Columnist Muriel Stevens: These ideas are tops for pops

Wednesday, June 13, 2001 | 8:25 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

Dear old Dad. He deserves the best, but sometimes it's hard to decide what he'd like for Father's Day. There had to be clues as to what he wanted throughout the year, but did you listen when he moaned over the loss of his favorite whatever?

Probably not, but it's not too late. There's still time to shop, even to mail order. Some weeks ago I wrote about some ideas for dad from El Portal luggage shops. A reader sent a message that she was giving her dad the Palm Pilot case mentioned in the column. Here are some more ideas:

Is Dad a movie buff? Movie houses sell gift packs of tickets. Enhance your gift by going with him to a movie he wants to see -- but you don't want to see. Gift certificates are always good, so forget about ties and give him a certificate from a sporting-goods store. There are dozens of things that golfers, fishing enthusiasts and sports buffs would like to have but will never buy for themselves. The crazier the better.

Is there a major sporting event happening here soon? Check it out and buy him a pair of tickets.

I like the unusual gifts always featured in the Red Envelope catalog. How about a double-duty stainless-steel Swiss Army knife that includes a cigar clipper and a club-face cleaner ($90)? What more could a cigar-smoking golf enthusiast want? It also includes a divot tool, spike wrench and large blade.

Does he ride a bicycle? How about a radio that attaches to the handlebars ($36)? This radio is water-resistant, features a built-in horn and safety reflector, and is easily removed when the bicycle is parked.

A retro classic oak tool chest is a nifty gift for a do-it-yourself dad. Does Dad travel? A terrific dual-time, monogrammed travel clock includes two small picture frames so he can keep the home team with him wherever he goes ($45).

Hopefully Dad will never need an escape hammer and tool, but this handy gadget ($18) has a chrome tip that quickly breaks through windows, a razor to cut open a seat belt and a puncture pin to deflate airbags. It even includes a flashlight.

And how about an atomic watch ($60) accurate to one second per million years? This watch receives daily radio signals from the U.S. Atomic Clock. These signals automatically update the time and date display. Enter the time zone and the watch does it all. It even automatically changes for daylight-savings time. One minor drawback: The automatic time set works only in North America. No biggie. For a Red Envelope catalog call (877) 733-3683 or go online at RedEnvelope.com.

At long last, Wards concedes: It's been a long time coming, but I returned from my trip to Philadelphia to find a wonderful surprise. A letter from Monogram Bank in Georgia saying they were crediting my account for the washer and dryer that I never received from Wards. Lesson learned: never give up. It takes time and patience to succeed, but it's better than paying a $1,300 bill for undelivered merchandise. I couldn't have done it without the information and encouragement supplied by a reader who just happened to be a regulatory compliance officer for a credit-card card company. I am indebted, too, to all of the readers who shared their Wards stories. I wish all of them happy solutions.