Daily Update, November 8, 2023

    I called out financial adviser today when I found one of our banks needs some stuff straightened out. It was nice talking to her. She will work on it. {Smile}

   Then I found that Auntie Barbara had texted me a while back, asking me to call. I did but got her answering machine. I left a message. She called back. She'd been in town earlier, but she was already on the way home when I called her, and not in good cell phone reception just then. We hope to get together on Saturday, instead. {Smile}

   I got a quick call from our former nurse after dinner, and another a while later int the evening. both were short because he was tired, but we hope to talk longer soon. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She kept her eyes open the whole time, which she often doesn't. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Next, I read some more from _1960's Fashion in Pictures_. Mom was definitely looking at the pictures today, as I read each caption. After that I read two stories from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the 8th of November's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Goldie." Goldie was a marmalade cat with a white front and green eyes. He'd been born int eh spring, and this was his first autumn. He couldn't understand why the trees were losing their leaves. All summer he'd spent many hours hiding in the willow tree behind the leaves, watching the birds he never caught. The tall grasses where he'd stalked field mice had died down or been cut and tidied away. He was lazy and didn't have to hunt for his food. He just ran inside for his usual bowl of cat food when his mistress, Kathy, called. {Smile}

   After we finished teaming, I did my head exercises, arm swinging exercises, walking exercises, leg exercises, and my arm resistance exercises. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup. Then, after a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. After a shorter break, I did my sitting arm weight training exercises and my standing arm weight training exercises. That's all of them, I believe, so I actually got them all done today. {SMILE}

   I read articles and comics in the morning and over lunch, and I came to a realization. I have been reading a book I got, _How to Write Light Novels and Web Novels_. It takes the stance that writers should write as much as they can to fulfill a particular audience's already expressed desires in reading material.  I can see advantages to writing this way when you are specifically money and/or popularity. Unfortunately, I find it a bit stifling to my creativity. I think, for me personally, I'd be better off writing the stories that come to me, then figuring out what audience would like them, and how to get it to them. {smile}

   After lunch, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming in time to join the early long, large group event, along with Pierogies and Paradox. We ran it, and it went pretty nicely. I hoped to team up with them afterwards, but Pierogies felt like lying down instead of playing more, and Paradox had other things to do for a few hours. I considered joining a public group, but didn't spot one, and got thoroughly caught up in paperwork, including a project I've been putting off because it's more than a little time consuming. I got into it so much, I missed the start of the later short, large group event, so I just continued the paperwork until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started writing this up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and quickly checked a little of the paperwork I'd done earlier before teaming up with Paradox. We started teaming. I got concerned about how difficult it was for them, but then TheCyberChill said hi, and I invited them to join us. The mission we were in was still tough for us; they were both struggling. TheCyberChill suggested inviting someone else. I checked my friends first and discovered that Azurette was on. She finished what she was doing, and joined us, and it went a lot better after that. We ran several missions, with Paradox dropping out after a few more missions. I also chatted with nox on the chat server for a while, off and on. Azurette and TheCyberChill stayed up until I wanted to start my exercises. Then I remembered that TheCyberChill had invited me to tour a base a while back. I know Azurette enjoys touring bases, whether it's seeing what others did, or showing them what she's done, so I asked, and we ended up touring it, with me going in and out for exercises. They left while I was salsa dancing which was a longer break. I wrote this up and watched a few videos between and after the salsa dancing and the last couple of exercises. I'll have to share this tomorrow, though. It's too late now. {Smile}

Daily Update, November 7, 2023

    Tuesday, the housekeeper came a while after lunch. She texted before to let me know she was coming, but I didn't notice until I checked when she told me about it. The house is definitely better for her attentions. {Smile}

   I called Aunt Valerie and got her answering service. I left a message, then sent her a text message, too. then I sent a text to a conversation with both her and her daughter. I think the last convinced her to call me; it sounded like her daughter had told her about it. We had a really nice chat, and even discussed trying a video call sometime, thought that seems to be my project. {Smile}

   Later, I texted Auntie Barbara, and we had a nice text-chat. {Smile}

   I also had a nice chat on the chat server with a friend I don't hear from as much these days. I really enjoyed that. {Smile}

   In the evening, I got a call from our former nurse. We really enjoyed talking. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021 next. After that I read some more from _1960's Fashion in Pictures_, Mom didn't respond when spoke to her today, but she was clearly looking at those pictures I showed her. I read the captions, too. Next, I read a longish poem from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the 7th of November's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Grandfather." Grandfather lived at the top of the house where Marion and her parents lived. He was old, didn't talk much, and spent a lot of time reading books. One day, Marion heard that Grandfather had a sore foot. Feeling sorry for him, she took him a rose from the garden. He tapped nervously, and he told her to come in. She gave him the rose, which he thanked her for. Then he offered her a biscuit and chocolate mousse, which she ate. She told him about school, and he offered to help her with her reading the next day. Then he gave her a snow globe with a castle inside it. She thanked him, and said she'd come tomorrow before running downstairs. {Smile}

   City of Heroes: Homecoming ran late enough, I started with my salsa dancing warmup set. After a break, I did my less structured set of salsa dancing. Then I did my walking exercises and my arm swinging exercises. Yes, that's it. That's nowhere near as much as usual, but the walking exercises are by far the most exercises of all my exercises, so this is the most I've done after my salsa dancing since I got sick. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning and over lunch, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Thanks to others changing their clocks when my state doesn't, I got in in plenty of time to join the early short, large-group event. When that was done, Kitten, Pierogies, and I started to team up when Aunt Valerie called. By the time we finished, Pierogies had picked popular individual missions for levelling. We did a few, then Pierogies left. We continued, with Kitten leading because Paradox and I were so much lower level. We kept with them, and eventually P8ierogies came back, and did a few more with us. that took us right up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I began writing, this, and after dinner, I read some comics. too. then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I teamed up with Kitten and Paradox after telling them on the chat server that I was back in the game. We hunted some enemies I needed for a badge that improved my character. We got enough for all three of us to get that badge, though only I got the badge that improves the character, because they need other badges for that, too. They didn't want to work on that, so we started a story arc I could get. I saw a stranger asking to join a group, any level, and invited them along. I also started chatting with Nox on the chat server. We ran the first few missions in the story arc. The stranger left before the last, which lasted almost an hour - far longer than I hoped, so it really cut into my exercise time. I watched videos and checked the game around and between the dancing and exercises and checked a comic and web novel service I use. They changed their system, and it's harder to unlock their comics permanently, like I prefer to. It looks like that's just their new way. {smile}

Daily Update, November 6, 2023

    Today, I called my doctor in the morning. They called back just as I was starting a bath after lunch, so I didn't get to the phone in time, but I called after lunch and got them. I told them I still have an intermittent itch. They said to continue the medicine, and add an over-the-counter cream, too. I'll have to get some. {Smile}

   I also got a call from a place that does diabetes education. My doctor referred me when I said I wanted to learn to eat better for my diabetes. I made an appointment with them for mid-December. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. First, I read scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Then I started _1960's Fashion in Pictures_, reading the captions and showing her the pictures. Next, I read a story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the 6th of November's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Cold Feet!" The sun had shown brightly, but a mist turned the air chilly and damp after sundown. Nancy was curled up in bed, where a sheet, three blankets and a thick quilt didn't keep her feet from being cold, nor did rubbing and exercising them. She told Mummy that her feet were freezing. Mummy brought an odd copper pan with a long handle and a hinged lid. Nancy asked what it was, and mommy said it was Granny's warming pan, which she used to fill with charcoal to warm her bed. Since she was cooking using charcoal, she thought they could use the warming pan to warm Nancy's bed. Nancy thought that would be great any time mummy used charcoal. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises while waiting to team with Paradox near the end of my evening. Then I did my walking exercises and my standing arm weight training exercises before I did my salsa dancing warmup set. Then after a short break, I did my arm resistance exercises and my arm swinging exercises, and my sitting arm eight training exercises. The only one I didn't do was my leg exercises. That's a bigger set of exercises to miss than the standing arm weight training exercises I missed last night, but at least it's only one set. {Smile}

   I read articles, comics, and the web novel I'm most interested in the morning and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming a while after lunch. I started checking some paperwork and realized that Paradox was on another part of the Homecoming server, which makes it harder to play together. One of us would have had to switch. Instead, I joined a high-level trial I saw advertised after figuring out that my fifth best badge collector needed it. I got seven badges all together; the six that you can get from the trial, plus a badge for getting 750 badges, since that trial pushed me over that. Part way through, Kitten came on. I explained about being in the trial and promised to join after. About the time I got out, Pierogies came on, too. The three of us got together. I thought my warshade was ready for the next warshade story arc, but she needs a few more levels. So, we ran a few missions on our warshades to get her more experience. She didn't gain a level; we started too late to do as much as usual, but she made progress, and we went right up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started writing this, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork. Paradox was on another part of Homecoming again and encouraged me to join him. However, I really felt like playing a character which is harder to move than most because she'd lose her supergroup, and she's the only one in it. (Mot characters are in supergroups with multiple members, though a few are the only one I have in that group; those are hard to move, too.) Anyway, I tried to talk to Ulty, Mysty, and Paradox, but they were all busy, so our conversations didn't keep going. Instead, I worked on badge hunting on my warshade, and eventually joined a group that was taking down a giant monster. That got her a badge for the monster, as well as other rewards. I did start talking to Nox on the chat server, but they were distracted by the game they were playing, so it was an on again, off again conversation. Eventually, Paradox came back to my part of Homecoming in time to run a mission they had before I started exercising. Between and after my exercise and salsa dancing, I read the web novel and watched some videos as well as wrote more of this. I eventually switched to making notes here to finish writing it up the next day. I got to bed not quite as much earlier as I'd like, but I have ideas meeting my new goal better in the future. {Smile}

Daily Update, November 5, 2023

    I got to bed almost 15 minutes earlier than my earlier times for getting up, so I set the alarm that much earlier for this morning. I called Uber after breakfast, and they came and took me to church. I had a nice talk with the driver, a man who lives out in Puna, but wants to move to town to be closer to his wife's work. Since she works not too far away from me, I tried to suggest places that might be cheaper and not too far from her job. {Smile}

   I got to church, spotted Auntie Barbara, and sat down beside her. The service had begun at 9 am, but I was just in time to hear the entire Gospel reading. That meant I got the full sermon, offertory, and communion, too. I was glad I got that much, considering they started a whole hour earlier than the usual 10 am, and I often have trouble getting there by 10. {Smile}

   The early start was because the bishop had come to help us celebrate our 120th anniversary of becoming a parish. They had some musicians playing nice Hawaiian music -- yes, that's a specific style even here, not just any music. They also had a huge spread. I couldn't try everything; I didn't have room. I particularly tried to go light on the desserts, trying to take small piece, and avoiding anything with much frosting completely. Tomorrow's blood sugar reading will tell me if that plus avoiding snacking both in the afternoon and evening were enough. {Smile} 

   Auntie Barbara took me home afterwards and visited with Mom. She, I, and our main nurse sang a few songs, but Mom didn't sing along on any of them, not even Happy birthday, which she seems most likely to pick if she'll choose. Then I said goodbye to Auntie Barbara. {Smile} 

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. After that, I finished 'The Flower Garden," showing her the rest of pictures, and saying a little about each one. Then I read a couple of short stories from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the 5th of November's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Hungry Bluetits." In the abandoned garden, things had been left untouched all summer, and the grass and weeds were waist high, making it a perfect place for birds and little animals to make nests. The bluetits mad made a nest in an old apple tree, and even had a second family later in the summer there. They still had a young bird in the nest when the frosts came and killed the insects they like to eat. What could the parents feed their young one? A neighbor lady saw the young one with its hungry, open beak, and fetched some scraps she left nearby. Soon the little bird learned to fly and find its own food. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging exercises and my head exercises while waiting for Uber to come take me to church. Then I did my walking exercises, my leg exercises, and one of my sitting arm weight training exercises after I was done teaming for the evening. Next, I did my warmup salsa dance set. Then after a break, I did my less structured salsa dance set, followed pretty quickly by my arm resistance exercises. I did my other three sitting arm eight training exercises after a break. I just didn't get to my standing arm weight training exercises today. {Smile}

   I read comics and an article or two to wind down after coming home from church. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Paradox greeted me with the news that they were waiting for the early long large-group event, so I went ot wait too. I discovered Pierogies there, as well. We chatted as we waited, and then ran the event. After that, the three of us teamed up. I suggested running a couple of early high level story arcs. We did the first pretty quickly and got into the second. We did most of it. Pierogies hoped to get credit for most of it, but he forgot to do something with the second, so auto completed it, as they say for getting credit without actually doing it. Then he was late enough getting into the third, so we ran it a second time, since you can't auto complete two so close together. Then we ran the last one. Pierogies and I got particularly nice rewards. Paradox chose another reward that's by no means bad before he saw my instructions about which is best. but now he knows. They needed to run it again for Pierogies, but he was too tired to do it right then, and I had to dahs off to read to Mom, starting slightly later than I like, but not too bad. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started writing this, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Paradox said they had their character parked where they could accumulate stuff while they worked on something else, so I joined a task force that was being advertised. I was over halfway through when Azurette invited me to different task force. I said let me do this one first; I was two and a half missions from the end, but I wasn't sure if it was two and a half, or three and a half, because of some missions having the same name. To my delight, she was still recruiting when I finished, though she filled the last couple of spots as I switched characters and joined, so we started fast. That one went well. She wanted to do another, but one teammate wanted to tour her base first, and she loves to give tours, so we did that. Then we did the other task force she wanted to. That took me right up to exercise time. {Smile}

Daily Update, November 4, 2023

    Today, I got the stuff I talked about with my financial adviser done, and out to the mail. That was a nice feeling of accomplishment. {Smile}

   I also got a call from our former nurse in the evening. He'd tried earlier, but I didn't answer. I don't think I heard the phone; I won't if I'm a few rooms away, not with my hearing loss. We kept it on the short side because it was late for him, but we enjoyed talking, as usual. {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 her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Next, I skipped 'The Flower Garden," and read several short poems and a story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the 4th of November's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Up in the Attic." On Sunday afternoon, it was raining, and the twins were bored. Their mother announced that she was going into the attic to do some tidying and asked who'd like to help. Tina said she did, and Tanya agreed, not wanting to be left out. Their mother told them to get their aprons, and they'd get started. They ran up the stairs and forgot about tidying the attic. Tina found her doll that had lost an eye, and wanted to give her bath, since she'd gotten dirty. Tina found a beautiful silk dress that that their mother said she'd worn as a bridesmaid when she was their age. Their mother didn't mention the work that had brought them up there, and they played up there happily the rest of the afternoon. {Smile}

   After I finished teaming on City of Heroes for the evening, I did my walking exercises, my sitting arm weight training exercises, my leg exercises, my standing arm weight training exercises, and my arm swinging exercises. I did start earlier than usual, which is probably why I got so many done before my salsa dancing warmup set. Yes, I did my salsa dancing warmup set next; all that was before it. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. Then, after another break, I did my arm resistance exercises and my head exercises. So, I actually got everything done. I think that's because I started a little before 10:30 PM, instead of closer to 11 pm, but I got everything done. {SMILE}

   I read articles in the morning, around the mail, sharing yesterday's daily update, and another personal chore. I also read comics and maybe another article or two over lunch. A while after lunch, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and teamed up with Paradox. We tested out the character I'd gotten the badge that improves an ability on. They were better, but still have to watch it. When that was over, Paradox wanted to do some higher-level content. I switched - twice actually, because my first pick before they reminded me was higher, but not high enough. I asked if they'd done the introductory story arc to the high-level content, and they hadn't, so we got ready to do it. When we were almost ready, Pierogies showed up and joined us. We ran most of the story arc before I had to leave to read to Mom. they had at least one more mission, but I think that might have been it, but I didn't want to miss or be late to reading to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started writing this daily update, and chatted with Kitten and Paradox on the chat server. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and started working on paperwork. After a while, I said hi to Mysty, and started chatting with Ulty. Then Paradox came in. We teamed up, and I invited Ulty to join us. She did for one mission, then left for the evening. Paradox and I teamed for a few more missions. They left a little early, which is why I started my exercises early enough to get them all done. I read a web novel, watched videos, and wrote some of this around and between salsa dancing and exercises and started writing this up. I continued doing that afterwards, as well as slipping in a bit of paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming. Looks like I'm getting this done a lot earlier, too. Maybe I'll actually get to bed a bit earlier, which would be nice. They're having one service at 9 am tomorrow instead of two at 8 am and 10 am because the bishop is coming. Auntie Barbara tried to encourage me to get up half an hour earlier, and take a nap later, but I'd like a full night's sleep so I won't risk being sleepy at church... but maybe I can go to be earlier, and get up that much earlier, if it's not over half an hour. I've made myself sick moving my bedtime a whole hour earlier, though most humans can manage that much without trouble. I'm one of the rare ones who can't, I guess. {Smile}

Daily Update, November 3, 2023

    After breakfast on Friday, I called Alan and arranged for him to take me down to an appointment with the only podiatrist in town after lunch. He came and got me at the arranged time, and we had a nice chat on the way down. {Smile}

   I have seen the podiatrist before, but it had been enough years, they'd tossed all the paper files, and had a new computer system with new records, so I filled out a new patient form. Then I saw the podiatrist. He asked me how I'd been, and how my diabetes was. I told him it had gotten bad but was getting better again as I ate better. He inspected my feet and toes, trimmed the nails, told me what to expect with a healing injury, and asked me to come back in a month. {Smile}

   I called Alan when I was done, and he came and took me home. We had another nice chat on the way. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I started her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2021. Next, I showed her some pictures in 'The Flower Garden,' a picture book of vintage fine art, saying a bit about each picture. After that, I read a story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. I finished with the 3rd of November's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Little Fox Cub." Little Fox Cub was daydreaming as he watched a plane flying in the distance. He decided he wanted to be an airline pilot, with lots of buttons to press, knobs to turn, and levers to pull. He asked his father if he could train to be a pilot. Mr. Fox talked about it with the other woodland animals, and they decided it was impossible. Mr. Owl warned him to give his son a good reason, or he might run off to try. So, Mr. Fox told his son that if he went to train as a pilot, the men might never let him go. Besides, Little Fox Cub was too short to see out the windscreen, and planes are noisy and smelly. Little Fox Cub sighed, saying he'd better stay, while watching another airplane. {Smile}

   I did three of my head exercises while waiting for Alan to pick me up at the house, and the other two after dinner. Then I did my walking exercises and my leg exercises after Paradox and I finished teaming for the night. After that, I did my salsa dancing warmup set. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set, again mixing it up more, especially int he second piece, which was shorter but faster, so I think did about as many steps as usual. After another break, I did my arm resistance exercises and my arm swinging exercises. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning and around lunch time. I didn't hop into City of Heroes: Homecoming until after I came back from the podiatrist and had shared yesterday's daily update in most of the places I usually do. In the game, I teamed up with Pierogies on the characters who were working on the rewards, and we started to work on the last badge we needed. Paradox joined us. Their character had the rewards we were working on, but lacked two other rewards for the reward that improves the character. So, when Pierogies and I got the reward we needed, I offered to take them around to get the ones they needed. Then the nurse came in and told me I could come read to Mom. It was later than I thought, probably because I started late because of the podiatrist. I finished the reward I was helping them with, because I couldn't just give them directions. The next reward, though, I could and did give directions, then left to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started writing this up while chatting with Paradox, Kitten, and Owl girl on the chat server. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and did some paperwork while waiting for Paradox to join me. They took long enough, I started chatting with Ulty in the game, and Nox on the chat server. Then Paradox came in, and we teamed up for a few missions until I was ready to exercise, and they were ready to head out, too. I watched videos and read a web novel and a new web comic as well as writing this between and after my exercises. I also peeked at City of Heroes: Homecoming, despite not meaning to. I'm trying to get to bed earlier. Well, maybe tomorrow. I'll have to share this tomorrow as it is. {Smile}

Daily Update, November 2, 2023

 Thursday, I had a Zoom appointment with my counselor after breakfast. I think it went pretty well. I was slightly late starting because I tried to set up the camera and a separate microphone. She did think it sounded a bit clearer, so it think it was worth it. {Smile}

I also got a call from Auntie Barbara later in the evening than I expect a call from her, though plenty early enough for me. i suspect because she's still adjusting to Hawai'i time from East Coast USA time, since she came back from her trip late last Sunday. I loved getting to talk with her. {Smile}

I ate lunch and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. I first read scripture and thoughts about it. Then I read a Christmas card from a different friend from yesterday and showed Mom the pictures with it. Next, I started reading - or rather showing her the pictures in and describing them a little - 'the Flower Garden,' a picture book of vintage fine art. I read a story and some short poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_ after that. I finished with the 2nd of November's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The New Lodger." A tiny flea out in the road noticed it was getting cold and thought she needed to find a safe home for winter. Just then a big dog with a thick coat came by. The flea jumped on the dog, but Spot, the dog, felt her and shook her off. The flea, not being put off so easily, hopped on his nose and spoke politely, asking to shelter from the cold wind in his warm fur, since she had no fur and felt the cold. Spot was kind and told her she could stay as long as she didn't tickle him. If he scratched, his master would put powder all over him that would be the end of the flea. The flea thanked Spot and promised to be good. The narrator wondered if she kept that promise. {Smile}

I did my walking exercises, my standing arm weight training exercises, and two of my sitting arm weight training exercises after I finished teaming on City of heroes: Homecoming. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup set. Then, after a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set, making sure to mix things up a bit, especially in the first piece, where I've fallen into a rut. Then after another break, I did my other two sitting arm weight training exercises, my arm resistance exercises, my head exercises, and my arm swinging exercises. I did everything except the leg exercises today. I really want to do them too, but I did better. I think I can do this on my own eventually, though I hope to go back to physical therapy. They'll help me get back more quickly. {Smile}

I read articles and comics before counselling and after lunch. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started getting my new character further along in the tutorial when Paradox came on. We started chatting, and they encouraged me to get that character out of the tutorial, even when I wanted a hunt badge that takes a while. When I got out, we teamed up, and I started a contact's missions. We did them, and Pierogies joined us partway through, then Kitten, I think. Then I did one of my favorite story arcs... or the first part. There's officially three or four parts to the story, with two possible middles, but the first arc and the last arc complete a bigger story. In this part, a normal man discovers his wife is captive, not dead like he thought. We finished just in time to read to Mom. {Smile}

After dinner, I started writing this up, then read some comics, and hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Ulty, and teamed up with her, but she only had one more mission in her before she got tired enough to head to bed. It finished her story arc, too, which was nice. Then I talked to a friend from the chat world. She wasn't in the mood to team but was happy to talk. Then Paradox came on, and we teamed up. I also started talking to Nox on the Chat server. Paradox and I did the next two story-arcs - one of the middles, and the end, where the fellow who found out his wife is being held captive rescues her, despite just being a normal person, not a superhero. That took me into my exercise time, but I somehow still got more done than usual. I also read a couple of articles, did a little paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming, wrote this up, and chatted with Paradox, Kitten, and Owl Girl on the web server. I did finish writing this before bed but didn't share it until the next morning and afternoon. {Smile}

Daily Update, November 1, 2023

    I decided to get Val's medicine and askes sorted, so I collected all the medicine I could find, tossed what wasn't good, and put the rest in a bag. Then I called Alan late in the morning, but he didn't answer, so I contacted Uber. While I was waiting, Alan called. I explained what I wanted, and that Uber was on the way, so maybe next time. He agreed: maybe next time. He was too far out anyway. {Smile}

   Uber came and got me, and a fellow took me down to the vet. I was not a chatty mood, which is unusual for me, but this was not a typical trip for me. At the vets, I handed over the medicine, and a gal brought a box with Val's ashes, a form to fill out to order a plaque to put on the box, and his carrier with the towel I always put in there for him. Then she helped me take it out, but when she learned I was waiting for Uber, suggested I sit inside. I did, but not long, because they found a gal who was particularly close. She called to ask where I was. When I said at the vet's, she said she knew where, and came and got me. I was even quieter on the way home than on the way down. I put stuff away when I got home. {bite lips}

   The secretary from Helping Hands Healthcare came by after lunch. I paid her, and we had a short talk, as well, which was nice. {Smile}

   I called my financial advisers in the afternoon. I ordered a free guide from the secretary. I think they've been advertising it for at least a year, but it somehow didn't register as something clients can order for free. Then she connected me to my financial adviser, and we discussed a couple of things I needed her help or reassurance with.  {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I first wished her a belated Happy Halloween. Then I read scripture and thoughts about it, first October 31st's, and then November 1st's. Next, I read a Christmas card from a friend, and showed Mom the pictures with it. She was less interested in the pictures, so I read some short poems from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_ next. She was more interested in those pictures, so I finished _The Picture Book of Kids and Animals_. She was even more interested in those pictures. I finished with two stories from _366 Stories for Bedtime_. "Animal Quiz" was the 31st of October's story. Uncle Peter suggested an animal quiz to his two nieces and nephew when he was watching them. Uncle Peter told them a quiz was a game with questions and answers. He had Judy, the oldest, keep score. He asked Billy, the youngest, then Pam, and then Judy. Each kid answered right the first time. Billy took two tries the second time. He said a poodle has their coat cut yearly, pointing out that Fifi, their poodle, did. Uncle Peter added that the coat is made into clothes, and Billy said a sheep. His sisters answered their second questions right. The game continued all morning. "The Pancakes" was November 1st's story. In the Blue Kingdom, everyone made a dish of home-grown food to give Prince John for his birthday. One year, Sylvia's family didn't have anything growing in their garden. Her mother sent Sylvia to her godmother, The Blue Fairy, to ask what to do. The Blue Fairy gave her a basket. She took it home, and they found eggs, flour, milk, and jam inside. They mixed the eggs, milk, and flour together, and pored a little into a frying pan. They tried it with the jam, and it was good enough for Prince John. They called them pancakes. Prince John really liked them. My Mom didn't like the last story, but she liked most of the rest. {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging exercises and my head exercises while waiting for Uber to come take me to the vet. Then I did my walking exercises, and my arm resistance exercises after I was done teaming on Homecoming for the evening. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. Afterwards, I did my sitting arm weight training exercises. {Smile}

   I read articles, a web novel, and comics before and after the going to the vet, and over lunch. In the not too late afternoon, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and found Pierogies. We got together on the same characters as yesterday, since we had one more badge to work on. We also talked on the side. We made significant progress but didn't get the badge before he had to leave. by then, it was close enough to time to read to Mom, I just did paperwork, and checked some webcomics and web novels. {Smile}

   After dinner, I worked on writing this, with a lot of revising to get the part about reading to Mom short enough I wouldn't have to split up the paragraph. When I finally got in, not many were around. I spotted one person asking for a team and checked. They'd just teamed up with someone. Then I noticed it was someone I'd met and added to my in-game friends shortly before I got sick. I told them I'd noticed that, apologized for not getting in touch sooner, and asked if I could join them. The team leader added me, and the three of us teamed most of the rest of the night. I also started talking to Nox a bit earlier on the chat world than I usually do. Since they've started to go to bed earlier, I really should. Eventually, the leader left, and my new friend asked me to choose, so I did a mission my character had. Then it was time to wind down, but I remembered to ask my new friend what to call him here. He said Lint Boy or Michiel. I like the name Michiel enough, I really want to use it, though I'm not quite certain how good I'll be at remembering the spelling. Then I read articles and watched videos between and after the exercises and dancing, as well as writing most of this, and doing a teensy bit more with the new character I made recently. She's not out of the tutorial yet, but she's further along than she was. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 31, 2023

    Happy Halloween to those who celebrate it. If you don't, I hope you had a nice day. {Smile}

   Mom had another big day out. Our main nurse took her to the doctor, and then to one of the grocery stores which has a pharmacy right in it, to get three shots. The nurse was crowing afterwards that the doctor said that Mom's alive because of the good care she's getting at home. {Smile}

   I tried to call my financial advisers a couple of times today, but they didn't even answer the phone. That's unusual for them; I wonder if they weren't open today. It is Halloween, after all. {Smile} 

   I didn't read to Mom today. Our nurse specifically asked me not to, because Mom was tired from being up so long when they went out. I'll just have to catch up tomorrow. {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises, standing arm weight training exercises, and leg exercises after I finished teaming on City of Heroes: Homecoming for the evening. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup set. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. then after another break, I did my head exercises and my arm resistance exercises. {Smile}

  I read articles and worked on yesterday's update in the morning and over lunch. I meant to do all of yesterday's update, but got distracted partway through sharing it, so the folks on Discord didn't get it yet. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Pierogies, and asked if he had any characters who needed a couple things for a badge that improves characters, because I hoped to work on a character who needed these things herself. He found two, and we ran a mission that gives a good number of them. Then we ran it again, and we got all we needed. Then he left to spend time with his son. Not long after that, Paradox came in. I switched characters, and we started running missions in one of my story arcs. After a while Pierogies came back and joined us. (What we were doing earlier would have to be restarted or changed to add Paradox, while I could just add Pierogies to what we were doing.) We ran a few more missions, and actually reached the end of the story arc just as Pierogies and Paradox were ready to leave. So, we said goodnight, and they left. It was late to start something new with different people, I thought, so I started doing paperwork. As I was getting ready to go read to Mom, our nurse came in and asked me to just eat dinner with them because Mom was tired from her day out. So, I finished sharing yesterday's update, began writing this up, and did some more paperwork until dinner was ready. {Smile}

   After dinner, I found a note from Paradox saying he'd be playing the other game with the friend he joined last night. So, I read some comics, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found Phonso. He was leading trick-or-treating, waiting for a particular event Halloween event to start. I found a character who needed it, and switched to her, but she didn't need more trick-or-treating, so after a while I switched to one who did. Phonso said I wouldn't change in time, but stayed on her, and did switch quickly... I did get back in time, but I see why Phonso thought I might not. We did the event, and she got two badges she didn't have from it. Then I switched back to the other character... and found that Phonso and most of the others in the group were leaving. I think I started talking with Nox on the chat server about then. Somehow, I ended up being the highest-level character, even though I wasn't top level, so I led the group. Paradox came in and joined us, then switched to a top-level character, so I handed the group to them, and kept trick-or-treating. Eventually I got the easier of the two trick-or-treating badges that character still needed and made some progress beyond that on the next before I left to start my exercises. I said goodbye to Nox, and read comics, watched videos, and read web novels around and after my exercises and dancing. I also wrote this up. {Smile}

Daily Update, October 30, 2023

    Today, our housekeeper came, and worked particularly hard. Oure house is much better for her efforts. {Smile}

   I tried calling my financial adviser. I got the secretary and convinced her that what I wanted to talk to the adviser about was too complicated for her to take a message. she promised the advisor would call me back. They didn't today; hopefully we'll connect better tomorrow. {Smile}

   I tried calling my doctor's office and got their answering machine. I tried calling several more times over a few hours, before getting through to their receptionist. I asked about the medicine for the itch, explaining that the itch has become intermittent. I'm to take it for another week and let them know how it goes. That was a big relief. Having clear directions only through tomorrow when it wasn't fully gone made me nervous, and easily distracted enough, my friends I play City of Heroes with noticed and commented. Then we sorted out my blood sugar, since I didn't know my targets. They now want me to keep it between 70 and 100 in the morning when I get up. Those are actually normal for fasting, and it's mostly staying in that range. Those were all I wanted from my doctor. Now that they're sorted, I'm greatly relieved. {SMILE}

   I ate dinner with Mom on Monday and read to her before that. I began with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read a Christmas card from her niece, and a Valentine's Day card from me. She was slow about opening her eyes to look at the pictures, so I skipped _the Picture Book of Kids and Animals_. I want to save it for when she'll enjoy it more. Instead, I continued with a story from _365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes_. That has pictures, too, but they aren't the point of the story, at least. Then I finished with “The Picture,” the 30th of October's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_. The narrator said they were very bored yesterday. It was raining, and they had no one to lay with. They'd also read all their books and couldn't think of anything nice to do. So, they went and asked Mummy. Mummy got a packet of different colored sheets of paper, with glue, scissors, and a big tray. She suggested cutting out shapes to make a lovely, bright picture with, and gave the narrator a big sheet of white paper. The narrator did just that, making a house in a garden with trees and flowers, and planned to give it to her mother.  {Smile}

   I did my walking exercises, leg exercises, and sitting arm weight training exercises after I finished teaming on City of Heroes: Homecoming. then I did my salsa dancing warmup. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. After yet another break, I did my head exercises and my arm resistance exercises. Then I got tired enough to stop. {Smile}

   I read articles and comics in the morning and over lunch when I wasn't making phone calls or talking with the housekeeper. This continued a while after lunch, until I realized Paradox had asked about me being in City of Heroes: Homecoming and dashed into the game. I tried to team up with Paradox and/or Pierogies, but I couldn't concentrate until I got through to my doctor's receptionist and got my medicine sorted out. I did make a new character when they were both busy. Then I teamed up with one, the other, and both for the rest of the afternoon, as they came in and out. Considering how scattered I was until my medicine got sorted, I think that's fair enough. This took me up to time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming a while after dinner, after checking some things I was wondering about. I tried to team up with Paradox, but they were busy at first. I tried to join Phonso in a Halloween event, but we didn't get enough interest in time to do it. Then I did team up with Paradox again, and we ran a few missions until he suddenly left to play another game with another friend. I started talking with Nox. Then I saw Phonso advertising the same event that we'd tried earlier and joined them just in time to get all the badges on the character I took. I stuck with Phonso for trick-or-treating and a zombie invasion until he left for the evening. I left the game and started my exercises, reading articles, watching videos, writing this up, and doing only a little solo play in City of Heroes Homecoming around and after the exercises and salsa dancing. I did finish, but I don't really have time to share it until tomorrow. {Smile}