Wednesday, April 16, 2003

Iris's Sure Fire At Home Work-Out
For the busy Nun with designs on a certain yellow polka-dot bikini..

Courtesy of MSN.com, Swimsuit Shape-up
by Lisa Kovalovich
ThirdAge.com

Walking Lunge (for legs and butt)
Begin by taking a giant step forward with your right foot. Lower your body until your right thigh is parallel to the floor. Push off with your left foot, and take a giant step forward with that leg. Lower your body again until your left thigh is parallel to the floor. Repeat the sequence as many times as you can, "walking" down a hall, across your living room or in your backyard.

Squat (for butt)
Stand with your feet hip-distance apart, abs pulled in. Slowly bend your legs and lower your butt as if you were sitting in a chair. Your knees should remain directly over your feet as you do this. Go down as far as you can, with the ultimate goal of getting your thighs parallel to the ground. Hold for three counts, then return to standing. Repeat as many times as you can.

Push-up (for chest, arms and back)
Get on your hands and knees on the floor. Keeping your knees on the ground, walk your hands forward until your body forms a straight line from your head to your knees. Be sure your hands are directly below your shoulders. Slowly lower your chest toward the floor, then return to your starting position. Repeat as many times as you can.

Mini-crunch (for abs)
Lie on your back, hands behind your head, elbows out to the sides. Bend your knees and plant your feet flat on the ground. Using your abdominal muscles, lift your shoulders one inch (only one inch!) off the ground. Hold for two counts, then lower. Repeat as many times as you can.

Okay I go to a class every week, and this is basically our routine, only without the middle-aged women, weights and super-fast dance beat versions of pop music. I see results. I suppose if I did this every day, I would see even more results.

I will be in Virginia for a week, just to let everyone know.

Monday, April 14, 2003

I went to teen sensitivity training at the library today. It was fine.

(I'm practicing my typical teen response, was it effective?)
The speaker was from a neighboring city in the state, and specialized in setting up youth groups at libraries. Lets just say the reception was warm for the man, but a little cool for the message. Older librarians really aren't crazy about the low income, under-priveliged teenagers that come into the library, sometimes to hang out or do homework, at other times to wait for the bus, or engage in a little mischief.

Being the youngest, and most teen-like among the staff attending, I felt concious of the fact that I was supposed to be the most knowledgeable about teens. In some ways I might be less capable of dealing with teens a little younger than me, since they wouldn't respect my presence as a staff member quite as much as they might with an older woman or man. But I do have a leg up when it comes to knowing the material. I read youth literature more than adult lit now that I'm out of college, and let me tell you its such a relief to be able to find a plot and stay with it. I'm currently reading Lloyd Alexander, which I never had a chance to touch as a kid, and I'm thoroughly hooked.

I have to go work on my little brother's film screenplay now.. I've decided its going to be about a washed up espionage agent with a briefcase cuffed to his wrist. I'll try my hand at emulating Graham Greene in ten minutes flat. ;)