Daily Update, April 6, 2026

The night before Monday, I got to bed several minutes before 2 am. that's a good time, but I would like to work it a bit earlier. {Smile}

After breakfast, my substitute relief nurse took me down to Aunty Sally's Luau Hale for my first timer's Line Dancing class, but the building was closed. I remembered that it's Merrie Monarch Week, and that I had a list of locations for the session. I looked it up, and it was at the YBA Hall, near Sangha Hall. My substitute relief nurse took me there and recognized the building before I did. Class was already started, but I soon joined them. It went quite well, I think. {Smile}

Afterwards, we ran several errands my substitute relief nurse needed. One of the last was a stop at the ice cream parlor in Liliu'okalani Gardens. I picked out a calamansi cream popsicle, a liliko'i cream popsicle, and a vanilla cream popsicle. I ate the calamansi cream popsicle on the way home. {Smile}

After we got back home, I got onto my computer. I tried to write my daily update but kept getting drawn into watching videos and reading web comics. I finally gave up and went into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked on my friends who play the game and started talking with Dennis and Seb before I was done. I ended up joining Dennis on a giant monster hunting team that got several monsters in a row before breaking up just when I was going to quit for dinner anyway. I read Forward Day by Day for both Sunday and Monday over dinner, since I realized I'd missed it entirely on Sunday. {Smile}

After dinner I finished writing up Sunday's daily update. It was long enough I had to take breaks, but I tried to keep them short. When I was done, I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked on my friends who play the game, and talked with Dr. Faustus, Seb, and the new gal in both my supergroups. I teamed up with Dr. Faustus and Seb, with me on my higher-level villain supergroup member. Kitten soon joined us. We did several individual missions to unlock contacts. We got one unlocked, and another on the way to being unlocked. Seb left first. then Kitten left when they were too tired. Dr. Faustus left then, too, since it was late. I worked on the in-game auction house, storage, and crafting on two characters, the one I'd been playing, and one with a long-term crafting project. Then I did a bit of hunting on the gal with the long-term crafting project, followed by a little more storage on her. Next, I wrote much of this. I paused a few times, to read a comic, read part of an article, and check out Cross Stitch World. After the last, I made notes in this. I ended my evening with the Lord's Prayer, Saint Francis's Prayer, and the motto of the Daughters of the King. 

Daily Update, April 5, 2026

Happy Easter! If you celebrate it either religiously or secularly, that is. If not, I hope you had a nice day. {Smile}

The night before Sunday, I actually got to bed a little before 1:45. I began to set my alarm clock earlier than 8:30 am but chickened out. I didn't want to make myself sick trying to get up too early. I'm unusually sensitive to that. If I get up an hour earlier all at once, I can give myself two days of jetlag-like symptoms. {smile}

After breakfast, my main nurse took me to church. We arrived just before the offertory, which is just before the part with the Holy Communion itself in it. The service was so far along because they started at 9 am instead of 10 am. They did that because their early service was 6 am for a sunrise service, instead of our usual 8 am. I enjoyed the part of the service I was there for and saved the service sheet to read parts I'd missed, especially the lessons. {Smile}

After the service, we had a large lunch on the lanai. Up walked my cousin Babs, and introduced he hanai granddaughter, and another girl. I'm not sure if the second young woman is another hanai granddaughter, or something else. Anyway, we sat together, and visited, though the second young woman left to sit in the car when the crowd got to be too much for her. None of them like crowds, and it was crowded on the lanai. The one who stayed is very interested in becoming an Episcopalian. I put her in touch with our deacon, since we're between priests. After lunch my main nurse took me home. {Smile}

A couple of hours after we got back from church, my main nurse took me to Laurie's and Lindy's house because Laurie invited me and several others to an Easter Dinner party at 2pm. I took the cake platter we got the day before. I ate so much on top of that large lunch earlier that I had to loosen my abdominal binder, a kind of medical corset I wear. I stayed to the end, then called my main nurse who came and got me, taking me home. We promised I didn't stay long after the rest. I think I stayed just long enough to ease the transition to being alone again. {Smile}

I played Cross Stitch World on the way down to church and back. After church, I got onto my computer. I barely browsed on the internet, instead concentrating on writing up Saturday's daily update. Then I read comics until I got ready for the party. I played Cross Stitch World on the way down to the party and back. After the party, I got onto my computer. I read a few comics and replied to Nox on Discord. Then I broke to clean myself up with the help of my main nurse. I skipped dinner and nighttime snacks because I was too full between the two large meals earlier. {Smile}

After cleaning myself up, I got back to my computer, and straight into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started to check on my friends who play the game but got sidetracked into talking with friends pretty quickly. I said goodnight to Dennis, who was getting ready to leave. I said hi to Ulty and Jenny's player. I chatted a bit with Divi, too. I also talked with Dr. Faustus, Seb, and the newest member of our villain supergroup. The last three and I teamed up, with me on the ranged version of Olga, my lower-level villain supergroup member. We did two of my story arcs that are really meant for heroes, but we put a more selfish spin on our actions. Then Dr. Faustus and Seb left, saying goodnight. I talked with the new gal a fair while before we both left because it was late. Next, I wrote a bit of this, then switched to making notes in this. I took one break for Cross Stitch World, and a short break for short comics. I ended my evening with the Lord's Prayer, Saint Francis's Prayer, and the motto of the Daughters of the King. {Smile}

Daily Update, April 4, 2026

The night before Saturday, I once again got to bed closer to 2:15 am than I'd like. At least I got up around nine as usual. I was a little tired later, or maybe it was hot. I drowsed on the way out, but had less trouble in air conditioning, and as I tried to cool off a bit. {Smile}

I think I might have a urinary tract infection. I've taken some medicine I have on hand, and plan to call the doctor on Monday. {smile}

A while after lunch, my main nurse and I went out. Our first stop was the ice cream parlor in Liliu'okalani Gardens, where I got a chocolate fudge popsicle. I ate it on the way to Prince Kuhio Plaza, where we walked around four large stores and all the aisles between stores. Then we went to Walmart, where I waited in the car while my main nurse picked up a few things. Next, we went on to KTA, a local grocery chain. We picked out a cake platter where it's all cut and laid out in muffin cups, to be easy for a buffet. We thought I could take it to an Easter afternoon dinner I'm invited to by a couple of friends. After that, we went home. Most legs of the trip were a mix of Cross Stitch World and drowsing, except for the leg where I was far too busy eating that popsicle to do either. {SMILE}

Over breakfast, I read Forward Day by Day. After breakfast, I got onto my computer and browsed articles. Then I tightened a scene in my story. Next, I wrote up Friday's daily update. I read comics over lunch. After that, I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked on my friends who play the game and talked with Seb. I also checked the in-game auction house. Then I broke to go out with my main nurse. When I got back, I got back onto computer and into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked on my friends who play the game and talked with Seb some more while checking the in-game auction house. Phonso invited me to a pair of high-level taskforces that ran right up to dinner time. {Smile}

After dinner, I went bac into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked on my friends who play the game, then checked the in-game auction house. Ulty invited me to a friend's-only run of that pair of high-level taskforces. I happily joined, and we ran them. I think we accidentally worked on a badge we all had already. They blamed me for asking for it. I just asked if anyone needed it. I said I had them all already. Anyway, afterwards, the team broke up. I worked on the in-game auction house, storage and crafting until Dr. Faustus said hi. We teamed up with me on Hezabell, my higher-level villain supergroup member. We worked on a few of my Hezabell's contacts, including unlocking one, and finding that I can unlock more in an easier way than I feared. Then we said goodnight, and I worked on the in-game auction house, storage and crafting, Next, I wrote a bit in this, then shifted to making notes in this. I took a break to check and play Cross Stitch world, but not for all that long. I browsed articles and videos before I finished my evening with the Lord's Prayer, Saint Francis's Prayer, and the motto of the Daughters of the King. {Smile}

Daily Update, April 3, 2026

The night before Friday, I got into bed closer to 2:15 than I like. However, I didn't get up until around 10:45 am. Yes, that late, I'd woken up, but was lying in bed, waiting for the alarm when my main nurse checked on me when he could. Fortunately, I'd only missed my alarm, not come down with a migraine, blood sugar trouble, or core temperature trouble, all of which tends to be better treated earlier than later. but I was good. {Smile}

I read Forward Day by Day at breakfast, but only once. Usually I wait, and read it again, to help it sink in. After breakfast, I got onto my computer. I browsed videos, largely writing advice videos, not knowing what I was searching for. Then I tried writing Thursday's daily update but kept getting drawn back to writing advice videos until I realized something that's been bothering me about my story. I wrote it up, and shared where I share my updates. Next, I got Olga, the higher-level, melee-ranged Olga, and dashed to my villain supergroup meeting, arriving just on time. Dr. Faustus and Seb were already there. We started to roleplay. Out leader arrived just after me. The other regular member arrived and apologized for being a bit late. We began working on Olga's story arc we'd worked on last week, doing a longer mission. The new member said hi near the end of the first mission and joined us slightly after we'd begun a second and final mission to my story arc. We restarted so she could do the whole mission with us. This finished the arc. I got one of the two badges you can get from that arc. After that, we got ready to do a mission Dr. Faustus had when Dr. Faustus disconnected. They said on Discord they wouldn't bother to try to come back because it was late. Our leader left too, then our long-time regular member left as well. Then Seb, went to roleplay with a friend. The other new member and I joined them in roleplaying our characters meeting and talking until Seb's friend left. Next, we three talked out-of-character until I left for dinner. {Smile}

During dinner, I read Forward Day by Day again. After dinner, I finished Thursday's daily update and read some web comics before I went back to City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did a little weekend auction house on a few characters. I checked on my friends who play the game and said hi and talked with Seb and Dennis separately. Then I teamed up with Dennis. We did some of his missions. Next, we talked some more before we said goodnight. After that, I said hi to Divi and Ulty. I chatted with Ulty first. Then I chatted with Divi before joining them in an April Fools event league that went for a while, then paused, then did a little more. Next, Divi left, as I did soon after so I could work on the in-game auction house and storage. After that, I hunted on a moderately low-level character, then did a bit more of the in-game auction house and storage. Then I wrote in this and made notes in it, taking a break for a little Cross Stitch World. I ended my evening with the Lord's Prayer, Saint Francis's Prayer, and the motto of the Daughters of the King. {Smile}

Daily Update, April 2, 2026

The night before Thursday, I got to bed several minutes before 2 am. I'm relieved I'm back before 2 am. I do think I feel better rested, even if it's just a few minutes. I can't help hoping to move it further back. before the pandemic, I'd worked back to 8 am, which gave me more of a morning to do stuff in, but my bedtime slipped forward during the pandemic, and I'm having a terrible time getting it to move back again. {smile}

I didn't have video counselling because my counselor was unavailable, so I read Forward Day by Day during breakfast, and got onto my computer after breakfast. I browsed videos into lunch, then began writing up Wednesday's daily update during lunch. I took many to read web comics, running well into the afternoon. When I finished, I cleaned myself up with the help of my main nurse. Next, I went into City of heroes: Homecoming. I checked on my friends who play the game. Then I started talking with Kitten. We got together and did a bit of an April Fool's special event before we joined the late-night short, large-group event and ran it. It started early enough, and went fast enough, it ended just before I was called to dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I read a few comics. Then I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked on my friends who play the game. Next, I said hi to Dr. Faustus and Seb on Discord. I also talked with Kitten in the game. Kitten and I teamed up and did a bit of an April Fool's event. After that we tried to do a story arc, but we had to restart because my difficulty settings were too high. Also, Dennis had said hi, but Kitten got pulled away, so I did the story arc with Dennis. It took long, but we both got a badge, and Dennis got a second badge I'd asked for on his behalf. I worked on the in-game auction house, storage and crafting as well as game money juggling on a few characters. Then I wrote in this. I switched to making notes in this, with breaks for Cross Stitch World, a couple of comics, and a little web browsing. I finished my evening by saying The Lord's Prayer, Saint Francis's Prayer, and the motto of the Daughters of the King. {Smile}

My daily update will be late... Sorry, but...

 {chuckles} My daily update will be late. There is a reason for this... 

I've been watching a lot of writing advice videos recently, and I just realized a problem with the story I've been working on, "Snow in Hawai'i." Whether I read parts of it to folks, or just talk about the story, folks get excited. They talk about loving the relationships in the story and want to see it turned into a picture book for children...

...and that's where I hit a problem. It's not kids who get excited about the story. Kids aren't getting invested in the story. It's grandparents, great-grandparents, and grand- and great-grand- aunts and uncles. That partly shows who I'm around. My creative writing class is strictly for older people. When I enquired before my 55th birthday, they said I had to wait until I was 55 when I registered. The session where I turned 55 a week or two after registration closed, I was too young. I also talk about it at church, where our congregation is largely older. Even there, it's not our "young people under 50" who are getting excited and joining the conversations, let alone our few actual kids. Most of the folks who are getting interested in and even excited about my story are older than me, and I'm 57.

And... I'm concerned. If I really want to make this story appeal to children - and cut it down to a good length for a picture book - I'll have to tighten the focus on the kids, cutting out at least one conversation pretty much entirely, and cutting others drastically back. Which... I'm afraid will lessen the excitement and the investment I see in the folks who currently love the story.

That can't be right, can it? When you find an honest and strong interest in a story, you don't cut that audience off and go court an audience which can't be bothered with it. That... that doesn't scan. It doesn't make sense at all.

Help?

Daily Update, April 1, 2026

I hope you had a good April Fool's Day, and that's no joke. {SMILE}

The night before Wednesday, I got to bed a bit before 2 am. I was hoping for earlier, but I'm happy I was back before two after a few days there. {Smile}

After a slightly early dinner, my main nurse took me down to Holy Cross Church. There, I signed up for Ballroom Dance: Bolero, and Ballroom Dance; Country Two-Step. I met some new folks and reconnected with folks from the last session and other classes. I really enjoyed the night. We learned some simple steps for each of the two dances. Bolero was the same timing as Rhumba last time, but Country Two-step was distinctly different from other dances I've done. My main nurse took me home afterwards. {Smile}

After breakfast. I wrote up my daily update. Then I read comics through lunch and into the afternoon. I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming a bit early. I checked on my friends who play the game. Then I started to collect badges on Aneira, my moderately high-level teen supergroup member. the supergroup's new member said hi while I was doing that. We started to talk. I stopped the badges so we could team up to do a story arc she had. Next, we worked on a badge she needed. When that was winding down, we started roleplaying. That stopped abruptly when I was called to dinner. {Smile}

After class, I read a couple of comics before I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked on my friends who play the game, then got on the higher-level, melee-ranged Olga, who's the lower-level villain supergroup member. I said hi to Dr. Faustus, and we teamed up. We did a story arc that Olga had. Next, we said goodnight. I worked on the in-game auction house and storage on Olga, then Aneira. After that, I wrote a little in this before shifting to making notes in this. I took a few breaks for Cross Stitch World and web browsing, especially videos. I finished my evening with the Lord's Prayer, Saint Francis's Prayer, and the motto of the Daughters of the King. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 31, 2026

The night before Tuesday, I got to bed a few minutes after 2. It's slipping later again, when I do want it earlier. I'll have to focus on changing it more... and try to fight the tendency to feel there's more time. Because that's part of the problem: I keep thinking in terms of the times I'm used to - the new times, ut that lets me miss them. I need newer times: earlier goals. {Smile}

After breakfast, my substitute relief nurse took me down to Kamana Senior Center for my first creative writing class of the new session. We have some new students, and many returning faces, too. I really enjoyed it, though I do need clearer goals for this story, as well as a pipeline with more stories down the line. {Smile}

After class, I met the secretary of the nursing company in the parking lot at Kamana Senior Center. I paid her for the next month. Then my substitute relief nurse ran an errand before we went to the ice cream parlor in Liliu'okalani Gardens. I picked out two popsicles, sweet potato and chocolate fudge. I ate the sweet potato on the way home. I was in a mood for pulpy, and sweet potato satisfies that far better than chocolate does. {Smile}

Over breakfast, I read forward Day by Day. Then, when I got home after my class and everything, I got onto my computer. I browsed articles and videos on the net. Then I dashed into City of Heroes: Homecoming just before the teen supergroup meeting. At the meeting, I started to roleplay with Nyxy's character, who was sleeping on the floor like she often does. Ulty, Jenny's Player, and a couple of others soon arrived. Somewhere in there I checked on my friends who play the game. They decided to roleplay in a base with fancy pools. We roleplayed a little exploring, then a lot of relaxing and talking. Ulty left early. The rest of the group broke up right around my dinner time. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Monday's daily update. Then I read two comics before I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked on my friends who play the game and talked with Seb. Next, I started collecting badges on the character who is reacquiring the title of ninth-best badge collector, talking with Seb another time or two while I did. I stopped when Divi said hi and invited me to a taskforce with an unusual theme: using a power that's usually very poor but has funny effects that make it work better for a short while in honor of April Fool's Day. Dr. Faustus said hi a couple of times while I was in that taskforce, and Seb said goodnight while I was in it. The taskforce finished about the time that Dr. Faustus and I say goodnight these days, so I worked on the in-game auction house, storage and crafting on that character. Then I did one mission on a high-level character in the early endgame before doing the in-game auction house and storage on her. Next, I did a little writing in this, with a break that included Cross Stitch World. After that I made notes in this, with a break to add an earlier alarm. I ended my evening with the Lord's Prayer, Saint Francis's prayer, and the motto of the Daughters of the King. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 30, 2026

The night before Monday, I got to bed just a minute or two after 2 am. So that's barely late again. I got ideas for moving it earlier, too. I treated blood sugar trouble later, but I didn't take a nap. {Smile}

A while after breakfast, my substitute relief nurse took me down to Hilo Daijingu for the first First-Timer's Line Dancing class of the next session of the Elderly Activities division of Hawai'i County. I got there a little early, but I think it started a bit late. Then again, a lot were paying for the next session, including me. I did talk to the teacher's assistant for my Friday Ballroom Dancing class. She's also in Wednesday's Ballroom Dancing, and my Frist Timer's Line Dancing class. She warned me that Friday's class doesn't' start until next week, because Friday is a state holiday. However, Wednesday's class will start this Wednesday, even though it's sponsored by a different group. The class went pretty nicely, I thought. My substitute relief nurse picked me up and took me home afterwards. I checked things on my phone on the way down and played Cross Stitch World on the way back. {Smile}

When I got back from church, I got onto my computer. I browsed articles and videos and read comics on the web. Then I wrote up my daily update more slowly than I hoped to. I got into City of Heroes: Homecoming after I was done with the update. I checked on my friends who play the game and said hi to Seb and Ulty. After talking a bit, I spotted late-night short, large-group event, and joined it on a high-level character. When it was full, we ran it. Then I got a snack. I tried a regular mission, but it was hard. I paused to check on my friends who play the game again and found Dennis this time. We teamed up, and I helped him with a couple of badges, including running a mission to finish getting the second. Next, he went to bed, {Smile}

I fixed a bun and a frittata because dinner was late. I collected some badges while eating, including the rest of dinner when it was finally ready. Dr. Faustus said hi, and we chatted while I finished dinner. I spotted a chance to get a badge my second-best badge collector needed. I got it and updated her record. Then Dr. Faustus and I got together on mid-level characters. We did all of one contact I had. Next, we said goodnight. I worked on the in-game auction house and storage on both characters I'd played that day. After that, I wrote a little of this. Then I read a webcomic. Next, I checked badges on City of Heroes: Homecoming and worked on one on my second-best badge collector. After that, I made notes in this. I ended my evening with reading Forward Day by Day, since I hadn't earlier. I also said the Lord's Prayer, Saint Francis's Prayer, and the motto of the Daughters of the King. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 29, 2026

The night before Sunday, I managed to get into bed so close to 2 am, I don't know which side it is. I think at 2 am is most accurate. Despite this, I had relatively little trouble with tiredness, though I did treat blood sugar trouble a few times, especially in the late afternoon and early evening. {Smile}

After breakfast, my main nurse took me down to church. We got in and seated in time to be called back out for the blessing of the palms, followed by the procession of the palms where we took our seats again. It was a nice service. I particularly liked the dramatic gospel reading. We read the story from Palm Sunday through all preparations for Easter day, with different people reading different parts. There were even a couple of lines for the crowd, read by the whole congregation. {Smile}

After the service, we had lunch on the lanai. Or rather, we had potato salad, nuts, and several desserts on the lanai, with the vegetables and most of the protein having to wait until later. I did catch the gal who promised to look over my Hawaiian. I showed her the out-takes, and she started to tell me what I needed, but I had trouble writing it down, so she gave me her email address so I could email it to her later. Also, Laurie invited me to Easter dinner with her and her husband. Afterwards, my main nurse took me home. {Smile}

Back home, I got onto my computer. I browsed the web, looking at a few articles, but mostly reading comics over the rest of lunch. Then I wrote up Saturday's daily update. Next, I cleaned myself up with the help of my main nurse. After that, I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I checked the in-game auction house on a few characters. Then I checked on my friends who play the game. I talked with Kitten and was starting to pick a mission when Kitten suggested we join the late-night short, large-group event. We joined and waited for it to begin. It went nicely, though I was a bit late for dinner. Over dinner, I read Forward Day by Day. {Smile}

After dinner, I returned to my computer. I read a few short comics. I also talked with Kitten on Discord, the chat server. Then I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I worked on the in-game auction house and storage on the character who'd done the late-night short, large-group event. then I collected some badges on the gal who seems to be the head of the pack, hoping to get her closer to being clearly the 9th best badge collector again. After a while, Dr. Faustus said hi. I got Olga, and we teamed up. We did some of her missions, working on a contact we'd started. We also did some light roleplaying and talked out-of-character about a problem I was having with her character. We discussed this both in the game and on Discord. Seb, the group leader, and Dr. Faustus chimed in over the course of the day, but the discussion really got going in the evening. They helped me find how to make her a kind of evil suitable to our villain supergroup when she's started to develop empathy on her own. Dr. Faustus and I finished the contact, and I got but didn't start another contact. Then Doc left. I checked some comics, and worked on the in-game auction house, storage and crafting. Next, I collected some more badges on the head of the pack, who is getting pretty close to 9th best badge collector again, but I'll feel a little better calling that when she gets a little better lead on the next in line. After that I wrote in this, then made notes in this. I ended my evening with the Lord's Prayer, Saint Francis's Prayer, and the motto of the Daughters of the King. {Smile}