Daily Update, July 18, 2023

    Today, well yesterday was the monthly picnic. I got a call from the leader, asking if i wanted a ride, and telling me call the driver... she also told the driver when she got there with another gal and her daughter. I also called her, and from next month on, I really should call her the day before to confirm. I asked her when she came, and she said before 4, or leave a message after. Okay. I think we had a nice talk in general on the way down. It was at our most common park. {Smile}

   The picnic went well. We had more folks than usual, maybe because we had two speakers after lunch. There was lots of good conversation over lunch first. Anyway, the first speaker talked about not-Hospice, which is officially Hawai'i Care Choices because they offer more services than Hospice does. She was sure it could help everyone if they could just get past folks' resistance to hospice and such. The second speaker talked about how the terminally ill can apply for and get medically approved supplies that can help them have a good death. She was very clear this was not something for everyone, but she felt people should know, and have that option if they truly wish it, and are in full possession of their faculties to make the choice. {smile}

   The leader took me and another gal home, dropping me off first. We had a nice chat on the way. {Smile}

   After dinner, I got a nice call from Auntie Barbara. It was nice to hear from her again. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started by reading scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued by reading four cards: a birthday card from her cousin, a Thanksgiving card and a Valentine's Day card from her sister, and a birthday card from me. Next, I read her the next few pages of _1960's Fashion in Pictures_, showing her the pictures, and reading the captions. Then I read "Little Red Riding Hood," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I finished by reading "My Boat and I," the July 18th poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about sailing on a sailboat. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and started my arm weight training exercises during lulls in the game in the afternoon. I did my arm resistance exercises between reading to Mom and dinner, and my walking, arm swinging exercises, and my standing arm weight training exercises after dinner. I did the rest of the sitting arm weight training during a long lull in the game after dinner. I did 8 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing warmup. by the end I was so dizzy, I had to sit down before feeding Val. I treated myself for hypoglycemia, and it did help, but I didn't try more. I'll just have to try again tomorrow. {Smile}

   I read the shorter comics after getting home from the picnic. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and did a little paperwork. Kitten came in, and we got together. It took some time to decide what to do together. We were just settling on something when Perogies came in, and asked for help with a character who'd just reached the endgame, where so much changes. Kitten and I were happy to help with that. There are a couple of nasty bosses... besides, it's just more fun to do with friends, if you ask me. Kitten wanted to leave because they were tired, when we were one mission from the end. they stayed for a mission and found their second wind. They actually stayed, when Perogies left after that arc. I think we did one more mission before it reached time to read to Mom. {Smile}

After dinner and exercises, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming and got together with Kitten. We were still getting started when Phonso invited us to a task force. I'm afraid I got distracted enough right then, he thought we weren't interested, but we were. We joined him, and did the task force, which took a while. After the task force, that team broke up. Even Phonso went his own way. Kitten and i stayed together. I switched characters, ran a mission in a story arc that's already started, then switched to a story arc that got two badges. After that, Kitten went unresponsive, and disappeared, which usually means they fell asleep. I did paperwork after that, and wrote this up, but didn't have time to share it until the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 17, 2023

    Yesterday, I found a text from the secretary of Helping Hand Healthcare, our nursing company, saying she'd be by after lunch to cut my hair. {Smile}

   My hearing aids had a morning appointment, so I contacted Uber after breakfast, and they took me down to the office. They checked out okay, and he got them ready for the next few months. Then I called Uber again, and they took me to Safeway, where I had a couple of prescriptions to pick up: one for me, and one for Val. After Safeway, I considered walking to the bank, but it was getting close to lunch, and a little early in the week for major exercise. Plus, I expected the haircut after lunch, so I didn't feel I should run too late. So, I contacted Uber and went home instead. {Smile}

   I got a short call from our former nurse after lunch. We chatted about stuff. He'll try to call in the next week but doesn't promise not to be busy. He does promise to call again when he's less busy. {Smile}

   The secretary from Helping Hands Healthcare came after lunch and cut my hair. She cut it dry, so she knew how it woudl turn out, which was perfect. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read four cards: a Christmas card from her nephew, another Christmas card from her cousin's granddaughter, a birthday card from her cousin, and a Thanksgiving card from her sister. After that, I read her the next few pages of _1960's Fashion in Pictures_, showing her the pictures, and reading each. Then I read "The Wild Swans," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. That's the one where the queen curses her stepsons to be swans by day, and their sister sews shirts to turn them back into people full-time, but one isn't' quite finished, so one boy still has a swan's wing. I finished my reading with "The Brave Crab," the July 17th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about a crab, who spotted some children doming down to the beach, and ran along the beach, then rode a turtle friend in the water along the beach, calling to warn everyone to hide in the water, which they did in time. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging and head exercises while waiting for Uber to take me to my hearing aids' appointment. I did my walking exercises and arm resistance exercises around lunchtime, after I got back from errands. I did my arm weight training after dinner, managing one more each than last time. It felt like I got started pretty early, even if some were still later. I didn't get to the sitting arm eight training exercises in time, but that's all I missed, at least. {Smile}

   I wrote some of my daily update and read a few comics over lunch. I read more comics and finished my daily update after my haircut and talking with our main nurse afterwards. Only then did I hop into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I did a bit of paperwork. Then I chatted with Kitten, and discovered they were in a task force. I also chatted with Ulty, but they were busy with a full team. So, I joined the later long, large-group event. There, I talked with my first role-playing partner, who likes to go by one of his favorite character's name, Gwaun. I brought up three of his characters who two of my characters are particularly interested in. I think we'll try to RP and maybe team at least two pairs, both with the same character of mine; only one is a romantic relationship. The other is close, but not that way. After the later long, large group event, Ulty and I chatted.  I think we teamed up for one mission before I left to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner and my exercises, I did a little paperwork, and teamed up with Ulty and Kitten. We ran a mission that got us all a badge that helps. Then we ran another mission or two, before Kitten got so tired, they had to leave. Ulty and I might have run one more, but they were tired and left early-for-them, too. So, I looked around and teamed up with Azurette. We did several missions, and a lot of talking, too. Perogies came on and joined us for a while. Then he left, and Azurette and I did a couple more before she left. I meant to write this up, but did more paperwork, then just made extensive notes, and wrote it properly the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 16, 2023

    Today was Sunday, so I took Uber to church. I managed to get ready to go particularly late, but I was lucky that the car was closer than usual. I still made it late enough to miss not just the announcements, but the first hymn. I still got to sit with Auntie Barbara and enjoy the nice service. {Smile}

   We sat together for lunch, too. We also sat next to our former assistant priest, who's now retired, and his husband. it was nice to hear what they're doing these days. {Smile}

   Auntie Barbara took me home and visited with Mom. We sang several songs. Auntie Barbara brought up calling mom's sister, but unfortunately, I forgot until too late to call. {rueful smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I read three birthday cards, one from church, one from a friend, and one from me. After that, I showed her the first few pages of _1960's Fashion in Pictures_, reading each caption to her. Then I read "Cinderella," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I finished my reading with "She Love Me, She Loves Me Not," the July 16th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about Brian, who was picking petals off daisies one by one. A fairy scolded him for hurting the flowers. He said he just wanted to decide which girl to take to a dance. The fairy said to take both, for all she cared. He did, and they all had a good time. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises late -- around the time I started writing this update up -- but I got them done. {Smile}

   I took care of Val and did other personal chores after Auntie Barbara left. Then I wrote up yesterday's daily update. I also roleplayed ont he chat server with my new role-playing partner, whose name, I realized, is Ulty, not Ultry. It was only after that - and particularly late, especially for a Sunday - that I hopped into City of Heroes. I ended up doing a lot of paperwork, because the folks I usually play with were either not there, or busy. I did get to chat a bit with bowlofdro, and later with Ulty and Perogies when he came in. I guess I could have tried to join the later long, large group event like he did, but by the time I worked out might be the best option, it was mostly done, so I didn't bother. We did chat until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes, and chatted with Ulty a little. She invited me to join the team she was doing one-off missions with. I did. They were doing light role-playing while running the missions. after a while the leader left, as did some of the others. One gal took over, and Ulty and I stayed. Two others joined us, and we ran another couple of missions. Then Ulty wanted to roleplay, so we quit that team, and did a nice little role-play until she got tired and left. After that, I visited a little, but mostly did paperwork. I don't know why but I didn't feel like joining a pickup team or anything like that. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 15, 2022

    Over breakfast, I texted the secretary at Helping Hands Healthcare, the nursing company we use, and told her how I've been keeping up my exercise. However, my health insurance has decided I've had enough physical therapy for now, so it's ending first Wednesday of next month. I told her how my physical therapist wants me to get into a dance class or club. She said she'd look into it.

   I contacted Uber, and a friendly driver took me to Life Care Center for physical therapy. On the way, I got a call from the secretary at Helping Hands Healthcare. the place she'd hoped had dance classes didn't, but she found two other places that did. {Smile}

   Physical therapy went well. My therapist had talked to his patient who did line dancing, and she really didn't know anything to help, but he'd gotten a list of line dance classes on this island. Not all are close enough, but there were a few that didn't seem completely impossible. 

   I contacted Uber, and another driver took me home. We chatted a bit on the way, which was nice. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it, then continued with the last bit of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. After that, I showed her the last several pages of _The Flower Garden_. Again, I said a little about each picture, since it has no words. Then I read "The Musicians of Bremen," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I finished my reading with "The Lost Appetite," the July 15th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about Patrick, who could barely eat half his favorite meal after getting sick with measles. His parents sent him to the country, to visit his aunt, uncle, and cousins. They came back a week later, when he'd been going around the farm, checking on the animals and being in the fresh air, to find he'd found his appetite again, and was eating as much as his cousins. {Smile}

   No exercise yesterday beyond physical therapy. {Smile}

   I finished yesterday's daily update and read shorter comics over lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Perogies, and we teamed up. We did the last mission in the little one's arc that we'd mostly done yesterday. While doing that, I chatted with bowlofdro. Perogies and I got ready to do the long mission in the other arc, but he had to leave. I chatted some more with bowlofdro, but an attempt to get together aborted.  Then I chatted with Ultry, my new role-playing partner, and we teamed up until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I read some more comics, and chatted with Ultry, on the chat server. Then I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and did a little paperwork while still catting with Ultry. We switched to chatting in the game. We teamed up some more, but she left early because it was a long day. I soloed, and chatted with soothing Darkness, but they left instead of getting together. I soloed some more, then joined a TF that turned out to be led by Laine. After the task force, I joined Laine in one more mission, enjoying teaming with her before leaving to make notes and go to bed. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 14, 2022

    I mostly took it easy again today. I might not have gotten Val's lunch shot right, so I made extra certain I got his midnight shot right. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it, then continued with a little more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. After that, I showed her the next several pages of _The Flower Garden_, saying a little about each picture, since it has no words. Next, I read "Tom Thumb" from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I finished my reading with "The Happy Gnomes," the July 14th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told how the different gnomes all got together to celebrate when their prince married a wood sprite princess. Mom liked all I read to her today. {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance, walking, arm swinging, and standing arm weight training today. I did the sitting arm weight training and head exercises during lulls in City of Heroes. I made the therapists shift of slowing down the arm weight training. I'll talk to him about how much, but I got less than half the number of reps, and felt like I'd done enough, so it's definitely harder, like the therapist promised. I hope that's slow enough for now, though maybe later he'll want it slower yet. {Smile}

   I wrote yesterday's daily update after breakfast and read comics over lunch. I chatted with Ultry, my new role-playing partner, about comics well into the afternoon, on the chat server. I hopped into city of Heroes: Homecoming later and did a bit of paperwork. Then I teamed up with Perogies, and we added bowlofdro and a friend of his. We ran three of my missions on a low-level character, one from one story arc and two from a different story arc, because the second mission I had in the first arc was notoriously long, and bowlofdro wanted to catch the later short, large-group event. Perogies and bowlofdro's friend ended up leaving then to, so I soloed some more of it, because there was a lot of talking to NPCs, as well as a "hunt," where you just get a number "on the streets," which I can do by myself easily. I stopped when I realized I was again late to read to Mom. {rueful smile}

   After dinner and the exercises, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, to finish the soloing I started before dinner, making sure the character was ready to start something fun for a team. Then I badge hunted a little on that character. At the same time, I chatted with Ultry more on the chat server. Eventually, I asked about her coming into the game, and she did. We teamed up for a few missions with some roleplaying on the side. Then she left, apologizing for having a busy day the next day. I did some paperwork, and maybe a little soloing. Then Perogies came in, and we did a couple of missions on the low-level character I'd played earlier, and a different low-level character of his. I think they worked well together. After that, he left again. I finished off the game with more paperwork and badge collecting. then I wrote much of this, and made notes for the rest. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 13, 2023

    I stayed home and took it easy. After yesterday, I thought that was reasonable. {Smile}

   I did call the vet, and they called me back. Val's insulin shots don't have to be breakfast and dinner, as long as they're 12 hours apart and after meals. I'm trying Noon and Midnight; breakfast would make me ever later to church than I already am most days. {rueful smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it, reading yesterday's entry first, then today's entry. So, we're caught up. Then I continued with a little more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. After that, I showed her the first several pages of _The Flower Garden, a collection of fine art pictures of flower gardens, flower stands, and other pictures where flowers are prominent. I said a little about each picture, since it has no words. Next, I read Sleeping Beauty from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I finished my reading for today with two stories from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. First, I read the July 12th story, "The Legend of the Dragonfly." A lonely dragon was visited daily by a fairy. One day, the fairy fell into a pond without her magic wand to save her. When she called for help, the dragon dashed out. Being at the far side of the lake, he breathed on the lake, turning the water into steam, and the fairy into an insect we now call a dragonfly. I followed that with the July 13th story, "The Sea-Urchin." A sea-urchin was washed into a tidepool at high tide. At first it enjoyed the adventure but paniced as the tidepool began to dry out. Luckily, a little boy came along, and rescued the sea-urchin with his spade, taking it back to the sea. Mom liked all I read to her today. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises real late... while base touring, but I did get all five exercises done in full. {Grin}

   I wrote yesterday's daily update in the morning. Then I caught up with the comics I like to read, since I didn't read them yesterday. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming in the mid-afternoon, after writing, lunch, and personal chores. There, I found Kitten, who wanted to get a particular hard-to-get villain for a particular couple of badges. I went through my characters until I found one who was working on the storyarc that the villain is easiest to get in. I thought it was near the end, but it was actually near the halfway mark. The game gives confusing clues because it kind of changes to a new arc, but not really. We finished the first arc and ran much of the rest. Perogies joined us for the last few missions we did that afternoon. We ended just two missions from the end. if the second arc. The very last mission was the one we really wanted.

   After supper, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I got together with my new role-playing partner, whose username is Ulty, and we finished the role-playing scenario we've been working on. Kind of. We're both very happy with the way our characters' relationship is developing. I think this will continue to develop. Mysty came in and said hi while we were roleplaying. We chatted a little, until she left me to my role-playing. Then Kitten came in, wanting to finish the story arc we'd been working on, but I explained I needed to finish the role-playing scenario. Eventually, I did finish the roleplaying scenario, and promptly told Kitten I was ready to team after feeding Val and giving him his shot. I told Mysty, too, and invited her to bring a character or two, with Kitten's permission. She brought one, and I formally introduced them. as we got started. We ran the last two missions of that storyarc, and everyone got credit for the hard-to-get-at villain. Near the end, Chili Bear invited me to see something. Turned out he was showing off bases. I love base tours, and my friends were happy to come, so Mysty, Kitten, and I joined Chili Bear and a friend of theirs. We toured a few bases Chili Bear has built or is still building. Then I wrote a little of this and made a lot of notes to make it easy to write up the next day.

Daily Update, July 12, 2023

    Yesterday was physical therapy, so I contacted Uber. Karen picked me up, and we had a nice chat all the way over to Life Care Center. {Smile}

   At physical therapy, the receptionist told me that my health insurance wants me to take a break from physical therapy. The last day they'll cover for now is August 2. My therapist wants to get me into a regular dance class or club. He feels that's the best way to keep me active and exercising while I don't have physical therapy. I'm concerned about this. Yes, I love salsa dancing, but in any dance, I have to figure out what I can do, and what I can't do, and focus on what I can do. That's not always feasible in a class or club, where the teacher or club organizer has planned ahead of time what the group will do. There's also the problem that many seem to happen int eh evenings, after work, and I don't know about getting out then. I can't manage late mornings and afternoons much better. Still, I'm trying to keep an open mind, and see what we come up with. {smile}

   I contacted Uber, and a different, less chatty driver took me home afterwards. 

   I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I teamed up with bowlofdro and Soothing Darkness, who ended up mainly talking with someone not on the team, though we did do a few missions. I also got a phone call from our former nurse. {Smile}

   Then I called Alan, and he took Val and me to the vet. They ran tests. Val's blood sugar is higher. They showed me how to do his shot, and told me to do it that night. They told me it was time to call Alan again, so I did. He came, but we weren't quite done. However, but waited for us, and took us home though it was dinnertime when I got home. {smile}

   Val's appointment ran so late, I got back in time to eat dinner normally with her, so I ate with Mom, but didn't read to her. I'll just have to catch up on the two dated things in the future. {Smile}

   I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after did. I started with some soloing and paperwork. I also started roleplaying with my new roleplaying partner over the chat-server. Then my new roleplaying partner suggested we move to the game, so we did. We had a very nice roleplaying session. We parted planning to continue another night when she realized she'd better sleep. {Smile}

   Then I did some paperwork and a little soloing. I also chatted with Soothing Darkness, but they realized they'd better go to bed before we could get together. I saw a particular mission advertised that my 2nd best badge collector could get a badge for doing, so I joined the team, and got the badge for a mission. Perogies came on near the end, and we chatted while I finished my mission, and he farmed. The mission team split up not long after. Then I joined Perogies in his mission, chatting more while he farmed. Kitten came on and joined us, too. Then Perogies left. {Smile}

   Kitten wanted to join a team next, so they did. I tried to join the same team, but they finished as I was getting to them, and wanted to do a fairly high-level task force next. I was too tired for after my long day, and it was getting late anyway, so I didn't. However, our former nurse called for a quick phone call, which was nice. He knows I'm still up at that time. After that, I made notes to write this up the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 11, 2023

    The housekeeper finally came and gave the house an extra deep clean because she'd been gone so long. It was wonderful to see her again, and house is definitely better for her attentions. It was great to see her again, too. Between an emergency trip and transportation trouble when she got back, she was gone a fair while. {SMILE}

   I also got a call from our former nurse. We caught up with each other and had a nice chat in general. I do enjoy talking to him. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that, though later than I liked, because I simply lost track of time, and suddenly realized it was six - late to start, but I couldn't start earlier at that point. I started with scripture and thoughts about it, then continued with a little more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Then I read the last several pages of _1950's Fashion in pictures_, sharing both pictures and captions with her. Mom was really into it, saying something after most pictures, often "and that is that." So I read significantly more than I meant to. Next, between the late start and the longer picture book read, I skipped over _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_ entirely. I'll get back to it, though maybe not tomorrow, since I expect to be at the vet, or hopefully coming back from the vet at the usual time. Anyway, I finished my reading for today with the July 11th story, "Good Neighbors," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mrs. Field Mouse went out to go shopping. She warned her babies to stay in the nest, then greeted the donkey and hens on the way. When she got back, the field she'd made her home was all plowed up. The donkey in the next field assured her that her babies were safe: she'd rescued them by letting them climb onto her They were still clinging to her, safe and sound. {Smile}

   I did my walking and arm swinging exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. I didn't have time for more right then. I did my arm resistance and my standing weight training exercises after dinner. I did my head exercises during lulls in the game after my role-playing partner left. I also did a bit more over 20 minutes of salsa than usual after that, though nowhere near 25 minutes, unfortunately. I did the warm set, and the first set of less structured dance, and started the second set, but I wasn't too far into the second set of less structured salsa dancing when I got so dizzy, I simply had to sit down. I took some cany to treat unstable blood sugar, but that take too long to work to more dancing as late as I did it. {Smile}

   I read comics over lunch, and a bit after lunch as well. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I met a fellow and we started talking. We role-played a first meeting and arranged to role-play a date between our characters after my dinner. Then my new RP partner said hi, and we arranged to meet up later in the evening if the date ended early enough. I chatted with Perogies, but we were busy at different times, so we didn't team up. I soloed while we chatted, then broke for me to dash off late to read to Mom. He was ready for bed anyway. {Smile}

   After dinner and my exercises, I went bac into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I tried to find the fellow I'd talked to earlier and couldn't find him. I know I was late, though by less than when I read to Mom; I hope he didn't think I stood him up, but I'm afraid he probably does, unless he forgot or something himself. I arranged to meet up with my new RP partner in a while if he didn't show. He didn't, so we did, and ran a couple of my missions. Then they had to go to bed. I started soloing, and Mysty said hi. We talked a fair while before I asked about getting together. She was open to that, even when I said I'd have to stop early for salsa dancing. She started a task force she'd meant to do alone. I ran it with her, ducking out for my salsa sets and feeding Val, but coming back after each. That worked better than I expected. We got to the last mission, with the big fight at the end. It took two tries, and a little cash gift from me for her to buy some pets, and me using my pets, too... but we actually finished the fight, even though we weren't sure we could. We then talked before I stopped to write this to notes. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 10, 2023

    I worked on the shorter story before lunch, and a bit more after lunch as well. I've done barely half a short scene, but I'm making a bigger change than I expected, and it's becoming a rougher scene emotionally, both to read and to work with. I'm not sure how much is because I'm changing the viewpoint character, and how much is the suggestions the critiquers made... though I think someone there was changing the viewpoint character, as well as introducing a "grumpy old man" dynamic. I like the change in viewpoint and emphasis better than the change in personality. A lot of the changes are because the critiquers never worded it the way I would, if they even interpreted what was happening the same way. I hope it improves the story, but don't worry. I've saved many older versions, so if I have to go back to one of them, that should be easy. {Smile}

   I found some texts around lunch time, including one from our former nurse, promising to call tomorrow, and what turned into a series by our housekeeper, who is continuing to have transportation trouble after all, but hopes to come tomorrow. {Smile}

I had a nice phone call with Auntie Barbara after dinner. It wasn't long; just touching bases. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom, reading to her before that. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Then I read the next few pages of _1950's Fashion in pictures_, sharing both pictures and captions with her. Next, I read "The Nightingale," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_. I showed Mom the illustrations for that story as well as reading it. I finished with the July 10th story, "The Shy Ostrich," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A shy young lady ostrich hid her head in the sand when a rhino with a rough voice proposed marriage to her. With his poor eyesight, it looked like she had no head, so he ran off, saying he couldn't marry someone without a head. {Smile}

   I did my walking and arm resistance exercises after lunch, but it was really too hot for exercise, so I didn't do more right then. I did my arm swinging and my standing weight training exercises after dinner. I did my head and sitting arm exercises after I'd calmed way down in City of Heroes: Homecoming. {Smile}

   I read comics over lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I started with a little paperwork, then tried to talk to Perogies, bowlofdro, and Soothing Darkness. bowlofdro responded first, inviting me to join him and Soothing Darkness in a public base. It turned out to be a nightclub in a spaceship, with a bar and a dance floor. I joined them, and we started to chat, first on the dance floor, then in a set of seats off to one side. Perogies joined us, first looking like a dog, and only making dog noises as roleplay. That was his mood. He changed into a humanoid dog when we moved back to the dance floor. I think he left when we were getting ready for a tour of the ship. I made it to the end of the tour of the ship before going to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner and the exercises that I did then, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found my new roleplaying partner on a team and said hi. Turned out they were getting ready to run a story arc in character. They invited me, even though the gal I used the last two times with this roleplaying partner was too low. I found a gal who wasn't too low and joined them. They started off pretty quickly after that. They must have been waiting for me. It was a very long story arc and took most of the evening. After that, I did some paperwork and soloing. I talked to Kitten a little on the chat server, and Perogies a bit in the game, but we didn't get together. The Mysty said hi, and we accidentally got together for a mission, and a bit more talk before we said goodnight. I made notes and finished writing this up the next morning. {Smile}

Daily Update, July 9, 2023

    Today was Sunday, and I was running late, so I contacted Uber before I was quite ready, and had to dash right out; they were only 2 minutes away! That's the fastest yet, especially at our house. It's normally slow to our house, because we're in a residential area, not a more popular part of town. That's why I figured I'd contact them then finish up. {Smile}

   Because of that, I actually got to church early. I checked with Auntie Barbara before the service and sat with her during it. I had lunch with her too, though she sat down late because she was one of the servers. Then we went to Island Naturals together. They have a nice sale every second Sunday of the month, so we stocked up, though for me that was only a couple of bags of seeds. They were out of bulk dried cranberries again. After that, Auntie Barbara took me home. She had a quick visit with Mom. We sang one song together, Mom was tired, and just wouldn't get into a second. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom. I read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I read more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Next were the first few pages of _1950's Fashion in pictures_. I shared both pictures and captions with her. Then, I read "Rapunzel," from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_, showing Mom the illustrations for that story as well as reading it. I finished with the July 9th story, "The Enchanted Mill," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A water mill in the forest was abandoned, but people loved to picnic there, and kept leaving their trash. Taht is until a sympathetic forest fairy cast a spell that prevented people from coming, so the animals were free to enjoy it by themselves. {Smile}

   I slipped the head exercises in while role-playing. We're always typing, sending then waiting for them to red, type, and send back. One exercise at a time doesn't slow things down much if at all. {Grin}

   After Auntie Barbara left, I finished yesterday's daily update. Then after a break for personal grooming, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Kitten, and we got together. I also started chatting with bowlofdro and Soothing Darkness. They were teaming, along with a third person. Kitten and I joined them. The leader left to get some food as we joined, so out of boredom I phoned in a mission, and got one closer to the group than I expected. I couldn't show them it, not being the leader, so I led the others to it, and we started it. The leader joined us when they got back, and we finished it together. We continued with a mission the leader had, since they were back. Then Soothing darkness left, and we did another mission. Then all three of the others left, and I did some paperwork before reading to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I spotted the person I roleplayed with the other night and said hi. They were busy, so when I mentioned eyeing a pair of high-level task forces, they said to go ahead. So, I did. When they were done, we got together, and ran a couple of missions in-character. Then we settled down for some after-mission talk and quieter time together. That's really a nice RP date, especially for a first date. After we faded to black, Kitten started talking on the chat server. They weren't up to playing, so I shared several videos instead. We'd shared videos earlier, and these were kind-of sort-of vaguely related. {Smile}