Daily Update, January 5, 2025

On Sunday, my main nurse took me to church. We arrived during the announcements. It was a nice service. {Smile}

Afterwards, I had lunch on the lanai with Auntie Barbara. I tracked down our priest afterwards. While I was looking for her, I asked Auntie Barbara to speak at Mom's funeral. When I found our priest, I arranged to plan Mom's funeral on Tuesday. I learned that Cathy, who is training for the ministry, will help me if and as needed while our priest is on her trip. {Smile}

Afterwards, I went home with my main nurse. There, I called my cousins. My cousin Kim was first.  We chatted a bit, and I confirmed more exact times for mom's funeral. I also learned that Mom's cousin is coming from O'ahu, as well as Kim and her mother from Georgia. I asked Kim to speak at Mom's funeral. She's honored to do so. {Smile}

I called my cousin Nancy next. I asked her to speak at Mom's funeral. She's honored to as well. We chatted a while, too. {Smile}

I did my salsa dancing warmup set after slowing down after playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming much of the evening. Partway through, I started trying to tuck my pelvic floor in. I guess I should have right along, but when I got back to it after being sick, I... didn't until now. Then, after a short break, I did my head exercises, my arm resistance exercises, and my arm swinging exercises. After a longer break, I did two pieces of less structured salsa dancing, this time with my pelvic floor and abdomen tucked in as I could. I'm sure I'll get better with both over time. I did before. {smile}

After the phone calls, I browsed the web, especially Amazon. Then I played a bit of Cross Stitch World before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork and said hi to Kitten and Pierogies. Kitten was busy, so I joined Pierogies in the middle long, large-group event. After that event, Pierogies left. I said hi to Kitten again. I tried to team up with her, but Kitten really was in the mood to watch _My Little Pony_ instead. So, we watched three episodes of that show, first a two-parter then a single one that helped the two-parter make more sense. I'm sure I'd seen the last one before, but I only remembered the first part of it, when the latter pat really tied it to the other two episodes. Then Kitten went to rest, and I did paperwork until dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork and playing by myself. Then I began writing up Saturday's daily update. Then I said hi to Dark. We teamed up on low-level characters and started a story arc. I slipped in finishing and sharing Saturday's daily update, then concentrated on teaming with Dark. I did talk with Nox on the chat server a bit as well. Eventually, Dark and I finished the story arc and said goodnight. Then I did some paperwork. Next, I started making notes in this update. Then I did some dancing and exercise. After that, I made more notes and wrote more in this, followed by some more paperwork on City of Heroes: Homecoming. Then I danced some more and finished my notes and writing in this. After that, I browsed Amazon and web before heading to bed. {Smile}

Daily Update January 4, 2025

On Saturday, I got up early by mistake. I thought I heard the alarm, but it was far too early for that. I guess I must have dreamed it. Anyway, I compensated with an after-breakfast nap. Otherwise, I stayed home and took things easy. {Smile}

Later in the evening than I meant, I did my salsa warmup set. after a short break, I did my head exercises, my arm resistance exercises, and my arm swinging exercises. After another short break, I did one less structured piece for almost fifteen minutes of salsa dancing. Unfortunately, it was too late, and I was too dizzy for another piece. {Smile}

After my morning nap, I browsed the web, especially Amazon and web comics. This ran right over lunch. After lunch, my main nurse helped me clean myself up. Then I went back online and into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork, then started to work on the holiday event stuff by myself. Next, I said hi to Dark and Kitten. Kitten was busy with a group, but Dark joined me on mid-level characters for a few missions. After that, he left for a break. I talked with Kitten, but they were too tired to play more. So, I played by myself and did paperwork until I wrote up some of Friday's daily update before dinner. {Smile}

After dinner and a talk with my nurse, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and started with paperwork. I then talked with Dark and finished writing Friday's daily update. Then I teamed up with Dark on a set of low-level characters we mostly play together. We figured out which of my contacts ought to give a mission they had that we all wanted and did a couple of his missions until he offered the one we wanted. Then we ran that mission. I also talked with Nox and Haiden on the chat server. Then Dark and I worked out which story arc we should do next in a favorite zone of ours. We did the entire story arc, then said goodnight. I did some paperwork and played Cross Stitch World. Then I stared dancing/ Next, I started writing and taking notes in this. Then came exercise followed by more notes and writing. Then City of Heroes: Homecoming paperwork followed by more dancing. After that I did yet more city of Heroes: Homecoming paperwork, and more writing and notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 3, 2025

On Friday, after lunch, my main nurse took me to the mall. I walked maybe halfway around before stopping at the comic store, feeling tired. There, I browsed a lot of comics before picking one out. My nurse came after some shopping of his own nearby and picked me up. The walk to the car was long enough, I think I went 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the way around the mall, all told. After that, we went back home. {Smile}

My walking around the mall left me feeling a bit tired at the time. I also didn't feel nimble enough for salsa when it was time for that, after playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming much of the evening. But I did my head exercises. After a short break, I did my arm resistance exercises. After another short break, I did my arm swinging exercises. Then I was tired enough, and it was late enough, I stopped exercising. {Smile}

After breakfast, I browsed the web and Amazon. then I played some Cross Stitch World over lunch. After that was our trip out. After we got back home, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Dennis and Dark and introduced them to each other when we teamed up. The three of us ran several of my missions. Then Dennis asked to do a mission of his that was in the zone we were in. His were tougher, since he was higher level, but thankfully the game adjusts so characters can team even if their levels aren't similar. We got that mission done around dinnertime, so I left when it was done. {Smile}

After dinner, I slowly began writing up Thursday's daily update. I got it done unusually late, and shared even later, but I did get it done before my exercise, let alone bedtime. The slowness was that I didn't wait to hop into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I'm glad I didn't, since I found Dark, Pierogies, and Kitten quickly. It was just as Pierogies was finishing up and leaving for bed, but at least we got to say hi-bye. Then Dark, Kitten, and I teamed up. We ran several of my missions, most in one story arc. Pierogies came back on and joined us for one or two missions before leaving for bed again. Then we did one more mission, finishing the story arc. After that, we fought a giant monster before Dark left for bed. No, I didn't talk to Nox on the chat world because OI got done with my daily update so late, but we did say goodnight at slightly different times. After that, I wrote up this update and made notes in it. I also browsed the web and Amazon and played Cross Stitch World, all around exercising. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 2, 2025

 On Thursday, I had counselling after breakfast. I think it went fairly well. I got a few phone calls with the nursing company over this month's bill during it, establishing the new rate. That actually had an advantage, because my counsellor had some suggestions about how to bargain in the future. {Smile}

After that, I continued to work out some confusion over this month's bill until I had lunch. Then, after lunch, my main nurse and I took a trip to Safeway to pick up a prescription for a diabetes medication. I asked the Pharmacist about how to move it back to Sunday evening after taking it that day. I didn't like hearing that I should try to hold off until the usual time to take it, but okay. Next, we took a little drive to see a few sights before going home. {Smile}

I did my salsa dancing warmup set after playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming much of the evening. After a longer pause than I meant, I started my less structured dancing. I was unsteady, so I stopped after half a minute. I took a caramel and did my arm resistance exercises. Then I tried again. this time it went much better. However, it took too long to do a second piece... so I got a bit over 15 minutes of salsa dancing, but only that much. {rueful smile}

After the trip out, I hopped on my computer, and began writing Wednesday's daily update, which I continued during slow parts on City of Heroes: Homecoming until I got it done a while after dinner. For yes, I soon hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork, then shifted to playing by myself. Then I said hi to Pierogies, then to Ulty and Jenny's player. Ulty and Jenny's player were chatty. Pierogies said hi as Jenny's player invited me to some individual missions. I asked if a friend could come too. Jenny's player said yes, so I asked Pierogies. He wanted to so we both joined for a partial and a whole mission before they split up. Then Pierogies and I joined the later short, large group event just before it started early. Next, we joined the later long, large-group event, which went right up to dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I checked City of Heroes: Homecoming. Only Jenny's Player and Ulty were on of the folks I usually team with. I talked with them and learned that they were busy in a private role-playing session. So, I finished what I hadn't written of Wednesday's daily update. Then I played by myself, finishing the holiday goal for one character, and starting it for the next character. I also read comics, played Cross Stitch World, and chatted with Nox and Kitten separately on the chat server. Then I began notes in this until I danced. I took a long break, between sets. I wrote and made notes in this, read comics, and played Cross Stitch World. Then I tried to dance again, with a little other exercise when that was slow to work out. After that, I played more Cross Stitch World and finished writing and making notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 1, 2025

Wednesday was the first day of the new year, so Happy New Year! That is if you celebrate it, of course, but most do celebrate that one. If you don't, like at least one friend, I hope you has a nice day. {Smile}

Myself, I just stayed home and took it easy. It wasn't like any stores were likely to be open, and I wasn't that keen on going to a park. {Smile}

I did my salsa dancing warmup set normally and was pretty happy with it. Then, after a break, I started my less structured salsa dancing set. However, a couple of minutes in, I realized I was logy an slow, so I stopped and took a little sugar. Sure enough, a single caramel perked me right up, so I restarted, and did two whole pieces. With the false start and all, I did almost 22 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing, with a little over 5 1/2 minutes extra fast, since my last piece was. {Smile}

After breakfast, I read comics, watched videos, and browsed the web until I took a nap. When I got up, I had lunch/ Next, I played a bit more Cross Stitch World than I really meant to. After that, my nurse helped me clean up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I did paperwork, and played by myself, primarily the holiday special stuff until dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming and checked who's on, since I found so many more friends the other day by going back right after dinner. I found Ulty and Jenny's player, so I said hi and we talked while I pursued the holiday stuff. It's not the same as playing together, but it's something. Then Dennis came on and said hi. We teamed up and played on moderately high-level villains as we talked about Christmas. Then he left and I did paperwork. After that, I tried playing by myself on a mid-level hero, but she lacked the kind of stuff I like to solo. I did get a couple of badges on her. Next, I danced. Then I watched videos and read comics before I danced some more. After that, I read comics before I finished the evening writing and making notes in this, with a break for Cross Stitch World. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 31, 2024

 Tuesday was New Year's Eve, so Happy New Year! At least if you celebrate it. If not, have a nice day. Most do celebrate this one, but I did have a friend who pointed and consistently refused to celebrate holidays, and no, he didn't make an exception for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. {Smile}

When I woke up, my left hearing aid didn't work. Usually that's a sign that it's gotten dirty, so I tried to both clean the ear bud and replace the tip. This time, that didn't do enough. It still didn't work. So, I called the hearing aid place after breakfast. I grabbed the earliest appointment they offered, and my relief nurse took me down right away. The fellow at the store cleaned both hearing aids thoroughly, changing their tips and the buds for both. They both work significantly better now. {SMILE}

Next, my relief nurse took his phone to the shop and got it fixed (I hope). After that we went home to pick up stuff that we then took up to the nursing company secretary in Volcano Village. She'd left it at the owner's place, and my nurse offered to take it back. {Smile}

Next, we went to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park since we were nearby. I was prepared to buy a pass, but it turned out my relief nurse, being permanently disabled, can get a free one, so he did. I'll have to renew my disabled card so I can get that pass, too. We went into the park. The first place we checked had a good view of the eruption that's easy to get to... if you can park. The parking was too full of cars. So, we drove on until we found another viewing place where the parking wasn't full. We walked in far enough to see the plume of vog (volcanic fog) particularly clearly, and to see that continuing on to where others were going to catch a glimpse of the actual eruption was farther than I or my nurse's hip wanted to walk. So, we walked back and drove back to Hilo. 

We hoped to get lunch in a chain we both like, but the two we passed on the way back were in shopping centers packed with holiday shoppers. So, we went to a Japanese restaurant my relief nurse likes, and had lunch there. It was quite good, as he promised. {Smile}

Then we went to his place to pick up mail he thought was coming. He actually got it straight from the letter carrier right after we got there. He also finally showed me his place. He's got a nice little apartment on a house's first floor. 

Then we went home, and my priest called. We had to change plans for Mom's funeral because the lay reading team felt unqualified to run a funeral in our priest's absence. Also, using a supply priest would be expensive. So, I called and texted my cousin in Georgia with best new date. She liked it, so next I texted my cousin on Oahu with that same date. She liked it too, so I called my priest. She was happy I'd let her know so promptly; it was just a few hours. {Smile}

I walked around a fair bit on our trip today. Then, after playing CoH most of the evening, I did my salsa dancing warmup set. Then, after a rest, I did one piece of less structured salsa dancing. I realized that I was tired enough - I'm sure from the walking earlier - that stopping after that piece was better than going on to another piece, even a slightly shorter one. However, I felt tired enough at the end of almost 15 minutes of salsa dancing, I suspect I got more exercise than usual today. {Smile}

After my priest called me, I went onto my computer and into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started working on the holiday project that's easy to do by myself and continued until I got bored. About that time, I noticed that Pierogies was on, though slow to respond. However, the newly returned acquaintance and I teamed up. Pierogies said he was busy with the later long, large-group event. My acquaintance and I ran a mission that Kitten and Pierogies joined in on. Pierogies left after a while. Then we finished so I could go to dinner. Kitten went quiet about then, and I offered to let my acquaintance keep playing in the mission, since the end hadn't been getting all the critters we could fight. I arranged my character to help as much as she can on autopilot

Right after dinner, I found my acquaintance and my own character lying still in that same mission. I got my character up and rescued the situation. Then we continued until Dennis said hi. My acquaintance and I left the mission and invited Dennis to team up with us. I regretfully kicked Kitten off the team because they don't let us start new missions with a character still in the old mission, and we had failed to get any response from them. Only to have them finally wake and join us right after I kicked them. We four ran a mission of mine and a couple of Dennis's. I also talked to Nox on the chat server. Then Kitten went quiet, thankfully between missions this time. Also, Dennis left for bed. My acquaintance and I did a few of my missions until I was able to wish them Happy New Year at my own midnight. Then they left, and I stopped playing to dance. Next, I began making notes in this in the break before I danced some more. After that, I wrote and made notes in this and talked with Kitten on the chat server. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 30, 2024

 On Monday, after breakfast, my relief nurse and I went out to drive around town a bit. Rain across town cancelled planes to see the volcano. So, I showed him where Mom's parents used to live instead. Maybe we'll see the volcano the next day if weather and crowds allow. {Smile}

After teaming in City of Heroes: Homecoming much of the evening, I did my salsa dancing warmup. Well, kind of. I was rather unsteady. I treated my blood sugar in the break and did the second set much better. I hoped to do more, but it got too late before I did. Still, I got almost twenty and a half minutes of salsa dancing. that's something. And I amused my relief nurse who looked in to see what I was doing and smiled during the second set. {Smile}

After our trip out, I had lunch with my relief nurse. Then I got onto my computer and into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork, then did some winter themed play by myself until I got bored. Next, I looked around for something else to do. However, about then, Pierogies said hi and that he was running the early long, large-group event. I joined it just in time to get the early good reward and stayed for the rest of the event. After that, Pierogies left for dinner. I did paperwork next. Then, just as I began looking for something else, Dennis invited me to join him and his best friend in some missions. I learned what level they were playing and picked a character to join them on. Pierogies and Kitten joined us soon after, and we played a few missions together. Pierogies left first, then I left for dinner next. {Smile}

After dinner, I began making notes in this. Then I wrote up Sunday's daily update, with breaks to play Cross Stitch World. Next, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I didn't see many friends, so I played by myself until I was thoroughly bored. Next, I looked around for something to do and spotted a holiday themed trial. I found that my 6th best badge collector needed the badge for it, so I joined it on her. Somehow, they left without me. I contacted the leader, who was able to add me back in. I ran it and got that badge. I also talked with Nox on the chat server. After the trial, I did some paperwork. Then I switched to the low-level character I've been working on and figured out how to do the last hunt more easily. It really was the last hunt for this level, unless some story arcs have some woven into them. Then Kitten said hi and we teamed up and ran several of my character's missions. Pierogies joined us for the last few missions. We ended with some hunting Pierogies wanted to do, during which I netted two badges. The character is well down in the pack, and not a ranked badge collector, but badges are always nice to get.  After that I danced. Then I did some paperwork on City of Heroes: Homecoming. Next, I wrote and made notes in this. I also treated my blood sugar, since my dancing warmup was unsteady. Then I danced some more. Next, I watched some short videos, and browsed on Amazon, looking for ideas to help my own writing get some reward - pay would be nice, but I know that can be hard. After that, I played some Cross Stitch World to wind down and finished making notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 29, 2024

On Sunday, I got ready for church more efficiently than the week before. My main nurse took me, and we got there during the announcements, while the greeters -- including Auntie Barbara -- were still out welcoming folks and making sure they got everything they needed. I sat with Michelle and Auntie Barbara (when she came in), and my nurse sat right behind us. It was a nice service.  {Smile}

Afterwards, I had lunch on the lanai with Auntie Barbara, Michelle, and my nurse, as well as a few others. They had quite a feed, between the holidays, and a couple of birthdays and such. Afterwards, my nurse took me home. {Smile}

After playing CoH for much of the evening, I did my salsa dancing warmup set. After a long break, I did my less structured salsa dancing set. After another longish break, I did my head exercises and my arm resistance exercises. {Smile}

When I got home, I went onto my computer and got into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I saw Pierogies in the early short, large-group event, and tried to join on a high-level character. However, the zone was full when I tried. So, I started on paperwork. Then Pierogies said hi, and that he was joining the early long, large-group event next. I joined it on the same character, and we ran it together with a bunch of acquaintances. then he left, saying he had to go to dinner. I tried soloing on the same character, but I got bored pretty quickly. So, I switched to the low-level character I've been working on. I started with paperwork, then did a bunch of hunts by myself, continuing that right up to dinner time. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Saturday's daily update, with breaks to play Cross Stitch World and read a comic. Then I chatted with Kitten on the chat server before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I picked the same low-level character, starting with paperwork that had stacked up from the earlier play. I started chatting with Jenny's player and started more hunts when I finished the paperwork. I also chatted with Nox on the chat server while I hunted, occasionally pausing for paperwork. Near the end of the evening, I got stuck with one tough hunt, but I cleared the other contacts of hunts. Then I started dancing. Between dance sets, I made notes and wrote in this and tried that hunt and some paperwork in on City o Heroes: Homecoming. After my second set of dancing, I did more paperwork on City of Heroes: Homecoming, and made more notes and wrote more in this, with a break for a little mild exercise. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 28, 2024

On Saturday, I stayed home. I wasn't feeling great in the morning. A nap helped, but I still wasn't feeling great. Lunch also helped, but I still wasn't feeling great. {resigned smile}

After lunch, the nurse took the water cooler back, got a refund, and got a new one. It still needs to be set up, I would have gone with him to get it if I'd been feeling better, I just felt up to staying home and playing on my computer. {rueful look}

When it was late enough, I did my head exercises, followed by my salsa dancing warmup set. Fater a longer break than I mean to, I did two less structured pieces for twenty-one and three quarters minutes of salsa dancing, or there about, counting a little backing up. {Smile}

After breakfast, I browsed the web, mainly shopping on Amazon. then I had my nap, followed by lunch. After that, I hopped onto my computer while the nurse ran that errand. I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, and started out with paperwork, Then I started playing by myself and talking with Jenny's player. After that, Pierogies came in. We chatted, then teamed up and ran more of the story arc we began the other day. Then my nurse wanted to help me clean myself up just as Pierogies and I were starting the last real mission in the story arc. We ran the mission anyway, until it failed, because the gal we were trying to rescue got hurt too badly in a battle. She gave us the information we needed, and did reach medical help, so it ends well. Anyway, after that we split up, and the nurse did help me clean up, so I'll be fresh for church the next day, I even got out in time for a bit of paperwork on City of Heroes: Homecoming and watching dance videos before dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I watched a lot more dance videos. Then I wrote up Friday's daily update, with breaks for Cross Stitch World. Next, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. While I was settling in, Pierogies came in, too. We teamed up and did a mission of his - the first in a series of story arcs - that he'd mentioned we could do together earlier. Then he left for bed. I talked with Nox on the chat server, and I did some hunts. Then I exercised and danced. After that, I watched videos and finished that stary arc from the afternoon, since it has an end that's easily solo-able, and maybe less fun for others to join in on. After that, I did some more dancing. Next, I finished making notes and writing in this, with a break for part of another video. {Smile}

Daily Update, December 27, 2024

 Friday was my first parents' wedding anniversary with neither parent to be with, not that I've really been able to celebrate it since Dad died. I didn't want to upset Mom by mentioning Dad when she couldn't go be with him. Our main nurse even had a note on the wall warning against mentioning him or her parents around her, because she'd want to go to them, and get upset when she couldn't. {smile}

After breakfast, I found a note that my counselor could meet before lunch, only an hour and a day later than usual. We had been planning to meet a couple of hours later. My nurse liked the earlier time, so I said sure. Counselling went well. We talked about a lot, and I did feel better afterwards. {Smile}

After lunch, my nurse and I did some errands. First, we went to Safeway, where I got my shingles booster shot. They called it my second shot, but I know I had at least one earlier one, if not two. They had no record of the earlier one or ones, which meant it or they were back before the current, improved shot, so they recommended getting the new pair. {Smile}

My nurse did some shopping while I got my shot. Then we went to Longs, and I picked up a package of caramels. As a diabetic, I shouldn't have candy most of the time, but I have to keep it around for both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic attack, like the one I had before and into my counselling appointment that very morning. Thankfully, my counselor noticed I wasn't acting quite normal and asked about taking something for my blood sugar. I did and was much better after that. {Smile}

After teaming much of the evening, I did my salsa dancing warmup, followed by my head exercises. Then, after a break, I did two pieces of less structured salsa dancing. The second was the short one, that usually land me at 19 3/4ers, but twice I backed it up to get parts I wasn't happy with the first time, so I figured it's even closer to 20 minutes of salsa dancing, I was pretty tired afterwards, but I'm hoping I'll be less tired next time. {Smile}

Between breakfast and counselling, I did a bit of browsing on the web. After the counselling, I had lunch with more browsing on the web, After the errands, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I started with paperwork while talking with Pierogies. Then I began to team up with Pierogies on a mid-level villain, only to have Dr. Faustus finally show and ask if I was joining the supergroup's Regular Friday meeting. I was on the villain who belongs to the SG, so I figured I'd better. I apologized to Pierogies and joined Dr. Faustus and one other supergroup member mission in doing four or five winter-themed missions. That took me right up to dinnertime. {Smile}

After dinner, I wrote up Thursday's daily update, with breaks for Cross Stitch World and reading comics. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I talked with Jenny, and did some paperwork and hunts by myself. I also talked with Nox on the chat server. Then an acquaintance who may be turning into a friend said hi. They go by Dragon. They joined me and helped me with three proper missions. We would have done more, but I had to exercise. So, I broke to do so. I watched videos on YouTube and started making notes and writing in the break between salsa dancing sets. Afterwards, I finished writing and making notes in this and snuck in a little paperwork on City of Heroes: Homecoming. {Smile}