So we're pretty broke, and my wife and I decide not to exchange gifts this year. Oh, right! Like I could keep THAT promise? I've been working some overtime lately, so $100 doesn't seem too much like cheating. After all, this is the girl who's tolerated two 18-race seasons, co-signed loans so I could buy racebikes, didn't kill me when I went to Blackhawk and forgot our anniversery, iced and bangaged my crash-mangled body...
What to buy? Clothes? No way. I don't think I've bought her one article of clothing in 13 years that she actually liked. Perfume? Please! She selects perfume like I set shim-under-bucket valves. It's a science to her, and there's no way I could hit it right. A Lowes card? She does like to remodel the house... No! There has to be a better answer!
There is a super-swanky jewelry store in the town where I work. You need a card just to get past the door guard. They gave 50% discount cards to all the members at our Christmas union meeting. Hmmm. I could try, but they'd probably laugh at me with a C-note in my hand, kind of like a poor kid with a nickel walking into Mc Donalds. But hey! I've been laughed at before. Why not at least try?
Dressed in my work blues and muddy Carhart jacket, I show my card to the door guard and walk in. I take a quick look around. They've got watches in here that cost five grand. My heart sinks. A sweet young blonde with a boob job and skin tight pants comes over to help me. I feel like an illegal alien. She's obviously there to flirt with the high rollers and get them to spend more bread. We aren't hitting it off.
At least she's perceptive. She quickly calls for the owner. This guy looks like Enzo Ferrari. Perfect. If I was casting the part of jewelry store owner, this would be the guy. He says, "Ay! You work for da city? You look like you been workin hard today." I like him immediately. "I give you union guys a hundred cards," he says, "But you da first guy comes inna my shop. I fix you up good, OK? You go tell da boys I'm an OK guy!"
"Your wife, she like earrings?" "No" I say. "Her long hair always catches them." "What she look like?" he asks. "She's a redhead with a pale complexion," I respond. "Silver!" he shouts. "Gold is for the blondes. I fix you right up." He shows me some rings. Laura was sighing over the elvish jewelry when we watched "Lord of the Rings" the other night. He shows me a ring as finely patterned as a snowflake, with a dusting of what almost looks like diamond powder. It looks like it could be a medieval relic. I picture it on Laura's finger and nearly cry. "Agates," he says. "Lotta sparkle for a workin man's budget." It say $170, but he gives it to me for $85.
"You gotta get something to go with dat," he says. I'm putty at this point. "She like crosses? Dis is from the same collection. Beautiful. Jus beautiful. I never seen nuttin like dis stuff before. It's new dis year. See how it matches da ring?" The cross looks like it should adorn the throat of a medieval princess, and I just happen to have one of those at home. It's $200, but he'll give it to me for a hundred. Sold. Then he gives me another discount because I'm paying cash! And he wraps it!
End result is that I walk out with $370 worth of jewelry for under $200. Yeah, I know that this is how the jewelry game is played, but do you think I care? The guy made me feel like I'd bought the nicest stuff in the store, and I know that Laura's going to absolutely die when she sees it. I'm so excited that I feel like I'm about to explode. It's going to be a long wait until Christmas!
man that is a nicely writen story, I know she will love you. Way to go man...
I am actually working on the same sort of thing right now, if I can just find a store that sells something she'd like ;)
Way To go K3, Since my Wife knows all about the "Racer Budget" We are kinda doin' the same thing. I wasn't gonna get her anything but was kinda feeling guilty so I decide to get my forks done for her :-/I figure it's really her present because if I didn't get them done she would have to deal with my whining for awhile ;) I figure thats not really enough so I'm gonna surprise her with some VP too ;D
StUmPy
Great story! Keep us posted on the results and write a few race stories for Roadracing World.
Happy Holidays!
Doug
K3, that's so cool!
Stumpy, stumpy Stumpy. Your are so young and have Soooooo much to learn. Take this lesson from your master, K3, and heed it, my young pup. You have been given the secret to the universe; use it wisely my son. ;D
QuoteGreat story! Keep us posted on the results and write a few race stories for Roadracing World.
Happy Holidays!
Doug
Thanks. I've tried with RRW. Mr Ulrich thinks I'm "too happy." I don't know how to write anything but what I feel.
It sounds like you and your wife are both very lucky K3.
I lucked out, my chick likes alot of guy stuff. I ordered a computer at work that came with a free scanner/printer. My boss said I could have the printer/scanner, so that and a digital camera off Ebay for cheap ($135), and I know she'll be real happy. My mother is a different story :-/ Tis the season for gluttonous spending, tra la la la la...
QuoteWay To go K3, Since my Wife knows all about the "Racer Budget" We are kinda doin' the same thing. I wasn't gonna get her anything but was kinda feeling guilty so I decide to get my forks done for her :-/I figure it's really her present because if I didn't get them done she would have to deal with my whining for awhile ;) I figure thats not really enough so I'm gonna surprise her with some VP too ;D
StUmPy
;D ;D ;D
K3, that's nice man. Made me feel all fuzzy inside. ;)
MY GOD ALL FO YOU JUST GAVE ME THE BEST PRESENT. I THOUHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE TO DO THIS THIS YEAR . I WAS FEELING SO DEPRESSED
Way to go Chris....
I must admit I'm married to a guy with a 'Stumpy mindset'. Man, I must be a glutton for this whole racing thing. ::) ;)
I told Paul that all I wanted for Christmas is trim around my dishwasher. We have the trim, it just needs to be cut, stained, varnished and installed.
We'll see what happen's Christmas morning.
Dawn :)
K3, now that was a great story. I'm sure she'll love it, more because you picked it out than anything.
QuoteThe guy made me feel like I'd bought the nicest stuff in the store, and I know that Laura's going to absolutely die when she sees it. I'm so excited that I feel like I'm about to explode. It's going to be a long wait until Christmas!
It's rare that you find business owners or employees who can do this for people these days. And you know what, it's the deals and interactions like this that bring them 10x the business that the folks who spend $10k or so will...
Please share the name of this jeweler(sp?) so that others may check it out.
Oh, and FWIW, I always ensure my kids understand the meaning of CHRISTmas, and they do. However, as kids, they are toy-grubbing monsters with the "I-want, I-want" attitude.
I've shared with them and we've all agreed that next year there will be 3 presents each. That's it... That's all Jesus received and quite frankly He was far more deserving than my kids ever will be. I love them with all my heart, but want to keep them focused, appreciative and in perspective.
Aww K3, you're a sweetie. RRW is passing by an excellent editorial writer in you.
After spending many hours pouring over my notes from the Traxxion Dynamics Suspension for Mortals DVD (I'm going to be a real helper this year), I can appreciate the fact that Stumpy's stock forks need revalving for his little Stumpy self. Now if only he'll spring for my fancy sag measuring tape.
Plus,
why wear Eternity when you can wear VP. :-*
I think I've been brainwashed somewhere along the way.
Heather
The store is called Maci's. It's on the 5400 block of 95th street in Oak Lawn Illinois. I've been talking the guy up to all my union brothers. Hopefully they'll give him some business.
K3,
1) You have a gift for writing. Excellent read!
2) Way to go on the present. Sounds like she'll love them!
3) Send the sweet young blonde my way... ;D
Quotewhy wear Eternity when you can wear VP. :-*
Honda polish... That's what does it for me... 8)
Well, she loved the jewelry. We swapped last night, so we could have our own time together without the rest of the family. There is a certain look a woman gets in her eyes when she realises it's jewelry...
She got me "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" on DVD. The girl certainly knows how to make me smile!
She liked the story, too!
Merry Christmas!