Daily Update, September 1, 2023

    Today, I got a call from the secretary of the nursing company before breakfast. We had a nice chat early in my day, though later in hers. I do tend to sleep late. {Smile}

   I also got a phone call from our former nurse at lunchtime. It was nice chatting with him. {Smile}

   I finally got a text from our housekeeper, who's been on Maui supporting family, friends, and the Hawaiian community in Lahaina, which was hit so hard by the wildfires. Turns out I hadn't heard from her because cell reception there isn't good, but she's returning to the Big Island of Hawai'i. It will be good to have her back. {Smile}

   When I got back from dinner, the internet was out. I was worried some part of my system was going out, but the nurse said the TV was out too. It's a cable modem... the cable must have gone out while I was carrying stuff back to the computer room, because it was working when I left. When the TV came back on, my computer still couldn't find the internet... until I turned it off and back on. Then it found everything just fine. The wonders of technology. {wink, rueful smile}

   I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with Christmas cards from her nephew and niece, and a card from her cousin, too. Next, I showed her the last many pages of Memories Space Race, which was all about the Apollo space program where the USA sent astronauts to the moon. Leading up didn't take much time, it didn't seem right to stop in the middle of Apollo 11, the first moon landing, and afrterwards was just a couple of pages.  Then I held up the next book, a picture on Hawai'i that I just got for her. Then I read two short stories from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with _The Garden Fairy and the Mist Fairy_, the September 1 story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_.  Amalinda was a pink garden fairy. One day, she discovered a village was shrouded in mist, its buds unable to bloom because the mist was too cold. She found out from the birds that the fairy of the autumn mists had been woken early by a cold wind and was now making the village cold. Amalinda sent a warm breeze to gently blow the mist fairy ack to the mountains until autumn truly arrived. {Smile}

   I started my exercises much earlier today, doing my head exercises a while after lunch. Then I did my walking exercises after dinner, while the internet was out and coming back. I did my arm resistance exercises, my arm swinging exercises, and my leg exercises mixed with the paperwork and soloing between playing with Ulty and starting my salsa dancing. Yes, I did my salsa dancing too, starting with my usual warmup set, then doing a less structured set after a rest. Then I did my arm weight training exercises, first the sitting ones, then the standing ones. {Smile}

   I read a few articles, but mostly comics and about comics this morning. I was looking into Elfquest, a comic I adored when I was in high school. Then after lunch I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Kitten and Perogies were both joining the early long, large group event as it was starting up. I was a bit late, but I caught most of it, including all the most rewarding parts of it. Afterwards, Perogies, Kitten and I joined together, and continued the story arc we were working on yesterday. I did suggest that it's long enough, we might want to make it a little easier. We did and did all but one mission. Then the later long, large group event was starting up, and Perogies wanted to join it, so we did. Kitten admitted afterwards that they had trouble staying awake during it, the play is so repetitive. I admitted I was having the same problem I'd either find myself half waking up or catch myself zoning out after a while of clicking the same virtual buttons again and again. It's a pretty rewarding event, though, or can be. {Smile}

   After dinner, I discovered the internet outage. After the outage, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Ulty. We chatted, and decided to team up, doing a bit more roleplaying during our missions. We finished one mini-story-arc that got us each a couple of badges. Ulty thought that was a good point to go to bed, so we said goodnight, and I worked on the paperwork that had produced. Then I began working on my exercises, and on writing this up, too. Then I started on my salsa dancing and worked on soloing on my fourth best badge collector, getting a bunch of easy badges. Kitten came on and said high, but right when I needed to concentrate on my arm weight training exercises and writing this up. So, they joined another group instead. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 31, 2023

    Thursday started with a phone call from a doctor. I found a message that talked about an appointment Tuesday, and a move to a new location. I didn't know anything about either, so I called to ask. After a bit of confusion on both sides, it turned out it was for Mom. They tried to tell me what I should tell our main nurse. I asked if they had his number. They did, so I suggested that they call him and tell him themselves. I checked with him later, and yes, they had done so. {smile}

   After breakfast was my online counselling appointment. I think it went well. A lot has happened to catch her up on, especially with Val's monitor, then Val getting sick and all. {Smile}

   I called the vet before lunch, and again after lunch when they hadn't gotten back to me. I told her that the blood sugar monitor was coming off of the sticky pad that attaches it to the skin, and that instead of giving a reading, it tells me to replace the monitor. She gave me directions to use a kind of oil to help remove it. She also said that between not having a working monitor at the moment, and him being sick, just give him his starting done of insulin again, so I did that at lunch and late at night. Since talking to her, I've noticed that Val's sick incidents do see to be both less frequent and less numerous, but he's not quite done with being sick yet. {smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it, first August 30th, then August 31st, so I caught up after skipping yesterday. Next, I continued with the last part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Then I showed her the next few pages of Memories Space Race, which was all about the Gemini space program that helped the USA both catch up with the USSR and prepare for a program that would take tthem to the moon. It also looked at some of the leaders of the ground support during that time. Next, I read several short poems and one short story _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with two stories from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. The first was the August 30th story, _Magic Butterfly_. Sylvia was watching a butterfly in the garden who came to her in between going to one or another flower. She walked over and scooped it up in her hands. Suddenly she felt herself shrinking until she was the same size as the butterfly. She hopped on its back, and they flew off to magic land where everything was more sizes, with big things being smaller, and small things bigger. Then she woke int eh garden to find the butterfly had gone. Then I finished with the August 31st story, _Percy in America_. Penguins used to be all white. Then Percy, a young penguin, snuck up on a sealion who flicked Percy into the sea with his strong tail. Percy landed on a dolphin who took off, going all the way to Florida, where everyone was suntanned and dark from the strong sun. Percy's back turned black, though his front stayed white, and that is how penguins look to this day. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises before my first salsa set. Yes, I did both a warmup salsa set, and a less structured salsa set for over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. I did my arm resistance exercises, my leg exercises, my arm swinging exercises, head exercises, standing arm weight training exercises, and sitting arm weight training exercises, so I did all my exercises today. {Smile}

   I read comics and articles in the morning, in what little time wasn't taken up with counselling and phone calls. Add in more phone calls, the visit from the secretary at helping hands, and cleaning myself up, and I didn't hop into City of Heroes: Homecoming until midafternoon. I started with paperwork and soloing. Soon I chatted with Perogies, but he wasn't feeling up to getting together with me that afternoon. So, I joined the later short, large group event, followed by the later long, large group event. Smile}

   I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after dinner and some article reading. I chatted with Ulty, but she was leaving, so we didn't get together. Instead, I did some paperwork, and started chatting with Meroa on the chat server. We got together for a couple of missions. After that I did some more paperwork. Then Perogies came in feeling much better. We chatted only a little before doing 2 or 3 missions together at pretty high difficulty. We did manage, mostly, but it was more of a challenge than we're used to. When he left, I started my exercises. I also read articles and comics around the exercises and writing this, with notes to write up the next day when I didn't have time to properly write everything. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 30, 2023

    Wednesday, I got a call from Alan. He asked when he should pick me up. We decided on 3:30 pm. Good thing he called. He was thinking 4:15, but that's when the actual appointment was. We needed him to pick us up earlier, so he'd have time to get down there. We chose that early to allow for school traffic. then he avoided most of the schools and all the bad ones at that time of day, so we got there early.

   While we were waiting, Val's blood sugar tested low. I alerted the desk, but it was still a wait to go in. then they started to treat him, and we couldn't get it to stay up. Yet he was acting... well, quite mad, which is normal enough these days at the veterinarian. Eventually they tested more directly, and it was almost 20 points higher than the monitor said. {small smile}

   In any case, I called Alan, and he took us home. {smile}

   I've kept testing it since, and either Val's blood sugar has improved dramatically, or that monitor is unreliable. I'm afraid I suspect the latter. In any case, I'm to skip the insulin tonight, and call in the morning. She was suggesting less again... but I think this needs to be done with a more reliable testing method. {small smile}

   He also has a twice daily antibiotic, and a once daily dewormer. {smile}

   I didn't read to Mom today. We got home around six - usually well into my reading time - so by the time I settled in, it was time to eat, never mind read. I'll just have to catch up tomorrow. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises, arm resistance exercises, and arm swinging exercises between Phonso's trial and my salsa dancing. I did the warmup set with no real trouble, but I stumbled when I was just getting started, and had to grab furniture to steady myself, so I stopped. I'm taking a candy now for hypoglycemia, but I skipped my second set tonight. Though the candy worked well enough, I did my head exercises later. The head exercises shouldn't be done if my balance is too uncertain. I also did my arm exercises, both the standing exercises and two of the sitting exercises before it got too late.  {Smile}

   I tried to take things easy in the morning, reading articles and comics. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork. By the time I checked the time, it was late for the early short, large-group event, so I went straight to the early long, large-group event. Perogies was in it too. We got together afterwards and ran a mission to test a character he'd worked on. Taht went pretty well. Then he decided - probably correctly - that it was a little late for another mission before Alan came, so we split up. I worked on paperwork and got ready. {Smile}

   I didn't get back into the game until after dinner. Then I found Ulty, and she invited me to join her and some friends for some missions with light roleplaying. We played a couple of missions before Ulty had to leave because she got tired. Somewhere early in it, Perogies came on and said hi, and I encouraged them to join. They're okay with light roleplaying, though they don't really do much of the deeper stuff. I thought they fit in fine, if quietly, and no one objected. They left after a while. Then Phonso came on and invited me and the group I was with to a trial. I checked with the group. None of them wanted to do a trial that late, but they gave me their blessings to go join it, so I did. I ran the trial, which was actually chattier than the roleplaying group. Go figure. Then I did some soloing around the salsa dancing and other exercises, and wrote most of this up, leaving only a few notes to finish the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 29, 2023

    I called the vet and left a message about Val being sick. I thought he'd had only one more incident. The vet called back not really aware Val was sick. She wanted me to double his insulin because his numbers have been so high so much. I promised to monitor Val's illness, well, I found more incidents, and he's had more since, too, so I called the vet's office. When they learned the diarrhea and vomiting was continuing, they suggested bringing him in late tomorrow afternoon. {small smile}

   I got a call from our former nurse just after that, and we had a nice chat. The chat was wide-ranging, but I did mention Val's appointment, and he said tomorrow he was busy. I already know Melanie is busy on Wednesdays, so I called Alan, the Lyft and Uber driver I have an arrangement with. He will be available at that time. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued with the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Then I showed her the net few pages of Memories Space Race, followed by the first few pages, which were about the early manned space programs of the USA and the USSR, including the USA's launch of the first chimp in space, the USSR's launches of the first man in space and the first woman in space, and the USA's launches of the first American in space, and the first American to orbit the earth. Next, I read a long poem and a story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the August 29th story, "Poor Mrs. Mouse," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Poor Mrs. Mouse had a lot of babies, and they'd all stayed out in the sun playing too long and gotten headaches. Now they were all in bed with headaches. Mrs. Mouse was out of food but couldn't go out shopping to get more when her babies were sick. A little bird heard her crying and flew off to tell her friends. Mrs. Bee brought her a honeycomb, Mrs. Butterfly brought her some butter, and Mrs. Dragonfly brought her bread and cakes. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises, two of my sitting arm weight training exercises, and my head exercises before and after Phonso's task force. Then I did the salsa dancing, for the warmup set, then the less structured set, for a total of over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. I did my other two sitting arm weight training exercises, my standing arm weight training exercises, my arm resistance exercises, my leg exercises - yes, for the first time since Val scratched me - and my arm swinging exercises, too. So, I did all my exercises for today for the first time since Val scratched me, too. {Smile}

   I read articles in the morning around some of the phone calls and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I saw Kitten on, but they barely responded, and seemed busy. So, I joined the short, large-group event, and then the long large-group event. During the latter, Kitten finally responded and joined us. At the end, Kitten finally got a target after the main event that she's been wanting but had never gotten. I did a little paperwork, then got back to Kitten. Perogies came in, and I told him about Kitten's accomplishment. He wanted to celebrate, but suddenly got tired, and had to bow out. Rather than try to celebrate without Perogies, Kitten and I did some missions for first one of my characters than another of my characters around more phone calls. The missions continued until a they went quiet about when I was ready for one more before reading to Mom. So, I did paperwork until it was time to read to Mom instead. {Smile}

   After supper, I got back late, and found Ulty had left, though we'd said hi earlier. I started on paperwork and said hi to Kitten on the chat server. After a while, Kitten said hi. We got together and ran a few missions for yet another of my characters. Then Phonso came on and invited us to a trial. We joined him, and we ran it with the group he recruited. I said goodnight to Nox, having missed our chance to talk again. I hoped to squeeze in one more mission after the trial, but kitten went quiet. They had had a long day. Around my salsa dancing sets I mostly caught up on reading comics. I soloed the mission I wanted to do with Kitten, and another mission, too, after my salsa dancing and other exercises. Then I did some paperwork and wrote some of this, making notes for the last couple of paragraphs to write from tomorrow because of time constraints. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 28, 2023

    It looks like Val is sick. Of course, this developed too late to call the vet about it before the next day. (So far I've left a message on their answering machine and failed to get a human to talk to.) {small smile}

   Before that, I was busy. During breakfast, I called the Fire Ant Guy, and apologized for not calling him before our tentative appointment and explained that the ants have come back. He said he planned to come into town Tuesday or Wednesday - he lives and is based in the Puna district, south of Hilo, the town where I live. He promised to call before coming over, but someone will be home, because the nurse never leaves the property while Mom is here, and she almost never leaves the house.  {Smile}

   Then I typed up the reading I got from Val's monitor over the weekend. I sent it to the email address I had for the vet's receptionist, then called. I actually got them, and they confirmed it had arrived, and said they'd send it to the vet immediately. I so hope they can adjust his insulin to bring his blood sugar down, since it was high all but one time, and often over 100 points high, at which point it says HI, rather than giving the numbers, so I can't guess how much over then. It would be nice to get it down where the vet would be happy with it, but it's not there yet. {resigned smile}

   Then i wrote up yesterday's daily update and shared it, which made it one of my busier mornings. {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 the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. After that, I showed her the covers and read the blurb of Memories Space Race, followed by the first few pages, which were about eh probes both the USA and the USSR sent into space int eh late 1950's and 1960, including the Soviet ones that carried dogs. Next, I read a few short poems, followed by story, then more short poems, all from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the August 28th story, "Dimple's Boast," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Dimple was a fine, strong young donkey, but a boastful one. When he boasted he was as strong as an elephant, his uncle said elephants carry people on their heads, and put a big basket of fruit on Dimple's head. Hi head soon dropped, and the fruit spilled. Dimple never boasted again. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises - all of them by accident, though I meant to give my hand another day off with the railing. It's the hand's first day without a bandage on the finger - and my arm resistance exercises before Phonso's first taskforce. I did my arm swinging exercises after Phonso's first taskforce. I did my head exercises during and after Phonso's second taskforce. I meant to get to the arm weight training and leg exercises, but it got too late. {smile}

   I read comics and articles after I was done with phoning, copying, and writing int he morning, and read them right through lunch. Then I cleaned myself up before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I realized I'd missed both the early large-group events, both short and long. So, I began to set up a character to support related toons - in this case, two colleagues of hers. I have four toons who have been set up that way a long time, but not all my characters are in those families anymore. Time to expand the toons who can support others. I also looked over my list of friends, and spotted Perogies on. I said hi, and we chatted and teamed up. I realized he was on a character the perfect level to get a story arc one of mine had missed and could get the credit she needed from it tagging along with someone else. So, I switched to the character who needed it, and we did the first mission from that contact. While in it, Perogies noticed some pointers he could give to help me play my character better. so he gave the tips, and I practiced what he said. That took us close enough to time to read to Mom, we said goodbye, and I left to read. {Smile}

   After dinner, hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I said hi to Ulty, and we had a short roleplaying session with the characters we particularly like together. That went until she got tired, and remembered she has an early morning the next day. We said goodbye, and I started to work on the toon I'm setting up to support her colleagues. Then Freaky said hi and invited me to a task force. I switched to the character who needed it, and Phonso recruited the rest of the team, and we ran the task force. I also chatted with Nox on the chat sever. After the first TF, Phonso recruited another TF, which I also ran with him. As I was getting ready to start my salsa dancing, ThornRune said hi. We started chatting, with breaks for my salsa dancing and other exercises. After the dancing, he showed me his character, and I showed him the character I was on, who is the one I'm setting up to support her colleagues. Then I showed him another toon, and we chatted with light RP until he left for the day, and I went to write some of this, and make notes for what I didn't finish. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 27, 2023

    Today was Sunday, so I called Uber, and a fellow came and took me to church. i got lucky; he was pretty close, and I go there shortly before the service started, even though I got started later than I'd like. Though that's mainly because I'm often less lucky about them being close. {Smile}

   I sat with Auntie Barbara, and we enjoyed morning prayer. That's a traditional service int he Episcopal church, which ours is, but these days we rarely use it unless we don't have a priest. Since ours is still on maternity leave, that happened. WE expect a supply priest again next week. {Smile}

   After the service, I sat with Auntie Barbara and some others for lunch. Then Auntie Barbara took me home, and came in to visit with Mom, and with me, too. {Smile}

   I did try to call Aunt Valerie three times after Auntie Barbara left, but she must have been busy. She was not answering her phone. I did leave a message the first time, and after the third call, I called our former nurse. We had a nice long chat, which was great. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. I read the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021 after that. Next, I showed her the last few pages in _A Picture Book of Cute Kittens vol. 1_, saying a bit about each kitty or group of kitties. Then I read a story, a few fairly short poems, and a longer poem from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the August 27th story, "Rudy is Lost," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Rudy, a very young Kangaroo got out of his mother's pouch for the very first time and went exploring. He found a koala bear who asked if his mother knew he was alone. Rudy lied, saying he did this often. Then a parrot warned about a sandstorm, but Rudy got lost in it... until his mother found him and put him back to bed in her pouch. {Smile}

   I did the three walking exercises that don't use the railing after the evening taskforce. I slipped my arm resistance exercises in between the two sets of salsa dancing. Yes, I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing, starting with the warmup set, then doing the lass structured set later, as is my habit. I did my arm swinging exercises, head exercises, and two of the 6 arm weight training exercises, both sitting, before it got too late after the salsa dancing. {Smile}

   After the phone calls, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did a little bit of paperwork, then joined the early long, large-group event not long after it started on a character which I hope will become a ranked badge collector but isn't yet. I did the paperwork that produced, too, then joined Perogies. We chatted and ran some missions until they got tired and left. Then it was more paperwork until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I came back on after dinner to news that Ulty had another early night. I hopped into City of Heroes, and said hi to Mysty, but she was just leaving. So did some badge hunting on my third-best badge collector until I was truly tired of it. At that point, I noticed a task force advertising, so I joined it on the hopefully soon to be ranked badge collector. That went pretty well. I did some paperwork and exercise after that. Then Perogies came on and said hi. We started chatting and teamed up for a couple of missions. Then I did my salsa dancing and what other exercise I got done. After the salsa dancing, along with the other exercise, I did paperwork, joined a group that was taking down a giant monster, and wrote most of this up, leaving only a little for the next morning. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 26, 2023

    Today, I spent a quiet day at home. The most exciting thing that happened was talking to Perogies, my City of Heroes: Homecoming and video watching friend about reading a story I wrote to his grandkids. The kids like it, and he thought the sadness was just about right for sharing with them. They only read the first part today, but he left the story so they can finish it later. I am so excited because I really wrote this for different generations to share with each other. I'm finally reaching the audience I was aiming for. {SMILE}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. After that, I read the next several pages in _A Picture Book of Cute Kittens vol. 1_. After that, I read a story called "The Party Zoo," then a couple of repetitive poems, then a four-page version of "Puss in Boots," all from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Next, I finished with the August 26th story, "The Hunting Trip," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. An Indian boy set off in his canoe, hunting, promising his mother he'd bring stuff back. He found an otter who gave him a fish, and some beavers who he helped build their dam, who gave him berries, and a raccoon who gave him some eggs. When he gave them all to his mother, she praised him as a good hunter. {Smile}

   I did the three walking exercises that don't use the railing, the arm resistance exercises and the arm swinging exercises before my salsa dancing. Yes, I did my salsa dancing, over 20 minutes of it, including a warmup set and a less structured set. After my salsa dancing, I did my head exercises, then my weight training exercises first the two standing ones, then all four sitting ones. Yes, I'm finally comfortable doing my weight training exercises. My palm is healed enough, it's not disturbed by holding it, and it turns out I can hold it with my ring finger slightly away. Even better, it's neither far enough out nor the right finger for me to give anyone the finger that way. {Grin}

   I read comics and articles in the morning and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming before lunch to do some paperwork. I left for lunch with Mom, then hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I tried to join a taskforce, but they'd started when I got there. However, I then realized I was there in time to join the early long, large-group event a bit late, but not badly so. So, I did that. Then I did a bit of solo badge hunting until Perogies popped in and said hi. We got together to run a mission for a badge we both needed, though we had to restart because it didn't quite work the first time. He first told me about the grandkids' reaction to the story, and his own feelings about it. I'm so excited because this is the audience that I didn't quite realize I was trying to reach. The same one Vi Thompson, my first out-of-family writing mentor, wrote for: grandparents and parents reading to their grandchildren and children. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I had a lovely chat with Ulty, but she was winding down from a roleplaying wedding she'd been to, and needed to go, so we couldn't get together for roleplaying, missions, or a combination. I did some paperwork and solo badge hunting until Perogies came in and said hi. We got together, and got a couple more badges we needed, as well as some along the way that were easy, or useful later. We also talked more about my story... that's when I found out more about how reading it to the grandkids went. I'm really excited about that. After the badges, I switched characters to one who had some missions I particularly wanted to do. We did a few until he was ready to leave. Then I worked on exercises and paperwork. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 25, 2023

    The bandages on my cat scratches on my right hand haven't been sticking too well, especially the one on my palm. Some waterproof bandages I put on before breakfast did better, but even then, the one I put on my palm came back off after dinner. Fortunately, it finally looks like I might not need a bandage on that one, at least outside of bed. The finger was deeper, though, so I'm not going to even try to take it off again just yet. {Smile}

   My computer is continuing to have connection problems that are fixed by turning it off and back on. I'm wondering if a new modem would fix it, simply because it's older than the computer, and router is newer yet. {small smile}

   I had a wonderfully long talk with our former nurse in the evening. It was great to get to talk with him again. {Smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued with the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. After that, I read the last few pages of _1950s Memory Lane_, reading a section, then showing her the pictures and reading any captions, followed by the blurb on the back of that book. She responded to this book, where she hadn't much to anything earlier, so, emboldened, I showed her the first few pages in _A Picture Book of Cute Kittens vol. 1_. After that, I read a long story popem and six short poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Next, I finished with the August 25th story, "Pumpkin Soup," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A pumpkin was jostling around in the back of the farmer's cart. It thought if it jostled a bit more, it could escape, and go back to its comfy bed. It jostles its way out fo the cart, but rolled right down the hill past its bed, landing in a puddle. It frightened a donkey, who said the farmer's wife should make soup out of the pumpkin, and she did.  {Smile}

   I did the three walking exercises that don't need a railing, plus my head exercises, arm resistance exercises, and arm swinging exercises after the evening task force. Then I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing, including both warmup and less structured dancing. {Smile}

   I read comics and articles and did some research in the morning. I also confirmed that the monitor works fine as long as it's facing pretty much out and not leaning into the floor. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and caught the early short, large-group event when it was less than halfway through. Then I went to the early long large-group event and found Perogies already there. We chatted and ran it with the group. Afterwards, we got together and ran a task force hoping it would give us the critters we wanted the most from it. I got Ulty to join us, too. We took a lot longer than I expected, and Perogies left after a while. Ulty and I finished just about when I like to break to read to Mom anyway. I didn't quite everything, but I got close. I got to chat with Ulty, too. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I looked around but didn't spot anyone I like to hang out with. Ulty had said they'd probably leave before I got back, and no one else was on, so I looked around, and spotted a team that was doing something that would help the character I'd gotten so much done on earlier. It filled, but I got on a similar team, and she got all she needed in the second mission. Then I switched to a higher-level character, and played on the same team until it broke up. After that, I spotted a taskforce that my fourth best badge collector could use in pursuing a badge, so I joined it. I also chatted on and off with Nox on the chat server... with a long enough pause in the middle, neither of us were quite sure if we'd talked already when we started up again. We only knew for certain because Nox checked. After the task force, Perogies came back on. I joined him in a farm as we chatted about stuff, which was great. He left about the time I was ready to do my salsa dancing. Through the evening, I wrote this up. Around and after the salsa dancing, I worked on the paperwork, since there is more than usual at the beginning of this weekend. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 24, 2023

    Val's blood sugar numbers are high enough, I called the vet in concern, leaving a message when I got their answering machine. They eventually called me back and gave me an email address where I could send the list I have so far, so I did so. I hope they get back to me soon and start raising his insulin. I would like to get this under better control. {Smile}

   And the monitor seemed to have quit working as of 11 pm tonight. I've tried dozens of times, and each time, it says to try again later. I finally fed him anyway. It finally worked at 12:10 am, but just 20 minutes after eating, of course it was high. At least it hasn't died fully after all. {small smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. After yesterday, I was happy to start pretty much on time. I started by reading scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued by reading the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Next, I read the next few pages of _1950s Memory Lane_, reading a section, then showing her the pictures and reading any captions. After that, I read three short stories and four even shorter poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Next, I finished with the August 24th story, "Kind Ophelia," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Ophelia was a pretty girl who spent much time at the beach, collecting shells, paddling in shallow water and walking along the shore. She rescued small animals which other children caught by throwing them back into the sea. One day, she found a baby dolphin who'd been stranded on the beach at high tide, and managed to get it back into the sea, saving its life. The fairy of the sea was so grateful, she turned Ophelia into a mermaid for an hour as reward. {Smile}

   My hand officially doesn't like the railings I use with my walking exercises, so I still only did the three walking exercises that don't need it while waiting for Phonso's task force in the evening. I did my arm swinging exercises as Perogies and I were getting together a little later. Then I did my salsa dancing, both a warmup set and a less structured set for over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. I did my head exercises later. I considered doing others, but it was getting late, and I didn't feel confident that I wouldn't damage the wounds further if I tried more, so I stopped there. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. There, I did some paperwork and solo badge hunting on my third-best badge collector until I spotted a taskforce which I'd recently learned a particular character needed. So, I joined it, and we ran it. I noticed the character wasn't prepared for a reward that I like them to be by her level, so I got her ready for it. Then I checked the others at her level, and discovered none of them were ready either, so I got them ready, one after another. Well, as ready as they can be right now. That took me up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I noticed someone on who I hadn't seen in over a year. We chatted, but they didn't seem interested in getting together. Then Phonso came on and invited me to a task force before I'd figured out how to ask directly about getting together. I did a little exercise and more visiting before the task force, then ran it with Phonso and the group he'd collected. I did a little more badge hunting on my third-best badge collector after Phonso left. I also chatted with Nox on the chat server. Then Perogies came on, and we started chatting. We ran a story arc together, then he left to return to bed, and I started my salsa dancing. I did a mix of writing this, a little research into publishing, and some solo play. I really should have let the solo play for the next day, and maybe the research, too, because they pushed the whole night too late, even though I left finishing this to the next day. {smile}

Daily Update, August 23, 2023

    Today, I got a call from Alan at 1:15 He was coming even earlier than 1:30 because he was concerned about Wednesday school traffic. I got Val into his container, and Alan took us down to the Vet. Val did object, but not continuously. He clearly didn't want to go to the vet. {small smile}

   I waited a fair while before I saw the vet. They got the replacement monitor well stuck to Val, after shaving the area. I'm afraid Val scratched me at one point. the vet's assistant was trying to pick him up to put him back in the carrier, and Val was having none of it. I tried to pet him to calm him, when he got a scratch on my hand, and a deeper scratch on the pad of my ring finger. They gave me a band aid for each. When I asked for a replacement for the finger because I was afraid it would get messy on the way home, they gave me a spare. {smile}

   The good news is that scanning the thing is pretty easy to do. I think I've gotten the hang of it already. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I got started late because a mission ran long... even though I ended up leaving before it was quite done. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. I read the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021 next. Then I read the next few pages of _1950s Memory Lane_, reading a section, then showing her the pictures, reading any captions. After that, I skipped _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_ because of the late start. Instead, I just finished with the August 23rd story, "The Space Fairy," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about the Space Fairy, who dances on a moonbeam strung between stars, distributes the colors of different seasons to Earth, and watches over the baby space fairy asleep in a crescent moon cradle. {Smile}

   Because of the scratches, I didn't try anything where I have either hold something in my hand or hold onto something with my hand. That meant I did the three walking exercises that don't use the railing before and after my salsa dancing. Yes, I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing, including warmup and less structured dancing. I did my arm swinging and head exercises after the salsa dancing, too. The other waking exercises and all the leg exercises have me hold onto the railing, and the arm resistance and arm weight training have me holding things in my hands. So, I'll wait until my right hand is more recovered. {smile}

   I read comics and did paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming in the morning and over lunch, knowing I'd have the trip to the vet in the afternoon. After the vet, I got back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and perogies eager to chat, but not that interested in teaming. Then Ulty said hi and invited me to team with her and a friend. They did one mission at very high settings for only three. I didn't manage to finish; that's the one that made me late to reading to Mom. {smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and ended up soloing a bit. I chatted with Azurette and joined her in a tour of her base that she was giving a new acquaintance. Then Phonso invited me to a strike force. The others were more interested in continuing the base tour, but I did join Phonso. We ran the task force together once he got a full team. Then he wanted to do a task force. I was the only one to stay, but he got another team together... and Azurette joined us this time. It was neat teaming with both of them. It was also fun catting with Nox on the chat server. As the task force was finishing, Kitten came in, afraid they were too late to team with me before their weekend away, but I squeezed in one mission with the three of us before leaving. Kitten and I both enjoy playing together so much! {SMILE}