Daily Update, October 28, 2023

    I expected the housekeeper to come today, but she did not. I have texted her asking if she's okay, and I'm waiting for a reply. I know she was delayed twice, but it's less common for her to not respond. {smile}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom on Saturday and read to her before dinner. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Next, I read a Christmas card from a friend we met through Mom's sister. Then I read the first several few pages of _the Picture Book of Kids and Animals_. She does like seeing the kids, and having them interacting with animals is a plus, too. After that, I read three stories from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished our reading with “Rain,” the 27th of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_. It's a poem about rain, especially how kids may like it, and how some animals don't like it, and others do. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises and my arm swinging exercises after I stopped playing City of Heroes: Homecoming. then I did my salsa dancing warmup set. Then after a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. Then after a shorter break, I did my head exercises, my arm resistance exercises, and my standing arm weight training exercises. I'm gratified with how much I was able to do after my salsa dancing. Maybe I'll get back to doing every exercise at least some nights, even if physical therapy is slow getting started again. {Smile}

   I read articles, watched videos, and read comics and one of the web novels this morning. Over lunch I hopped into City of Heroes to start paperwork early. There, I met up with Pierogies and Kitten, and we started doing warshades to get mine one more level, which she needed to get the next story arc. Then Paradox joined us. We ran a couple of missions, and Pierogies dropped out to do the later long, large-group event. Kitten, Paradox, and I kept doing missions, and finished the story arc not long before it was time to read to Mom. That seemed convenient. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started writing this, then hopped back on City of Heroes: Homecoming. Euclidean hopped back in too, and we teamed up on different characters. I have been playing the warshade and one other character enough to be a little tired of them, so I was happy to get a character I haven't played as much recently. We did a few to several missions, then Paradox let. I started doing paperwork and talking to Nox on the chat server. Then Kitten came in, and we did a mission, then a special Halloween mission. then I said goodnight to both Kitten and Nox and started my exercises. I wrote this and worked on paperwork in the game around the exercises and dancing. then Pierogies came into the game, and we had a nice talk. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 27, 2023

    Today was a day of phone calls, but not the chatty kind. First, I got a call from the podiatrist's office. We scheduled an appointment to see him. I'm having trouble with some of my toenails that I hope he can help with. {Smile}

   Next was a call from my dentist's office. The appointment I had late next month needed to be rescheduled because it requires a dental hygienist, and they aren't going to have one in that day. Fortunately, they had one after lunchtime, as well as one at breakfast time. Unfortunately, it was in May of next year, but if that's the soonest they can see me, then there's no use complaining. {small smile}

   Then I got a call from the veterinarians' office. Val's ashes are ready for pickup. Yes, I can bring in unused medicine. i won't get a refund, but I can donate it, and they'll give it to another patient, so at least it isn't wasted. Since i can do it in the same trip, I might as well. {smile}

   I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom on Friday and read to her before dinner. I started a little late because the game ran late, but still fit a lot in. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I read two Christmas cards from the nursing company, a birthday card from church, and a Mother's Day card from her sister. Then I finished the last few pages of _1950's Fashion in Pictures_, which she did seem particularly interested in. She was quite an amateur seamstress in her day, even making alterations to patterns that I wouldn't have felt confident enough to make myself. Next, I read two stories from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with “The Race,” the 27th of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_. Cosmo was a farm donkey who worked hard carrying loads on his back and pulling the donkey cart around the farm. Polo was a sleek, brown colt, much bigger than Cosmo, who took the big cart to town twice a week. The farmer's children, Dick and Dorothy, liked to go to market. They brushed his coat, polished his hooves, and detangled his mane so he'd look good for town, but didn't bother with Cosmo, since he never left the farm. Polo was proud, but Cosmo had a muddy, matted coat. One day, Dick said they could race. He'd ride polo, and Dorothy could ride Cosmo, since she was smaller. Dorothy didn't want to ride a muddy donkey, but she did for the race. Polo showed off, cantering, and Dick fell off. Cosmo trotted steadily and won the race. Dorthy praised Cosmo and told him she'd brush him and ride him to market. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises, my standing arm weight training exercises, and one of my four sitting arm weight training exercises between playing City of Heroes and my salsa dancing this evening. Then I did my salsa warmup set. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set, too. than after another break, I did my head exercises and my arm resistance exercises. Not quite as much exercise as yesterday, but more after my salsa dancing, which does feel good. I feel like I achieved something. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics between phone calls in the morning, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I found Pierogies eager to do the early long large group event, but Kitten was ready to team up with me. We ran a few missions, and Pierogies joined us when the event was done. I think we kept at it all afternoon. Well, Pierogies left when they were tired. Kitten and I actually ran into the time when I like to read to Mom, but Kitten very kindly rushed a timed mission so I could go. Thank you very much, Kitten! {SMILE}

   I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after dinner. I didn't find anyone on who I like to team with, so I tried joining the Trick-or-Treat. Folks seem to finally be getting tired of it; it broke up after a while. But then Freaky came in, and Kitten. Paradox talked of joining but got into something else until they needed a break already. We teamed for a while before Freaky left. Then Kitten and I talked of doing more, but they decided they needed to rest, so I did some paperwork. It was too late to start something new. I also talked with Nox on the chat server, and a bit with Kitten, Owl Girl, and Paradox. Oh, and I read comics, and watched an extra video, too. Extra because my salsa dancing is technically to YouTube videos, though most are just a still picture and music. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 26, 2023

    Thursday, I had a little text conversation with Auntie Barbara, and another one with the secretary from Helping Hands Healthcare, the nursing company that takes care of mom and me. Otherwise, it was a quiet day. {Smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom on Thursday and read to her before dinner. She was more awake than yesterday, though quiet, which is typical these days. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then, I read a birthday card from Church, an Christmas card from her cousin's granddaughter, and an Easter card from me. Next, I got back to reading a few pages of _1950's Fashion in Pictures_, which she seemed to like. Then I read two storied from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with “Flop-Ears' Treat,” the 26th of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_. Flop ears, a young rabbit was very bored, recovering in the hospital from a rash and a temperature. A kind nurse tried to help his eat his lunch, but the vegetable soup was not his favorite. Then Daddy came to visit with a bag of scrubbed baby carrots, radishes, and fresh lettuce leaves: his favorites. Daddy said he was coming home tomorrow. Later, Flop-Ears went around the ward, giving a carrot or radish to all his friends, since he would have more at home tomorrow. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises, standing arm weight training exercises, and one sitting arm weight training exercise after playing on Homecoming for the evening. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup set before resting. Then I did my less structured salsa dancing set. After another rest, I did my head exercises. {Smile}

   I read comics and articles in the morning and looked into books on writing serial fiction. The public library had nothing. Amazon had a couple of books, one of which looked much more helpful than the other. I'm thinking about getting the more helpful looking one. {Smile}

   After lunch I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Pierogies, Div, and Paradox were all on. Pierogies wanted to do the early long, large group event, while Div and Paradox were interested in teaming right away. So, I wished Pierogies well, and Div, Paradox, and I teamed up for a hunt and one admittedly long mission. Then Div left to avoid overdoing it. I think Paradox and I did another mission. Then Pierogies joined us after the early long large group event was done. Kitten came on and joined us a little while later. The three of us teamed for most of the afternoon. Then Pierogies left, and maybe Paradox. Kitten, Paradox if they didn't leave when Pierogies did, and I did one more mission before it was time to read to Mom.

   After dinner, I came back on. Of the folks I often team with, Azurette was on. We chatted for a while. Then I asked about teaming up. She wanted to do a long taskforce. Just then, Meroa came on and asked to join us, so we invited them, and gathered near the contact who gives the missions for the taskforce. The contact promptly ran off. I ran after him, wondering what was going on. they're non-player characters that Homecoming, the host of the server, made able to fight, but what was he going after? It turned out that a zombie apocalypse was starting, so he was going after zombies, quite enthusiastically, too. Azurette, Meroa, and I fought zombies, and I admired how enthusiastic the contact was at fighting them alongside us. Eventually the zombies stopped, and Azurette collected a team for the taskforce. We ran it together, and it went right up to time to do my exercises. I also talked at some length with Nox on the chat server. It was wonderful to get a good, long talk in. I did paperwork in the game, and watched videos between and after the exercises, and read a little of one of the web novels, too. Which meant I ran out of time and took notes to finish writing this up the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 25, 2023

    Wednesday, I didn't get out, but Mom did. Our main nurse got her into her wheelchair, called a wheelchair taxi, and took her down to get a blood test done. Then he brought her back home. He had her dressed up nicely for it, too. {Smile}

   I did have a short text conversation with our former nurse, which was nice. {Smile}

   I called my doctor, and got their answering machine again, so I left another message asking them to call me back. {smile}

   Then I called my cable provider and tried to ask them to come fix a connectivity issue I found after their tech left. However, they decided it was a firewall issue or something similar, not their equipment, and told me to get someone else to help me. Okay, but I did think it was worth a try. {Smile}

   Then I got two calls from my doctor's office. In the first, I told them about some problems, including needing another referral for physical therapy, since the first didn't work out, and a referral for diabetes education, too. Then they called back to follow up on something else, and I told them about some foot trouble. They'll give me a referral for that, too. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom on Wednesday and read to her before that. She was tired, responding rarely, and closing her eyes a lot, but she had a big day going out with our nurse. So, I didn't worry about her minimal response. I still read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then, I finally finished her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2022. I skipped _1950's Fashion in Pictures_ so she woudln't have to open her eyes as much, going straight to a story from 365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes. Last, I finished with “Boko's New Hat,” the 25th of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_. Boko lived in a hot country, where the sun is right overhead at noon. One day, his mother brought home a new straw hat with a red ribbon around it for Boko. He was very proud of it and ran off to show it to his friend. His mother reminded him to wear it when he plays, and not to lose it. but he took it off to play leapfrog, and a monkey grabbed it and climbed to the top of a coconut palm. Boko couldn't climb the tree, and the monkey wouldn't come down. Then Boko had an idea. He and his friends fetched saucepans and spoons from home, stood under the tree, and banged as hard as they could. The monkey dropped the hat, and Boko put it on. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises and my leg exercises after saying goodnight to Nox on the chat server. Then I did my warmup salsa dancing set. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. I did not get dizzy enough during either that I had to stop early. {Smile}

   I read articles, comics, and the web novel in the morning. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I started talking with Pierogies and Kitten. Pierogies wanted to do the early short, large-group event first. Then he wondered about the early long, large-group event, but I had to admit that I was unlikely to not dose during that. So, we got our warshades, and we finished the current warshade story arc we've been working on, with a break for the later short, large-group event, too. Then one more mission on the warshades, and it was late enough Pierogies said goodnight. Kitten and I chatted until it was time for me to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming fairly quickly. Letting some friends know I was doing so through the chat server. Paradox hopped in, and we started to team up, but he spotted a task force he wanted to catch. I was able to grab a character who'd benefit from it and join. It filled before Meroa could also join. We ran that task force, and then Paradox spotted another task force. We joined that one, too, and Meroa missed it too. I also started chatting with Nox on the chat server. Paradox and I also started working on paperwork int he game, and I was inspired to introduce him to a tutorial, and run it with them, since it's set up like a story arc, only with a bunch of talking, and only one mission with fights. Then Paradox did some more paperwork inspired by the tutorial and we chatted with Owl girl a bit ont he chat server before we said goodnight. Then I started my exercise, doing more paperwork, writing this, and reading one of the web novels during breaks and afterwards. I finished before bed, but too late to share it then; I'll have to share it in the morning. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 24, 2023

    In had a fairly quiet day Tuesday. No visitors came, or notable phone calls. I did call my doctor but got their answering machine. I did leave a message but didn't get a return call. I'm wondering about going down to talk to them. {resigned look}

   I ate dinner with Mom on Tuesday and read to her before that. She responded more than sometimes, but she had her eyes closed a lot. She often does these days. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Next, I read some more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2022. Then I showed and read her the next few pages of _1950's Fashion in Pictures_. After that, I read her a few poems from 365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes, including one I mistook for a story until I discovered the lines rhymed. Last, I finished with “Late for School,” the 24th of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_. The children were running around in the playground when the teacher called them into class. The teacher called out their names in alphabetical order, but when she read Curly's name, there was no reply. On child said he was always late, and probably was playing in the woods. That's when Curly walked in with bare feet, and his hands behind his back. The teacher asked about his shoes, looking cross. Curly said he left them in the woods, but he brought her some flowers, and put them in a vase. The teacher smiled, and announced they'd start with a nature lesson. {Smile}

   Well, I did my walking exercises, arm resistance exercises, and one siting arm weight training exercise. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup. I tried to do the less structured set after a break, but after grabbing for furniture twice near the beginning of the first piece, I thought I'd better sit down and take it easy. I hope that a hard candy settled my blood sugar, but it's too late to try more now. {rueful look}

   So, I read comics, articles, and web novels int he morning and through lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Kitten, Pierogies, and Div on, and started chatting with them. We tried to team up, but then Kitten announced that they were feeling pretty bad and left to try to treat that. So, I tried to team up with Pierogies and Div. Div said they were just about ready to leave but agreed to team for a bit. We actually got several missions done, and Euclidian joined us after a few. Then Div and Pierogies left at almost the same time, and Euclidean and I did a couple more missions before it was time to break to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I read a little bit of articles and a web novel, and let Kitten know when I was ready to hop into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I looked around for folks to team with... Mysty looked busy, and no one else was in the game, so I let Owl Girl and Paradox know I was in the game, and happy to team. paradox came in first, and Owl Girl joined us before we got going. Paradox wanted to do low-level characters. I found one. they both wanted to do my missions, so we ran a story arc I'd started. Kitten joined us partway through. Then we started the next story arc but didn't get all that far. Well, sometime in the future. Then we switched to chatting on the chat server, where I also chatted with Nox. that may be why I didn't get more exercises done. I also snuck in reading a bit more of the web novel and writing this up. I think it will get posted int he quick places only tonight. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 23, 2023

    This morning, I cleaned myself up right after breakfast, so the cable company wouldn't catch me in the shower when they call. I wasn't out long when they called and said he was coming up. He did come in a little while and asked about the problem. he looked at it and got a new modem from the truck. He hooked it up, and confirmed it was working before he left. He said it was no extra charge. {Smile}

   The first thing I did was try to straighten out an app I have on the phone for the chat server that I talk to several friends on. the phone has been very difficult about letting me sign in ever since I got it. I only managed once, and eventually it logged me out, and didn't let me back in. So, I was delighted when a new password fixed it easily. I was even done around lunchtime. {Smile}

   I texted Aunti Barbara a bit in the morning to let her know my internet was back. She was happy to hear that. She knows how lost I am without it, I think. {Smile}

   I somehow forgot to also text our former nurse about that until supper. After my first text, he called, and we had a nice conversation, not just about my internet being out and back, but other stuff, too. I really enjoyed talking to him. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I first read scripture and thoughts about it. Then I read some more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2022 next. After that, I showed and read her the next few pages of _1950's Fashion in Pictures_. Next, I read her a few poems and a story from 365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes. I finished with “The Young Deer,” the 23rd of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_. Every day for five days, a little fawn trotted out of the forest and into a meadow next to Tom's house, where the grass was sweet and tender. At first it was shy, but now it ran up to Tom, nuzzling his hand for food, and playing beside him. On the sixth day, Tom managed to hitch a cart to the little fawn, who gave him rides in it. They didn't notice how late it was getting until a butterfly came from the mother deer to call him home. The fawn ran off, but looked back as if to say, "See you tomorrow!" {Smile}

   After I was done teaming on City of Heroes: Homecoming for the evening, I did two head exercises, my walking exercises, my arm resistance exercises, and my leg exercises. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup set. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set, trying to mix it up slightly more than usual. Then, after a shorter break, I did my other three head exercises. I wanted to do my arm swinging exercises, too, but I rushed the exercises before salsa dancing, and felt tired after my head exercises. {rueful smile}

   I read some comics before the guy from my cable provider brought the new modem. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming not long after lunch, eager to get back to it after not being able to play for over half a day. I found Kitten and Pierogies. Pierogies was eager to do the early long, large-group event, so Kitten and I joined him. We ran the event, and hoped to team up afterwards on our warshades, but Kitten faded out not long afterwards. Figuring they'd fallen asleep again, Pierogies said he wanted to work on a low-level character. I found one who hadn't started the stuff he wanted to do, and invited Meroa and qworty to join us. Meroa came first, and a zombie invasion started not long after. We started fighting zombies. It seemed easier than fighting zombies and the enemies we'd just been asked to fight. Since the latter was a hunt in the open, it would be both. qworty joined us. This went on just a little uncomfortably long, like most zombie invasions caught at the beginning. Then we started the missions we'd meant to do, running through that contact, and starting the next contact before Pierogies left for bed. I continued with more from that contact with Meroa and qworty, but just reached the introduction to the last part. I plan to do Pierogies's missions with him before finishing the arc. {Smile}

   After dinner, I found a note from Kitten complaining about falling asleep. I told them I thought so, and that I was going back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. We met up, and I said hi to Meroa and Mysty, too. Meroa responded first, saying they were trick-or-treating with Mysty, and invited us to join. Kitten and I both did, and we trick or treated for most of the evening. Then I ran a couple of Halloween-themed missions with some of the trick-or-treaters before leaving the group out of boredom. Trick-or-treating in that game is a great way to get stuff, but it can be pretty repetitive. Only Kitten left to join me at first, but Meroa joined us not long after we started a mission, saying the group had broken up not long after we left. We did more of that mission, and Meroa asked me to add someone else who turned out to have been one of the trick-or-treat leaders. We finished that mission and ran another mission with a talk in between before I left to start my exercises. I wrote this and read one of the web novels during the breaks and after wards. I also went back to City of Heroes homecoming for some paperwork that had piled up while I played today. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 22, 2023

    Today was Sunday, so I called Uber, and a driver came and took me to church. They're back to being further away, so I had time to do a little of my exercises while I waited. {smile}

   He got me there when they had just started. I struggled with paying attention at first. I think it's a symptom of missing Val so much. I did mention losing him when they called for celebrations and such. Not that I can celebrate his death, but another woman gave thanks for the life of a cat they'd lost, so I figured I could too. It was a nice service, I thought. We had music again, which I did enjoy. {smile}

   At lunch, one lady hugged me, and told me about losing her cat last year, and how she still misses them. It helped to know I'm not alone in mourning a pet. It really did. Then she invited me to sit with her for lunch, which I did. I enjoyed talking with her, and the others at the table. {smile}

   Ed asked if I had a ride and took me home when I said I didn't. He took another woman home first, but I liked the ride. {smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it, then continued with some more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2022. Then I read her the back cover, showing her both front and back covers, and sharing the first few pages of _1950's Fashion in Pictures_. Then I read her a few poems and a story from 365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes. I finished with “The Kangaroos,” the 22^nd of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_. Boomerang, a young kangaroo, was always up to tricks. When Mrs. Platypus couldn't find her eggs, Boomerang's mother found Boomerang practicing juggling with them. When she scolded him, he just bounded off. Then his mother me Mrs. Koala who told him how Boomerang had scared her baby so much by jumping up and down and making faces that they had to go home. Mrs. Kangaroo went home and complained to Mr. Kangaroo that they'd lose all their friends because scolding their son and telling him to behave didn't work. Mr. Kangaroo though hard. He called his son and told him he'd have a boxing lesson early every morning. Boomerang was delighted and used up all his extra energy boxing.

   I did my arm swinging exercises while waiting for Uber to take me to church. Then I started my exercises much earlier than I usually start my exercises in the evening. So, I was able to do all the regular ones. I did my walking exercises, my arm resistance exercises, my standing arm weight training exercises, leg exercises, sitting arm weight training exercises, and head exercises. So, I actually got everything done, but I don't want to have to start that early every day to do that. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup and was very relieved that my phone didn't try to turn off when I left it for a while like it does when I'm watching commercials to get website-only cash on one of my comic host websites. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set.

   I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after I came home. There, I quickly found Pierogies... I've been calling him Perogies. I don't remember that first I, but it was there today. Anyway, he just wanted to talk. He had to leave early because of an early morning the next day. We talked a long time, and even watched a couple of trailers for a series he's getting interested in. Then we said goodnight, and he did leave earlier than usual. Next, I tried to talk to Meroa. They were willing to team but were working on some paperwork first. That took longer than I expected, but eventually they were ready. I invited qworty, too and we did a mission together. Then I didn't have time for a regular mission, but I thought I had time for a hunt that was available. We started the hunt... and my internet cut out.

   I did all I usually do to get it back, and nothing happened. I checked the equipment, and the modem didn't have any lights, when it should have three. I fiddled with it and couldn't get anything. Then I got our nurse. He unplugged and replugged everything plugged into the modem, but nothing changed. I tried calling the cable company, but stopped part way in when I realized how late it was, and broke to read to Mom. After reading to Mom, I looked for a number the cable company wanted. I didn't find it, so I called anyway, and answered their questions until I got a tech. He had me unplug stuff and checked stuff on his end. He said I needed a new modem. He said he could send the equipment, or a tech. I wanted a tech. I'm sure the tech will plug in everything correctly. I'm not quite so sure I would on my own. However, I asked how long it would take. He said the tech should come tomorrow, after noon, and they would call first. I was happily surprised they'd work so fast. Part of me can't help wising they'd come right over, but it was night already, and Sunday night at that. I'll take after noon Monday. I figure as long as he fixes it before early evening, it will be less than 24 hours. That's pretty good service, really. {Smile}

   However, I had a whole evening without internet. I caught up on what I had open and could open with one web novel. I also broke to talk to our nurse several times, until he complained that he couldn't be my replacement for the internet. He suggested I call someone. When I said it was too late, he said it was too late for him, too. So, I worked on my salsa dancing, started writing this up, and read a few chapters of the free-to-read web novel I'm also reading. I'll have to save this to post and share when I get my internet back. {smile}

P.S. I should say I didn't have most of my social internet. Websites were working fine, but not email, the chat server, or City of Heroes.

Daily Update, October 21, 2023

    I didn't go out Saturday, nor did I get any visitors, or even any notable phone calls. It was just a quiet day. {smile}

   It was also a peaceful day, as in I'm coming to peace with Valentine's death. Looking back, I remember a very few incidents where he seemed weak. I guess I expected more before it got bad, not realizing how much he'd try to hide it. This is a terrible way to learn, but now I know that if I see any, it's time to get him checked out at the vet. {odd look}

   On Saturday I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. After that I continued with some more from a long family Christmas letter from her niece from 2022. Next, I read the last few pages of _Memories 1950's_, followed by the back cover, and showing her _1950's Fashion in Pictures_, saying we'd read it next. Then I read her two short stories and a poem from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Last, I finished with "Clever Jip!" the 20th of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Stephanie and Amanda were very good friends and shared a birthday. This year, Stephanie got a lovely pair of roller skates. She rushed outside to try them out, and met Amanda, who was holding two new dolls and a bag of doll clothes that she wanted to show Stephanie. Stephanie set the skates down and ran off to play with Amanda. Seh didn't notice one roll ov3er to the dog's kennel. Jip came out, sniffed it, and took it inside his kennel. When the girls returned to try the skates, they could only find one. After searching high and low, Stephanie showed the skate to Jip, and said "Go find." The girls laughed when he went into his kennel and brought out the other. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises after I was done teaming on City of Heroes: Homecoming for the night. then I did my standing arm weight training exercises. Next, I did my warmup salsa dancing set, then my less structured salsa dancing set after a break. Then i di all of my head exercises. I'm so gratified that I'm able to do something after my salsa dancing. I'm hoping to work up to more, even if physical therapy doesn't happen as soon as I'd like. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning. The articles, as usual, are almost all fan articles, with a heavy emphasis on Star Trek, in case you're wondering. Other science fiction and fantasy series get attention too, but not as much. Though today, I also looked into articles on writing serial fiction. I think some of the series of short stories I've written would almost qualify if I did them more regularly and posted them on the right sort of website. Does anybody know about serial fiction? I could use information, advice, or references in figuring this out. {Smile}

   I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming around lunch time, which is earlier than usual. There, I checked some characters, and found one closer to where I want her to be when she goes up to the level where the game changes. I found Perogies hoping to catch the early short, large-group event, which we did together. I checked with the leader about some high-level, larger trials, and found out which they were doing later. Perogies decided to leave instead of doing them, and I didn't see them advertised immediately, so I started paperwork and chatting with Meroa and qworty. Qworty suggested something that didn't work out but got me getting one badge and working on another on my third best badge collector. Then he decided to take a break, but Meroa thought the high-level trials sounded good, and I spotted the first being advertised as leaving very soon. We both joined it and did it. I was on my third best badge collector, because there are badges, and she didn't have any of them, while both one and two did. Thankfully part of my paperwork was finding out who needed each the most. I switched to my second-best badge collector for the second high-level, larger group trial because not even she had those badges. The first run got four out of six possible badges, so we ran it again, and got the last two. Then I switched to a character who is closer to going to where the game changes, and Meroa, qworty, and I rans some of her missions, with Perogies joining us for one or two of them. We finished out one of her four contacts just as we split up so I could go read to mom, and Perogies could go to bed. {Smile}

   I started writing this after dinner, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming again. No one wanted to team quickly, and I discovered she was missing three Trick or Treat badges. I got two and advanced the third while waiting for someone to join me. Qworty eventually did, and we teamed for two or three missions. Mysty joined us after a while, and we three finished up together. Then we broke to qworty could go to bed and I could start my exercises. I also chatted with Nox and worked on paperwork and writing this around my exercise and dance. I also chatted with Owl Girls a little, got several badges on the character who I'm trying to get through the content so she can gain level, and watched some videos. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 20, 2023

    Friday, after sharing yesterday's daily update, I started getting condolences for losing Valentine, my cat. {bite lips} I'm responding as I can, but it's not always easy. So, if I didn't thank you personally, thank you now. It does help. {smile}

   I got two calls from our former nurse. Both were short and mentioned Val among other things. I got a nice video call from a friend from graduate school, too. I even got a short visit from the secretary from our nursing company to check on me. These helped, too. {smile}

   Our housekeeper came in. She got visibly upset when I told her Valentine had died. He usually hid when she was here, and seemed to think she messed up his space by cleaning, but she's still fond of him. It's comforting somehow to know I'm not the only one who misses him.

   On Friday I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued with some more from a long family Christmas letter from her niece from 2022. After that, I read the next few pages of _Memories 1950's_. Next, I read her a poem and two short stories from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Last, I finished with Cyril's Tail," the 20th of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Cyril was a very conceited gray squirrel, proud of his fine, silky fur, and his tail, which was probably the longest and fluffiest in the wood. One day he decided his tail was long enough to hang from. But when he wrapped it around a branch and let go, he fell into a pile of leaves. He took a whole hour cleaning himself up! {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises after teaming for the evening, but I got so upset thinking about how Val wasn't around while I did, I had to find a better way to distract myself. Then I did my warmup salsa dancing set. After another break, I did the less structured set of my salsa dancing. Then, after yet a break , I did my head exercises. I know it's the least strenuous of my exercises, but it's the first time since my illness that I have been able to do any of my exercises. I was just too tired. That's why I haven't been getting more done: I have to do them all before, and that's not happening in time. {rueful look} But I got my head exercises done... maybe I can come back more fully. {Smile}

   I finished writing up and sharing yesterday's daily update this morning after breakfast. I also read some articles. Then, after lunch, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Perogies and Meroa, and we teamed up on the character I'm trying to run out his contacts at this level and let him go to 50. That's the one I've been working on the most recently when I'm not working on the warshade. Qworty joined us after a few missions. We continued teaming until Perogies left, saying he was tired. Well, almost. I'd selected a hunt and the three of us who were left did it, finishing out that contact just about when it was time to read to Mom. {smile}

   I read some comics, started writing this, and hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after dinner. There, I found qworty, Azurette, Meroa, and Ulty on, and invited them to team with me. Azurette was busy right up to when she wanted to leave, but the others came as they reached good stopping places in what they were doing. I also messaged Owl Girl and Paradox on the chat server. They came in a joined us, too. Then we started, and then I remembered to invite Mysty, too. The last space on the team was filled by a friend of Owl Girl's We teamed for much of the evening, with folks leaving as they got tired, or busy elsewhere. The last mission before I left to exercise was just Meroa and me. I also chatted with folks on the chat world, especially Nox and Meroa, and especially when my walking exercises reminded me that Val wasn't in the living room and wouldn't be coming back. {bite lips} Between the salsa dancing sets I kept busy with paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming. Afterwards, some more paperwork, but even more I read reading several chapters of one of the web novels and finished writing this. I'll have to post it in the morning, though. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 19, 2023

    Sorry for the old update that made it out by email. That was an accident. {apologetic look}

   Well, today I woke up, and checked my texts and voice mails while I was getting ready for the day. a text and two voicemail said Val had gotten worse overnight and asked me to call. Two answering machine messages, two or three texts from me, and at least one text from them, and they called me. Valentine had since died, and they wanted me to come in to visit the body and talk to them. Since I was not trying to get there before he died, I decided to do it after my online counselling appointment. 

   I did call our former nurse and let him know before the counselling appointment. He was understandably upset. He knew Val as a prickly cat from when he was our nurse.

   The counselling appointment went fine, and was pretty much centered on losing Val. I let some folks know about Val, then got ready to go down to the veterinarian. I was going to contact Uber but ended up calling Alan. I figured this was a good way to let him know about Val, and maybe have a little friendly support on the trip. We talked about Val on the way down, then he dropped me off, and headed off to his next ride.

   As he drove off, I realized that it was lunch time, and they were closed. However, one of the receptionists saw me and came and let me in. They had me wait in the lobby for a while, then took me to a room to wait. There was Val on the table. He was wrapped in blankets and looked asleep. They asked if I wanted the collar and took it off and gave it to me when I said I did. They explained that the vet was in an emergency operation. Then she'd have 10 minutes to talk to me before she had another emergency operation. Anything that couldn't be covered in the ten minutes would be covered in texts or phone calls later. A receptionist took care of payment while I waited. I also petted Val longer than he would normally allow before walking away while I waited for her. I didn't have many questions, and she answered what I did have pretty quickly. I don't think we used the full 10 minutes.

  I called Alan and waited outside. They eventually let me inside, but I didn't sit there long before Alan called to said he was there. We talked on the way home. Then, when we reached home, he asked if he could pray. I said sure, and he prayed for Val and me. I was very touched, and almost cried, but not quite.

   On Thursday I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I read scripture and thoughts about it, first yesterday's, then todays, so I have caught up from the day I missed. Next, I continued with some more from a long family Christmas letter from her niece from 2022. Then I read the next few pages of _Memories 1950's_. After that, I read her a short story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Last, I finished with a story and a poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. First, I read "The Cricket," the 18th of October's story. Oliver caught a cricket which he kept in a box. At first it chirped, but it sang less and less, until Oliver got very worried. he told his grandfather, and they opened the box. His grandfather said the cricket woudl die of boredom if he stayed in the box any longer. He said crickets like warm, dry places. It was too cold to take the cricket outside, and suggested putting him by the hearth, which was big. Oliver put the cricket behind a stack of wood. That evening, it sang gaily. Last, I read "The Wise Owl" the 19th of October's story, or rather, poem. It praises the owl for hearing more and speaking less, saying that's why it's wise. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging exercises and two of my head exercises waiting for Alan to take me down to the veterinarian's. Then I did my salsa dance warmup at the regular time. I did my other three head exercises after the salsa dancing warmup. Since I didn't have to feed and medicate Val, I had the time and energy for that. Then I did my less structured salsa dance set. {Smile}

   I read articles, comics and one of the web novels after lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming just a bit later than usual. There, I found Perogies, Kitten, and Meroa, and we teamed up. Since Perogies, Kitten and I were all on our warshades, we started that story arc again. This time we got several missions in before Perogies left not that long before it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I got back after dinner, wrote a little bit of this, and read some comics. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming when I noticed Kitten had messaged me on the chat server. Kitten had fallen asleep by the time I said hi and invited them to team, though. Meroa teamed with me, and qworty joined us soon. After a few missions, I thought to invite a few new friends. Two joined.  I also let Owl Girl and Paradox know I was playing, and they joined us, too. Then Perogies came in and joined us. Kitten came in near the end, then Perogies left just before I did the last hunt, finishing a contact I've been working on for a few days. I read comics and a web novel around the salsa dancing and other exercise. I also talked with Kitten, then did a bit of paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming. Oh, and I wrote this up, switching to making notes when it got late before I was done. I finished it the next morning. {Smile}