"In the beginning"

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this blog are not necessarily the views of the blog management, (on the other hand, they are not necessarily not the views of the blog management).

No effort has been made to stay within the bounds of the truth in this blog as it has always been the view of the management that the truth should never be allowed to stand in the way of a good story.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Blog Stats.

Holtieshouse Stats.

A recent readers comment sent me scurrying to my stats only to find to my amazement that there
have been a little over 80,000 “hits” on this site during its short lifetime (3 years come April).

What is even more amazing is that just over 8,000 of the people visiting have made a comment,
this figure is obtained, in blogger at least, from the “edit posts” section where the number of
comments made on each post is shown, now just add ‘em all up.

I am really stoked to think that 10% of my visitors felt the post they read was worthy of a
comment, BTW in the first 6 months I got only 400 comments (thanks Merle, Marcus, Maria,
& a couple of others who have since disappeared) this means the next 2 years brought in over
7,500 comments, WOW!!!!

Blogging for me has never been about the figures, its always been the friendships that have
been important, but I can’t help but be surprised by, and proud of, those figures too.


Quite apart from the decision to cut back on blogging, for the past 3 or 4 days I have lost
even more interest and not just in blogging, any of you who have ever had a kidney stone
(renal colic) will understand my lack of interest in world affairs as I have snuggled into
my own little world of pain, for those of you who have not had the joy of a kidney stone,
I pray that your luck holds out forever.

During an attack there is no place on earth that is comfortable, under a warm shower
is about as close as I have been able to find, then you are faced with the fun of drying
a pain wracked body, this is the same pain that makes your normally comfortable bed
feel more like the infamous bed of nails.

About the only other place that I've been able to find any semblance of comfort is in
a recliner lounge chair, I must admit though I made a serious mistake on the first
night that I spent in my recliner chair.... I reclined the chair... wonderful, almost
comfortable and I did get a few hours sleep... BUT.... came the time for getting out of
the chair.... my pain wracked body wouldn't allow me to exert sufficient pressure to
collapse the chair back to an upright position.

For the next ten minutes I tried in vain to rise from what had now become my not
so comfortable chair, eventually I managed to wriggle myself far enough to get
my feet over the sides of the extended foot rest and painfully force my body
into an upright position, with my weight removed from the chair it was a very
simple operation to return the back of the chair to the upright position.

I will forgive you if you had a chuckle over that last paragraph, even I can smile
about it now, but for the time that I was trapped in that chair humour was at
the very bottom of my scale of emotions.

Ah, the joy of living alone!!!!!!!!




25 comments:

Miss Cellania said...

Ah, Peter, I feel for you. I hope this will soon pass.

But the recliner story IS funny!

Gattina said...

Since I subscribed to "Google Reader" (don't ask me how) I can see right away who of my "favourites" made a new post. I can imagine how you feel that hurts terribly. I haven't had the experience myself but have a friend who had to have surgery to get them removed. Do you take medication to get them dissolved ? Wish you good luck and that it gets better !

Jeanette said...

Hi Peter, "Ouch" Sorry to hear you have Kidney stones yep I agree the pain seems to go right though you. I learned in a hurry never get in a recliner when in pain or after an operation.
wishing you a speedy recovery. Jan

ChrisB said...

Sorry to hear about the kidney stones. I remember when I was nursing that renal colic was considered to be one of the worst pains. So do hope you get some relief soon.

Dave said...

Oh, I'm sorry about the stone Peter... and I hope it passes quickly somehow.

On the stats... I wish I had a way to track them.. it'd be interesting to say the least.

I'm glad to have been one of the many to post here. I enjoy your writing, and your friendship.

Merle said...

Dear Peter ~~ Sorry to hear about the
kidney stone, and all the pain. Has it passed yet? Someone advised me to drink beer to relax and allow them to pass. I loathe beer, but struggled through 2 light cans, that John got for me. Turned out mine wasn't a stone at all that time. Maybe it's time to see George again. Hope you feel better very soon. Love, Merle.

Marcus said...

That's not good news Pop. I take it from the fact you posted that you're feeling better, I hope so.
Maybe you should get one of those electric recliners that tip you right out!
Take care
Love Marcus

Junebug said...

Oh, Peter I have passed a kidney stone once. Four years ago before Christmas. Everyone was gone. I was all alone. Oh, the pain. Even worse than giving birth! My husband came home and took me to the emergency room and they gave me some demerol. Relief for a little while.

kenju said...

Peter, I am so sorry. I have heard that there is no pain to equal that of passing a kidney stone. Hope yours is all gone now.

Slavenka said...

Hi Peter! Sorry to hear about the
kidney stones. I hope this will soon pass.All the best :)

wazza said...

Gidday Peter,

As you know we've both had the attack of the kidney stones before and boy are they fun. As I said last nite on the phone go and see about it. Maybe there is something that can be done altho' in most cases it depends on the size of the stone, whether you have to wait until the stone passes or if it's too large it can be shattered by a sonic device, hey maybe go up in a F111 and go thru the sound barrier.
I'm not making light of your pain, just wanting to try and lighten your burden. Take care ole' mate.

Walker said...

Ouch, my uncle had to go through with that a coupel of years ago and my aunt said she could hear his screaming in the washroom.

I hope yours isnrt as painful.

I started blogging 3 years ago to in April, I guess it was the perfect time to start blogging

Joy Des Jardins said...

Peter, if you've read any of my posts since early December, you'll know that I'm in the same boat as you. I have two small stones in my right kidney. Everyone seems to think they should pass without much problm....everyone except the stones themselves. Though I'm not in dire pain...I have had some strange discomfort going on...Renal Colic...yea, I guess that's a good name for it. Most of the time I'm fine...then some achiness and discomfort pop up. You're right...it definitely can take keep you unfocused on other things. I can only hope for you what I hope for me....that we pass these 'critters' soon and with as little pain as possible. Thinking of you....Hugs, Joy (Stony)

OldHorsetailSnake said...

Say, lad, before it's too late, invest in a "lift chair," which is an electrically powered dude that actually lifts you onto your feet. I know whereof I speak, for I have one. Neato.

Jack K. said...

It cannot be any fun at all. The only case I believe I had was a very mild one and only lasted a very short time.

It sounds like you and mike/hale are having health issues. I hope yours end very, very soon.

As I told mike/hale, get well soon. That's an order.

btw, I also use google analytics to learn a few things about visitors. I know the day there are visitors, and what town/country they are in.

karisma said...

Oh poor you! I hope you feel better soon. Take care.

Rachel said...

As Oldhorsetailsnake mentioned a lift chair, and I have one here that is almost new and not used. It will certainly lift you up!

I'm so sorry you have a kidney stone. I hope you are able to pass it soon! I never had one but I worked for many years for a urologist and I always felt so sorry for the ones who came in with that pain. The poor things were throwing up and in excruciating pain. I hope you feel better real soon Peter.

JunieRose2005 said...

AHHH- Peter,


I was very sorry to read this post! No wonder you interest in blogging has declined!

Hope you're better real soon.


June

Cliff said...

Oh man Peter, I'm so sorry to hear about this. I've heard that it's as painful as it gets. I hope this will pass. You've come up with exactly the ten percent figure that I have been saying on the comments.

Attie said...

So sorry to hear that you have this!!!I can't imagine!!I hope you are doing better real soon!!!!!!!!!!!

Hale McKay said...

OUCH!! I feel for you, Peter. I've never (bless the stars) had a kidney stone, but on a couple of occasions I have found my world reduced to that of a recliner.

Most recently, of course, was my bout with a nasty case of cellulitus in my right leg. It was a recurrence of the same malady back in November in the same leg - but far more serious.

MY recliner is one like Hoss mentioned - a lift chair - sometimes called a "granny launcher." It will go from almost flat lying down to standing you up onto your feet.

It was particularly useful when I had a broken rib.

Anyway, you hurry up and pass that thing(s) soon. I should be returning to work after 3 weeks on my keister sometime next wek.

Suzz said...

Ouch. Getting stoned in our youth was much more fun than having kidney stones in our retirement. Here's a "po baby" to help you get better soon: Awwww, po baby.

Pamela said...

oh dear.. I am so very sorry you are in a war with kidney stones.

LZ Blogger said...

Peter ~ I felt terrible as I read this. To think of you in so much pain was not a bit funny to me. I sure hope that the kidney stone gets taken care of soon! My best to you my friend! ~ jb///

Margaret said...

Very sorry to hear of your pain hope all is well by now. Have you seen George or have you been unable to get that far. I guess you would have contacted Jackie and Ken if necessary.
Hope you are back to your normal jolly self Margaret