“Sit Still and Keep Quiet”

This request is a standard for any parent, and is usually quite plaintive in nature when uttered in search of a respite from their children’s ceaseless talkativeness. Most commonly, it’s in the context of long-trips in the vehicle and repeated “are we there yet?” complaints, but wishing they’d put a cork in it for even a moment is a desire that can surface any time and place.

Here at Cymax Stores, we’re pleased to offer a solution that will most certainly get them seated, and happily at that – whether it will keep them quiet and if it’s practical for the back seat of the station wagon, that’s likely another story. Fact is, all children love bean bag chairs and one or more may be a great choice for Christmas this year.

That they’re the only piece of furniture a child can safely throw him or herself onto with projectile force and that is just the tip of the iceberg when assessing why kids like them so much. They’re easily pulled this way and that; like directly in front of the TV for Saturday morning cartoons until Mom comes down and goes on about eyesight or something silly like that. How about below the window sill as those necessary extra inches for ducking and popping when “spying” on the neighbors?

Bean bags are perfect for practicing your wrestling moves on, I can verify that one from personal experience. My bed was the top turnbuckle and my San Diego Chargers bean bag chair was my hapless opponent prone on the mat. Flying elbow, leg drop or body splash – it was nice to have options. From a little more docile perspective, it often doubled as a bed when a sleepover was in order.

Bean bag chairs for kids have come a long way since then, and a visit to Cymax will quickly confirm this. Very young kids will almost certainly be enamored with any of the Elite Child Plush Collection Animal Bean Bags, I particularly like the horse myself with its orange saddle as the spot of choice for your little guy or girl to become a cowboy roaming the range that is your rec. room. “Dolfy” the dolphin might be a good choice for any young marine enthusiast with aspirations of being the next Jacques Cousteau.

Once they add a few more years, the boys are almost sure to take an interest in sports. For aspiring QBs, an XRocker Sports Football Bean Bag is sure to be a hit. (note: any young football fan should be give an Sports Coverage San Diego Chargers Sidelines Bedding Set as a means of getting their fandom started off right – you’re welcome) Little Beckhams will surely love an Elite Soccer Big Ball Bean Bag. Pint-sized race car drivers will be thrilled to find an Elite Nascar Bean Bag on Christmas morning. Similarly, your princess will likely be “tickled pink” at the realization she’s free to add an XRocker Shiny Pink Bean Bag to her room.

Trying to get children to stay quiet for any prolonged period of time is like hoping to savor a popsicle in a sauna. It’s never going to happen, and I’ve heard the only way to appease yourself is to take solace in the fact they’ll go through it themselves as parents, however many years away that consolation will be. (my parents have recently alluded to the long-awaited satisfaction drawing near) Think of that the next time you’re still a ways away from that booked single hotel room on the way to Disneyland, or maybe “Dolfy” can sit between your two loveable malcontents.

When the Puck Drops

So it's the end of August and with it sooner than later, the end of summer as well. No more barbeques on the patio, no more dates on the beach, and no more driving with the top down. Yes, around this time I always seem to have a certain feeling of sadness to befall me. I don’t know what it is specifically, but the sun always seems to have a cheery, happy-go-lucky effect on me. And when I wake up only to see and hear the rain (as it constantly does where I live), a depression-like mode seems to kick in. However, I remind myself that it aint all bad; after all, with the start of a new fall season brings about the one constant love that lasts with me for the next 8 months: NHL HOCKEY!!!

I understand the regular season of the greatest sport known to man (at least in my opinion) doesn’t start until October, but I can't help but get excited about the prospect of a new season and a new hope that my favourite team (the Vancouver Canucks) might finally win Lord Stanley's Cup! But the NHL season isn't quite complete with one important component: the hockey pool!

Since the NHL lockout a few years back, I've been involved in at least 3 or 4 hockey pools, but still have yet to win one. I'm not sure why that is exactly. I'm quite familiar with the rules of the game, what teams are playoffs contenders, and which players are going to 'rack em up'. I even play a fair amount of hockey as well; and although I'm no Alex Ovechkin (who'd be my first overall pick if I had the chance) I'm decent enough to show people I'm not a hockey newbie.

So why can't I win these hockey pools? I have the knowledge of the game and know how to play. Having said that, I should be a lock for at least 2^nd prize, which is usually a small cut of total pot. But alas, in the last 4 years, all I've seen is the basement of the pool and the ridicule of my friends for some of the questionable picks I've made in the past (ie – P.J. Axelson of the Boston Bruins….until this day, I still wonder what made me pick him, but what's done is done, and that pick was made at least a couple years back, meaning it's time to forget about past mistakes).

But this year I think I've found my secret weapon. And no, I'm not talking about sleeper picks (although I do have a couple up my sleeve this year, who I won't mention here). Rather Cymax Stores shall be the X-Factor that'll bring me glory. This year I think I'll be holding the draft at my place and I have the perfect idea to start making smart and intelligent picks: MoreConferenceTables.com. Here I can finally get me and my friends a nice, comfortable and organized place for our draft. No more yelling across the room for us! However, if they want the casual and often soothing ambiance of a living room, then I'm going to need some fine and dandy sofas, coffee tables, and possibly some bean bags to fully accommodate my guests, all of whom I'll be laughing at come the NHL Playoffs in late April and when they fork over the dough.

Yes, summer may soon be coming to a close. But as long as there's hockey, then I say let the rain fall down. Especially since this year I feel it in my blood that I'm destined to win my hockey pools, and my beloved Canucks will win the Stanley Cup. GO CANUCKS GO! Roberto Luongo for the win!!!!

Xs and Os and the Evolution of the Bean Bag Chair

Trying to explain to my grandmother the abstract strategic correlation between American football and chess never went particularly well. The concept of neutralizing selective parts of your opposition, attacking weakened and more vulnerable surface areas, blocking and protection etc., etc. that are common between the two pretty much flew right over her head. Granny loved playing chess and when my father was busy I would accommodate her with a game but, truth be told, I would every time have rather been seated in front of my Nintendo playing Tecmo Bowl or Blades of Steel.

Fast forward all these years, I don’t own a Nintendo Wii but in a sense I am thankful one of my friends does as it seems to have given my wife a measure of insight into my affinity for sports video games. She really enjoyed the physical dimension of it and has taken an according shining to Guitar Hero as well. Beforehand, she was at a loss as to understand why I would become so animated when playing with friends or online. Jumping up and down, using “selective” language, choice pushing and shoving if my opponent was seated next to me, spilled beverages, and so forth and so on. Seeing her throw her arms up and spin around with an animated “whoo!” when she threw her first strike in Wii bowling definitely brought a smile to my face.

When I was about 13 or so, I convinced my parents to buy me an NFL bean bag chair at a garage sale for next to nothing. It was worn but featured the logo of every team, including the best logo in all of pro sports; the super striking lightning bolt of the powerhouse SAN DIEGO CHARGERS! I fondly remember my throne as I think back to the long hours I spent honing my power play and red zone offense while my parents griped “It’s sunny and 23 outside and you want to stay in your room?” Yes, I did.

Nowadays, kids have it a lot better and I have to say I’m a little envious. Bean bag chairs are still well-suited for some serious thumb time, but now it’s likely nearly anyone would prefer a game chair that is explicitly designed for ergonomic comfort and performance during your on-screen conquests. A sound rocker game chair would have been an exquisite luxury for me back then with its augmented audio capacities and back and forth means of calming your anxieties. A wireless rocker game chair might have been a safer option for me due to my continuing propensity to jump up and around as LaDainian Tomlinson bounces into the end zone over and over. Classic game chairs also give you the freedom to locate yourself as close to the screen as you like, and evolution game chairs feature a built-in lap front controller stand. How cool is that!

I remember thinking nothing could touch my NFL bean bagger – Man, us generation X types really got the short end of the stick on this one.

GO BOLTS!!