living

Our Neighborhood Shoe Repair Store

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Tucked in between Haagen Dazs, AT&T and Hair O’Dessey in the Pollo Tropical strip mall, is Miami Lakes Shoe Repair.

As often as I have been there, it never donned on me that the proprietor’s name was not Sal but Dom. I really don’t know where I got the name from but as his wife put it, “you must have assumed that because he is Italian”. We all got a kick out of it and laughed about it but honestly, I was a little embarrassed by it. As often I have been there, I should have known.

The thing I love about the place is how courteous and pleasant the couple is – yes, they work together and have been for the past 13 years. They are always gracious, attentive and understanding of their customers even taking their time two years ago, in a busy Saturday afternoon, to help me out with my car when it suddenly died in front of their shop. Funny he is Italian but always passes for a Latino whereas his wife, a Latina from New York could pass for an Italian.

Perhaps, the reason why we keep on coming back and Dom has been at the same location for the past 29 years, yes 29 years, is the quality of work he puts out; it is superb. The master craftsman is always in display. Just when you thought that there is nothing else to salvage of your favorite shoe or bag, here comes Don with his canning mastery. He turns it around and with great skillfulness, and knowledge of the subject, a few hours or days later, delivers the product to you as if it was new; but he is also quick to tell you when you should buy a new pair.

They have become a fixture in town and at time when businesses and strip malls are closing, we look forward to Dom’s 29 more.

My Gyno Is Going Ghetto …

/ ludlumdrive / 5 Comments

enerdrinOr it is signs of the time.

Is recession also affecting the health care industry? I thought they were immune from it all. Last I heard, there were no nurses or doctors being layoff; so, why is my gyno displaying some design bottles on top of his office counter?

The three bottles were sitting on the left corner displaying like one of a kind seventy-two dollars Pinot Noir bottle.

It reminded me of the beauty salon I go to. You not only can buy hair products but hearings, handbags, dresses, belts, comforters, key chains, air spray, toys, homemade cakes, video games, bootlegged CD’s and videos (some movies still in the theater) man, I got tired of saying it, you name it, they have it. No need to leave your seat or the drier, just have your wallet ready. They come hammering. The door just opens up and one by one they come strolling with their arms or boxes adorned with merchandise. It is one amazing scenario to watch. Everyone is trying to make a buck and why not? Diversification!

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So, it was to my amazement that I visited my doctor’s office, who happened to be Jew and caught a glimpse of none other than three bottles of “Mona Vie”. Yes, Mona Vie. I am still trying to figure out who Mona is.

I could not help but ask one of the nurses about Mona.

I thought Mona was of alcoholic nature because it resembles a wine bottle but to my amusement, it turned out to be energy drink. Hooray, energy drink! But holly frijole, can someone please tell me why is my gyno an independent distributor of an energy drink? It is not like you need energy while laying down in that exam table or do you? Hum, kinda of think of it… never mind!

I did not get an answer because I simply did not ask and it is not to me to know. Simply put it, none of my business. But since Mr Curious who forgot that being curious killed the cat, was lurking like a coyote, I visited the website http://www.BrigHart.com and learned that the drink is a blend of fruits from Amazon and falls in the realm of Acai. Hum Acai, energy… What ever happened to Guarana?!

I still did not get the answer my question, why my corvette driving Jew doctor with that many years of experience was doing selling energy drink.