March Madness and spring fever are here

March Madness is in full swing. I think we’ve watched at least a dozen men’s basketball games in the past few weeks. I don’t watch much regular-season basketball, with the exception of those Gonzaga boys, but I love March Madness.

I’m a sucker for an underdog and any down-to-the-wire game is a good one, no matter who wins. I love the backstories of the players and coaches, too.

One of the more interesting stories involves a BYU player, No. 15 Richie Saunders, the great-grandson of the creator of tater tots and founder of Ore-Ida. After beating VCU, BYU pulled out a Round 2 win against Wisconsin. Ore-Ida had announced that after any BYU win in March Madness, there will be a 30-minute “Tot Clock” (link available on the company’s Instagram account) where people can get a free bag of tots!

My sister, Ronna, and her husband, Kerry, are big college basketball fans, BYU fans, specifically. They’re alums, as are their six children and five sons and daughters-in-law. They live in potato country, Blackfoot, as well. She’s the one who clued me in about the Tot Clock after the Cougars’ first win.

I’m betting Ronna will be whipping up some Tater Tot Casserole with her free tots for tomorrow night’s Sweet 16 matchup between BYU and Alabama’s Crimson Tide. Since the Zags are out, in sisterly solidarity, I may serve Tater Tot HotDish, as my North Dakota husband calls it.

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Longtimer tip to newbies: Even though we’re seeing some encouraging spring weather, including our first 70-degree day, I’ve never planted any flowers outside or put flower baskets out until about mid-May. My rule of thumb is if there’s still any snow visible on Rathdrum Mountain, it’s too early.

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I like to think I have a sense of humor and can still be considered a fun person on occasion, but April Fools' Day isn’t a designation I’ve ever really understood. Fooling people seems a bit cruel to me. In order to succeed at an April Fools' joke you have to convince someone that what you’re saying is true when it’s not.

I realize that by saying (writing) this I’ve opened myself up to temptation for people to try to fool me. Maybe not. At my age, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen and heard it all.

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What’s Happening ... On Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Cougar Gulch Meadowbrook Community Hall is holding a craft fair. There’s also a chili lunch available for $6. Location: 8088 W. Meadowbrook Loop in Coeur d’Alene.

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Happy birthday today to Dave Fair, Julie Harris, Julie Readel, Nancy Noordam, J.B. Romero, Lorna Griffin, Mike Bennett, Cyndy Griffin, John Hart, Mistie Cooper and WJ Lazerus. Tomorrow, Chet Lindquist, Lila Kimm, Theresa Hart, Jamie Green, Katherin Pope, Dan Dunham, Sharon Erickson, Chris Magera, Susan Reynolds, Lynne Wiedemann, Alie Hotchkiss, Ralph Nelson, Irene Bowman and Julie Harris do the birthday dance. On Friday, Cindy Sweeney, Brandon Clearwaters, James Heilman, Robert Durflinger, Richard Wegner, Chris Camarata and Page Hibbs blow out their candles. Bob Koep (60!), Mary Hawkins and Bo Gerzina celebrate Saturday. Sunday birthdays belong to Gloria Weidner, Tabetha Brisbin, Bren Grace and Kathleen Perez. On the last day of March, Priscilla Baker, Rick Vernon, Annika Baltzell, Chris Jones, Joey Nowoj, Patrick Reagan, Shirley Christie, Crystal LaFountain, David Holloway and Chris Clayton will enjoy happy birthdays. April Fools' birthday wishes to Ed Frazey, Keri Schwenke, Kim Haddock, Candi Applegate, Chris Thompson and Payton Peugh (20!).

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email [email protected].