Daily Update, August 27, 2023

    Today was Sunday, so I called Uber, and a fellow came and took me to church. i got lucky; he was pretty close, and I go there shortly before the service started, even though I got started later than I'd like. Though that's mainly because I'm often less lucky about them being close. {Smile}

   I sat with Auntie Barbara, and we enjoyed morning prayer. That's a traditional service int he Episcopal church, which ours is, but these days we rarely use it unless we don't have a priest. Since ours is still on maternity leave, that happened. WE expect a supply priest again next week. {Smile}

   After the service, I sat with Auntie Barbara and some others for lunch. Then Auntie Barbara took me home, and came in to visit with Mom, and with me, too. {Smile}

   I did try to call Aunt Valerie three times after Auntie Barbara left, but she must have been busy. She was not answering her phone. I did leave a message the first time, and after the third call, I called our former nurse. We had a nice long chat, which was great. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. I read the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021 after that. Next, I showed her the last few pages in _A Picture Book of Cute Kittens vol. 1_, saying a bit about each kitty or group of kitties. Then I read a story, a few fairly short poems, and a longer poem from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the August 27th story, "Rudy is Lost," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Rudy, a very young Kangaroo got out of his mother's pouch for the very first time and went exploring. He found a koala bear who asked if his mother knew he was alone. Rudy lied, saying he did this often. Then a parrot warned about a sandstorm, but Rudy got lost in it... until his mother found him and put him back to bed in her pouch. {Smile}

   I did the three walking exercises that don't use the railing after the evening taskforce. I slipped my arm resistance exercises in between the two sets of salsa dancing. Yes, I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing, starting with the warmup set, then doing the lass structured set later, as is my habit. I did my arm swinging exercises, head exercises, and two of the 6 arm weight training exercises, both sitting, before it got too late after the salsa dancing. {Smile}

   After the phone calls, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I did a little bit of paperwork, then joined the early long, large-group event not long after it started on a character which I hope will become a ranked badge collector but isn't yet. I did the paperwork that produced, too, then joined Perogies. We chatted and ran some missions until they got tired and left. Then it was more paperwork until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I came back on after dinner to news that Ulty had another early night. I hopped into City of Heroes, and said hi to Mysty, but she was just leaving. So did some badge hunting on my third-best badge collector until I was truly tired of it. At that point, I noticed a task force advertising, so I joined it on the hopefully soon to be ranked badge collector. That went pretty well. I did some paperwork and exercise after that. Then Perogies came on and said hi. We started chatting and teamed up for a couple of missions. Then I did my salsa dancing and what other exercise I got done. After the salsa dancing, along with the other exercise, I did paperwork, joined a group that was taking down a giant monster, and wrote most of this up, leaving only a little for the next morning. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 26, 2023

    Today, I spent a quiet day at home. The most exciting thing that happened was talking to Perogies, my City of Heroes: Homecoming and video watching friend about reading a story I wrote to his grandkids. The kids like it, and he thought the sadness was just about right for sharing with them. They only read the first part today, but he left the story so they can finish it later. I am so excited because I really wrote this for different generations to share with each other. I'm finally reaching the audience I was aiming for. {SMILE}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. After that, I read the next several pages in _A Picture Book of Cute Kittens vol. 1_. After that, I read a story called "The Party Zoo," then a couple of repetitive poems, then a four-page version of "Puss in Boots," all from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Next, I finished with the August 26th story, "The Hunting Trip," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. An Indian boy set off in his canoe, hunting, promising his mother he'd bring stuff back. He found an otter who gave him a fish, and some beavers who he helped build their dam, who gave him berries, and a raccoon who gave him some eggs. When he gave them all to his mother, she praised him as a good hunter. {Smile}

   I did the three walking exercises that don't use the railing, the arm resistance exercises and the arm swinging exercises before my salsa dancing. Yes, I did my salsa dancing, over 20 minutes of it, including a warmup set and a less structured set. After my salsa dancing, I did my head exercises, then my weight training exercises first the two standing ones, then all four sitting ones. Yes, I'm finally comfortable doing my weight training exercises. My palm is healed enough, it's not disturbed by holding it, and it turns out I can hold it with my ring finger slightly away. Even better, it's neither far enough out nor the right finger for me to give anyone the finger that way. {Grin}

   I read comics and articles in the morning and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming before lunch to do some paperwork. I left for lunch with Mom, then hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. I tried to join a taskforce, but they'd started when I got there. However, I then realized I was there in time to join the early long, large-group event a bit late, but not badly so. So, I did that. Then I did a bit of solo badge hunting until Perogies popped in and said hi. We got together to run a mission for a badge we both needed, though we had to restart because it didn't quite work the first time. He first told me about the grandkids' reaction to the story, and his own feelings about it. I'm so excited because this is the audience that I didn't quite realize I was trying to reach. The same one Vi Thompson, my first out-of-family writing mentor, wrote for: grandparents and parents reading to their grandchildren and children. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I had a lovely chat with Ulty, but she was winding down from a roleplaying wedding she'd been to, and needed to go, so we couldn't get together for roleplaying, missions, or a combination. I did some paperwork and solo badge hunting until Perogies came in and said hi. We got together, and got a couple more badges we needed, as well as some along the way that were easy, or useful later. We also talked more about my story... that's when I found out more about how reading it to the grandkids went. I'm really excited about that. After the badges, I switched characters to one who had some missions I particularly wanted to do. We did a few until he was ready to leave. Then I worked on exercises and paperwork. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 25, 2023

    The bandages on my cat scratches on my right hand haven't been sticking too well, especially the one on my palm. Some waterproof bandages I put on before breakfast did better, but even then, the one I put on my palm came back off after dinner. Fortunately, it finally looks like I might not need a bandage on that one, at least outside of bed. The finger was deeper, though, so I'm not going to even try to take it off again just yet. {Smile}

   My computer is continuing to have connection problems that are fixed by turning it off and back on. I'm wondering if a new modem would fix it, simply because it's older than the computer, and router is newer yet. {small smile}

   I had a wonderfully long talk with our former nurse in the evening. It was great to get to talk with him again. {Smile}

   I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued with the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. After that, I read the last few pages of _1950s Memory Lane_, reading a section, then showing her the pictures and reading any captions, followed by the blurb on the back of that book. She responded to this book, where she hadn't much to anything earlier, so, emboldened, I showed her the first few pages in _A Picture Book of Cute Kittens vol. 1_. After that, I read a long story popem and six short poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Next, I finished with the August 25th story, "Pumpkin Soup," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. A pumpkin was jostling around in the back of the farmer's cart. It thought if it jostled a bit more, it could escape, and go back to its comfy bed. It jostles its way out fo the cart, but rolled right down the hill past its bed, landing in a puddle. It frightened a donkey, who said the farmer's wife should make soup out of the pumpkin, and she did.  {Smile}

   I did the three walking exercises that don't need a railing, plus my head exercises, arm resistance exercises, and arm swinging exercises after the evening task force. Then I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing, including both warmup and less structured dancing. {Smile}

   I read comics and articles and did some research in the morning. I also confirmed that the monitor works fine as long as it's facing pretty much out and not leaning into the floor. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and caught the early short, large-group event when it was less than halfway through. Then I went to the early long large-group event and found Perogies already there. We chatted and ran it with the group. Afterwards, we got together and ran a task force hoping it would give us the critters we wanted the most from it. I got Ulty to join us, too. We took a lot longer than I expected, and Perogies left after a while. Ulty and I finished just about when I like to break to read to Mom anyway. I didn't quite everything, but I got close. I got to chat with Ulty, too. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I looked around but didn't spot anyone I like to hang out with. Ulty had said they'd probably leave before I got back, and no one else was on, so I looked around, and spotted a team that was doing something that would help the character I'd gotten so much done on earlier. It filled, but I got on a similar team, and she got all she needed in the second mission. Then I switched to a higher-level character, and played on the same team until it broke up. After that, I spotted a taskforce that my fourth best badge collector could use in pursuing a badge, so I joined it. I also chatted on and off with Nox on the chat server... with a long enough pause in the middle, neither of us were quite sure if we'd talked already when we started up again. We only knew for certain because Nox checked. After the task force, Perogies came back on. I joined him in a farm as we chatted about stuff, which was great. He left about the time I was ready to do my salsa dancing. Through the evening, I wrote this up. Around and after the salsa dancing, I worked on the paperwork, since there is more than usual at the beginning of this weekend. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 24, 2023

    Val's blood sugar numbers are high enough, I called the vet in concern, leaving a message when I got their answering machine. They eventually called me back and gave me an email address where I could send the list I have so far, so I did so. I hope they get back to me soon and start raising his insulin. I would like to get this under better control. {Smile}

   And the monitor seemed to have quit working as of 11 pm tonight. I've tried dozens of times, and each time, it says to try again later. I finally fed him anyway. It finally worked at 12:10 am, but just 20 minutes after eating, of course it was high. At least it hasn't died fully after all. {small smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. After yesterday, I was happy to start pretty much on time. I started by reading scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued by reading the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Next, I read the next few pages of _1950s Memory Lane_, reading a section, then showing her the pictures and reading any captions. After that, I read three short stories and four even shorter poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. Next, I finished with the August 24th story, "Kind Ophelia," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Ophelia was a pretty girl who spent much time at the beach, collecting shells, paddling in shallow water and walking along the shore. She rescued small animals which other children caught by throwing them back into the sea. One day, she found a baby dolphin who'd been stranded on the beach at high tide, and managed to get it back into the sea, saving its life. The fairy of the sea was so grateful, she turned Ophelia into a mermaid for an hour as reward. {Smile}

   My hand officially doesn't like the railings I use with my walking exercises, so I still only did the three walking exercises that don't need it while waiting for Phonso's task force in the evening. I did my arm swinging exercises as Perogies and I were getting together a little later. Then I did my salsa dancing, both a warmup set and a less structured set for over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. I did my head exercises later. I considered doing others, but it was getting late, and I didn't feel confident that I wouldn't damage the wounds further if I tried more, so I stopped there. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming after lunch. There, I did some paperwork and solo badge hunting on my third-best badge collector until I spotted a taskforce which I'd recently learned a particular character needed. So, I joined it, and we ran it. I noticed the character wasn't prepared for a reward that I like them to be by her level, so I got her ready for it. Then I checked the others at her level, and discovered none of them were ready either, so I got them ready, one after another. Well, as ready as they can be right now. That took me up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I noticed someone on who I hadn't seen in over a year. We chatted, but they didn't seem interested in getting together. Then Phonso came on and invited me to a task force before I'd figured out how to ask directly about getting together. I did a little exercise and more visiting before the task force, then ran it with Phonso and the group he'd collected. I did a little more badge hunting on my third-best badge collector after Phonso left. I also chatted with Nox on the chat server. Then Perogies came on, and we started chatting. We ran a story arc together, then he left to return to bed, and I started my salsa dancing. I did a mix of writing this, a little research into publishing, and some solo play. I really should have let the solo play for the next day, and maybe the research, too, because they pushed the whole night too late, even though I left finishing this to the next day. {smile}

Daily Update, August 23, 2023

    Today, I got a call from Alan at 1:15 He was coming even earlier than 1:30 because he was concerned about Wednesday school traffic. I got Val into his container, and Alan took us down to the Vet. Val did object, but not continuously. He clearly didn't want to go to the vet. {small smile}

   I waited a fair while before I saw the vet. They got the replacement monitor well stuck to Val, after shaving the area. I'm afraid Val scratched me at one point. the vet's assistant was trying to pick him up to put him back in the carrier, and Val was having none of it. I tried to pet him to calm him, when he got a scratch on my hand, and a deeper scratch on the pad of my ring finger. They gave me a band aid for each. When I asked for a replacement for the finger because I was afraid it would get messy on the way home, they gave me a spare. {smile}

   The good news is that scanning the thing is pretty easy to do. I think I've gotten the hang of it already. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I got started late because a mission ran long... even though I ended up leaving before it was quite done. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. I read the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021 next. Then I read the next few pages of _1950s Memory Lane_, reading a section, then showing her the pictures, reading any captions. After that, I skipped _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_ because of the late start. Instead, I just finished with the August 23rd story, "The Space Fairy," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. It told about the Space Fairy, who dances on a moonbeam strung between stars, distributes the colors of different seasons to Earth, and watches over the baby space fairy asleep in a crescent moon cradle. {Smile}

   Because of the scratches, I didn't try anything where I have either hold something in my hand or hold onto something with my hand. That meant I did the three walking exercises that don't use the railing before and after my salsa dancing. Yes, I did over 20 minutes of salsa dancing, including warmup and less structured dancing. I did my arm swinging and head exercises after the salsa dancing, too. The other waking exercises and all the leg exercises have me hold onto the railing, and the arm resistance and arm weight training have me holding things in my hands. So, I'll wait until my right hand is more recovered. {smile}

   I read comics and did paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming in the morning and over lunch, knowing I'd have the trip to the vet in the afternoon. After the vet, I got back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and perogies eager to chat, but not that interested in teaming. Then Ulty said hi and invited me to team with her and a friend. They did one mission at very high settings for only three. I didn't manage to finish; that's the one that made me late to reading to Mom. {smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and ended up soloing a bit. I chatted with Azurette and joined her in a tour of her base that she was giving a new acquaintance. Then Phonso invited me to a strike force. The others were more interested in continuing the base tour, but I did join Phonso. We ran the task force together once he got a full team. Then he wanted to do a task force. I was the only one to stay, but he got another team together... and Azurette joined us this time. It was neat teaming with both of them. It was also fun catting with Nox on the chat server. As the task force was finishing, Kitten came in, afraid they were too late to team with me before their weekend away, but I squeezed in one mission with the three of us before leaving. Kitten and I both enjoy playing together so much! {SMILE}

Daily Update, August 22, 2022

    Well, after lunch, I started phoning. I got Alan, the Uber and Lyft driver I consider a good friend and reminded him that Val has a vet's appointment. We arranged for him to come at 1:30 for a 2:15 appointment. I'll be early, but I won't be late. {Smile}

   Next, I got through to my financial advisor. We had a good talk. I clarified one thing and asked for help in the form of good search terms for finding ways to make money online. Ah... if anyone knows of any good search terms, I'd like to hear about them. we are not in a bad place financially, but like most, we could be better. {Smile}

   Then I contacted Uber, and they took me down to my health insurance agency, HMSA. There, a woman took me right into her office, found out which plan I'm on, and figured out that I qualify for their active and fit program with assorted gyms around town, including the YMCA. It would be cheaper through them. {Smile}

   Then I went next door to a vitamin shop and picked up some rather expensive E vitamins. Unfortunately, I remembered on the way home that I need D3, not E. {sigh} I can stretch them through Friday, and more are supposed to arrive Saturday. It will have to do... but I'm not sure what to do about the E vitamins. 

   I ate dinner with Mom, and I read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued with the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Next, I read the first few pages of _1950s Memory Lane_, REading a section, then showing her the pictures, reading any captions. After that, I read from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I read her a story, "How the Leopard Got Its Spots," about a sandy yellow leopard who got its spots sleeping in spotty shade in the forest after looking for the other animals, who'd gotten spots and stripes in a similar way. Next, a long oem from the same book, called "You're a big Sister," telling a girl what to expect from a new baby. Then I read a few short poems from the same book. Next, I finished with the August 22nd story, "A Trip to the Sea," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Nicola took her pet rabbit, Tim, to the sea for a special outing. She tried putting him in the water, but he much preferred digging in the sand dunes. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging exercises while waiting for Uber to come and take me to HMSA. I did my walking exercises, leg exercises, and head exercises after teaming with Perogies int eh evening, and before sitting with Chili Bear and salsa dancing. Yes, I did salsa dancing, too, both warmup and a less structured set for over 20 minutes of salsa dancing. I did my arm resistance exercises after salsa dancing, around chatting with Chili Bear while they farmed, and two friend and I were in there... not entirely sure if they were farming, or quiet like me. My character couldn't fight safely in there. I did one of my arm weight training exercises after Chili Bear stopped farming, before it got too late. So not quite all, but close... only the two standing and three of the sitting arm weight training exercises got missed today. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning when I wasn't busy with other stuff and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming right after lunch. I got together with Kitten and asked for their help with a set of badges for my second-best badge collector. They did get me one, but they were harder than I expected, and that was before two players started attacking us. It was a zone designated for that - most aren't. We ended up leaving because they were too much tougher than us for this to be fun for us. Then I switched characters. Perogies joined us as we were starting up, and the three of us did story arc missions until Perogies and Kitten both left about half an hour before I like to read to Mom. This gave me time to work on the paperwork that playing produced. {Smile}

   After supper, I found few folks around who I know, so I tried soloing for badges on my second-best badge collector. I got one badge. Then Perogies showed up, and I cheerfully teamed up with him. We ran a story arc of his, and part of another before he left to sleep again. Then I did some paperwork and started my exercises. I chatted with Nox a very little right before they went to bed. Then Chili Bear invited me to sit in on a farm he was hosting. it's a popular way to gain experience, and also goodies. I did join him and his other friends as I could around my exercises and chatted with the others in there between and afterwards. I also wrote part of this and made notes to finish this from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 21, 2023

    Today I called my financial adviser. They offered to have her call me back, but she hasn't yet, and I didn't get through when I tried later. I'll have to try again. {smile}

   I tried to research HMSA, to see if they cover the YMCA's exercises programs Either they don't, or I didn't find where they do for me, so I'm tempted to go down as ask at the office, most likely tomorrow. I have to pick up some D vitamin, too, and I think that can be the same stop, even. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom, and I read to her before that. She was more inclined to say she used to like things, but doesn't any more than she usually does... I guess we all have off days. I still started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued with the next part of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Then I showed her the last few pages in _The Calming Cat Book_, describing the cat in each picture. That didn't take long, so I showed her the front and back covers of _1950s Memory Lane_, then read her the first couple of pages, with a section about Home in the 1950's, and showed her several pictures, reading the captions. Next, I read from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I read her a story, "The Butterfly Ballerina," about a girl who got a special part in her ballet school's number. Two poems followed, "Oranges and Lemons," and "Boys and Girls Come Out to Play." Then I finished with the August 21st story, "Cakes of Soap," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Rosie got to go to market with her granny in her granny's cart, and even got to bring her friend Kay along. Rosie and Kay enjoyed walking around the market, and even buying things with their pocket money. When they came back, they found cakes... that turned out to be soap when they bit into it. Granny got a laugh and offered them real cakes. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises, arm swinging exercises, arm resistance exercises, and head exercises while waiting for Freaky's second taskforce to fill. However, when I tried to do my salsa dancing, I found myself stumbling around, not quite steady. That's no good, so I stopped, and tried to treat my blood sugar, which had seemed unsteady earlier. I think it's better, but I think it's a good night to not do the salsa dancing or the legs exercises, both of which challenge my balance. Some other night will be better. I did do all my arm weight training exercises later, both standing and sitting, when I would have been done with my salsa dancing if I'd done it. {Smile}

   I read articles when I wasn't calling or researching in the morning. then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming around lunch time. I worked on paperwork, and soon contacted Perogies. We joined the early short, large-group event, then the early long, large-group event together. Then he left, and I looked around for something to do. I chatted with Ulty while I soloed some stuff on my second-best badge-collector, getting progress on a couple of badges, and actually getting a third badge before it was time to read to Mom.

   After dinner, I went back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I got two more badges on my second-best badge collector, and started talking with Azurette, who was telling me about changes she'd made to a base. Then Phonso invited me to a task force, adn I asked Azurette if she'd like to come to. She did, and we got the last two spots. We started taht task force pretty quickly, and ran it, with a pause at the beginning of the last mission. A fellow who'd already disconnected and come back once disconnected again. We waited, because we all know how frustrating it is to not be able to finish when you get this close, but he didn't come back, and we ended up finishing without him. I also said hi to Nox on the chat server, and we chatted a while. Then Phonso wanted to do a strike force after the taskforce. We got three others to join for a total of six, and decided to run it, because it was getting late, and six usually can do it. We did it without trouble, and with no disconnecting. Then Phonso left, as did the other three, and Azurette showed me her base and the changes. We also chatted more generally. We said goodnight after I discovered I couldn't do my salsa dancing tonight. Then I did some paperwork in City of Heroes, wrote this up, finished what exercises I was comfortable doing, and read some articles. {Smile}

Daily Update, August 20, 2023

    Today was Sunday, so I called Uber, and a nice, somewhat chatty driver came and took me to church. I've been getting up a little earlier again, and actually got there with time to settle in by Auntie Barbara and learn that the Sunday School had enough teachers, she didn't need to be in it. So, we sat together for the service. {Smile}

   Our priest was there, with her new baby and a friend. I stopped to chat - or listen to her chat with others - after the service. She said she'd actually come last week, too, but to the early service. This time, they were at the late service, which is the one I go to. I have enough trouble getting there by 10am. I'm not going to think about trying to get there at 8am instead. {Chuckles}

   Auntie Barbara and I sat together on the lanai for lunch afterwards. At first, we sat with some folks who had just returned from a few months in Minnesota with family. They leave in the spring, and I guess come back around now, for four months there, and eight months here. Then Auntie Barbara moved to sit by our priest so she could hold the baby, so i joined her there to finish lunch. Then Auntie Barbara took me home, and came in to visit with Mom, singing six songs with her before Mom stopped singing. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued with the beginning of her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Then I showed her the next several pages in The Calming Cat Book, describing the cat in each picture. After that I read from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I read her a story in a poem "Troll, Two, Three, Four," and three more stories. The Little Red Hen was a little shorter, and "Counting Stars" and "Lion's First Day" were even shorter. I finished with the August 20th story, "The Shelter," from _366 Stories for Bedtime: A Tale for Every Day of the Year_. Jennie and her brother Ben went into the forest. There, they built a little shelter just big enough for the small woodland animals they considered friends. They watched the animals in the shelter as they ate the picnic they'd brought. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging and head exercises while I was waiting for Uber to come and take me to church. Those two have no special equipment, nor a special place to do them, so they work very well while I'm waiting. I did my walking exercises after the soloing I did right after Ulty left for the evening. I did my arm resistance exercises and leg exercises after a bit more solo badge hunting. Then I did my salsa dancing, first the warmup set, then the less structured set, for over 20 minutes of salsa dancing in all. I ended with my arm weight training exercises, both sitting and standing. {Smile}

   After Auntie Barbara left, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork. Then Kitten got my attention and invited me to join them and their friends in a base. It took a couple of tries to get the right base, but I did. Somehow Jag joined us, though I haven't seen him with this group before. We visited some, and played a competitive match, then visited some more. Then we took off to run a bunch of missions. They asked for someone with some electrical powers, which my third best badge collector has a few of, so I ran on her. WE got a badge I rarely get, and ran several missions, right up until it was time to read to Mom... well they continued, but I had to stop then. I chatted with Ulty a little on the chat server, too, where she mentioned she'd like to get together after my dinner. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Ulty ready to get together. We ended up doing some roleplaying where we mainly talk. Then we segued into chatting as us instead of our characters. When she left, I did some solo play, then started on my exercises. I also read some comics, catching up where I could. One service I read most of my daily service didn't work yesterday or today. Today, i checked my other service, and caught up with several, though not all. I also did my exercises, then my salsa dancing, and more exercises, interspersed with reading articles and comics, and doing some online shopping as well. Oh, and writing this up was mixed in there, too. I tried to say hi to Nox but missed their reply until they left for bed. I need to work on that. {Smile}

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}