Ice Storm 2026

I was hoping to upload a pic from our recent ice storm but some glitch is preventing me. In the meantime, enjoy this excerpt from one of my favorite short stories “The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. “This is a delightful spot,” he said, “we must ask the Hail on a visit.” So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice.” (The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde)

31 Days Of An Ultimate Fitness Challenge: Day 3 "Get Strong"

Here's my fitness regimen for today, in three parts. I am enjoying a solid week of pure strength training. Do you know what strength training is? It's not merely "lifting" or "lifting heavier." Strength training is a mental exercise that begins by having a made-up-mind to get up and move. Once that happens, the mental strength lines up with physical strength and things really begin to move!  So here's what was on my lunch menu for today (I'll say a word about #1, in a moment).

1. Range of Motion Drills followed by 30-20-10 reps of:
  • Jumping Jacks
  • Squats
  • Arm Circles
2. Strength Training: 5 reps x 5 sets of Strict Press
3. Work: 
Yes, all the above was accomplished in 30 minutes, on my lunch-break.

You may say, "I can't do that." That's not the point.  I am sharing my journey as you enjoy yours.
The point is: do something. 10 minutes of "something" is better than nothing. A mile is a mile whether you finish it in 8 minutes or an hour.

So, about #1, the 30-20-10 of Jumping Jacks, Squats and Arm Circles. If you would like to try and it still sounds challenging, make up your mind about what you are doing. Don't think of it as "training" or "working out." Instead, "play hard." This should take you no more than 5 minutes.
  1. Here's a suggested modification for the Jumping Jacks if it's "been a while." 
  2. Use a chair for squats. We do them all day long--we just don't think about it. Just sit down and get back up again!
  3. Stand with your arms out and circle them around. 
  4. So do 30 Jumping Jacks, 30 squats, and 30 arm circles. When finished, do 20 of each, then 10. 
There! Now you did something! Anything! Just get out there and play hard!

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