Your week
YOUR HEALTH
OK, so we missed National Spinal Health Day – which was Sunday – but it’s never too late to stand up straight.
Poor posture puts stress on the spine, which can lead to all sorts of neck, back and hip problems. BackJoy, a company that sells back orthotics, offers these tips for a healthier back:
• Strengthen core muscles through yoga or Pilates or exercises such as ab crunches, bridges, planks and back extensions.
• Use pelvis and back supports to reduce slouching when sitting.
• Consider posture education courses. Correcting bad posture requires a conscious act initially, but adopting new habits can make proper posture automatic.
» Find more health and fitness tips in Tuesday’s Today section.
YOUR HOME
It’s time to start thinking about getting your furnace checked out for the winter.
If you have a modern furnace, winter preparation might mean something as simple as replacing the filter. Regular filter changing will help the furnace operate more efficiently.
Unless you have one of those turn-of-the-20th-century homesteads, you probably have a manual for your furnace that you need to follow. If you’ve misplaced it, you are likely to find a copy on the manufacturer’s website.
If you have oil heat, many suppliers have maintenance contracts that will keep your furnace at peak efficiency.
» Find more home and garden ideas in Sunday’s Today section.
YOUR FOOD
Pizza and pita not only sound alike, they go together quite nicely. Use split pita bread as the crust for a quick Pepper, Mushroom and Onion Pizza; for the recipe, see page C5.
» Find more recipes and restaurant news in Wednesday’s Food section.
YOUR FUN
Here’s what’s on the schedule for this week:
On CD (Tuesday)
Chris Isaak, “Beyond the Sun”
Montgomery Gentry, “Rebels on the Run”
Shelby Lynne, “Revelation Road”
Jane’s Addiction, “The Great Escape Artist”
On DVD (Tuesday)
“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”
“Bad Teacher”
“Monte Carlo”
In theaters (Friday)
“Johnny English Reborn” (action comedy)
“The Mighty Macs” (sports drama)
“Paranormal Activity 3” (horror)
“The Three Musketeers” (period action)
On TV
“Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel”: The sportsmagazine returns with a profile of former L.A. Lakers great Jerry West. (Tuesday, 10 p.m., HBO)
“Sweet Home Alabama”: This Southern-fried version of “The Bachelor” is back for a second season. (Thursday, 9 p.m., CMT)
“American Masters: Pearl Jam Twenty”: Cameron Crowe’s documentary take on the Seattle band’s first two decades. (Friday, 8 p.m., KSPS; 9 p.m., KCDT/KUID)
“Once Upon a Time”: Debut of the fantasy series about fairy-tale characters turned loose in modern society. (Sunday, 8 p.m., ABC)
On stage
Chippendales: Wednesday, Northern Quest Casino
Spokane is Reading, Mary Roach: Thursday, Garland Theater/Bing Crosby Theater
“The Turn of the Screw”: Spokane Civic Theatre, opens Friday
Spokane Symphony Classics: Saturday-Sunday, The Fox
Around town
Riverfront Park Ice Palace: season opens Wednesday, downtown Spokane
Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival: Saturday- Sunday, Beasley Coliseum, Pullman
Pumpkin Ball: Saturday, Spokane Convention Center
» Find a full arts and entertainment roundup in the Thursday and Friday Today sections.