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}