Wednesday, July 7, 1999 | 9:44 a.m.
Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at [email protected] or 259-4080.
Shopping for a friendly gas station? In these days of self-serve there aren't too many left, so when my favorite Texaco station at Desert Inn and Eastern went all self-serve I was unhappy.
There's nothing wrong with pumping your own gas, but I'm a klutz when it comes to gas pumps. I just never seem to get it right.
"Not to worry," said Annette Bunty, who co-owns the station with her husband, James. "We have other customers like you and we'll still give you full service."
Sometimes I have to wait a few minutes if the cashier is busy, but to me it's worth the short wait.
I'm not the only one who's not good at pumping gas. Two female friends, at separate times, were drenched with gasoline when they hung up the hose. They had the good sense to rush home to immediately wash off the potentially hazardous stuff. Gasoline is not something you want absorbed into the skin.
Jack Andrews, one of the environmental health specialists at the Clark County Health District, said that since gasoline is a solvent it could ignite and could irritate the skin.
The last time I visited Desert Inn Texaco I was waited on by a teenager who turned out to be James Bunty Jr. He is a credit to his parents. This was the first time we'd met, but the charming youth told me he's been working at the station with his dad for some time.
I sometimes go out of my way to fill up at the Buntys' station. It's only fair. The station goes out of its way for its clients.
Shopping briefs
* Neiman Marcus is offering some splendid gifts for the man who still gets pleasure from shaving the old-fashioned way. Available at selected stores is a handsome blue-painted shave brush and ceramic dish set. This handsome duo would make a nice bit of nostalgic decor for any man's bathroom ($85).
Also available at Neiman Marcus -- limited edition "Millennium" braces ($140).
* Target stores are featuring Cherokee Laredo water and tear-resistant casual luggage at sale prices through Saturday. Made of 1,200 denier polyester with sturdy zippers and leather trim, the rolling duffel at $33 is a fine value. Buy any piece of Cherokee luggage from the Laredo, Navigator or kids' collections and a $24.99 backpack is yours for just $1.
* Cover Girl's summer nail polish colors dry to a crackle finish. Now no one will notice if your nails are chipped.
* Ask at your favorite cosmetic counter for the new vitamin-infused face sprays. They're said to be the cosmetic answer to drinking wheatgrass juice.
* TAG Huer has just launched its first two watch designs exclusively for women: "The Alter Ego" comes in two stainless steel designs; "Elegant" has thin hands; "Design" has wider luminescent ones.
* The new Bulgari Home Designs Collection is now available at select Bulgari stores, including the Bulgari salon in the Forum Shops at Caesars.
* Monica lives on. The lipstick glaze worn by The Subtle One on numerous television appearances is still tough to find. Glaze from Club Monaco may not be readily available, but there are plenty of knockoffs. The kid almost sinks the U.S.A. and all we care about is her lip gloss!
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