Daily Update, February 18, 2024

    On Sunday, I called Uber after breakfast. A nice, moderately chatty man came and took me to church. I got there just after communion, when it was ending. I only got to take part in a prayer and the recessional. However, I did get all of the rest of the annual meeting, as well as a very generous lunch. The Kubos took me home. I'm right on the route he takes his mother home on. {Smile}

   After I got home and rested a bit, I fiddled with Ko Fi a little more. I think I'm as set up there as feasible until I get a blog or other site to connect to it, but here's the page: https://ko-fi.com/anneelizabethbaldwin , {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and enjoyed all the pictures and stories today. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Next, I continued 1950's Fashion in Pictures_. After that, I read the last story in _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_, "Ma Pig's New Car." To finish off, I read the 18th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Annabel's Doll." Annabel's Doll, Bella, went everywhere with her. One day, Annabel's aunt took her to a toyshop to pick out a doll's tea set. Belle went along, and Anabel put her next to two dolls having a tea party with a toy tea set complete with five toy cakes. When the tea set was chosen and bought, Annabel went to pick up Bella. She thought Bella had a funny smile, and there were only four cakes. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and arm swinging exercises while waiting for Uber to come get me, but I barely got started walking around the driveway when they came; I didn't even get one time around. When I finished with teaming for the evening, I did my arm resistance exercises, followed by my salsa dancing warm-up. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. {Smile}

   After I got home from church, I played some Cross Stitch World to recuperate. Then I cleaned myself up and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Kitten and Pierogies. I talked with Pierogies, and teamed up with both, but we didn't run missions. Instead, Kitten and Pierogies searched frantically for a show we could all watch. I tried to help, too. Kitten finally came up with an Equestria Girls episode. that's a My Little Pony spinoff where the ponies are (mostly) human. We talked a little after that, but not long because it was soon time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I went back to City of Heroes: Homecoming again. Kitten was there, but unresponsive. Dark was there, too, and quite happy to talk and team up. We ran several missions on a fairly high-level character I'm hoping will reach the end game before too much longer. I also started writing this. I said hi to Nox not long before they left, but we did get to talk a little. Kitten came in and joined Dark and me in the last mission before Dark left. Then kitten and I ran... I meant it to be one mission, but it turned out to be a mini arc, with two short missions with a talk session between them. We did get it all done. Then I did my exercises, talking with Kitten on the chat server in between and afterwards. I also wrote a little more of this and made a lot of notes for it. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 17, 2024

   Saturday, I stayed home and took things easy mostly. I did fiddle with Ko-Fi a bit after dinner, trying to set it up before I start and attach a more serious blog than the notes that hold my daily updates these days. I fiddled with it some more between and after salsa dancing and exercises. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. She was awake and looked at all the pictures and listened to the stories today. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Then I continued 1950's Fashion in Pictures_. Next, I read the next story in _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_, "Sergeant Murphy and the Banana Thief." At last, I finished with the 17th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Wild Goose." Every year, wild geese flew over Sally's house when they migrated to warmer places for the winter. She heard them honking one day while she was playing in the garden. She looked up, as saw one goose was behind the rest, flying slower and closer to the ground. It landed in the garden, all worn out. She took it inside to feed and care for it all winter. In the spring, when it heard a flock overheard, it flew off with them. Sally was glad it was back with its friends. {Smile}

   After teaming for the evening, I did my salsa dancing warm-up, followed by my arm swinging exercises and a rest. Then I did my less structured salsa dancing, my arm resistance exercises, and another rest. Then I did my head exercises. I was low on time, especially since tomorrow is church, and they're starting an hour early. {smile}

   In the morning, I read articles, watched videos, and played with cross Stich World. I wrote yesterday's update around lunch time. Then I cleaned myself up before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Dark, Pierogies and Kitten online, and said hi to all three. Dark responded first, and explained he'd been entirely too busy with work and too tired from work to come on during the week or even on Friday. Pierogies said hi and we chatted, too. Kitten said they were helping a friend level and should be free after that. Dark and I teamed up, and Pierogis soon joined us. We ran some stuff Dark had, and Kitten joined us part way through. Pierogies and Kitten left when the story arc ended. Dark and I ran one mission I had before I broke to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I began writing this up, then did the fiddling with Ko-Fi. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming to find Dark and Kitten were still there. I said hi to both. Dark and I got together and ran a story arc he was starting. Kitten joined us, and Pierogies might have too, for a while. I also chatted with Nox a bit. After Pierogies left, Dark, Kitten, and I ran stuff until Dr. Faustus said hi and joined us. Dark left next. Then Kitten, Dr. Faustus, and I did a couple more missions before breaking up so I could do my dancing and exercises. I read articles and comics, and fiddled with Ko-FI some more before finishing this with a bit of writing and mostly notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 16, 2024

    On Friday between working on my new bank's web, phoning my new bank, and working on PayPal's website, I got PayPal and my new bank to work together. I even got them to start transferring a little money to my bank. I think they said the free way takes 1-3 working days. That should mean Tuesday to Thursday next week. I could have gotten it faster, but they would have charged a fee for speed. That doesn't sound like it would take most of the morning, but somehow it did. {smile}

   In the afternoon, I got a call from the secretary of the nursing company. She wanted to straighten out some possible misunderstandings. it was good to get things straight. {Smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. She was awake and liked the pictures and stories today. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I started her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Next, I continued 1950's Fashion in Pictures_. After that, I read the next two stories in _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_ , "The Birthday Party," and "Pig Won't's Decision" Again, one just wasn't enough. I finished with the 16th of February's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Old Copper Kettle." The poem asked an old copper kettle to tell of the old days when it was new, asking about the people who might have had tea parties with it. It ended by asking if it could tell, or just bubble. {Smile}

   I did my salsa dancing warm-up after watching the movie Nimona with Kitten and Pierogies in the evening. Then I did my head exercises and my less structured salsa dancing set. Then it got too late to do more. I really need to start earlier. {smile}

   I did a little Cross Stitch World before a late lunch. Then I read comics and finished writing this up after the nursing secretary's call after lunch. Next, I cleaned myself up. Somehow this meant I got into City of heroes: Homecoming very late after that. There, I talked with Pierogies until he went quiet. I tried to team up with kitten, but they were too tired. I got a story arc started with two talky missions. Then I did some badge-collecting done on my... on Ana, the character who has been my sixth best badge collector, but just moved past my fifth best badge collector today. They are currently very close - it would be easy for them to switch back. Anyway, then I broke to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, looked around, and worked on collecting a few more badges for Ana. Then Kitten came on, followed closely by Pierogies. We got together, and they helped me finish the story arc I'd barely begun before dinner with those talky missions. Then we settled in to watch the movie Nimona together. We got done, and squeezed in a little talk about it before I started my exercises. We talked more about it during my pauses because it begs to be talked about. After that, I wrote this up, mostly taking notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 15, 2024

   Well, on Thursday, I tried to add PayPal to my signature in my daily updates, but it was too pushy in two of the four places I tried to share a link. I just want to I just want to make it possible to leave a tip for my writing, so I'm working on toning it down. I hope it looks better already, but please let me know if you feel something isn't appropriate. I'm on the fence in places, especially with Facebook. Thanks for putting up with my missteps as I try to change journalling for free into writing for pay as well. I figured tips were a good place to start, though I hope to add more later. {Smile}

   I also had online counselling after breakfast. I had a bit of a late start, because while I started to sign in two minutes ahead, it took eleven minutes of sign in. So, I had a slightly shorter session. We tried to finish much closer to on time because my counselor had something right afterwards. I'll have to remember to sign in sooner in the future. I didn't realize it took that long. {smile}

   After lunch I got a visit from the secretary from Helping hands Hale, the nursing company that provides home nursing for Mom, and a little for me. That is for now; the contract will continue with me as the primary recipient when I am the only one left. {smile}

   Later, I exchanged a few calls and texts with the nursing company's secretary because at first, I hadn't made it clear that I was sharing a link to PayPal so I could get tips with my writing. they helped me make the purpose there clear. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was sleepy, but seemed to enjoy the pictures and stories today, except when i got interrupted. I began with scripture and thoughts about it first. Next, I read a card from a friend. After that, I started 1950's Fashion in Pictures_. Then I read the next two stories in _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_ , "Corn on the Cob," and "Guess Who?" Again, one didn't seem like enough. I wasn't sure two was, but four was a bit much, and there are only two more short ones, so I stopped there. Next, I read the 15th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Moon Rose." The story asked if the listener could guess where a little girl came from. It said she lived in a faraway land and wore a pink floral kimono with wooden soled shoes. Her hair was long, black, and pinned up in a bun with long hairpins. Her house is mostly wood and lit by paper lanterns at night. She sleeps on a mat in warm weather. Her mother is giving her lessons in flower arranging. Her garden has dwarf trees, and colorful birds and flowers. She likes to play with a kite, and dance with a fan. Bells hang at her door that tinkle in the wind. She lives in Japan. Mom did not like that story; I'm not sure whether it was the guessing game or the break to answer a phone call, but I read a random couple of pages out of the fashion book, and she liked that better. {Smile}

   I did my salsa dancing warmup after I finished teaming for the evening. Then I did my salsa dancing less structured set after a break. Next, I did my arm swinging exercises, my arm resistance exercises, and my head exercises. {Smile}

   I read comics and finished writing the day before's daily update before lunch. Then I fiddled with PayPal after lunch, before the visit from the nursing company's secretary. After that, I cleaned myself up, and got the first phone call as I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. After I settled in, I worked on badges on my sixth best badge collector until Pierogies came on and said hi. We chatted, then we teamed up, fitting in just one solo mission before I read to Mom. {Smile}

   I started writing this up around dinner. Then I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I said hi to Dr. Faustus. He responded immediately and invited me to join him and a friend. They were both playing characters in the group I'd added a character to recently, so he suggested I bring her, and I did. We teamed until Dr Faustus left for other things because it had gotten pretty late. Then the other player disconnected and told Dr. Faustus he was going to bed without going back on, so Dr. Faustus told me on the chat server. I also chatted with Nox on the chat server, too, and a little with Kitten, but Kitten was particularly tired. After the exercise, I looked into stuff, and wrote a little of this. I also made notes on this to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 14, 2024

   I hope you had a happy Valentine's Day on Wednesday, or a happy Single's Awareness Day if you prefer. If you don't celebrate either, I hope you had a nice day. {Smile}

   On Wednesday, I contacted Uber after lunch, and they took me to HFS credit union. I arranged for the driver to wait, and I picked up a cashier's check. Then the same Uber driver took me to the Waiakea branch of First Hawaiian Bank. I was there on time for my appointment to open up an account. It was a checking account that they assure me ought to work with PayPal's automated system. {Smile}

   I also got help from Pierogies setting up PayPal, and we tested the ability to transfer money to me. That works, though I'm still working out the best way to get it from them. There's now a link below, and one on my blog in the sidebar, too. It joined the Kofi donate/tip buttons on the blog. I'm mainly trying to prepare them for when I start sharing stories... which might start with something public, with tips possible, which is why I'm setting up tipping ahead of time. Start with the freebies to gain an audience, I figure. {Smile}

   Then I contacted Uber to take me home. but I realized they had me being picked up somewhere else. I tried to walk there, but the first driver gave up before I got close. So, I tried to have them pick me up by Zippy's restaurant, since I'd walked over halfway there already, and it could be within the accepted radius, but somehow, they still sent the driver to a cable company instead. However, this one phoned to find out what was up, and I explained I was by Zippys, and didn't know how they got the cable company, and he came and got me, and took me home. We both shook our heads over the mix-up. {smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and seemed to enjoy the pictures and stories today. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I read a card from her nephew, and one from each sister. The card from her younger sister was, most appropriately, a Valentine's Day card. Next, I read the next two stories in _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_ , "the Pig Family," and "Going Shopping." In contrast to the last three stories, which were long to read in one day with everything else I read, these were so short, just one didn't seem like enough. Lastly, I finished with the 14th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Lucky Valentine." Two girls in the same class at school who lived side by side on the same street were very different. Mathilda was happy and had lots of friends. Janet was serious, shy, and often had no one to play with. When Valentine's Day came, some children put cards in their friends' mailboxes without any names. Mathilda had lots of cars, but one card she should have gotten went into Janet's mailbox by mistake. It showed the clown Pierot looking up at smiling Columbine, another clown, who was swinging on a crescent moon. A verse talked about being too shy to make friends, and hoping the recipient would return a smile. Janet was quite struck at the idea that someone as shy as she wanted to be friends. That day, she started smiling back if someone smiled at her, and soon she had lots of friends. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging exercises, head exercises, and walked around the driveway three times while waiting for Uber to come take me to the credit union. Then I did my arm resistance exercises around dinner time. I did my salsa dancing after I was done playing on Homecoming for the evening, first the warmup set, then the less structured set. {Smile}

   I wrote the day before's update, played Cross Stitch World, read comics, and cleaned myself up before lunch. After lunch was the banking trip. When I got home, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Pierogies. We teamed up, but first he helped me set up PayPal a little more. Then we teamed up, and did a couple of missions, which took me to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   Around dinner time, I started writing this up. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Pierogies, and we said goodnight again, since he was just leaving. Then I worked on badges for my 6th best badge collector, getting her closer to becoming my fifth best badge collector. Then Phonso said hi, but he left after that without doing anything. Dr. Faustus also said hi. I join him and a friend who turned to be a friend I often team with through Kitten. I helped them with several missions, first a few in a story arc, then a repeatable one for badges, getting four more for my sixth best badge collector. She's really close to moving up in the ranks now. I'm so happy that's easy to keep track of; for a while, she was in a different part of the list because she wasn't fully developed. Anyway, Dr. Faustus, our mutual friend, and I said goodnight after the missions. Then I did my salsa dancing, and watched videos and such until I made notes in this to help me finish writing this the next day.

PayPal (in case you feel moved to tip): https://paypal.me/ABaldwin399

Daily Update, February 13, 2024

   On Monday, I reluctantly started to look for my mother's bank's number so I could make an appointment. Then I found a way to schedule one online. I started to sign up, and almost managed before I had a question that I wasn't sure how to answer: do I have an account with them? I've been banking with them for several years as the trustee of Mom's trust, which has an account with them, but that's not my account. So, I looked up their number, called, and guessed my way through their phone tree. The man who answered helped me fill out the form. Then I explained what I wanted - an account that could work with PayPal's automation - and he assured me they had something I felt so relieved! I was really worried they'd have trouble just like my credit union. {Smile}

   The secretary from the nursing company called me to touch base and assure me they're interested in meeting with me to plan for when I'm the primary patient. It's good to know they're watching out for that. {Smile}

   Our former nurse called, too. We chatted, which was great. I do enjoy talking with him. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and seemed to like the pictures and stories today. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Next, I read a a long card from a friend. Then I continued _Memories 1950's_, showing and reading the next few pages. After that, I read the next story in _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_ , "Postman Pig and His Busy Neighbors." I finished with the 13th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Granny's Surprise." Robert's Granny lived close enough to his school, he had tea with her on Wednesdays. Then she'd sit knitting, which she loved, while he read books or watched TV. One Wednesday, she t old him a surprise was waiting for him. He asked if it was a toy. She said it was something that had come to live with her, but he could play with it whenever he visited. When they got home and entered it, Robert found a small kitten all tangled up in Granny's pink knitting wool. Robert untangled the kitten, and they played happily. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises while kitten tried to fix something with their internet connection. then I did my arm resistance exercises while waiting for Phonso to get the taskforce going. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup followed by the less structured salsa dancing after a rest. Then it got too late before I did more. I really have to work on that. {smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World in the morning. I wrote up yesterday's daily update over and after lunch. before cleaning myself up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Pierogies and Kitten teaming up. They really wanted to watch a movie, _Nimona_, but we couldn't work out how I could watch it, too. We finally gave up for now and ran a few missions together instead. That took us up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I started writing this up between reading to Mom and dinner and did a little more after dinner. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and looked around. I read a few comics but kept looking back at City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did talk to Dr. Faustus, Azurette, and Mysty in the game, but they were all busy. Then Kitten came in. We teamed up, talked, and they discovered their router or modem might be having trouble. They got it working well enough, we ran a mission or two. Then Phonso invited us to a taskforce. I also started talking with Nox on the chat server. Kitten and I joined Phonso's taskforce, and ran it when he'd recruited a full team, which happened quickly. It went so fast, I had time another, longer taskforce before my salsa dancing. Then I broke to dance and talked with Kitten on the chat server. I also read articles and watched videos around the dancing. Then I wrote a little more of this and made notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 12, 2024

    On Monday, a while after breakfast, I contacted Uber. They took me to my doctor's appointment. That appointment went well. Most of the numbers int he tests they ran are improved, and most of the rest didn't change much. My eye needs a medicine he said he'd prescribe. He thinks it's just a little conjunctivitis. When it was done, I contacted Uber, and they took me back home. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and seemed interested in the pictures that I showed her. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I read a few cards, from her niece, her cousin, and her sister. Next, I continued _Memories 1950's_, showing and reading the next few pages. Then I read the next story in _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_ , "A Day at the Police Station." I finished with the 12th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "the Nightingales." Mrs. Nightingale called her children to supper. they didn't want to stop playing hide-and-seek until their mother promised them their favorite: stewed worms and beechnut salad. then their mother told them she and their father had decided they were old enough to join in the singing, but only when their parents told them to sing, and only one at a time. Soon the nightingales' song filled the woodland, and the young birds were proud to be joining in too. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises, arm swinging exercises, and walked twice around the driveway while waiting for Uber. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup after teaming for the evening. After a short break, I did my less structured salsa dancing. then i did my arm resistance exercises just as it was getting too late to do anything more. {Smile}

   Between breakfast and the doctor's appointment, I read a little and played Cross Stitch World. After I came home, I played more Cross Stitch World. Then I finished writing yesterday's update after lunch and before I cleaned myself up. Next, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Dr. Faustus was busy, but Pierogies was eager to play. Kitten was quiet, which was part of what Pierogies and I talked about. We played a mission or two, then watched the first episode of Inuyasha, an older anime series. It was nice and ended just at the right time to go read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, the late-night short, large-group event was full early, but I found Pierogies, and also Kitten playing a character on one of Pierogies' accounts. The three of us teamed up, and tried to test the character Kitten was on. They're making it for me, so they're testing how it plays. I'll have to remake it on my own account. We were working on one of the self-improving badges when Pierogies left. Kitten and I continued working the badge until Phonso invited us to a taskforce. He had trouble inviting Kitten, but we kept trying until it worked. Then we ran that taskforce. After that, most left, but Phonso, Kitten, and I stayed together to start another taskforce. I also talked with Nox a little. Dr Faustus joined us for the second taskforce. We ran it, then the team broke up. Most, including Phonso and Dr Faustus, went their separate ways. One fellow stayed with Kitten and me, and we worked on the self-improving badge. We got it for both Kitten and the other fellow from the taskforce. Then I said goodnight, but suggested they work on another self-improving badge Kitten knows very well. I left to do my dancing and other exercises. I also read comics, talked with Kitten on the chat server, wrote some of this and made notes for the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 11, 2024

   Does anyone know of economical ways to get pictures suitable to accompany fantasy stories? Mom really does better with pictures these days, especially when there are stories to go along with the pictures. I can write stories, and some friends like that idea, but she'd really appreciate pictures to go with them, and art is not the forte writing is for me. {smile}

   After breakfast, I contacted Uber, and they connected me with Alan, who came and took me to church. We had a lovely and lively conversation all the way down. {Smile}

   I got to church as they were giving the announcements before the service proper. I sat with Auntie Barbara and Michelle. The big thing of the day was that our bishop was here to baptize our priest's baby daughter. He did this, and then we had a big lunch on the lanai, with a man providing live music, and lots of food. I sat with Auntie Barbara and Michelle, and we went to Island Naturals on the way home. It was customer appreciation day, with most of the store discounted. I picked up pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. Auntie Barbara picked up a lot more. I think Michelle waited by the car. Then we went home, and auntie Barbara came in to visit Mom. We sang six songs with her. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake when I came in and did look at the pictures I showed her. I began with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I read a few cards, from her cousin, a different cousin's granddaughter, and her sister. After that, I started _Memories 1950's_, showing and reading the covers and the first few pages. Next, I finally read the next story in _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_ , "A Day at the Fire Station." It wasn't as long as I thought. It just had larger pictures, so took more pages... but the time I stopped, Mom was getting tired. Anyway, I finished with the 11th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Clumsy Penny." Penelope had been given a doll almost as big as she was for her birthday. She named her Penny. One day, when Mummy was busy, Penelope took Peny to the kitchen for a tea party. Penelope set out the tea things, then Penny misbehaved, knocking her tea over, and dropping biscuits on the floor. Penelope showed Mummy what Penny had done when Mummy came into the kitchen. Mummy said Penny was young, and couldn't help it, as they cleaned up the mess. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises, my arm swinging exercises, and walked between two and three times around the driveway as I waited for Alan to come pick me up. Then I did my arm resistance exercises in a pause in touring the base with Dr. Faustus. After Dr. Faustus and I parted, I did my salsa dancing, first my warmup set, then my less structured set, with a brief pause in the second piece, which led to restarting the second piece leading to over 23 minutes of salsa dancing -- a bit more than usual. {Smile}

   After auntie Barbara left, I played Cross-Stitch World to relax. Then I wrote up and shared the day before's update. Next, I cleaned myself up, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did some paperwork and looked around. The only folks I like to play with seemed busy, so I started soloing hunts. Pierogies came on and said hi. We chatted until I left to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after a bit more Cross-Stitch World. I found Pierogies, who was eager to watch some Stargate 1. I found a free host, and we ended up watching roughly half the first episode before he got tired and went to bed, since it was double length. I also talked with Dr. Faustus, who wanted to get together for something. At first, I was busy with Pierogies. Then he was busy with a taskforce. Then he hoped to join another taskforce together, but they filled too fast. So, he went back to his earlier plan, and showed my villain who joined his SG the other day around the group's base. I said goodnight to Nox, who barely had time for that much. At the end of the base tour, I picked my room, and he customized it for me. That's when I had time for the exercise. After he said goodnight. I soloed some more and did my salsa dancing. I also did some paperwork, read comics, and made notes on this to write from properly the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 10, 2024

    Saturday morning, I straightened up the piles of books in my room, moving many to other location, especially two boxes for book that I can try to sell if a friend is interested, or I can get them to a store without paying too much for the trip. That's all I did between breakfast and lunch: rearrange books. It is more open, and hopefully less of an earthquake hazard. Yesterday's earthquake apparently was 6.3. It felt more like a five-pointer, so it must have been further away than usual. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. She was awake when I came in, and did look at the pictures I showed her, at least a little. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Next, I read a few cards, from nephew, her niece, and me. Then I finished _Visions of Scotland_, ending with three postcards that came with the book, even thought they were to me. They still had nice pictures of Scotland. After that, I set aside _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_ because I was worried it would be too long. I read a little booklet called _Where is Home, Little Pip?_ instead, but I'm not sure it was any shorter. I didn't realize until I was far enough into it, I just kept going. Then I finished with the 10th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Waiting for Spring." Becky watched her father dig a big hole in the garden. She asked what he was doing, and he explained he was planting a tree. He explained it looked dead because it was winter, but it would grow new leaves in the spring. She asked about planting her flowers, but he said they should wait until spring, when the earth is warmer. {Smile}

   I didn't do any exercise beyond rearranging the books. There was enough bending, lifting, carrying, and bending to put them down, it didn't feel necessary. {Smile}

   After lunch, I played Cross-Stitch World, then cleaned myself up, then played Cross-Stitch World a bit more before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I talked with Dr. Faustus, who said he was in a taskforce, but wanted to talk afterwards. I talked to Michiel, who joined me for a few missions on low-level characters. Next, Michiel left for dinner. So, I talked to Dr. Faustus again. He told me about a supergroup he was arranging, for villains with an urban fantasy theme. He invited me to bring in a character. I thought the demoness with a pet gang would qualify, so I got her, and we ran a few missions, along with first one friend of his, then two. This took me up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I looked around, did some paperwork, read some comics, and started writing this outside the game. I was in an odd mood, so I got ready to run a few missions solo on the low-level character who'd teamed up with Michiel earlier. Then I realized Darkthough1 was finally on. So, we got together to roleplay. This continued for the rest of the evening. I did say goodnight to Nox, and chat very briefly with Kitten. I also made notes for this to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 9, 2024

    On Friday after lunch, I finally got a different message for their answering machine. So, I left a somewhat garbled message - being flustered by finally getting something - and they called me back. I explained wanting to open a new account that PayPal's automated system can work with. She suggested making an appointment to open one at Mom's bank. I'll try it Monday; by the time we were over, I felt like things would go better if I was fresher. {smile}

   Oh! We had a little earthquake after lunch. it toppled some books by Mom, but luckily, she and her bed were a little further away than usual, so nothing fell on her. I spent a while after that moving books around so there shouldn't be another incident like that. I did a little by my computer, but most of the space I could move books into was used for Mom. {smile}

   I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. She was awake when I came in, but sleepy, and got sleepier over time. She did look at the pictures I showed her, at least a little. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I read a few cards, from the church, a friend, and each of her sisters. Then I continued _Visions of Scotland_ I think she does like the pictures of Scotland. Next, I tried continuing reading _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_ with "A Day at the Fire Station." However, that turned out to be a longer than usual story for that book, and Mom was getting sleepier and sleepier. {Smile}

  So, I stopped and finished with the 9th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Snow Fairy." Paul was sitting by the fire, looking at his picture book. then he looked at the window, where it was snowing outside. the snow was drifting onto the windowpane, getting bigger, until one turned into a snowman. Paul was curious, so he put on his warmest clothes and went outside. He was surrounded by dancing, smiling, little snowmen who pushed him along the path. Then they were all flying until they landed on a pond in front of an icy palace. Out stepped a beautiful lady in a glittering dress, silver wings, and a shining crown. She told him she was the snow fairy and offered to grant him a wish. He asked her to give the birds food and drink, since the ground is hard, and puddles frozen. She smiled and told him to close his eyes and count to three. He did, then opened his eyes to find himself by the fire. He thought he must have been dreaming. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises, arm resistance exercises, arm swinging exercises, sitting arm weight training exercises, and my standing arm weight training exercises during lulls in role-playing in the evening. I did my salsa dancing warm up set, too. It got too late for a second set before I got to it, but I was happy with how much I did with the arm weight training. besides, there was all that book rearranging around Mom. That should cover what I didn't do. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics and played Cross-Stitch World in the morning. Then I played more Cross-Stitch World after lunch. After that, I cleaned myself up. Next, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Pierogies, and we teamed up. We did an individual mission, then Michiel said hi. We talked a bit, then I invited him to join us. He did and we ran four more individual missions: one for all of us (there are two particularly good rewards a day), one because Michiel missed the first one, and two because we trusted them not to run too long, like some missions can, especially in story arcs. Then, I read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. It was too late for the late-night short, large-group event, so I started by checking my friends. I saw Pierogies on, but he didn't respond. I saw Darkthough1 on, too, and he did respond. We got together and ended up roleplaying all evening. I did talk to Nox on the chat server too, and to Kitten a bit as well, though they were busy with work a lot of the time. Darkthough1 and I even kept roleplaying past my salsa dancing warm-up, which helped me not get to the rest of my salsa dancing, but I had done all that book rearranging to make Mom safer during earthquakes. {Smile}