Daily Update, September 22, 2023

    I got some nice texts today, including some pictures from Auntie Barbara showing her enjoying herself with friends back home, where she's visiting. That was great to see! {SMILE}

   I also had an actual test chat with Nox on the text server around lunch time. It got me thinking about family, and how distant I am from many relatives. Then I checked Facebook. The cousin I tried writing to a while back is a Facebook friend, so I made tentative steps towards communicating through Facebook. We'll see where things go from here. {Smile}

   I ate Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom, and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read a Thanksgiving card from her sister, a Christmas Card with pictures from a friend, and a Birthday card from me. Then, I started reading _Visions of Scotland. First, I read the blurb on the back of the book. then I read a caption they had right on the title page. Then I read the caption for the first few pages of pictures. It has lots of pictures and fairly short caption, which works pretty well for reading to Mom. Next, I read a story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Last, I ended with _Winter Stores_, the September 22nd story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mrs. Hedgehog was worried that they might not have enough food stored away for winter. She was especially worried that they had no fruit. LIttle harry Hedgehog told them about a pile of sweet red apples that belonged to an old lady who gave him milk when she saw him. His father told him to lead the way, so he did. His mother complained it was too far to carry the apples, but his father rolled up into a ball, and rolled onto the apples. One stuck to the spines on his back, so it was easy to carry home. The others copied him, and soon they had enough apples for winter. {Smile}

   I got started a little earlier on my exercises than last night, so I got my arm swinging exercises, my walking exercises, and my arm resistance exercises done before I did my salsa dancing warmup set. I did my less structed salsa dancing set after a break. Then, after another break, I did my standing arm weight training exercises and one of my sitting arm weight training exercises, followed by my leg exercises, then the other three sitting arm weight training exercises, then my head exercises. So, I got everything done again, though again, it was late. {Smile}

   I shared yesterday's daily update - and the day before's update, too, on my blog, since I discovered I'd forgotten to share it yesterday- in the morning. I also read comics and articles in the morning. After lunch and cleaning myself up, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did some paperwork, and found Perogies getting ready for the later short, large-group event. I joined it too on one of the characters I'm working on developing. Then we got together. He was tired and wanted to watch a show on a new service he found, where we could both watch the shows with free accounts. I texted our former nurse to tell him about the website, since he watches far more shows than I do. He thanks me. Then Perogies picked a show he thought I'd like, and we watched it. It was okay, but I really prefer more adventurous shows, 

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and found Perogies still on. I noticed he was on the new character: He was trying to gain 5 levels so he could continue the story. That didn't sound quite right, so I looked it up. We only needed two levels to continue the story. He thanked me, since he was now at the right level. I tried to get a character with a mission I could use to talk to me, but he wouldn't. So, we picked a story arc we both needed that we were sure we could do and ran the first few missions until Perogies was tired enough to head to bed. He tried to tell me to continue without him, but I insisted I'd rather wait and continue together.  Then I soloed some on the character I'd run the early short, large-group event on until I got an item I wanted, before starting my exercises. I tried to concentrate on writing this up after that, but comics, one video, and checking things on City of Heroes: Homecoming all distracted me. {Smile}

Daily Update, September 21, 2023

 I got a text from the vet. Yes, one unit of insulin as long as Val is eating. If he stops, no more insulin while he isn't eating. That makes sense to me. {Smile}

Looks like I sent the day before's story twice; I thought I hadn't added it just long enough to send it again. {blush, look down}

I got up late enough, and taking care of Val took long enough, I started eating breakfast while I was signing into my counselling session already this morning. I think it was an okay session. We talked about what's been happening recently with Val and others, too. I'm not entirely comfortable with what she says about how to build a family, but we'll see what happens. At this point, I really need to be open to possibilities, and that was her biggest suggestion, so we're in full agreement there. {smile}

I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I read a Thanksgiving card from her sister, a birthday card from her cousin, and a valentine's day card from her sister, too. After that, I finished reading _Memories 1960s_ properly this time, reading all the pages from the first missed pages, including those I had read, then finishing with teh blurb ont he back of the book. Next, I read three poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. That seemed short, but the next story was four pages long, which seemed too much when she was already tired. So, I ended with _Bobby's Toys_, the September 21st story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Bobby had been given a toy monkey for his birthday, but three weeks later, it was still on a high shelf, not played with. The monkey complained about the boy not playing with him, when he was glossy and new, when the boy played with an old worn teddy bear who was missing half his fur and one eye. The teddy bear suggested staying up on the shelf if he wanted to stay glossy, clean, and unworn, because he'd gotten the way he was from being played with often. The monkey didn't know whether to topple off the shelf and join the fun, or stay up there, out of harm's way. {Smile}

Well, I didn't do any exercise until my salsa dancing. Then I did my warmup salsa dancing set, then my head exercises during the break, then my less structured salsa dancing set. Yes, I got over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. Then I did my arm resistance exercises, my walking exercises, my arm swinging exercises, and my leg exercises. The last of the leg exercises left me panting a little, so I took a short break after that. After the break, I did my standing arm weight training exercises, followed by my sitting arm weight training exercises. Yes, I got them all done today! {SMILE}

I read articles and comics after the video counselling session, and also right after lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I didn't see any of my closer friends on, but I did see a high-level trial being advertised. The run was trying for a particular badge. It turned out my best badge collector didn't have that badge, so I ran it on her. Kitten came on near the beginning and said hi. I promised to join them after it was over. Wehn we were both done with what we were doing, we teamed up with me on the lower-level character I've been working on. We started that story arc I wanted to start, and Perogies came in and joined us for much of the first part. He left before the last mission. So, Kitten and I finished without him. Then I started a contact with less story to his missions, and Kitten and I ran a few missions before it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I said hi to Kitten on the chat server, and they said hi and came on to team up with me. I also started chatting with the fellow I met a few nights ago who likes stories. After a while, I invited him to join us. We finished up that contact, and I was ready to start the next story arc until I realized my character was one level too low. I had an individual mission, which got me a little closer to the next level, and then got a similar one, which also got me closer to the next level. I said hi to Nox but didn't get back to them in time to chat. We ended up saying goodnight and hoping to talk more soon. The contact for the individual missions wanted to give me a complicated mission. I asked my teammates if they wanted to, they pretty much said it was up to me. So, I got it, and we did it, and then my new friend left because it was getting late. Rather than start the story arc when I didn't think we'd have time to finish, I switched to first one then another high-level character I've developing further and ran a single mission with particularly good rewards on each. Then I talked with Kitten a bit as I started my salsa dancing and other exercises. I concentrated on doing them and writing this more, but I still snuck on for a bit of paperwork. I'll have to share this the day after; it's getting too late to take the time before bed. {apologetic smile}

I finally published the day before's update just before this one. {smile}

Daily Update, September 20, 2023

   Oops! I forgot to post this yesterday. Well, I can post it now. {Smile}

   Val... seemed to have a very bad hypoglycemic episode this afternoon. He was staggering and walking funny even after one syringe of karo syrup, prompting a second syringe of Karo Syrup. I tried to call the vet, but only go their answering machine. I left two messages, and one text message, but it's well after closing time, and they still haven't called back. I'm increasing his food - I didn't realize how much I'd cut back - and I'm seriously considering doing less insulin as if he hadn't finished his meal, because they're really large snacks, not full meals. {bite lips} I'll try to contact them again in the morning. (smile)

   I got a call from our former nurse after dinner. It was great to get to talk with him again. {Smile}

   Actually, I feel comfortable giving him one unit tonight I increased his food by less than a spoonful, and now he's not licking the bowl clean, but leaving a thin layer. They said to give him only one unit if he didn't finish, and now it feels like he isn't quite finishing. {Smile} 

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with two Christmas cards, one from Mom's nephew, the other from her cousin's granddaughter, and a birthday card from a different cousin than the one with the granddaughter. Next, I tried to show her next several pages in _Memories 1960s_, but I got to the end, then discovered I'd skipped a few. So, I put the bookmark at the first I skipped, and I'll figure out what to do tomorrow.  After that, I read a few poems and a short story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I ended with _Winter in Africa_, the September 20th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A boy asked his father why the swallows were gathering on the wires. His father said they were getting ready to go to north Africa, where they spend the winter. The boy wanted to go to, but the father said that he, himself, had to work, and the boy had to go to school He promised they'd be bac int eh spring. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises while waiting for Phonso's fourth trial. Then I did my salsa dancing after his sixth trial. First, I did my warmup set, then I did my less structured set after feeding Val and a short rest. After another short rest, I did my arm swinging exercises, my walking exercises, and my arm resistance exercises. I only missed the arm weight training exercises and the leg exercises. I had to treat hypoglycemia after the arm resistance exercises, and it didn't get better quite quickly enough to do the last few exercises. {Smile}

   I read articles in the morning and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I met Perogies, who was eager to join the short, large-group event. He sort-of managed, getting into the zone, but not able to join the group - the zone holds two more than the group can - so he ran the event alone, still getting the credit that really matters. When I tried just after him, I didn't even get into the zone, so I just did paperwork until he was done. It didn't last long. About that time, Kitten showed us, so the three of us got the new characters, and ran a few missions before Perogies had to leave. Then Kitten and I switched, and we ran a story arc I've been very much wanting to do. Perogies came back and did a mission or two with us before leaving again. Kitten and I finished the story arc and had time for a mission or two. Starting the next story arc didn't feel right, so I found an individual mission nearby that we did. Then it was fairly close to time to read to Mom, and Kitten went quiet, so I did a little paperwork, and broke to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner and the phone call, I caught up on comics. Then I fed Val his first slightly larger meal before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I saw both Kitten and Phonso on. Kitten started talking to me quickly. Phonso was on a team, so I asked if he was in a trial, expecting to hear he was. He wasn't quite yet, and had two spots left on the team, so I joined, and got Kitten to join too. Phonso ran six trials. I ran the first three on the character who they'd all count towards a reward they're actively working on. I could have stayed on her for more credit, but the rewards go down after the first run of the day, so I switched to a character who'd get stuff she needs more of from the run. Then I remembered a character who needs a particular reward she could get from a run and did the next on her. I did the last one on yet a different character who is collecting stuff similar to the what the first one is collecting. I think she actually got a little more of it than the other one did. Then I left the game while doing my salsa dancing and the exercises after it, then snuck in for a little paperwork now and then but tried not to stay in and get involved in anything. The last couple of nights ran late because of getting into stuff with Perogies, and last night Kitten, too. which was all my doing, not theirs. I know when I need to leave, but I need to start actually doing it, so I concentrate on this enough to get it written before bed, not finished the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, September 19, 2023

    Today, instead of the monthly picnic, we had a Zoom meeting of the same folks... or some of the same folks. Some didn't come, but we had a nice meeting of six or seven at the maximum, counting the leader and me. It was a nice meeting which lasted about two hours. When my Zoom is mostly counselling, which can't be longer than an hour on my insurance's system, not even a little, that feels long, but it was really nice. {Smile}

   The housekeeper finally came, and I sang her "the song about the apples" to thank her for not exposing us while she had Covid. She loved it, and didn't really remember it until I sang it, though I sang it to her a previous time in a similar situation, where she stayed home to avoid giving us what she'd caught. {Smile}

   I got a call from our former nurse in the afternoon. That was nice. I like talking with him, and we did have a nice chat. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started by reading scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued by reading three birthday cards, one from a friend, one from church, and the third from me. Next, I showed her the first several pages in _Memories 1960s_.  After that, I read a short story and a couple of poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I thought I'd read more poems, but she seemed tired, so I cut to _Autumn Leaves_, the September 19th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A boy asked his father why the swallows were gathering on the wires. His father said they were getting ready to go to north Africa, where they spend the winter. The boy wanted to go to, but the father said that he, himself, had to work, and the boy had to go to school He promised they'd be back in the spring. {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises while waiting for the first story arc of the evening. Then I did my walking exercises and my leg exercises waiting for the second story arc of the evening. I did my head exercises while waiting for Phonso's for trial, which the second story arc got replaced with when the leader agreed to it. Then I did my arm swinging exercises while waiting for Phonso's second trial. Then at the usual time I did my salsa dancing, fir the warmup set, then the less structured set for over 20 minutes of salsa dancing in total. a little later, I did my standing arm weight resistance exercises. {Smile}

   I read comics after lunch and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did some paperwork, and looked around, but didn't see anyone. I did chat with Kitten and Nox on the chat server, but no one was in the game who I particularly like to team up with. When the housekeeper left, I took a break to clean myself up. Then I read some comics. I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming particularly late in the afternoon for me. I didn't see anyone I particularly like to team with. It was really too close to time to read to Mom to join much, so I just hunted for the rewards I like so much when I finished with paperwork.  {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I chatted with Kitten on the chat server, but found no one there, and very little going on. I did spot a story arc; I think it was led by the same fellow as last night. I joined it, and we ran it. The leader said he'd do the next in a bit, so I just waited for it. Eventually, I noticed he'd advertised and asked to join. No one else had, despite the advertisement being old. We went to the contact, and started to wait for more to join when Phonso invited us to a task force. I asked the leader if he'd like to, and kind of talked him into it. It wasn't too hard; he was slightly reluctant, but open. We joined and ran it when Phonso got enough for his satisfaction. The story arc leader left after the first. I messaged him, and he said his character was too low. I asked if he had someone higher. He did and ran the next two on that one. I also talked to Nox a bit on the chat server before they went to bed. I chatted with the leader of the story arcs some more after the trials, and we established communications. He likes stories too. I'm hoping he'll like the way I share the stories when teams don't object and I'm leading. I read comics, did paperwork, and wrote this up around my salsa dancing and exercises until Perogies came on. {Smile}

   Perogies and I chatted, and I admired how he was playing with some enemies in the game. Then I found out he was playing with some low-level enemies in the game, teleporting them into places they can't get to on their own. First, he'd stun them Then he teleported them into the plaza, and up onto a globe one of the statues holds. There, they got up, and staggered around, stunned, until they fell off. We think one of the stores below took them out. Perogies started testing this and found out that a store that looks like a regular businesswoman can take out a gun because she did and shot them. He recreated this feat so I could see it. Then he tried taking them over to the trainer, a heroic young woman who used a combination of energy powers and martial arts to take them out. I missed teh first time, so he recreated it for me, and it was truly a treat to watch. Then Kitten came in and joined us, so we had to show them that trainer's prowess. Then I mentioned a time when a friend drew an enemy to the other trainer - a tough guy in as bad a neighborhood as that zone has - and he just started going from enemy to enemy, clearing 3/4ers of the area around him. Of course, Perogies wanted to see that, and so did Kitten, I think, so we went over to him. It was really something to watch. One enemy would get him stared, but they'd get scared and run, and he'd take out 3-6 groups before settling. though once he settled, he'd ignore them for a short cooldown period, catching his breath, I guess. I particularly liked it when he ran up a fire escape to chase someone down. you cannot complain he lacks enthusiasm. {GRIN}

Daily Update, September 18, 2023

    I think I forgot to mention that I had a phone call with Auntie Barbara after dinner Sunday. It went well. {Smile}

   Monday morning, right after breakfast, I called the veterinarian's office. They answered and assured me Val was ready to come home, and was even letting them pet him, he was in that much better a mood.

   So, I hung up, let that sink in, began to call Melanie, remembered she's on a trip, and called Alan to tell him that I needed a ride to pick up Val and take him home. Alan asked when I wanted to pick him up. Well, not between 12 noon and 1 pm, because that's their lunch break. When could he come and get me. He said give him 15 minutes to finish up. I was happy to. {Smile}

   Alan came, and picked me up, and took me down to the vet. They want to see Val again in a couple of weeks, so we made that appointment. Then he waited in the car while I arranged for the refund for Val's stay, and got his medicine, and him. He was quiet on the way home, not meowing plaintively. I think he knew we were going home and was just happy we were. {Smile}

   So, I got him home, fed him, and after a while, he came and sat on the chair next to me. I petted him on and off, until he suddenly started jerking, and even fell off the chair. He was having a seizure! I got our nurse, who said he didn't know what to do, but he did pull him out of the spot he was in and put him on a couch in the living room. I moved him to the couch which has a heavy foam ramp so he wouldn't have to jump. I called the vet's office, and texted them, too. they responded by text, suggesting that I try Karo Syrup. I did, and he walked less shakily after that. I guess it was hypoglycemia, but why must Val's be so much scarier than dad's and mine? {wistful look}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read a Christmas letter from 2018 from a friend of Mom's sister complete with a poem, which the friend includes every year. After that, I showed her the last few pages in _the Picture Book of Vintage Vogue_, with its pictures of old Vogue magazine covers from the early 1900's. I read the full date when the picture had one, and any other words that caught my eye. Then I showed her _Memories 1960s_, reading her the blurb on the back, and promising to start it tomorrow.  After that, I read Thumbelina, a short story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Last, I finished with _Mushrooms_, the September 18th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. David, Diana's older brother wanted to see the mushrooms she'd picked. He waws impressed with the number, but asked about the colored ones, which he said weren't mushrooms. She told where she'd found them, and pointed out how pretty they were. David told her to throw them away because they were poisonous, and which kind of mushrooms me meant to gather. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and my arm swinging exercises while waiting for Alan to come for me. I did my walking exercises and arm resistance exercises while waiting for Phonso's second trial to fill. After taht, i was plain too drained mentally, emotionally and physically. Getting Val back, then having the seizure, and not knowing what to do, or what might be the problem... Yeah, I was quite drained. a snack to help hypoglycemia helped, but not enough soon enough. {rueful smile}

   I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. Then I did paperwork and some solo play when I didn't catch the early short, large-group event like I hoped to. After that, Perogies came in, and we teamed up. We began running missions together. Then Meroa came in and said hi. They joined us and ran a few missions before they had to leave. Perogies and I ran a couple more missions before it was time for him to go to bed, and me to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Not finding anyone on, I saw one story arc being advertised, and joined it. We ran it successfully. After it was done, two of the folks didn't leave the team, but started talking about how they both needed a particular item that I've been running the high-level individual missions for. So, I introduced them to it. While we were getting going, Perogies came on and said hi, so they joined us. Then the others let, and Perogies and I ran another mission. Phonso came on when we were part way through and invited us to the first of three trials. We finished the mission, accepted, and ran that trial. I disconnected partway through but was able to reconnect before I'd missed too much. Then we ran the next trial. I also chatted with Nox on the chat server a bit. Perogies left, and I considered doing my salsa dancing, but I was just too tired, between hypoglycemia of my own, and all that had happened with Val earlier. So, I ran the third trial, which was less physically demanding. Then the group split up, and I did paperwork and wrote some of this, switching to notes to finish the next day when it got late. {Smile}

Daily Update, September 17, 2023

    Val is home and doing okay. but more of that in Monday's update. This is Sunday's update, and he wasn't home yet on Sunday. {SMILE}

   Today was Sunday, so after breakfast, I contacted Uber, and a nice, chatty guy I've ridden with several times came and took me to church. I didn't have to wait long at all; in fact, I only had time for my head exercises before he came. We had a nice talk all the way there. {Smile}

   I got there early enough to visit with a couple of friends, as well as prepare the hymnal for the service. It really helps to get the bookmarks set up for the hymns before the service. It was a nice service. Auntie Barbara was busy with the Sunday School, so she didn't come sit with me until after communion. We sat together for lunch after the service. I will miss her; she's going home for over a month to visit long-time friends and family back in South Carolina. Her husband is staying here, as is his habit, so the house won't be empty. {Smile}

   She took me home and visited with Mom. She mentioned how odd it seems to not have Valentine at home when we get there. Yes, it is odd, but I hope things will return to normal soon. {Smile}

   I apparently missed a call from the veterinarian herself, but she left a message on my cell phone's voicemail. She assures me he's eating fairly normally, and while he's still not quite back to normal, they hope he will be ready to go home tomorrow. {Smile}

   I did call my aunt Valerie after Auntie Barbara left. She even talked with Mom a little, though Mom stopped responding and started just listening after a few questions, so Aunt Valerie stopped. It wasn't long, but they did get to talk. And I talked with her both before and after she talked with Mom, so we got a nice chat. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with the last of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Next I showed her the next several pages in _the Picture Book of Vintage Vogue_, with its pictures of old Vogue magazine covers from the early 1900's. This time I tried to read the full date, though one didn't have a date, and some it was so tiny, I couldn't make it out. She woke up for it again, and enjoyed the pictures, too. After that, I read a short story and a few poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with _Baby Kiki_, the September 17th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Bertha, the mother kangaroo was going to visit Granny Kangaroo, but she was afraid it would take her all day just to get there, because she was moving so slowly. Granny Kangaroo saw her and asked why she was moving so slow. Was she sick? No, it was baby Kiki, who insisted on staying in the pouch as the baby of the family, even though he was getting big and heavy. It made moving around, especially travelling, hard. He told Granny he got blisters on his feet and liked it in there. Granny made him colorful striped socks. Then Kiki was out all day, showing them off to his friends. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises while waiting for Uber to come take me to church, and I did my arm swinging exercises after church, while waiting for Auntie Barbara to take me home. I did my walking exercises while waiting for the evening task force to start. Then I did my arm resistance exercises and leg exercises after the evening trial, when the second trial fell through. I did my salsa dancing at the usual time, first the warmup set, then the less structured set, for over 20 minutes of it. After that, I did my standing arm weight training exercises after a little rest after my salsa dancing. {Smile}

 I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after calling Aunt Valerie. There, as I tried to start some paperwork, Perogies called me to hurry to join the early short, large-group event. I did, and ran it, and got the rewards I hoped for, as well as the ones I knew I'd get. Then I think he had to leave. I got some paperwork done, but not much before Kitten came in. They mentioned being frustrated about getting behind on the new low levels we three all have. I got mine out, and we started running Kitten's missions to help them catch up. Perogies came back in and joined us. Then Meroa came in and joined us, too. We ran a few missions together. Then Meroa left. Perogies, Kitten and I kept going until it got close to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   When I came back, Kitten was on, but not the others... but kitten was quiet. They'd fallen asleep. I found a low-level taskforce and found a character who needed it. After that, a low-level trial advertised, and I jumped into it. When it was done, the leader was going to run it again. I asked if I could switch. He said yes, and I made the switch pretty fast, but they were gone when I got back. However, as I was trying to figure out what to do next, Kitten woke up, and we started talking. We teamed up, running a few missions. I chatted with Nox briefly on the chat server, since I didn't remember until they were almost ready for bed. I did tell them the news that Val was better, at least. I kept teaming with Kitten until it was time for salsa dancing. I interspersed writing this and paperwork with the dancing and exercise, and with chatting with Kitten on the chat server after the dancing. Yes, I made notes to finish writing this up the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, September 16, 2023

    On Saturday, I got a call from the veterinarian's office before dinner. Val is eating again and doing better in general after a rougher start. They hope he'll be ready to come home Monday. That's such a relief, but somehow, it's dawning on me now that he was worse than I realized. Now it's hard not to worry that things won't go as smoothly as hoped. {smile}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. I continued with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020 next. Then I continued by showing her the first several pages in _the Picture Book of Vintage Vogue_, showing her pictures of old Vogue magazine covers, mostly from the early 1900's. I just read the month and year, though it gives a day, too, and Vogue, and a few other things on each cover. She seemed to wake up for it, and enjoyed the pictures, too. After that, I read a few poems and two short stories from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with _Old Mr Bear_, the September 15th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Old Mr Bear was hobbling along with his cane, dabbing a cut above his eye, and muttering about walking into a branch. He went to Mrs Hedgehog's house, where she bathed his cut and gave him some tea when he squeezed his head through her window. As he shuffled home, he decided to give her some honey. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises right before my salsa dancing warmup. Since I didn't have to take care of Val in between the salsa dancing sets, I did my head exercises, and my arm resistance exercises between the sets. Yes, I did the less structured set, too, for over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. then I was tired enough, I didn't manage my arm swinging exercises, leg exercises, or arm weight training exercises, but this is much better than the day before. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming for some paperwork and solo play. Then I took a break to clean myself up and hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming around midafternoon. I found Kitten teamed with two of their friends, and Perogies and I managed to join them, though that took a little doing at first. We ran several missions together, before both of Kitten's friends decided they were tired and left. I think Perogies left, too, when I noticed it was close to time to read to Mom and pointed it out. Kitten stayed through some paperwork I did before actually leaving to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and found Kitten. We teamed up and finished the low-level story arc from last night. I noticed two of my favorites were that level too and got ready to start one when Kitten complained that they wanted to develop the new character that's a new type for us all, but we were never available at the same time. (Well, when we are, we've gotten busy with something else, like teaming with Kitten's friends.) So, I switched to my character, and got ready to run Kitten's missions to help them catch up. Then Perogies came in, complaining he couldn't sleep, and joined us. We ran a few missions, almost catching Kitten up to where we were before I had to break to do my exercises and salsa dancing. I did more paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming around and after the exercises, along with writing this up. {Smile}

Daily Update, September 15, 2023

    Well, before breakfast, I called the vet, and told them about him being off the food, and it being one of a few symptoms I found related to the anti-vomiting medication. They suggested bringing him in at 1:00 pm. So, I started to call Melanie next, and hung up when I remembered she's busy for a few days. I then called Alan, and yes, he could take us, and pick us up at 12:30 pm to make sure we got there in good time. 

   He did pick us up and drop us off in front They weren't open yet; they close for lunch, and reopen right at 1pm, but I haven't found a good way to arrange to arrive on time. When you use Lyft, Uber, or even Allan directly, being on time is really being almost late. {rueful smile}

   They opened up early, telling me they wanted to let me sit inside. I'm happy to sit in air conditioning instead of standing in the heat outside, even if I am in the shade of their porch. They eventually took us in, and the assistant started looking at him and asking, then the doctor saw us, and they took him for tests... the upshot is they want him off three of the four medicines I took in. No, they don't refund for medicine anymore, but they accept donations and will dispose, so i only kept the one they want him back on eventually. They also wanted to keep him over the weekend, hospitalizing him to try to get him to a new normal. I was concerned enough about the price, I asked for options. Yes, I could take him home and care for him, bringing him in for checks Saturday and Monday, and checking him in next week if things didn't go well enough... which wasn't recommended by the doctor, and I didn't feel it felt as hopeful as checking him in for the weekend. The they tried to tell me I needed to go home and fetch his insulin, but a second trip is another $30 trip, and I certainly hope to need another bottle of insulin after the almost empty and the full one I have, so I just bought one and saved myself a trip. then I checked out, and called Alan, and he came and took me home. 

   I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. After that, I continued by showing her the last several pages in _Memories 1940's_, showing her pictures, reading her the captions, and maybe saying a bit more if I felt moved to. After that, I read a short story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with _The Straw Basket_, the September 15th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A little girls got a new basket which she liked so much better than her old basket, since it had a lid, and maybe other features the old basket lacked. The old just wanted someone to use it again. One day, when a coat was pulled roughly off a hook, it set the basket swinging. The basket hopped off the hook, and rolled out the door, where a dog found it, and took it to the woods. There, Mrs. Squirrel found it, and declared it the perfect thing to help her gather nuts. The basket was so happy to be used again! {Smile}

   After the vet, i was just so drained and tired, I didn't have the energy for salsa dancing, or even all my other exercises. I did get my head exercises and my arm resistance exercises done before it got too late. {smile}

   IU read some articles and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming int he morning. I did a little paperwork, but mostly soloed a bit on the least developed of the characters I'm developing, working on getting a little more of a currency I wiped out on her while hunting a badge. It's far from the most useful currency in the game, but it's nice to have more than she does. I didn't get back into City of Heroes: Homecoming again until I got back from the vet. I found a note from Perogies almost half an hour old asking if I'd like to run a mission that gives a badge that contributes to a badge that permanently improves the character. I said yes immediately and caught him just after he'd started. He restarted, and we got the badge together, which was neat, and very nice of him. It's just running one mission, but I don't like to do it alone, so this was great. {Smile}

He inspired me to develop the low-level character I'd run that mission on, so I worked up a costume I liked for the character when I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after dinner. I also said hi to Kitten, who was busy in a short, intense story arc, which gave me more time to get the costume right. We teamed up and ran a story arc she could get. I chatted with Nox a little bit before they went to bed, but I didn't tell them about Valentine spending the weekend in the vet's hospital until a note after they'd left. Perogies came in just as Kitten and I finished that story arc, which meant he could join us for the sequel story arc. He got tired and left two missions from the end. Kitten and I ran one more, than I stopped to do at least a little exercise before bed. I also chatted with them, particularly Kitten after we stopped doing missions. 

Daily Update, August 14, 2023

    Today, I stayed home, and coped with Valentine throwing up a couple of times. Changing his cat food seemed to have stopped that; I hoped it was just a can of food that had gone bad. I did call the vet twice to let them know abou tech of those things. {smile}

   Though I ended up tossing the next can, too... but it didn't smell right even to me. Then he stopped eating. This is not right, not for this cat. Not when he's on a new medicine that ought to start making him feel better, not worse. I will have to call the vet in the morning. I considered increasing the dose of the anti-vomiting medication, but when I looked it up, I found the side effects: excessive dehydration, sudden diarrhea, low energy, little interest in food, and sudden weight loss. He's definitely low energy, he's been losing weight, he's had diarrhea, and now he's not interested in food, and the middle three got worse when I started shooting the medicine down his throat instead of hiding it in his food and letting him not eat some of it. I think I just hold tight and call the vet in the morning. The vet can figure out whether it's a disease or the medicine, or some combination, and what to do about it in any case. Then again, another new can got him eating again, but... talk to the vet. Stop blaming the food. {faint smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started late because I thought another can had gone bad. Some of his cans get dented, and then they go bad quickly, but it may be losing interest in food because of that medication, so talk to the vet. Anyway, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. After that, I continued with _Memories 1940's_, showing her pictures, reading her the captions, and maybe saying a bit more if I felt moved to. I kind of skipped a few pages and went back.. I'll sort it out tomorrow. Next, I sang a song and read three poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with _Back to School_, the September 14th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Jo did not want to go back to school after the holidays, not even when Mummy pointed out it would be fun to see her friends again. She didn't want to work. But when she got to school, the teacher had them draw and paint autumn leaves, and praised jo's, putting it on display. She decided she did like school {Smile}

   After the past few nights, especially last night, I didn't want to leave all my exercises until late again. So, I did my arm resistance exercises, my walking exercises, my arm swinging exercises, and my head exercises while waiting for the later short, large-group event. Then I did two of my sitting arm weight training exercises waiting for Phonso's first taskforce to start. Then I did one more waiting for Phonso's second task force to start. It filled quickly, and I changed characters, or I would have had more time. I did my leg exercises, my last sitting arm weight training exercise, and my standing arm weight training after the second taskforce. {Smile}

   I read articles and some comics in the morning, as well as finished writing and shared yesterday's daily update. After lunch and more reading, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, did some paperwork, and looked around for folks. It got close enough to the later short, large-group event I joined it early, then started my exercises while I waited. Perogies said hi not long before it started; I told him I was in it and interested in teaming up after it. He came and joined it, too, and we both ran it. Then we teamed up and did two or three of the high-level individual missions we've been doing recently. We ended up restarting a couple of times to adjust the difficulty. it was too low, then we overcompensated, and pulled back a bit. We ended the last mission just late enough, another would be tight before reading to Mom, so we chatted instead. then trying to get Val to eat made late to read to Mom. {rueful look}

   I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after dinner, and tried to talk to Azurette, who didn't answer - I suspect she was busy - and Bunneh, who did answer, but was just winding down. So, I did some paperwork, selfcare, and kitty care. I was trying to decide between soloing and joining a group when I noticed Phonso was on. I said hi, and asked what he was up to... he wanted to start a task force, so I joined him, and ran it on my fourth best badge collector when he got a group together. It ended plenty soon enough for him to run another. I switched characters and did it with him on the least developed of the three I'm trying to develop into support for some of my lower-level characters. I also said goodnight to Nox on the chat server when they spoke up to say they were heading to bed before we'd had a real talk again. After finishing the second taskforce, I said goodnight to Phonso, and worked on paperwork and exercises. I also looked at a couple of articles, and at stuff i've been eyeing on Amazon... finally ordered a few. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 13, 2023

    Wednesday, I mostly took things easy. I didn't go out, though I did call Auntie Barbara after dinner. We had a nice chat, which was great. {Smile} 

   I thought a lot about the shorter story... I don't think it's nearly as finished as I thought it was. I think the beginning is earlier, and the end has another whole section to go. Now I just have to work out some part of it enough to start writing it out. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued with more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Then I started _Memories 1940's_, showing her pictures and reading what captions there were, and maybe saying a bit more if I felt moved to. After that, I read a story and three poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Then I finished with _The Helper_, the September 13th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mrs. Mouse just loved to help others. One day, she found a frog limping because he'd strained the springs in his back. Then she found a snail trying to protect his horns from the cold, which made them hurt. Next, she found a lizard hiding because his tail had broken off, and he didn't want folks to see before it grew back. She went home and knitted a hat for the snail, and a made a tail coast to the lizard, and loaned the frog her best walking stick, because she does like to help people. {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, walking exercises, head exercises and arm swinging exercises when the base touring turned into chatting in the base. Then I did salsa dancing, starting with the warmup set, then doing a less structured set. The second included the extra fast piece, so I'm not sure if it was over 20 minutes, or just close, but I suspect it wasn't that many fewer steps. No, I didn't count then; that would be a lot of steps still. After that, I did my leg exercises, my standing arm weight training exercises, and my sitting arm weight training exercises. So, I did them all again. {Smile} 

   I read articles and comics in the morning and over lunch and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after cleaning myself up, which somehow ended up later than usual. I started with paperwork, and then got some badges to make the least developed of the characters I'm developing better prepared for play. Then Perogies said hi and was sounding even more like himself. That is such a relief! We met up for him to show me a new character he's starting. Then we teamed up and ran two of the high-level individual missions. We also chatted, and the last of the three characters I'm developing got enough of the rare and honestly rarely useful currency I needed to get a badge. That meant a little paperwork at the end actually getting that badge. {Smile}

   After supper, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did some paperwork, and checked who was around. Owl Girl was, and I spotted them advertising a group that was running a less commonly advertised type of individual missions.  I switched to the best developed of the characters I'm particularly trying to develop and joined them. We ran several missions with a team of four - not full, that's 8, but a nice bunch. One left, and the three of us ran a couple more. Then the third character was ready to switch, but Owl Girls wanted to do something else. Owl Girl invited them to be Global Friends, and I did likewise. Owl Girl got an invitation from Azurette to see her base. I and the new fellow went with them. I also started chatting with Nox on the chat server, and with a fellow there who's trying to get me into a game he's developing. Our new friend had never seen it, so we got a pretty full tour, only stopping when they left, since we'd started with the new part, then started looking at the rest. We started chatting. I started my exercises but kept chatting in between until we really split up when I was ready to start salsa dancing. I worked on writing this around the dancing and exercises, and read a comic in there, too. I switched to making notes to finish writing this up from the next day a little after I finished the last of the exercises. {Smile}