Daily Update, February 1, 2024

    On Thursday, I had a counselling appointment by video. I think it went well. At the end, my counselor pointed something out today that I hadn't fully realized. We both know I have anxiety; it's one of the reasons I keep up the counselling. She pointed out that I've learned to use my anxiety to push myself to get things done. Yes, without fully realizing it, that's what I've done. I'm not sure how I'd get so much done without it at this point. {Smile}

   I also called church about some things and clarified two things that should save me a trip, at least for now. The scripture and thoughts about it are waiting on a particular table for me to pick up on Sunday, and we'll deal with the donation to cover replacing my grandparents' plaques next week, when the secretary can check with our priest. All four grandparents had plaques, but Mom's mother's and Dad's father's plaques have gone missing and can't be found. I want to cover replacement, and a bit more. {Smile}

   The secretary from the nursing company came by Thursday, too, since it's a new month, it's time for me to pay them, and them to pay the nurses. She promised me a meeting to talk with her and the head of the company about when we'll transition from them taking care of Mom to them taking care of me, so there will be no disruption in the process. It's good to know they're looking ahead. {Smile}

   The housekeeper came today, too. The house is very much better for her attentions. {Smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. She was awake when I got there, and through the early parts of reading, but she got sleepy later. the stories helped her wake up, but not like yesterday. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. I used the online version, as I will until I pick up the paper copy the next time I got to church. After that, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Then I restarted _Girl's Day/Boys Day_, and went further than yesterday, since mom seemed pretty interested at first. Next, I continued reading _Fairy Tales_ with "The Three Little Pigs." Seh was so sleepy at the end, I started to just quit, but then I remembered that the last one I usually read has date. So, I finished off with the 1st of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Tossing Pancakes." While Mummy was preparing to cook pancakes, Sophie ran in and asked if she could cook one. Her mother doubtfully said yes but be careful. When her mother said the fat in the pan was hot enough, Sophie poured some batter in. She waited, then shook the pancake loose from the pan. Her mother said she could toss it, but when she did, it stuck to the ceiling. Sophie laughed, and the cat ate it when it finally fell. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises, arm resistance exercises, and arm swinging exercises in lulls around task forces. Yes, I did all my arm swinging exercises without enough of a twinge to stop. It just felt like stretching out little used muscles, which I was probably doing. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup set after I finished teaming on City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did my less structured salsa dancing set after a short break. So, I got a little more exercise done than I've been doing recently, though I do need to do more yet. {Smile}

   I read comics between breakfast and counselling, and also around lunch. Then, after the phone call with church, I cleaned myself up before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Once there, I looked around. No one I usually team with was on. So, I changed another character's name and costume, and ran two solo missions on a character. I hadn't gotten around to them despite getting a badge from each because I'd rather team up with friends. Then I ran a hunt on another character that's easy to do by myself. Then I started looking around for something to get into when Pierogies came on, talking about all the stuff that had made today so late for him. We almost teamed up, but he was too tired, so we just chatted until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Dr. Faustus was there but heading to another part of Homecoming, so we just chatted. I finished adjusting costumes o n a set of characters I'm adding to. Then I developed two new characters I'd been planning, getting them each as far as the tutorial. Yes, I still run the tutorial for most new characters. They're particularly vulnerable at first level, and the tutorial is designed for their particular vulnerabilities in ways the main game isn't, even in the starting zones. Then I started one's tutorial. I was part way in, and chatting with Azurette, who was finally on, when Phonso came on and invited me to a taskforce. I said yes happily. Finally, a chance to play with others that wasn't just a random collection of strangers. I told Azurette about it, and she came, too, so I was doing it with two friends and only five strangers. I also chatted with Owl Girl and Nox on the chat server, though not in the same conversation. After the TF, some stayed and talked, including me. Then Dr. Faustus finally came back to the part of Homecoming I was in and invited me to that pair of high-level TFs that I sometimes run, since he'd joined a group with room.  I said yes, and we ran it. It pushed my salsa dancing late, but I still got all the dancing done. After that, I did minimal stuff in City of Heroes: Homecoming. I mainly concentrated on writing this and making notes to write from the next day. {Smile}