Daily Update, June 8, 2023

    After breakfast, I found note from my counselor saying she was having trouble starting the counselling on my insurance's website. She tried to have me start it, but I couldn't find my password, and her next appointment time conflicted with my physical therapy next Wednesday. I did have a lot I wanted to talk about, so I didn't really want to postpone it even further. So, we ended up using Zoom. My provider is free when they'll cover it, but they were quoting between 4 and 5 times the co-pay for a Zoom appointment, to hold it on their site without being able to confirm my plan's coverage. When we finally got it, we did have a nice session. We got much covered and had no trouble scheduling the next appointment. {Smile}

   I tried to call the vet when I discovered I was almost out of one of Val's medicines, but they were closed for lunch. I meant call again, but I forgot. I'll need to remember to call them tomorrow. {rueful smile}

   I got a call from our former nurse after dinner. We had a nice chat, catching each other up on what's been going on in our lives. {Smile}

   Today, I had lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it and continued with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from last Christmas. Then I showed her pictures in _The 'Flower Garden" Vintage Fine Art Picture Book_. It arrived today; I ordered it after she responded so well to the pictures of the old vogue covers. I wanted to see if it was the art, or the lack of shading that she liked... she liked this too, responding to it more, so maybe it's the art. I can get more art books as occasions come up. Since it doesn't have words, just pictures, i do try to describe each picture a bit, and she does look at them. Next, I read "Jimmy Carter's Solar Panels Power Half His Hometown," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I read the June 8th story, "The Big Baby," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed both reading and pictures, especially the pictures of flowers in gardens and flower stands in the art book. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises after dinner. I'd like to do them even earlier, but at least it wasn't later. {Smile}

   I wrote yesterday's daily update before and after lunch. When I was done, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Soothing Darkness on, but she was unresponsive. As I was starting on paperwork, I noticed a moderately large event starting. I checked and found that my third highest badge collector didn't have anything from it and ran it on her. I knew she'd get at least one badge, and she actually got all six badges the first time. After that, I did a little paperwork, and noticed my RP partner was in the zone where the long, large-group events happen. I checked the time, and since the later short, large-group event had started, I went to join him in waiting for later long, large-group event. I mainly wanted to say hi, and maybe chat. Not long after I got there, a friend I hadn't seen in months came in, and was greeted by a few, including by me. My RP partner greeted him particularly warmly, maybe in part because he was on a character who would, being close. I had the returnee down as last being spotted among my friends in January, but at some point, he'd been deleted from my friend's list, in spite of me not meaning to do so. I quickly added him and assured him it was an accident. He assured me it happens. We ran the raid, and I did some paperwork before reading to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I caught up on comics, and got the phone call from our former nurse. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Perogies was on. He was too tired to play, but wanted to tell me about his day, and that he was personally okay before going to bed. I really appreciated it, since it's rare not to see him all afternoon like I hadn't yesterday. Then I found the returnee doing some paperwork of his own, and we chatted about what's been keeping him busy. I also got some paperwork of my own done and was looking into soloing stuff when Phonso invited me to a couple of task forces, which I both ran and tried to help him find folks for, especially since it was a slow night. I barely talked to Nox before they went to bed, too. I talked a fair bit with Owl girl, who was running the task force we've been doing recently and didn't want to switch. Instead, I joined her for the next run after Phonso's second finished and stayed with the group for one more run. I added the leader to my easily contactable friends, so I can contact them to find out when they're doing it in the future, since he does it a lot. Then I ended the night with more paperwork and making notes to help me write this up the next morning. {Smile}

Daily Update, June 7, 2023

    Today - well, yesterday - was physical therapy, so after breakfast I summoned Uber, and a nice, chatty driver took me to Life Care Center. I really enjoyed the ride over today. {Smile}

   I had a good session. We are working on plans to add more steps to the salsa dancing. Some may not be traditional - the first we came up with is more like a schottische - but it works to the music and adds variety to the dancing. It has a "lift," which looks kind of like a hop, but doesn't leave the ground. {Smile}

   Afterwards, I summoned Uber and a pleasant if quieter driver took me home. That worked out nicely. {Smile}

   I called Auntie Barbara after dinner, and we had a nice chat. {Smile}

   Today, I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first, and more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from last Christmas next. Then I showed her more pictures in _Exploring Kittens_. I started to stop, planning to finish tomorrow, but then decided to show her the rest today, so we finished that book today. I think she really enjoys the pictures. Since it doesn't have words, just pictures, i do try to describe each picture a bit, and she does look at them. Next, I read "Doctor Runs 22 Miles with a Mask to Prove Oxygen's the Same," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I read the June 6th story, "The Grateful Elf," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed both reading and pictures, especially the pictures of kitties being kitties. {Smile}

   I didn't do any exercise beyond physical therapy. That's enough for one day. {Grin}

   I wrote some of yesterday's daily update before physical therapy. Then I read comics over lunch, since it is hard to eat and write at the same time. After lunch, I wrote up the rest of yesterday's daily update. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did some paperwork and checked for friend. Soothing Darkness was on, but she looked to be busy with a full team, so I finished the paperwork and started playing by myself, hunting for badges for my fifth best badge-collector. For the top five characters, their ranking in this is clear; after five, it becomes much less clear.) Eventually, Perogies came in. We teamed up on the slightly older and higher new low-level characters, doing the story arc that followed the last two arcs we'd done on them. Then we decided what to do on them next, but didn't start because it was time to read to Mom. 

   After dinner and the phone call, I went back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. No friends were on, but I saw a perennially popular task force being advertised openly, so I joined it. (This is how the pick-up-groups I mentioned form, and yes, it was one.) It was really slow for the first few missions, because the settings were so challenging. Thankfully, the leader lowered them a lot for the last two missions, since those are really tough. Afterwards, I researched some stuff on the general internet, then hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Owl Girl just getting ready to start the task force that Freaky gave up on because the pick-up-groups went less than well. However, Owl Girls was with a group that knows it, and they let me in. We ran it, and I got a pretty decent reward. We ran it again, and I learned that best reward is only once every 18 hours. Well, next time I know. After that, I worked on this update, writing some, and making notes for the rest. had to finish it the next day, and actually worked on it right after lunch. {Smile}

Daily Update, June 6, 2023

    Yesterday I stayed home, and mostly took things easy. This allowed me to do better on my exercises, as I'll explain more in the usual place. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it and followed that with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from last Christmas. After that, I showed her more pictures in _Exploring Kittens_. It's one of these books with no words, so I told her what I saw in each picture. She was definitely looking too but this made sure she had time to look while I talked. Next, I read "Ozone Hole Gets Smaller Since 1982, Scientists Claim," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I read the June 6th story, "The Two Friends," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed both reading and pictures, especially the pictures of kitties being kitties. {Smile}

   I did my walking, arm swinging, arm weight training, and head exercises after lunch this time. It was nice to know they were out of the way even in the afternoon. I should try exercising earlier more often. At the usual time, I started my salsa dancing, and got 25 minutes in, including both warmup and less structured dancing. I was a bit tired and winded after the second set, but I recovered enough in time to do a little over 5 minutes. By then it was late to continue, and I was winded again, so I stopped for the evening, but this is an improvement. {SMILE}

   I read comics over lunch and continued reading them for a little while afterwards. Then I noticed a message from Kitten on chat server that prompted me to hop into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did some paperwork and checked around. I didn't find Kitten but saw that Perogies was busy in the early long, large-group event. So, I messaged Kitten on the chat server and did some more paperwork. Then Kitten came in. We teamed up and started the next arc int eh series we're working on for badges. After a couple of missions, Perogies came free, but we couldn't add anyone after it began. We hoped to finish and add him for the next, but the fourth mission got stuck. We left, and Kitten just disappeared. So Perogies and I decided to team up on new low-level characters. Kitten joined us after a while; they'd just disconnected. That's been happening more recently; I don't know why. After a few missions Perogies left. Then Kitten and I went back to the characters we'd been on and tried to rush through the arc to the new part. We actually finished the whole story arc a little late to read to Mom, which I still did.

   After dinner, I found Kitten in a full team. That team added me when they had a space and had told Kitten I wanted to join. We finished the story arc someone was doing. Kitten got a badge for the character I was on while I took a short break. When I came back, Phonso invited us to a task force. He was fed up with pick-up-groups of the strike force we'd done the last two nights and wanted something easier. The one he picked went without a hitch, and faily quickly, too. So he did another task force. I started chatting with Nox whiile waiting to start. I also started chatting with Paradox and Owl Girl on the chat server at the same time. They would have joined the second task force if I'd mentioned it before it was too full. That task force went well, too. I chatted with Kitten after the task force. We met up with a friend of theirs, and tried to team up with them, but it got too late.  Kitten and their friend eventually teamed up without me as I started my salsa dancing. Later, I took out the story I've been meaning to get back to writing, and accepted changes I'd made before. This is my way of preparing to track new changes as I work on it more. {Smile}

Daily Update, June 5, 2023

    Today, I called Uber, and went to my driver. i got a nice, chatty driver who remembered taking me to the same church his grandma used to go to. I think I remember his telling me that was his grandma's church. I didn't know her; she went to eh early service, which i never get to, and it might have been when Dad and I rarely made it on time to the late service. {Smile}

   I arrived early, and waited a while, but the appointment went well. Most of my numbers were good, or at least better. My nurse asked about some later, and I was able to hand him the whole printout he doctor gave me. I figured he knew what it meant better than I do. {Smile}

   The driver home was less chatty, but it was a nice ride, too. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it and followed that with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from last Christmas. After that, I started showing her pictures in _Exploring Kittens_. Its' one fo these books with no words, so I told her what I saw in each picture. She was definitely looking too but this made sure she had time to look while I talked. Next, I read "Missing Three-Year-Old found Safe Next to a Loyal Dog," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I read the June 5th story, "The Lost Ball," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. (These stories are very short, but each comes with a picture and a title... I might as well start mentioning the titles.) Mom enjoyed both reading and pictures, especially the kitties. {Smile}

   I did the walking, arm swinging, and two standing arm weight training exercises after dinner. Then I did the four sitting arm weight training and the head exercises, which are all sitting, during a lull in the game. {Smile}

   I read comics over lunch and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I let Kitten know onteh chat server that I was going in, and they followed me. We met up with each other and Perogies. I'd hoped to finish the arc Perogies and I had done most of, but Perogies had finished it alone in the meantime. I really need to remember it's just not special to most players. Instead, we teamed up with Perogies and I on our low-level characters, and Kitten on their recent character, who's already max normal level, but not equipped well yet. We ran two story arcs completely, running right up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner and the walking and standing arm exercises, I hopped into City of Heroes, Homecoming, again letting Kitten know on the chat server that I was going in. I found Azurette and Soothing Darkness. Azurette didn't respond, but Soothing Darkness did, and got me onto their team. As I was joining them, Kitten came in. They had to wait until the mission was done for another spot to open up, but one did, and they joined. We did a few missions together, ending with that complicated one. I was on a different character than previously with that one. Phonso came in while we were doing that complicated mission, and three of us joined him for the task force we did yesterday when it was done. it went much more smoothly this time; like I've learned to expect Taskforces to go under Phonso. After that it was late enough, we just chatted on and off... and Owl Girl chatted with us later, too. {Smile}

Daily Update, June 4, 2023

    Today was Sunday, so I ordered Uber, and a fairly chatty driver took me to church. I was his first ride, and his next stop was his own church. {Smile}
   Church was interesting. the bishop is speaking out to the entire diocese about the problem of gun violence in modern America. Hawai'i is really more of a knife culture than a gun culture, but that doesn't seem true for most of the nation. Some even wore orange in support of change on that front, including our clergy. I sat alone for much of the service, because Auntie Barbara had said she'd be doing the Sunday school. However, i noticed partway through the service that she was sitting across the aisle. I slid down the pew but couldn't see a good way to get up and go over until Holy Communion, when I got up, taking my things with me, had communion, and sat near her afterwards. She said the children just didn't work out today. {Smile}
   We sat together at lunch during fellowship on the lanai, and she took me home afterwards. She came in and visited with Mom, who sang five songs with us. That is particularly good these days. As much as she used to lie to sing, it's becoming a sometimes thing. {smile}
   I had breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Next, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from last Christmas. After that, I finished reading and showing her pictures in _Memories Space Race_, showing quite a few pages about Apollo 11, the first moon landing, and then just a few of some of the later Appolo lunar missions.  Next, I read "San Antonia Pet Store Sells Only. Rescue Cats and Dogs from 2020 On," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I read the June 4th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed both reading and pictures, especially the space race. {Smile}
   I did my head exercises, the only ones I should do the day after physical therapy. I did them late, but late counts, too. {Smile}
   I cleaned up after Auntie Barbara left, and then read comics before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Then I did paperwork a bit before even checking for friends, and more paperwork while waiting for one of the few I often team with to come on, or at least respond. Eventually, Perogies did come on, and we chatted a while I worked on paperwork. Then I found out he was at a DJ show, and I went to have my character dace while I listened to the music and DJ. He was right near the end, though, so I didn't hear a lot of numbers. Afterwards, Perogies wanted to get a character through a particular arc that transitions from regular game to end game content. We managed to do most of it before it was time to read to Mom. He promised to save the rest until we could do it together. {Smile}
   After supper, I found a particularly anticipated comic was up, so I read it, and a fair bit of the commentary on the host site. it's not like really getting into it with my friends, but I don't know anyone who's keeping up with it. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming again. I talked to Soothing Darkness a little before she went quiet. She mentioned a friend from another game was setting this one up, so maybe they came in and she got busy. I tried to get Azurette's attention, but she was quiet, and might have been on the same team and Soothing Darkness. They do know each other, and it was the same size in the same zone. I was debating about trying to join them but tried starting another character instead. Then Phonso came on. We chatted as he worked on his characters, and I ran the tutorial and worked on a badge that's easiest to get before leaving the tutorial. I was about 2/3rds of the way through the badge when he was ready to start Paradox, telling them about eh task force. They both came into City of Heroes: Homecoming and managed to get onto the team. We ran the task force, which took almost two hours, It tends to be long, but this was longer and rougher than usual. Then all three left, being tired, and I worked on paperwork, writing this up, and getting the new character out of the tutorial and set up okay. {Smile}

Daily Update, June 3, 2023

    Today was physical therapy, so I called Uber after breakfast, and got the driver to chat on and off on the way over. {Smile}

   I had a nice physical therapy session. I did good work, and got a good bit done. We also chatted, and I think my therapist likes coconuts for the story and helping describe the skin color. Nox said some object to using food, but that's not the part of the coconut I'm using, so I hope it will work out. {Smile}

   I got a chattier Uber driver for the way home. {Smile}

   The housekeeper was here when I got back, which is great. The house is definitely cleaner for her attentions. {Smile}

   I had breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom, and read to her before dinner. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read three cards, one from church, one from Auntie Barbara, and one from Mom's nephew and his family. Then I started her niece's long family Christmas letter from last Christmas. After that, I read and showed her pictures in _Memories Space Race_, Starting with President Kennedy's famous speech about choosing to go to the moon, and continuing through the Gemini program and the early Apollo program.  Next, I read "Steph and Ayesha Curry Serve Up 15 Million Pandemic Meals," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I read the June 3rd story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed both reading and pictures, especially the Space Race. {Smile}

   No exercise beyond physical therapy today. That's plenty. {Smile}

   I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch, just late enough that the beginning paperwork filled the time until the early long, large-group event ended. Then I started chatting with Perogies, and I made a new character to team with a new character he'd made. We played a while, and remade it, and caught up to where I'd been, and did just a bit more before it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, checking on who was in, and similar paperwork. I read the comics I like while waiting, because Owl Girl was planning to come in "in a bit." They did, and we teamed up, along with a friend of theirs. The three of us ran a few of those complicated missions, and I got another badge... Badges are going slower now, but they are progressing. Eventually the friend left, and we played a few more missions, the last a regular mission I had. I talked with Nox before they went to bed, and with Owl Girl after the last mission. I wrote this after the last mission, too. {Smile}

Daily Update, June 2, 2023

    Today, I did a couple of errands. I called Uber, and a nice driver picked me up and took me to the vet to get Val's medicine. then he showed me how to set up a multi-stop trip and took me to Hilo Shopping Center for now extra official cost, though I did give him a higher tip. There, I got some dried cranberries, and looked at their dried goji berries, and decided they were too expensive. Then I walked to Mom's bank for some banking. After that, I called Uber, and a different driver took me home. {Smile}

   I had lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read two Christmas cards from 2020, one from her cousin, and the other from a friend of her sister's. Then, I started reading and showing her pictures in, _Memories Space Race, starting with the blurb on the back, and continuing with the first several pages.  Next, I read "Cancer Trial's Unexpected Result: Every Patient in Remission," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I read the June 2nd story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed both reading and pictures. {Smile}

   After dinner, I did all the exercises my therapist wants me to do two days after physical therapy: my walking, arm swinging, arm weight training (with more repetitions this time, a couple of time one or two more than I meant to), and my head exercises. {Smile}

   I researched some stuff for my story in the morning, before the errands, and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. Perogies was in the early long, large-group event, but that was full, and afterwards he had to go offline for food, family, and rest. However, Paradox was ready to come on when I was, and even urged me to get on a little sooner, so we teamed up, and finished a story arc I'd started on one of my higher-level characters. Then they left, and I did some paperwork and red some comics. Perogies came on just in time to say hello and chat a little before I left to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I did my exercises, and read a longer comic. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I ran a solo mission to get a badge. Then I saw that Owl Girl was on, so I said hi, and we teamed up. We ran some individual missions, and they earned a special mission. They'd just started advertising that special mission, and two had joined us to do it when Phonso came on and invited us to a task force. Oh, we wish he'd spoken just a bit sooner! If we hadn't just added two expecting the promised mission, we both would have loved to join Phonso, but Owl girl felt committed, and I really didn't want to leave, especially when that promised mission might help me get badges that are tricky to get. I did get two badges out of this, including one that can only be gotten in that kind of mission, and made progress on some others that also require or pretty much require that kind of mission. Then we ran more of the solo missions, adding a few more, and having some leave, until the team broke up. Then Owl Girl and I chatted, and eventually I picked up a couple more badges through a quiet way. Perogies joined us and started farming to get some stuff for us and his characters, too, and I wrote this up. {Smile}

Daily Update, June 1, 2023

    Today, I knew the secretary from Helping hands planned to drop by to chat and get the month's check, so I stayed home and read comics while I waited. I also called her at one point, to get a better idea of when she was coming. We had a nice chat when she came, if not a long one. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Next I read two cards, one from her niece from last Christmas, and the other from me for a birthday. Then, I finished showing Mom pictures in _The Calming Cat Book_.  I covered the second half of the book, commenting on each picture. Next, I read "Lost Dogs Return Home when Owners Cook Special Sausages," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I read the May 31st story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. After that, i showed her another picture book, _Memories Space Race,_ and read the blurb on the back. Yes, she wants me to read that one next. Mom enjoyed all of it: reading, pictures, and commenting. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises partway through the evening during a lull in play on City of Heroes: Homecoming. That's the only exercise the therapist wants the day after physical therapy. I'm glad I got it done, but I want to go back to doing it earlier. i really could have. {Smile}

   I read comics in the morning, and through lunch, and even after lunch. Then, after a break, I read more comics, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I let Kitten know on the chat server that I was going in, but they weren't there. It looked like Perogies was busy with the early long, large-group event, and also like the zone was pretty full, so I caught up on paperwork left from last night. I was just finishing as Perogies was finishing the event, so we teamed up. He really wanted to watch a show, but I realized I wasn't in the mood... I want to think about the show we just watched a bit more first. We did talk about that show, and then Kitten came in, and joined us, and we started teaming, since we haven't worked out a good way for all three to watch much together. A few missions took us close to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I read a few more comics. (I really want to switch to writing my stories during some of the time I'm reading comics, but somehow that didn't happen today.) I dropped a note to Kitten and worked on some paperwork I discovered. Kitten came in when I was deep in the paperwork, which made space on the character I wanted to play, so I kept at that, talking with Kitten as I could, until I got it fixed up. Then we played a lower mid-level story arc. As we finished up, Paradox spoke up on Discord, wanting to come join us for teaming for the first time in a while. They did, and another friend I rarely team with said hi, and joined us for one mission they were doing for badges. Then that person left, and Paradox, Kitten and I ran another story arc of the same level. paradox switched to a character around that level so they could get some experience. Paradox left after that arc, and I took a break to feed Val. when I got back, Kitten was unresponsive, but I got to talking to Owl Girl, and joined them for three or four missions before breaking to write this. {Smile}

Daily Update, May 31 2023

    Today, the morning ran late enough, I dashed off to physical therapy right after breakfast. I got a driver who was particularly quiet. I think he usually tends to be quiet, but he was even more so than usual. {Smile}

   I did arrive at physical therapy a little early, but the secretary wasn't in. She came in, left again, and came back. The second time, I caught her to make appointments through the next month, though she said she'd taken her break so that she'd be there when I was done. I also chatted with my therapist. He's interested in my storya, dn i think he helped me decide to compare Menehune skin tones to types of chocolate, since they're a Hawaiian Little People. {Smile}

   I took Uber back home afterwards with a chattier driver. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued by finishing her niece's long family letter from 2019. Next, I showed Mom pictures in _The Calming Cat Book_. I started at the beginning again, which is good, because I discovered I missed a page yesterday.  I commented on each picture, and s howed more than I expected, because she was responding fairly often. Next, I read 'Sober 30 Years, Elton John Claims AA Zoom Meetings During Pandemic "A Lifesaver,"' from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. I finished with the May 31st story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed all of it: reading, pictures, and commenting. {Smile}

   No exercise beyond physical therapy today. {Smile}

   I read comics over lunch, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I teamed up with Perogies and Kitten. We ran several missions before Kitten left because they were just too tired to enjoy playing. Then Perogies and I finished the movie we'd started a few days ago, _Arrival_. That took us to time to read to Mom, with barely any time to talk about it, about that's okay. We'll talk about it some time, I'm sure. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found no one I particularly like to team with on, so I joined short task force. As we disbanded, I saw Owl Girl and Phonzo. Phonzo was running a TF, but it filled before I could join. So I asked about a later run, and said I wanted to be in it. I chatted with them a little more, and with Nox on the chat server, and caught up on some paperwork as I waited for them to finish. When they finished, I got together with Phonso, and invited Owl Girl to join us too. Phonso recruited the rest of the Task force, and we ran it. After the Task Force, Owl girl and I ran a story arc I had. One mission was too tough, but when we left the mission to regroup, we found two characters Owl Girl knew. We asked them for help, and they joined us. With their help, we finished that mission with much less trouble. They stayed for the rest of the story arc, and we established connections so we can stay in touch. That story arc went too late for me write much of this update until the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, May 30, 2023

    Today was a day of phone calls, as a visit.

   I called the vet, and ordered more medicine for Val. I also checked about some medicine we'd stopped, and under the vet's directions, restarted him on it. So far - with only one dose to go by - he ate most, and didn't throw up, which is better than the last time. I can hope it helps his urinary tract disease, and the medicine I'll pick up soon will keep him from throwing it up again. {Smile}

   I also called outpatient therapy at Life Care Center, they had me down for an appointment Saturday, which I didn't have, but put down after hanging up. We arranged to make more appointments tomorrow, when I go in for therapy. I do feel better having one more appointment already; down to one appointment felt tight. {Smile}

   The visit was to my dear family friend in Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. I took Uber over, and had a very short wait. The driver was taking someone home from downtown who lived really close, so they were only 3 minutes away.

   I took a book a friend had given me, that she'd been given herself. I gave it to the dear family friend, who said she'd treasure it even more, knowing it had been passed along. I sat and visited for a fair while, then tried to visit her daughter who's in the same care facility, but she was sleeping. So, I went home by Uber, again getting a driver who was quite close. He said a ship was in, and the passengers tended to want to visit a waterfall which was right nearby, so he thought that was why folks were nearby. maybe so, but I'd think they wouldn't stay long at the waterfall... but I admit I don't always understand tourists. {Smile}

   Later, I got a call from the pharmacy. They'd caught a dosage change in a medicine my doctor recently renewed. They called him to check, and he wanted the old dosage. When they asked, I thought I didn't feel different, but this may help the unusually low blood sugar numbers, and also more frequent unstable blood sugar incidents I think I've had recently. Good thing they caught it and checked. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with more from her niece's long family letter from 2019. Then I finished reading and showing Mom pictures from _Memories 1960's_. Next, I started showing Mom pictures in _The Calming Cat Book_. There's a minimum of words to read, so I commented on each picture. Next, I read "Afghan Translator Saves US Lives, and then Becomes an American Citizen," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. I finished with the May 30th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed all of it: reading, pictures, and commenting. {Smile}

   I did my walking, arm swinging, arm weight training, and head exercises after dinner, and over 20 minutes of salsa dancing later, including both warmup and less structured dancing. I hoped to do more, especially since i started slightly earlier, but then I did the extra fast piece as the second of the second set, and I just did not recover from that in time to want to try again. {rueful smile} However, I did get both half circle taps and both double fast turns in the same direction into my dance, both during the warmup, and during the slower of the less structured dance pieces. {Smile}

   I read comics over lunch, and after lunch, too. then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and found Perogies and Azurette on. Azurette didn't respond to my hi, but Perogies did, and we teamed up, doing more missions together. We also chatted, visiting, and I did get an announcement from Azurette. Then Perogies left, and I thought it was time for the later short, large-group event. Then I realized I'd misread the clock and did a bunch of paperwork that had piled up while we played. That almost took me to time to read to Mom, so I started a little earlier than usual today. {Smile}

   After dinner and exercises, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. No one I particularly like to team with was on, so I started watching for teams. I saw three folks ask for teams, then one of them started a team of individual missions. I joined it, and it continued all evening. I eventually chatted with Nox and Azurette while continuing to team. Nox left for bed, but Azurette eventually joined the team, which was great. Teaming with strangers was okay, but I DO prefer teams with friends in them. {SMILE} After the exercise, I started writing this. After a while, I checked the game, and found Perogies back on. He suggested I stick a character in a mission he was doing while I continued to write this, so I did. {Smile}