(More than) Fourinarow.net

Despite my love of Home Depot (most of the time) and Super Target’s with it’s great products and prices, I like to support The Little Guy when I can.  I’d much rather shop locally, at a mom and pop store, than over the internet or at the big box stores.  However, a budget-conscious mom can’t always manage that.

There are times, though, when paying the extra couple of bucks (or not) is definitely worth it.

The other day, Jack came to me complaining that the wire that connects his transformer to his tracks (we’re talking about his electric trains here) wasn’t working properly.  He needed a new one.  Why?  Because his youngest brother has a habit of wandering into Jack’s room and yanking the wire from the tracks.  I searched a little online, but wasn’t really sure about we needed.  A trip to Al’s Hobby Shop was in order.

We took the wire into the store and Jack explained to The Train Guy what was going on.  After carefully listening to Jack, TTG announced that there was no need for Mom to spend any money.  The wire connectors could easily be fixed.  (Waaahoooo!)

TTG tinkered around a little while I herded children and avoided destruction of the shop.  When he was finished, he carefully showed both Jack and me how he had fixed it, demonstrated how it now worked properly and explained to me how we could fix it again, if neccessary.

All I can say is “WOW”.

On Wednesday, Jack and Dan took off for our town’s downtown area to patronize Fleet Feet.  In the past, Dan has bought his running shoes online or at a mall store.  Once or twice he did go to a really great running store in St. Louis, but, alas, we are in St. Louis no more.

Dan came home with nothing but good things to say.  The guy at the store hooked him up to a treadmill, had him run on it and video taped it.  Afterward, he went over the video with Dan and pointed out a few things about how Dan’s feet move and how they land when he runs.  He then had him try on a few pairs of shoes appropriate for his feet and had Dan run in the parking lot to get a true feel for the shoes.

Dan came home, happy as a clam, with a new pair of Avia’s and a lot of enthusiasm for the store and the guy that helped him.  And, he really didn’t pay more than he would have elsewhere.  How cool is that?

Tomorrow, in celebration of Father’s Day weekend, we’re going to head down to Two Brothers Tap House and brewery for a tour and lunch.  And a six pack to carry home, probably.  And maybe some home brew supplies.

I came across Two Brothers when I was looking for a local place to buy home brewing supplies for Dan.  There are a lot of internet sites, but sometimes you need to see what you’re buying – hold it, touch it, heft it.  Like with a brewing pot.  (Dan has an inexpensive one and wants to replace it with a sturdier, heavy-bottomed pot.)  Hard to tell these things via the internet.

Anyway, we’re looking forward to the experience.  I’m hoping to find another local treasure, and I think we will.  I’ll let you know!