Daily Update, April 18, 2024

    When I was starting my day Thursday, I found a note from The Fire Ant Guy saying he'd come later that morning. Then I discovered he'd come even earlier. Yes, he was already here. I happily paid him as part of starting my day. {Smile}

   After breakfast, I had my video counselling appointment. That went quite well, I think. We had a good talk. {Smile}

   Then the housekeeper came, and I got caught up in getting things ready for her. We spent a particularly long time getting the sewing machines set up. The Old Lady, who's been immobile due to a thread snark for years is finally out of the treadle box and waiting by the front door to go to a repair shop. The Young Lady is pulled out of the pile she was in and set up in the treadle box. I also ordered replacements for the shower curtain hooks I was sure I had but couldn't find.

   Then Auntie Barbara called and arranged to come up and visit with Michelle. I tried to say I hadn't had lunch, but somehow Auntie Barbara heard it as I had. I squeezed in eating about half of it before she arrived, but she complained about me eating slowly, which I usually do, but I ate more quickly than usual; I just got started late. Anyway, Auntie Barbara and I visited with Mom, singing several songs. Then we sat outside and talked while Michelle picked lemons, including three she gave to us. I very much appreciate that, since my balance makes walking on grass to pick lemons myself difficult. 

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. Despite arriving late, Mom was reasonably alert when I got there, back to my later time again, because I got on later than I wanted, and wanted at least a little time with my friends. Mom was still more awake and interested, looking at the pictures, and even responded a few times. I started my reading with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued reading her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. After that, I finished showing her pictures in _'The Flower Garden'_. Next, I read "Rapunzel," from _Five Minute Fairy Tales_. My last reading was the 18th of April's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Gone Fishing." {Smile}

   I did my head exercises during a lull in the game. then I did my walking exercises, my standing arm weight training exercises, my leg exercises, my arm resistance exercises, my sitting arm weight training exercises, and my arm swinging exercises after I got done teaming in the evening. That's every exercise except the salsa dancing, which is my goal the day after physical therapy. {SMILE}

   Over breakfast, until my counselling appointment, I read an article or two. Then I read more articles and played some Cross Stitch World after my counselling, until the housekeeper came. I finished my lunch after Auntie Barbara and Michelle left. After lunch, I wrote up my daily update. While I was writing, Pierogies messaged me, asking if I was coming into City of Heroes: Homecoming soon. We arranged that I'd finish a tutorial so I could show him a new character. I did that when I finished writing and sharing my daily update.  (I know what the tutorial teaches by now, but it is the safest place I know for a first level character; when they come out, they can immediately train to 2nd level, which I think is safer in the full game.) Anyway, Pierogies and I found each other and admired our new characters. Then we ran a trial. Kitten joined us afterwards, and the three of us ran two quick missions before I read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I quickly cleaned myself up, since it just hadn't fit into my afternoon at all. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming again. I said goodnight to Ulty, because I came in so late, she was just leaving. Then I looked around for someone else to talk to. I didn't find anyone, so I looked around for something to do, and spotted a pickup team I could join. I said goodnight to Nox after we'd neglected to talk again. Then Kitten said hi, and joined the team I was on. My character barely got any of the special things I hoped for, but she did get a badge I needed for a particular statistic-improving badge. Then I switched characters, and a character who needed it even more got it, getting the statistic improving badge, since she had everything else for it. I switched back to the other character, and we ran another couple of missions. Then the team broke up, and Kitten and I ran two quick missions before I broke, winding down with a bit of paperwork before doing my exercises. I ended the evening with a little browsing of comics while I wrote a little of this and made a lot of notes to write from the next day. {Smile}