We’ve all been there.  Walking alone somewhere, maybe on a dark street or a parking garage, lost in our thoughts.  Suddenly you’re aware of another person, always a man, always by himself as well, walking behind you.  That guy, walking behind you.

You’re subject to a certain amount of fear and doubt.  Maybe this guy is some kind of mugger?  Maybe he’s a rapist or some sort of unsavory sort?  In your mind, you start running through scenarios on how to deal with it.  You try to remember if your pepper spray is in your purse, or, if you’re a guy, you picture yourself in a possible physical altercation.  Deftly dodging knife swipes while landing jabs to his face.  As you walk, his distance never changes.  You sneak a quick look behind you;  his face is placid and expressionless.  What is he thinking?  You wonder:  Does he have a weapon?  I just need to get to where I’m going.  Get somewhere where people can see me.

Usually it’s just someone else going in your direction.  I suppose there are occasions where there is a crime, but I’m specifically talking about those cases where you’re just scaring yourself.  The guy behind you is harmless, and deep down you know that.

I like to take walks around my neighborhood.  Know that my place isn’t exactly the safest neighborhood though.  I think of Midvale as the armpit of Salt Lake City.  It’s not a slum or a ‘hood, or full of crime-ridden filth, but it’s not really "nice" either.  Most of the architecture involves pawn shops and those sleazy car dealerships that have a trailer for an office.  There’s a sex shop (or what passes for one in Utah, anyway) directly across the street, and there have been a couple of shootings in my complex in the past couple of years.  Still, I enjoy a good stroll around the block, so I walk.  Hoodlums don’t concern be all that much, although I try to stay alert most of the time.

On occasion, I’ll come across a happy couple or a young mom pushing a stroller during my walk.  Just people out for a little exercise, just like me.  These people invariably move to the side a little, or give me one of those nervous smiles as I pass by.  I usually give them a grin or a head nod or in the case of old people, a hello.  No big deal.  I never thought too much about it really.  Sometimes I’ll see someone up ahead going to wherever it is they’re going.  Sometimes they’ll even take a quick glance behind them, maybe sizing me up, or curious as to who I am.  I don’t say anything.  I just keep my face placid and expressionless.  No sense in alarming anyone, right?

I don’t think of myself as an imposing figure.  I’m not any sort of racial minority (actually, come to think of it, I suppose in my particular apartment complex I am.)  I don’t look threatening… at least I don’t think so.  No one has any real reason to fear me at all.  I’m not scary, am I?

It occurred to me just the other night, as I thought more about it.  I think I might be that guy.

That’s kind of cool.

Topics: Thoughts | 8 Comments »

I got a snazzy little brochure from Best Buy the other day detailing how at the end of July the company is going to switch the provider of my financial benefits over to some other company.  I still have a 401K through Best Buy, and I haven’t done anything with it since my termination.  I figured it was safe for now, until I get settled and start looking into doing something with it.

Since they are switching things around, I figured it was time to get my money.  My plan is to go to my bank and have the 401K switched over to an IRA or some other kind of interest-bearing account.  There isn’t too much money there, less than thirty thousand, but it’s a good start.  Since I don’t work for Best Buy anymore, that money isn’t doing me any good just sitting there with no income flowing into it, so today I set about getting access to the account to start the process.  To my amazement and my fury, I can’t get to it.

Best Buy has a benefits website that is a portal to all things money and benefit related.  This website used to be great, because it was a one-stop-shop to all my information.  I say it used to be great, because I used to be an employee.   You see, this website requires an active employee number and password to access.  Two things which I no longer have. 

Unfortunately, the website used within the company is the same website used outside the company.  My 401K information is safely locked away in a website I can no longer access. 

At the bottom of the log in page, there is a little section that says "for former Best Buy employees."  OK, I’ll just click that and all will be right with the world.  WRONG!  Guess what that link does?  It takes you to a LOG IN PAGE THAT REQUIRES AN EMPLOYEE NUMBER AND PASSWORD!  AHHHRGH!  You can even see for yourself.  Go to http://www.mybbyrewards.com and scroll to the bottom, where it says "If you are a former Best Buy employee."  Click it and tell me if that’s not the most asinine thing you’ve ever seen?

Luckily, the wonderful color brochure I received also includes a  number for helpful customer assistance via telephone.  I cheerfully dialed this number, making my way through various unrelated menus and attempting to follow the instructions of someone speaking a completely unintelligible Indian accent, when I finally came upon a menu containing the information I need.  I pressed the number, and waited for the computer voice to give me further instructions.  Much to my chagrin, but not my surprise, accessing my information via telephone requires an ACTIVE EMPLOYEE NUMBER AND PASSWORD.

I’m thinking there must be some sort of legal recourse here.  They can’t just hold my account hostage like this simply because I’m no longer employed there.  I want my money.  Furthermore, I’d like a level of service that isn’t completely idiotic and impossible.  Is that so much to ask?

I’m off to try and find an actual human being to scream at now.  They better not even ask for an employee number.

Topics: Thoughts | 7 Comments »