Service

"Can I help you?"

Kirsten and I did a lot of shopping this weekend which was topped off by an incident at our local Marshall Field's that I thought I would share. We started there where they were having one of their weekly sales and so I was checking out the suits. I wanted a brown one. I found this great Ralph Lauren suit for $100 off and struck up a conversation with the sales guy. A quirky, older, Danny DeVito looking guy. We told him we'd think about it as we continued on with our shopping. "No problem, let me know when you come back!"

Off to Boston Store who also had a suit sale. Found a Laruen suit with the same style, just a different color in it. I liked it but I really had my heart set on the other one. This one, however, was $150 off. Sooooo Marshall Fields will match that right? Back to that store we go....

Get back to the store and I try on the suit. Another sales guy comes up "Can I help you? Oh that suit looks great on you, what do you think?" Well, I think it looks great if you'll match Boston Store's sale price. They have the same style suit. "Oh no, it has to be the same identical suit to match it." Ok, then I'm not buying this one. Are you sure? I'll buy it right now if you match their prices. "I'm sorry I can't help."

Meanwhile, Kirsten and I pow-wow'd and decided to go to Danny DeVito and ask HIM about the sale and guess what he said "Sure, we can match that" Great, done deal. Suit gets marked up for tailoring and off to checkout we go. "So we're giving you the extra $50 off then...comes to...$$$." Then, seemingly from the shadows, "Hey, you can't do that, it's not the same suit! You can't match prices like that!" The other sales guy pounces. Keep in mind, he knows nothing other than what we've told him. He's fighting this battle like he has a personal stake in it or something. We calmly say it's the same style but I like this one better. So we continue to get check out and that sales guy goes 5 feet away to another salesperson and starts talking shit about us! Right in front of us. I say "Hey, if you're going to bad mouth us, at least wait until we're gone for Christ's sake!" Danny was irate and started wagging his finger at them. "Knock it off! I don't care what you say, if that's what the customer says, that's what I believe. Write me up if you have to." There was more comments under breaths from the sales guy and he finally walked away. That was great. Anyway, I got my suit for $150 off and all was well but it was quite the little confrontation. Now I'm dreading going back to pick it up when the tailoring is done for fear he's the only one there.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Father's Day Weekend

Ok, so technically this isn't until June sometime, but this past weekend my Dad came down to visit from Green Bay for his now annual trip to the big city so it seemed like a Father's Day weekend to me. This is the 2nd annual visit for my Dad that centers around one event, the last two years being a Bucks game, but other than that all bets are off. This year we started with some lunch at Twisted Fork. After we left there and were driving away, he started to groan a little which led to this exchange:

Me: "What's the matter? The Rueben sandwhich not agreeing with you?"
Dad: "No, that was fine. I could just go for a beer soon."

Ah, how could I have been so short sighted thinking beer drinking wouldn't start until the Bucks game? So, off to Flannery's we went for a couple. After that we hung out and chatted for a while about the ususal stuff. Packers, finances, Packers, work, Packers, etc.. Six o'clock rolled around so to the Old German Beer Hall we go! We each knocked down a litre of bier and my Dad (shown below, back left, in an undated photo) reminisced and explained how similar some of the things in the bar were to where he was in Germany when he was in service. Sounds like the Old German Beer Hall has got thing right!


On to the Bucks game...This was my first Bucks game of the year. It will be my last. Wow. What a disappointment. I am now a card carrying memer of the "Fire Terry Stotts" fan club. Recap: 2 minutes to go before the end of first quarter, Bucks down by 6. Stotts takes out all the starters except T.J. Ford. Fast forward SIX minutes into the second quarter, Bucks down by 20+ and STILL not a legitimate scorer on the floor and other than the timeout between quarters, not a single timeout called to stop the bleeding. Just inexcusable. He should be fired alone for the fact that our MAX CONTRACT guy Michael Redd was on the bench for 9 straight game minutes, about 20 overall, while the Bucks just got eaten alive. Ridiculous. Bucks lose. Bucks suck. Fire Terry NOW!

Sunday morning Dad and I got up and headed up to St. Hedwig's for church. After, we completed what is also a driving force around this annual bonding weekend...a Country Breakfast at Ma Fischer's. Delicious. My lovely wife won't let me go there for breakfast anymore because of my cholesteral. But she has no say on Dad and Derek weekend! (And if you're reading this honey, you know I'm just kidding. You always have a say, always). Anyway, that concluded our weekend. Thanks Dad for coming down and I can't wait until next year!

Son

Welcome Visitors!

As some of you know, I am in the hunt for MKE Online's "blog of the week" which is exciting. Today I was looking at my traffic stats and I was surprised at how many people have been stopping by via MKE's website. Just wanted to say "Thanks" and stop back again!

Cheers

Now most of you probably recognize the gentleman in the picture holding the Horizon League Championship trophy as the latest in an ever-growing list of great men's basketball coaches at UWM. Bo Ryan, Bruce Pearl, and now, pictured left, Rob Jeter. Most of you should also recognize the man holding something much more dear to my heart, a bottle of High Life, as one Ryan Horton.

Now I know what you're thinking. "Is that the guy I saw slashing to the basket repeatedly Tuesday night and leading the Panthers to victory and into the NCAA Tournament?" No, that was Mark Pancratz. This is Ryan Horton. Yes, the same Ryan I introduced you to slightly over a year ago on this blog. In the past year he has continued to carry out his mission of making this great city of ours and even better place to live. Just because he's now a first-time homeowner down in an ecclectic part of town, he hasn't gone away. He's here, there, everywhere...where ever he's needed. Whether it's to help educate the public on TIF's or to lend a helping hand to the Panters to ensure they celebrate their NCAA bid with the correct tools...High Life. Keep an eye out. If you're in need, he'll be there...

I have a fever

The UWM Panthers are going dancing again. After a hard fought 30 minutes, UWM put the hammer down on Butler and defeated them 87-71. The most impressive part was the great play by the bench. Big Derrick Ford was a monster. Up until last night, you can pretty much sum up his career at UWM with one word, raw. Last night with Joah Tucker in foul trouble though, Ford was everywhere with several key baskets, including a huge dunk following a missed 3. Another nice surprise was my friends and my whipping boy Mark Pancratz who chipped in 6 in the win.

Another key to the night was the cowbell. Our seats were very close to the Butler band, and, more importantly, their blue-haired, face-painted, cowbell player. Have to give it up to that guy. He wailed on that thing like a true champion even though his team was destroyed by 16. As we baraged him with "more cowbell" screams, I couldn't help wonder how many times he's heard it during the year. Oh well. Good times.

Oh, after we went to Calderone Pub (the former home to Lukas' on State) for a couple beers. Why is this of note? Well because it's another bar to add to the list that's why!

For you stat geeks out there, check out the box score of the game below:

Raar Raar!

Well it all comes down to this...UWM plays Butler tonight at 8:00 PM at the US Cellular Arena. On the line, an invite to the NCAA Tournament and March Madness! The Panthers (20-8) are favored over the Bulldogs (19-11) but if I learned anything about UWM being favored, it's don't you dare assume they will win. The Panthers are coming in off a big win though crushing Loyola 80-66 the other night after a much needed 10-day rest. So throw on your black & gold and get to down to the US Cellular tonight. I'll see you there!

At the very least catch it live on ESPN. Go Panthers!

Play in MKE

For those of you who have never picked up a copy of MKE while walking into a Qdoba or other delicious places, you should start by picking up the latest issue. The new issue featues an article on our friend Erin (pictured left) over at "Play in the City" which begins with Nicole Sweeney of MKE interviewing her at Koz's Mini Bowl (another place I need to try). They discuss the how, what, where and why of Erin's great blog. Pick up an issue, or take a look online at MKEOnline and be sure to pay careful attention to the commenters that were quoted in the article. They seem like really cool people. :)