cheerfulmonk.com

I usually like winter, but not everyone does. These are pictures posted at Misty-the-Dog and Friends:

This isn’t about the weather, but it’s still appropriate:

March 6, 2026

The first two exercises are easy to work into my day. I’m still pondering the third one.

I know a lot of exercises I can do, and I have weights, resistance bands, etc., but I mostly don’t do sets of them. Instead I try to work them into my everyday life. For years I also did from 30-60 minutes a day on my NordicTrack treadmill, while I streamed interesting videos on the TV set in my study (using Roku).

Now I’ve switched to 30-60 minutes a day on my Schwinn AirDyne. (It’s less weight bearing and easier on the joints.)

I have my mini iPad rigged up so I can watch videos, play Sudoku, or read on my Kindle app while I peddle, so it’s fun.

I like the way my body feels when I exercise, and it makes me happy.

What about you?

March 5, 2026

First a caution about yesterday’s video: I’ve been thinking about the seated torsion twist. I’m going to skip that one. I had read that people with thin bones shouldn’t twist the torso without the pelvis also rotating, so I checked with a couple of AI programs and they say the same thing. In that case it’s better to do it lying down so the spine is supported.

Here is another exercise video. It talks about chair squats, but the other four are wall push ups, single leg stands, resistance band rows, and Tai Chi. I try to work modifications of some on them into my everyday life.

March 4, 2026

I like these videos because they are done seated, so we don’t have to worry about toppling over when we do them.

I’ll post another video tomorrow. It has some similarities to this one, but does include some more ideas.

March 3, 2025

I’ve recently been practicing the one-leg balance, but I like these ideas better. Fingers crossed!

March 2, 2026

(Click on picture for higher resolution.)

Ben

How did it get to be March already?! And we switch to Daylight Saving Time next weekend.

March 1, 2026

The bean plants are still surviving.

February 27, 2026

The ones on the right are starting to put out a few new leaves. And the one on the left has just produced two more blossoms.

February 27, 2026

The balloon has lost more helium, but it isn’t completely flat yet.

10 weeks old

Someone mentioned trying to grow a sweet potato, so I bought a small one and put it in water. It was 9 days old when I took this picture yesterday.

February 27, 2026

It doesn’t spark joy the way the bean shoots did,

October 11, 2025

But I’ll keep it for a while to see what it does.

Weather update: When I went shopping yesterday afternoon I didn’t need a jacket — the first time this year. The temperature was in the low 60s and the sun was out. It’s supposed to cool off some, but it was a pleasant surprise.

Happy last day of (meteorological) winter!

February 28, 2026

Drabble — Wednesday, February 25, 2026

I mostly do all right with Wednesday now, but I’ve been typing February wrong and keep having to correct it. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one. 🙂

February 27, 2026

I did not expect that punch line.

Wizard of Id

February 26, 2026

Kaitlin sent these pictures from Monday evening. She said Torben had found her ski goggles and they helped a lot with the blowing snow. She was done for the night and would finish it yesterday after the snow stopped and the plows came through.

These were taken after the snow stopped and the sun came out yesterday:

Yes! That was a lot of snow. Thank you, Kaitlin!

February 25, 2026