Tom Dooley

Well, if you do not know the beginning words of this song, then you must not have grown up in the Wilson household. My mom and dad would sing the words to this sad song when I was growing up. So tonight I started to sing it. Of course, I only could remember the part that starts out "Hang down your head Tom Dooley! Hang down your head and cry! Hang down your head Tom Dooley ..." then I forget the rest, but remembered that he's going to die. Dad didn't remember who was famous for singing this song and when I suggested that it was from the time when Grandpa was young he said no, that it came from the 50s. Well, he's right that the most famous version of the song comes from the 50s. It was a hit for the Kingston Trio in 1958 and is credited with starting the folk music movement. It's also considered one of the Songs of the Century. It's actually fairly short and simple, but did you know this -- it is based on actual man named Tom Dula (in Appalachia Dula is prn. Dooley) who lived in North Carolina in the mid 1800s. He was convicted of murdering Laura Foster with a large knife, but just before he was hanged he said he had never harmed her. Some people think he took the rap for his other lover, Anne Melton, who was the one that made it possible to find Laura (Anne died insane a few years after Tom was hanged). Anyhow, he really did go to Tennessee to get away and there was a man named Grayson that was instrumental in him getting caught and sent back to North Carolina. But there was a 1929 recording of Tom Dooley and folk songs about him started to circulate after his hanging. His trial and execution were famous at the time and people in North Carolina still sing about him. Just thought you might want to know. And for fond memories, here is the Kingston Trio singing Tom Dooley. The gray-haired guy has an awesome quality to his voice, so that makes this version very cool. But I got to tell you, Dad sang this tonight and he sounded every bit as good. So ask him to sing it for you sometime.

Exercise Guild - Week 5

Wow! This week begins our second month of this guild. I'm proud of everyone for sticking with their goals.

Dellitt
Exercise for 5 min a day M T W / Th / F Sa Su
Drink 1 pop or less a day M / T W / Th F Sa Su
Eat vegetables at lunch M T / W / Th / F Sa Su
Mom
Take all my pills M T W Th F Sa Su
Go to the gym M T W Th F Sa Su
Get up early M T W Th / F Sa Su
Andy
Eat greens M T W Th F Sa Su
Swim 100 meters this week /
Beth
Go to the gym 4 times a week /
Angela
Exercise 6 days this week M / T / W Th / F / Sa Su
Eat 1 sugar treat a day M T W Th F Sa Su

Progress

Well, I just wanted to brag about myself to everyone (everyone being 4 or 5 of my family members). I am so proud that this week I have been really good about my exercise and diet goals. I didn't exercise yesterday (but I didn't get home from work till 9:30 pm) and I'm probably not going to today and I did drink two pops today, but otherwise, I've done really well. I also feel like I have really integrated this habit of eating vegetables at lunch into my routine. I was happy to snack on a plum and celery stick today instead of candybars. I also am now noticing how many calories are in the food choices I'm making and have a list of foods I frequently eat on my desk at home and also at my desk at work. The goal is to try to consume around 1500 calories a day, because I guess you're supposed to eat between 1200 and 1500 a day to lose weight (though someone pointed out if I'm just eating less calories, even if it's more than 1500, I'll probably start to lose weight). I'm hopeful that as I keep with it, I'll also be able to gradually exercise longer. Right now my walks can be more than 5 minutes, but I've had trouble doing yoga for more than 5. The other progress I've made is that my desk at work is clean. Hopefully I can keep it that way from now on.

Anyway, if you would like to brag about yourself in some way, please post a reply!

Exercise Guild - Week 4

Yay! This will make it one month that we have had our Exercise Guild. I'm very proud of everyone (even if you aren't telling me how you've been doing). Keep going and if you want to change a goal or add one, feel free to tell me.

Dellitt
Exercise for 5 min a day M / T / W Th / F Sa / Su
Eat vegetables at lunch M / T / W / Th / F Sa Su
Drink 1 pop or less a day M / T / W / Th F / Sa / Su /
Angela
Exercise 6 days a week M T / W Th F Sa / Su
Eat only 1 sugar treat a day M T W Th F Sa Su
Mom
Take all my pills M T W Th F / Sa Su
Go to the gym M T W Th F Sa Su
Get up early M T W Th F Sa Su
Andy
Swim 100 meters this week M T W Th / F Sa Su
Eat greens M T W Th F Sa Su
Beth
Go to the gym 4 times a week M T W Th F Sa Su

Exercise Guild - Week 3

For June 15-21. I decided to post my two nutrition goals here as well.

Dellitt
Exercise 5 minutes a day M / T W / Th F Sa / Su
Eat vegetables at lunch M / T / W / Th / F / Sa Su
Only drink 1 pop (or less) a day M / T W Th F / Sa Su
Mom
Go to the gym M T W Th F Sa Su
Take all my pills M T W Th F Sa Su
Get up early M T W Th F Sa Su
Andy
Go to the gym M T W Th F Sa Su
Eat greens M T W Th F Sa Su
Beth
Go to the gym 4 times a week M T W Th F Sa Su
Angela
Exercise 5 days this week M T / W Th / F / Sa / Su

Exercise Guild - Week 2

Let me know how you did on your goals this week.

Dellitt Exercise for 5 minutes M T / W / Th F / Sa / Su /
Andy Go to the gym M T / W Th F Sa Su
Eat greens M T W Th F Sa Su
Beth Go to the gym 4 times a week M T W Th F Sa Su
Mom Go to the gym M / T W Th F Sa Su
Take all my pills M T W Th F Sa Su
Get up early M T W Th F Sa Su
Angela Exercise 5 days this week M / T / W Th F / Sa Su

Exercise Guild

At my work we have an exercise guild. We have a chart up on the office door where each person writes down their personal exercise goal next to their name. Then each day that you do your goal, you get to put a checkmark in the box for that day. Last year we had a reward/penalty system, but it kind of fell through. So a couple weeks ago I put a new chart up without any penalty system. The reward is getting to put a checkmark by your name showing that you did your goal and also, feeling proud of yourself. It has really been working well for me. So I thought I would start one for family and friends and post it on my blog. What I'll do is do a new post each week. You just reply to the post to let me know when you've done your goal, and I will put it in the post so that you, too, can feel proud of yourself for doing your goal. So in your first reply, let me know what your goal is so I can put it in the post. This post is for this week, starting with yesterday and going through Sunday, so June 1-7. A slash mark (/) is a checkmark that you did your goal that day. And you can do more than just your goal. For instance, I exercised for 10 minutes today instead of 5. You can also change your goal whenever you want, just reply to the post and let me know.

Dellitt - Exercise for 5 minutes a day M / T / W Th F Sa / Su /
Andy - Go to the gym M T W Th F Sa Su /
Eat greens M T W Th F Sa Su
Mom - Get up early M T W Th F Sa Su
Take all my pills M T W Th F Sa Su
Go to the gym M T / W / Th / F Sa Su
Beth - Go to the gym 4 times a week M T / W Th F Sa Su