Greening grass and morning thunderstorms can mean only one thing - spring has arrived. And with it comes the universal inclination to spruce up those parts of our homes and yards that show the signs of winter wear.
At my place, the garage is the catch-all place for cold-weather clutter. Trampled empty boxes from the holiday season obstruct the way to my car. A teeming heap of hastily put-away tools teeters menacingly on my work table, threatening to bury a pile of winter boots in an avalanche of cast metal. Yep, the garage is where my spring cleaning begins.
But this year I may go beyond my usual tidying up. Last week, NetShops launched GarageStorageSource.com, and I'm starting to get some ideas. With garage cabinets, storage racks, shelving, and extras like garage flooring, this site has me thinking man cave. I can even find a proper workbench here to replace the makeshift sawhorse-and-plywood embarrassment I'm using now.
To buttress my case for an orderly garage, I'll speak to my wife in lofty terms about the many projects I might begin (leaving out the part about seeing them to completion.) If I can convince her, garage renovation might just be my ticket out of washing windows and organizing closets - two spring tasks that make me want to hibernate just a little longer.
I could have sworn my two beagles were happy living at home. That was until last night, when my unruly duo successfully tunneled under the fence to roam the neighborhood.
This was around 8:30 p.m., when I decided to take a step outside with my binoculars to catch a glimpse of all the orbiting vehicular action. The International Space Station was in clear view, along with a supply vehicle called the ATV on its way to dock with the ISS, followed by the Space Shuttle Endeavor. It was an exciting night for skywatchers.
But it was an even more exciting night for this beagle owner. Before the overhead show began, there was an eruption of ground-based activity that caught my attention. This would have been the mud fountain that erupted as my dog Mr. Beef adroitly relocated the 5 cubic feet of backyard that stood in the way of his carefree romp around the block. Before I could get his attention, he had bounded off to freedom, followed quickly by his brother, Lars.
Once my beagles are out on the lam, it's a trick to get them back into captivity. A cocktail of meat, cheese, and doggie bones usually does the trick, but this was the first time I had to track them in the dark. Lars was quick to come home and enjoy his late-night snack, but it took a good 20 minutes of labored jogging and suspicious peering into neighbors' yards to locate The Beef. This certainly was a night vision application I hadn't previously considered.
I finally won Mr. Beef's attention and got him home safely, but not before enduring a bit of a scare. Now the first item of business is to reinforce my fenceline. However, I also plan to invest in some products to help me manage. Thankfully, there are loads of great accessories like dog trainers, leashes, and collars on DogHouses.com and DogKennels.com.
Then again, maybe this whole caper was just a ploy for a pair of new, comfortable dog beds.
A few wandering flurries didn't keep the Easter Bunny away from NetShops last Saturday. Nor did it dampen the spirits of dozens of bundled-up kiddies who braved the breeze and scoured our courtyard for hidden goodies.
Kudos to the Activities Committee for putting together another successful family event. Somewhere in the vicinity of 100 kids showed up to join the hunt and take advantage of a photo op with the Big Bunny. Come to think of it, I think the kids themselves deserve some props for keeping their composure around a potentially unsettling man-sized rabbit.
We at NetShops hope your Easter weekend was an enjoyable one. If you have someone to thank for a fabulous brunch or a perfectly glazed Easter-ham dinner, consider a thank-you gift from GiftBaskets.com or FlowerStore.com. Our selections of spring gift baskets and spring bouquets are in full bloom, just in time for the warmer weather.
Speaking of warmer weather, it's high time I mosey on outside to the courtyard myself. I'm sure the kids did a fine job of uncovering treasures on their own, but they didn't have this metal detector I've been meaning to take out for test drive. So if you'll excuse me, I'll just set the sensitivity for "foil candy wrappers" and be on my way.
The signs of spring extend beyond budding leaves and emerging tulips. On this, the first day of a most welcome season, here are the Top 10 signs that spring is surely in the air.
10. Birds- When there's a 30-minute wait at your bird bath, it’s safe to bid farewell to winter. For birders, these binoculars and spotting scopes will make sure you catch all the seasonal action.
9. Fishing- Time to take down those ice fishing shelters and head for terra firma. If there's any ice left in your neck of the woods, chances are you're risking a swim with the fishes you're trying to catch.
8. Basketball- Whether it's college hoops reaching its crescendo or kids heading out for a game of horse in the driveway, the sights and sounds of this "winter sport" in March are all indications of spring.
7. Lawn Games- When bocce balls roll and shuttlecocks take flight, you can take heart that the days of the snowman are past.
6. Daylight- For the first week or two after springing clocks forward, you may find yourself astonished at the lingering evening sun. If you really want to be mesmerized, check out a Geochron clock for proof that lighter days are upon us.
5. Nightlight- When Orion sets out on his antipodean hunt, that's a sign winter is in the rearview. This is the time of year when the Northern Hemisphere's winter constellations dip below the horizon to make way for spring harbingers Virgo, Leo, and Hydra.
4. Grills- For die-hards, there's no such thing as a grilling off-season. But as more and more warm-weather grillers uncover their grills, the nostalgic, spring-and-summer smell of outdoor cooking fills the air. If you're looking to grill something special to greet the season, check out these creative grill recipes and beer pairings.
3. Beer- Speaking of beer, you won't find my kegerator stocked with winter warmers and hearty Lenten bocks as we move toward warmer days. The light, crisp kolsch homebrew that I kegged last night tells me that the season of warmer evenings and blonder beers is upon us.
2. Hammocks- Watching hammocks come forth from hibernation is a heartening sight. As lawns get greener and require mowing once again, there's no better springtime reward for a job well done than some time in the hammock.
1. Flip-Flops- At NetShops, the flip-flop has gradually come to symbolize our casual culture. As the mercury rises, you'll see no shortage of this free-spirited footwear around our office. And today, the flip-flops are already out in force.
It's mid-March, and the brackets are coming out of the woodwork. For most people throughout the country, this manifestation of March Madness means making their NCAA basketball tournament picks for the office pool. While there will no doubt be a few basketball pools going around the NetShops office, there's another tournament nearing its finale that has our attention.
The annual NetShops Table Tennis Tournament began in March with 32 players. Over the past two weeks, these players have ping-ponged their way through best-of-three matches and a grueling two-bracket system. Paddles wore thin and ping-pong balls were smashed out of shape. Now the dust has settled, and only the Final Four remain.
This is when things get interesting. As many of the contestants and spectators can attest, this table tennis tournament is not your typical, leisurely, stress-relieving game of flim-flam. Of course, the tournament is strictly for fun, and players of all skill levels are encouraged to participate. But make no mistake, the talent here has reflexes to make a garden statue out of Forrest Gump.
To the proud, vanquished participants, better luck next year. Congrats to Brian, Derek, Venkat, and Lee for making it this far. Good luck in the semifinals. You're gonna need it.