Cranky Left the House

Cranky Left the House

I am running out of material, so I went shopping with Mrs. Cranky.  Just a few simple chores; drop off a necklace for repair, pick up some items at Costco and go out to dinner.  You would think there was not much material to be gained from that list of to-dos. 

You would think wrong.

We first took the necklace to “Kay’s” because that is where we bought it and we paid insurance on the piece.  Well we thought we did.  Turns out we only were insured for lost stones.  The repair we needed was for a broken clasp. 

Oh well.

The clerk looked it up and then casually started to write up a repair order.  It would only cost $90.

Mrs. Cranky gave me a look.  I said.  “Ah that seems a little steep; I think we should shop around.”

The clerk started to argue, “But that is what it costs, and it is guaranteed for six months.”

“I’m sorry, but I was talking to my wife.”

Mrs. Cranky was on the same page, “I only came here because I thought it was under guarantee…$90 is a lot for a clasp.”

“But…”

“Thanks, we’ll be back if $90 is the best we can do.”

Costco shopping was uneventful, and it was on to dinner.  We went to Houlihan’s a nice little highway restaurant chain.  A bit pricey, but generally they serve good food.  I ordered scallops.

When the scallops arrived before they reached my chair they smelled fishy…not fresh fishy.  I ate one and it was confirmed they were not fresh.  If these scallops were $12 I probably would have eaten them because I am stupid like that, but they were $22.  I could not eat $22 not fresh scallops.   

I love scallops.  I know what good scallops should taste like.  These were bad scallops.  I ate some of the risotto and just pushed the plate away.  When the waiter made the compulsory “How is everything request” I answered, “Fine, but the scallops are inedible…unless of course you’re starving.”

The manager did not charge for the scallops, and I survived on some sweet potato fries from Mrs. C’s plate and from the calamari appetizer we had ordered earlier.

Unfortunately we only came to Houlihan’s because Mrs. C had a $10 coupon with a $30 purchase that she got for giving blood.  Without the scallops the bill was under $30.  On the plus side, I had a glass of pinot grigio that cost $5.25 and was every bit as good as the $13.50 pinot grigio served at Benihana.

I left the restaurant hungry and cranky because of the scallops and the ridiculous price at Kay’s to fix their faulty clasp.  I told Mrs. Cranky if we had to pay $90 for the not guaranteed clasp, I was going to pop an insured stone demand a replacement and screw them that way.

On the way home we stopped at a jeweler Mrs. C had done business with before.  He took one look and said “Be about $25 - $30, I can have it back in a week.”

When we got home, I was way less cranky and actually a little less hungry.

Mrs. Cranky says I should plug “Milano’s Jewelry” of Milltown, N.J. so…

Go to Milano’s for a fair price on jewelry repair.