Daily Update, March 30, 2024

    Happy Easter if you celebrate! Or happy beginning of the Merrie Monarch Weekend if you follow Hilo's hula festival! {Wink, SMILE}

   I called Uber after breakfast, and got a few exercises done while I waited for them. a gal came and too me to church, where the egg dying and egg stuffing in preparation for the egg hunt after the late service on Easter Sunday were beginning to wind down, but not done yet. I started with some egg stuffing, then did a little egg dying. When that was done, I went back to egg stuffing, which had a special project of taking the choking hazard treats out and putting regular candy in instead. {Smile}

   When it was over, Auntie Barbara took me home. There, she came in to visit with Mom. After an initial hesitation, Mom sang several songs with us. It was a nice visit. {Smile}

   Our housekeeper came after I got home, and Auntie Barbara had left. Our house is much better for her attentions. I finally remembered to talk to her about a few projects. One she did that day, one she'll do next time because I remembered too late for her to do it today, and one will be for after the supplies arrive. {Smile}

   I ate breakfast dinner with Mom and read to her before dinner. (I should have said yesterday that I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with Mom, not just dinner.) Mom was just sitting when I got there. She looked at the pictures I showed her but didn't say much. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Then I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. After that, I read "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. Lastly, I finished with the 30th of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Blue Feather." {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and four of my arm-swinging exercises while waiting for Uber to come take me to church in the morning. Then I did my other eight arm swinging exercises and my arm resistance exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. Misreading the clock, I did my first salsa dancing set during a break in teaming for the night. Then I did the second salsa dancing set after teaming for the evening. I still didn't get more done, though i meant to, and even got some of the weights out for my weight training exercises. Hopefully I'll get the hang of doing more soon. {Smile}

   After coming back from Easter preparations at church, I wound down with Cross Stitch World. Then I finished writing and shared Friday's daily update over lunch. Next, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming to check some paperwork while chatting with a friend on the chat server. I said hi to Kitten and Pierogies. then I left to clean myself up. After that, I shared a couple of things with the housekeeper, since cleaning myself up while she was here managed to remind me of stuff I usually forget. When that was done, I hopped back into City of Heroes: Homecoming to find Kitten gone, and pierogies in a farm. He invited me to a farm he was doing, where we chatted and fooled around until Homecoming went down for maintenance. They'd hoped to start sooner. Pierogies and I watched a couple of short parody videos until it was high time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I came back to learn that the server was back up after being down longer than they'd hoped. I started writing and making notes for this update, then hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Kitten and Pierogies in a farm and we did that until I got bored and asked about doing something. They picked a badge we were all curious about, where you're supposed to run a taskforce or strike force (villainous taskforce) with all the same kind of character. I picked a particularly short and easy task force to get it with, and we went to the contact for it. Someone was there, and asked if we were going to run that taskforce. One of my friends must have explained which type of character we wanted, because they switched to the right type of character and joined us. I asked about recruiting a few more, and even started to invite Dr. Faustus. However, Pierogies wanted to start before he got too sleepy, so we didn't wait. Then Dr. Faustus replied, and I explained what we'd wanted, but that we'd started. He's interested in doing it some other time, which works for me. We finished with relatively little trouble, partly because I tried not to make it too challenging... and we got the badge. My friends suspect 4 is enough, from a number on the badge, and we had five, since Pierogies brought two. Then the player who'd joined us left, and after saying goodnight, so did Pierogies. I switched characters, and Kitten and I did a few missions. Then I misread the clock and, thinking it was an hour later, I stopped to do my salsa dancing warmup. During the warmup, I realized it was an hour earlier. I finished that set, then told Kitten, and they hopped back into the game. We did a few more missions, then said goodnight. I followed that with my second set of salsa dancing. Then I checked out a couple of videos. I also wrote a little more of this and made a lot of notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 29, 2024

    On Friday, I stayed home and thought a lot about my story while playing Cross Stitch World in the morning. Then I worked a little on it after lunch, making some minor edits and preparing a file to get some more major edits. {smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was resting again when I got there. This time she woke up more, looking at the pictures as I went along, but not saying much. I began with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. After that, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Next, I Skipped "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," and read "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" instead in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I thought she'd like it better. Lastly, I ended with the 29th of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Fancy Dress." {Smile}

I did my head exercises, and my arm resistance exercises after we finished teaming for the evening. Then I did a full two sets of salsa dancing for almost 21 minutes of salsa dancing. I did my arm swinging exercises next. {Smile}

   I looked at web fiction and read a little before doing Cross Stitch World while thinking about writing. Then I read comics after the Cross Stitch World and thinking. Then I had lunch, followed by the writing, and after that, I cleaned myself up. Next, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Kitten, and we teamed up until dinner. First, we did three hunts, then switched to a mission when the last hunt bogged down. No, we didn't finish that hunt then. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started writing this up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found Kitten again. We chatted. then teamed up. We ran mostly a new-for-that-character contact's missions in the evening. I also talked with Nox on the chat server. Eventually, Dr. Faustus said hi. I invited him to come, and he asked if two friends - a mutual one and a new one - could come too. I said sure. A team can hold 8, and even with all of us, it was only 5. We ran a few missions. The new fellow left first, asking to establish better communication; I did so happily. Then our mutual friend left. Finally, Dr. Faustus himself left. Kitten and I had time for one more mission, so we ran it. Pierogies came in at the end and said hi. We talked, with him joining the team after we were done with the mission. When I left to do my exercises, they teamed up without me to run missions together. After the salsa dancing, I did some paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming. I also wrote a little of this, making notes to write from the next day. Oh, and I chatted with a friend on the chat server around dinner, and again late at night. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 28, 2024

    On Thursday, I had video counselling after breakfast. The session was very lively. We talked a fair bit, and I hope I'm making progress. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was resting when I got there. She would crack her eyes to look at the pictures when prompted, so i read to her anyway. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. After that, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Next, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Then I read "The Cat that Walked by Himself" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 28th of March's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Sand Roses." {Smile}

   I did just over 20 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing, but then I felt tired enough, I didn't try to do more. I hope it's okay to take that much of a holiday the day after physical therapy. I also hope I'll be able to do at least some as I get more exercises back on better days. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World before counselling, and more Cross Stitch World after counselling. Then I had lunch. I played even more Cross Stitch World after lunch. Then I wrote up Wednesday's daily update. Next, I cleaned myself up. When I got back to my computer, I began catching up with friends on Discord before I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. No one I usually team with was there, so I started soloing on a low-level character. A new fellow I met a couple of days ago wanted to see my character, so I showed him briefly before I left to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I caught up with friends on Discord. Then I started working on this update before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started out soloing, checking things on the low-level character I'd soloed on before dinner. Then I found Dark, and we started teaming. We did many of my missions. After a fair while, Phonso joined us. I chatted with Nox a little but got sidetracked tracked quickly. Eventually, Phonso left, and Dark and I chatted, saying a lengthy goodnight. Then I soloed a while, getting my character set up for their next playing session. After that I did my exercises. Then I checked City of Heroes: Homecoming a bit more and played a little more Cross Stitch World. I ended with writing a little more of this and making notes in it for the next day.

Daily Update, March 27, 2024

    On Wednesday I remembered to check, and there were no new voicemails saying that physical therapy had been cancelled or anything. So, I contacted Uber a while after breakfast. A pleasant if quiet man came and took me over to physical therapy. That went pretty well. I'm doing well with the exercises and everything, I think. They are having me do salsa dancing, but not as much as I do at home. When they were done, I contacted Uber again. Interestingly, the drivers had the same first name, though it wasn't the same driver. Then again, that name was John, so it wasn't that surprising. No other guy's name comes close in popularity, nor does any girl's name I can think of. {Smile}

   I also thought about my story. Dark asked about it today and reminded me about some of the progress with the critiques. I do need to revise it, working in more of the changes members of the critique group suggested. I expect it to be a fair bit of work, but it should be a more exciting story when I'm done. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was reasonably alert when I got there. She looked at the pictures, but only responded once or twice. She still seemed to enjoy most of the stories, except she did object partway through Thumbelina. I kept going because it gets better quickly. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Then I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. After that, I read "Thumbelina" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 27th of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "A Swallow's Nest." {Smile}

   My exercise was my physical therapy Wednesday. I don't need more than that. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World before calling Uber. Then I played more Cross Stitch World when I got back, along with writing yesterday's daily update up, and reading comics, that took me right through lunch and into the afternoon. Next, I cleaned myself up. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Pierogies finishing the later short, large-group event, then joining the later long, large-group event. I also found Dark in a regular mission. I chatted with both and joined Dark. We did two or three missions. Then Pierogies joined us, and we did two more. At the end of the second, I was late to read to Mom again. I said goodnight to Dark and Pierogies before I left. Both of them expected to be gone by the time I came back. {Smile}

   After dinner, both were indeed gone. I began writing this update up. Then I went back to City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I chatted with Nox and Mysty. Both were busy, so I considered joining a pick-up group, but I ended up soloing on lone or two of my lower-level characters instead. I did chat with Nox on the chat server after they'd left the game, too. Then Pierogies came in and invited me to join him in a farm. We chatted until he was sleepy, then said goodnight again. I also said goodnight to Nox. Then I played around in the farm by myself. When I got bored with that, I read some comics, wrote a little of this, and made a fair number of notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 26, 2024

    I started writing critiques mid-morning and continued right through lunch, and a bit after lunch. I wrote two shorter ones, and two normal-length ones, trying and succeeding in returning the favor to everyone who'd responded who had a story of their own up. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was resting when I got there. She looked at the pictures, then closed her eyes to rest some more, then opened then again when I pointed out there was a new one, but she responded when I asked her questions, and seemed to enjoy it. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. After that, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Next, I read "Snow-White and Rose-Red" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 26th of March's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Petra's Friend." {Smile}

   I did my arm swinging exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I did 20 1/4 minutes of salsa dancing in two sets, both the warmup set and a less structured set. I followed that with my arm resistance exercises and my head exercises. That's a little more than yesterday, so I really do feel like I'm coming back from this. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World between breakfast and the critiques. Then I played a little more Cross Stitch World and read some comics after the critiques. After that, I cleaned myself up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming later than I hoped, but earlier than the day before. I found Kitten complaining that Pierogies was busy with the later long, large-group event. Kitten and I teamed up and did a mission or two. Then Pierogies joined us, and we did another couple of missions before it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, began writing this up. then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming just in time to say goodnight to Pierogies. Kitten was there, but disconnected because they were actually busy watching a video with Pierogies. Then they came back just after Pierogies left. We teamed up and did a few missions. As we left one, we ran into a giant monster team, and ran with the few others who stayed, getting several giant monsters. Eventually they broke up, and Kitten and I returned to running missions. We ran two more missions of our own, and Kitten got me to invite a friend of theirs to the last one. Then we talked a bit; I know their friend vaguely, but the friend told me a little about recent events. I said goodnight, and did my salsa dancing and other exercises, with video watching and a little Cross Stitch World in between. I ended by writing a little more of this and making a fair number of notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 25, 2024

    Monday was productive, but tiring. After breakfast, I went to the Critique site, where I read a new critique, and responded to them all, most in some detail, since at least some invited more than just a thank you. {smile}

   Then I got a call about a bill, so I found several bills, three or four of which were old or otherwise confusing enough, I felt they needed phone calls to determine their current status. I got them all sorted, and most paid that needed it still getting them into the mailbox with the flag up. (A couple of the old ones had already been paid, I'm happy to say.) There's only one still waiting for attention. It was the place that had called to check on the bill in the first place. When I called back, they decided to send me a new statement. So, I'll pay that one when I get the new statement. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I got there a little late because I frankly lost track of time while doing the paperwork. Mom was awake when I got there and seemed to enjoy the pictures. She responded a little, but not as much as some days. I started with scripture and thoughts about it first. After that, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Then I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. After that, I read "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 25th of March's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Kind Scarecrow." {Smile}

   I did my head exercises and my arm swinging exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I did both sets of salsa dancing for almost 21 minutes, due to a different last piece. Since that piece can and will vary, I don't always do exactly the same amount when it's full. But this is even more exercise, t hanks to doing my head exercises, and a little more salsa dancing. Maybe. The longer piece might be slightly slower, but I hope it evens out. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World in the morning, when thinking about what I wanted to do on the critique site. I also read comics and had lunch. When I'd finished with the critique site, I finished Sunday's daily update. Then I started this daily update. Next, I cleaned myself up. It was pretty late when I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. Kitten was there, but unresponsive. It was late to get into much anyway, so I did paperwork until it was time to read to Mom. {Smile}

   I began writing this up between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I made some notes in it after dinner, before I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming again. I said hi to Kitten, who was still quiet, and Dr. Faustus, who responded. We chatted for a while, learning we 'd both been particularly busy recently. Then we teamed up, and he led a mission or two. After that, Kitten joined us. It took a little finagling to invite them to our team. By then, Dr. Faustus and I had run into a fight in the game that we joined in on. (A few areas are war zones where enemies and non-player characters run by the game fight each other periodically, and you may join in if you wish.) Kitten joined us in fighting the enemies. So did a player we didn't know. They asked about joining us, and we ended up doing their missions, helping them to finish a story arc. I said goodnight to Nox too late to talk again. When we finished the story arc, Dr. Faustus left, and so did the fellow we'd helped with the story arc. Kitten stayed and helped me get a badge my best badge collector didn't have. She now has 1499 badges. One more, and she'll get a badge for getting 1500 badges. I think she could get over 1600 badges, at least in theory. After that, I left to do my salsa dancing. I also played Cross Stitch World, watched some more videos, or parts of them, and wrote more of this up, including making notes to write from the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 24, 2024

    After breakfast, Uber arrived too quickly for me to exercise, but that helped me get to the church during the announcements. I sat with Auntie Barbara and two kids who chose to sit with her. It was a nice service. It was Palm Sunday, which is always special, with a procession in that involves the congregation, and a partially dramatized Gospel reading. {Smile}

   After that, I enjoyed lunch with Auntie Barbara and others. Then Auntie Barbara took me home. We had a lovely talk on the way. We sang several songs with mom when we got home, since Auntie Barbara does like to do that when she visits with Mom. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. I got there a little late because I did want to finish what I was doing with Pierogies. Mom was awake when I got there and seemed to enjoy the pictures. She did respond a couple of times later in the session. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. Then I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Next, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. After that, I read "The Musicians of Bremen" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 24th of March's poem from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "The Fair." {Smile}

   I don't quite believe what happened... not so soon. I ran late on City of Heroes: Homecoming, so started with my salsa dancing warmup. Then I took a break, during which I got my arm resistance exercises done after a short rest. Then I started a second set after another short rest. I did the piece I've done the last two nights and didn't feel tired. So, I did another piece... and made it all the way through. I was definitely puffing for a moment afterwards, and I'm tired enough, I don't think I'll even do my head exercises... but I did 20 1/4 minutes of salsa dancing tonight! I'm back up to the around 20 minutes I'm supposed to do. now I just need to repeat that and add in all the easier exercises that I can do, too. I really didn't expect to get that done today; I was hoping to work up to having the little exercise all added over the week, then add the rest of salsa dancing around Friday or Saturday... but now I can just work up to doing them too. {BIG SMILE, REALLY BIG GRIN}

I wrote Saturday's daily update after Auntie Barbara left. Then I played Cross Stitch World and read a couple of articles after Auntie Barbara left. Next, I read a few comics before I cleaned myself up. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I joined the later long, large-group event with Pierogies. After the event was over, I did a little badge collecting with Pierogies before leaving to read to Mom. 

   After dinner, I started writing this up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found Dark. We started talking, and slowly got around to teaming up and deciding what we wanted to do. We finished an arc a particular character of theirs needed. I said goodnight to Nox but missed talking with them again. Then Dark and I talked for a fair bit. I also gave him some things I'd collected while playing, too. After we said goodnight, I started some paperwork of my own. I was in a bar, in public, and someone started chatting with me. We chatted for a while, until I had to quit to salsa dance. We said goodbye, and I established a contact method so we might talk again. Then I did my exercises and watched some videos. I also wrote a little of this and made notes to finish writing the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 23, 2024

    On Saturday, I stayed home, and checked the critiques site after breakfast. I found three new critiques! I read them all -- some before lunch, some after lunch -- and made a few changes to my story... it's beginning to look like it needs a lot more change than I thought. {bite lips} I'm trying not to get discouraged about that. Thankfully, Dark reminded me of Dad's caution: don't write expecting to make money beyond a hobby that pays for itself, at best. {odd smile}

   I did a critique to thank the first critique writer for theirs and found two more of the 6 total have stories up. I'll have to critique theirs before it goes down... I guess late Tuesday. Next time, I should start returning critiques sooner. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was awake when I got there. She looked at the pictures, but even more at me. She did respond a couple of times later in the session. First, I began with scripture and thoughts about it. Next, I continued her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. After that, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Then I read "Chicken Little" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 23rd of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Billy's Trick." {Smile}

   I did my arm resistance exercises and my arm swinging exercises between reading to Mom and dinner. Then I did 14 3/4ers minutes of salsa dancing in two sets after teaming for the evening. After a break, I did my head exercises, too, before it got too late. I was a bit tired, but that's one more exercise than I managed Friday. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World while thinking what to do with my writing, when I wasn't working more directly with the critique site or the story itself. I wrote Friday's daily update before lunch and checked out some new comics. Then I cleaned myself up after I read all the critiques. Only after that did I hop into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I was late again, but in time for a little paperwork before I joined the later long, large-group event while they were still gathering. Pierogies was in it, too. So was the friend who build my computer for me several years ago. I chatted with both of them after the event. Pierogies mainly said goodnight before leaving for bed. My other friend stayed to tell me about the past couple of years. Then it was time to read to Mom.

   After dinner, I started writing this daily update. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and found that Dark was on. We said hi and chatted, and I shared a few game-goodies I found on hand. Then we teamed up. We ran a story arc on the low-level characters we ran Thursday. I also talked with Nox on the chat server, and I talked with Dark a fair bit between missions. After our last mission, Dark and I did a bit of badge hunting together, and said goodnight, too. After they left, I did my exercises, watched a video, read a few comics, and wrote some of this, making notes to finish writing this the next day. {Smile}

Daily Update March 22, 2024

    On Friday I worked on my story... I have four critiques so far from the site. I responded to the first, read the last for the first time, and thought about them all. This story needs a lot more work than I realized.  A couple of folks have said there's too many characters for such a short story, but I'm having trouble cutting any of them. They also say the introduction is too long for such a short story, but both scenes are needed. If there's too many characters and too long an introduction, but I can't cut either, then... maybe expand the middle, so it's a longer story that fits them all? There's also a request to differentiate the characters, but that lengthens the introduction... yes, i think I need to find more to put in the middle. {smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was sleepy but not fully asleep when I got there. She seemed to wake up as she looked at the pictures. She even responded a couple of times later in the session. The last time, she said she liked what I'd read to her. I began with scripture and thoughts about it first. Then I started her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Next, I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. After that, I read "The Peacock and the Crane" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I ended with the 22nd of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Kind Miss Mouse." {Smile}

   After teaming for the evening and a break, I did my full salsa dancing warmup for 8 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing. Then another break, and I did 6 1/4 more minutes of salsa dancing. After a longer break, I did my head exercises, and my arm resistance exercises, but I was tired even while doing the arm resistance exercises in particular. So that's where I stopped, but that's the most salsa dancing I've done yet. When I can add one more piece to the second set, that will be around 20 minutes of salsa dancing. Then I can get the other exercises up to full. {Smile}

   I played Cross Stitch World while thinking about writing in the morning, around the work with the critiques. I did read one or more articles, too. Then I finished Thursday's daily update before lunch. After lunch, I did more with the critiques. then I cleaned myself up. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. There, I found Soothing Darkness, who I hadn't seen in a few months. I said hi, and joined the team they were on. They were doing a different kind of individual mission than my usual, though they switched to something in a story arc eventually. Pierogies came in and joined us around the time of my last mission before reading to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I began writing this up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Soothing Darkness on a team doing the individual missions again and joined them once more. Then Phonso came on and invited me to a few trials. I tried to ask the team. No one seemed interested. I finished the mission we were on and started to apologize for leaving to join Phonso. Soothing Darkness didn't want to abandon the team, but one other member was open to the trials, and no one objected. However, when we joined Phonso, two left because they were too low-level. We still ran the first trial with Phonso. The others all left after one, but I ran two more trials with Phonso. He recruited mostly new teams each time. I said goodnight to Nox; we missed talking again. Phonso himself left after the third trial. Then I read some comics, watched some videos, did my salsa dancing and other exercises, and did a little paperwork and solo play for a badge on my 5th best badge collector in City of Heroes: Homecoming. I also wrote some of this and made notes to finish it from on Saturday. {Smile}

Daily Update, March 21, 2024

    Thursday, I mostly stayed home and took it easy... if thinking about my story and what to do with it counts as taking it easy. That is thinking about writing, though not actually writing. {Smile}

   I ate dinner with Mom and read to her before that. Mom was awake when I got there and seemed somewhat interested in the pictures again. I wasn't as late, though I wasn't early. First, I started with scripture and thoughts about it. After that, I started her niece's long family Christmas letter from 2023. Then I continued _Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats_. Next, I read "The Princess and the Pea" in _Five-Minute Stories: Over 50 Tales and Fables_. I finished with the 21st of March's story from _366 Stories for Bedtime_, "Ladybird, Ladybird, Fly away Home." Yes, it was a story, not the poem that starts with that line. Everything in this book is short and unique, while the poem wouldn't be unique. {Smile}

   After teaming and a break, I did my arm resistance exercises, my arm swinging exercises, and 8 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing. I was surprised I could do that much salsa dancing the day after physical therapy, but it's a happy surprise. Then I did my head exercises. I thought about doing my arm weight training exercises too, but I was tired. This was a lot better than the day after physical therapy last week, even without the arm weight training exercises. {Smile}

   After breakfast I read a few articles and played Cross Stitch World while thinking about my story. This continued over lunch and into the afternoon, until I cleaned myself up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Kitten, Pierogies, Rivka and one or two others. Pierogies was busy with the later long, large-group event, and the zone was full, so I couldn't join them. Rivka was role playing with a new supergroup they'd found. The others didn't respond, except Kitten might have responded once. So, I did a bit of paperwork and started collecting badges on my fifth best badge collector. When Pierogies finished the later long, large-groups event, he got together with Kitten and invited me to join them. I suggested an individual mission type that tends to not be too long, and we ran one before saying goodnight in case we didn't see each other again. Then I left to read to Mom. {Smile}

   After dinner, I started writing this up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I saw Dark and Kitten were on and said hi to each. They didn't respond quickly, so when I spotted that high-level trial that I'd run the other day, I joined it. Then they responded. I told them about the trial. Dark declined to join, just not being in the mood. they are more demanding of the player than the stuff he was doing. Kitten declined at first, but then joined with the friend they were teaming with when it was slow to fill. We ran the high-level trial, and Kitten invited me to join them. Dark also invited me to join them. I talked it over with Dark and picked a group of low-level characters. Dark found the ones who'd been teamed with her. We worked on finishing a story arc we'd been working on. I chatted with Nox on the chat server for a while, too. Kitten invited us again to join them shortly before their friend left. Then Kitten joined us when their friend left. They helped us almost finish the story arc - the last bit is solo, so we left it. Then Kitten seemed to fall asleep and disconnect while we were saying goodnight to Dark. I finished saying goodnight to Dark and collected a few more badges on my 5th best badge collector. I also read some comics and played some Cross Stitch World, as well as doing what exercises I did, and writing this up, with aa fair bit of notes to write from the next day. {Smile}