Daily Update, February 27, 2024

    On Tuesday, I began to edit a holiday story from a few years ago. I made good progress with it, but it needs more work. {Smile}

   In the afternoon, I called Uber. They came and took me to the endodontist, who numbed me up and finished the root canal. Then I took Uber home. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and looking around when I started. She looked at every picture I pointed out, and even responded. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I read and showed the pictures of an easter card from a cousin, a birthday card from a friend, and a birthday card from church. After that, I continued _Mele Kalikimaka: Christmas in Hawai'i_, Then I read the next story in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_, "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin." I ended with the 27th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Restless Star."  {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, my standing arm weight training exercises, and two of my head exercises while waiting for Uber to come take me to my endodontist appointment. I took it easy the rest of the day. I just had a root canal completed, so I think I can have one day light on the exercise. {Smile}

   In the morning, I read part of an article and played Cross Stitch World. Then I revised the story over and after lunch. Next, I cleaned myself up, did a few exercises, and started revising Monday's daily update before heading out to the endodontist. When I got back, I finished revising Monday's daily update before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Pierogis, and we started chatting. He invited me into a farm to show me how a new character was shaping up. We chatted more, then ran an individual mission before I broke to read to Mom. Between reading to Mom and dinner, and right after dinner, I wrote a bit of this daily update, and made notes to write from later, as well. {Smile}

   Then after dinner I hopped into City of heroes: Homecoming. Then i shifted to playing some Cross Stitch World. Next, I went back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and said hi to Pierogis. He left shortly after, so I started on paperwork. Then I said hi to Dr. Faustus. He was helping a friend, so I joined them. We did a few missions before Dr. Faustus realized that I had been a few missions behind them. He had us back up and do mine, though we were now several ahead -- just over a story arc. Kitten joined us partway through. I tried to talk Nox and Nik (Radio) too, but we kept getting distracted until we said goodnight. I'd almost caught up to Dr. Faustus's friend when they had to leave. We finished catching up. Then Dr. Faustus switched to a character who wasn't done with the next story arc himself. We ran that story arc too, then said goodnight because it was really late. I tried to talk to Kitten on the chat server, but they didn't respond. I did finish making notes for this, despite the email program erasing my text and making me restart a couple time before I started saving frequently. Once I started saving frequently, it stopped erasing stuff. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 26, 2024

    I texted with our housekeeper, catching up with recent events, and arranging for her to visit the next day. {Smile}

   I also looked at web fiction host sites, talked with friends, and picked one to try, called Booksie. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She seemed asleep when I started, but the nurse said to go ahead, so I read scripture and thoughts about it first. Then Mom opened her eyes when I got out the cards with their pictures, so I think she wasn't as asleep as she seemed. I read a Christmas card from her cousin, a Christmas card from one sister, and a Thanksgiving card from her other sister. Next, I continued _Mele Kalikimaka: Christmas in Hawai'i_, After that, I read the next story in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_, "The Three Little Pigs." I ended with the 25th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Clever John."  {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises between reading to Mom and eating dinner. I did my arm swinging exercises after teaming for the evening. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup set. After a break I did my less structured salsa dancing set. Then I ended with my head exercises. It was too late for more. {smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World in the morning and read comics over lunch. Then I finished writing up yesterday's daily update before cleaning myself up. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming later than I thought I would. I found Pierogis and we teamed up. We ran a couple of missions, then said a provisional goodnight in case he left before I returned. Then I broke to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I found Pierogis busy with paperwork. I had some too, so we chatted while we each worked on our own. About the time I was done. I figured out Pierogis had stopped replying. Then Rivka said hi. We teamed up and did a couple of missions. Then they said goodnight and headed off to bed. Next, I looked around, and ended up starting to work on getting badges. Then Kitten said hi. We teamed up and did a mission. I also talked to Nox and Nik (Radio). When we finished, I realized Phonso had said hi and invited us to a taskforce I responded, and it looks like we got the last two spots. We ran it with them. Then Kitten got busy sorting recycling, and I did what exercises I got done. I also looked over the web fiction sites and joined one that I think Pierogis liked because it allows cover pictures. I also wrote a little of this and made a lot of notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 25, 2024

    Saturday night, I discovered the freezer flatly refused to close. No matter how hard I tried, the door would not close, but stay ajar. Only after rearranging and taking out everything in the front rows, top and bottom, did I look at the door, where a few items were sticking up, including a box entirely too thick to let the door close on it. Moving that and a few thinner things let the door close much more nicely, even when I loaded the rest into the fridge. Unfortunately, this pushed a moderately late bedtime to distinctly late. but I didn't want to wake up the nurse and make them deal with it, so I felt stuck. *resigned look*

   Sunday morning, I noticed three pink spots I stopped to wash them out, and actually got them out, but the pants were dripping all over the place. So, I went to look for a skirt to wear with the top, and realized none I knew fit went with my pink top. I finally found a black one that kind of went, but it was fussy to fit. This plus the night before and Uber taking 18 minutes to get to me when it said 11 meant that even with a ten o'clock service, I got there in the middle of the gospel. Since I discovered on the way down that my blouse was inside out, I didn't settle down until the priest had started the sermon. This really was too late, as Auntie Barbara gently pointed out later, but I'd have to make sure I got there at least half an hour early just about every time to avoid being late on the one morning after the one night when so many things went wrong in the past few years. Though she did admit this might be unavoidable in this case. {SIGH}

   I had lunch there afterwards with Auntie Barbara and several others, including two men who were doing home communion. They wanted to take me home and make Mom the first stop. I was happy, and so was Auntie Barbara with the prospect of being able to just drive home, which in in the opposite direction of my house.  The ride home with home communion was nice, as was home communion with Mom when we got there. They did a good job, especially for their first time with us. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was sleepy, but opened her eyes for the pictures with prompting, and seemed to like them and the stories as well as I could tell. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. After that, I finished her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Then I continued _Mele Kalikimaka: Christmas in Hawai'i_, reaching the page on the _Hawaiian Nutcracker_, a ballet a friend of the family choreographed that Dad called "his masterpiece." Then I read the next story in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves." I ended with the 25th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Bold Billy."  {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and arm swinging exercises while waiting for Uber to come take me to church. Then, after teaming and talking with Dark, and unclogging a toilet that got clogged, I did my arm resistance exercises and my salsa warmup set. I really meant to do more, but my plans did not allow for having to unclog the toilet. any more than my plans for getting to church allowed for all the things which slowed me down. {rueful look}

   I hopped onto my computer after home communion. Then I played a little Cross Stitch World and finished writing up yesterday's daily update before cleaning myself up. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and found Pierogies. As we began to team up, someone invited me to a team at my level. As far as I know, pretty much randomly; I don't think I know them. I asked if my friend could come. when they said yes, both Pierogies and I joined. Pierogies really liked being able to play with a mostly full team, instead of by himself in a farm, or with just a couple of friends like we so often do. When that team broke up, we watched a few segments of the film we started the other day, _Kubo and the Two Strings_. We got up to just before the last big battle. I might have been able to squeeze in one more segment, but there are two more, not just one. That suggests the next one stops at a really tensely exciting part, so we agreed waiting for another day was better. Then Pierogies started a farm, and I left a character there as I went to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Pierogies still farming, but ready to quit, so we said goodnight and he left. Then I spotted Dark, and we stated talking, and teamed up, talking and preparing before we started playing. Then we ran a couple of missions. The first went fine. I also said goodnight to Nox on the chat server; they were just leaving when I said hi again, so we didn't get to chat. Dark's and my second mission failed to complete. One enemy got stuck in a cage which we couldn't get her out of and couldn't get her while she was in it. The mission wouldn't complete until we got her. We discussed options, and decided it was too late, so we'd let it restart and try again... or maybe get it to auto complete, which you can only do once every three days. Not that either of us likes to use it, but... we don't like to use it, so maybe we won't. Anyway, then we said goodnight. After dealing with the toilet and doing my exercises, I wrote this up, with much of it write, as well as some notes for the next day.

Daily Update, February 24, 2024

    Today was Saturday. I again have been thinking about web fiction and its host sites and looking into the latter. It is cutting into my time for other stuff, especially game playing and comic and article reading. I miss the time I usually spend with my friends in the games. I hope that soon I'll be able to get back to more of that, at least, though I know I can't write regularly and do as much other stuff as I used to. {smile}

   I forgot to mention yesterday that I ate breakfast and lunch with Mom, too. I did; I only miss meals with her when the relief nurse is with us when I'm eating out, like the day before, with the belated birthday picnic lunch. {Smile}

   It looks like I also forgot to mention that the phone company called. We get not just phone but email addresses through them. They called to say I've lost one. I hadn't let them know the last time a card expired, so the account lapsed. Once it's cancelled, they can't reinstate it, but they can and will cancel the entire outstanding balance. It was the address I signed up with to most accounts, so I'll have to figure out how to fix that. {sigh}

   I ate breakfast and dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. She was awake when I got there and looked at the picture, listened to the stories, and even commented at least once. It was a good day for her. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. After that, I continued _Mele Kalikimaka: Christmas in Hawai'i_. Then I read the next story in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_, "The Tortoise and the Hare." I ended with the 24th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Competition."  {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises after saying goodnight to Dark, followed closely by my salsa dancing warmup set. Then I took a break. Next came my head exercises, followed by my less structured salsa dancing set, followed by my arm swinging exercises and my standing arm weight training exercises before it got too late. {Smile}

   My morning was mostly trying to figure out web fiction and the host sites for it, as I said earlier. Then I played Cross Stitch World around and over lunch. Next, I did some more research before cleaning myself up. After that, I dashed into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Pierogies, and we teamed up, and did a few missions together before it was time to tread to Mom. He let me sit in a farm during reading and dinner again. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Pierogies ready to leave, so we said goodnight. I also found Dark and said hi. He asked me what characters I wanted to play, and I picked some we'd played as a set. I knew which was mine and got it. He found two around the same level who we decided must have been the ones. Their powers are similar, so I think we had a theme going. We ran through a story arc he'd started, then got a story arc we both wanted next. Paradox said he'd get on through the chat world and did come in and join us near the end of that arc. I also chatted with Nox on the chat world. Next, we started the arc's first sequel. They're the first two of four arcs and a trial that form a series. Paradox left before the last mission of the second arc. Dark and I did that mission, and started a different, unrelated story arc that Dark likes to get at low levels. We can finish that sequence after this one, and there's an annoyingly difficult enemy in the other if you do it at mis-levels. We'd both rather catch it low rather than wait until high levels or fight those. Then we said goodbye, and I started my exercises. Between and after, I wrote this up and made notes for the next day. I also checked more in City of Heroes: Homecoming than I really had time for, especially when church was the next morning. {smile}

Daily Update, February 23, 2024

    Friday, I stayed home and thought a lot about hosts for my web fiction. I tried to look into some sites, too. I'm having a lot of trouble deciding what to do next. {small smile} 

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She woke up when I got there and stayed awake to look at all the pictures and listen to the stories today. I began with scripture and thoughts about it first. After that, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Then I continued _Mele Kalikimaka: Christmas in Hawai'i_. Next, I read the next story in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_, "Beauty and the Beast." I ended with the 23rd of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "A Riddle."  It gave an awful lot of clues describing a snow man, I guess so little children have a good chance at guessing right. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and one of my sitting arm exercises while I was talking to Dark. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup set after a break. Next, I did my arm swinging exercises after another break. Then I could have gone on, except for how late it was. I'll have to work on getting stuff done earlier. {Smile}

   I researched web fiction hosts in the morning, then finished writing Thursday's daily update. After lunch I played Cross Stitch World and did more research into web fiction sites. Eventually I got around to cleaning myself up. Then I hopped straight into City of Heroes: homecoming because it was pretty late. I did get together with Pierogies, and we did 3 or 4 individual missions before it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I got together with Pierogies, and we got ready to continue the movie we started yesterday with Kitten, since Kitten insisted that we shouldn't wait for them. Then Dark came in and was more interested in missions than the movie. When I told Pierogies, he shooed me off to play with Dark, saying we'd watch the movie some other time. I teamed up with Dark, and we played two story arcs together over the evening, the first and second in a four-part series. I talked to Rivka, too, but they were too close to bedtime to play together. I talked to Nox on the chat server, too. I talked to Dark as well as teaming, especially about web fiction. He reads it, so i asked about suggestions to start publishing. We talked about other things after teaming, until I had to start exercising.  Then we said goodnight, and I did my exercises, with more looking into web fiction hosts and writing up this, well, mostly making note to write from the next day. {Smile}

--

Journal Blog (with links on the page in case you'd like to leave a tip for my writing): https://aeb-anne.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Update, February 22, 2024

    Auntie Barbara came around eleven. She visited with Mom, and we sang six of her songs with her. Then she told Mom that she was taking me out to a much belated birthday lunch, and Mom spontaneously sang Happy Birthday, which we joined in on again. That's her favorite song, since it's the one she's most likely to start singing without prompting. {Smile}

   Then we joined Michelle, who was waiting out by the car. She'd picked lemons while waiting, which is great. I lose many to no one picking in time. Then we went down to Island Naturals, where we met up with Scott. We all picked out lunch, and Auntie Barbra insisted on paying as her treat. Scott came with us, leaving his car by Island Naturals. We went to Wailoa first, but all the small pavilions with tables were taken. The big pavilions were empty of both people and places to sit. You're expected to bring your own tables and chairs these days. They took them out at the beginning of the pandemic. {smile}

   So, we tried Liliu'okalani Gardens, and started to sit at a table when it started raining again. We ate in the car, with the lunches we picked out at Island naturals, and some chocolate cake Scott brought. He'd made it himself, and it was very good. Then we took Scott back to his car by Island naturals before they took me home. We were, of course, talking the whole time, which was great. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and looked at all the pictures and listened to the stories today. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Next, I continued: _Mele Kalikimaka: Christmas in Hawai'i_. After that, I read the next story in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_, "Rumpelstiltskin." I ended with the 22nd of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Frozen Lake."  Claire lives in Canada, where lakes freeze hard, and snow is on the ground for months in winter. Claire was very good at ice skating. It was her favorite sport. She could skate fast, and backwards, and leap and twirl. Claire often skated alone on a lake near her house. her mother asked if she felt lonely there, but Claire assured her that sometimes bears kept her company, and sometimes she rode on a reindeer. Then she winked at her mother, who smiled back. {Smile}

   After teaming for the evening, I did my arm resistance exercises and arm swinging exercises, followed by my salsa dancing warm-up set. Then I did my less structured salsa dancing, my head exercises, my standing arm weight training exercises, and two of my four sitting arm weight training exercises after a break. I've really been feeling like I should do more of my exercises, and I finally did. I hope to add in the other two sitting arm weight training exercises particularly soon. {Smile}

   I browsed the internet, reading some articles and thinking about web fiction hosts after breakfast and before starting to get ready for Auntie Barbara. When I got back, I played Cross Stitch World and wrote up the day before's daily update before cleaning myself up.  As soon as I was done, I dashed into City of Heroes: Homecoming particularly late. Pierogies and Kitten were there, and eager to watch a movie. Luckily it is in segments, so we watched four segments, slipping in the last right before I went to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started on paperwork, and Gargle Ripper invited me to team up. I tried to get Kitten's attention, but they were unresponsive. I did get my new friend, Rivka, to join the group, I found out that's what she wants to be called in these updates. Later, I got Dr. Faustus to join us as well, once he'd finished with a taskforce he'd been running. I also talked with Nox and Hayden on the Chat world, in the conversation we three share with Nik. We teamed, with some leaving early, and others coming in. Rivka left partway through my evening. Eventually, our leader left, as did a couple others at the same time. Dr. Faustus and one other stayed for a hunt I had before we broke up, too. I wrote this, did paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming, and looked at web fiction hosts some more between and after the exercises. I still managed to head to bed too late, but at least with more exercises done. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 21, 2024

    Wednesday, I had an appointment with the nutritionist after lunch, so a while before the appointment time, I contacted Uber. They came and took me to the nutritionist. The, I explained that her plan had cut back so much I was hungry too much, and just couldn't keep to it. Then I asked about healthy snacks, and she gave me a couple of lists of good small snacks. Next, I asked about the amount. She said one in the afternoon, and one in the evening, and no amount me trying to explain that we'd just seen a more generous plan fail because I was hungry all time made any concessions. So, we ended there, with me planning to look into the snacks, but I don't think I can reasonably try to stick to two most days. I will try to cut back though. I contacted Uber and they came and took me home again. {smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was resting but woke up and looked at all the pictures and listened to the stories today. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Next, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. After that, I continued: _Mele Kalikimaka: Christmas in Hawai'i_. Then I read the next story in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_, "Puss in Boots." I ended with the 21st of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "the Flowers."  {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, head exercises, and arm swinging exercises while waiting for Uber and the appointment. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup set and salsa dancing less structured sets after teaming for the evening. I realized today I really need to push myself to do more of my exercises, but somehow it was too late again. {rueful look}

   I researched web fiction sites in the morning, Then I wrote yesterday's daily update before lunch. After lunch, I just had time for a little Cross Stitch World before I had to get ready to go to the appointment with the nutritionist. After I got back, I cleaned myself up. After that, I hopped onto City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Pierogies, who really wanted to team up the characters who are all the same type. However, mine isn't ready for that. So, he ran a couple of missions with that character of mine, gaining me a level. She still has two story arcs to run through before I want to let her gain the last level she needs to continue those characters' story. I suppose I could give up on one, but I really need to do the other because it helps a statistic-improving badge I want. Anyway, that took me into time to read to Mom, but I still did a full session with her. Pierogies let me sit in a farm over reading and dinner again, which was nice. {Smile}

   After dinner, I hopped back online, and found Dark in City of Heroes: Homecoming. We talked a bit, and then teamed up. I found a character who was about the same level, and Dark noticed they were further back in the story arc they were working on, so we shifted to my missions, and did a few. Then Kitten woke up, and eventually joined us. After the three of us did a mission or two, Kitten said they should leave to help a friend. Instead, all three of us joined their friend who was an acquaintance of mine, and their friend of theirs who was already with them. I also said goodnight to Nox on the chat server. We missed a chance to talk again. I changed characters when I realized the one that I was on didn't need what I thought she did from what we were doing. So, I found a character of the same level who did some of that. We ran a few more missions. Then Dark left because it was late. We ended up talking a fair bit before either of us actually left. We did leave at about the same time because by then it was time for my salsa dancing. In between and after sets, I tried to research wed fiction hosts, but they often don't mention things I'm looking for. I also tried to write this, mainly taking a lot of notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 20, 2024

    Soon after I got up on Tuesday, I got a phone call from the driver who takes me to the monthly meeting with Aloha Independent Living's disabled support group. I've called it the monthly picnic int he past, but fewer are feeling picnics these days. She wanted me to be ready by 9:45, which meant a hurried breakfast. The driver and I did come and pick me up then, and we had a nice talk on the ride down. the meeting was mainly lunch with catching up with each member and what they are doing. Then we played Yahtzee for a few rounds. The leader looked for a game that accommodates a ride range of abilities, and settled on that, figuring we could all roll dice. The driver then took me back home, and we had another nice talk on the way. {Smile}

   Shortly before I read to Mom, I got a phone call from the nursing company's secretary. She wanted to touch base and check on how we're doing. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and liked all the pictures and stories today. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Next, I started: _Mele Kalikimaka: Christmas in Hawai'i_. After that, I read the next story I thought she'd like in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." I ended with the 20th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "My Granny." David brought his writing book back from school one day, and one of his parents read a passage about his Granny. He told he face, as round as pink as a baby's, but wrinkled. He told of her half=glasses that would slip down her nose, and how she'd look over them. {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, my arm swinging exercises and my salsa dancing warmup set all in one go. then I did my less structured set after a longer break than I meant to, and my head exercises after another longer break. {smile}

   When I got back from the morning's outing, I thought it was late, but played Cross stitch world because I was so tired. Then I looked at the time again, and it two hours earlier than I expect; I must have read a 12 as a 2, just blanking on the 1 at the beginning. Then I cleaned myself up before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I said hi to Kitten, Pierogies, my new friend from yesterday, and Dark. I teamed up with the first three, since Dark left. We ran a mission or two, and my new friend left. Then we ran another mission, and Pierogies left, followed by Kitten. I soloed a bit, accidentally running a little into time I like to read to Mom. The phone call from nursing company's secretary helped me remember to go read to her. Pierogies came back just in time for me to join them in a farm, leaving my character there while I read to Mom and ate dinner. {Smile} 

   After dinner, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I saw Dark, and we chatted before teaming up. I started chatting with my new friend, and they joined us. We teamed for much of the evening. My new friend left first. Dark and I did a little more, then Phonso invited us to a taskforce. We joined, and ran it, along with Dr. Faustus, Owl Girl, and few acquaintances, so it was really a friendly team. Then Dark left, and I ran another taskforce with Phonso. I also talked with Nox on the chat server. Then I started my exercises. I worked on this, read articles, played cross Stitch World, chatted with Kitten on the chat world, and researched web fiction hosts around the exercises, which is why the breaks got longer than I meant them to be. {Smile}

Daily Update, February 19, 2024

   Monday morning, I thought long and hard about how to share my writing. Looking into blogging platforms made me realize that the web fiction platforms have the humongous advantage of a audience specifically looking for fiction built right in. If you can match the kinds of stories you write to the right place, they can even be people looking for your type of writing. So, I really need to figure out a way to make those work out for me. I even did a little research into both blog platforms and web fiction host sites. That confirmed that blog platforms are a poor match. I need to look further to figure out what web fiction host is a good match for me, because many are not as much better as one would wish. {small smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and seemed to like all the pictures and stories today. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Then I finished 1950's Fashion in Pictures_. Next, I read the first story in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_, "Pinocchio." Then I moved the bookmark right past the second story to the third. I'm suspicious she'd have trouble processing "The Gingerbread Man, since he gets eaten at the end. I finished with the 19th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Strange Stone." Mark was helping his father dig in the garden. Mark found something heavy and picked it up. He showed his father the strange, round stone he found, pointing out how it was round with lines all over it. His father told him it was a tortoise who'd gone to sleep in the fall and wasn't ready to wake up yet. Mark put it back carefully, burying it in the dirt like before, and marking it with a stick so it wouldn't be disturbed again. {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises, arm swinging exercises and head exercises between Phonso's taskforces in the evening. When I was sure I couldn't get back to the second one, I did my salsa dancing warm-up set. Then after a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing. {Smile}

   I played an awful lot of Cross Stitch World in the morning while I thought about how to share my writing. Then I wrote up yesterday's daily update before lunch and did the research into both blog platforms and web fiction hosts over lunch and after it a bit. Next, I cleaned myself up before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I didn't see anyone on, so I joined a taskforce I saw advertised. We ran it, and it ended only a little late for reading to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I went back onto my computer. I talked with kitten a little on the chat server. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and looked around. I saw two friends who looked busy. I also spotted a taskforce I wanted, so I joined it, and we ran it. I made friends with one of the others when I offered some game cash, since I have some to spare. They were new, so I helped them get a teleporter, and join two in-game organizations. I also explained a few things to them. As we were winding down. Phonso came on and invited us to a taskforce. My new friend was heading to bed, so I finished saying goodnight. Then I joined Phonso, and he recruited for the taskforce. We ran it pretty quickly. Then he wanted to do another. He recruited it and he started it. Nox said goodnight on the chat server. Then I disconnected. I often do for a moment, so I tried to go back as usual. However, Homecoming was going down. I confirmed this on the server they have on my chat server. Yes, the one I talk to Nox, Kitten, and others on. So, I did my exercises, watched a video, and wrote this up, mostly making notes. {Smile}


Journal Blog (with links on the page in case you'd like to leave a tip for my writing): https://aeb-anne.blogspot.com/

Daily Update, February 18, 2024

    On Sunday, I called Uber after breakfast. A nice, moderately chatty man came and took me to church. I got there just after communion, when it was ending. I only got to take part in a prayer and the recessional. However, I did get all of the rest of the annual meeting, as well as a very generous lunch. The Kubos took me home. I'm right on the route he takes his mother home on. {Smile}

   After I got home and rested a bit, I fiddled with Ko Fi a little more. I think I'm as set up there as feasible until I get a blog or other site to connect to it, but here's the page: https://ko-fi.com/anneelizabethbaldwin , {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. She was awake and enjoyed all the pictures and stories today. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2020. Next, I continued 1950's Fashion in Pictures_. After that, I read the last story in _Richard Scarry's 5-minute Stories_, "Ma Pig's New Car." To finish off, I read the 18th of February's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Annabel's Doll." Annabel's Doll, Bella, went everywhere with her. One day, Annabel's aunt took her to a toyshop to pick out a doll's tea set. Belle went along, and Anabel put her next to two dolls having a tea party with a toy tea set complete with five toy cakes. When the tea set was chosen and bought, Annabel went to pick up Bella. She thought Bella had a funny smile, and there were only four cakes. {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and arm swinging exercises while waiting for Uber to come get me, but I barely got started walking around the driveway when they came; I didn't even get one time around. When I finished with teaming for the evening, I did my arm resistance exercises, followed by my salsa dancing warm-up. After a break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. {Smile}

   After I got home from church, I played some Cross Stitch World to recuperate. Then I cleaned myself up and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Kitten and Pierogies. I talked with Pierogies, and teamed up with both, but we didn't run missions. Instead, Kitten and Pierogies searched frantically for a show we could all watch. I tried to help, too. Kitten finally came up with an Equestria Girls episode. that's a My Little Pony spinoff where the ponies are (mostly) human. We talked a little after that, but not long because it was soon time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I went back to City of Heroes: Homecoming again. Kitten was there, but unresponsive. Dark was there, too, and quite happy to talk and team up. We ran several missions on a fairly high-level character I'm hoping will reach the end game before too much longer. I also started writing this. I said hi to Nox not long before they left, but we did get to talk a little. Kitten came in and joined Dark and me in the last mission before Dark left. Then kitten and I ran... I meant it to be one mission, but it turned out to be a mini arc, with two short missions with a talk session between them. We did get it all done. Then I did my exercises, talking with Kitten on the chat server in between and afterwards. I also wrote a little more of this and made a lot of notes for it. {Smile}