What Did You Expect?

Anyone who’s ever been to an amusement park is likely familiar with the log ride. You know the one where you and 2 to 3 others sit in an imitation-log vessel and trolley up coaster tracks before plummeting down into the water below with a great splash. It’s like a watered-down (pun intended) roller coaster for those not so brave as to take on the Corkscrew et al.

Every time and each one I’ve been to has a sign, in plain view from the line-up, stating something along the lines of “Please understand use of this ride may result in your garments becoming wet to varying degrees. Remove hats, store cameras ... etc., etc.” in the simplest language possible. Not only that, but the splash zone is usually in full view of the cue and those waiting can see the aftermath of the landing as water explodes in every which direction.

Yet, there always seem to be one individual who has this purely mortified look on her face as the log approaches the dispatch area. As she steps from the log, she’s in a heated huff-n-puff exasperated state staring at her wet clothing in disbelief and erratically looking around for sympathy or an explanation.

I have to admit I find this no end of comical and entertaining. What on earth did you expect? The last time it happened the missus and I were visiting her folks in Seoul and we were at Everland, where I was taking video with my digital camera and captured the whole sequence on tape. Needless to say, it’s been quite a hit with friends and family here. At the end she proceeds to berate one of the ride attendants who you can tell is trying desperately not to laugh.

The terms inevitability or likelihood come to mind, much in the same way my dad used them when he explained the concept of inflation to me as a pre-teen. Fast forward a good twenty years where the cost of consumer goods is growing exponentially based on a number of factors, not the least of which is skyrocketing transport costs growing out of our addiction to oil, and many people are screaming blue murder. Again, however different the context and severity, I’m left wondering what exactly we expected based on the projections which started to surface as long ago as the 1980s.

The fact is that consumers now need to shop smarter, with a greater multi-tiered objectivity. The advent and growth of online shopping has been of considerable benefit to this end, and Cymax Stores is a perfect example of such a resource happily at the disposal of the people. Selection, quality and competitive pricing are values any individual can appreciate.

For those looking to add functional and sufficiently stylish bedroom storage on a budget, consider any one of the Prepac Dressers or Chest of Drawers which students and young adults will likely find hard to beat for the price. A young family may feel similarly enthused with the selection of affordable quality at www.morediningtables.com, a Cymax Stores subsidiary and an excellent source to fill all your dining area needs.

There just might be a few who’ll be pleased to know they don’t necessarily need to stand their TV on upturned milk crates after looking over the selection of Sauder TV stands at www.audio-video-furniture.com as rigid and stylish as they are light on the wallet.

Sometimes you just have to know it’s going to happen. How you respond is often all you have. Pack an extra t-shirt or make an e-stop by Cymax for reactionary measures alone.

It Isn’t Easy Being Green…Well Actually It Is

Goods and services that inflict minimal harm on the environment are gaining the attention of consumers as they continue to find ways to conserve the earth's resources and protect the planet from further damage. Eco-friendly furniture is becoming more and more popular, but what is, and what does it mean?

While there are currently no industry standards, many companies are now making a conscious effort to do business in an environmentally friendly manner. This not only includes how the products are made, but how they operate on a day-to-day basis. Klaussner Home Furnishings is one of these companies.

Proactive in implementing practices and procedures to protect the environment, Klaussner has been making eco-friendly furniture for many years. Frames for their furniture pieces are crafted from hardwood and engineered panels from suppliers that are a part of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), a program that is committed to the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees and protecting wildlife, plants, soil and water quality.

Klaussner uses heavy gauge tempered steel springs that are made from recycled steel to create a seating system that is eco-friendly. Chairs and sofas are comfortably padded with BioComfort Foam, made from BiOH™ Polyols, which includes the renewable resource, soybean oil. They also offer a wide array of fabric selections, including several natural and organic fabrics.

Offering a range of products for the bedroom, dining room and living room, Klaussner Home Furnishings is an eco-friendly furniture company that is not only good for the environment, but good for consumers too.

Ruining it

All of us, at one time or another find ourselves being wowed by amazing feats, often on television, that seem to suggest their being almost beyond the scope of conceivable human ability. Almost. From vintage black-and-white Houdini footage to Criss Angel’s Mindfreak, a considerable number of people watch death-defying acts with a belief that these stunts are in fact real, legit and a testament to the trained skill of the performer.

I was one such a person until the age of 12 approximately. Around that time, an older boy that moved to our street was something of an amateur magic buff. As I became aware of his hobby, I wanted to pick his brain a little bit about just how they did it. I didn’t harbor the slightest doubt about the legitimacy of the many spectacles I’d seen over the years, save one; the bullet catch – and it was my curiosity as to just how on earth that was possible that lead to the mystique magic had for me suffering a lethal blow.

Vince, if I remember his name correctly, was eager to explain what he knew of the trick. I don’t remember much besides the wax bullet that breaks the pane of glass and dissolves, but he knew it inside and out and proceeded to debunk the mystery of every trick any of the younger kids would ask of. I wasn’t so disappointed; in fact I was infinitely (and pathetically in retrospect) more crushed when I found out pro wrestling was fake, but nonetheless it had “ruined it” for me as far as the awe with which I would watch the acts transpire from that point forward.

No one would argue that traveling cross-continent in a reinforced cardboard box would hold a candle to escaping from a mass of locked chains being dragged to the seafloor by 55 kg of dead weights. For an animate being to escape without permanent damage from the former wouldn’t be overly impressive. For an inanimate object, like any one of the thousands of home and office products available online at Cymax Stores, it’s an inherently much more risky proposition.

Accordingly, there’s no illusion of slight-of-hand in Cymax’s offering to provide a replacement product if damage, shortage or mis-shipment of any of it’s products sold to the consumer are signed for. It’s yet another example of Cymax’s commitment to quality and continued customer service, and their promise to you that they won’t disappear in a puff of smoke if your purchase does not arrive in a manner suitable to you, their valued customer.

Should your Avenue Six Mainstreet Coffee Table be irreparably gouged, you’ll receive exactly the same product in the same finish at no extra charge. The same is true if the box contains nothing more than a rabbit, top hat and cane. If one of the glass shelves of your Pulaski Accent Curio arrive cracked, you are assured of receiving a replacement shelf as soon a possible. If we could conjure it on your doorstep, believe me, we would.

Perhaps a number of Office Star Conference Tables you ordered for your Denver Office arrive with “Broncos Suck” spray painted across them and are good for nothing more than firewood. While you can’t take issue with their understanding of the AFC West, those heartless vandals have struck in vain as each one will be replaced as quickly as LaDainian Tomlinson will streak into the end zone each time the Chargers enter the red this season. No magic there – just pure talent!

In conclusion, the heights and esteem to which we hold both individuals and their deeds can, in fact, be ruined by the light of logic and inspection. Your purchase from www.cymax.com is quite another matter altogether, as no matter what fate befalls it during shipping, there’s no way your online shopping experience can be ruined when you’re shopping with Cymax.

Mirror, Mirror…Who is the Fairest Cat of Them All?

I have a confession to make. Of all the pieces of furniture designed to make our lives easy, efficient and more organized, the bedroom vanity is the one I understand the least. I know they are specifically designed to organize cosmetics, beauty supplies, jewelry and other small accessories, while being comfortably seated in front of the mirror. However, to my way of thinking, a dresser with a mirror (in conjunction with a corner of the bed to sit on) serves exactly the same purpose. It seems redundant to have a piece of furniture solely for looking at yourself taking up valuable floor space.

I took a trip back home last month to help my sister sort through what my father would and would not take with him when he moved into a smaller place, after selling the house. Since my mother was quite a collector of furniture, china and other curiosities, my father didn't want to throw out the baby with the bathwater. So, my sister and I decided to call in an antiques and collectibles appraiser for a consultation to help us separate good stuff from garage sale stuff. Before the appraiser was to arrive, my father asked if we planned to show him the vanity.

What vanity? My father said that I had already seen it because it was in the closet of the bedroom I used when I visited. Apparently, on one of their weekend day trips out of the city, my mother and father stopped for lunch in a near-by town and ended up perusing the treasures of an outdoors antiques fair. Mother spotted it in the back corner of one of the booths and immediately fell in love with it. When I opened the closet door, it became quite clear why I hadn't really noticed it. It was buried beneath a pile of miscellaneous items. But, after my sister and I cleared everything off and pulled it out into the center of the room, I could see immediately why my mother wanted to bring this bedroom vanity home with her.

Made of walnut, it had a drop front with a full length mirror in the center. The mirror had an arched top; the drawers on either side had delicate bail handles; but the thing that fascinated me the most about the vanity was the two, freestanding barley twist oval side mirrors. Intended to stand on either side of the center mirror, they could be moved around into a "tri-fold" position so that a person sitting at the vanity could see the back of their hair. Tucking conveniently underneath the middle section, a square vanity bench with a cane seat completed the look.

We had swung it around and pushed it up against the foot of the bed. Even still, there was barely enough room to move around. But, after the appraiser had left, I didn't have the heart to push this beautiful piece of furniture back into the closet. The next morning, I found myself carefully perched on the cane vanity bench applying face cream, brushing my hair and taking time to just admire the vanity…okay I'll admit it, admire myself in the mirror. Completely seduced, I gave in to the vanity's charms and arranged my small collection of beauty products on its two tabletops.

Later on that afternoon, I dashed into the bedroom to freshen my makeup before going out. I discovered my Dad's cat, Joe, sitting in front of the left oval mirror tilting his head slowly to one side. Then, he slowly tilted his head to the other side. I thought that, upon sitting down, Joe would vacate his pride of place. No such luck. He slowly tilted his head back to the left side oblivious to whatever it was I had in mind. He was still, for want of a better expression, admiring himself by the time I was ready to leave. For the remainder of my visit, the odds of stepping into the bedroom to find Joe in front of one of the oval mirrors were good. He never varied his routine-he slowly dipped to the left then to the right then back again.

The whole experience has me reassessing my opinion of this "vain" piece of furniture. I am seriously considering purchasing one: sitting at my mother's dressing table getting ready for the day gave me a feeling of confidence that perched on the edge of the mattress leaning into the dresser mirror while applying lipstick did not. And, since it seems that they like primping too, maybe I should get a cat to match my new bedroom vanity.

Into The Void

Tanbeg wrestled with the decision as he jerked the flystick, frantically trying to avoid the incessant photon salvos from the four Darkexin interceptors scattered across his four through six. Unable to match the speed and agility of the enemies’ craft as it was, his painfully-utilitarian IGRC70 Reconnaissance vessel had been even more hopelessly disadvantaged. A well-placed Darkexin blast had disabled its rear-aft thruster and left his co-pilot slumped lifelessly across the sparking and cackling control panel.

He had no choice; it was either fly into the ominously looming black hole ahead of him or surely be reduced to space debris by his foes. One meant certain death, the other a more uncertain form of death or fatal galactic displacement in one way or another. After launching one more volley into the dying ship that severed its left wing with ease, the Darkexins laid off their thrusters and slowed up. With some disbelief, they watched the cowardly Mergerog surrender himself to the foreboding powers of the universe and likely have every molecule of his halfling body flung to a different corner of the galaxy.

"Fool" they thought, "better the death you know..."

Tanbeg blacked out as the raging current of g-forces spun his craft like a top through the engorging vortex of time and space. The Darkexin pilots watched as the black hole barely even registered the transgression, merely hiccupping a small vapor trail after the nano-second flash of blue light indicated the doomed craft had past the dissolution point.

He awoke struggling to see through the blood that seeped from a gash along his forehead beneath the lip of his flight helmet. The cockpit of his craft was filled with water up to his shoulders, and had be crashed even 15 meters further offshore he surely would have drowned. As he squirmed free of the twisted wreckage, he saw a...


Even the most devoted gamers are at the mercy of dinner time, homework, or sunrise. Make the most of your time delved deep into worlds of fantasy with the best in video game accessories available through online shopping at competitive prices at Cymax Stores.

Imagine you are in Tanbeg’s flight helmet yourself with a Plantronics Gamecom Xbox Headset, engaging Darkexin craft in galactic dogfights from your own home with a Saitek Aviator Joystick. Keep your outer worlds safe from interstellar Armageddon with a Mad Catz PSP Sling Bag or an Intec Wii Pro Gamers Case.

Keep your IGRC70 from burning up in hyper-space with an Intec PS3 slim cooling fan or a Nyko Xbox 360 Intercooler. Increase your chances of survival in the fight by adding a wingman or two with a Dreamgear wireless controller, or take it to your enemies while safely inside Commander Dad’s troop transport vessel with a Mad Catz Lite Car Adapter.

Wolf down that sandwich and its back to defending the galaxy for you, starship pilot!

Buy Your Spouse an Appliance as a Birthday Gift – If You Dare

My friend's husband, Dan, has passed "How to Buy Gifts for Your Wife 101" with flying colors. He knows that under no circumstances, ever, do you buy your loved one a home appliance as a gift, (especially on Valentine's Day), even if she really needs it! No matter if every times she vacuums, the silly thing leaves a trail of dirt behind, although the bag has been emptied a zillion times.

However, Barbara, his wife went through the first two years of their marriage returning frilly nightgowns, expensive sweaters she would never wear because she didn't want to ruin them and shiny gold trinkets that would surely clash with her uniform of an old pair of jeans and one of Dan's castoff T-shirts she wore while she made dinner or cleaned up the kitchen. After much persistence, though, Barbara finally convinced her husband that yes, it was really true, her idea of a Christmas present, birthday present or any other kind of present was indeed a brand new whiz bang kitchen gadget of some kind-any kind.

Barbara loves anything to do with food preparation. She enjoys cooking and baking. She gets passionate about planning a special dinner and paying attention to the smallest details. Give her a new recipe with at least 10 ingredients and requires several complicated steps to make, and Barbara is a very happy person, basically because (the theory is) the more complicated the recipe, the more gadgets she will need to use in its preparation. Walk into her kitchen and it is wonderland of modern technology. For someone who doesn't even own a microwave or a dishwasher (I know, I live in the Dark Ages) I marvel every time I visit Barbara, at the vast array of appliances she owns and how she finds a place for everything.

Of course, she has all of the usual suspects: a microwave, a toaster oven, a toaster, a juicer and a coffee maker. She has a sleek stainless steel espresso machine squirreled away for those times when she feels a freshly baked batch of chocolate peanut butter squares would be best served with a cup of "fancy" coffee.

In the summertime, her blender is overworked and underpaid. It's state of the art, includes a warp-speed button and needs someone with a PhD in Kitchenology to operate it. But the concoctions Barbara creates with her blender are truly works of art. Especially when she converts shakes into adult versions by adding an extra magical ingredient inappropriate for children.

One Christmas, when I was in a bookstore shopping for gifts, I spied a book/video combination about food processors. The video was a how-to guide and the book was a collection of recipes. As soon as I saw it, I thought that it would be the perfect gift for Barbara. It never occurred to me that the Queen of Kitchen Appliances wouldn't own one, but just to make sure, during one our lengthy phone calls, I mentioned that I was considering buying a food processor and what kind did she have? Much to my surprise, Barbara said she really wanted one but didn't have one yet. I did get her one that Christmas, a perfect companion to the book/video. She still claims it is one of the best presents she has ever received. If it was anyone but Barbara, I'd have my doubts.

But, just in case you do have someone on your Christmas list whose idea of a perfect gift is a rice cooker, a slow cooker or a deep fryer, you're sure find the ideal gizmo at Cymax Stores that will impress them.

The Great Hansard Avalanche: Value of a Reliable Work Surface

Folding Tables will never be the same for me again.

It was the early ‘90s and I had unearthed the perfect summer job to fill the two-month span before the start of Grade 12. Working as a collator at Can-Pac Document Services was the perfect slacker job for a still-at-home 17-year old who was looking for little more than some spending money and to appease my parents’ wishing to see me as an “industrious young man” or something along those lines.

Working 10-3 Monday to Friday in a rented storage room with five other youth, the job was as monotonous as it gets. We were collators; we’d show up in the morning and the “boss” would meet us outside in a huge van full of boxes upon boxes of papers. We’d load them into the room and he’d leave us to it with the expectation they would all be sorted, filed and re-packaged by 3pm. The room was empty save three long and well-used folding tables placed to form a “u” towards the back wall, a portable stereo and a large circulating air fan. It was ideal – No uniform or dress code, we were free to crank up the tunes and were out of the hot summer sun. After a while it became unconscious, the identical repetitiveness meaning you’d do it without giving it any thought and I enjoyed that.

Every Monday, we would collate the Hansard – a detailed transcription of the minutes of the Provincial Legislative Assembly for the previous week and accordingly an extensive and paper-voluminous task. I imagine the Hansard was one of, if not the, most lucrative contracts Can-Pac had acquired as our boss would stress the paramount importance of completing it flawlessly every Monday and it needed to be submitted before 4pm that day.

This Monday was like any other. We set up our stations and began to regimentally collate and pass along our components of each package, knowing that each second up to and following our 30-minute lunch break must be used effectively as it always took at least 4 hours to do the Hansard each week. By 2:30, the two of us at each station were flanked by roughly 5’ high and four wide / deep stacks of completed Hansards and the end was in sight. I likely was looking forward to riding my bike out to the lake to meet friends in about 45 minutes time, as was the norm most days.

Everything happened so fast and loudly it was hard to process the information. If it had been the outermost leg of the right table that had collapsed the results would have been less calamitous, but we were not so fortunate. For reasons we never really knew, the innermost leg of that table gave way and the roughly 60 pounds of stacked booklets wasted no time in taking out the hinge middle table on both ends. Table 3, the right table, was where the booklets were stapled. Those stacked high on the middle table were AWAITING stapling. ‘Nuff said I imagine. Big Mess.

We all just stood there dumbfounded, staring at the wreckage. Needless to say, I worked more than a little overtime that day and I wonder how our employer explained to the Parliament mail room that the Hansard wasn’t there for circulation on time.

Moral of the story? Be pro-active when it comes to ensuring the sturdiness and reliability of heavy-duty work surfaces whatever your business entails, and you’ll be well on your way to avoiding the tirade of profanities Mr. Can-Pac needed to vent his seething frustration on that summer day so many years ago.

Now that you’ve been forewarned, Cymax Stores is very much a recommended starting point for such pro-activity. With an excellent selection of work tables available and the convenience of online shopping meaning you can re-fit your office without having to leave it, dropping by www.cymax.com could be a decision you’ll be thankful for having made in the future.

Boss Blow Molded Folding Tables are an economical means of providing a rigid and dependable work surface for any office or home task. Rigid impact plastic construction ensures these tables do have the same warpage risk that wood tables do and accordingly the mounted hardware is not provided with any “give” that can lead to collapses.

Basyx are so confident in the rigid and quality construction of their work tables that they offer a 5-year performance warranty, and encourage you to put their products to the test with any volume of weight and expansiveness.

For those with decidedly smaller tasks or even those looking for a top-quality and dependable home work surface for artistic pursuits, a dress-making room, model construction, etc., why not consider an Urban work table? The full width of their one-piece steel leg and apron assembly pairs with top quality hardwood table tops to offer a sturdy and dependable surface, and you can’t beat the price.

Don’t allow even the possibility of having all your hard work come crashing down around you, and replace your load-wearied work tables at Cymax Stores.

Accents that are Right up your Alley... or Hallway

When decorating the rooms of our homes, often the hallways and entryways are overlooked and they can end up as "dead" space. But first impressions are important, and especially if floor space is at a premium, hallways are the perfect place to add accent furniture pieces that will increase your storage options and make your home a more comfortable place to be. Using accent pieces in a foyer or hallway will also give your decor more character and style.

Console tables can define a hallway, adding functionality as well as a focal point. Also known as sofa tables, they typically stand against a wall or when used in a living room, can rest against the back of a sofa. A console table is typically rectangular, oval or half-moon in shape. A half-moon console table is sometimes referred to by its French name demilune. A hallway console table is a perfect place to put keys, the mail, a lamp or a vase of flowers.

A bench is not only a practical piece of furniture to have in a hall or foyer, but it creates a good impression by making the space appear warm and inviting. In a variety of styles, colors, finishes and designs, benches range from ones with plush upholstery and decorative arms to benches constructed of wood with flip tops. A family with children might especially appreciate a storage bench in an entryway or hallway, as a great place to tidy away items in a hurry and make the space clutter-free for unexpected guests.

A coat rack, sometimes called a hall tree, is a convenient place to hang clothing and accessories. Used to make a statement or simply fill a utilitarian role, they can be dressed up or played down. If you want your entranceway to be noticed, select a freestanding hall tree that creates visual interest. Ones made of brass, wrought iron, rattan or polished wood will add flair and sophistication to your decor. Coat racks can include special features such as a revolving section to make access to clothes easier, an umbrella compartment or a set of lower hooks designed especially for children.

Having plants in a hallway or entryway adds charm to your home, improves air quality and gives it a welcoming and lived-in appearance. Plant stands are an ideal way to display several at once or showcase just one. They come in all shapes, sizes and kinds, from pedestal to formal to novelty. To create visual interest in a corner of an entranceway or hallway, use pedestal-style plant stands of varying heights.

Decorative chests elegantly combine style with function. A perfect place to set down items, keep an emergency flashlight and store small household items, an accent chest usually has drawers but can have a door instead or a combination of both. There are countless styles, finishes and shapes to choose from. Aside from its practical aspect, the distinguishing characteristic of the accent chest is its beautiful and detailed design that will give your hallway or entrance way a unique, decorative touch.

Wardrobe armoires are typically used in the bedroom, but can be the ideal solution for a hallway or entryway that doesn't have a built-in closet. A wardrobe armoire allows you to hang coats, store seasonal clothing and keep the area clutter-free. Often wardrobe armoires will come with a mirror, which will make it both a stylish and practical addition to your hallway or entrance.

These are just a few types of accent furniture pieces that are ideal for transforming your hallway or entryway into a more practical yet welcoming place. With a wide selection of accent furnishings to choose from, you are sure to find the ones that will perfectly express your personality.

Lines in the Water

One of the things I genuinely miss about my childhood home is the ability to be off-shore on excellent fishing grounds within 30 minutes of leaving my front door, and 15 of those were spent paddling away from Spring Bay beach into the tail end of the Georgia Strait.

I’m somewhat shocked to realize it was 20 years ago that my dad and I bought our 20$ tickets for the big Victoria Rotary Club’s Annual South Island Fishing Derby for the fourth consecutive year. The years previous, you could almost sense the derision from the power-boat anglers with downriggers, sonar scanners and multiple lines in the water as they puttered past our lowly canoe while we strip-cast or jigged buzz-bombs or stingzildas.

While we always boated fish, we could never match the weight of the lunkers the trollers would pull in and accordingly were nowhere near the leader board. This was of little matter to us, as it was all about another day on the water, raising money for charity and hoping just hoping for the seemingly impossible “big one.” Another day of casting my line over and over yet going home with nothing more than a well-defined farmer’s tan.

There’s always a chance.

It was late afternoon, near 4pm I would guess, and if my memory serves me correctly I had stuffed my rod for the day and was munching on a PB&J sandwich while pops carried on. I didn’t see the hit or his rod arch violently in the span of a second, but his “Whoa oh oh!!” turned my head around in time to hear the reel drag begin to scream with that high-pitched “zzzzzz!” every fishermen loves to hear. This was no skip-jack or seasonal pink..

It took a good 20-25 minutes to get the big spring into the canoe, during which time dad frantically and sometimes expletively yelled instructions at me to paddle the boat to more favorable play angles as the chinook recklessly raced around the depths. Naturally, I had to net it and my 13-year old arms had one heck of a time heaving it out of the sea. The feeling of elation on our faces would have been priceless to catch on film.

Weighing in at 30 point-something pounds, our haul was good enough to take home third place in the derby and a $300 gift voucher from Island Line & Tackle.

I loved how he held it up extra long so the hot-shot power boaters could get a long look at it.

That’s the beauty of fishing to know they’re there and no matter how technically proficient you are, sometimes it’s all luck and right place, right time. All it takes is the initiative to get out there and a line in the water.

Similarly, if you’re one of the hundreds of people who’ve taken advantage of the exceptional deals to be had on home furnishings and products at Cymax Stores recently, you can put a “line in the water” yourself by submitting an online review of your purchase on any product page at http://www.cymax.com. With no risk of the aforementioned farmer’s tan, seagull bombs or annoying dogfish, you can know that you have a chance of pulling in a $1000 PRIZE FOR ANY PRODUCT REVIEW SUBMITTED TO CYMAX! While it will be difficult to suspend it by the gills for a dockside-victory photo, you won’t need to gut, fillet and wash this nice cash bonus generously offered by Cymax as token of their appreciation for your customer feedback.

Feel free to rave, or not, about the space-friendly design and easy assembly of your South Shore Back Bay Chocolate Platform Bed and how it’s the perfect match for your room. While you’re at it, take a moment to think how wise you’re being in taking only a few minutes of your time that could, if the big one swims your way, land you a cool grand.

Espouse the value of your Home Star Mission Hills Bench Table as a fitting addition to your foyer, how you can’t beat the combination of price, appearance and function, and how it’s the ideal spot to sit and shed your hip-waders after a day combing the lake.

Go on at length how your Tecno Seating Executive Hi-Back Massage Chair makes going to work on Monday all the more bearable after portaging from one land-locked lake to the next over the weekend, and how you’re thrilled how quickly it was received after placing your order.

Put your line in the water at cymaxstores.com somebody’s gonna land the big fish!

Didn't they teach you Home Ergonomics in school?

Most of us who make the daily trek to the office are aware of ergonomic office furniture that will help get us through the day comfortably and safely. But what about the furniture in your home? It might look and feel comfy to sit and relax on, but is it being kind to your back?

Making a home ergonomic may sound complicated (and expensive) but it doesn't have to be. Ergonomics is simply how we use furniture, tools and equipment in relation to our immediate environment in a way that reduces physical discomfort and the risk of injury. A soft sofa or a fluffy, oversized chair may appear to be comfortable and inviting. However, if it encourages you to slouch, it can have a lasting, negative effect on your body, especially your back. You can ensure that your living room and dining room are ergonomic by following a few basic principles.

When shopping for a couch, look for one that allows you to sit at ease, with feet flat on the ground, thighs parallel to the floor, head centered over the shoulders and back fully supported. This would also apply to any type of chair you are considering purchasing, including dining room chairs, side chairs, arms chairs and recliners. When choosing the perfect recliner, make sure that when sitting upright, your lower spine is fully supported by the backrest and that it cradles your shoulders and neck. If you do find a recliner that you just must have, but it isn't an ideal fit, you can select one with a matching ottoman. This will take the pressure off the backs of your legs, one of the first places to experience discomfort when not sitting properly.

If, when using your sofa, you are in the habit of lying down, ensure that your back, neck and shoulders are being properly cushioned. Before purchasing end tables, take into account whether or not your couch has arms. If it does, are the arms high or low? If they are high, you will want end tables of a comparable height, so that you can easily place items on the end table without having to twist uncomfortably. The same goes for coffee tables: they should stand at a height in conjunction to the couch's seating area when you are sitting, so that you can easily reach anything on the coffee table without effort or strain. This will also apply to an accent table being bought specifically to stand beside an armchair; you want the table to be high enough or the arms to low enough to avoid having to overreach when putting something down on the table top.

In the dining room, similar ergonomic principles can make mealtimes more comfortable and enjoyable. Dining chairs should be bought with the dining table in mind. The seat height of the chair should be anywhere from 10 to 12 inches below the dining table edge. For example, if the height of your dining table is 30 inches, the seat height of your dining chairs should range from 18 to 20 inches high, depending on the size and height of the person sitting in the chair on a regular basis.

Before purchasing a dining room table, take into account how many people will be using it and then buy one that will be large enough to easily accommodate everyone. A person generally needs a minimum of 24 inches of personal space to feel comfortable, but an additional 6 inches will provide extra elbow room. Allotting the maximum amount of personal space will also facilitate each person's ability to reach for things effortlessly, reducing the risk of muscle strain.

At Cymax Stores, customers can choose from a wide range of reliable furniture manufacturers for a comfortable and personalized online shopping experience. Taking time to choose ergonomic furniture for your living room and dining room will be worth it when you come home after a busy day to the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Shed Some Light

As we move past the formative stages of the 21^st century, it is clear that conservation and the related ecological concerns have very much earned one of the top spots on the human agenda for both the immediate and more long-term future. Scientists, researchers and all manner of findings have stated emphatically that we cannot continue established patterns of consumption and expect the same level of environmental resiliency on this planet. The 3 Rs – Reduce, Re-use and Recycle – should be a globally embraced family value soon if not already so.

I was fortunate to have a mother that was on the conservation wagon long before the situation was as critical as it is now, and accordingly I’m well-trained in that regard. Most specifically, I remember “Did you turn off the lights?” being a common inquiry after I had emerged from the basement. At the time it seemed insignificant to me, but I’m thankful for her rigidity now.

First and foremost, incandescent light bulbs need to be phased out ASAP. Only 10% of the energy drawn by these massively-inefficient bulbs is turned into light, with the remaining 90% dissipating as heat. Compact fluorescent bulbs, most commonly seen as the dual u-loop or spiral-coil bulbs, use 75% less energy than the aforementioned lighting dinosaurs and last up to 4 times longer based on average use rates.

Both home and office are, on average, considerably gluttonous when it comes to electricity consumption. Often times, especially with family, it may be difficult to cut-back as much as you’d like overall in the home, but the office is one place where you can curtail energy-consumption more effectively. For those who wish to be accountable as such, replacing existing task lamps with any of the impressive selection offered at cymax.com is an excellent place to start. The value and versatility of a Lite Source clip-on Lite can take on a go-green element as well when fitted with one of the aforementioned fluorescent bulbs, and as always the appeal of online shopping is the ability to re-furbish your home or office without having to leave it. For more stationary lighting needs, Ledu desk lamps are a practical hybrid of function and style, easily adjusted to suit the task and personal space preferences and similarly compatible with these vastly more efficient fluorescent bulbs.

The efforts of pop culture artists like Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews, among a host of others, have made most welcome efforts to incorporate being environmentally-responsible into the realm of being “cool.” Johnson, in fact, recorded his entire new album, Sleep through the Static, entirely with the use of solar-derived power and Matthews is well know for his line of BAMA RAGS hemp clothing and personal goods.

Whether artists such as these two falls into what you consider cool or not, style is important to everyone and, getting back to task lighting, some of you with more decor discerning tastes will be pleased to peruse the selection of more expressive Adesso Desk Lamps at cymaxstores.com. Stylish and functional, these quality-constructed lamps are built to last and are also part of the trend in shunning the use of incandescent bulbs.

Turning off lights when not needed for use is an easy habit we all need to develop fervently and parents are encouraged to take positive-reinforcement steps to ingrain this behaviour in their children from a young age. Further, individuals of all ages are encourage to focus on need-specific area lighting, rather than lighting an entire room to, for example, read a book in bed.

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A Garden of Garden Furniture and other Curiosities

A bear-hugger, a mile-a-minute talker and a make-the-most-out-of-each-minute crammer, my Aunty Marjorie has always been larger than life. She lives in an apartment now, her small balcony, crowded with pots, garden elves, the odd gnome and weirdly-shaped hanging planters, only a pale shadow of the garden she nurtured with her imagination when she lived in the house she shared for many years with my uncle.

I always liked going to visit Aunty Marjorie and Uncle Allen. Due to some quirky city ordinance, their house sat on a city lot that was actually the size of two ordinary houses on the same street where they lived. As a child, even as a young adult, my aunt’s backyard seemed like a magical place to me, not part of the city at all; a mysterious kingdom all its own, where supernatural adventures were the norm and not the exception. I enjoyed going over to their place, because every time we went, there always seemed to be some new treasure to discover.

To my father, who took a more formal approach to landscaping, Aunty Marjorie’s backyard was a chaotic jumble of oddities. Sure, she had the typical planter made out of an abandoned, rusting outdoor grill and a couple of interesting fern-like plants growing out of a discarded pair of Uncle Allen’s fishing boots. But mostly her yard, at least to me, seemed to grow things other than flora, although there actually was a plethora of colorful plants.

The yard directly behind the house was pretty tame, but when I turned the corner into the “extra” lot, I was never sure what I would find. The gazebo was a Renaissance creation of columns and classic metalwork scrolls, enhanced by trailing vines. In summer, when the vines were flowering, it was the perfect fortress in which to hide from my cousins.

The path beneath the rustic arbor wound its way through a small grove of trees until it arrived at a small pond, complete with lily pads and a few goldfish. The onion dome trellis made the climbing roses it supported look as though they were growing beneath the roof of a miniature Russian palace. One day as I was walking around the property, I came upon this huge butterfly who told me she had flown to Aunty Marjorie’s garden from a mythical island in another galaxy yet to be discovered. Actually, it turned out to be the folding stool, in the shape of a butterfly, that my aunt used to sit on when weeding her flower beds, but had forgotten, on that particular day, to bring inside. And speaking of butterflies, near one of the beds, there was a charming wicker garden bench in the shape of a butterfly. And of course, the matching table and chairs could be found on the flagstone area in the front yard.

I could also find more conventional items in my aunt’s garden, like the garden swing my cousins and I would fight to sit in. Or the planters that really looked like planters that Aunty Marjorie would pick up on her travels to stores and garage sales.

I wonder what would happen if I told her about all the outdoor furniture and accessories you could get online at Cymax Stores? Hmmmmm…better not. Things might start falling off the balcony.

Wherever They May Have Roamed: If Boxes or Plush Beavers Could Talk

Two years back, I waited patiently for several boxes of personal items that out of necessity trailed me back to Canada by sea over the course of two months. Eventually, they arrived and I quickly opened them to see whether or not the long voyage had taken any toll on my stuff.

I was greeted by an old friend as I tore open the box. Thumper, a drumstick and snare drum wielding Beaver that was given to me in my early teens, is the sole doll I’ve ever had any affinity for and the only one I’ve held on to. Hawaiian Garfield and his straw hat and lei fell by the wayside somewhere. The entire Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle collection I amassed at the fair with my exceptional proficiency at Whack-a-Mole was bequeathed to my cousin a long time ago. I’ll keep Thumper until the seams retain his Styrofoam innards no longer.

I don’t remember the hectic last days in Seoul when I was packing up everything I deemed to be non-essential upon my immediate return, but Thumper must’ve been one of the last cuts as he was right at the top of the box. I half thought to myself What did you see on the high seas, old friend? He responded with Bubble wrap you fool.

So I moved to the cardboard box that looked understandably more haggard than when I had seen it last in the Gapo-dong post office, but realized its memories would have been only slightly better. Maybe something like a to-the-death duel in the darkness between two unfortunate insects that made a fateful decision at the pier that day, but likely it would have nothing more.

I guess it’s only the sea containers themselves that would tell tales of bow-surfing dolphins, amazing sunsets and exotic ports of call. Fortunately, the speed with which home shopping can see your purchase cross town or continent means it won’t have the same time to amass tales as those that make global jumps. However, an increasingly smaller world does come at a price when it comes to bringing these items to your door; that was, until now.

Until July 15th, Cymax Stores is offering free shipping on all purchases and accordingly there’s no better time to make the decision to purchase one of the thousands of top-quality and competitively priced items offered at cymaxstores.com. When that much-anticipated package arrives at your door, maybe you’ll be inclined to wonder what fortunes or misfortunes it has endured on its way.

Maybe your Linon Santa Fe TV / VCR cabinet will somehow exude tales of stowaway squirrels that made a made dash for freedom only to perish of heat stroke at a truck stop in Barstow. One caught a ride with two agitated fellows in a cream El Dorado convertible heading west to Vegas, only to wilt away at the end of an ether binge in the back of a Great White Whale.

Perhaps as the one of the kids nods off on an X-Rocker Bean Bag Chair he or she will be led to dream of the appreciation of being the only one to escape unscathed from a highway roll-over or embankment slide that left the other passengers as write-offs.

Similarly, as you take a seat in your new Stanley 4 Seasons Computer Chair you may find it strange as you can’t help but think of a Waterboy-esque (R.I.P. Bob Ackles Go LIONS!) story where the floor model made it to the big time.

Online shopping is a breeze at Cymax, and considering you’re almost sure to find something to your liking, there’s no better time than right now to order it and see what stories it has from the road or elsewhere.

New Puppy...New Furniture?

About six months ago a friend of mine got a new puppy. My husband and I went to visit them not long after. The men took off and went to do what ever it is that men do. Gail and I went to sit in the living room and visit. The cute little puppy 'Brownie' followed us in. While sitting there I noticed that her coffee table had what looked like gnaw marks on it. The next thing I knew, there was Brownie chewing on the table like it was her very own chew toy. Gail told her to stop and found her bone.

Gail told me that getting Brownie to stop chewing on all of the wood furniture was driving her crazy. I suggested that she look into getting some metal furniture. When Gail looked at me funny I assured her that I was very serious. Metal furniture has come a long way. I asked her if she had ever looked at the Cymax website for furniture. She shook her head no. We went over to the computer and pulled up the Cymax web site.

I showed her that all she had to do was type in coffee table and she would get a nice choice to scroll through. She really liked the Bass Theatrical Collage Coffee Table. Even more so when she noticed the matching end tables. I pointed out that they looked pretty puppy proof to me. We continued going through the web site, chatting and laughing the whole time while we decorated our own and all of our friend's homes. When our husbands came back they thought we had lost our minds. They couldn't see what was so funny about a furniture web site.

My husband and I said good night and went home. Gail phoned me a few days later. John (her husband) hadn't really liked the Theatrical Collage Coffee Table. They went back to the web site and found furniture for the living room that they both could agree on.

A month later my husband and I went over to visit with Gail and John. Gail had told me that they redid the entire living room. I couldn't believe how great it looked. They bought the Diamond Sofa Paramount Leather Sofas in Beige and the Bass Real Art Table in Champagne Chrome. It made their living room look wonderful. Of course, now Gail wants to redo the rest of the house. When we were on our way home,my husband told me that I couldn't get a puppy because we could not afford all new furniture just now.

A to Z

As another year passes into the books for our country and our southern neighbor readies to do so in two days time, Cymax would like to remind federal and less-swamped bookkeepers alike of the peace of mind afforded by keeping records in an orderly and equally stylish manner.

Surely filing is one office capacity where the suit-n-tie guy can envy the suburban rental shop clerk. Must be nice to give it little more thought than impaling way-bills on a paper skewer before rubber banding a lengths’ worth and dropping the stack randomly into a nearby drawer. For most, the need for a legitimate paper trail means a specific fixture must be within short reach of the desk, and the days of the grey-metal box file’s uniformity have long since past.

Even as recently as my teenage years, when I thought of a large office I had a conception something along the lines of the drab stretches of the Washington Post Office in All the President’s Men; an endless horizon of copycat cubicles, monstrous typewriters and the odd furnace-sized computer mainframe. Out of the public school fishbowl and into the real world, I naturally realized modern offices aren’t nearly as wholly sterile.

So now whether you’re as much a vanguard as Woodward or Bernstein or a more humble corporate peon, there is every reason to expand your filing capacities at the office without ever leaving it by means of online shopping at cymaxstores.com. With over 500 filing storage products, you’re nearly assured of finding a way to make the token daily bend-over-and-pull a little more pleasing.

A Bush Lateral File might be a well-received choice, combining more sleek and modern design with a variety of hardwood cabinets, charismatic design themes and notably competitive pricing. Kathy Ireland Lateral File Cabinets possess the same visual-character appeal as a means of furthering the warmth and personality of the space in which you likely spend a large portion of the week. For the price, a Bestar Pedestal file can’t be beat and the versatility to vertically mount the unit may expand its practical and value appeal. A HON Lateral File is a safe bet for those who are looking to fall somewhere in between the aforementioned 1976 reference and something more modern, with hybrid takes on filing cabinets incorporating that simple practicality with subtle design facelifts.

Happy 141^st Canada and similar birthday wishes to our American friends as their Independence Day approaches.