I don't shop dollar stores very often. When I do, I make sure I'm actually in a “DOLLAR” store. You know, the ones that actually have everything for a buck? Some so called “dollar stores” have everything priced in increments of dollars. But if I'm after cheap quality merchandise, I expect to pay ONE dollar.

Yesterday I stopped by two dollar stores. One in the big city, and the only one I know of in our little town. The one is the big city was well stocked – but I had already made up my mind I wanted to support the store in our little town. Mr. A had some work to do in town today, so we carpooled in together. That was fun. I always enjoy the ride much better when someone else does the driving. On the way home, I asked him if he minded stopping by the dollar store. I told him I didn't care whether he wanted to stop or not, I'd be fine either way. I still have a few more things to purchase for our church camp trip that our youngest son and I am attending.

I don't have any daughters, and I thought it might be fun to bring along my hair braiding books and see if I can talk any other moms into learning how to do new braids, and/or teaching their youngsters how to braid.

Combs are an important tool for complex braiding, but I think they are a rare item nowadays. I think everyone uses a brush mostly, so I wanted to pick up a few combs so that anyone who needed one could have a new, clean one. We just need some cheap ones. At the big city dollar store, they had several varieties of combs with at least a dozen combs in each package. They also had a huge variety of pony tail holders, and each package contained several dozen holders.

But I didn't let myself make the purchase there, waiting for the dollar store in my town.

Mr. A said he didn't mind stopping (you know it's not like I have to ask permission or anything, it's just common courtesy to ask your spouse if they feel up to stopping – I know usually I just want to GET HOME and get out of my work clothes, so I'd expect the same courtesy), so we stopped at the lone dollar store.

I was sorry I waited. I walked into the store and the clerk was standing on the front side of the counter, leaning up against the counter, animatedly talking to two other men, who were obviously his friends. They were all three talking about girlfriends. Mr. A and I walked around the store and I was not impressed with the selection.

Now you know Mr. A started his new business back in March, I was a little freaked out about it, but so far it has been okay. He started a new sideline to his business last week. I've been reading books on advertising, promoting and marketing, and it's really making me notice things much more.

Like that dollar store today. I almost wonder if it's just a front for laundering money. Either that or the guy just doesn't know what's he's doing, doesn't care, or maybe can't afford to stock the store property. The shelves were more than half empty. I mean, come on, guy, at least pull the stock to the front of the shelves. Maybe greet your customers, instead of continuing your loud and animated conversation with your buddies?

Well, I wasn't able to buy anything. For one thing, the items I was looking for weren't present. He had a package of three combs – why buy four packages from him for $4, rather than from a different dollar store where I'll only spend one dollar for four times as many combs?

That's okay. I am in another small town that is economically depressed once a week… they have a dollar store that ROCKS. They can use my business.

This particular dollar store also has those glow bracelets and necklaces two packs for one dollar. You get 2 glow-in-the-dark necklaces, 2 glow-in-the-dark bracelets and 4 connectors. These are those glow-in-the-dark circle things that are sold at parades or night time events and usually cost $5 or more for one necklace!! I am going to buy a few packages to share with the children at camp.

I'm sure all the other parents will come prepared with games and entertainment for their children, but I think it will be fun to offer some things to do that don't involve FOOD. I have heard the parents and children talking about everyone being on a sugar high for the whole time they are there. I just want to bring a few things along to help keep the children entertained now that my youngest is 18 (I don't expect he'll need me to provide entertainment).

I also think I'll pick up a couple of containers of sidewalk chalk. I'm wondering if water bomb (balloons) would be appropriate. It might be fun to have an old-fashioned water fight with the children against the adults.

This will be the first vacation I've gone out of the state, well, since I was a child of ten.

Do you have any cheap suggestions for having fun at camp? I thought the braiding idea would be really neat and suggested it to a couple of moms that have daughters. One of them laughed and said she'd never heard of such a thing. The other one said it could be fun. Well, I know my sisters and I had fun as children braiding each other's hair.