Daily Update, May 31 2023

    Today, the morning ran late enough, I dashed off to physical therapy right after breakfast. I got a driver who was particularly quiet. I think he usually tends to be quiet, but he was even more so than usual. {Smile}

   I did arrive at physical therapy a little early, but the secretary wasn't in. She came in, left again, and came back. The second time, I caught her to make appointments through the next month, though she said she'd taken her break so that she'd be there when I was done. I also chatted with my therapist. He's interested in my storya, dn i think he helped me decide to compare Menehune skin tones to types of chocolate, since they're a Hawaiian Little People. {Smile}

   I took Uber back home afterwards with a chattier driver. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued by finishing her niece's long family letter from 2019. Next, I showed Mom pictures in _The Calming Cat Book_. I started at the beginning again, which is good, because I discovered I missed a page yesterday.  I commented on each picture, and s howed more than I expected, because she was responding fairly often. Next, I read 'Sober 30 Years, Elton John Claims AA Zoom Meetings During Pandemic "A Lifesaver,"' from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. I finished with the May 31st story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed all of it: reading, pictures, and commenting. {Smile}

   No exercise beyond physical therapy today. {Smile}

   I read comics over lunch, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I teamed up with Perogies and Kitten. We ran several missions before Kitten left because they were just too tired to enjoy playing. Then Perogies and I finished the movie we'd started a few days ago, _Arrival_. That took us to time to read to Mom, with barely any time to talk about it, about that's okay. We'll talk about it some time, I'm sure. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found no one I particularly like to team with on, so I joined short task force. As we disbanded, I saw Owl Girl and Phonzo. Phonzo was running a TF, but it filled before I could join. So I asked about a later run, and said I wanted to be in it. I chatted with them a little more, and with Nox on the chat server, and caught up on some paperwork as I waited for them to finish. When they finished, I got together with Phonso, and invited Owl Girl to join us too. Phonso recruited the rest of the Task force, and we ran it. After the Task Force, Owl girl and I ran a story arc I had. One mission was too tough, but when we left the mission to regroup, we found two characters Owl Girl knew. We asked them for help, and they joined us. With their help, we finished that mission with much less trouble. They stayed for the rest of the story arc, and we established connections so we can stay in touch. That story arc went too late for me write much of this update until the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, May 30, 2023

    Today was a day of phone calls, as a visit.

   I called the vet, and ordered more medicine for Val. I also checked about some medicine we'd stopped, and under the vet's directions, restarted him on it. So far - with only one dose to go by - he ate most, and didn't throw up, which is better than the last time. I can hope it helps his urinary tract disease, and the medicine I'll pick up soon will keep him from throwing it up again. {Smile}

   I also called outpatient therapy at Life Care Center, they had me down for an appointment Saturday, which I didn't have, but put down after hanging up. We arranged to make more appointments tomorrow, when I go in for therapy. I do feel better having one more appointment already; down to one appointment felt tight. {Smile}

   The visit was to my dear family friend in Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. I took Uber over, and had a very short wait. The driver was taking someone home from downtown who lived really close, so they were only 3 minutes away.

   I took a book a friend had given me, that she'd been given herself. I gave it to the dear family friend, who said she'd treasure it even more, knowing it had been passed along. I sat and visited for a fair while, then tried to visit her daughter who's in the same care facility, but she was sleeping. So, I went home by Uber, again getting a driver who was quite close. He said a ship was in, and the passengers tended to want to visit a waterfall which was right nearby, so he thought that was why folks were nearby. maybe so, but I'd think they wouldn't stay long at the waterfall... but I admit I don't always understand tourists. {Smile}

   Later, I got a call from the pharmacy. They'd caught a dosage change in a medicine my doctor recently renewed. They called him to check, and he wanted the old dosage. When they asked, I thought I didn't feel different, but this may help the unusually low blood sugar numbers, and also more frequent unstable blood sugar incidents I think I've had recently. Good thing they caught it and checked. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with more from her niece's long family letter from 2019. Then I finished reading and showing Mom pictures from _Memories 1960's_. Next, I started showing Mom pictures in _The Calming Cat Book_. There's a minimum of words to read, so I commented on each picture. Next, I read "Afghan Translator Saves US Lives, and then Becomes an American Citizen," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. I finished with the May 30th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed all of it: reading, pictures, and commenting. {Smile}

   I did my walking, arm swinging, arm weight training, and head exercises after dinner, and over 20 minutes of salsa dancing later, including both warmup and less structured dancing. I hoped to do more, especially since i started slightly earlier, but then I did the extra fast piece as the second of the second set, and I just did not recover from that in time to want to try again. {rueful smile} However, I did get both half circle taps and both double fast turns in the same direction into my dance, both during the warmup, and during the slower of the less structured dance pieces. {Smile}

   I read comics over lunch, and after lunch, too. then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and found Perogies and Azurette on. Azurette didn't respond to my hi, but Perogies did, and we teamed up, doing more missions together. We also chatted, visiting, and I did get an announcement from Azurette. Then Perogies left, and I thought it was time for the later short, large-group event. Then I realized I'd misread the clock and did a bunch of paperwork that had piled up while we played. That almost took me to time to read to Mom, so I started a little earlier than usual today. {Smile}

   After dinner and exercises, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. No one I particularly like to team with was on, so I started watching for teams. I saw three folks ask for teams, then one of them started a team of individual missions. I joined it, and it continued all evening. I eventually chatted with Nox and Azurette while continuing to team. Nox left for bed, but Azurette eventually joined the team, which was great. Teaming with strangers was okay, but I DO prefer teams with friends in them. {SMILE} After the exercise, I started writing this. After a while, I checked the game, and found Perogies back on. He suggested I stick a character in a mission he was doing while I continued to write this, so I did. {Smile}

Daily Update, May 29, 2023

    Today I stayed home. I mostly tookit easy, but i did call Auntie Barbara after dinner, She called back after her own dinner an we had some trouble connecting, but when we did, we had a nice chat. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it and continued with more from her niece's long family letter from 2019. Then I continued reading and showing Mom pictures from _Memories 1960's_. Next, I read "4 Teens Rescue 90-Year_Old Neighbor from Burning Home," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. I finished with the May 29th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed both what I read and the pictures I showed her. {Smile}

   I did my walking, arm swinging, arm weight training, and head exercises after dinner, between the phone calls. {Smile}

   I read articles after breakfast - rather more than I meant to, so I didn't get much else done this morning - and eventually switched to reading comics. A while into the afternoon, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Perogies, and we chatted for a while. Then we teamed up, with me on a character I haven't used in a while. we ran several missions - the characters were doing pretty well against the main enemies in the story arc I chose, despite the enemies having a reputation for being tough. That took us up to when Perogies suddenly needed to go. Then i did paperwork that took me up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, exercising, and the phone calls, I hopped into City of Heroes: homecoming again, and looked around. Phonso was in a task force, and we started talking. He'd looked for me but found one recruiting before I came on. He finished up his taskforce while I finished up some paperwork, and I joined his next task force. He recruited more, and we ran it. Then he left, and the team didn't entirely break up. Three stayed on counting me, and one fellow joined us, and another dropped and rejoined. We did one of my missions, then one of them led us in running a particular, quick mission repeatedly. My best badge-collector ran it maybe five times and got three badges... realizing I'd gotten what I could, I switched to my second-best badge-collector, who got eleven from a few runs. Then they wound down by touring bases, then chatting. {Smile}

Daily Update, May 28, 2023

    Today was Sunday, so I called Uber, and went to church. The driver wasn't chatty, though I think he's been chattier in the past. maybe he was having a quiet day. {Smile}

   At church, I went in, and Auntie Barbara came and sat with me. The service was nice, and the food was so plentiful, I didn't even try to find the nuts that they seem to keep in a bowl in the office. I sat with Auntie Barbara during lunch, too, and had a nice chat with her and a few others. {Smile}

   After that, Auntie Barbara took me home. She noticed some furniture sitting in front of our seaward neighbors, and I told her I thought that was there for the taking, and that I think they're moving. She saw some chairs, and said she really needed more chairs, especially since they expected guests soon. So we went over to look. There was a slightly old looking matched set that she said she knew how to recover. Another that I thought looked in better condition looked harder to recover to her, so she took the matched set. {Smile}

   Then we went in to visit with Mom. She tried singing, and Mom actually sang along with few songs. then Auntie Barbara looked at the picture books I've gotten for Mom.

   She suggested that I call my aunt, since it was good day for Mom, so maybe she and her sister could get more of a conversation. After resting a bit, I did. I had a little talk with my aunt, then took the phone to Mom. She said hello a couple of times, and a couple of general tings, like that it was a nice day. That's a good conversation with Mom these days. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first and continued with more from her niece's long family letter from 2019. Then I started reading and showing Mom pictures from _Memories 1960's_. Next, I read "Humpback Whales on the Comeback Trail" from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. I finished with the May 28th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom enjoyed both what I read and what I showed her. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises after dinner. They're the only exercises my physical therapist wants me to do the day after physical therapy. {Smile}

   After the phone call with my aunt, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, did a little paperwork, and found Perogies, who wanted to attend a DJ show. That's a web-hosted show that reminds me most of listening to the radio, with musical pieces interspersed with the DJ who chooses them talking to his audience in between. We chatted while listening to it. Near the end, we went to team with Kitten. We ended up arriving early at the later short, large-group event. I wanted it for one of my characters, who's been wanting the rewards from it for most of last week, but we were always doing something else. Then we ran a couple of short arcs a couple of missions long each, and tried a single mission that wasn't as easy as I'd hoped before I went to read to Mom. Perogies left before the last, which Kitten and I didn't finish. {Smile}

   After dinner, I read several comics, then got back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found kitten still there and said hi. We teamed up and did two lower mid-level story arcs that contribute to a couple of badges. They left, and I did a solo mission that was the last of a bunch I needed for a badge. Yes, i finally got that badge. I also said goodnight to Nox; we missed a chance to talk again. Then I worked on something for a friend, and on this, but didn't get it finished until the next morning. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 27, 2023

    Today I had physical therapy, so a bit after breakfast, I called Uber and got Cody, a driver I've ridden with several times. He was in a particularly chatty mood, so we chatted all the way over. {Smile}

   Physical therapy went great. I think my therapist and i were both a bit surprised when he passed my double fast turns in the same direction as safe to do at home. I was expecting it to take a little longer to get down, and I think he was too. My double fast turns where I reverse direction were better, too, but he still wants to watch when I do them, I don't think he actually steadied me, but he reached out in case a few times. So, I'll keep working on them. Maybe I'll get them, too. {Smile}

   I called Uber and got a different driver on the way back. He was less chatty, but not a lot less chatty. {Smile}

   I came back to see our housekeeper busy cleaning the house, which was great. It is so much better for her attentions. {Smile}

   I had a nice, chatty call with Auntie Barbara after supper. We're planning to meet at church, sit together, and such. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first and continued with more from her niece's long family letter from 2019. Then I finished reading and showing Mom pictures from _Memories 1950's_. Next, I read "Nine-Year-Old Collects Cans and Donates Proceeds, All on His Own" from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. I finished with the May 27th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom said she liked what I read to her, and she seemed interested in the pictures, especially the fashion and movie star pictures. {Smile}

   No exercise today beyond my physical therapy. That was a lot right there. {Smile}

   I read a sample beginning of a kids' novel I found on Amazon over and after lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Perogies farming, and met a new character of his on a brand-new second account, though I didn't realize it was a second account at first. We chatted, and then Kitten came into the game and joined us. Then Azurette invited us to tour her base through Perogies, so we went. She's really done some nice work on it, though she admitted to me afterwards she was frustrated with us running all over the place. I need to remember she wants to guide the tours; Div prefers to let visitors find things for themselves. This tour took us all the way up to time to read to Mom, and when it did, Perogies left for bed, too. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped onto City of Heroes: Homecoming, and found Azurette teamed up with someone, and no one else around. I tried talking to her, but she was busy base building... or base decorating, as she explained later. So I dropped a note on the chat server, letting Kitten know I was online, and tried to do some paperwork, and find something to get into like last night. Then Kitten came in, and we did a midlevel story arc together. Just as we were finishing, Perogies came in. We got together a bit after that, then I noticed that Owl Girl was leading a giant monster team, so we joined, and ended up making it a league. that did help a character of mine who needed a prize most giant monsters drop. Then it went down to one team - though that was by one person leaving to make room for Perogies. We ran a couple of missions, and Owl Girl left, and Perogies's new account joined for a couple more. Then the team broke up, and Kitten, Perogies and I chatted a bit before first Perogies then Kitten left for bed, giving me time to do some paperwork and finish this update. {Smile}

Daily Update, May 26, 2023

    This morning, after breakfast, I finished writing up yesterday's daily update. Then, instead of looking at comics or anything, I called up a story that's mostly done, and started looking it over, meaning to work on revising it in hopes of getting it where I can be happy trying to publish it. I got as far as reading the first scene and into the second, and realized I wanted a notebook that I'd been keeping track of the characters and other details in. Somehow searching for that took me up to lunch time, but I eventually did find it, so I can use it in the future. At least I've started working on it again. So help me, I'm a little proud of that. {Smile}
   I had breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it, and continued with more from her niece's long family letter from 2019. Then continued reading and showing Mom pictures from _Memories 1950's_. Next, I read "Get That Styrofoam Out of the Big Apple!" from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I finished with the May 26th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom said she liked what I read to her, and she seemed interested in the pictures. {Smile}
   I did my walking, arm swinging, arm weight training, and head exercises. I did them right after dinner, before getting into City of Heroes: Homecoming, so I could concentrate on them and get them all out of the way quickly. {Smile}
   I read a few comics in the morning, but not many. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I saw Perogies and a few other friends in an MSR, but Kitten seemed to be solo. They were responding slowly and admitted to being tired. They still wanted to team, and as we were starting, Perogies came to join us. So, we restarted to team up with them, too. Then Azurette asked for help while we were doing our first mission, so we got out and joined her just as she was getting ready to solo because I was so busy checking with them, I forgot to tell her we were coming. We debated what to do afterwards. Kitten went off on their own, and Perogies and I joined Azurette in another story arc that sort of follows this, but pretty indirectly. Perogies left after a while, and Azurette and I finished the arc. Then she left, too, and I did some paperwork until it was closer to time to read to Mom. I started slightly earlier than usual, but not really early. {Smile}
   After dinner, I did my exercises and then hopped back into City of Heroes. None of the folks I usually team up with were on... well Azurette, but she left pretty quickly, and no one else came on for a while. So, I started checking the Looking For Group channel, and sooner spotted a low-level task force being advertised. It earns credits, which one character is trying to do, so I joined it on her, and did the sequel afterwards, with much of the same team. We had a new player who needed some extra guidance. I tried, and so did some of the others. I hope we helped them. I also added a different player to my list of friends in game... we'll see if we start playing together. Their handle is Arctic Hawk. After that, I did some paperwork and chatted with Nox for a while. After they left, I did more paperwork and started writing up my daily update. Then Perogies came back, and we chatted as he set up some low maintenance play. We chatted a lot, but I seem to be managing to finish writing this up, though not with much time to spare. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 25, 2022

    Today, I had an online counselling session at 9:30, half an hour early. It began when I was only half done with breakfast. However, just when we started, I got a phone call. It was my doctor's office. The doctor was feeling pick himself, so they needed to reschedule the appointment that had pushed this counselling session earlier. We tentatively rescheduled it, and I called back after the session to confirm that I didn't have a conflict with the time, since my main calendar is on my phone, and it doesn't let me check these things without hanging up. {Smile}

   The counselling session went well. My counsellor was pleased with some developments, and really, so am I. {Smile}

   I got a phone call from our former nurse before dinner. That was nice. I had a short one yesterday that I forgot to mention, but it mainly promised a longer call today, and yes, it was longer - long enough to catch up a bit with what we've both been doing. {Smile}

   I had lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it, and then read more from her niece's long family letter from 2019. Then started reading and showing Mom pictures from _Memories 1950's_. Next, I read "Irish Teen Wins Science Contest Revealing Fake Videos," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I finished with the May 24th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom said she liked what I read to her, and the pictures, too. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises, which are the only ones my therapist wants me to do the day after physical therapy. {Smile}

   I read comics before and after lunch, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I saw Perogies and some other friends. Perogies and I chatted slowly as I did some paperwork. Then I realized some of my friends, including Perogies, must be in the early long, large group event, so I joined it. I hoped to team up with Perogies afterwards, but Perogies disappeared. So, I soloed on the character I'd soloed on yesterday, working on more badges. I actually did get another badge, but somehow the badge it also contributes to didn't note that I had it. I reported the problem but got no response. Perogies came back on, and we teamed up on the villains again. We finished the story arc we'd done the first mission for yesterday. that almost took me to time to read to Mom, so we chatted while I did something particularly simple. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and found Darkthough1 on. We started to team up, and Perogies came back on and joined us. Perogies wanted to work on a villain, so Dark and I got villains a bit lower than earlier. We started a story arc both Dark's and my characters could get. Perogies left a few missions in. Then Mistress Aegis joined Darkthough1 and me, and we finished the story arc. Then we chatted until they left for bed. I also chatted with Nox for a while until they went to bed. I then soloed on the character I'd played in the evening until I wrote the first part of this, and made notes for the rest, while doing a little more soloing than I really had time for. I really need to watch that. {rueful smile}

Daily Update, May 24, 2023

    Today I had physical therapy, so I called Uber, and dashed inside to grab a book I'd need, because the car they found was three minutes away, and I'd called 3/4ers of an hour early in case the car was 20 minutes away instead. I got a reasonably chatty driver, so the ride over was pleasant. {Smile}
   I waited until our actual time to start. because my therapist didn't come in until then, which is fair enough. I had a nice session, and a nice talk with the therapist, both about therapy, and other things. He asked about my writing, since I've mentioned some that I want to get ready for publication. I really need to get back to working on that. {Smile}
   Then I called Uber, and another driver took me home. He was pleasant enough, though I don't think he was as chatty as the one on the way over. {Smile}
   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it, and continued with more from her niece's long family letter from 2019. Then I finished reading and showing her pictures in _Memories 1940s_. There weren't as many pages left as I thought, so I continued with the front and back covers of its sequel, _Memories 1950's_. Next, I read "Youth Prefer Watching Earth Programs to X Factor," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. Then I finished with the May 24th story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom said she liked what I read to her, and the pictures, too, at least when we got past the sports page. Ball players just aren't her thing, but the next page was fashion, which she showed distinctly more interest in.  {Smile}
   No exercise beyond my physical therapy today. {Smile}
   I read comics over lunch, and a while after that, too. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Perogies, and we chatted, then teamed up on a couple of our villains. Well, villain is a strong word for my character. She's just the product of a corrupt foster care system who learned to watch out for her own interests because nobody else was doing so in there and isn't too concerned about whether that involves breaking a law on occasion. I think we ran around 3 missions before he had to leave. At that point, I only had half an hour or so before reading to Mom, so I did some badge collecting on the character I was on until it was time. {Smile}
   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and found Darkthough1 and Mistress Aegis. they didn't want to stay as long as they have been doing, so we teamed up, finished a story arc we'd been working on, and chatted until we lef.t Then I worked on paperwork, first on the character I'd been teaming with them on, and then on a character who is working on a project that involves a lot of paperwork. After that, I went back to my former foster child, and got a few badges that together got a badge that improves her abilities. Then I started working on the last badge like that - there are four, and she already had two - but I have more to do with that. {Smile}

Daily Update, May 23, 2023

    It was another quiet day. I thought about going out, but I've got physical therapy tomorrow, and online counselling and a doctor's appointment Thursday, so I will be getting out this week. {Smile}
   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first, and more from her niece's long family letter from 2019 next. then I showed her more pictures in _Memories 1940s_. After that, I read "Colorado Granddad Comes Out of the Closet at Age 90," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. He first admitted in the memoirs he wrote when the pandemic started, and then shared it online, too. I finished with the May 23rd story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom said she liked what I read to her, and the pictures, too.  {Smile}
   I did my walking, head, and arm weight training exercises. I also did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. I just got started to late to do more, with the pauses I need between sets. {Smile}
   I read comics in the morning and over lunch. then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and found Perogies on. Perogies was slow responding. Then I realized he was in the early long, large-group event. I picked a character and did get into the zone, but the league was full, so I had to tag along solo. I hoped a spot would open up, but none did. Perogies and I teamed up afterwards, and Kitten came in and joined us. We worked on that badge, since Perogies picked yet another character who needed it. Then Perogies's mouse died, so he left for dinner, saying he'd try to fix it after dinner. So Kitten and I switched characters and ran a story arc that helped with a different badge. About the time we finished, Darkthough1 came on and joined us for a couple of not-too-long missions before I left to read to Mom a little later than usual. {Smile}
   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and found Darkthough1, Mistress Aegis, and Kitten all on and active. We teamed up and did some talk missions in preparation for a story arc. Then Phonso came on and invited us to join a task force. We did, switching characters as appropriate, and when it was done, he ran the same task force on a different character, which we ran open the same characters, despite rewards being lower for a repeat. I got a little chat with Nox in on the chat server, too. Then that team split up, and we tried the mission we'd been planning to do before. However, we could not find the last character or characters we were supposed to rescue. by then Kitten was unresponsive, so it was tricky to abandon that mission, but I hope I figured it out. If not, we'll work things out one way or another. The search, abandoning the mission, and saying goodnight took us into my salsa dance time, though the other exercises I did got slipped in earlier. That is why I didn't do more than 20 minutes of salsa dancing. However, Perogies came back on just as we were saying goodnight, and said good morning, since he was still waking up. {Smile}

Daily Update, May 22, 2023

    Today, I stayed home and took it easy, pretty much. No outings, visitors, or even special phone calls. {Smile}

   I had dinner with Mom and read to her before that. First, scripture and thoughts about it, and next come more from a niece's long family letter from 2019. After that I started showing her the pictures in _Memories 1940s_. Mom responded a bit more, but not like with the fashion, Vogue covers, and maye pictures of cats. Then I read "Turkish Mom reads to Blind Daughter, and then Gets Honorary Degree," from _100 Uplifting Short Stories for Seniors_. She helped her daughter, who's vision is impaired, with reading and writing for four years she needed to get a bachelor's degree. Then I finished with the May 22nd story from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mom said she liked what I read to her, and the pictures, too.  {Smile}

   I did my head, arm swinging, arm weight training, and walking exercises, which are what are wanted two days after physical therapy. {Smile}

   I read comics in the morning and over lunch and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I found both Kitten and Perogies on, and we teamed up to help Perogies get a badge that would actually improve his character. Most don't, but this one does. It involves getting a few simpler badges. We got the easy ones, and worked on the hard two until it was time to read to Mom. My character - who had four of the five needed already - got the last one, and Perogies got a lot closer. Even kitten's newest character already had it, so they were just tagging along and helping for general rewards. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Darkthough1, Mistress Aegis, Kitten, and Azurette on. Azurette didn't respond, but the others did. Phonso came on while we were getting going, and immediately invited me and my friends to a Strike Force and a Task Force. Kitten thought they'd join, but then decided they'd better go sleep, because they were just too tired to make it through, especially after a busy weekend. Darkthough1 did join us. Owl girl was already there when we got there. Phonso filled the team, and we ran the first one. We lost one along the way but finished nicely. Then some left, and Phonso filled the team again, so we could run the second. We really had trouble towards the end, until we followed Phonso's directions more carefully. Then we finally got it. After that, Phonso and most of the others left. Darkthough1, one new person and I stayed and talked for a while. Then the new one planned to be absent for a while. Darkthough1 and I left that team, switching characters to team up with Mistress Aegis to do a few more missions. Then we chatted until they went to bed. I also said goodnight to Nox. We missed a chance to talk beyond that again. I also chatted with Azurette, who finally responded to my hello hours earlier. She'd been busy making a piano in a supergroup base. After Darkthough1 and Mistress Aegis left, I went to visit to admire it, and we chatted a fair bit before we broke up, her to bed, and me to my walking exercises. {Smile}