‘And Would You Like a Reminder of Your Age With the Pizza?’

“Getting old is getting old,” said Alvin Ellis, age 63, “but who wants to be reminded of it while dining at Pizza Hut?” Ellis was referring to a sales receipt he received at an L.A. eatery that identified him and his 79-year-old companion as “A Old Man and A Old Woman” (see accompanying).

Ellis complained at the time, and said he was told by the cashier that she was sorry but that “it was to assist her in remembering who had placed the order.” He talked to the cashier’s supervisor, and was told she also was sorry but that it happened “to be the way they do things here.”

Finally, he phoned the company’s complaint line and was told that the identification was not “appropriate” and that the cost of his meal would be refunded. More than 60 days later, he said, he still hasn’t received the refund.

Which reminds me: Not sure how many eateries use descriptions of customers on their sales receipts. I do know of one restaurant bar in Orange County where the workers have taken to identifying one regular as “Botox” on the receipt. She either has not noticed or is too sloshed to care when she pays up.

Two out of three ain’t bad: Roger Beerworth of West L.A. points out that the L.A. Center for Enriched Studies should study its flagpole more closely (see photo).

Fuel problems? There’s no shortage of gasoline at the station visited by Dan Radina of Lake Balboa. But there seems to be a shortage of sandwiches (see photo).

Things you won’t find in Dubuque: John Rinck has inaugurated this website about one phase of L.A. life: www.ihatelatraffic.com.

Sounds like ... : Janelle LaFond of Glendale, a stickler for spelling, saw an aisle sign in a store that said “stationary,” which prompted her to comment:

“This must be the place where they put items they have trouble selling. They ‘don’t move.’ ”

miscelLAny: Roy Ringer spotted an estate in Malibu fronted by a sign that said: “Available for Purchase.” He added: “The Realtor wouldn’t put anything as gauche as a ‘For Sale’ sign in a client’s frontyard.” Love those euphemisms for the well-heeled -- cars for “re-sale” etc. I’m reminded of comic Pat McCormick’s line about the street in Beverly Hills inhabited by the downtrodden: Skid Drive.

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012, and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.