Daily Update, August 19, 2023

    I have started having odd problems... last night I turned my computer off early because I misread the clock. When I turned my computer back on, Discord, my chat server, wouldn't load properly until I turned my computer off and back on. Then today, it was one of the comic hosting sites I read that wouldn't load until I turned my computer off and back on. Does anyone know what this might mean? I had some trouble with disconnecting from the internet before that; I have no idea if that's related. {small smile}

   I got some mail taken care of after breakfast. It was good to get it out of the way. {Smile}

   I also rescued a baby lizard after dinner, catching it in a container, and taking it outside, where hopefully it will find more to eat. It was awfully thin. {Smile}

   I got a phone call from our former nurse in the evening, too. It was great hearing from him and getting to chat a while. I thought I'd been having a good day, but that phone call really brightened it. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with a Christmas letter from niece, and a Valentine's Day card from me. Then I continued with the next several pages in The Calming Cat Book, describing each cat in the picture. Then I read from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I read her the first story, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and a few short poems that followed it. I finished with the August 19th story, "Billy's Picture," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Billy came home from school with the assignment to draw a picture for a competition. His mother explained that a competition is where each person tries to do something better than the others, and that sometimes there's a prize. Billy then drew his picture, which the story describes in some detail. The next week, he came home with a set of paints, because he'd won first prize. {Smile}

  I did my arm resistance exercises, arm swinging exercises, and walking exercises after dinner. I did my leg exercises and standing arm weight training exercises after the evening task force. I did my salsa dancing at its usual late time, after the day has cooled off so I'm less likely to overheat. I did a warmup set, then after a break, a less structured set. I'm still so relieved and happy that's all I need! I did one sitting arm weight training exercise before my salsa dancing, and the rest after the salsa dancing, followed by my head exercises. So, I did get everything done again.  {SMILE}

   I read comics and articles in the morning, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming around lunch time. I started with paperwork and got somewhat caught up there. Along the way, Perogies said hi, and we chatted while we both caught up on paperwork. then he wanted to do the early long, large-group event, so we both joined it. Partway through, Kitten came in, and joined it, too. We three got together afterwards and started a player-created story arc Perogies picked out. Ulty joined us for a couple of missions not long after we started, but she had to leave again. Perogies, Kitten, and I continued on until maybe half an hour before I usually read to Mom. Then Perogies left, excusing themselves because they were tired, but promising to save the arc to continue later. Kitten was tired and left, too, so I worked on the paperwork that arc had made, finishing it about when it was time to read to Mom, so that worked out pretty well. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and found Ulty on. We chatted a bit, but she was busy in a private roleplay with her new role-playing partner. So, I worked on my exercises, then paused to feed Val. When I came back, I found an invitation to a task force from an acquaintance. It was a little old, but they were still recruiting, so I joined. They started not long after, not quite full, but full enough we had no trouble. (Smaller teams occasionally have trouble with final bosses.) Ulty got out before we were done, and we chatted until she left for bed. The task force finished a while later, then I did some of the paperwork it made, and got back to my exercises, chatted with our nurse, and did my salsa dance. I wrote this up druning breaks, and afterwards, too. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 18, 2023

    Today was quiet, except for a couple of phone calls. The first was from our former nurse before lunch. He'd thought we might get together today, but he had to call off. We'll try again soon. Beyond that, we chatted a bit. {Smile}

   The second phone call was from Auntie Barbara, later than I expected from her, but plenty early enough for me. It was nice chatting with her. We'll be meeting at church on Sunday as usual. she is likely to be with the Sunday school during the service, but we can sit together at lunch. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner, only slightly late. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Next, I continued with a Christmas letter from a friend, and a birthday card from her sister. Then I started The Calming Cat Book, showing her the cover, and the first few pages. She wasn't as interested in it, so I switched to the last few illustrated poems from _Mother Goose Treasury_. Then I started reading 365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes. I tried the first story, but again she wasn't as interested in it, so I read a few short poems that followed. She liked them better. I finished with the August 18th story, "A Sunshine Song," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Sally loved to sing and learned all the nursery rhymes set to music by heart. Her mother suggested she make up new words to an old song, so she came up with a song about the sunny summer holidays set to Sing a Song of Sixpence. {Smile}

   Okay, I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing, including both warmup and less structured dancing, but I got so dizzy during the less structured dancing, I'm taking a break from most of my other exercises. I did my arm resistance exercises and my sitting arm weight training exercises, but the walking exercises, the leg exercises, the arm swinging exercises, and head exercises are meant to challenge my balance, and even the standing arm weight training was not handing it well, so I stopped near the beginning. I don't think now is a good time for any of them. {rueful smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Perogies and Ulty both left as I was settling in, so I started by teaming with Kitten. We finished the story arc where we each had a character who couldn't join other teams until they were done. When we were done, they said they were tired, and went quiet, eventually timing out. So, I some paperwork, much of it rather complicated and to be honest boring. I happily left it for some other time when Perogies came back on, and we teamed up for a few missions. Ulty came on just as I was leaving to read to Mom, but we did say hi. {Smile}

   I came back on after dinner and teamed up with Ulty for a couple of missions. Kitten joined us during the first one, and stayed to do a few more, with a pause because they fell asleep when I took too long choosing my next mission. I made sure to keep moving. I said goodnight to Nox on the chat server, both of us having forgotten to start talking while we had time to chat. Kitten and I did chat a bit on the chat server. I also chatted a little with an acquaintance there. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 17, 2023

    Today started with a short phone call from our former nurse first thing int he morning, and another short phone call from him not long into breakfast. It was nice hearing from him again. {Smile}

   I had my online counseling appointment this morning. It went pretty well, I think. We covered a variety of subjects, including the most important ones, I think. {Smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner, right on time again. I started by reading scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with a Christmas letter from a friend we met through her sister. Next, I read the rest of _1940's Memory Lane_, including the last few pages, both passages and picture captions, and then the blurb on the back of the book, and yes, I showed her the pictures, too. After that, I read a few illustrated poems from _Mother Goose Treasury_. I finished with the August 17th story, "The Lonely Spring," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A spring sprung at the base of a pink flowering bush. The spring kept the bush healthy, giving it enough water on the hottest day, but the spring was lonely for someone to talk to it. the bush could only drop petals in sadness at the spring's loneliness. Then a stork dropped the frog it was carrying right into the spring. The frog swam out, croaking happily, and the spring was happy too. The frog was talking to it. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises, arm resistance exercises, arm swinging exercises, and leg exercises after Ulty left in the evening. Then I started writing this before doing my standing arm weight training exercises and wrote a bit more before doing my sitting arm weight training exercises. then I paused before doing my salsa dancing, first the warmup set, then the less structured set. After that, I cooled down with my head exercises. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics after the counselling appointment until lunch time. I also did some research into dance in Hilo. After lunch, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Ulty was just leaving, and Perogies was busy in the early long, large-group event. I might have joined that, but a high-level trial caught my eye. Turned out my second-best badge collector could get a couple of badges from it, so she did. The leader followed it with another high-level trial. My second-best badge collector had all the badges from it, but my third best badge collector had never done it. So, she ran it and got all six badges from it her first time through it. Then I started collecting much simpler badges on the same character. She'd never gotten around to getting them before. After a while, Perogies said he was free, and asked me to join him in hunting some badges. I did so, and we did that until it was time for me to go read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner I hopped back online, and started chatting with Ulty as I got back into Coty of Heroes: Homecoming. She was busy with a roleplay with the fellow we met yesterday. It seemed to be private. She spoke of getting together afterwards if she had the energy, so I continued to collect badges on my third best badge collector. However, when the time came, she just spoke of roleplays we might do in the future, and said goodnight, heading to bed. I continued collecting badges for a little while, then looked around for something to join, but not much was happening. I did try to join one thing, but the leader didn't get back to me. So, I did some of my exercises, and continued hunting badges. Then I started chatting with Nox on the chat server. We actually had time for a good chat before they left for bed. I continued a little with more badge hunting, and other exercises, then salsa, writing this up, and reading articles. Oh, and I also did more research into dance in Hilo. Somehow, I seem to have stayed on task enough, I'm actually getting done slightly earlier. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 16, 2022

    I called Melanie after breakfast, and we had a nice chat. However, she is busy Wednesdays, and can't help me take Val to the vet next week Wednesday, So I called Alan the Uber and Lyft driver, and he plans to be working then. He said to call and remind him the day before, and I actually set a reminder in my phone for that. {Smile}

   I tried calling my church a few times, to ask if they could help me donate some cat food I have to the folks on Maui, and also ask about a Zumba class I saw something about, but once I go their answering machine, and two or three times I just got dead air... I think I need to tell them about the dead air. {small smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that, though later than I meant to, because I lost track of time while playing City of Heroes. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued with a birthday card from her sister, and a Christmas letter from her niece. After that, I read more from _1940's Memory Lane_. I read passages and picture captions and showed her the pictures. Then I read a few illustrated poems from _Mother Goose Treasury_. I finished with the August 16th story, "Planting Roses," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Robbie Rabbit got soem roses from a neighbor and tried to plan them in his garden. but the birds warned him they'd just shrivel up and die in the sun, so he took them back inside, put them in a vase, and went to ask his neighbor how he grew such fine roses. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises, arm resistance exercises, arm swinging exercises, leg exercises, and one sitting arm weight training exercise between the evening roleplaying session and the evening task force. I did my standing arm weight training exercises and the other three sitting arm weight training exercises between the evening task force and the salsa dancing. Yes, I did salsa dancing at the usual time, first a warmup set, then a less structured set. for over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. After the salsa dancing, I did my head exercises, so I got everything done again today. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning and over lunch, when I wasn't making phone calls. More comics, and fewer articles, I think which I am happy with. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after I cleaned myself up after lunch. I found Ulty, and joined her. We teamed up on Different characters than usual. Then Perogies joined us, and we teamed until a while before reading to Mom. Then I started working on a badge, and somehow, I didn't watch the time. Suddenly it was almost half an hour after I usually read to Mom, so I dashed off to do that. {Smile}

   After dinner, I came back, and found Ulty in a pickup roleplay with someone new. I joined them, and we toured the new fellow's base until Ulty had to leave, and the other guy did, too. Then I did some of my exercises. Then i took a break at the computer and noticed a taskforce I decided to join. I wanted my best badge collector to join, but ended up using my second-best badge collector, because the best badge collector is still doing something with Kitten's second character that I can't leave and go back to. Neither of them got what I was hoping for anyway, except one of the players helped me get it on my second-best badge collector later. Then I did some paperwork that got her one more badge and set my best badge collector to getting another while I worked on my exercises and salsa dancing. Then i wrote this up adn read articles and comics. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 15, 2023

    Today really started when the nurse came in while i was in the middle of breakfast and said that the van that was to take me to the not-a-picnic-this-month was here. I grabbed things as quickly as I could, and finished breakfast in the car. There was one other passenger, a very talkative woman I do like, who attends pretty regularly. The van took us to the resource center for disabled and elderly. Another in our group met us, maybe by accident, but happily led us to the conference room where we were meeting... with a stop at the ladies' room for all three of us first. {Smile}

   The meeting went well. They showed a video about how hard it can be on the family if someone is dying slowly, and their loved ones aren't clear about what the person wants. Then we were introduced to Advanced Health Care Directive form for the State of Hawai'i. Then we broke for a leisurely lunch with much conversation. After that, we went back. Most worked on filling out their forms, and got it witnessed by the volunteers who were running the workshop. When one found out I wasn't ready to fill mine out because I wanted to discuss things with loved ones first, she got a paper with this and their next two workshops. and invited me to come to one of the other workshops near the end to get mine witnessed, if it looks like I'd have to pay for a notary. {Smile}

   Then it was time to go. I started to go with the gal I came with, but when we found the van, another gal was there, too, and with the space they have for wheelchairs, it would be crowded with three passengers. The leader had said she'd take me home if there was a problem, so I went back and let her know there was a problem. We walked out to the car, and I waited, doing some of my exercises while I waited. When she was ready, I stopped, and she took me home. We had a nice talk on the way. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom, and I read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued with a Christmas letter from a friend we met through Mom's sister. After that, I read more from _1940's Memory Lane_. Most double pages in that books have a passage about some part of the 1940's, as well as pictures with captions, and I read it all. Then I read a few illustrated poems from _Mother Goose Treasury_. I finished with the August 15th story, "Toby's Concert," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Melanie was stuck in her room with a bad cold, with only her dolls and stuffed animals for company. She was feeling pretty sorry for herself when she heard her brother Toby's Voice coming through the window from the garden outside. He was singing all the funny songs he could think of and strumming on his guitar. He cheered Melanie up, so she was laughing and making her dolls dance to the music. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging exercises and two of my head exercises when I was waiting for a ride home after the meeting today. I did the other three head exercises during an early lull at City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did three of my sitting arm weight training exercises and both of my standing arm weight training exercises during lulls in the game in the evening. then I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing including both warmup and less structured dancing. After a short break, I did the last of my sitting weight training exercises, my walking exercises, my arm resistant exercises, and my standing exercises after the second set of salsa dancing. {Smile}

   At home, I read some comics, then hopped into Coty of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Kitten and Perogies. The three of us tried to team up, but Kitten went quiet, then disappeared. Perogies and I suspected they'd fallen asleep again. Their job keeps changing their hours. So Perogies and I ran some missions together. then they left to watch something with a family member. I started talking with Ulty, and we teamed up on the pair we most often role-play on, running a couple of my missions. Perogies came back and joined us, since they stopped watching TV because it would disturb someone else who was trying to sleep. The three of us played until it was time to read to Mom, and we said goodnight. {Smile}

   After supper, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. When I spotted no one who I particularly like to team with, so I just soloed getting some badges on assorted characters, going back and forth. I remembered last night, and the disappointment when Phonso came in when I was committed to a group he couldn't join. Sure enough, he turned up, and asked if I'd like to do a task force tonight. I jumped at the chance, joining him immediately. He recruited almost a full team, and we ran it. Most left, but Phonso switched to another character. I invited Kitten who joined us for another run of the same taskforce. This one filled completely, and we ran it. Kitten, one other and I stayed after the task force broke up and ran another. I wanted to squeeze in another, but Kitten left abruptly because another task force they wanted was starting. As we figured out that they weren't coming back, it got late enough, I really needed to start my salsa dancing. After the salsa, I did what other exercises I hadn't yet, and wrote this up, pausing to read comics and such, so I'll just have to share it tomorrow.  {Smile}

Daily Update, August 14, 2023

 Today, I looked at a notice I got just too late to deal with near the beginning of the weekend and got on the phone with an insurance company of Dad's. One long phone call later, I filled out a form, and discovered the mailman was in our driveway, so I rushed out to give him the envelope. I hope I didn't forget anything in filling out the form, but probably I didn't. {Smile} I was tired enough after that, I figured I'd done enough for one day. A similar project or two can wait. {Smile}

I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. I continued with two Christmas Cards from the nursing company, a birthday card from church, and a Mother's Day card from her sister next. Then, I showed Mom the covers and title pages of _1940's Memory Lane, reading her the blurb then I continued with the first few pages of that book, reading a passage and the captions of the pictures. After that, I read a few illustrated poems from _Mother Goose Treasury_, starting with two long ones I knew the tunes to, so I sang, and then a couple shorter ones I didn't try to sing. I finished with the August 14th story, "The Bumble Bee," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Carolyn was out in the garden with her mother when she complained that she was hot. Her mother suggested she get a peach from the kitchen. She did and got scared by a bumble bee who popped out. Her mother assured her they don't sting, suggesting the bee might be hot, too. {Smile}

I did my walking exercises, arm swinging exercises, and leg exercises after the taskforce and paperwork that followed. Then I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing in two sets, one the warmup set, and the other a less structured set. Then I did my arm resistance exercises, head exercises, and standing arm weight training exercises, and two of my four sitting arm weight training. No, not quite all... but I actually might have done my head and/or arm resistance exercises twice, so that might compensate? {Smile}

I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming over lunch to do some paperwork. Kitten messaged me just as I was getting ready to leave to clean myself up. So, I cleaned myself up, then messaged Kitten, and hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Perogies messaged me not long after I got in, and we teamed up. We were just getting going when Kitten came back in. The three of us worked things out so we could all team up and run a few missions together. Then Perogies left, and Ulty said hi. Kitten and I got together with Ulty. I changed to a low-level character around the level of hers. We teamed up for a couple of missions before it was time to read to Mom.

After dinner, I hoped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and didn't see anyone immediately to team with. Things looked quiet, too, so when someone advertised a low-level task force, I volunteered. Turned out Mollymauk, my friend who streams, was running it. It was a nice, chatty group, though I was disappointed when I had to turn down Phonso's invitation to do a task force. We were a few missions in, but the taskforce I was running is known to be long, so we had a few to go still. After the taskforce, I did some paperwork. I was just ready to start my exercises when Kitten came in and said hi. I apologetically said I had to exercise, so I couldn't team. Really wish I'd made the exercises wait. After salsa dancing, Kitten was busy with a team... I think with a taskforce Molly had just started. So, I did more exercises, and worked on writing this. Then I started to join Mollymauk, but pulled out to join Kitten for a couple of missions instead. Then I made notes to finish writing this the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 13, 2023

    Since it's Sunday, I contacted Uber after breakfast, and they took me to church. I started particularly late, so I was surprised that they got me there during the announcements, before even the first hymn. They were blessing a large bunch of donations on the steps in front of the altar that were collected for folks on Maui. I sat alone, since Auntie Barbara was busy with the Sunday school. She was excited to have four students today. {Smile}

   I sat with her during lunch, which worked out nicely. While getting ready to leave, I learned from another friend that we are losing our organist. Next Sunday is his last day with us. I mentioned it to auntie Barbara, and she said he and his family are moving to Washington, and he's got a job with an Episcopal church there. {Smile}

   After lunch, auntie Barbara stopped at Island naturals because it's customer appreciation day. I hoped to get some peanuts, but they were out of plain ones. There were salted ones, but I'm watching my salt intake, and they didn't even say *lightly* salted. I just went back to the car, and she took me home, and came inside to visit with Mom before leaving. We sang a few songs, which is always nice. {Smile}

   Auntie Barbara suggested, as she usually does unless Mom is particularly tired, that I call Mom's sister, my Aunt Valerie so they can talk. I did call my aunt, and we had a nice talk, but just as I was about to suggest she talk to Mom, my aunt remembered a chore outside that she wanted to do before it got any darker than it was already. She said she would talk to Mom next time. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with a birthday card from church, a Christmas card from her cousin's granddaughter, and an Easter card from me. Next, I showed Mom the last several pages of pictures in _1940's Fashion in Pictures_, reading her each caption as I pointed out each picture, then finishing by reading the blurb on the back. She does seem to like mid-20th century fashion. Then, I read a few illustrated poems from _Mother Goose Treasury_, starting with a long one, then reading a few short ones until I reached another long one. that will be for another day. After that, I finished out with the August 13th story, "The Apricots," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Mrs. Dingle was old, and lived alone, but her neighbor, Katy, a young girl, often helped her. One day, Katy brought a big basket of apricots to Mrs. Dingle from her family's yard. Mrs. Dingle said she'd like to borrow them until tomorrow. The next day, she gave Katy four big jars of apricot jam. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging exercises waiting for a strike force in the early evening, and my walking exercises, leg exercises, arm resistance exercises, and one sitting arm weight training exercise while waiting for Phonso's task force late in the evening. After his task force, I did my salsa dance, first the warmup, then the less structured set, so yes, I did over 20 minutes, my new goal. I did my head exercises after the salsa, as a short break while writing this up. I didn't' get the standing or the other three sitting arm weight training exercises done, but that's all I missed today. {Smile}

   I read comics after Auntie Barbara left, then called my aunt, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I did some paperwork, worked on a badge for my second-best badge collector, and looked around. I started talking with Ulty, who was working on a badge for the character we play together on a lot. The character I use a bit low-level for that badge, so I got the badge for my second-best badge collector and found a higher-level character who'd begun work on Ulty's badge, but hadn't gotten very far, and I joined her. I ended up making a lot of progress on that badge. So did Ulty, I'm happy to say. Eventually Ulty decided she should leave, so we said goodbye. She hoped to be back later, but I never did spot her again. Anyway, I started working on another badge for my second-best badge collector until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I didn't find anyone I particularly like to hang out with. Well, the leader of the task force last night was on, and advertised for a different task force, but it filled before I'd finished typing a request to join. So, I continued working on the badge I'd started working on before dinner. I got bored, and noticed a strike force I could join on my highest villain. Then I discovered it helped towards a badge my fourth best badge-collector is working on and switched to them to actually run it. When I was done, I did a bit more paperwork, then continued working on the badge I'd worked on twice before today. It was late enough that I was surprised when Phonso asked if I'd like to run a task force. but with only 20 minutes of salsa dancing needed, I hoped I could squeeze it in. It made me just slightly late for starting salsa, but I got over 20 minutes done with time to spare, so that worked well. 

Daily Update, August 12, 2023

   I got a text from the housekeeper saying she was coming this morning. However, later I found one apologizing because she was helping a group that was working to send stuff to Maui, to help people affected by the wildfires around Lahaina. I offered her moral support. I'm sure she'll get back to us when she can. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I followed that with the last part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from last year. After that, I showed Mom more pictures in _1940's Fashion in Pictures_, reading her each caption as I pointed out each picture. She does seem to like mid-20th century fashion. Next, I read several illustrated poems from _Mother Goose Treasury_. I finished with the August 12th story, "The Sand Castle," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Alison and Roger went to the beach, where they set out to build a fine sandcastle, decorated with shells. As they finished, their mother suggested getting ice creams. They found some friends to play with at the ice cream van. The tide had washed away the sandcastle when they finally returned, but Roger said they'd make another tomorrow. {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, leg exercises, arm swinging exercises, walking exercises, standing arm weight training exercises, head exercises, and two of the four sitting arm weight training exercises after the trial in the evening. Then I did my salsa dancing, first warmup, then less structured dancing. I finished with the last two sitting arm exercises. {Smile}

   I finished sharing yesterday's daily update in the morning and read articles and such before lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I did some paperwork, then got together with Perogies. We joined a task force and ran it together. Then he was really in the mood to watch a show together. We watched a short film, tried a second that he didn't like, so we stopped partway through, and watched another instead. That took us up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I found a note from Ulty after dinner saying she was making an early night of it. So, I looked around... I didn't find a friend to team with, but I found a task force that looked promising, so I joined it. Then I did a bit of paperwork and tried to join a trial. The leader said they were full, but the leader of the task force I'd run asked if she'd gotten my spot and insisted on me taking her place. So, I did, and ran the trial, following it with the exercises. I talked a little with one friend just before the exercises, and a fair bit more with Perogies when he came on late in the exercises. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 11, 2023

    I called the veterinarian after breakfast, and actually got the office. I reminded them that our attempt to test his blood sugar failed, because it fell off. I also told them that symptoms of his diabetes had improved when we started him on insulin, but not as much as I could wish. They suggested bringing him in, and I agreed, expecting this. He's got an appointment for Wednesday after next. {Smile}

   I called my financial adviser... and called again just before closing when she hadn't called. She sent me what she has on the budget I asked for and will send it again when she's finished it. Even preliminary numbers are helpful at this point. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. After that, I read more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from last year. Next, I showed Mom more pictures in _1940's Fashion in Pictures_, reading her each caption as I pointed out that picture. She seemed to like it, pictures and all. Then I read several poems from _Mother Goose Treasury_, and all of those are illustrated. I finished with the August 11th story, "Peter's Fish," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Peter was a little boy who made himself a fishing pole He used to fish in the pond in the garden. He actually caught a fish he hoped to give his mother, but the fish looked so sad, he took the pin out of its mouth, threw it back, and picked some flowers for his mother instead. {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, my walking exercises, my arm swinging exercises, my leg exercises, and both standing and sitting arm weight training exercises after playing in City of Heroes: Homecoming in the evening, with a couple of pauses because doing all the arm weight training in a row is tough. Maybe I should work on that, too. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after cleaning up after lunch. I looked around, and found no one, but I did find a Task force being advertised that contributed to a badge my fourth best badge collector is working on, so I ran it. I still didn't see anyone I like to talk to, but I realized it was almost time for the later long, large-group event, so I joined it on the same character. I enjoyed the event. I also got to talk with Perogies at the end, when they come in and said hi. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Ulty, and we were just starting to figure out what we wanted to do when Perogies came back in and said hi. The three of us teamed up for missions with light role-playing, which I think we all enjoy. We did the last mission of one of my contacts, and a couple of missions from another contact before Ulty said she had to go to bed. Perogies thought it was a good time to go to bed too. I did bit of paperwork that had developed from our playing. Then I broke to do my exercises, followed by my salsa dancing. I said goodnight to Nox, who I'd forgotten to talk to earlier, during my break in my salsa dancing. After salsa dancing, I meant to write this up sooner, but got distracted by shopping for some stuff, and videos that caught my eye on YouTube while dancing. I'll get this shared in the quick places, but the slow will wait until tomorrow. {smile}

Daily Update, August 10, 2023

    I found a note from my counselor about her bill and got that sorted out after breakfast. I'm embarrassed it slipped by me. {smile}

   I tried calling our former nurse around dinner time, but he was busy. He promised to call him back. I called back after dinner to let him know that I can't hear the house phone while I eat dinner, so my cell phone is better. He said he'll call tomorrow (Friday). {Smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I read more from her niece's long family Christmas letter from last year. After that, I showed Mom the front and back covers of _1940's Fashion in Pictures_, reading her the blurb on the back. Then I read the first few pages of the book. She seemed to like it, pictures and all. Next, I read several poems from _Mother Goose Treasury_, and all of those are illustrated. I finished with the August 10th story, "The Old Days," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It described harvesting corn by hand, with men, women, and children each doing their part in the harvest. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises and leg exercises right after dinner. I did my resistance exercises and my head exercises during lulls in City of Heroes. I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing, including both warmup and less structured dancing, after I finished playing City of Heroes, and I did my arm swinging exercises and my arm weight training exercises after the salsa dancing, I guess as a kind of cool down? Though not really, since they work the arms, which don't get much of a workout in the salsa dancing. I concentrate on the legs in the dancing. Yes, I really got them all done. Some were late, but after yesterday, getting all of them done feels good! {SMILE}

   I read articles and looked around online for dance in Hilo after getting the counselor's bill sorted, right until lunch, and I read comics after lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Kitten, and we teamed up. As we were getting going, Perogies joined us, too. I picked a task force I hoped would get a badge for my best badge collector. We made it to the end, but we couldn't do the last mission. It was made for a larger team. We broke team, and tried a story arc, with a friend of Kitten's joining us. I did get a badge, but not the badge I hoped for. We got the story arc almost done by the time I like to read to Mom. Kitten and Perogies sounded tired when I left. {Smile}

   I came back on City of Heroes: Homecoming after dinner and looked around. I did some paperwork, and saw Mysty, so I tried to get together, but she wasn't feeling well, and left to rest. Next, I looked for a group to join, but little was happening. I tried to convince myself to start a group, but I really wasn't in the mood to lead a group of strangers. So, I ended up working on a couple of badges on my second-best badge collector. She actually did get two, but the second was one that came along with one of the ones I was working on. I made progress on the other, but I will have to finish getting it some other day. I did chat with Nox a bit on the chat server while working on the badges. Eventually, Kitten spoke up on the chat server, and I got them to come in. We finished the last mission in the story arc we'd worked on right before reading to Mom. Then they suggested starting another story arc with my best badge collector and a character they're still developing. This way, their favorite character is free. I have so many characters, having one stuck isn't much of a problem for me. Yes, we had to do this story arc through a system that doesn't let them do other stuff as well, nor can they add other characters along the way. Then we broke so I could do my dance. My other exercises followed, then writing this up with some research into dance classes in Hilo. I'm still hoping to find more. I'm sure I've seen and heard of more over the years and suspect I just haven't found some of it. {Smile}