Thomas Johnathon Jackson
“Stonewall” – from Wikipedia
How to Move and Blog at the Same Time
If Thomas Johnathon “Stonewall” Jackson could do it, so can I. Yes, I will perfect the art of the Standing Blog. At least that’s my new, New Year’s resolution for 2013.
You see, Stonewall, although considered somewhat strange during his own lifetime (and sometimes during ours), actually had some sensible solutions to living a better life. He was not a blogger of course, but he was a professor at the Virginia Military Institute, and then he was a Civil War general – the right hand man of Robert E. Lee.
I was a docent at his house for over six years, and got to know him well through his furniture. The fact is, he’s not around anymore. He died on May 10, 1863, having been shot by his own men in friendly fire. And he was only 39 years old!
The Stonewall Jackson House
Back Entrance and Kitchen Garden
Lexington, Virginia
Getting to know a historical figure through his furniture could be considered an odd way to get to know a fellow, but consider this. He slept on a rope bed. When the mattress began to sag, he could just tighten the ropes (hence, the saying, “Sleep tight.”) and he worked at a standing desk. Do these things speak to you as they do to me?
“Odd,” you say? Why, I saw a treadmill desk on television, which has just been invented to keep us up and moving . I know if Jackson were alive, he would heartily approve. But he lived in a time of wood stoves for cooking and candles for light. A standing desk? Wow! There were no electronics then, but the guy was truly ahead of his time. Wonder how he managed without a smart phone anyway!
He also sucked lemons and I’m sure his troops stood in awe. But how astute is that? Lemons are high in Vitamin C and prevent scurvy. In fact a lemon a day might have kept me from catching the flu this year. But I digress. I am still too weak (no longer hallucinating though) to traipse into the Jackson House for a picture of his desk, but I do recall it came apart for easier transport (much like modular furniture today – the kind you get at mega stores).
The Design of the Human Body
Anyway, old Stonewall was not far off. Modern medicine experts claim that sitting is the worst thing we can do to ourselves. The human body was not designed for prolonged sitting. I swear, I just heard that on t.v. medical news today. That’s why some brilliant fella invented the treadmill desk. I want one of those for sure.
Meanwhile, since I am recovering from the flu (having not had enough lemons to ward it off), I will remain seated at my sitting desk and try to remember to stand up long enough to restore momentary circulation.
By the way if you are interested, legend has it that old Stonewall sat astride his horse with one arm raised (his) in the air and the other arm (his) straight down at his side. Why? He thought it would improve his circulation! Are you laughing?
Not me. If Stonewall Jackson could do it, so can I. I will perfect the art of the Standing Blog! That’s my resolution for 2013. Now if I can just find a standing desk!
Related articles
- Unboxed: Stand-Up Desks Gaining Favor in the Workplace (nytimes.com)
- Standing Desks: The Healthier Historic Alternative (business-opportunities.biz)
Clearly he was way ahead of his time. I also saw the treadmill desk! I want, no need one of those.
I have heard this before and think I too will give it a try
Personally, I like sitting. Almost as much as I like sleeping. What I don’t like is exercising! That should be outlawed!
Oh, I am definitely with you on this Kate! Sitting is my second favorite pose. First is lying down.
You can find the standing desk online. My son just ordered one. Fascinating insight into Stonewall Jackson: not a historical figure I know very much about.
Doesn’t that term “friendly fire” hurt your reasoning mind? What is friendly about your own men killing you with a musket shot?
Isn’t “online” wonderful? I doubt if there is anything you can’t get there. I do agree with you about the weirdness of the term “friendly fire” in today’s vernacular.
I have heard that standing burns more calories that sitting so a standing desk makes more sense. The challenge is to keep moving! Good resolution.
My life is riddled with good intentions!
Have you ever tried to read on a treadmill? Perhaps I don’t have a smooth enough gait, but I could barely read at all until I got big print books. They are too expensive just for treading, so I gave it up. I am trying to set a timer, though, to remind me to move every so often and breathe.
Yes, the timer is a great idea. Mine is still in the desk drawer, providing sustainable guilt.
Guilt burns calories!
I should be exceedingly slim!
Two of my co-workers use standing desks. One is antique… the other is just on blocks. And one guy sits on a ball. I’d like to see the guy with the ball stand on it while working on the desk on blocks. Now that would impress me.
Even your comments are hysterically funny! Maybe the guy standing on the ball could also used the Whole Body Vibration machine recommended by Cindy! Love it.
It’s so funny that you should do this blog today because I bought a Whole Body Vibration machine this weekend, and it is truly amazing for circulation. I was going to an exercise place for a year where I went on a vibration machine twice a day, and I could feel amazing changes. I spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer (at work and at home), and I was starting to feel a lot of stiffness at night when I got up off the couch. After a few weeks on the machine, I wasn’t feeling that stiffness anymore, and I was running up and down stairs. Unfortunately, that place closed and I have missed it a great deal. I think my hubby thought it was a load of hogwash, but now that he has tried the one we bought, I think I have converted him into a believer!! My mom has one too because she has osteoporosis, and her chiropractor recommended it to her. This is the first exercise machine I have ever stuck with
.
Wow Cindy! I am going to look up that Whole Body Vibration machine thing. Never heard of it. Isn’t it grand the things we learn from blogger friends? Thanks for sharing this info!
Any time
. Now I won’t feel so guilty about sitting on the couch all night if i use the machine first!!
Love this! So interesting! I think I can use this in my ESOL class, may I? I will check back with you later today. No books have arrived and first class is tomorrow. This would be a perfect reading – unusual yet historical – filled with detail, idioms, past tense, good vocab. Thank you for a fun read.
What a wonderful compliment! Thanks so much Georgette and by all means – use the post. I am truly flattered.
Thank you for helping me kick off the semester — without books! PS This is the first time in two years I haven’t posted 2x a week…er…lots of challenges…no books part of it. btw I have to laugh at the Military Institute of VA…when my mother met my father and he said he went to MIT…she thought it was the Military Institute of TX…haha
Tell me about your class Georgette? Is it English as a second language? Who are your students? I am very impressed, and curious, and so happy the standing desk post was of some use to you in kicking off the semester. VMI is a state supported college here in Lexington, Virginia – the one with all the controversy about women entering as cadets. They won. Also in our little town is Washington and Lee University, a private school which was founded by George Washington and later the name Lee was added for Robert E. Lee, who was President after the end of the Civil War. Funny your mother thought MIT was the Military Institute of Texas! LOL.
Great post… beautiful house. This report on Stonewall Jackson’s habits makes me think he’d have lived a very long life if not for that friendly fire.
Sorry to hear you’ve had the flu, but very happy you’re on the mend!
Thanks Jennifer! I too think Stonewall had some good ideas although he was considered an odd duck in his time.
Well, Ol’ Stonewall was one smart fella, I’d say. He definitely had the right ideas. There’s a treadmill desk??? I hadn’t heard of this, but oh, my, I do think I need one…no wait, I need a treadmill couch since that’s where I usually end up on my laptop. And all that sitting definitely does not do me any good! What a great post, I’m standing up with you, even though you can’t see me.
Thanks mama! Glad to be standing up with you even tho I’m sitting at the moment.
Until I read this post, I hadn’t realized that Stonewall Jackson’s home was open to the public. It sounds really interesting. I’m adding it to places that I hope to visit someday.
I do love the Stonewall Jackson House since it has been so carefully returned to the way it was when he lived there. After his death, the house became the hospital for the county – the Stonewall Jackson Hospital. People come through on tour who were born there and I had a friend who had his broken leg set there.
So, the house has a colorful history and that makes it even more interesting. If only walls could talk…..