Daily Update, July 29, 2023

    In the late morning, I worked on some mail that required me to do stuff with it, sorting out the stuff that had to wait, and getting the stuff I could do now done. It felt good to get it out of the way. {Smile}

   I got a phone call from our former nurse shortly before bed. It was nice talking with him again. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it, then I continued with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2019. After that I read the back cover and first several pages of _Classic Fashion 40s 50s Memories_. Then I read "the Ugly Duckling," The last story in _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. Then I finished out my reading with the July 29th story, "The Sparrows," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow were looking for a place to build a nest. It took them several tires to find just the right spot, but they finally did, and they built their nest. Then they raised six beautiful babies who would be ready to build their own nest the next year. {Smile}

   After lunch, I did my standing exercises, arm resistance exercises, arm swinging exercises, walking exercises and standing arm weight training exercises. I did one siting arm weight training exercise during a lull in the afternoon game, and the other three after dinner, before getting back into the game. And oh goodness! I can feel tears at the corners of my eyes. I just finished over 20 minutes of salsa dancing, including 8 1/2 minutes of warmup and over 10 minutes of less structured dance... and I am done for the day. It's an incredible feeling! Though I was even closer to tears when I started my warmup, and realized that when I finished, I'd be almost half over! This may be the best thing physical therapy has done for me: given me more achievable goals. The fact that walking is a real option, too, and a way to measure both that give me chances for days off... that's... it's all such a huge relief. I can do this. I even have options if I have day nursing when I'm on my own, and the nurses have to leave before I'm done with my salsa. If I know ahead of time, I can do more the day before. If I don't, I can walk without the enhanced danger of falling that dancing and bathing give me. That means I can finish my full day's exercise safely. {Very Relieved Smile}

   I read comics over lunch, and after it, too. I exercised after lunch as well. Only after that did I hop into City of Heroes: Homecoming after the exercise. I started doing paperwork. I also chatted with my roleplaying partner, at first on chat server. Then she came into the game, having just become able to do that again. We chatted for a long time, catching up, though we'd talked briefly on the chat server daily. Then we teamed up, running a few of my missions. Perogies came on after we'd started the last, and joined up, helping us finish it. that took me up to time to read to Mom.

   I hopped back into City of Her, and joined my RP partner, this time for RP. She barely lasted a full hour, if not less, but I wasn't surprised. I kind of expected her to be tired. Then I did a lot of paperwork. Then I looked around. I spotted a friend I rarely team with but often end up on teams with, and noticed they seemed to be alone. I invited them to team up, and we teamed with a little chatting until they were ready for bed. That gave me time for just a little more paperwork before my salsa dancing. After my salsa dancing, I did some more paperwork. Then Chili Bear invited me to join him. He was showing off one of his bases to a couple of other friends, so I got to see it, too. it's really coming along nicely. They left, and I did a little more paperwork before and after our former nurse's brief phone call. I then made notes for what I hadn't written of my daily update yet, to make it easy to write it up the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 28, 2023

    I wrote an email to our financial adviser, in partial follow-up to our recent phone calls. {Smile}

   I also got a nice phone call from our former nurse today. It was lovely to hear from him again. He'd been away, and when he got back, he was just too tired to call for a couple of days. Today he was feeling better, so we were able to catch up with each other. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it, then began to read more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2019. Then the phone call interrupted me, but I came back fter, and reread what I'd read before, finished that entry, and read another. Then I read the last several pages of _1960s Memory Lane_. Next, I showed her the next picture book I intend to read next, _Classic Fashion 40s 50s Memories_, and read her the blurb on the back. I did this in part to make up for skipping reading from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I was late, and I wanted to get to dinner. So, I just finished with the July 28th story "Peter's Night Out," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Peter was walking home with his mother and told her he wanted to catch a shooting star for her. Then he saw stars in a lake and snuck out to try fishing for them. His mother found him asleep by the lake, curled up with their dog for warmth. {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, walking, and the new-to-home leg exercises right after dinner. I did the arm swinging exercises and arm resistance exercises after a short break. I did my head exercises and my sitting arm exercises while I was writing this up after playing and reading comics. That meant getting them done later than I should, but at least I got them all done. {Smile}

   I read articles after breakfast, then caught up with the comics I missed yesterday, and teh new ones for today, too. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming midafternoon, but earlier than yesterday. I found Perogies right off, and we started chatting. Then bowlofdro told me that the later short, large-group event was nearly ready. I shared it with Perogies, and he dashed off and got into it, but I somehow thought of the later long, large-group event, and went there first. Then I realized, and tried to join, but the zone was full, so I went back to the later long, large group event, and joined it. I even became a team leader in the group, as a 50 who arrived and didn't object to leading a team. I ran it on my fifth best badge collector, not that I got or thought I'd get any badges. Afterwards, I chatted with Perogies some more before breaking to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, but between all the exercises, and the phone call delaying dinner, it was unusually late when I got back to the game. The few people on who I'd have liked to team with were slow to respond at best, and some were on full teams already, so I looked for a pick-up group, and joined one doing a fairly high-level task force. We were more thorough than fast, so that took me late enough, I went back to reading comics, even catching up completely with one which I've been reading for months. That felt good, somehow. Then I wrote this up, doing the rest of my exercises, too. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 27, 2023

    After breakfast, I called our nursing company, and asked for ballpark figures for my care after Mom goes. Then I called out financial adviser, and told them I'd asked, so figures would be coming when I got them, hopefully soon. I thought that was a good day's work. {Smile}

   However, a while after lunch, maybe early afternoon, the secretary from the nursing company came to our house. She had my ballpark figures. She gave me both a daily rate for 24-hour nursing, and an hourly rate if I just pay for a few hours in the day. She's really pushing the 24-hour nursing as the better deal. Yes, if you can afford it, it's a lot cheaper per hour, so a better deal for what you're getting... but it's a lot of money each month. {resigned smile}

   Anyway, after she left, I rested a little, and realized it was still early enough my financial advisers should be open, though not for much longer. So, I called, and actually got my financial adviser. She's actually hoping she can get a little more for me than it looked like to my eye. I do trust her judgement there, so now I'm hopeful too. But I'm afraid she agreed with my assessment that I'd need a good chunk more income to afford the 24-hour care, as nice as that would be. {smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it, then followed that with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2019. Next, I read the next several pages of _1960s Memory Lane_. Then, I read "The Emperor's New Clothes," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I finished with the July 27th story "Pedro Trots Home," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about Pedro, a donkey who carried baskets full of fruit to market for a farmer early one morning. The farmer had sold all his fruit by lunch and was ready to have lunch with his friends. But Pedro didn't wait. He slipped his harness and went home before the farmer having a good laugh with his friend Peppi, the dog. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises while Perogies, Kitten, and I were talking after playing through much of my evening. {Smile}

   In the morning and early afternoon, I read articles and window-shopped online when I wasn't phone or talking with the secretary during her visit. No, no comics; I want to catch up on those today. Only after the phone calls were done did I work on finishing the day-before's daily update. When that was done, too, I finally hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I quickly met Kitten, who told me I'd just missed Perogies. Kitten and I teamed up, and we tried to do one of the complicated missions we'd started yesterday... three times. It didn't go well any of the times. I think it was bugged at least once. We agreed we'd have to try again later; probably a different mission we both know better. After hopping out, I said hi to Perogies, and learned I'd just missed him again. He'd gone back in just after I left. But it was time to read to Mom, so I went to do that. {smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Perogies and said hi. We started chatting, and soon started teaming up on mid-level characters. There was no sign of Kitten, so I left a note on the chat server. They came in and got our attention, so I invited them to join us, and we happily teamed for much of the evening. Then we started chatting, and this went on a fair while. Eventually, Perogies left for bed. Kitten and I kept chatting with occasional comments from Perogies while the latter worked on paperwork. (Yes, everyone does paperwork in this game; it's not just me.) When it was done, he really left. I shifted to a barely higher character, and Kitten and I teamed for two missions, finishing the arc that made me keep them at the level they were at. We talked about doing another mission, but it was late. I decided I'd better do paperwork and write this instead. Kitten talked until some friends who'd invited them to do a taskforce actually got around to starting the TF. I wrote the early part of this, then made notes to finish the rest the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 26, 2022

    Yesterday was physical therapy, so I contacted Uber, and a fairly chatty driver came and took me over. He actually wanted to visit a friend in the nursing home when we go there. I was able to tell him how to find the office where they can help him find the friend's room. {Smile}

   Physical therapy went well. I only had to cut back on salsa dancing at the end a bit because of my foot. We added several more exercises for home. With all the other exercises I'm doing now, my therapist said I only need to do 20 minutes salsa dancing or 30 minutes walking a day. He also said 30 minutes salsa or 40 minutes walking in one day would give me the next day off, which sounds very nice. An hour walking in a day would give me two days off like I have after physical therapy. My therapist doesn't recommend salsa dancing for 2 days off. {Smile}

   After therapy, I contacted Uber, and a fairly chatty fellow took me home. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I followed that with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2019. Then I read the next few pages of _1960s Memory Lane_. Next, I read "The Golden Goose," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I finished with the July 26th story "Off into Space," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about a boy who was having trouble going to sleep. He didn't want to count sheep like his mother first suggested, but then she got him thinking about flying in space, and he drifted off thinking about that. {Smile}

   No exercise beyond physical therapy. {Smile}

   I read articles over breakfast, then comics and articles over lunch and afterwards. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with a little paperwork, but I found Kitten and Perogies pretty quickly. Perogies is still struggling with a balky computer, but he was able to play. Yes, the three of us teamed up. Perogies left after a complex mission or two; they had mini missions as well as the main mission in them. Kitten and I kept doing that particular kind of complex mission until I got the last badge my best badge collector could get from them. Then we switched to a similarly complex mission and did one more before I read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and teamed up with Kitten for more of the second type of complex missions. I got the last of the really easy badges from them in maybe three missions, but there are five moderately hard ones and a sixth for getting the other five plus a badge I have already. The moderately hard ones don't always count that I've done them when we expect them to, either. We worked on them until a friend invited us to a task force. We joined that and got my fourth best badge collector a couple of badges. Then they wanted to do that pair of high-level task forces. I did and tried for more badges for my fourth best badge collector, but we didn't get them this time around. One's really tricky, and the others depend on the tricky one. Then kitten spotted a guy asking for help with a timed mission. We helped, and then he accidentally got another timed mission. After helping him with the second timed mission, I helped him find another contact, but they gave a timed mission too. Kitten helped with the third as well, but I had to leave to make notes for this so I could write it up properly the next day. {smile}

Daily Update, July 25, 2023

    Well, my foot was doing fine until I took a bath after dinner, because I hadn't done so earlier. My foot did not like a bath, and demanded I delay what exercises I hadn't done until late in the evening. {rueful smile}

   I called my financial adviser after breakfast, and got their answering machine, so I left a message. They called back before lunch. I asked a question, then brought up a bigger question, and they will help me keep things good. Don't worry; we're not in financial trouble. I just want to keep things that way, and now is a good time to start working on that. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I first read scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2019. After that, I read her the back cover and first few pages of _1960s Memory Lane_. Then I read "The Twelve Princesses," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I finished with the July 25th story "Under the Water," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about a girl who wanted to see all the wonders the mermaids had under the water. A fish came, and offered to show her under the lake she was next to. She took him up to it, and the fish blew a bubble that let her go down to the lake floor, but all she was a farmer's rusty old car. She lost interest in seeing more. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging and actually I think my arm resistance exercises before the bath. I did my walking, more arm resistance exercises, weight training, and head exercises after playing in City of Heroes: Homecoming. Somehow, mixing this with some in-game paperwork and the search for my financial adviser didn't leave time for salsa dancing. I'm not sure the foot wanted to try the bedroom slippers I now wear for that anyway. At least I got all the other exercises done, which is still better than yesterday. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics around the phone calls in the morning, as well as over lunch. Then I hopped into Coity of Heroes: Homecoming, where I did some paperwork, and looked around for someone to team with. Instead, I spotted a task force getting together that my fourth best badge-collector needed, so I joined it. After that, I noticed that not just Mysty, but also two others of my friends from the chat world were on, and all seemed to be on a team of three at that. I checked, and yes, they were together. They were hanging out while one worked on building a base, and Mysty ran missions on another account. I joined them and had a very nice visit. That took me up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner and the bath, I sat down, put my foot up, and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Perogies! His computer still isn't fixed, but he came in hoping to visit; he didn't trust it enough to play. I think I enjoyed visiting with him at least as much as playing with him. I'd forgotten how much fun just plain visiting and catching up with each other can be. After he left, I found a character who had a hunt, and started working on it. I was just getting going when Phonso  came in and asked if I'd like to run a task force. It was one my fourth best badge collector could particularly use, so I switched to her and joined him. I also started chatting with Nox off and on. We got enough people and ran that task force. Then we ran another, and I said goodnight to Nox. then I did some paperwork, the exercises I got done, and tried to solo some more, but gave up so I could concentrate on writing this up. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 24, 2023

    I called Alan before breakfast and told him I'd need to take Val to the vet a little after ten. When we were ready and I looked out, Alan was there. I hope he wasn't waiting long. Alan took us down to the vet, and I signed us in and waited. They came and took Val and the gadget, saying they'd shave him and attach it, and giving me instructions to read it daily until it fell off. They, and brought him back, saying he's done, and I checked us out, and called Alan. He had to finish the ride he was on, but then picked us up. and took us home. {smile}

   When I let Val out, I noticed a little round thing lying in the carrier It was stuck to the towel, and the shaved patch of skin on Val had nothing on it. So, I called the vet's office after lunch, and left a message. I called a few more times over the afternoon, when I didn't get a call back, but I didn't notice they'd sent me a text until dinnertime. They're talking with the clinic owner about what to do, since it's hard for me bring Val in, and stressful on Val, too. It feels good to know they're thinking about me, though I texted them twice to assure them I can come in, and even bring the gadget. I just don't like to do it too often just to pick up medicine when I could get a larger batch. It's mainly hard to bring Val. {lop-sided smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2019. Next, I read her the last few pages of _Music Stars 1940-1960: Memory Lane_, Jazz singers and groups were all that was left, so then I read the back again, then got out !960s Memory Lane. She liked teh look of that, so I read her the back of it, too. Then I read "Thumbelina," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I completed the read with the July 24th story "Flip Takes a Trip," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about a boy whose father worked in the Artic Circle. (Except it must be the Antarctic Circle; I actually wrote it in, because I know it will bug me.) He's been away and promised a present when he got back. He meant to go into town on the last day, but the plane arrived a day early. when Flip, the penguin he'd made a pet of, followed him to the plane, he took it along as the present. {Smile}

   A stack of books managed to topple right after dinner. Most landed in places where I just had to pick them up, but at least one landed on my foot. That foot is still smarting, so I'm delaying my standing and walking exercises. I did manage to do my walking, arm swinging, arm resistance, head, and standing arm weight training exercises later, after Phonso's task force run, and before it got too late. So at least I got something done. {Smile}

   I read comics over and after lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming a little later than usual and did some paperwork. I didn't see anyone to team with who responded, so I joined the short, large group event. Then I did the long, large group event. There, I chatted with Gwaun, my long-time RP partner. He had a new character who reminded me of a character I'd made. Afterwards, I showed him the character I'd made that his new character reminded me of. He got a chuckle out of it, which is part of the point. Then it was high time I read to Mom, so I did. {Smile}

   I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after dinner and the accident where the stack of books didn't completely miss my right foot. I did a lot of paperwork, followed by soloing through a bunch of hunts on one of my mid-level characters. As I was finishing up, I spotted Phonso advertising a task force, so I joined him. While we waited for the task force to fill, I chatted with Nox. I continued to chat with Nox as we ran the task force. Nox and I said goodnight after my task force had finished. I did a bunch of paperwork that task force had caused, and found some more paperwork that I got started on, but will have to finish some other time. I got much of this written up, too, but had to finish the next morning. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 23, 2023

    Today was Sunday. I got started a little late again; I got in and sat next to Auntie Barbara at the end of the opening hymn, which means i missed the announcements entirely. However, I was there for the main part of the service, and thought it was nice. It was this substitute priest's last time - he goes back to his regular job, as chaplain to a school on Maui. They're starting up again soon, since summer ends earlier than it did when I was a kid. {Smile}

   I sat with Auntie Barbara for lunch after the service. It's all long tables, so we were able to chat with a few others, including the substitute priest. Auntie Barbara isn't sure what they'll do for services next Sunday, with him back to Maui, but I'm sure they'll do something. There's always morning prayer if they can't get a supply priest. {Smile}

   Auntie Barbara took me home afterwards. We had a nice talk on the way. She also came in to pet Val and visit with Mom. Mom was tired enough to be slow starting to sing, but she did after a couple tries by Auntie Barbara, and when she got going, she sang all the usual songs. Then Auntie Barbara left. {Smile}

   I found a text from Perogies; he is having access trouble. I might be beginning to have trouble with my modem, myself. I need to look into it before it gets bad. {smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. I started her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2019 next. Then I read her the next few pages of _Music Stars 1940-1960: Memory Lane_, I only read about folks and country singers, because I was concerned that she was tired. Then I read "The Princess and the Pea," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I completed the read with the July 23rd story "The Silly Hen," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about a hen who decided to hide her eggs from the farmer's wife so they could hatch. However, she found a weasel eating her eggs three days later, and went back, because at least the farmer's wife feeds her. {Smile}

   I did my walking, arm resistance, arm swinging, and standing arm weight training after dinner. I got my head exercises and one or two of my sitting arm weight training exercises done after Owl Girl and I finished teaming, while we were touring Chili Bear's latest base. I got the rest of my sitting arm weight training exercises done after we broke up, before I started salsa dancing. Yes, I did salsa dancing, too: over 25 minutes of it, including both warmup and less structured dancing. Then it was a little late to continue, and I was panting too hard, anyway, but I got 25 minutes done, and with the panting it definitely felt like a good workout. {Smile}

   After Auntie Barbara left, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did some quick paperwork checking and looked around. the only folks I usually team with looked busy, so I looked at what was going on publicly. A high-level trial aiming for all badges was almost ready to go. I remembered my best badge collector had everything, so I checked my second-best badge collector. She has half, so I got her in at the last moment. They got all but one badge, well, and the badge for getting the rest, which meant she got one more. They ran it again, and she completed the set that time. Kitten came on during the second run, so we got together after it. We worked on the badge we hadn't finished yesterday, and I found another badge we could work on in the same missions. We finished the first badge and made significant progress on the second by the time I left to read to Mom. I tried to say goodnight in case we didn't meet again, which we didn't. {Smile}

   After dinner and the exercises, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked paperwork quickly, then looked around. Everyone I regularly team with either missing - like Kitten and Perogies - or looked busy. I looked over it some more and realized that Owl Girl was on a not-full team. They often are happy to let friends join, so I started talking to them. Turned out they were bored in a farm, trying to gain levels, I think. I invited them to do a story arc with me. I picked a character I really want to work through some story arcs, and we finished an arc, taking our time to role-play along the way. That was so much fun! I want to do things like this more, whether with Owl Girl, Ulty (my new roleplaying partner), Gwaun (my long-time role-playing partner), or other people. Near the end, Chili Bear said hi, and invited me to see the base he was working on. I said I wanted to finish my mission and asked if my friend (Owl Girl) could come too. He said yes, and I talked Owl Girl into coming. That base is really good. I am impressed! {SMILE}

Daily Update, July 22, 2023

    Well, today was pretty quiet, with no physical therapy to liven it up. That did mean I exercised as will become usual, at least for a while after I stop physical therapy, I suspect. I don't expect to find dance opportunities immediately after I stop, though I am beginning to look now. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Then I moved on to a Christmas card from her cousin's granddaughter, and a Mother's Day card from her sister. Next, I read her the next few pages of _Music Stars 1940-1960: Memory Lane_, showing her the pictures of each star, and reading the captions, which were mainly lists of greatest hits. It continued with Vocal Groups and Rock and Roll. Then I read "Snow White and Rose Red," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I completed the read with the July 22nd story "Lost and Found," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about the cuckoo's friends, who all went searching when they didn't know where they were. They found them watching over the farm boy, who was sleep under a tree in the forest, because he was a friend, too. {Smile}

   I did my walking, arm swinging, arm resistance, and arm weight training exercises after dinner. I actually did my head exercises between the warmup salsa dancing and the first set of less structured salsa dancing. Yes, I did get salsa dancing in, too, over 25 minutes of it. I didn't get the sitting arm weight training done before it got too late, though. Still, I got a fair bit done. {Smile}

   I read comics and article after breakfast, and over lunch. Then I realized Kitten had mewed at me and dashed in City of Heroes: Homecoming. They didn't respond immediately in the game, so I started on paperwork. However, Perogies noticed me saying hi pretty quickly. That was good, since I could give him the stuff that I'd made late yesterday. I gave him that, and we teamed up, and added Kitten, too. I noticed something similar on the character I'd picked, but I didn't have quite everything I needed to make it. I mentioned it, and Perogies found one that I needed, but we ran a mission first. Kitten bowed out partway through because they were just too tired. Perogies and I kept going until it was just about time to read to Mom. I did get the thing that let me make something he could use and gave it to him. He recently made a character with an unusual theme, so he's interested in things many don't have much use for. After that, we said goodnight, and I went to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner and the exercises, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming later than expected. I found Kitten, there, and they responded, though they were sometimes slow. We teamed up, and they suggested we work on the badges I didn't get the other night, so I switched to my best badge collector, and we ran a story arc that got those two badges. Then i noticed another badge i was close to getting that their character was set up for, so we worked on that, along with another badge that needed a lot more work. I got the first badge and made great progress on the second. Then we stopped and chatted a bit until I started salsa dancing. About then they went quiet anyway. So I watched a few videos, wrote this up, and checked a little paperwork as I could. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 21, 2023

    Today, our housekeeper came just after breakfast. Our house is definitely better for her attentions, and I loved seeing her again, and getting to hear how things have been going with her. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next was a birthday card from her sister from last year, and a Mother's Day card from me. Then, I read her the next few pages of _Music Stars 1940-1960: Memory Lane_, showing her the pictures of each star, and reading the captions, which were mainly lists of greatest hits. It continued with female vocalists and crooners. Then I read "The Little Mermaid," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. It's one of those revised versions where she does get to marry the prince after all. I finished by reading the July 21st poem "Off to Town," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about a farm dog telling another farm dog how he was going to run away to live an easy life in town, because there was too much hard work on the farm... but he'd come back after being out overnight twice before. {Smile}

   I did my walking, arm swinging, arm resistance, and arm weight training exercises after dinner.  I did one of my sitting arm weight training exercises during a lull in the game. I got started pretty late on the salsa dancing, and even ran over time a little, despite only getting 20 minutes. Still, I got 20 minutes when I was worried that I might not have the energy for that much. I did the rest of my sitting arm weight training exercises and all my head exercises after the salsa dancing. {Smile}

   I read comics and articles in the morning and around lunch time. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did a little paperwork and teamed up with Perogies. We finished the story arc we'd started yesterday. Then he left for a while. I kind of got to reading comics and articles when I didn't find anything else that really appealed in the game. I eventually went back into the game, where I found Perogies busy with the later long, large-groups event. We mainly chatted and ran one mission of that, I think, before I read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner and the exercises, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and did a lot of paperwork, then tried to find a friend to team with. I did find Chili Bear and one other in a setting that made me think they were role-playing, but they weren't talking so I could hear, and... I didn't know how to join. However, I spotted a team which I could and did join just as one said hi. during that mission, Phonso said HI, and asked about a task force. I promised to join after that one mission, and did, after a short break. We started late enough, it ran too far into salsa dancing time to do more than 20 minutes, and even that ran over a little. After that, I did a little more paperwork and wrote this up. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 20, 2023

    I had my video counselling appointment today. We spent most of the time talking about my story. She's encouraging me to keep the sadness, and was talking about ways to cope with the sadness, by limiting how long I work on it and so on... 

   ...but... if this were a one-off, that would be one thing, but I hoped it would be a good sample to help launch a series. As such, it needs to be representative of the series. If it and its series helps launch my writing career, it should be representative of other things I write, too... 

   My counselor actually suggested asking friend in my updates what they think... not that I'd thought fully of the question of this being representative, but... does anyone have anything to say on this? {hopeful look}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I followed that with a Christmas card from her cousin's granddaughter from a couple of years ago, and a Thanksgiving card from her sister that's even older. Then, I read her front and back covers and the first few pages of _Music Stars 1940-1960: Memory Lane_, showing her the pictures, and reading the captions, which were mainly lists of greatest hits. It started with the Big Bands. Then I read "The Frog Prince" from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I finished by reading the July 20th poem "A Holiday Week," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told briefly of doing different things each day, starting with Monday and ending with Sunday, in a week with no school. {Smile}

   I did my walking, arm swinging, arm resistance, and standing arm eight training exercises after dinner, and my head and some of my sitting arm weight training after the task forces. I think I managed to do 3 of the four sitting arm exercises before I got into salsa dancing. Yes, I did do salsa dancing, both warmup and less structured dancing. {Smile}

   I read comics before and after lunch, then hopped into Coty of Heroes: Homecoming. I Tried to talk with a few friends, but no one responded quickly, so I joined a high-level trial, picking my second-best badge-collector, because my best badge collector had all the badges, while my second-best badge-collector had never even run it. Of course, as it was almost ready to start, Perogies said hi, but at that point I was committed, and it was late for him to join... Anyway, i ran the high-level trial, and got all six badges it offers, so that was very nice. After that, I got together with Perogies. He wanted to run a particular story arc because it's one way to get access to a special club in the game, so I found a character who needed it, and we ran it together. We got several missions into it before I had to read to Mom. We hope to finish it tomorrow. {Smile}

   After dinner and the exercises, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I didn't find anyone to team with immediately, so I started looking for a pick-up-group and saw someone advertising a task force that was all of my second-favorite type of character. It turned out to be led by Mollymauk, the streamer who I often join for late night task forces and strike forces. We started it, and during the very first mission, Phonso came on. He guessed the task force, and yeah, I couldn't join one with him after joining this one. I told him not to wait because it was just getting going. He got a regular one together, though it was slow to fill, it did start before mine ended. At that point, Mollymauk said he'd do the strike force he particularly likes with all that type of character. I switched, but ran that with him, too. I got done in time to say goodnight to Phonso, as well as do a bit of paperwork before my salsa dancing. After the salsa dancing, I did a bit more paperwork, and wrote this up. I was finishing up in City of Heroes when Perogies came in and said hi. The last round of paperwork had produced a couple of things I thought were perfect for a new character of his. When he saw them, he agreed. We said goodnight shortly after, so I could post this and go to bed, though some posting may be in the morning. {Smile}