Daily Update, March 26, 2024

    I started writing critiques mid-morning and continued right through lunch, and a bit after lunch. I wrote two shorter ones, and two normal-length ones, trying and succeeding in returning the favor to everyone who'd responded who had a story of their own up. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was resting when I got there. She looked at the pictures, then closed her eyes to rest some more, then opened then again when I pointed out there was a new one, but she responded when I asked her questions, and seemed to enjoy it. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. After that, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Next, I read "Snow-White and Rose-Red" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 26th of March's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Petra's Friend." {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I did 20 1/4 minutes of salsa dancing in two sets, both the warmup set and a less structured set. I followed that with my arm resistance exercises and my head exercises. That's a little more than yesterday, so I really do feel like I'm coming back from this. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World between breakfast and the critiques. Then I played a little more Cross Stitch World and read some comics after the critiques. After that, I cleaned myself up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming later than I hoped, but earlier than the day before. I found Kitten complaining that Pierogies was busy with the later long, large-group event. Kitten and I teamed up and did a mission or two. Then Pierogies joined us, and we did another couple of missions before it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, began writing this up. then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming just in time to say goodnight to Pierogies. Kitten was there, but disconnected because they were actually busy watching a video with Pierogies. Then they came back just after Pierogies left. We teamed up and did a few missions. As we left one, we ran into a giant monster team, and ran with the few others who stayed, getting several giant monsters. Eventually they broke up, and Kitten and I returned to running missions. We ran two more missions of our own, and Kitten got me to invite a friend of theirs to the last one. Then we talked a bit; I know their friend vaguely, but the friend told me a little about recent events. I said goodnight, and did my salsa dancing and other exercises, with video watching and a little Cross Stitch World in between. I ended by writing a little more of this and making a fair number of notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 25, 2024

    Monday was productive, but tiring. After breakfast, I went to the Critique site, where I read a new critique, and responded to them all, most in some detail, since at least some invited more than just a thank you. {smile}

   Then I got a call about a bill, so I found several bills, three or four of which were old or otherwise confusing enough, I felt they needed phone calls to determine their current status. I got them all sorted, and most paid that needed it still getting them into the mailbox with the flag up. (A couple of the old ones had already been paid, I'm happy to say.) There's only one still waiting for attention. It was the place that had called to check on the bill in the first place. When I called back, they decided to send me a new statement. So, I'll pay that one when I get the new statement. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I got there a little late because I frankly lost track of time while doing the paperwork. Mom was awake when I got there and seemed to enjoy the pictures. She responded a little, but not as much as some days. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. After that, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Then I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. After that, I read "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 25th of March's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Kind Scarecrow." {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and my arm swinging exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I did both sets of salsa dancing for almost 21 minutes, due to a different last piece. Since that piece can and will vary, I don't always do exactly the same amount when it's full. But this is even more exercise, t hanks to doing my head exercises, and a little more salsa dancing. Maybe. The longer piece might be slightly slower, but I hope it evens out. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World in the morning, when thinking about what I wanted to do on the critique site. I also read comics and had lunch. When I'd finished with the critique site, I finished Sunday's daily update. Then I started this daily update. Next, I cleaned myself up. It was pretty late when I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Kitten was there, but unresponsive. It was late to get into much anyway, so I did paperwork until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I began writing this up between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I made some notes in it after dinner, before I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming again. I said hi to Kitten, who was still quiet, and Dr. Faustus, who responded. We chatted for a while, learning we 'd both been particularly busy recently. Then we teamed up, and he led a mission or two. After that, Kitten joined us. It took a little finagling to invite them to our team. By then, Dr. Faustus and I had run into a fight in the game that we joined in on. (A few areas are war zones where enemies and non-player characters run by the game fight each other periodically, and you may join in if you wish.) Kitten joined us in fighting the enemies. So did a player we didn't know. They asked about joining us, and we ended up doing their missions, helping them to finish a story arc. I said goodnight to Nox too late to talk again. When we finished the story arc, Dr. Faustus left, and so did the fellow we'd helped with the story arc. Kitten stayed and helped me get a badge my best badge collector didn't have. She now has 1499 badges. One more, and she'll get a badge for getting 1500 badges. I think she could get over 1600 badges, at least in theory. After that, I left to do my salsa dancing. I also played Cross Stitch World, watched some more videos, or parts of them, and wrote more of this up, including making notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 24, 2024

    After breakfast, Uber arrived too quickly for me to exercise, but that helped me get to the church during the announcements. I sat with Auntie Barbara and two kids who chose to sit with her. It was a nice service. It was Palm Sunday, which is always special, with a procession in that involves the congregation, and a partially dramatized Gospel reading. {Smile}

   After that, I enjoyed lunch with Auntie Barbara and others. Then Auntie Barbara took me home. We had a lovely talk on the way. We sang several songs with mom when we got home, since Auntie Barbara does like to do that when she visits with Mom. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I got there a little late because I did want to finish what I was doing with Pierogies. Mom was awake when I got there and seemed to enjoy the pictures. She did respond a couple of times later in the session. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Next, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. After that, I read "The Musicians of Bremen" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 24th of March's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Fair." {Smile}

   I don't quite believe what happened... not so soon. I ran late on City of Heroes: Homecoming, so started with my salsa dancing warmup. Then I took a break, during which I got my arm resistance exercises done after a short rest. Then I started a second set after another short rest. I did the piece I've done the last two nights and didn't feel tired. So, I did another piece... and made it all the way through. I was definitely puffing for a moment afterwards, and I'm tired enough, I don't think I'll even do my head exercises... but I did 20 1/4 minutes of salsa dancing tonight! I'm back up to the around 20 minutes I'm supposed to do. now I just need to repeat that and add in all the easier exercises that I can do, too. I really didn't expect to get that done today; I was hoping to work up to having the little exercise all added over the week, then add the rest of salsa dancing around Friday or Saturday... but now I can just work up to doing them too. {BIG SMILE, REALLY BIG GRIN}

I wrote Saturday's daily update after Auntie Barbara left. Then I played Cross Stitch World and read a couple of articles after Auntie Barbara left. Next, I read a few comics before I cleaned myself up. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I joined the later long, large-group event with Pierogies. After the event was over, I did a little badge collecting with Pierogies before leaving to read to Mom. 

   After dinner, I started writing this up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found Dark. We started talking, and slowly got around to teaming up and deciding what we wanted to do. We finished an arc a particular character of theirs needed. I said goodnight to Nox but missed talking with them again. Then Dark and I talked for a fair bit. I also gave him some things I'd collected while playing, too. After we said goodnight, I started some paperwork of my own. I was in a bar, in public, and someone started chatting with me. We chatted for a while, until I had to quit to salsa dance. We said goodbye, and I established a contact method so we might talk again. Then I did my exercises and watched some videos. I also wrote a little of this and made notes to finish writing the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 23, 2024

    On Saturday, I stayed home, and checked the critiques site after breakfast. I found three new critiques! I read them all -- some before lunch, some after lunch -- and made a few changes to my story... it's beginning to look like it needs a lot more change than I thought. {bite lips} I'm trying not to get discouraged about that. Thankfully, Dark reminded me of Dad's caution: don't write expecting to make money beyond a hobby that pays for itself, at best. {odd smile}

   I did a critique to thank the first critique writer for theirs and found two more of the 6 total have stories up. I'll have to critique theirs before it goes down... I guess late Tuesday. Next time, I should start returning critiques sooner. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was awake when I got there. She looked at the pictures, but even more at me. She did respond a couple of times later in the session. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. After that, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Then I read "Chicken Little" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 23rd of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Billy's Trick." {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises and my arm swinging exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I did 14 3/4ers minutes of salsa dancing in two sets after teaming for the evening. After a break, I did my head exercises, too, before it got too late. I was a bit tired, but that's one more exercise than I managed Friday. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World while thinking what to do with my writing, when I wasn't working more directly with the critique site or the story itself. I wrote Friday's daily update before lunch and checked out some new comics. Then I cleaned myself up after I read all the critiques. Only after that did I hop into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I was late again, but in time for a little paperwork before I joined the later long, large-group event while they were still gathering. Pierogies was in it, too. So was the friend who build my computer for me several years ago. I chatted with both of them after the event. Pierogies mainly said goodnight before leaving for bed. My other friend stayed to tell me about the past couple of years. Then it was time to read to Mom.

   After dinner, I started writing this daily update. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and found that Dark was on. We said hi and chatted, and I shared a few game-goodies I found on hand. Then we teamed up. We ran a story arc on the low-level characters we ran Thursday. I also talked with Nox on the chat server, and I talked with Dark a fair bit between missions. After our last mission, Dark and I did a bit of badge hunting together, and said goodnight, too. After they left, I did my exercises, watched a video, read a few comics, and wrote some of this, making notes to finish writing this the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update March 22, 2024

    On Friday I worked on my story... I have four critiques so far from the site. I responded to the first, read the last for the first time, and thought about them all. This story needs a lot more work than I realized.  A couple of folks have said there's too many characters for such a short story, but I'm having trouble cutting any of them. They also say the introduction is too long for such a short story, but both scenes are needed. If there's too many characters and too long an introduction, but I can't cut either, then... maybe expand the middle, so it's a longer story that fits them all? There's also a request to differentiate the characters, but that lengthens the introduction... yes, i think I need to find more to put in the middle. {smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was sleepy but not fully asleep when I got there. She seemed to wake up as she looked at the pictures. She even responded a couple of times later in the session. The last time, she said she liked what I'd read to her. I began with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I started her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Next, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. After that, I read "The Peacock and the Crane" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 22nd of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Kind Miss Mouse." {Smile}

   After teaming for the evening and a break, I did my full salsa dancing warmup for 8 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing. Then another break, and I did 6 1/4 more minutes of salsa dancing. After a longer break, I did my head exercises, and my arm resistance exercises, but I was tired even while doing the arm resistance exercises in particular. So that's where I stopped, but that's the most salsa dancing I've done yet. When I can add one more piece to the second set, that will be around 20 minutes of salsa dancing. Then I can get the other exercises up to full. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World while thinking about writing in the morning, around the work with the critiques. I did read one or more articles, too. Then I finished Thursday's daily update before lunch. After lunch, I did more with the critiques. then I cleaned myself up. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Soothing Darkness, who I hadn't seen in a few months. I said hi, and joined the team they were on. They were doing a different kind of individual mission than my usual, though they switched to something in a story arc eventually. Pierogies came in and joined us around the time of my last mission before reading to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I began writing this up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Soothing Darkness on a team doing the individual missions again and joined them once more. Then Phonso came on and invited me to a few trials. I tried to ask the team. No one seemed interested. I finished the mission we were on and started to apologize for leaving to join Phonso. Soothing Darkness didn't want to abandon the team, but one other member was open to the trials, and no one objected. However, when we joined Phonso, two left because they were too low-level. We still ran the first trial with Phonso. The others all left after one, but I ran two more trials with Phonso. He recruited mostly new teams each time. I said goodnight to Nox; we missed talking again. Phonso himself left after the third trial. Then I read some comics, watched some videos, did my salsa dancing and other exercises, and did a little paperwork and solo play for a badge on my 5th best badge collector in City of Heroes: Homecoming. I also wrote some of this and made notes to finish it from on Saturday. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 21, 2024

    Thursday, I mostly stayed home and took it easy... if thinking about my story and what to do with it counts as taking it easy. That is thinking about writing, though not actually writing. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was awake when I got there and seemed somewhat interested in the pictures again. I wasn't as late, though I wasn't early. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I started her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Then I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Next, I read "The Princess and the Pea" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I finished with the 21st of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Ladybird, Ladybird, Fly away Home." Yes, it was a story, not the poem that starts with that line. Everything in this book is short and unique, while the poem wouldn't be unique. {Smile}

   After teaming and a break, I did my arm resistance exercises, my arm swinging exercises, and 8 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing. I was surprised I could do that much salsa dancing the day after physical therapy, but it's a happy surprise. Then I did my head exercises. I thought about doing my arm weight training exercises too, but I was tired. This was a lot better than the day after physical therapy last week, even without the arm weight training exercises. {Smile}

   After breakfast I read a few articles and played Cross Stitch World while thinking about my story. This continued over lunch and into the afternoon, until I cleaned myself up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Kitten, Pierogies, Rivka and one or two others. Pierogies was busy with the later long, large-group event, and the zone was full, so I couldn't join them. Rivka was role playing with a new supergroup they'd found. The others didn't respond, except Kitten might have responded once. So, I did a bit of paperwork and started collecting badges on my fifth best badge collector. When Pierogies finished the later long, large-groups event, he got together with Kitten and invited me to join them. I suggested an individual mission type that tends to not be too long, and we ran one before saying goodnight in case we didn't see each other again. Then I left to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started writing this up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I saw Dark and Kitten were on and said hi to each. They didn't respond quickly, so when I spotted that high-level trial that I'd run the other day, I joined it. Then they responded. I told them about the trial. Dark declined to join, just not being in the mood. they are more demanding of the player than the stuff he was doing. Kitten declined at first, but then joined with the friend they were teaming with when it was slow to fill. We ran the high-level trial, and Kitten invited me to join them. Dark also invited me to join them. I talked it over with Dark and picked a group of low-level characters. Dark found the ones who'd been teamed with her. We worked on finishing a story arc we'd been working on. I chatted with Nox on the chat server for a while, too. Kitten invited us again to join them shortly before their friend left. Then Kitten joined us when their friend left. They helped us almost finish the story arc - the last bit is solo, so we left it. Then Kitten seemed to fall asleep and disconnect while we were saying goodnight to Dark. I finished saying goodnight to Dark and collected a few more badges on my 5th best badge collector. I also read some comics and played some Cross Stitch World, as well as doing what exercises I did, and writing this up, with aa fair bit of notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 20, 2024

    After breakfast, I contacted Uber. A gal came and took me over to Life Care Center of Hilo. There, I learned that my physical therapy was supposed to be called off because they were so busy. The secretary had left a voice mail, but apparently my voicemail has stopped letting me know about new messages. I had to open it and hit refresh to find it. I'll have to remember to check it often. {sigh, resigned smile}

   However, my therapist said he didn't want to waste my ride since I had come, so he gave me a session after all. It was a good, challenging session that even ended with me showing him my salsa dancing moves. {Smile}

   Then I contacted Uber, and got Alan He came, and we had a lovely talk as he took me home.  We especially enjoyed going past the school with no line to get caught in. On Wednesdays, they've been letting out at noon. They started that in the early days of the pandemic and haven't changed. But this week is spring break, so no school and no line. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was awake when I got there and seemed somewhat interested in the pictures. I was late because when we were ready to wind down from teaming, Pierogies realized I had a timed mission. I hadn't noticed, and half the time had passed. We got it done in not much over half the time left, but that still made me start reading late. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read cards from two different cousins of hers, as well as a card from me. After that, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Then I read "How the Camel Got his Hump" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I finished with the 20th of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Judith's Friends." {Smile}

   I figured they worked me quite hard enough at physical therapy that I didn't need more exercise today. I won't be surprised if I do my walk exercises and not my salsa dance the next day, as well. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics, did a little work on yesterday's daily update, and played Cross Stitch World before going down for physical therapy. I read more articles and played Cross Stitch World after therapy, before and over lunch. Then I finished Tuesday's daily update after lunch. Next, I cleaned myself up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Pierogies, and an inactive Kitten. Pierogies and I got together. I set up my character's contacts, and picked one where we did two missions. I was just ready to start a short hunt before reading to Mom when he noticed I had a timed mission going. The first hour of two had passed, but we tried it, rushing it as much as feasible, and actually got it done in half an hour. That made me late reading to Mom, but it could have been worse. {Smile}

   I began writing this up and making notes in it between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I continued writing it up and making notes after dinner. Only then did I jump into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Kitten active and did a mission with them. Phonso came in and invited us to a trial during it. We finished the mission since we were near the end and joined him. We ran the trial, and two more trials with Phonso and the folks he recruited. I said goodnight to Nox on the chat server during the first of the trials, because they were leaving early that night. After the trials, I helped kitten with a self-improvement badge until they seemed to fall asleep. Then I finished collecting a few badges for my character. Next, I collected four more for my fifth best badge collector. Following that, I read some comics, played some Cross Stitch World, and wrote a bit more of this, and finished making notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 19, 2024

    On Tuesday, I had a Zoom meeting in place of the regular picnic. The place we were supposed to meet had a fire, and our leader had trouble finding a suitable replacement venue. A gal who had trouble attending in-person meetings suggested Zoom for this month, but future months should be back to in-person soon. Four including the leader attended, all women. We had quite a lively meeting that went on for two and a half hours. As our nurse noticed, one member, Shannon talks a lot. I was spending a lot of time listening and waiting for a chance to interject things... but after our nurse commented, I realized that Shannon is unusually good at responding to a raised hand. I did that once or twice, but I'll have to do it more often in future conversations with her. {Smile}

   Around the middle of the afternoon, I called Uber. A fellow came and took me down to Safeway to get a prescription and check on more. They had two waiting, both for me. They didn't have anything for Mom. I tried to pay for it with a check, writing it out, but Safeway couldn't accept it. They needed an I.D., and the only ones their computer system would accept were a driver's license and some particular kind of passport. I cannot drive safely because of my severe, permanent vertigo, and since I've never travelled outside the U.S.A., I don't have a passport. Fortunately, they accepted my debit card, but I'm asking myself what to do about this. I really don't like going to shop there when I'm down to one acceptable payment method precisely because situations will turn up where that one is messed up. {rueful smile}

   Anyway, I contacted Uber, and a new fellow came and took me home. At least Uber is working normally. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was awake when I got there. I was late because teaming with Pierogies went longer than I expected. I began with scripture and thoughts about it first. After that, I read a littler from a friend, and a card from her sister. Next, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. then I read "The Lion and the Mouse" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. That's the Aesop's fable, if you're wondering. Lastly, I ended with the 19th of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Patch's Day Out." {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and my arm swinging exercises while waiting for Uber to take me to Safeway to get my prescriptions. Then I did my arm resistance exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. After I finished teaming for the evening, I did 8 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing. After a long break, and with a shorter one, I did my sitting arm weight training exercises and my standing arm weight training exercises. {Smile}

   I wrote Monday's daily update before the Zoom Meeting. Then I played Cross Stitch World over and after lunch, after the meeting. After that, I cleaned myself up before I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I started with paperwork. I looked around and spotted Pierogies, but he was busy in the later long, large-group event. I wasn't in a mood to join it after it had started, so I continued with the paperwork until I noticed someone advertising a high-level trial. I joined that and ran it, getting three of the six badges you can get for it on that character's first run. By the end, Pierogies was free, so we teamed up and ran a mission together. The mission went later than I hoped, which was why I was late reading to Mom. {smile}

   I did some exercise and began writing and taking notes for this between reading to Mom and dinner. I did more writing and notes in this after dinner. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I said hi to Pierogies. We teamed up and started a mission. Then Phonso said hi and invited us to a trial before we finished the mission. We left the mission for later and joined Phonso. Pierogies switched to a different character and left after the first trial. I talked with Nox for a little while before they left for bed. I stayed with Phonso as he ran two more trials. Then Phonso left, and so did most of the others. Someone invited me to a speed taskforce while one person was still teamed up with me. I asked if they could come too, since they'd been a good teammate through all three trials. They said yes, and we joined. We ran it very quickly, with a less than full team. Most were acquaintances of mine. I said goodnight fairly quickly, so I could do my salsa dancing and exercises. I did a little paperwork and Cross Stitch World around the exercises and writing this up, including notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 18, 2024

    Monday, I stayed home. I did call my doctor, and on the third try, the nurse practitioner answered. I told her my eye was better but not well, and she said she'd prescribe another week of antibiotics. I'll have to pick it up tomorrow; I'll only miss one day that way. {smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was pretty much awake when I got there. She seemed interested in the pictures, and even said she liked things a couple of times, though not as often as yesterday. I think the visitors and the phone call did her good. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I four cards, from her nephew, her sister, church, and myself. After that, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Next, I skipped over "The Fir Tree" because I doubted that she'd like the ending and read "The Little Mermaid" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_ instead. I'd be concerned about the original version of "The Little Mermaid," but I know this book doctored the ending to make it more palatable. I ended with the 18th of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Caroline's Wish." {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, my arm swinging exercises, and my head exercises after we were done teaming for the evening. Then, after a short rest, I did the full 8 1/2 minutes of my regular salsa dancing warmup set for the first time since I got the root canal officially finished. After a rest, I did my standing arm weight training exercises, and one of my sitting arm weight training exercises. After another rest, I did my other three sitting arm weight training exercises. I'm pretty happy with how this is coming along. {Smile}

   I finished Sunday's daily update after breakfast. Then I read some comics and played some Cross Stitch World around the phone calls and over lunch. I cleaned myself up a while after the phone calls were done. Next, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found Dark and Kitten. I talked with both and teamed up with Dark. Kitten joined us after a while. Dark left because he was tired when I needed to leave to read to Mom anyway. Dark and I said goodnight. Kitten and I hoped to see each other again after dinner. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started to write this up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Phonso, who was busy in a trial, and Kitten, who was busy in a mission. Phonso offered to let me join the next trial, but I found the offer too late. So, Kitten and I teamed up to do a mission when they got done with theirs. It fortunately ended about the time that Phonso's second trial ended, so we swiftly joined his third trial not long before it started. Nox and I talked a little before they said goodnight. Phonso, Kitten, and I ran four trials back-to-back, with some other members staying the same, but not all. Then we said goodnight, and I did my exercises. I wrote this, played Cross Stitch World, and read comics in the breaks and when I was done. Writing this included making notes for the next day, especially after I was done with my exercises. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 17, 2024

    On Sunday, I contacted Uber after breakfast, and they came and took me to church. they arrived a little after it should have begun, because the morning ran late. They got me there just as the opening was ending, and the readings began, so I got all the Bible readings, the sermon, and the full communion. I found Auntie Barbara and sat with her. {Smile}

   After church, we had lunch on the lanai as usual. I sat with Auntie Barbara, and she took me home afterwards. There, she came in to visit with Mom. Mom sang seven songs with Auntie Barbara and me, a good day for her. {Smile}

   A while later, two gals came and brought Mom home communion. The nurse and I also got some, since we were there, but it was for Mom. {Smile}

   A while after that, I tried to call my aunt Valerie. When A few tries didn't get an answer, I called her daughter, my cousin Kim. I was able to let Kim talk to Mom, though Mom did not speak to the phone. She just looked at it. which I told Kim. She works with older patients who need special care, so she understood, and was happy she'd gotten to talk to Mom. We talked some more, and then she said goodbye, telling me to wait a bit then call her mom after she'd had time to reunite Aunt Valerie with her phone. {Smile}

   After a wait, I phoned my Aunt Valerie. The phone refused to work when I tried to let Aunt Valerie talk to Mom, but at least it didn't hang up on us. Aunt Valerie and I had a lovely talk both before and after the try. It worked fine around the living room and that end of the hallway. {Smile}

   I even discussed my story and possible sequels with Auntie Barbara and Dark, so it was a productive day there, too. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was awake when I got there. She seemed interested in the pictures, and even said she liked things when I asked as we went along. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I finished the long family Christmas letter from her niece from 2019. Next, I started _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Then I read "Dick Whittington and His Cat" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 17th of March's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Odd Bird." {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and arm swinging exercises while waiting for Uber to come take me to church. Then I did my arm resistance exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I did one of my sitting arms exercises while Dark and I were winding down on City of heroes: Homecoming. Next, I did my two standing arm weight training exercises. The first waws mostly with too heavy a weight, but I did catch it and switch eventually. Next, I did 6 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing. I was puffing enough afterwards that I think it was enough dancing and leg work for today. I finished with my other three sitting arm weight training exercises. {S mile}

   I did some Cross Stitch World while I was waiting for home communion to come. Then I finished writing Saturday's daily update between home communion and my phone call with Kim. I did some more Cross Stitch World before calling Aunt Valerie. Then I cleaned myself up after calling Aunt Valerie. Next, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I said hi to Pierogies, and we chatted a bit. I teamed up with Dark, and we did a few missions until it was time to read to Mom. 

   I began writing this up between reading to Mom and dinner, mainly making notes. I continued making notes and writing this up after dinner. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Pierogies, who was just leaving, but we did get to say goodnight. I also found Dark, and we chatted before teaming up. Next, we did a few missions, then paused for a long talk. I also said goodnight to Nox on the chat server. They headed out early and didn't expect to be back later, so we didn't get to talk. Dark and I eventually did another mission, then talked some more. We eventually said goodnight. I did some paperwork on City of Heroes: Homecoming, then did my exercises and salsa dancing. I realized that in the future, especially when I'm trying to do more than one set of salsa dancing, doing the paperwork during a break in the exercising would be a more efficient use of my time then doing it before, since I do need to rest occasionally while exercising. I also wrote more of this and made more notes to write from the next day. {Smile}