Daily Update, December 23, 2024

On Monday, after breakfast I caught up on bills, a form, and a survey that needed to be done and all got mailed. Actually, I discovered one bill was a check I must have overpaid. that didn't get mailed. Instead, my relief nurse and I ran errands, including depositing that check into my account. Then we went home for lunch. After that, we went out for one more errand, which my relief nurse had gotten a notice about right after we got home. {Smile}

After playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming for much of the evening, I did my arm swinging exercises, my arm resistance exercises, my head exercises, and my standing arm weight training exercises, all in a row. Then, after a longer break than i meant to take, I did my sitting arm weight training exercises and my leg exercises. After a much shorter break, I did eight of my fourteen walking exercises. The last two of those really made me tired - those are two of the four that use less used muscles - but I stuck to it and finished the full eight. After that, it was too late for more exercises. {Smile}

After the main bunch of errands, I browsed the web over lunch, especially reading comics. Then, when we got home after the last errand, I hopped into Vindictus. First, I chatted with the mercenaries on my high-level character. Then I did a bit of paperwork, followed by a battle on my high-level character. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork, then started to play by myself on a low-level character. I got called to dinner before I could finish even one mission. {Smile}

We had tacos for dinner. After dinner, I read comics, played Cross Stitch World, and wrote up Sunday's daily update. Then I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I played by myself on a high-level character while talking with Jenny's player, who was the only one of my regular friends who was on. That happens around Christmas. I also talked with Nox on the chat server. Eventually, I finished the project I was working on with the high-level character. I found the next high-level character who needs it, and started, but didn't get far before I got bored. I switched to the low-level character from that afternoon and tried the mission I hadn't finished before. I realized it was a bit difficult, so I lowered the difficulty, and tried again. This time I ran the mission at the new difficulty without much trouble. then I went back and forth between making notes in this and exercising, with only a little Cross Stitch World thrown in. When I was almost done, I checked Vindictus, which had been updating earlier, and discovered the update gave me new stuff. After settling that, I finished my notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 22, 2024

On Sunday, my nurse took me to church. We arrived particularly late - not long before the gospel. That's my fault. I'd added some texts to cousins to the morning routine, which slowed everything down. However, the service was nice. I sat with Auntie Barbara and Michelle, with my nurse right behind us. He's chosen not to sit in the same pew. {smile}

After the service, I had lunch on the lanai with my nurse, Auntie Barbara, and a few others. After lunch, my nurse wanted to go to Walmart. They had a few different styles of water coolers. We got the cheapest; a top loader that chills the water nicely on the cold side. My nurse hasn't gotten the warm side to work yet, but I'm sure he will sooner or later. Then we'll try that, too. After getting the cooler, we went home. {Smile}

For exercise, I walked around Walmart a fair bit after church, getting that cooler. Then, after playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming much of the evening, I did my head exercises, my arm swinging exercises, and my arm resistance exercises one right after another. After a long break, I did my two standing arm weight training exercises. After a much shorter break, I did my sitting arm weight training exercises. {Smile}

After we got home, I hopped into Vindictus I first talked with the mercenaries, first on my high-level character, then on my middle-level character. Then I did some battles on my middle-level character. After that, I talked with mercenaries then did mission on my low-level character. After that, I stopped playing to clean myself up with help from my nurse. Then I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Kitten and Pierogies were in the later long, large-group event, but Dennis was hunting presents and talking about being back after Christmas. So, I grabbed the last chance before Christmas to team with him. We just hunted presents, but we enjoyed spending time together. That is, until he saw a taskforce he wanted to join. It was entirely too close to my dinner for me to join, too. He joined it at my urging, with my blessing. Then I did a little paperwork before dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Saturday's daily update, with breaks for Cross Stitch World. Then I decided with the nurse to watch a movie if teaming with friends was slow or something later. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found Kitten. We teamed up and did the last mission of a story arc one of my high-level characters had. Then an acquaintance said hi, and joined us for the first few missions of the next story arc. After that, the acquaintance left. Meanwhile, I chatted with Nox a bit on the chat server. In the game, Kitten and I kept going with more missions in that story arc. Dr. Faustus said hi, and joined Kitten and me for the last few missions in that same story arc Yes, I finished that story arc in one evening, and no, it's not a short one. Then we broke up. I started doing paperwork, with a break for exercise before more paperwork. Next, I began writing and making notes in this, with a couple of breaks for more exercise. After I'd done what exercise I meant to, I continued making notes and writing in this, with breaks to check Vindictus and Amazon. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 21, 2024

On Saturday, Auntie Barbra called after breakfast. The county building and its display aren't open on Saturdays. So, we decided to meet at the bookstore. My nurse and I went down to the particular bookstore that Auntie Barbara and I have used before. It sells mostly used books, but has a good selection, with many genres represented. Auntie Barbara came and met us, She and I picked out the books we wanted. Then we swapped, and I bought her books, she bought mine. That's our little Christmas tradition that ensures we'll get books the other really likes as presents for them. We both love books, and love sharing it by getting each other new things to read. However, we do not like the same books and got frustrated with the misses before we came up with this system. {Smile}

We said goodbye as we left the bookstore. My nurse took me to Target next. We thought we'd get a water cooler, but they don't carry them anymore. So, we went home. More stops on the hunt for the water cooler can wait for another day. {Smile}

Oh! I remembered that I messed up the name of the manga I'm so interested in in more than one way. The American edition is _A Bride's Story_. {Smile}

I got enough walking at Target looking for that cooler, especially for the day after physical therapy. They work me so hard that I can take the next day off and go light the day after that. {Smile}

When we got home, I had lunch and hopped into Vindictus. I started by talking with the mercenaries. Then I got my middle-level character and did a few battles. I ended up giving her some better stuff my high-level character doesn't need, in hopes it helps with some content she's still struggling with. Not all had finished transferring when I realized it was late and hopped out to switch to City of Heroes: Homecoming. Kitten was in the later short, large-group event's zone, so I joined the event. Pierogies came and joined us, too. Kitten actually finished joining the event last. Anyway, we started, and the leader said to do it in a way that's usually faster but can mess up more easily, making it way, way harder. This time, it did mess up, and even worse than most mess-ups. however, many of us stuck with it, and some even came to help. We did finally clear it, but it took much longer than usual. Afterwards, I just had time to admire a new character Pierogies had made and talk a bit with Pierogies and Kitten before I left for dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I began making notes and writing in this. I wrote up Friday's daily update, with breaks to play Cross Stitch World and read comics. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I began a hunt by myself on a low-level character while I talked with Jenny's player, who was busy roleplaying. I mentioned I was struggling with the hunt. When she reached a break in the roleplaying, she came and helped me finish the hunt and do the mission it led to. Then she left to go back to roleplaying. I barely talked to Nox on the chat server.  However, Kitten came back onto the game about then. We got together, and they helped me with several missions, including a whole story arc. I'm almost ready to let that character go up a few levels. Anyway, after that, I said goodnight and made notes in this. I also played a little Cross Stitch World, and peeked at Vindictus to stuff out of mail, especially the better armor for the middle-leveled character I'd mailed earlier. I finished the evening by making more notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 20, 2024

On Friday, my nurse took me to physical therapy in the morning and stayed with me while I worked on a machine, then in a harness that catches me if I lose my balance while trying trickier moves. I did not have the energy or the stamina I usually do, but I'm still getting over the bug. Plus, I've been sick over a week with it, and I'm not doing as much because of that. I'll have to push myself more; I could do more than I realized, though not as much as I used to before I got sick. {Smile}

My housekeeper came before we left, and stayed until after we'd come back and settled in. Our house is definitely better for her attentions, as is the Christmas tree. {Smile}

I got a phone call from the nursing company secretary before dinner. She expressed some concerns she has. and we straightened out some misunderstandings. She called twice more after dinner. We straightened out more misunderstandings, clearing the air. {Smile}

Then Auntie Barbara called. We got cut off twice, but kept calling back, and finished making plans for the next day. {Smile}

My physical therapy was my exercises today, and I did more than I have in a couple of weeks. I was tired at the end, but in a good way. {Smile}

After physical therapy my nurse took me home for lunch. I got into Vindictus, where I did a few battles on my middle-level character, including two failed ones... well, I failed one battle twice, actually. It's tricky. Then I realized how late it was and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I tried to get into later short, large group event, but the zone was full. Then I got the first phone call from secretary of nursing company. Next, I tried to get together with Pierogies and Kitten after that, but by the time I did, they'd already joined the later long, large group event. So I joined it partway in, and left at dinner time, with over 10 minutes to go. I did get to both play and talk with Pierogies during it, though, which was nice. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Thursday's daily update around the other phone calls and played Cross Stitch World. Then I started writing and making notes in this. All this made me late going into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Kitten, and we teamed up with me on a low-level character I want to see get a bit higher. We ran through several of my missions. I also talked a little with Nox on the chat server, but not much. Pierogies joined Kitten an me in running low-level missions. So did an acquaintance of mine. We four kept going until I realized it was nearing bedtime. I said goodnight, and did more writing and making notes in this, peeking at Vindictus near the end of my writing. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 19, 2024

On Thursday, I got a phone call after breakfast. It was my counsellor; asking if I was going to come onto our meeting. I'd forgotten all about my appointment with her. So, we got started late, and ended late, too. I'm just glad she had the time. However, our meeting was over the phone, not the computer. We tried the computer, but when my insurance's system failed to connect us in a timely manner that way, they initiated a phone call, and we talked that way instead. {Smile}

In the afternoon, I went out with my nurse to the county building, to see all their trees and other decorations in the courtyard. My nurse was very impressed with the show, which was as good as ever. Then we ran a few errands, with the last stop at Safeway to pick up prescriptions and a few other things while we were there. After that, we went home. {Smile}

I did a fair bit of walking when we were at the county building, going the whole way around the courtyard to see all the decorations. Then I did my head exercises and my arm exercises after playing on CoH and watching a manga review on YouTube. after a break, I did my arm resistance exercises and my standing arm weight training exercises. So at least I fit one more exercise into my evening. I have to work harder on this. {Smile}

Over breakfast, I began reading a manga I picked up at the library, _A Bride's Price_.  I continued reading it afterwards until my counsellor called to see why I hadn't come to my appointment. I swear it just slipped my mind. Anyway, after my appointment I hopped into Vindictus, and played that right through lunch and int the afternoon. I played until we left to go out. When we came back, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I teamed with Pierogies, who's still very much int eh mood to play little villains. Dennis joined us partway through, and we kept going until I needed to break for dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Wednesday's daily update, taking breaks for Cross Stitch World, and chatting on the chat server. then i hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I played myself, working on a project specific to the winter event. I also started talking to Nox on the chat server. Then Pierogies said hi. We teamed up and did some more mid-level villains. Then he left for bed again. I watched a video. Afrter that, I went back and forth between reading comics, exercises, Writing and making notes in this, playing Cross Stitch World, and one break to check Vindictus. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 18 2024

On Wednesday, after breakfast, I paid a few bills. {smile}

Then in mid-afternoon, my main nurse and I went to the public library. I picked up some manga, mostly from _A Bride's Tale_, a series they have more of than I'd read before... though I think the next book in it was missing. Hopefully it will be there later. After that, my nurse took me home. He talked about how underutilized he thinks that library is. He says it's an amazing resource, with all the books and other things. I agree it's got a good collection. {Smile}

I did my head exercises, and my arm resistance exercises after playing CoH much of the evening. After a break, I did my arm swinging exercises. I'm concerned with how quickly I tire... something to talk with my therapist and my doctor about, I guess. {smile}

After the bills, I hopped into Vindictus. I didn't find Div, so I just ran battles right through lunch and into the afternoon, until stopping to go to the library. When we came back from the library, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Dennis greeted me and wanted me to choose something to do together. Then Pierogies came, and very much wanted to team on mid-level villains. So, we did earlier parts of the arc that Pierogies and I finished the other night, because Dennis's character had done very little in that arc. Two or three short missions took us up to bed for them, and dinner for me. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Tuesday's daily update, with breaks for Cross Stitch World, chatting on the chat server, and browsing on Amazon. When I was done, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I began playing by myself on a character who needed relatively few things to meet a goal I had for her. I also started talking to Meghan in the game and Nox on the chat server. I joined Meghan when I finished that project. We were on low-level heroes and ran a couple of her missions. I reached the next level and stopped there while I complete content before moving on. After those mission, Meghan said goodnight. I did some hunting after she left, then some web browsing and a little Cross Stitch World. After that, I started my exercises and did a fair bit of Vindictus mercenaries before writing and making notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 17, 2024

On Tuesday, I slept poorly the night before. I just kept coughing and had trouble getting that to stop. {rueful look}

In the afternoon, we did have a trip out to pick up the head of the nursing company, who's my relief nurse's sister, from where her truck was getting fixed. We took her to my relief nurse's house to get something she needed to fetch. Then we dropped her off so she could pick up her truck, which was being worked on. {smile}

I tried to take a nap when I came home. It was interrupted by a locksmith coming to visit. She fixed the back door's lock so that it unlocks easily. It was far too hard to unlock for a while, but as long as the nurses were always home with Mom, this wasn't as much of a problem. Now that they're taking me out, it's nice to be able to properly lock all the doors. We also arranged for the locksmith to come change the locks for the other doors maybe early next year. {Smile}

Later, the head of the nursing company came to the house and had taco dinner with my relief nurse and me. She pointed out I need to straighten dining room to accommodate more such dinners more pleasantly. It might help us play games at the table, too. {Smile}

I did two of my head exercises during a lull in City of Heroes, and the other three right after I was done playing for the evening. After a break writing and making note in this, I did my arm resistance exercises and my arm swinging exercises. {Smile}

After breakfast, I browsed the web and read comics. Then I hopped into Vindictus, playing with mercenaries and doing battles until our trip out, mostly on my mid-level character. After our trip, I took that nap both before and after the locksmith, Then I checked Vindictus again before switching to City of Heroes: Homecoming. I teamed up with Kitten and Pierogies, and we continued the mid-level villain missions he'd picked the other day. Dennis joined us, too. I teamed with the three of them until I left for dinner, which I ate in the dining room with the relief nurse and the head of the nursing company. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Monday's daily update while listening to my relief nurse and the head of the nursing company try a Big Island themed Monopoly. We'll have to play it sometime. My writing included breaks for Cross Stitch World and reading comics. After I finished Monday's daily update, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Kitten. They said Dennis had just left. Kitten wanted to watch a show more than play. I picked a My Little Pony episode, and we both enjoyed it. Just after it ended, Pierogies came on and wanted to play with us. I also started talking with Nox on the chat server. Kitten and I went back into City of Heroes: Homecoming and finished that mid-level villain story arc. After that, we said goodnight, and they left. After they'd left, I noticed a fellow going after a giant monster and joined him. The team mostly split up between monsters, but I stayed with him to get not just that monster, but two more, and then another. Then the leader went straight to an individual mission. I helped with it, then said goodnight. After that, I exercised and wrote and made notes in this, then quickly made a minimal check of Vindictus before finishing my notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 16, 2024

On Monday, my relief nurse wanted to go out after breakfast. He suggested Costco in Kona, across the island. I suggested something closer. First, I mentioned the County Building's Christmas tree display, but then I thought of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut factory/farm, and that's where we went. We checked out their gift shop, where I picked up some Christmas presents. Then we checked out the lower, still accessible viewing of their packaging plant. (There used to be one up a long staircase, but I think it's closed.) Then we spotted a signa bout a garden that visitors are invited to walk through just as we felt rain starting. We decided that the garden could be next time, for we're going back soon. After that, we went home for lunch. {Smile}

I got a fair bit of walking around done at Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut. Later, when I was winding down for the night, I did my head exercises and my arm resistance exercises. I meant to get more, but ran out of time... but then I spent too much time coughing while trying to sleep... It wasn't pleasant, but that much coughing needs to count towards my exercise too. {rueful look}

After lunch, I hopped into Vindictus. I didn't find Div, so I did four missions on my mid-level character, getting her more developed/Then I did two missions on my low-level character. Then ran up so close to dinner, I didn't even go into City of Heroes: Homecoming until the evening. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Sunday's Daily update, with breaks for reading a comic, playing Cross Stitch World, and browsing on the web. Then I started talking with Nox on the chat world. In got over to City of Heroes: Homecoming unusually late. I found Kitten on, and said hi, which I continued talking with Nox. I hunted a few presents while I waited for a response. Kitten did respond, and invited me to join them in a farm, where they were helping another person level up. We chatted and played with the farm. Then we talked about doing something else afterwards, but it was close to time to exercise, and someone else asked about joining us, assuming we were doing a farm. So, Kitten and a couple of others did more farms. I checked on them once in a while, during pauses in exercising, and writing and making notes in this, a little web browsing, and checking of Vindictus mercs. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 15, 2024

On Sunday, after breakfast, my nurse took me to church. We arrived during the first hymn, and I sat with Auntie Barbara and Michelle, with my nurse behind me, same as last week. We had lunch afterwards on the lanai with a few guys and the four of use at one of the tables. {Smile}

Next, my nurse and I went to Safeway for medicine I was out of and a few groceries he knew we were low on. Then we went home. {Smile}

I got a fair bit of walking done while my nurse and I were at Safeway. Later, after teaming much of the evening on City of Heroes: Homecoming, I did my head exercises and my arm resistance exercises. After a break, I did my arm swinging exercises. I need to get more done than that in a day, but it got to be too late before I did. Well, tomorrow is another day. {smile}

After I got home, I hopped into Vindictus. I did a little with the mercenaries, then did four battles on my mid-level character, and two battles on my low-level character. After that, I stopped to let my nurse help clean me up. Having them involved is a more thorough way of bathing. Next, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I teamed up with Dennis, Dennis's best friend, and Pierogies. We ran three or four holiday-themed missions before we broke up, with them heading towards bed, and me to dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Saturday's daily update, with a few moderately long breaks for Cross Stitch World. Next, I started chatting with Nox on the chat server. I also hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I started hunting presents by myself, a solo-friendly activity mainly available during their winter event. I said hi to Meghan, Ulty, and Jenny's player. Then Dennis said hi, and we started talking, Next, Pierogies said hi. Both of them came to join me in hunting presents. I suggested doing regular missions, since those are harder to do alone. We ran three or four missions of mine before Dennis left for bed. Then Pierogies and I ran one more mission before he left for bed, too. I went back to present hunting, which can be a kind of badge hunting. I got that badge on that character, and figured out which character needs it next. The same character also needs the Christmas Mission badges. Next, I made notes and wrote in this. Then I did some exercises, followed by Cross Stitch World and web browsing. Next, I made more notes in this before doing some more exercises. After that, I checked some of the Vindictus mercenaries and browsed on the web a little more before I finished my notes and writing in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 14, 2024

 Saturday was mostly quiet. I stayed home to take care of my illness, My nose was still stuffy and runny, but gradually less. I was getting tired of it anyway. {smile}

After dinner, I got a phone call from Auntie Barbara. We made plans to meet at church the next day, even if I had to mask up and go with this bug, which is a lot like a head cold. {smile}

After playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming much of the evening, I did my head exercises. After a break, I did my arm resistance exercises and my arm swinging exercises before it got too late. {Smile}

After breakfast, I watched videos and read articles and comics until lunch. I hopped into Vindictus. I didn't find Div, so I did a little with the mercenaries, dn tried playing on my mid-level character. I struggled because she's gotten high enough to do content I can handle better with a second player. However, I got enough done to feel accomplished. I think I tried my low-level character but gave up fairly quick. She was in a tough one, too. So, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming earlier than recently. I found Dennis, and we chatted. then Pierogies joined us and asked for villain missions in a particular zone. We got characters of fairly appropriate inclinations and levels and did a few. We finished the story arc Dennis picked just as we were ready to break up. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Friday's update with shorter breaks for less Cross Stitch World than the previous evening. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I was slow getting going. I started playing by myself. Then I said hi to Meghan, Ulty, and Jenny's player, and talked with them a bit. Then I joined Jenny's Player and Ulty for some roleplaying. As we were still getting going, TheCyberChill asked for help with a mission. Ulty and Jenny's player were interested, so we all joined him and one other helper he'd found. We actually ran two or three missions, finishing that story arc. Then the others left, since it was late for them, and I did some paperwork. Cross Stitch World followed, with making notes here next. Then I got a little exercise. Then I browsed the web and made more notes here before doing more exercise. I finished the evening with a little Vindictus and a few more notes here. {Smile}