Though the MC had a wrangle with Target's policy on returning a wedding gift for which the MC had no receipt, Bob at Target has heretofore redeemed the company in the MC's eyes. Atarantada as usual putting up a Yuletide tree, the MC waited long past the point that there were many desirable trees left in Laredo. In and among the sun-fried trees left at the Target Christmas tree lot, the MC spotted a splendid (and enormous) choice. The MC was hot under the collar at the lack of service in the lot and encountered a gentleman named Bob who had a proprietary mien about the MC's tree choice. "Is this your tree?" Bob asked the MC. The MC answered, "That's my tree." Bob asked, "Did you pay for this tree?" The MC answered archly, "Did you?" Bob said, "No, but I'm going to give you this tree." The MC, understanding now that Bob wore a red shirt because he worked at Target, also understood that Bob was giving away the last of the company's Christmas trees. "It's a business decision," Bob said, adding that the credit for generosity should go to the store manager. Not a chance, Bob. That's the guy that wouldn't budge on a return-for-merchandise exchange. You, however, eres puro corazón.
Domingo Adame at the Webb County Tax Assessor Collector's office made easy work of the MC's auto registration for travel into Mexico. Total time: under seven minutes.
And speaking of travel into Mexico, the MC found nothing but excellent service, even in the throes of paisano season, at the automobile registry site under Bridge II in Nuevo Laredo. Piece of cake! The MC found a customer-friendly system, good signage, and especially good attitudes. Instead of the customary endless long lines and the ensuing waits, the MC found efficiency, the intelligent use of technology, and very good service. Total time in the building around 9 p.m.: 11 minutes.
Linda LeDuc of RapidPrint, undaunted by time constraints and well aware of the miracles of fast freight, can do just about anything in print -- invitations, Christmas cards, programs, political push cards.
The MC can't wax positively enough about Ramiro Galindo and Amparo Gonzalez Compton at the pharmacy at Albertson's. They have done all possible to provide kind, rapid, and thorough service.
After a little bit of pleading, the staff at Mercy Hospital's admissions office worked quickly to speed up admission at a time that the hospital had no available rooms.
The MC found good service and a great selection of outdoors goods at J.C.Twiss downtown. Parking was not a hassle. The Twiss company has its own lot next door; however, a zealous parking lot attendant requires absolute proof that you've been in the store.
They are real nice at the register at McCoy's, but I think they enjoy the struggle of customers moving their own lumber out the front door, up the incline of the parking lot, and loading their own in-store purchases before heading out to the lumber yard.
The untimely meeting of a kayak and the window to the MC's office necessitated calling Express Glass, whom the MC found in the Borderplex phone book. On this particularly cold afternoon, proprietor Clemente Medellin made short work of replacing a large pane of glass in an old wooden window. Mr. Medellin, who has worked in the glass business since 1955, provided excellent, timely after-hours service.