Daily Update, March 25, 2024

    Monday was productive, but tiring. After breakfast, I went to the Critique site, where I read a new critique, and responded to them all, most in some detail, since at least some invited more than just a thank you. {smile}

   Then I got a call about a bill, so I found several bills, three or four of which were old or otherwise confusing enough, I felt they needed phone calls to determine their current status. I got them all sorted, and most paid that needed it still getting them into the mailbox with the flag up. (A couple of the old ones had already been paid, I'm happy to say.) There's only one still waiting for attention. It was the place that had called to check on the bill in the first place. When I called back, they decided to send me a new statement. So, I'll pay that one when I get the new statement. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I got there a little late because I frankly lost track of time while doing the paperwork. Mom was awake when I got there and seemed to enjoy the pictures. She responded a little, but not as much as some days. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. After that, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Then I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. After that, I read "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 25th of March's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Kind Scarecrow." {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and my arm swinging exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I did both sets of salsa dancing for almost 21 minutes, due to a different last piece. Since that piece can and will vary, I don't always do exactly the same amount when it's full. But this is even more exercise, t hanks to doing my head exercises, and a little more salsa dancing. Maybe. The longer piece might be slightly slower, but I hope it evens out. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World in the morning, when thinking about what I wanted to do on the critique site. I also read comics and had lunch. When I'd finished with the critique site, I finished Sunday's daily update. Then I started this daily update. Next, I cleaned myself up. It was pretty late when I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Kitten was there, but unresponsive. It was late to get into much anyway, so I did paperwork until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I began writing this up between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I made some notes in it after dinner, before I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming again. I said hi to Kitten, who was still quiet, and Dr. Faustus, who responded. We chatted for a while, learning we 'd both been particularly busy recently. Then we teamed up, and he led a mission or two. After that, Kitten joined us. It took a little finagling to invite them to our team. By then, Dr. Faustus and I had run into a fight in the game that we joined in on. (A few areas are war zones where enemies and non-player characters run by the game fight each other periodically, and you may join in if you wish.) Kitten joined us in fighting the enemies. So did a player we didn't know. They asked about joining us, and we ended up doing their missions, helping them to finish a story arc. I said goodnight to Nox too late to talk again. When we finished the story arc, Dr. Faustus left, and so did the fellow we'd helped with the story arc. Kitten stayed and helped me get a badge my best badge collector didn't have. She now has 1499 badges. One more, and she'll get a badge for getting 1500 badges. I think she could get over 1600 badges, at least in theory. After that, I left to do my salsa dancing. I also played Cross Stitch World, watched some more videos, or parts of them, and wrote more of this up, including making notes to write from the next day. {Smile}