Daily Update, January 17, 2025

On Friday, in the late morning, my main nurse dropped me off at physical therapy and ran a few errands while I exercised there. I had a good session. He met me just as I was finishing. {Smile}

After that, we ran another errand. {Smile}

Then we stopped at Dodo Mortuary. My contact wasn't in again, but the fellow I did talk to said Mom's urn is out getting engraved, As I told the nurse afterwards, he had the air of someone telling me what he thought I wanted to hear, and hoping it was right. {smile}

So, I asked to go to Homelani Memorial Park next. There, we got the gal who helped me before. I asked her the same thing. She went away, and came back and told me it was sent in the day before and will be sent to them later. She had the air of someone who's looked things up, and learned what she hoped was true. {SMILE}

After that, my main nurse and I went home feeling like we'd accomplished something. {Smile}

I got all the exercise I needed today at physical therapy. I think I was even more tired than usual afterwards. They must have worn me out. {Smile}

After I got home, I played some Cross Stitch World and drowsed, tired from the exercise and business. When I was a little more steadily awake, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and started on paperwork. Then I started soloing on a very low-level character. Then I switched to a slightly higher but still pretty low-level character and started playing their missions alone.  Next, Pierogies came in and said hi. We teamed up and he helped me with a couple of missions. Then I switched to a slightly higher but still low-level character, and Pierogies and I finished a story arc our characters have been doing together. Dennis joined us partway through the story arc. Both Pierogies and I gained a level. Then we said goodnight, and I headed to dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I played Cross Stitch World and chatted with friends on the chat server. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, starting with paperwork. I began soloing on the middle little character from the afternoon. Then Pierogies said hi. We chatted for some time before we talked about getting together. Pierogies suggested a farm, so i got a high-level character who was looking for the kinds of stuff we get in farms. We continued to talk as he farmed. Then Dennis joined us in the farm and the chatting. Pierogies left after one mission, ready to go back to bed. Dennis and I continued to team, doing a mix of his and my missions, more mine than his. Eventually Dragons joined us. Then Dennis left. Dragons and I chatted, then ran another couple of missions. Next, they spotted some friends, including Kitten. About five teamed up, including Dragons, Kitten, and me. I started making notes and writing in this in what I thought a pause but missed part of a mission that way. Then we ran a couple more missions. After that, I said goodnight. Then I made more notes in this, pausing to read a few comics and do some paperwork that had piled up in the farm before I finished notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 16, 2025

On Thursday, I'm embarrassed to say that my counselor had to call me to remind me to start our session. I'd forgotten, and my insurance - whose system we use - would cut off access if I was too late. It can be set up again, but it's an extra hassle we just don't need. The session went well once I'd signed in, and least. {Smile}

In the afternoon, my main nurse helped me clean myself up since yesterday was entirely too busy to fit that in. {smile}

I did my salsa dancing warmup a while after playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming. Then, after a break, I tried again. I stumbled not that many steps in, caught myself, and tried again. I stumbled again very quickly. I stopped to treat hypoglycemia and did my arm resistance exercises. Then I tried yet again, and started stumbling distinctly further in, but still close to the beginning. I figure I got maybe nine and a quarter minutes of salsa dancing done. 

After counselling, I played Cross Stitch World and browsed the web right over lunch and into the afternoon until my bath. After the bath, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and started on paperwork. Then Pierogies said hi, and we teamed up on low-level characters. We started doing my missions. Dennis joined us, and we did a few of my missions until dinnertime. {Smile}

After dinner, I played Cross Stitch World before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork and chatting with Ulty and Jenny's player. then I browsed the web. Then I played by myself on a low-level character until I spotted a pair of high-level taskforces. I switched to the characters who's trying to collect badges from those and joined the group just before they started. I still didn't get the last badge the character I ran them on needs from them. After that, I worked on paperwork. I also told Nox a few things on the chat server and wrote up Wednesday's daily update. Next, I read comics before I went back to City of Heroes: Homecoming. I was in a out web browsing and thinking about playing until I found that Mysty had said hi. I joined her and three friends of hers, one of which was an acquaintance of mine. They were mainly visiting. I listened more than I talked. Eventually I meant, meaning to exercise, but I checked the web before I danced. Then I played Cross Stitch World before I tried dancing again. I watched part of a video and exercised between attempts to dance more. Then I wrote and finished notes in this and read a comic to wind down before bed. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 15, 2025

At bedtime Tuesday night, I discovered that eBooks can be a lot shorter than I realized. They even can be longer short stories - as few as 5000 words are easy, which is well into my natural length of 300-10,000 words. Maybe I can try to self-publish some of my longer short stories. {Smile}

 On Wednesday after breakfast, my main nurse and I went down to Safeway. We met up with auntie Barbara, who helped me pick out and order some platters for the reception after Mom's funeral next week Wednesday. That included a cookie platter that had to be ordered from the bakery, not the deli where I order the sandwich and fruit platters from. Then we took the groceries my main nurse had picked up home before we went to meet Auntie Barbara and Michelle for lunch at Island Naturals. That was a nice visit. {Smile}

After a rest at home, my main nurse and I went to a midafternoon appointment at Homelani Memorial Park. I signed stuff and look at Mom and Dad's niche in preparation for the inurnment after the funeral next week Wednesday. As long as I was there, I had them show me Mom's parents' niche, too. {Smile}

Next, we went over to the Dodo Mortuary and left a message for the man handling things for us to get Mom's urn engraved before the funeral. Normally Homelani would take care of it in ten to fourteen business days. However, they only have seven days business and otherwise, the gal at Homelani wanted to cut out a step or two by having the fellow who's holding the ashes take care of it. We would have talked to him directly, but he wasn't in, so we left a message. {Smile}

Then we went home to find our housekeeper busy at work. The house is distinctly better for her attentions. {Smile}

I did some walking when we were out both times. I also did over 20 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing, including one brief false start and repeat. {Smile}

Between lunch with Auntie Barbara and going to Homelani Memorial Park, I played cross Stitch World and chatted with friends on the chat server. After the second trip, I talked with my housekeeper before settling down and getting into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I started with paperwork as usual. I spotted Pierogies, and we talked about a story arc he needed for a badge that improves the character permanently. Just as we were ready to start, I got called to dinner. I quickly told him what he needed to do before I left. He should be quicker without me anyway. {Smile, wink}

After dinner, I played Cross Stitch World while thinking. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found and answered note from Div. Then I started on paperwork, and said hi to Ulty and Dennis, and chatted a little both of them. I teamed up with Dennis to do a few of his missions before he left for bed. Next, I did some paperwork and played more Cross Stitch World before I began writing up Tuesday's daily update. Then I read comics before I started dancing. Next, I checked a story that I had been working on to get ready for publication. I had thought it was too short; before. now I wondered if it was, if 5000 is the new bottom cutoff. It looks like the disc it's on got corrupted. I have some old versions, but a few years older than what I wrote last year. They're also missing 2-4 scenes, and not even 2000 words, let alone 5000. I did find a slightly more recent one and saved it, but it's still missing 2-4 scenes and still under 2000 words, just not quite as far under. I found and messaged the gal who fixed my computer the last time about it, but I think I'll leave more until after the funeral, when things have calmed down. I danced again, then made notes and wrote in this. I also finished and shared my daily update... finishing with both daily updates right at bedtime. I have to do them earlier. I even missed talking with Nox much. {rueful Smile}

Daily Update, January 14, 2025

On Tuesday, my relief nurse wanted to take a day trip to Waikoloa, across the island from Hilo. We started after breakfast, crossing the Saddle Road and going to Waikoloa. We found the shoe store I spotted last time. we went in, and I tried on Birkenstocks. Their clogs just don't quite fit me, with or without a fur lining, in two different sizes. However, I found a dark red sandal I decided I wanted the most. {Smile}

My relief nurse wanted to check out the rest of the shopping center, but I was getting to the point of needing food soon, and the only restaurant we found open was a bit pricey. So, we drove up the hill to a new shopping center in Waikoloa Village. Apparently, the old shopping Center has priced itself out of the market for most stores, but this new one is looking popular. The Oriental restaurant my nurse likes uses MSG, which gives me migraine. However, they have a newly open L&L (Hawaiian) Barbeque, which shouldn't use MSG. We had lunch there, then drove around the shopping center. Much of it is still being finished - often the shops, and occasionally the buildings. {Smile}

Then we went back to Hilo across the Saddle Road. I read some on the way over, and more on the way back. We went down to Safeway to get something for dinner before we went home. {Smile}

After I got home, I found a text from Auntie Barbara reminding me to tell a distant cousin who lives in town about Mom and her funeral. I texted her, and this started a text conversation, including a definite maybe for her and her family's attendance. {Smile}

I didn't walk all the way around either shopping center, but I did enough at each of them to feel tired at the thought of more exercise. So, I think I'll count my walking as my exercise today. {Smile}

When I got home, I took almost an hour to settle down. This was only partly because of starting the text conversation with my distant cousin. Eventually I got into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I was just in time to join the middle short, large-group event and run it. Then I said hi to Pierogies and Kitten. I joined the later long, large-group event with Pierogies. Kitten joined us a little after it started. I quit when dinner was served, since we were past the early more demanding parts. {Smile}

After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Kitten and Dennis teaming and joined them. We ran several missions until Dennis left for bed, and Kitten went quiet, then faded out, like they'd gone to sleep without logging out again. So, I did some paperwork and wrote up Monday's daily update. Then I chatted with Nox on the chat server and played some Cross Stitch World. I also began making notes and writing in this. Then I did more paperwork and played more Cross Stitch World. Next came more paperwork and playing by myself on City of Heroes Homecoming before I finished making notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 13, 2025

 On Monday, after breakfast, the locksmith came and replaced the locks with a matching set. She remembered Dad. She said she took genetics from him in college. It was nice talking to her, though we kept it brief. {Smile}

After that, the relief nurse and I ran a few errands. He was concerned with how sleepy I was. Lunch helped a bit, but I still had some lethargy, so I tried hypoglycemia medicine. This also helped a bit, but I still was not great. Then I tried the nap the relief nurse kept pushing. Again, it was of limited help. After the nap, I tried a sweater and a warm drink. Finally, success! The lethargy must have been largely due to being a bit chilled. {Smile}

Occasionally through the day, I did my pelvic floor exercises. Then between the two shows I watched with Kitten I did my salsa dancing warmup set. After a break, I did two pieces of less structured salsa dancing, for just over twenty-one and a half minutes of salsa dancing. I tried to keep both my pelvic floor and my abdomen tucked in during both sets, too. I wasn't perfect, but I'm getting fairly good at it. {Smile}

I read comics while trying to treat my blood sugar. Then, after my nap, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I spotted Pierogies and Dennis on and said hi to both. Dennis invited me to team with him and his best friend, but his friend had to leave sooner than expected, while we were still getting together. Dennis and I still joined up and did a couple of missions. Pierogies joined us later, but the three of us didn't get to do much, because my relief nurse had dinner ready half an hour early. {Smile}

After dinner, I dashed back in time to catch Pierogies and Dennis still teamed up, but they were both ready to leave, so I just said goodnight to each of them. Then I did paperwork, and told Dennis something on the chat server that I didn't get to say before he left, using a conversation we share with Kitten and Pierogies. Next, I read comics and began writing up Sunday's daily update. Then I saw Kitten and Dr. Faustus on and said hi. Dr. Faustus invited me to do a mission that rewards a badge with him. I found the character I wanted to get it, and we ran it. Next, he switched characters to do more badge missions. Kitten joined us about this time. We ran another badge mission... well, I was mostly out of it working on Sunday's daily update, but I got that done and was more attentive after that. We got two more badges and a special power. Then Dr. Faustus left, and Kitten wanted to watch a My Little Pony episode. She had a few picked out. So, we chatted on the chat server, then watched the earliest of the shows she picked. After that, I danced and slipped in making a few notes and writing in this. Then we watched the next My Little Pony show she picked out. After that, Kitten went quiet, so I made more notes in this, and danced some more. Next, I chatted on chat server with Kitten and Pierogies, who both came back on. Then I played some Cross Stitch World and finished making notes and writing in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 12, 2025

Before Sunday I went to bed on time, which has become unusually early for me. Somehow, I was still slow getting ready; life added some extra steps to my morning routine on a day where that was tough. Somehow, we still squeaked into church at the end of the announcements. I credit my main nurse's good driving for getting there at such a good time. {Smile}

It was a nice service. I sat with Auntie Barbra and Michelle, as I did again for lunch, along with my main nurse and some others. After lunch, I went into office with nurse and Cathy. Cathy helped me plan Mom's funeral. With her prompting I picked hymns and readings and let her know who'd be speaking. {Smile}

My main nurse stopped by a couple quick errands on the way home. {Smile}

I did a fair number of pelvic floor exercises throughout the day. Then I did my head exercises, and my arm resistance exercises after I was done playing City of Heroes: Homecoming most of the evening. It's not as much as I hoped, but it's something on a light day. {Smile}

When I got back from church, I checked the chat server. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Jenny's player promptly invited me to a low-level trial with her and Ulty. I recruited Crash while they recruited others. Then we ran it. It went pretty well. Afterwards, the team split up. Next, I joined the middle short, large-group event, and ran it. Then I said hi to Pierogies who asked if I was joining the later long, large-group event like he just had just as Dennis invited me to a team. I teamed up with Dennis and his best friend, and we did two or three of my missions. Pierogies joined us partway through the last one. Then Dennis's friend left for bed, and I left for dinner. I think Pierogies and Dennis continued teaming after we left. {Smile}

After dinner, I did a lot of thinking about being alone I am now that Mom and Dad are both gone, mostly while playing Cross Stitch World, with occasional talking with my main nurse. Eventually I hopped into City of Heroes: homecoming where I said hi to Ulty and Jenny's player. I chatted with Jenny's player a fair bit. I also worked on paperwork. Then I wrote up Saturday's daily update. Next, I joined a fellow doing a mission. I also talked with Nox on the chat server a bit. After the fellow's mission, I ran a mission on my own. Then I did my exercises. Next, I made notes and wrote in this. After that, I read some comics and browsed the web before I finished making notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 11, 2025

On Saturday, after breakfast, I took a nap I simply got to bed too late again. {smile}

Then, in the midafternoon, my main nurse and I took a trip out. First, we went to Safeway. I picked up prescriptions, and we did a little more shopping, including something for the house. Next, we went to Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo's largest shopping center. We walked over halfway around and back. I stopped at the comic store and picked out a comic book. Then we went home. {Smile}

Since it's the day after physical therapy, I didn't have to do any exercise by their rules. However, I walked over halfway around it, which counts for something. {Smile}

After my nap, I browsed the web, reading articles and comics up to and into lunch. Then I switched to Coss Stitch World, which I continued to play well into the afternoon, until I got ready to go out. After we came back, I did a little chatting on the chat server, then paused so my main nurse could help me clean myself up. The spot on my back he saw Wednesday is already gone. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I started on paperwork. I chatted with Ulty and Dr. Faustus, and ran the middle short, large-group event. After that, I joined the later long, large-group event. I didn't quite finish that one because I left when I was called to dinner, but I made a point to leave properly. I also slipped in some quick paperwork. {Smile}

After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming and chatted with Ulty and Jenny's player while I did some paperwork Then I did some writing and making notes in this. I also began writing up Friday's daily update, which I completed over the course of the evening. I also talked with Nox on the chat server. Dennis said hi while I was working on more paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming. I switched to my highest villain, and we did a mission and got a badge. Next, we switched to low-level villains and did several missions. Then we said goodnight, and Dennis left. I did two more missions, completing my contact's last missions. Then I did some more paperwork, and finished my notes in this, with a break to read comics. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 10, 2024

On Friday, I took a short nap between breakfast and getting ready to go to physical therapy in the late morning. I'd gotten to bed too late not to need a rest, and a short one was all I could fit in. {smile}

My main nurse took me to Life Care Center for that and dropped me off while he went to get gas. Physical therapy went well. I was back to late November numbers on the seated step machine, after feeling like I was starting over again when I got sick just before we stopped for the holidays. I did better at salsa dancing during physical therapy, too. My main nurse came in and watched near the end. Then we went back home. {Smile}

Physical therapy was my exercise, and a good amount of exercise it felt like, too. {Smile}

After we got home from physical therapy, I got right onto my computer and browsed the web over lunch. I also checked the chat server, though I found more to read than respond to. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork, then I spotted Dr. Faustus, and said hi. He confirmed that the villain supergroup he got me into was meeting later in the afternoon. So, I played by myself for a while. Dennis said hi, and wanted to get together. However, I realized I was slightly late for the meeting with the supergroup Dr. Faustus got me into. I rushed over and joined them just as they were getting ready to run a long taskforce. That ran for a couple of hours and ended just before dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I quickly got into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started on paperwork, though I was hoping to team with friends. However, I didn't spot anyone there who I usually like to team with, so I did some rather involved paperwork that's best near the beginning of a weekend. I also wrote up Thursday's daily update. Then I checked my email and talked with nurse about an email from someone at church. I came back to hellos from Dennis and Dr. Faustus. Dr. Faustus left without answering my answer, but Dennis and I teamed up and did several missions before he left for bed.by then it was pretty late. I did more paperwork, then concentrated on notes and writing in this. Except i did pause to read some comics before I finished making notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 9, 2025

Thursday began with counselling. My main nurse wanted to talk with my counsellor while I finished breakfast. I came in halfway through, and my nurse left. I talked with my counsellor for the rest of the session. We mainly concentrated on planning Mom's funeral, since I had only a week and a half before the day. {Smile}

After lunch, my main nurse took me to the public library. I picked out a bunch of comics, a mix of western comics and manga (Japanese comics) this time. {Smile}

I called Auntie Barbara after dinner. I wanted her advice about Mom's funeral preparations. Yes, i did Dad's, but I barely remember it. I think I was in more of a daze after Dad died. {smile}

I did my salsa dancing warmup set right after playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming most of the evening, for eight and a half minutes of salsa dancing. Afterwards I was tired enough, I got my head exercises done, but that was about it. {Smile}

After counselling, I browsed on the web and play Cross Stitch World right through lunch. After lunch came our trip to the library. When I got home again, I got back onto my computer and browsed the web a little. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and started on paperwork. I said hi to Pierogies and Kitten, having just missed talking to Dennis, for he left too quickly. Pierogies was busy, but I teamed up with Kitten on a moderately high character. After a while Dennis came back and joined us. Then Pierogies joined us, too. I think Kitten left at some point due to being tired. We played together until dinnertime. {Smile}

After dinner I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found and teamed up with Dennis on moderately high characters. I also began a little writing of Wednesday's daily update here and there. Dennis and I got in several missions before Dennis left. After that, I tried hunting by myself, but there was much searching and little finding appropriate critters. Pierogies joined me, but hunting was still poor, so I suggested a regular mission. That went well. I t even had plenty of what we were hunting, and they counted towards the hunt. We got more than enough for the hunt because we wanted to get the mission done too, and we did. Then Pierogies left for bed. Next, I looked around and spotted Dark. He was on a moderately low-level character, so I switched to one. We teamed up and did several missions. Dr. Faustus joined us for a few. Then Dark left. Dr. Faustus and I did a couple more missions. Dragon joined us in the middle of the last one, but it was long enough we got to play together for a while. Then I said goodnight. I did a little paperwork before I danced. Then I browsed the web and played Cross Stitch World before doing some exercises. After that, I wrote and took notes in this, with some more Cross Stitch World and reading a comic. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 8, 2025

 On Wednesday, a while after breakfast, my main nurse took me to my podiatrist for a checkup. The toenail that fell off is regrowing nicely. He's satisfied with how well my feet feel touch, though I notice some pins and needles sensations. He trimmed the rest of my toenails. I made an appointment at his new office, which will be back where he used to be, in the same building as my regular doctor. {Smile}

Then, around lunch time, I got a phone call from my priest. I made some arrangements with her for Mom's funeral, and learned the funeral will be livestreamed by the church. I spent most of the afternoon looking into hymns for the service. {smile}

I got a phone call from a cousin I rarely hear from. She offered condolences for losing Mom. I made sure she knew when and where the funeral will be. I also got a phone call from Auntie Barbara a while after dinner. We caught up with each other, checking how the other is doing. {Smile}

I did my salsa dancing warmup for eight and a half minutes of salsa dancing, but I was too dizzy and too tired to do anything else after that. Walking in and out of the podiatrist's office must have been more exercise than I realized. At least I hope so! {Smile}

I browsed on the web between breakfast and podiatrist, and again after I got back, around my priest's phone call and lunch. After that, my main nurse helped me clean myself up and caught a spot I didn't notice on my back. Hopefully he caught it early enough, it won't turn into much of a boil. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and started on paperwork there. Then I started playing by myself until I saw Pierogies and said hi. We teamed up on low-level villains and did a couple of missions. Dennis joined us just before I needed to leave for dinner. It looked like they planned to team on higher villains. I promised to come right back after dinner. {Smile}

After dinner I did indeed start by hopping back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Dennis on a high-level villain, and teamed up with him on my highest villain, though she isn't as high-level as that one. I also began writing up Tuesday's daily update. Dennis and I ran several missions, mostly his, until he left for bed. Then I worked on Tuesday's daily update, finishing it. After that, I switched to one of the moderately low-level characters I've been working on, and almost immediately got invited to a taskforce, which I joined. I was in and out at first because I discovered my chat server wasn't working. It didn't uninstall right. then it didn't reinstall right either at first, though it decided to after a while for no reason I could figure out. Still, eventually I got it working like I want it again. I finished the taskforce being more present after that. Then I did some paperwork. After that I browsed the web. After that, I started my dancing before I did more web browsing. Then I made notes and wrote in this and read comics before going to bed. {Smile}