Daily Update, September 21, 2023

 I got a text from the vet. Yes, one unit of insulin as long as Val is eating. If he stops, no more insulin while he isn't eating. That makes sense to me. {Smile}

Looks like I sent the day before's story twice; I thought I hadn't added it just long enough to send it again. {blush, look down}

I got up late enough, and taking care of Val took long enough, I started eating breakfast while I was signing into my counselling session already this morning. I think it was an okay session. We talked about what's been happening recently with Val and others, too. I'm not entirely comfortable with what she says about how to build a family, but we'll see what happens. At this point, I really need to be open to possibilities, and that was her biggest suggestion, so we're in full agreement there. {smile}

I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I read a Thanksgiving card from her sister, a birthday card from her cousin, and a valentine's day card from her sister, too. After that, I finished reading _Memories 1960s_ properly this time, reading all the pages from the first missed pages, including those I had read, then finishing with teh blurb ont he back of the book. Next, I read three poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. That seemed short, but the next story was four pages long, which seemed too much when she was already tired. So, I ended with _Bobby's Toys_, the September 21st story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Bobby had been given a toy monkey for his birthday, but three weeks later, it was still on a high shelf, not played with. The monkey complained about the boy not playing with him, when he was glossy and new, when the boy played with an old worn teddy bear who was missing half his fur and one eye. The teddy bear suggested staying up on the shelf if he wanted to stay glossy, clean, and unworn, because he'd gotten the way he was from being played with often. The monkey didn't know whether to topple off the shelf and join the fun, or stay up there, out of harm's way. {Smile}

Well, I didn't do any exercise until my salsa dancing. Then I did my warmup salsa dancing set, then my head exercises during the break, then my less structured salsa dancing set. Yes, I got over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. Then I did my arm resistance exercises, my walking exercises, my arm swinging exercises, and my leg exercises. The last of the leg exercises left me panting a little, so I took a short break after that. After the break, I did my standing arm weight training exercises, followed by my sitting arm weight training exercises. Yes, I got them all done today! {SMILE}

I read articles and comics after the video counselling session, and also right after lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I didn't see any of my closer friends on, but I did see a high-level trial being advertised. The run was trying for a particular badge. It turned out my best badge collector didn't have that badge, so I ran it on her. Kitten came on near the beginning and said hi. I promised to join them after it was over. Wehn we were both done with what we were doing, we teamed up with me on the lower-level character I've been working on. We started that story arc I wanted to start, and Perogies came in and joined us for much of the first part. He left before the last mission. So, Kitten and I finished without him. Then I started a contact with less story to his missions, and Kitten and I ran a few missions before it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I said hi to Kitten on the chat server, and they said hi and came on to team up with me. I also started chatting with the fellow I met a few nights ago who likes stories. After a while, I invited him to join us. We finished up that contact, and I was ready to start the next story arc until I realized my character was one level too low. I had an individual mission, which got me a little closer to the next level, and then got a similar one, which also got me closer to the next level. I said hi to Nox but didn't get back to them in time to chat. We ended up saying goodnight and hoping to talk more soon. The contact for the individual missions wanted to give me a complicated mission. I asked my teammates if they wanted to, they pretty much said it was up to me. So, I got it, and we did it, and then my new friend left because it was getting late. Rather than start the story arc when I didn't think we'd have time to finish, I switched to first one then another high-level character I've developing further and ran a single mission with particularly good rewards on each. Then I talked with Kitten a bit as I started my salsa dancing and other exercises. I concentrated on doing them and writing this more, but I still snuck on for a bit of paperwork. I'll have to share this the day after; it's getting too late to take the time before bed. {apologetic smile}

I finally published the day before's update just before this one. {smile}

Daily Update, September 20, 2023

   Oops! I forgot to post this yesterday. Well, I can post it now. {Smile}

   Val... seemed to have a very bad hypoglycemic episode this afternoon. He was staggering and walking funny even after one syringe of karo syrup, prompting a second syringe of Karo Syrup. I tried to call the vet, but only go their answering machine. I left two messages, and one text message, but it's well after closing time, and they still haven't called back. I'm increasing his food - I didn't realize how much I'd cut back - and I'm seriously considering doing less insulin as if he hadn't finished his meal, because they're really large snacks, not full meals. {bite lips} I'll try to contact them again in the morning. (smile)

   I got a call from our former nurse after dinner. It was great to get to talk with him again. {Smile}

   Actually, I feel comfortable giving him one unit tonight I increased his food by less than a spoonful, and now he's not licking the bowl clean, but leaving a thin layer. They said to give him only one unit if he didn't finish, and now it feels like he isn't quite finishing. {Smile} 

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with two Christmas cards, one from Mom's nephew, the other from her cousin's granddaughter, and a birthday card from a different cousin than the one with the granddaughter. Next, I tried to show her next several pages in _Memories 1960s_, but I got to the end, then discovered I'd skipped a few. So, I put the bookmark at the first I skipped, and I'll figure out what to do tomorrow.  After that, I read a few poems and a short story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I ended with _Winter in Africa_, the September 20th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A boy asked his father why the swallows were gathering on the wires. His father said they were getting ready to go to north Africa, where they spend the winter. The boy wanted to go to, but the father said that he, himself, had to work, and the boy had to go to school He promised they'd be bac int eh spring. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises while waiting for Phonso's fourth trial. Then I did my salsa dancing after his sixth trial. First, I did my warmup set, then I did my less structured set after feeding Val and a short rest. After another short rest, I did my arm swinging exercises, my walking exercises, and my arm resistance exercises. I only missed the arm weight training exercises and the leg exercises. I had to treat hypoglycemia after the arm resistance exercises, and it didn't get better quite quickly enough to do the last few exercises. {Smile}

   I read articles in the morning and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I met Perogies, who was eager to join the short, large-group event. He sort-of managed, getting into the zone, but not able to join the group - the zone holds two more than the group can - so he ran the event alone, still getting the credit that really matters. When I tried just after him, I didn't even get into the zone, so I just did paperwork until he was done. It didn't last long. About that time, Kitten showed us, so the three of us got the new characters, and ran a few missions before Perogies had to leave. Then Kitten and I switched, and we ran a story arc I've been very much wanting to do. Perogies came back and did a mission or two with us before leaving again. Kitten and I finished the story arc and had time for a mission or two. Starting the next story arc didn't feel right, so I found an individual mission nearby that we did. Then it was fairly close to time to read to Mom, and Kitten went quiet, so I did a little paperwork, and broke to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner and the phone call, I caught up on comics. Then I fed Val his first slightly larger meal before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I saw both Kitten and Phonso on. Kitten started talking to me quickly. Phonso was on a team, so I asked if he was in a trial, expecting to hear he was. He wasn't quite yet, and had two spots left on the team, so I joined, and got Kitten to join too. Phonso ran six trials. I ran the first three on the character who they'd all count towards a reward they're actively working on. I could have stayed on her for more credit, but the rewards go down after the first run of the day, so I switched to a character who'd get stuff she needs more of from the run. Then I remembered a character who needs a particular reward she could get from a run and did the next on her. I did the last one on yet a different character who is collecting stuff similar to the what the first one is collecting. I think she actually got a little more of it than the other one did. Then I left the game while doing my salsa dancing and the exercises after it, then snuck in for a little paperwork now and then but tried not to stay in and get involved in anything. The last couple of nights ran late because of getting into stuff with Perogies, and last night Kitten, too. which was all my doing, not theirs. I know when I need to leave, but I need to start actually doing it, so I concentrate on this enough to get it written before bed, not finished the next day. {Smile}