’t have been. I mean, really, these are unimportant things that nobody really cares about, why are you getting so worked up? It’s not like you can’t go somewhere else in December, or next spring, or whatever.

After I was done talking out loud to myself I realized I wasn’t actually upset over the trips themselves, but this is how I handle things that disappoint me. They fester, unknown to anyone else, until something is set off and I aim the frustration elsewhere. It is so much easier to bitch openly about these stupid trips than it is to discuss what affects my life. It’s what I do. The breakdown is predictable if you know what you’re looking at.

As it builds, so does my sarcasm, until I can’t even remember how to hold a normal, respectful conversation. The things I tend to whine and bitch about are really so inconsequential that nobody pays attention (which is probably good) but it also drowns out the stuff that matters. Then it’ll reach a point where I lash out on Twitter and probably lose a couple of followers. Still, nothing I’ve said means anything. It’s just what I do.

So, if you’ve had to say something soothing or you’ve thought, “man, she complains a lot,” I apologize. I’ve allowed my own feelings and fears of lonliness and frustration take over the little things. This is particularly irritating to me because in the big picture, I have zero to be complaining about. My job is good and it pays me well, I have no debt, car’s paid off, my credit score is okay, I own my place, have the best family ever, and some very cool friends. This is partially why I don’t open up. I feel ungrateful for the good stuff when I let the bad stuff rule.

This is hard, because I do not like to expose my vulnerability to anyone and I never expected to get overly personal on here, but I have reached a point where I sort of do need an outlet. I’m still not comfortable bringing certain subjects up because nobody needs to be burdened with this stuff, they have their own problems, and I’m just not the “talk about our feelings” kind of gal. Maybe if I were, I would be less bitter.

Even though I’m still not going to talk specifically about these things, I do feel better for having spit all that out, and in the end I did get myself a little bit of a getaway. I’m going to visit some friends in August in Yakima, WA, where I lived for 8 years. It’s no Mexico, but they’re great people. If the three of you who read this made it this far, thank you for reading, and don’t worry… I eventually always get over it. It’s what I do.

Not too surprisingly, my spur of the moment choice to venture down to Puerto Rico this summer is not happening. It just wasn’t feasible for my potential travel buddies and I completely understand this. Besides, after several days of serious consideration, I decided it probably wouldn’t be the best idea for me either. I could afford it, but then I would be dipping into savings and I didn’t want to do that for a 3 day vacation.

So, I was pretty excited to learn that I will be able to totally afford going to some friends’ wedding in Mexico in December. With just a deposit now and the rest at the time of the trip, and a very reasonable all-inclusive booking price, I could spend 7 days with my friends south of the border. Flight paid for, hotel paid for, drinks, food, transporation… everything paid for! I can’t wait!

I made the call to the travel agent today, very excited to get the ball rolling, and she quotes me over $1600. Over twice the special “early booking” price. Why? Well, because the special price is based on double occupancy. You only get a deal if you’re cool enough to have someone go with you. Punished for being alone.

Cross Mexico off my list. Guess I’ll be staying put this year. This all makes me really want a vacation.

The weekends just are not cutting it anymore.

Work, life, no life, traffic, people I talk to on the phone daily, and all of the everyday little stressors seem to be piling up, and I really need to get away for a few days. Who knew that when you cleared your life of all financial stress that it would make room for everything else?

But when I say a few days, I mean in late July or early August. It could be sooner, but it’s better than nothing.

So, I cruised the cheap ticket prices out there for ideal destinations, and there are some pretty sweet deals for round trip tickets and 3 nights in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at a beachside hotel. And how cool would it be if I could round up the girls, with their busy wife and mom schedules, and make a ladies weekend out of this?!

It did not take much convincing at all to get Star on board, who was pumping gas and telling me about the possible tornado warning making its way across the Range, and pending a successful conversation with the hubby and in-laws, she’s a ‘yes.’ Tomorrow, I’ll hit up Dee and Crys to see if they’d be interested. But, c’mon, who wouldn’t be?!

Good jorb, DHS. Could you go ahead and make this mistake on my next paycheck? Great, thanks.
Update: Correction - this occured within Finance, not DHS. Transpose a vendor number here and there, voila! What is meant for HCMC goes to some random social worker.

Social worker accused of huge spending spree with state money mistakenly sent to her.

Here’s the article for those not registered at the site:

By Rochelle Olson, Star Tribune

A Hopkins School District social worker erroneously given $2.5 million by the state faces four felony counts after she allegedly spent the money with her boyfriend on luxury automobiles, a U.S. Treasury bond and an individual retirement account.

Sabrina Walker, 37, appeared in Hennepin County Court on Wednesday, but did not enter a plea. District Judge Janet Poston set her bail at $200,000. Although the vast majority of the assets are frozen and Walker has no criminal convictions, Poston said she is concerned about a $100,000 cashiers check given to a former boyfriend as well as at least $20,000 in cash that is unaccounted for.

“This is obviously an unusual situation,” Poston said.

Walker faces four felony counts: Theft by swindle, loss of property, failure to pay over state funds and concealing criminal proceeds over $5,000. Her boyfriend Charles Lockhart faces the same charges.

Both were initially arrested Friday without warrants but released when a judge failed to find probable cause, according to court testimony. Walker was arrested again Tuesday, but Lockhart is at large, Assistant County Attorney Emery Adoradio said.

On March 29, the state Department of Human Services erroneously issued a check to Walker for $2,596,315 through the state’s accounting system, according to the complaint. Walker had a state vendor number because she was paid $84 in October as a witness for testimony in Hennepin County District Court. The bigger check cleared the state treasury on April 4.

Two days earlier, Walker and Lockhart opened a joint portfolio account at Wells Fargo Bank at 80 S. 6th St. The account provided for checking privileges with the $100,000 opening deposit and a linked brokerage account of $2.4 million. Walker and Lockhart each also withdrew $10,000 in cash, according to the complaint.

Slightly more than a week later, Walker bought a certificate of deposit for $500,000 and IRAs for the tax years 2006 and 2007 for $8,000. More than a week after that, Walker and Lockhart met with a bank financial consultant and bought a U.S. Treasury bond worth $500,000, the complaint said.

The two, who share an address in a home owned by Walker in the Camden Neighborhood of Minneapolis, also made various purchases with the money, including $5,500 in jewelry and $3,817 at Best Buy. They spent $2,069 in limousine services on April 18 and 27.

In April, Walker also bought a 1969 Buick Electra for $5,400 and a 2006 Chrysler Crossfire for $34,861. Both are titled to Walker, the complaint said. In May, Walker bought two more vehicles: a 2003 Land Rover Range Rover for $38,967 and a 2009 Land Rover LR2 for $39,971, the complaint said.

She also withdrew $100,000 in the form of a cashier’s check to the former boyfriend and $20,000 in cash on May 17, the complaint said.

DHS learned of the check when Walker called a financial operations employee on May 17 and asked why she was sent the check. The employee called Walker back and told her she received the check in error and should return it immediately. Walker refused and told the employee her lawyer would be calling the state. She then hung up, the complaint said.

Lockhart’s next court appearance June 12.

Larsen had argued against bail for Walker, saying his client has worked as a social worker for several years, owns a home and is rooted in the community.

She is represented by two Lindquist and Venum lawyers: Terry Fleming on the civil issues and Mark Larsen on criminal matters.

The two noted that their client did not oppose an asset freeze issued by another judge more than a week ago. “This should be a civil matter. We were cooperating with the attorney general’s office,” Fleming said.

Larsen added, “It’s disappointing when you’re cooperating to see an arrest.”

His client was subdued and unusually polite in court. She is working on a master’s degree. “This is a smart, articulate, intelligent individual,” he said.

The sounds of bumpin’ bass from the car down the block, and the joyful hollaring of “Yo, motherf’r, gimme a drink g’damnit” floating down in the alley below.

April 27th… April 27th… April 27th…

From ChroniXRadio.com:

Internet radio is in danger of becoming EXTINCT! If you want your only source of Aggressive music to stay online read below…THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SERIOUS.

The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has just issued a decision on the royalty rates that webcasters have to pay to record labels for the period 2006-2010. (See Wired News coverage HERE.)

The rates are so high that they exceed 100% of most webcasters’ total revenues and ChroniX Radio is no different! If the CRB’s decision stands, the retroactive portion for 2006 alone will bankrupt virtually all independent webcasters, including ChroniX Radio. Think of your day without ChroniX. And it gets better; the annual rate increases will drive the rest of Internet Radio stations out of business.

ChroniX Radio needs you…..NOW!

Here’s how you can help: You can sign an online petition HERE, and/or you can use THIS LINK to call, write, or e-mail (Calling is best) your representatives in the U.S.
Congress. They work for you, they are your representative, give them an earful.

Along with all other independent webcasters, ChroniX Radio may only be a few WEEKS away from being driven out of business. Please help if you want to keep your metal and aggressive music online.

[Insert extremely angry emoticon here.]

My apartment manager brought up a package that FedEx left in the entry way this afternoon. The door tag says “A. DEZELSKE ‘Package Left: Under Callbox.’ ”

I picked up my cell phone and checked missed calls. None.

Okay, you [expletive deleted]. You know what the callbox IS, but you don’t bother to USE it? Leave my package in the entry way, where anyone with or without a key to the apartment can see it and have access to take it.

This afternoon’s delivery was Overstock.com RESENDING me the stuff from the previously griped about gone-very-wrong delivery. Now the mystery is solved. I realize exactly what happened to those packages.

Thank you FedEx. Your response of “Well, what you should have done is requested Overstock.com ask for ’signature required’ on the package” was just what I wanted to hear. Not only does that NOT WORK, because one of the missing packages was signed for by someone they cannot track down now but don’t bother taking responsiblity for your piece of shit delivery truck drivers. I’m sure that the equivalent of ringing my doorbell is SUCH a chore, and therefore totally unnecessary. I guess if you live in an apartment building, you don’t have the right to have your packages delivered into YOUR hands.

And, to the misguided sad, sad soul who took them, I hope you enjoy them. I bet they were JUST what a scumbag like you was looking for.

How many times can the delivery systems of our world screw me over? At least one more time, anyway.

I ordered some very nice bedding from Overstock.com recently, and it was shipped in three separate packages. One from UPS, and two separately from FedEx. Because I work during the day, I never get packages shipped, I end up going to the service location and picking them up. In fact, I prefer it that way. It ensures I get the package.

Yesterday, I picked up my down comforter from the UPS location, and everything there is fine and dandy. When I got home, I pulled up the tracking websites to see where the other two packages were in their journey. Well, it’s maddening, but not at all surprising that FedEx appears to have left my packages with… someone who is not me. The process of tracking those packages and locating the driver has been started, but until this is figured out, I’m just beyond furious that my down pillows and mattress pillowtop are probably being enjoyed by some douchebag in my apartment complex.

Get me the hell out of this neighborhood.

Thank you, “tazochai” for resetting my moral compass. What would the world do without people like you? Just imagine… people out there using someone else’s idea to make money! That, like, never happens. I bet this person never eats at restaurants or shops in stores. I mean, they have the audacity to make money off an unorginal idea. Patronizing those places would make them a hypocrite. As you can tell from the tone of the email, this person is perfect in every way.

Am I supposted to feel bad for being an unoriginal, unimaginative copycat? I suppose I would if I weren’t actually making money from it. That does not suggest humble things about me, but I should point out that I don’t care.
All this from the person who has one of the most unoriginal email signatures on the planet. But I’m not here to throw stones.

from tazochai
to overheardinmpls@gmail.com
date Feb 1, 2007 8:44 AM
subject copycat

Hello,
A friend sent me a link to your site:
http://www.overheardinminneapolis.com/about.html

Near as I can tell, you are not associated with the people
that had this idea over at http://overheardinnewyork.com/

Which makes you a bunch of copycat asshats. You even have
the audacity to try to make money off of this through the
ads you have on your site.

If I’m incorrect, and you really do have permission to take
the overheard idea and run with it, then you will have my
apologies, and I suggest you make the relationship with new
york much more obvious on your site. However, I bet I’m
right, and you really have no imagination whatsoever, or
morals, if you’re trying to make money off someone else’s
idea.

p.s. I already wrote to overheardinnewyork about your site

— If PacMan had affected us as kids we’d be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to electronic music

You are correct in that we are not associated with OINY.

In fact, neither are any of the other 2 dozen or so cities and states that have their own Overheard site. But I would imagine you have already researched them and sent them the exact same email.

I had already contacted OINY several months back, but thank you for your concern and action. I am a better person, now.

Best,
Overheard in Minneapolis.