everybody's gotta guy

i once read a Dave Barry column about how everyone in chicago has "got a guy." need to take care of a parking ticket? i gotta guy. need to get your foot in the door of a particular line of employment? i know a guy there.

today i knew a guy as well.

(and sometimes i act like a snob for the fun of it. being polite and leaving with a thank-you and a smile of course!)

i bought my (cashmere-lined) leather gloves (which weren't cheap) in december, before embarking on my adventure in the malls of south america. i noticed the other day that at least two of the seams are coming apart in the most important areas - the fingertips!

since i bought the gloves at a store that i considered "high-quality" (because my last pair of gloves from them, which i bought two or three years ago, are still in wearable condition, though the lining has a hole in the thumb) i discarded the sales receipt. i mean, they are authentic so that did not get in my way when i marched into the store and showed the lady at the counter my problem.

no, what got in the way is that they got rid of all of their winter stuff (including gloves, of course, even though it's still frickin cold outside) to make way for their spring stuff. and the lady (i would call her girl, but she was mean) didn't seem too enthusiastic about fixing my problem. she told me that i could have them sent to "jacks" (where the company HQ is) but that it would probably take 4-6 weeks.

well, i'm really disappointed, because in 4-6 weeks winter will be over.

and there i was, between having fixed gloves with cold hands for six weeks, or breaking gloves and warm hands.

i'm sure it's not difficult to tell which one i chose.

well, i guess i'll just have to take them to my leather guy.

then they told me if i did that, i should bring them the receipt and they would gladly reimburse me.

which is nice, but my sister works at a saddlery and would have it done for free.

so technically i don't "gotta guy" but my sister does, and by association i gotta guy as well.