Wine on the Keyboard

Kind of long post, bear with me:

So, my blog hopping is out of control. I’ve met so many great writers this way. BUT, my hopping is taking a lot of time. Writing time. (no, I’m not launching into one of those…my life is so busy so I’m not going to hop, but please still come to my blog because I’m so important type posts that PISS ME OFF when people post them! )

I decided to force myself to use RSS feeds. I downloaded PLUCK for internet explorer. It installs a toolbar. Then you can open it in a side window right in explorer. (I didn’t import my bookmarks, an option they had nor did I set up an account on their webspace). I created a folder called Blogs and added the RSS feeds from all the blogs I read. WEll, all the ones that have a feed. I went to my bookmark of each blog, click on the FEEDS icon on the Pluck toolbar, and picked the feed that pops up (if there is more than one feed, I picked the RSS2 feed.) I had to be careful because sometimes there would be a feed to the comments. I wanted the main blog feed.

Then I went and marked all my folders read. Now, by simply opening the Pluck side window and right clicking the blogs folder and hitting refresh, I can see who has posted a new entry. (the blog name shows up in BOLD if there is a new post) I can click on it right from the side panel and read the new post. Mark it read.

No more hopping around again and again wondering if there is something new, afraid I’m missing something. I know right away, and can hop right there and read and/or comment.

There are other ways to do this same thing. There is SAGE for Mozilla/Firefox. There are desktop solutions that sit right on your computer. Pluck has a webbased solution where you set your stuff up on the web, and you can access it from any computer. Bloglines has a web based method of keeping track of your feeds.

There are lots of methods. I just wanted one that incorporated into IE. If you search on Google for new aggregators or RSS aggregators or rss readers you’ll find a wealth of information.

Anyway, I finally feel like I’ve gained some control over my blog hopping. And now I KNOW when you’ve posted something new!

Blogging by Kacey
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This is my favorite place on earth. Skypond in Rocky Mountain National Park. I first hiked there as a girl when I went to Cheley Colorado summer camp in Estes Park. I’ve hike to it numerous times since then. Once after college. And just a few years ago…though I have to admit, climbing the water fall up to this lake when I was over 40 was just a tish harder than in my youth…:shock: Is this not the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen???

Click on it to see the full size image. Come on. You know you want to!

So what’s your favorite place in the world??

Life, such that it is by Kacey
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Okay, I don’t want to actually know what’s in your wallet. I want to know what sits on your desk beside your computer…

yep, that’s my always there stash. A glass saucer (of my grandmother’s) with some of my favorite rocks on it. I pick them up and fiddle with them when I’m thinking. A hand blown pen and ink well that my dh got me. Nice for writing out notes when I’m stuck. Really sexy to write with. And a glass paperweight with flowers inside that was my other grandmother’s. It always fascinated me when I was a little girl. Then my wheelo to play with just because And my very hip pink and black reading glasses

So what’s sitting on your desk??

Life, such that it is by Kacey
19 Comments »