Blog Hunting

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

“Ribbit”, is another one of the pseudonym / personas that my wife created to fit with the general them of what she wanted to do with a blog. It was one of the ways that she added her own touch of fun to what she was doing. I haven’t posted here before and now I don’t expect I will ever do so again. (besides, I have a blog review blog of my own that’s been idle for nearly six months because I haven’t had time to work on it.)

This is so incredibly hard for me to write, so please forgive me if it’s more broken rambling than anything else.

My wife Lura went to be with the Lord last Tuesday, Dec 30 2008 at a little after 4:30pm central time.

I still can’t believe it’s true, I keep expecting to wake up from some nightmare induced by trying to sleep in the impossibly uncomfortable accommodations that White River Medical Center in Batesville provides for the family member who is staying with the patient. I suppose they might be passable for most people but I haven’t slept lying down for years because of sleep apnea (and before you mention it, I cannot tolerate CPAP, I’ve tried it.) and back pain, trying to achieve the sleeping position that I need was nearly impossible and always painful, never very restful. I didn’t get a lot of sleep and less rest.

She had fallen in a parking lot a few days before Thanksgiving when her cane slipped out from under her as she walked around the back of the car. She wrote several posts about that and a lot of what happened afterward on her blog “Off The Cuff” ( http://offthecuff.lurasbookcase.com/ ) and more posts on another of her blogs, “Window Shopper” ( http://shopper.purrfectdomains.com/ ) and in her last post on her Christian blog “God’s Topshelf” ( http://godstopshelf.com/ )

Even though she had hardly been scratched and as a hospital trip a few days later confirmed, had not broken anything, it caused her incredible amounts of pain. A couple days after that, along with the expected bruising, blisters started to appear about halfway between her left knee and ankle. The entire area was very painful and sensitive to touch. I had to “tent” the covers over the area so that nothing would touch it.

She ended up being taken care of mostly by me along with the folks from the home health care place who came out to check on her, take pics of the bruise and blisters.

The doctor had decided it was cellulitis and she was treated with antibiotics and strong painkillers. hydrocodone to start with and when that proved not enough, two 15mg MS Contin (morphine sulfate) pills a day. Other than that the only thing to be done was keep the leg elevated because of the risk of her having another blood clot like the one that she’d had last august. She didn’t have one at the time though, they checked for that when they took the xrays looking for breaks.

By the beginning of the 2nd week of December the home health nurse said she thought the blisters looked a lot worse and she took another set of pictures to show the doctor. Once he’d seen them he said that Lura needed to be in the hospital right away to get it looked at and treated.

On the 11th or 12th (It’s kinda blurred to me and I’m not sure of the exact day right now.), we called an ambulance to transport her to the hospital because getting her into the car to drive there would have been entirely too difficult and painful for her. Because the ambulance could not allow me to ride along with her because of something about their insurance and there wouldn’t have been enough room for me and what I had to bring along, my brother drove me to the hospital after they left.

Note: on top of all this, at that same time I had been dealing with crippling migraines and severe jaw pain for a couple of weeks or more and had a very difficult time with nearly everything because of them.

When I got to the hospital she was just arriving at the ER, after a seemingly interminable time for examinations and tests, they admitted her and we moved up to the PCU (progressive care unit).

I think it was the next day they took her to surgery. They had to not just open the blisters but it was necessary to clean out some dead and infected tissue. They applied something called a “Wound VAC” which is basically a vacuum pump that kept the wound (about 2 inches deep and 6 inches across) drained. I can’t tell you how much I hated seeing that hose coming out of the plastic taped to her leg, almost as much as I hated seeing that wound.

They then proceeded to take her back to surgery about every couple of days to check the wound, clean out any more dead tissue they could find and replace the wound VAC. The surgeon was actually pleased with how the procedures went as well as the progress she was making. Each trip to surgery had less junk to remove and they were satisfied that she was beginning to heal.

We both found it frustrating that no matter what, it was expected to be a long process with as much as three or four weeks in the hospital with these surgeries going on before they thought that she might have progressed far enough to go home and back to home health care. It’s also true that because she was diabetic (technically anyway, more borderline than anything) the healing was expected to be slower than for other people. I was told that complete healing and recovery would probably take as long as a year and a half.

By Sunday Dec 28th, I finally needed to go home for at least a day to do some laundry, clean up, get some real sleep and tend to a few household things. I had nearly become a walking zombie due to lack of sleep and a list of aches and pains to long to mention. Despite this very real need, I hated the idea of leaving her there by herself even for a single day because there were things that I was trying to help with that the nursing staff, good hearted though they were for the most part, were just too busy to be as quick to do certain things as she needed.

By the time I got home it was obvious that I was more than just sore and tired, I had come down with a rather nasty intestinal flu complete with a 100 degree + fever, chills and what I call “Explosive Diarrhea”. Needless to say, my one day stop at home got extended by several days.

I kept in touch by phone and she was continuing to do better. By Tuesday I felt better enough that I expected to return to the hospital Wednesday. I spoke to her on the phone that morning. She was tired but otherwise feeling good. She was scheduled for another surgery late that afternoon / evening.

A few minutes after 4pm I got a phone call from the charge nurse. Lura had been out of bed to use the bedside commode. They were helping her back to bed when she complained of being dizzy and collapsed. She told me that they had intubated her and were moving her to ICU.

I made two phone calls to inform family and put in a prayer request for her. When I hung up the phone from the second call, the phone immediately rang. (this was roughly half an hour after the first call) I saw the caller ID was the hospital and expected it to be the charge nurse again with an update. My blood ran cold when I found out it was a doctor, they never call patient’s relatives themselves, they have their office staff do it. I knew this couldn’t possibly be good news.

He told me that she had she had coded for 30 minutes and they were not able to revive her. He said how sorry he was to have to tell me this and the rest of what he said faded into a blur as I hung up to make the same two calls I had earlier to tell them this impossible news.

The next day when I went to the hospital to pick up her things I spoke to the charge nurse that had called me. She told me (sounding like she had been present for most of it) that Lura had regained consciousness for a minute or two after she fell and was awake and talking. Her heart was going slower and slower until she finally lost consciousness again and they started CPR.

I haven’t seen or heard anything official about the cause but the rest of the family and I have what I think is a reasonable theory. While in the hospital she had to be taken off of the blood thinner she was on because of the central line they had put in, the repeated surgeries and the wound itself. Combine that with the fact that she’d already had a blood clot in her leg last summer and was at high risk for developing them and it is very probable that a new blood clot had formed and very likely had broken loose when she fell.

I know that she did not suffer other than the pain and embarrassment of falling, especially in that situation. She hated falling and it was something that she frequently was worried about, especially since she had the DVT last August.

I’ll be posting this story on a few email lists and forums that she participated in and on her MySpace and Facebook pages. I will also post it on all of her blogs after which I do not expect to ever post on any of them again with one exception.

She has an enormous amount of Bible study notes that she has written over the years, a lot of which she had intended to use to write either Articles for her Christian ministry page “Lura’s Bookcase” or her Christian blog “God’s Topshelf”. Because I know she wanted this stuff posted I intend to keep those notes and as I go over them, post them on God’s Topshelf.

I’ll be doing it partly as a memorial to her but mostly out of respect for the fact that she wanted to reach the unbelievers as well as help believers, especially new Christians, learn and grown in The Lord and His will. She knew that we are living in the last days and fully expected the days of tribulation foretold in Revelation and the soon return of Jesus the Anointed One.

She also would not want me to sit and waste away in mourning and grief. Rather, she would prefer that I continue her (and my own) work in the Lord and reach as many as possible while there is still time.

Another reason for doing this is that over recent years my own efforts in this regard have fallen victim to many, many distractions, problems and even laziness that seem to flow like raging river through the need to get so many things done. Therefore I think that it’s reasonable to make an effort to at least set aside a few hours a week to be dedicated to getting back to doing the work that God has set for me to do.

I sincerely hope, pray and believe that her writings will touch the lives of many, bring the unbeliever to accept Jesus and bring Christians to a greater knowledge of Him and His Love and will.

I would also ask that when you speak of me and this situation, that you not say things like, “he lost his wife”. I have not lost her at all. I know exactly where she is and that I will see her again. Her pain is ended forever, mine will fade with time (a lot of it I think) and life will (*MUST*) go on.

As long as this is, there is much still left unsaid, however I have spent nearly the entire day writing this and my heart and mind are nearly spent for the day. It has been, without doubt, the hardest thing I have ever had to write yet it had to be written. She would have done no less.

in Him,

Edward Langenback

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

The first thing I noticed with this blog, Random Thoughts, is that he would like to hear from you. I like that. Someone who is willing to hear what others have to say about a subject or about his blog. I happen to like this blog because of the honesty I see there. Overall, he has a positive theme that got my attention. The blog loads a little slowly but it is so worth it that you do not want to miss it.

One of his posts, “Live Each Day As Though It Is Your Last“, is so incredibly positive and uplifting that I had to read it again. There are some people out there that would take that title and want to drink as much as possible or do those things that are unlawful or immoral just because they wanted to live like it was their last day. But this post is so opposite of that. Did I say uplifting? YES! If you want to start your day in a good mood, just take a look at that post and then read some of his other posts as well. You will not regret it.

He is encouraging you to find your dream, live with a positive attitude, enjoy your time here. Awesome! He is wanting you to see the best things no matter what is going on. I LOVE this blog! I bet that you will too.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Frankly, I love blogging and love to read blogs. So, there are not too many that I would absolutely hate. In fact, there are far more that I like or love. I am not going to tear apart someone’s blog. But what I am doing is seeing what I like and reporting on it so you can see it too.

I do not have a fancy 10 point system or give a stoplight, go light or any other way of reporting and critically analyzing a blog. So, it’s just me telling you what I do like and hate.

Love:

Blogs about pets are a favorite. I will do a number of pet blogs.
Blogs about Christianity. If done right, they are some of the most informing blogs out there.
Blogs about computers. I need all the info I can get about that.
Blogs about contests. I just love contests.
Blogs about cooking. I love to cook and love to eat too.

Like:

Information blogs on subjects I would not ordinarily look at.
Craft blogs. While I am not that great at crafts, I do like to see if I can do things, like scrapbooking.
Free stuff. I love free stuff but I really do not like to wade through all the crap to get to the good stuff and some of those blogs do that for me.
News on products blogs. Those are great so that I do not have to hunt that stuff myself.
Parenting blogs. Wonderful info place.

Hate:

Blogs that are difficult to read because they have run on sentences or one endless thought or sentence.
Blogs that have gross stuff on them. Food pics that are gross. ACK!! No way.
Blogs that are sexual in nature. Not happening here.
Blogs that are incredibly biased against race or religion.

These are just some of the ones I like, love and hate. If you do want me to review your blog, I will be honest about my likes and dislikes but you will never get your blog torn apart by me. In the upper right corner of my blog, you will see a place to click to submit your blog for review. This is a free service at this time. So, contact me!!!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

I haven’t really mentioned what makes a good blog in my opinion. See, I’m not a critic, not person who has a standard list of things I go through to critique a blog. I simply like it or I don’t. Yes, that is simple. It is also true. Most blogs are somewhere in the middle of really good and really bad. Most of the blogs I look at and do like are in the middle. Not everything is terrific about it but it has appeal and I just like it.

Cooking blogs, pet blogs, gadgets, Christian blogs, contests and that sort of thing will grab my eyes. Someone’s got a great blog but then it takes a long time to load is a problem for me. I’ve run across several blogs I would love to write about but the blog doesn’t load quickly. I have DSL so it loads semi-slowly for me. I wonder what would happen if someone who still had dialup wanted to go onto that site. I suspect that it would be difficult at best and really slow at worst.

What that means is that I will be giving other blogs a good look see and some will show up here. I love to give a good report on those blogs. If you want me to review your blog, please use the email address at the right and I will get to it as soon as possible. A number of people have loved my review and links for their blogs. You will too.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

I admit it. I have a gripe about bloggers who have problems writing in English. I do not know if it’s a translation error or what but there are blogs out there that you can hardly understand. Now, I do realize that there are more bloggers from English speaking countries but some are not. And I am not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings or anything like that. However, it is so difficult to read someone’s blog that is trying to do the writing in English but has not mastered the language. Very difficult.

Well, I don’t think I have “mastered” the language either. But what I’m talking about are those people who are blogging for pay that have no clue how to actually write in English. I can tell you right now that the translating that is being done is not good. In fact, it’s quite strange at times. Sometimes, it’s downright funny but it is not easy to read. If it is not easy to read, the advertiser will not want that person’s blog doing their work anyway.

Frankly, I feel badly for those who are relying on a translator because they just simply do not get a clue about the strangeness of the English language as is used in the United States. Our language is pretty fluid. Some words may mean one thing today and tomorrow the kids have changed it to mean other things. The first word I can think of is grass. Simple word really. It means the growing green stuff in the front yard or at the park. But the kids now have it meaning a substance that is illegal in this country and they smoke it if they can get away with it. If a person is in possession of it and gets caught, it’s jail time.

See how strange the language can be? The other day I saw a list of words that can be used for many different things. That is a confusing mess right there. Back to my original problem. Bloggers who cannot write the language do need to find a better way to do this.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Once in a while, you run across a good blog that tells you about some of those gadgets you just had to have. The first thing I noticed about “Today’s Gizmos, Gadgets & Tech” was the first post that had to do with a greenhouse that can be used in small spaces. Oh, how I could have used something like that a few years ago. I still might be able to right now even though I live in a house. That greenhouse would be ideal for someone living in an apartment in the city. If you love growing things, this is the deal for you. See? Great stuff on this blog.

The next post had my heart from the moment I saw it. There is a cat sleeping in what appears to be an old computer monitor. In fact, it IS an old computer monitor. Someone has hollowed out the monitor and made a kitty bed out of it. I LOVE IT!!! It’s an old IMAC case which they now call ecofriendly because it can house a cat with ease. It’s a great way to use something already on hand. One thing. Don’t use the spouse’s or the sibling’s still usable monitor for this, huh?

The third post on the page has what I can only describe as looking like a jellyfish but, in reality, it’s a game station that is made for girls. It’s a game station disguised as a necklace. WOW! That is totally weird. But this blog is worth your time for those really great gadgets, gizmos and stuff you really want.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Blog Hunting and all of the other blogs maintained by me wish you and all of your family a late Happy Fourth of July. Yes, it is late and getting later by the moment. The rockets red flared and the bombs burst in the air but the flag was not waving in the air. It was attached to someone’s front porch.

We had a good time that day. It was peaceful and quiet until the fireworks went off across the street from us. Still, it was a good day. I watched some fireworks displays on television. No, I do know that it is not the best way to experience that sort of thing but I have had those experiences many times before. This way, I do not battle the bugs or the heat while I watch the bombs bursting in the air. And I did not have to experience the sort of sonic boom that goes with such things especially at the end of all those fireworks that went of at once.

So, even though this is a belated Happy 4th, there you are.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

My husband noticed blogging and what could be done with it some time ago, probably a couple of years ago now. He started to blog then. But it took a while before he took note of the paid blogging companies that were really getting going then. He joined in with them. It was great. I had no idea that there could be a way to blog and make money as well. When he got paid the first time, I started to see what blogging could really do. And I could say what I wanted to say and it was amazing! Blogging would be fun without the pay but it is so much better with it.

But there is a danger. I have been signed up on some social network sites, one of which means you have to go to the site and actually do something there. On occasions I found some really great blogs. They are informative, interesting, nice for the eyes. People put thought into the posts there and the themes. Those blogs are great. They have appeal and usually have RSS feed subscribers and a following.

On the other hand, I have seen some blogs that are so loaded up with advertising that I nearly could not see the reason for the blog. Or possibly I can. It seems that some blogs are made for the sole purpose of putting up ads, advertising for someone else. I realize that everyone needs to make extra money. I do not want to step on those dreams and hopes. However, some of these blogs are so full of the advertising that there is little room for the posts themselves. In fact, I found one blog that I could not find the posts. They had some type of little list of posts that took you to another page of the blog. The posts were NOT on the front page of the blog. Not one.

When I visit a blog, the first thing I look for is the first post. If I like that, I will look for more. If I am actually doing the card dropping from that social networking place, I will look for that first but the post is the next thing to see. If all I see are ads and things to sell me, I don’t even want to drop a card there. It is of no use to me. I consider that type of blog to be an over monetized blog. When the sole purpose are the ads, it’s all over but the shouting.

On the other hand, if a person is posting something with a text link or a couple of links, a picture or something like that, this is great. You can find out something about the blogger, something about a product and something that is probably written pretty well if they are doing this for a company. That type of blogging is just fine with me. I will review such blogs here. And over monetized blog will likely not be reviewed here. I simply don’t like them.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In an alternate ego, I do a little dropping on Entrecards. No, that’s not what I wanted to talk about but I do run into a number of good blogs that are talking about contests, at least from time to time. This blog is loaded with contests! Do you like contests as much as I do? Well, then it’s time for you to get on over to “A.B.C.-About Blog ContestsA” and check out what they have to offer. I do believe that you can find at least one to interest you.

For Entrecard users, the first contest will be certainly interesting for you. They have a $50 first prize that also includes 10,000 Entrecard credits. Now, that’s a pretty good deal. This contest ends on July 10th. But don’t go away. They have so many more contests to try for that I cannot possibly list them all here. There is another contest that goes on once a month if I have read that right. The winner receives $100. All you have to do to sign up is to subscribe to his feeds.

I do like this blog. It’s a lot of information on blog contests from various places. Why not give it a shot? I know you have a chance to win.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Sometimes, I just have to look for unusual names on blogs. It’s something I love to do because there are some really strange names out there. One such is Blog Doofus. When I went there I really did not know what to expect, do you? But it is actually an informational blog concerning how to write blogs and what to look for. For instance, the very first post has to do with finding out what your readers want to read. That seems to be pretty important. That’s certainly what I’m looking for on mine.

One of the posts has to do with how much advertising is too much. I have an opinion on that myself. If you cannot see the posts, it’s too much. There are blogs out there that certainly have too much but not this one. While there are ads there, this blog is very readable and reader friendly. Going on down the list of posts, one that really caught my eye is the one with the title “First thoughts on Wordpress 2.5“. Heck, I want to know about that since I use Wordpress. But the big banner that says he hates it is like a little clue. I sure hope from that that we do not have to change over to that particular version any time soon.

This is a good informational blog and well worth the time taken to see what information is available. See ya at Blog Doofus!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!