Daily Update, July 30, 2023

   Today was Sunday, so I Contacted Uber while i was getting ready. They got here just about the time I got out. I was sure I'd be faster, unless they made up time. {Smile}

   Church went well. I got there in the middle of the announcements. Our deacon greeted me. We had Morning Prayer instead of communion, because you don't need a priest for Morning Prayer. Our deacon did just fine, and if our deacon is unavailable or we're between deacons, even layreaders can lead it. The deacon and I arranged for her to come visit Mom in a couple of days. {Smile}

    Auntie Barbara and I ate lunch together on the church lanai, like most of the congregation. We sat with someone Auntie Barbara particularly likes talking with, the mother of a long-time member. who I think joined much more recently. I'm still getting to know her, myself. {Smile}

   Our next stop was Safeway. Auntie Barbara needed to shop somewhere, and I had a prescription to pick up there. Auntie Barbara encouraged me to get a treat for Mom. I finally thought of pudding, which I figured would please the nurses and Mom, both. Turns out she's not on a restricted diet; I just checked with our nurse about that. Still pudding seems like a good choice. {Smile}

   Then we went home, and Auntie Barbara visited with Mom. I was there too, and we sang several songs together. As she usually does, Auntie Barbara encouraged me to call Mom's sister Valerie. This time, I actually did. Aunt Valerie and I had a nice talk, and Aunt Valerie talked to Mom, too. Mom even answered at first, but fell silent after a while, which Aunt Valerie always has trouble with.

   As I was getting into City of Heroes: Homecoming a little later, I got a call from a gal with Stanford Magazine. She asked for Mom, and I had to explain that mom's dementia is far enough along, that wouldn't work. She still wanted an update on Mom for their magazine and asked many questions about Mom's life. I tried my best to answer them. It took a while, but I enjoyed it. She said to look for it in the September issue. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I broke to find a new book to read from between the picture book sand the last book. After I found one that I liked, I read more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2019. Then I read the next several pages of _Classic Fashion 40s 50s Memories_. After that, I read from _Mother Goose Treasury_. I started with the back of the book, then started showing her pictures from the beginning, even before the title page. I read the introduction and showed her each picture in the table of contents. Then I read her several poems. I think we were both enjoying it a fair bit. Then I finished out my reading with the July 30th story, "The Dragonfly," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A boy named Robin tried to find fairies every time his family left town. At a picnic at the lake, the thought he'd caught one with blue wings in a jar. However, his father said it was a dragonfly who'd die in the bottle if Robin didn't set it free. Robin was disappointed. {smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, leg exercises, arm swinging exercises, and walking exercises after getting home, and singing with Mom and Auntie Barbara. I did my standing arm exercises after dinner. Then I did my head exercises while waiting for my role-playing partner to get into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did the 20 minutes of salsa dancing I need to do later. I almost teared up again realizing I was done in just two sets. Then I did my arm weight training afterwards, I guess as a cooldown or something. {Smile}

   After Auntie Barbara left, I read comics, and looked into them - I hoped one was dropping today, but no, it wasn't. I don't know when it will. The notifications seem to be messed up; it claimed the next release would be in 12 hours at bedtime; the next morning, it said 7 days. {resigned look}

   Then I played with the new numbers from both nursing and my financial advisers. I was just starting to get into City of Heroes: Homecoming a little later than usual when the call from Stanford Magazine came.  That delayed me by not quite an hour, but I was still particularly late getting in. When I did, bowlofdro seemed busy, so I tried to join the later long, large group event, but the group was full. I can and did fight alongside, but they didn't invite me until the last 5 minutes, when a space finally opened up. Yes, I was late, but... I made as much in those five minutes as all the time on my own. Well, that's just how it goes sometimes. Then I did some paperwork and left to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back on City of Heroes: Homecoming, and started looking around.  Realizing I hadn't seen my RP partner yet today, I left a note in the chat server, and started on the paperwork. They answered to the chat server, then came into the game. We role-played while playing a few missions and went significantly later than last night. Then I did more paperwork and soloing to wind down, somehow not being in a mood to join a Pick Up Group. I started talking with Mysty shortly before I began exercising. I popped in and out to continue our conversation around the dancing and other exercise, then stayed in afterwards for a better talk. Then I made notes, because my daily update wasn't as much written as I like, even on note days. I still managed to get to bed entirely too late. I know I need to do better. {rueful smile}

Daily Update, July 29, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Update, July 28, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Update, July 27, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Update, July 26, 2022

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

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

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

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

   No exercise beyond physical therapy. {Smile}

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

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

Daily Update, July 25, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Update, July 24, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Update, July 23, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Update, July 22, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Update, July 21, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Update, July 20, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Update, July 19, 2023

    Today was a quiet day, which let me work on my story. I started by re-reading and revising the first part, and then I went a little further, finishing the second scene. Then I got into a personal chore that gave me a lot of time to think about the story, and I don't think I like the changes. Members of the critique group made suggestions that really emphasize the pain of mourning one character is going through... when I want to emphasize that it doesn't have to be that bad, and can become better with time, as we learn things that help cast the memories in happier light. Emphasizing the pain at first would heighten the change, but... I need a better balance. Too much bitter might chase away some of the readers who need the hope at the end. Though Nox argued for more bitter in contrast, to show different ways of mourning, and not cast some as bad. However, it wrecked my mood for much of the day, which is its own problem. there must be some way to balance all this. {smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started late, but I touched most of the usual bases. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read a card from her friend, and showed her the pictures that went with it. Then, I read her the last few pages of _1960's Fashion in Pictures_, showing her the pictures, and reading the captions. Then I skipped reading from _Five-Minute Fairy Tales_ because of my late start. I just finished by reading "The Nightingale," the July 19th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Instead of the usual story by that name, it told of a little boy waking up very scared by a bad dream. He calmed down when he heard a nightingale sing and went back to sleep. {Smile}

   I did my walking, arm swinging, arm resistance, and standing arm weight training exercises after dinner. I did my head and sitting arm weight training during lulls in the game, and after my main playing was over. I did over 25 minutes of salsa dancing, including both warmup and less structured dancing. It's not 30 minutes, but it's closer. {SMILE}

   I shared yesterday's daily update, then read comics and articles in the morning and over lunch, when I wasn't working on my story. Then I stopped for a personal chore, which gave me time to think about it. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after that and started with some paperwork. Perogies said hi, and we teamed up on a couple of middle-level characters for a while. That was fun. We went right into the time I like to read to Mom a little, but we enjoyed teaming and working together. {Smile}

   After dinner and the exercises, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and checked the paperwork again. bowlofdro said hi, and we teamed up for a couple of missions as he wound down. Then I soloed a bit, and Phonso said hi, inviting me to a strike force. I was interested, but wanted to finish what I was doing, which I somehow had trouble communicating. We got it straightened out, and I chatted with some friends while waiting for the mission... no one was interested in joining, it seems. I teamed with Phonso and the folks he recruited. I also chatted with Nox on the chat server, and talked with Phonso after the mission. Then I soloed, danced, and began writing this. I did team up with Perogies when he said hi when I was having trouble with some of the soloing. {Smile}

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}