Daily Update, December 31, 2023

 Happy New Year! If you celebrate it of course. Most do, but I know at least one who adamantly rejects all holidays, so if you don't, I hope you had a nice day. {Smile}

On Sunday, I called uber after breakfast. A nice driver came and took me to church. I arrived when they were still getting going and sat with auntie Barbara and her friend. It was a nice service. I ate near Auntie Barbara and her friend, too, but we were largely in different conversations. I took Uber home with a nice, chatty driver. {Smile}

I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and enjoyed the pictures. She even responded a few times. First, 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 continued _Mele Kalikimaka: Christmas in Hawai'i_. I showed her the pictures and read the captions, finishing the first chapter. Next, I read a story from _Disney 3-Minute Bedtime Stories_. I made sure to read all the pages the first time through, and there were eight of them this time. I finished with the 31st of December's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Mistletoe." Paddy, the dog, was not happy. For over a week, the house had been full of decorations, including holly, paper chains, and streamers. Also, Christmas cards and the Christmas tree... but his kennel wasn't decorated. Then, on the last day of the year, Paddy's young masters collected mistletoe from the woods. They hung a sprig over Paddy's kennel. At midnight, they rushed out, woke up Paddy calling "Happy New Year," and gave him big hugs under his own mistletoe. {Smile}

I did my head exercises while waiting for Uber to come take me to church. Then I did my arm resistance exercises in the evening. I tried to do my salsa dancing, but around 40 or 45 second in, my balance went quite unsteady enough to make it clear I wasn't doing that today. Worse it left me unsteady enough, most of the other exercises didn't look like good ideas, either. Since it was a holiday, I'll just get back to it soon. {rueful look}

When I got home from church, I cleaned myself up, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I looked around. I said hi to Kitten and Pierogies. Pierogies responded, so we chatted. Then we joined the early short, large-group event together. When that was done, Pierogies left because they were tired. So, I looked around. I spotted a task force that some of my characters need. I picked one who'd benefit particularly quickly, joined it and ran it. Then we tried to do it again, but most of the team left, and no one else joined before the leader gave up. About that time, Pierogies came back in, and we teamed up for a couple of high-level individual missions. I'm not sure if Kitten joined us or not, but this took us to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

I got back too late to join the late-night short, large-group event, but Kitten was on, and eager to team. We did a couple of high-level individual missions. Then we picked a My Little Pony show and parked our characters in a farm while we watched. We followed that with a second show. Then we chatted a bit. I tried the salsa dancing, but I got too dizzy. Worse, the dizziness stayed on long enough, I was in poor condition for more exercises. So, Kitten and I chatted and farmed some more. Then I made notes to write this up from the next day.