Daily Update, January 31, 2025

On Friday, my main nurse took me to physical therapy before lunch. He did some shopping while I was there. I had a good session. They had a new tape formation on the floor. When I asked, my therapist said it was for balance and had me try it. It was kind of fun but tricky with my eyes closed. I'm glad I was in the harness when I did it. That harness always catches me if I get off-balance. Then we did errands on the way home. {Smile}

I got a call from my nutritionist in afternoon. She wanted to reschedule my next appointment because she'd be busy then. So, we delayed it a week. {Smile}

Then I got a call from Auntie Barbara after dinner. We had a nice chat, talking about how we're both taking things easy after such a big week last week. {Smile}

My physical therapy was quite enough exercise for one day. {Smile}

After I got back from physical therapy, I browsed on the web over lunch, then played some Cross Stitch World. Then I read some comics and started writing Thursday's daily update before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I looked for the meeting of the villain supergroup Dr. Faustus got me into. It's usually on Friday afternoon for me, but I didn't find it. So, I started making notes in this. Then came the call from nutritionist, followed by more paperwork in City of Heroes: Homecoming. Near the end of the paperwork, Dr. Faustus said hi. He added that the villain supergroup meeting was starting soon. I went to the meeting and was one of four attending. We started with a four-man trial. Then we did most of a villain story arc with a particularly good reward at the end. I also began chatting with Pierogies. the villain supergroup meeting broke up just before we got the reward because one member was plain too tired to continue, and we didn't want to cut him out. So, I got together with Pierogies to watch a roleplaying auction until dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I peeked at City of Heroes: Homecoming before playing a bit of Cross Stitch World. Then came Auntie Barbara's phone call, followed by more Cross Stitch World before I wrote up Friday's daily update. Next, I went back to City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I started with paperwork. I also talked with Ulty and Jenny's player. then I talked with Kitten, who was busy helping a sick friend by running a farm to level a new character while they slept. So, I played by myself while I waited for the farm to finish. I also chatted with someone who noticed my character's supergroup's name almost matched their player's name. When Kitten was done with the farm, we got together. Then Dennis said hi, and joined us. Dennis suggested some missions in a high-level zone. We stated one. Then I checked with the fellow I'd been chatting with and invited him to join us. He did. and we ran a few missions together before the new fellow left. He and I established connections before he left. Then Dennis left after a couple more missions. After that, Kitten and I did two or three more missions. The last mission, Kitten went quiet in. I suspect they fell asleep again. I finished anyway, then did some paperwork, and finished making notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 30, 2025

On Thursday, breakfast was mostly done when my video counselling began. That session went well, though I'm not sure our priorities completely line up, the plan at the end is workable. {Smile}

In the afternoon, I went out to the library. I returned some books, renewed a few, and borrowed one new one. Then we went to Safeway to get a prescription and a couple of things. {Smile}

On the way home, I got a call from the leader of the monthly meeting. She wanted to check on how I was doing, since my circumstances have changed so much in the past couple of months. {Smile}

After getting home, I called the nursing company to let them know I want to continue with our current arrangement for now. I know I'll have to cut back on the hours eventually, but more support is helpful while I adjust to not having Mom around. {Smile}

I did some abdominal tucking and pelvic floor tucking earlier in the day, but my exercise really got going when I did my salsa dancing warmup after playing City of Heroes: Homecoming for much of the evening. after a break, I did that standing exercise I mean to add to the others eventually. Then I did two less structured salsa dancing pieces, for a little over 21 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing. 

After counselling, I played Cross Stitch World. Then I finished writing up Tuesday's daily update right over lunch. After that, I started notes in this. Then I played a little more Cross Stitch World until we took our trip out. The phone calls were at the end and after the trip out. After the second phone call, I browsed on the web and played Cross Stitch World before I started writing Wednesday's daily update. Then I went into City of Heroes: Homecoming and started with paperwork. I chatted with Pierogies when he came on, but he didn't feel up to teaming. I also chatted more briefly with Dr. Faustus. then I browsed the web, made more notes in this, and wrote more of Wednesday's daily update before breaking for dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I finished Wednesday's daily update. Then I read comics and began chatting with Nox on the chat world. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming again. I started with paperwork while I chatted on the chat server. Then Dr. Faustus said hi in City of Heroes: Homecoming, and we teamed up. We worked out which of his characters was the best match for my character of choice. Then we did several missions, most shared, so we both got full credits and rewards. Dennis joined us, and we did more missions, first shared, then mine only. Then we said goodnight. I did some paperwork and made more notes in this before I started dancing. I did some writing in this and played Cross Stitch World before I did some exercise and more dancing. Then I watched part of a video before writing and making notes in this and playing a bit of Cross Stitch World to wind down before bed. {Smile}

Daily Update, Janaury 29, 2025

On Wednesday, I had another quiet day. My main nurse was back. He helped me clean myself up in the afternoon. {Smile}

I did pelvic floor and abdominal tucking exercises occasionally through the day. then, after City of Heroes: Homecoming for much of the evening, I did one of my leg exercises, followed by my salsa dancing warmup set. After a break, I did my salsa dancing less structured set for 20 1/2 minutes of salsa dancing, with the last piece being faster than most for me. {Smile}

After breakfast, I browsed on the web, read comics, and played Cross Stitch World right into lunch. After lunch, I read more comics and played more Cross Stitch World until I got cleaned up. Then I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I started with paperwork. Then I played by myself, since the friends I particularly like to play with weren't around for the most part. That stopped when I could join the later short, large-group event. Then I finished writing up Monday's daily update before joining the later long, large-group event. That took me up to dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I went back to City of Heroes: Homecoming and did some paperwork. Then I played some Cross Stitch World and checked with friends on Discord before going back to City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I played by myself until Dennis said hi. We chatted, then teamed up on mid-level characters. We played a couple of my missions and one or two of his. Then Dr. Faustus said hi. He was on a villain team doing missions. I grabbed a middle-level villain, and Dennis grabbed a villain too. We both joined the team Dr. Faustus was in and ran several missions with them. The team broke up when I said I'd need to leave to exercise and dance. Everyone else remembered other stuff they had to do, too. I did a little paperwork, then a bit of exercise before starting to dance. Then I made notes in this, with breaks to play Cross Stitch World and browse on Amazon before I danced some more. After that, I watched a video. then I finished my notes in this and started writing Tuesday's daily update. I didn't finish that update before bed again, but I had enough notes to finish later. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 28, 2025

On Tuesday, I did a quick errand with the relief nurse after breakfast. {Smile}

After the errand, I checked my voicemail, and found a note from Dodo Mortuary, which Mom and Dad both made their arrangements with. I called them back and got a short update from the fellow who is handling Mom's arrangements. This included arrangements for them to resend a bill he mentioned, so I don't have to hunt for it. {Smile}

I tried calling my financial advisers right after that, but I didn't get through until I tried again after lunch. I had a very reassuring talk with my main financial adviser about reasonable arrangements for enhanced nursing support while I set up a new life for myself. {Smile}

Then in the afternoon, the nursing company owner, who's also the relief nurse's sister, came over for a sleep over. We talked a bit, and I realized that headaches I've had for three days in a row are probably due to using the lumbar pillow the nursing company gave me for Christmas upside-down, and a new tea I was trying. I compared it to other teas, and discovered only it had licorice. I mentioned this as a suspect ingredient to Pierogies when we were playing together. He wondered about that one, so I looked it up. I discovered, that yes, licorice is known to cause headaches and potassium depletion, both of which I had trouble with recently. So, I gave the rest of that box of tea to the nursing company owner, who doesn't know of having any problem with licorice. {Smile}

Over dinner, I watched the first hour of a recent Dungeons and Dragons movie with my relief nurse, which prompted a discussion about possibly playing Dungeons and Dragons with the nursing company owner and my relief nurse. They're both interested in learning, but not where they'd be slowing down experienced players. 

I did my pelvic floor and abdominal tucking in exercises through the day. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup set late in the evening, followed by a new standing exercise. However, when I tried to start a less structured salsa dancing set, I couldn't do it. I'm not sure if I slow or dizzy, but I stumbled from something like that, so I stopped. So, I did almost nine minutes of salsa dancing with the false start for the second set added in. After that I did my arm resistance exercises. After a break, I did my head exercises, too. {Smile}

After my call with Dodo Mortuary, I tried to call my financial advisers but got their answering machine. Then I browsed the web and played Cross Stitch World right over lunch. After that, I called my financial advisers again and got through this time. Next. I played some more Cross Stitch World before switching to City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I started with paperwork. Then Pierogies and I teamed up and did some missions together. Kitten joined us, playing with us. Then Pierogies left, and Kitten admitted to being too tired to continue. So they left, and I did some paperwork before I left for dinner myself. {Smile}

During and after dinner I watched the first hour of a recent Dungeons and Dragons film. Then I talked with my relief nurse and then nursing company owner about Dungeons and Dragons. when we were done, I went back to my computer and hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming. No one I regularly team with was really on, so I played by myself on the character who teamed with Pierogies and Kitten earlier until the character finally got what I've been hoping for since the day before. So, I switched to paperwork, since getting that had produced some. After that, I browsed on the web and read comics. I also started talking with Nox on the chat server and wrote part of Monday's update. Then I started making notes in this update. I also played Cross Stitch World before I started dancing. I read comics in what I thought awa s a break before I tried more dancing. Unfortunately, that was the dancing that didn't work out, so I tried to exercise a bit before making more notes in this. I didn't finish Monday's update before bed. {smile}

Daily Update, January 27, 2025

On Monday, I stayed home and took things easy. I even took a nap before lunch, despite sleeping almost as long as I normally like to the night before. I think I'm worn-out from last week. I loved having relatives to visit with most days, and the funeral went quite nicely. My birthday celebration was wonderful, too, and the annual meeting on Sunday went well, which was up against the busy week. Still, all of that took enough energy for me to need to rest up, and Monday was when I started to do just that. {Smile} 

I did a bit of abdominal and pelvic tucking in exercises through the day. Then I did my salsa dancing warmup a while after I stopped playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming. After a break, I did my head exercises, followed by one salsa dancing less structured piece. Then I checked a couple of leg exercises. I think I should add one more when I get back to them. Then I did one more less structured salsa dancing piece for a total of over twenty-one and a half minutes of salsa dancing, including two brief false starts with restarts. {Smile}

After breakfast, I browsed on the internet, including watching videos on YouTube until my nap. Next, I had lunch. Then I played Cross Stitch World and browsed on the web some more. Then I got into City of Heroes: Homecoming later than I'd like. I joined Kitten and Pierogies in a farm, where I chatted with them. I chatted a bit with Jenny's Player, too, since the game doesn't make you be with folks to chat with them. {Smile}

After dinner, I went back into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found Kitten still farming, with a different friend of theirs. I joined them. I also began chatting with Nox on the chat server. Then Kitten cleared the farm with the other friend and me helping. After that, the team broke up. Kitten was too tired to do more at that point, so they left, and I did paperwork. Then I played by myself and began making notes in this. Next, I read comics and played Cross Stitch World before dancing. In my break, I read comics. Then I did some exercises and more dancing After that, I watched some videos and browsed the web before I finished making notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 26, 2025

On Sunday, my main nurse took me to church. WE got there barely in time for communion because they started at 9 am instead of 10 am so we'd have more people at the annual meeting afterwards. We voted on vestry and delegates to the diocesan convention and heard financial reports. then they had folks talk about nice things in one or another program they're in. Then I sang a song to thank priest for finding a substitute when she got sick. After that, my nurse took me home. {Smile}

A while after playing on City of Heroes: Homecoming and web browsing much of the evening, I did my arm resistance exercises and my head exercises. After a break, I did my arm swinging exercises. I also did some pelvic and abdominal tucking through the day. I wish I'd done more, but at least I didn't do less. {Smile}

After I got home, I shared Friday's daily update. Then I played some Cross Stitch World and read some comics. After that, I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I started with paperwork. I talked with Ulty and Jenny's player, and ran a little character up a level, then finished one contact, and got the rest updated. After that, I napped until dinner, because I've been burning the candle at both ends for about a week. {worn smile}

After dinner, I played Cross Stitch World and began writing Saturday's daily update before I hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found Pierogies and Dennis. The three of us got together and tried a farm Kitten had made. One enemy was particularly tough for us but still rewarding. Then Pierogies got tired, so he said goodnight and left. After that, Dennis wanted to do low-to-mid level villains. I didn't have one that close but grabbed a low-level character. We ran a couple of his missions, and a couple of my missions. Then we said goodnight. I did some paperwork, then said goodnight to Nox, having missed talking with them. Next, I read some comics. After that I exercised before I read more comics. Then I started notes in this. After that I exercised some more before playing more Cross Stitch World and finishing my notes in this. {Smile}

Daily Update, January 25, 2025

Saturday was my birthday, and a mostly happy one at that. I did seem to be a day of misunderstandings. and I am truly sorry for that. I just can't seem to express myself in ways that are understood without a lot of explaining and sorting out. I don't know what's up with that. {rueful look}

After breakfast, I cleaned myself up with the help of my main nurse. Then I wrote up Thursday's daily update. Next, I read comics. After that, my main nurse and I took off to Pahoa for lunch with Auntie Barbara, and Michelle at a Mexican restaurant there. I picked the restaurant from the choices recommended by Auntie Barbara, since I'm the birthday girl. {Smile}

Afterwards, my main nurse drove much of the way home before I managed to communicate that I wanted to drive through Pahoa like Auntie Barbara had suggested. My nurse hadn't heard and somehow missed that I wanted this. Then he insisted on turning around and doing so after I was ready to give up because we'd gotten too far from Pahoa. it was nice seeing the changes; there's a whole section of new stores. That was the first misunderstanding. Then we went back to Hilo, doing some errands on the way home. {Smile}

I didn't do much exercise, since it was the day after physical therapy. mainly a little pelvic floor tucking. {Smile}

When we got back home from lunch out, I tried to move into a bag Auntie Barbara gave me to replace my purse. However, I couldn't find my wallets and checks in the pile of stuff when I was done, probably because most of the contents of four large pockets had to go in the main compartment in the bag. There wasn't even one other large compartment. So, I moved back to my old purse and put the nuts for church tomorrow in the bag she gave me. Then I searched in my closet and found an old purse that still looked decent. I tried moving into that and found it more satisfactory. It's a little heavy but will do for now. Then I finally sat down to computer and City of Heroes: Homecoming. I found Pierogies, and we did the next mission on the mid-level characters we worked on the day before. That took us up to dinner. {Smile}

After dinner, I played Cross Stitch World before hopping into City of heroes: Homecoming. I teamed up with Dennis, and we ran some missions. We also took a long time to sort out a misunderstanding, my second major one that day. Then we continued the missions until he left for bed. Then I discovered my phone battery was low, and I've misplaced my charger. While looking for the charger, I had another misunderstanding with my main nurse. Then I went back to City of Heroes: Homecoming to do some paperwork. Next came Cross Stitch World. After that, I wrote up but didn't share Friday's daily update. Then I made notes in this, with a break for closing stuff down. {Smile}

Daily update, January 24, 2025

On Friday after breakfast, my main nurse took me to Life care Center for physical therapy. That went well. I did more on the machine than expected, because I rean over, and went with it. then I did something trickier with the harness that I thought of. That's going to need practice to get better at. I also paid for the month on the way out. {Smile}

Next, we went to the bank to deposit gifts from the funeral. I'm trying very hard to avoid missing checks this time around. I missed at least two checks after Dad' s funeral. I still feel so bad about that. It's not so much the money, as that I never meant to slight or not appreciate anyone's gift, which failing to deposit a check can feel like. I just wasn't together much back then. {rueful look}

Our next stop Walmart, to pick up some things we needed. Then we went home. {Smile}

Late that afternoon, I got a phone call from Auntie Barbara when I was sleepy but not sleeping. She was planning a birthday lunch for the next day. That should be lots of fun. {SMILE}

My exercise was mostly at physical therapy on Friday, plus a little walking while we were out shopping and such. {Smile}

After I got home, I played Cross Stitch World and browsed on the web over lunch and into the afternoon. Then I treated a headache I suspected of being a migraine before I lay down to rest. Auntie Barbara called while I was lying down but not asleep. I got more rest after the call. Then I finally hopped into City of Heroes: Homecoming, where I found Pierogies trying out a farm Kitten is making. I joined him in it on a high-level character who's looking for some of the stuff you can get from farms. We visited and farmed until dinner. I left my character in there while I ate. {Smile}

After dinner. I went back to City of Heroes: Homecoming to find Pierogies still farming the same farm. I said hi, and we got back to talking until we officially finished. The farm still had more critters, but he really wanted to do a regular mission before bed. So, we both switched to mid-level characters, and ran two of his missions. Then we said goodnight. After that, I went back and forth between browsing the web, writing up Wednesday's daily update, making notes in this, writing some of Thursday's daily update, reading comics, and talking with Noxon the chat server. Then I went back into City of Heroes: Homecoming where I talked with Ulty and Jenny's player while playing by myself, especially on a low-level character. Then I concentrated on the low-level character until I got invited to a high-level team. I joined them, doing part of a mission and all of the next mission. Then I said goodbye and did a little paperwork. After that, I then finished notes in this and wrote more of Thursday's daily update without quite finishing it. {smile}

Daily Update, January 23, 2025

On Thursday, my cousin, Kim, called. She wanted to do lunch at the volcano (Kilauea Volcano) I agreed, but detailed plans were left for later. {smile}

Video counselling went well, though I realized something afterwards that I'll have to talk about next time. I long to feel more relevant in my life. I'm concerned that retirement homes and the like will make me feel less relevant, not more relevant, even as they take care of me otherwise. {rueful look}

Auntie Barbara called right when we were scheduling my next appointment at the end of the video counselling. I asked her to call back. I actually called her a little while after my appointment. Turned out she was concerned about lunch at the volcano. She suggested we start very soon, since it was sooner than I realized. My main nurse was unhappy with the surprise. He does like to be prepared. However, this was sprung on me too; I wasn't holding out on him. {smile}

We drove up to the volcano and met in the park for lunch in a restaurant on the caldera rim. In all, Kim, Aunt Valerie, Mary Jane, Auntie Barbara, Michelle, my main nurse, and I shared lunch there. The fountains that were visible the day before weren't going, just a lot of smoke and steam. I had a nice pizza. {Smile}

Then the others wanted to meet at a view spot by the museum which isn't there anymore. This wasn't easy to find. After a false start down the road, the nurse and I went to the visitor's center. I had him drop me off so I could walk in. I found the help desk busy with other people but eventually caught a ranger and got them to circle the old museum on the map after I convinced them that I was not interested in finding a working museum but the place where the old museum used to be so I could meet up with others. We found the spot and met up with the others for one last round of pictures. Then they left, and I walked with my nurse to a view spot a bit down a graded but unpaved path. {Smile}

After that, we drove back to Hilo. I slept on the way. then at home I lay down to wake up more fully and slept until dinner instead. {Smile}

My only exercise was the walking at the Volcano, but there was a fair bit of that between our different stops. {Smile}

After dinner, I played a lot of Cross Stitch World, with breaks to read comics and talk with Nox on the chat server. Then I got into City of Heroes: Homecoming just in time to team up with Pierogies for a hunt and a mission before they left for bed. Next, I did some paperwork. Then Dragons said hi. We got together, teaming up for four missions before they dashed off to work. Then I played more Cross Stitch World and read more comics. After that, I made notes in this. By then it was so late, I didn't even try to write up Wednesday's daily update, just leaving it for the next day. {Smile} 

Daily Update, January 22, 2025

On Wednesday, after breakfast, I wanted to lie down because I hadn't slept well the night before. However, I realized I didn't have time before Mom's funeral. So, I got ready and also shared the links to the live stream (which should still work, though they aren't live any longer). Then I gathered the pictures of Mom that I'd found, and my main nurse took me to church. 

At church, we set up stuff and greeted people who extended their condolences. Then the clergy asked if everyone was here, and if they could start. I didn't see one set of distant cousins, but wasn't quite certain they were coming, so I started to say go ahead. Right then the cousins showed up and came in, apologizing for being late. I told the clergy everyone was here now, and they started the service. It was lovely, simple and sweet, with much music, which Mom always did love. {smile}

The reception was lunch on the church's lanai right after the service. I visited with cousins, including the distant one I hadn't seen before this week. The guests left very few sandwiches, and much more dessert behind, but to be fair, enough brought dessert, there was plenty of that. 

Some of the guests - mostly family -came to the inurnment. Actually, more came than to Dad's inurnment. Auntie Barbara apologized for not doing so. She was just too tired. Considering she made food and picked up the food ordered from the grocery store, and did other things to help, i think she earned the right to just go home and rest already. I thought it was so thoughtful of her to do that so we wouldn't have to do it on top of everything else. After the inurnment, we said goodbye, and main nurse took me home. {Smile}

I was too tired after everything to try to exercise, even at bedtime. However, I think it's one day I can take a pass on that. I certainly hope not to bury close relatives often. {smile}

When we got home, I relaxed by playing Cross Stitch World until finally ducking into City of Heroes: Homecoming. When I did go there, I started with paperwork. Then I tried playing by myself on a low-level character trying to run through content and gain a level. Dennis and Kitten said hi while I did, but they were in a taskforce, so I continued to play by myself until they were done. When I finally joined them, they wanted the follow-up taskforce. I thought we didn't have time, but Dennis and kitten were more insistent than I was. Dennis recruited more members. We ran it over half full, which is a good number. We and got done just after my main nurse announced dinner, which is just about perfect. {Smile}

After dinner, I played a fair bit of Cross Stitch World before hopping into City of Heroes: Homecoming. I said hi to Kitten, Ulty and Jenny's Player, and talked with Ulty and Jenny's player. I played by myself, and broke to read comics and play Cross Stitch World. Then I began making notes in this. After a while, I went back to play by myself some more in City of Heroes: Homecoming. I got a second low-level character to gain a level. Dennis congratulated me when I mentioned it, and we talked briefly. He was winding down after another taskforce. Then I finished notes in this. I ended the evening writing up Tuesday's daily update. with a break or two for Cross Stitch World. It is a nicely non-demanding game when I'm stressed enough to need that. {Smile}