So I had a warranty claim turned in and I needed to google up the town of Strandquist MN to find the zip code.

The Wikipedia page for it is full of WIN.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strandquist,_Minnesota

In its earliest years, Strandquist was a relatively vibrant town with quite a bit of economic activity, including a bank, at least two gas stations, two cafes, two grocery stores, two taverns, and a three-story hotel. Today there are no functioning businesses left in the town itself (the cafe, mislabeled as "The 7-Up Cafe" in the accompanying photo, has closed its doors), though a fellow who goes by the name "Pete" can hook visitors up with a cold, refreshing beverage from his private stock. Pete's Place is a friendly place, with a pool table, good conversation, and affable company, though bathroom facilities are somewhat primitive, but that's part of its rustic charm. The Rainbow Club, a combination bar, liquor store, and restaurant, sits just outside the city limits and is open six days a week (closed Monday). The Rainbow Club features a colorful mix of characters and has funcitioning indoor plumbing. Fisticuffs rarely occur, although engaging management in discussions about wolves is not advised.



I've highlighted by favorite parts.

Its been a bad year so far in North Minneapolis.
Violent crime is up 35% YTD and arrests are down.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@mpd/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-089881.pdf
I live in the 4th Precinct.
Saturday morning a man was shot trying to buy drugs at the corner market.


Asslt2---w/a Dangerous Weapon

Glenwood Ave & Newton Ave N Saturday 3/24/12 0930hrs 12-087360

Officer responded to the report of a shooting at 20XX Glenwood Ave. Officer found V1/male, 23 yrs, lying on the floor inside the front of a store with some type of injury to his torso. V1 did not respond to questions as to who shot him or what happened. V1 complained of difficulty breathing & while being treated by ambulance crew, V1 indicated he had been robbed while trying to buy drugs. V1 was taken to HCMC. No suspect information.

Also last week a man was robbed at gunpoint on the other end of my block.

ROBPER

Glenwood Ave & Morgan Ave N Friday 3/23/12 1113hrs 12-085936

Officer responded to a Person with a Gun call & met V1/male, 49 yrs, who stated he was riding his bike to Roger’s Market at 2007 Glenwood Ave & was asked by an unknown S1male, 18-20 yrs, if he had change for a $5. V1 gave S1 5 ones, but S1 did not give him a $5 bill. S1 then produced a gray revolver, pointed it at V1, & told him to get out of there. V1 rode off on his bike & called 911. V1 was not injured. Suspects were not located.


Neither of those disgust me as much as this crime though....


ROBPER / Terroristic Threats

Broadway Ave W & Knox Ave N Tuesday 3/20/12 1500hrs 12-083351

Officer met with V1/male, 13 yrs, at his school. V1 told officer that he was riding his bike when he observed 4 males, 12-14 yrs, standing on the sidewalk. Known S3/14 yrs, asked V1 if he had any money & V1 showed him 5 singles. V1 was pushed from behind & known S1/12 yrs, took the cash from V1’s pocket. V1 chased S1 for a few feet when he saw S3 was attempting to take his bike. V1 ran back towards S3 & chased him away from his bike. V1 later returned to the incident address & observed the same 4 males & asked for his money back. S1 told V1 that if he told his parents he would beat him. It should be noted that S1—S3 all attend the same school as V1. It should also be noted that V1 has a learning disability & didn’t know how to call police.


SERIOUSLY? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!? A 13 year old disabled kid gets mugged by classmates...

I took Daisy to an adoption event Saturday, and she was a big hit.
Kids went crazy for her. She was great with all the other dogs, and she did pretty good with people trying to pet her.

Two people told me they were going to fill out applications to adopt her. The first was a lady who brought her three little girls along. They were adorable. One of the girls was even wearing a T-shirt with a doxie on it. The spent close to an hour playing with Daisy. The other was an older lady, who had two old doxies, one of which she'd had to put down due to age recently.

I'm voting for the family with the kids. The mother seemed to really be level headed, and the girls adored her.

Or maybe winter parkas really do go best with flip flops...

This is Rhonda,

She's a pitbull/american bulldog mix. She is my second foster dog, but she's only a temp. Her current foster has an alergic relative visiting this week.

She is a total sweetie. Loves people, loves other dogs, and best of all, doesnt even seem to notice the cats, unlike Bender who if he saw one was chasing and barking. Plus she loves to just lay around on the couch and watch TV!

She goes back to her full time foster on Sunday, but I do get to take her to an adoption event on Saturday.

I decided to work with a local animal rescue group called Second Hand Hounds and do some fostering. I just finished my first experience. I had Bender the Wonder Mutt for 2 weeks.



He was adopted by a very nice couple, and I dropped him off last night. He was happy as could be when I left.



It was a lot of work, but I'm very happy I could help him out. He was a very sweet boy who just needs someone to teach him some better manners. I'll miss him. My cats, however, are happy to see him go. :p

Sometimes I forget just how brilliant this strip was.

I stole this photo from Nick Mamatas, and am sharing it out of context because its so awesome.

So last night I dreamed I came to work in the morning, but rather than go to my office, I went back in the lunch room and took a nap. I woke up about noon, and when I walked back to my office, everyone thought I was out for. In my office was a delivery guy dropping off a piano, that I had somehow ordered by mistake. I told him to back it up and return it.

Wow... just Wow.