Saturday, I played D&D online with a group of friends. IL7 wanted to sit in his room in the dark with me, so that’s what we did while I played. Dad ordered a pizza. IL7 and D16 went trick-or-treating, but IL7 didn’t get very far because he had a bad stomach ache. D16 got a great haul, though.
Sunday
Sunday was uneventful. I wrote letters and took IL7 to swim lessons. Aaron shopped, picked up M14 from his mom’s, and cooked chili.
Monday
Monday, I went to an appointment, then did some housework. I took Dad to the gym and went on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I had a virtual appointment. And I took D16 to an appointment. Dad took us out to Red Lobster, and I spent the rest of the evening talking.
Tuesday
Tuesday, I took M14 to an appointment and Dad to the gym. I played Minecraft with IL7. I built a barn and he built a really fancy chicken coop.
Wednesday
Wednesday, Aaron and I took IL7 to a couple of appointments. I cooked Dad a pork chop when we got home. Then, after some Roblox, I took IL7 to a third appointment. IL7’s parent-teacher conference was in the evening. Dad wasn’t allowed carbs all day because of his PET scan on Thursday, and I had to hide his cookies because he almost ate some.
Thursday
Thursday was pretty straightforward. I took Dad to get his PET scan, then he took IL7 and me to Olive Garden. I played Minecraft with IL7, and he wrecked our world by spawning too many mobs. Now our world lags too much. I’m hoping we can figure it out another day. Later in the evening, Aaron and I played D&D with some friends. D16 went to a formal dinner at the high school.
Friday
Friday was pretty straightforward. I took IL7 to an appointment and then him and Dad to the gym. So I couldn’t exercise, because IL7 was there. Aaron played Minecraft with IL7.
Week’s Photos
Reading to myself
Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy
The Passage, by Justin Cronin
1776, by David McCullough
Shadow Rising, by Robert Jordan
Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett
Ancient Greece: From Prehistoric to Hellenistic Times by Thomas R Martin
Saturday, I woke up pretty tired, so when IL7 wanted to relax in his room, I was happy to do so. I took a nap, read, and listened to my audiobook. I was still tired afterwards.
Later in the day, IL7, Aaron, and I went to BSA Base Camp for the Cub Scout lock-in. There was gaga ball, archery, wall-climbing, pizza, and a movie. IL7 also played hide-and-seek with Aaron and me. He hid in our sleeping bags twice, but both Aaron and I hid pretty well from each other – we hid pretty easy for IL7. The building is big.
IL7 didn’t want to do archery, and decided to climb so late that he didn’t get through the line. 😦 He was disappointed. It was a big deal for him to decide to climb. I told IL7 he could stay up all night, since that is the rule at lock-in. He fell asleep by 12:30am, woke again at 3am, and was asleep again at 7am when we woke.
M14 went to a world tournament for the Star Wars card game that he plays with his friends from school. He was there from 9am till 9pm, and had a fun time. Aaron had to leave Base Camp to pick M14 up to bring him home, but didn’t miss anything.
Sunday
On Sunday morning, we packed up and left for home. I was tired, and so was IL7. Dad took us to Perkins, then IL7 and I played Minecraft. We relaxed in his room a bit, then I wrote a letter.
Monday
Monday, I took M14 to the orthodontist, then made some taco soup for Aaron’s lunches. I worked on IL7’s costume while on hold for calling a provider – the tail is on, but horribly crooked. I took Dad to the gym. He wanted to go home early, so I didn’t get much of a chance to work out, as I had decided to sit in the massage chair first. In the late afternoon, I took D16 to an appointment. Then Dad took us to Olive Garden.
Tuesday
Tuesday, I took D16 to an appointment and Dad to the gym. In the evening, Aaron, Dad, and I watched “Sheep Detectives,” on Prime. It was very funny
Wednesday
Wednesday, I continued work on IL7’s costume (it’s not that it’s complicated to make – I just get stressed out when I sew, so I only do a little at a time). I only have maybe a half hour of sewing left before it’s complete. It needs to be complete by Trunk-or-Treat on Thursday. I took IL7 to an appointment. And the family carved pumpkins.
Thursday
Thursday, I decided to take the day off, since I had no appointments scheduled. After finishing up IL7’s costume, I leaned back on the bed to check when the brewery opened. (7am) A cat sat on me while I was doing that, so I just closed my eyes for a moment. I woke 4 hours later! I went to the brewery, anyway, and sat and wrote letters there.
In the evening, Aaron and I took IL7 to the school for Trunk-or-Treat. Then Dad took us out to dinner.
Friday
Friday started with a virtual appointment for D16, followed by an in-clinic appointment for IL7. I took Dad to the gym. I tried to make some meatloaf, but cracked a grey and red egg onto my meat, so had to throw it all out. I made spaghetti instead.
Week’s Photos
Reading to myself
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
Saturday I was feeling a little under the weather, so when IL7 wanted to spend time in his room in the dark, I was happy to relax.
Sunday
Sunday, IL7, Aaron, and I went to Olive Garden with Liz and her nephew L11. The boys played Minecraft afterwards. Then IL7 had swim lessons. I played Minecraft with him, then we relaxed till bedtime.
Monday
Monday I got up early and made apple crisp. Then I picked up D16 for a virtual appointment, but we had to reschedule due to some technological problem. So now my appointment-free Thursday is ruined.
I took Dad to the gym, where I sat in the sauna, then went on the treadmill. Then I had a virtual appointment. In the late afternoon, I took D16 to another appointment.
When I got home, IL7 rushed out and wanted to go “relax” in his room in the dark. I had been going to cook dinner, but felt like I was going to faint (tunnel vision), so I sat in there and finished my book.
Tuesday
Tuesday, I picked a new insurance for Dad. The prices skyrocketed. Thank you Mr Trump. It went up by hundreds of dollars a month. But, I must say, the process of choosing one was straightforward to me, as all I had to do was plug in the his med list and doctors.
Later in the day, Dad started screaming in pain due to his sciatica. I gave him a muscle relaxant, but he was in a lot of pain and wanted 911 called. By the time he got to the hospital, he had no pain, so they sent him home after 3 hours.
In the evening, Dad took us to Outback Steakhouse.
Wednesday
Wednesday was relaxing and productive at the same time. I started by writing a letter. I was supposed to take Dad to the gym, but he was feeling unwell. But I had reserved my free birthday red light treatment, so I went anyway. The red light treatment relaxed me, but it did not magically heal my hip.
Then I took IL7 to an appointment, after which, IL7 programmed on my computer and I wrote another letter. I cooked some pork chops, then IL7 wanted to sit in his room in the dark, so I got some reading in.
Thursday
Thursday didn’t go as well as Wednesday. I started by going to urgent care. On Monday, I experienced weird tunnel vision that wouldn’t go away even when I was lying down. On Wednesday night, my heart started pounding, and I could hear my pulse in my ears. Each symptom I would ignore on its own, but with two weird symptoms, I called the nurse line. They suggested urgent care, who gave a neurological assessment and told me to come back in a week if symptoms continued, sooner if I got new symptoms or they worsened. Three hours down the drain.
Then, I took D16 to an appointment that I understood existed (a reschedule of the missed Monday appointment). This appointment apparently didn’t exist – an example of human error on both our faults. Then, there was an accident on the way home that slowed us down.
In the evening, IL7 had a Cub Scout award ceremony, but the church smelled like gas, so we evacuated and held the ceremony outside, in the dark, with no microphone.
IL7 wanted to relax in his room with the lights off again, so I got a little downtime to relax, and Thursday is my sleep-early night, so I got extra sleep. So that was better.
Friday
Friday I went to the orthopedic doctor to ask for a referral for physical therapy for my hip. I was diagnosed with bursitis, which I remembered was an issue years ago, too.
I took Dad to the gym, where I worked out on the treadmill. I worked on IL7’s Halloween costume, and then cooked dinner. The end of the evening was spent in his room in the dark.
Week’s Photos
Reading to myself
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
Empress of Time by Kylie Lee Baker
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
1776, by David McCullough
Reading to IL7
Ghosts Don’t Ride Bikes, Do They? by Andres Miedoso
How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell
Mermaid You Look by Andres Miedoso
A I Told You So, by Andres Miedoso
IL7 reading
Super Rabbit Boy’s Super Jump Between Worlds by Thomas Flintham
Beast Mode Unleashed, by Andres Miedoso
Media Completed
In this sequel to The Keeper of Night, Wren struggles to find a way to save Japan from the Reapers while also learning how to love. A good follow-up to the first book, which was standalone, but completed in this book, anyway. I don’t see how a third would further the story, so hopefully they don’t go there.
Eddie is in a mountain resort, in a snowstorm, exploring the death of a mysterious stranger while dealing with his dysfunctional family. This was very funny, and I hope to read the rest in the series. I hadn’t originally intended to, but I really liked this.
Saturday, started with me going to visit Dad in the hospital. Then IL7, Aaron, and I went to the orchard to pick a peck of apples. We also played in the corn pit and the hamster wheels. It was a lot of fun. We were tired when we got back, so we rested, then I went to visit Dad, with IL7 in tow. Aaron went to D16’s high school play.
Sunday
Sunday, I got Dad out of the hospital in the morning. (yay!) I went to D16’s high school play, which was good. Aaron took IL7 to swim lessons, picked up M14 from his mom’s, and made chili for dinner.
Monday
Monday Aaron and I took M14 to the spine specialist, who said not to worry about his scoliosis. I spent some time mid-day to rest. I took D16 to an appointment that turned out not to exist. When we got home from wasting our time, Dad took us all to Red Lobster. Then IL7 and I watched Minecraft.
Tuesday
Tuesday, I started by taking Dad to his PCP. Then I took the little pink car to the mechanic. The brakes were apparently in crisis, and the mechanic didn’t seem to think we ought to have been driving it. Ooops. So I left it there, and told Aaron he’d probably have to walk IL7 to school in the morning. In the evening, my friend Liz came over and she, Aaron, and I chatted for a couple hours.
Wednesday
Wednesday, I took Dad to get his new hearing aids, then we went to Perkins for breakfast. Later, I took IL7 to an appointment. On my way home, I was so tired, I missed my exit and added a half hour to my drive. I took a nap when we got home.
Thursday
Thursday, I took D16 to an appointment in the morning. I cooked some chicken patties for IL7 and some pork chops for M14. I took Dad and IL7 to the gym. IL7 enjoyed that. He was on the treadmill, practically running, for 15 minutes. We sat in the sauna for 10 minutes. And he “lifted weights” for about 20 minutes.
After the gym, IL7, D16, and I watched Toy Story 4. That ended right before D&D. It was a pretty boring session, but I got lots of multitasking in while sitting in the dark with IL7 in his room and playing D&D. (Double multi-tasking, as I was “hanging out” with IL7, as he put it.)
Friday
Friday, I took Dad to the gym, where he wobbled through a workout. I played Minecraft with IL7. After that, I took Dad to see an oncologist. We decided to get him a PET scan to see if his spot is cancer. Then my cousin Mary called to say “hi,” and I wrote a letter.
Reading to myself
Brothers Karamozov, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Passage by Justin Cronin
Mr Ballen podcast
Empress of Time by Kylie Lee Baker
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
Ancient Greece: From Prehistoric to Hellenistic Times by Thomas R Martin
Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Reading to IL7
Beast Mode Unleashed by Andres Miedoso
Double Creature Feature by Andres Miedoso
IL7 reading
Super Rabbit Boy’s Super Jump Between Worlds by Thomas Flintham
Media Completed
In this Russian classic, three (maybe four) brothers are stuck in the middle of a trial about the murder of their father. It is an excellent character exploration. I loved it as a teen, and I loved it this time.
Saturday I made Aaron some chickpea chicken curry and relaxed with IL7 in his room.
Sunday
Sunday, I made some chicken noodle soup for Aaron’s lunches, and went to IL7’s swim lessons with Aaron. In the evening, everyone went to Olive Garden for dinner.
Monday
Monday, I had a training at work – dealing with combative clients. I also ran an errand that had been hanging over me for two weeks. D16 went to crew. M14 went to his card game with his friends, then to a soccer game. Aaron and I played Minecraft with IL7.
Tuesday
Tuesday, I completed more tasks that were hanging over me for weeks. I took D16 to an appointment and Dad to the gym. I watched Toy Story 2 with the kids. D16 went to crew.
Wednesday
Wednesday was stressful. At 1 am, Aaron sent Dad to the hospital with chest pain. The hospital called me at 6am to ask if I was going to come get him, and I said I couldn’t until 10. So he sat there for hours, until an ambulance was available to take him home.
He arrived home at the same time as myself. EMS told me he had pneumonia. I was skeptical, because he just got a CT scan on Thursday, and it showed what they think is cancer – but no pneumonia. But I became a believer as the day progressed, and Dad couldn’t stand up. He tried, but called me for help. I had to lower him to the floor, because I couldn’t get him to stand, and I couldn’t get him back in the bed (too tall). Aaron helped me hoist him back into bed.
I was productive though. I did some housework and got the battery replaced in Dad’s watch. And I played appointment Tetris, as I needed to schedule a follow-up PCP appointment for Dad as well as reschedule the appointment that he was supposed to go to today.
Thursday
Thursday Dad was unable to stand or walk, but we had a wheelchair stored in the garage from when Mom needed one. So we got that out, and were able to move him to his chair, bed, and bathroom pretty well. So it was a successful day. He did seem to feel better towards the end of the day, as he was able to manage a wobbly standing position.
Aaron had taken the day off work, and I had carefully not scheduled any appointments, and we went to our favorite Mongolian grill for lunch. Afterwards, I felt bad leaving Dad alone, since he couldn’t walk, but he was fine.
IL7 had a roadside cleanup for Cub Scouts. Aaron took him. I’d been going to go, but I thought I should stay for Dad. Then Aaron went to D16’s parent-teacher conferences. I skipped M14’s to stay home with Dad, but he was fine with that.
I played Minecraft with IL7.
Friday
Friday didn’t go as planned. First, I thought IL7 didn’t have school, and he did. So he was late. I took him to an appointment, then dropped him off.
The doctor called me back about Dad’s pneumonia getting worse (he’s been in a wheelchair), and told me to take him to the ER to be admitted. But when I told Dad that, he got up and ran (wobbled) away. But then later that day, he tried to walk to his room, and I had to lower him to the floor, because he couldn’t make it. So I called 911.
So he was admitted to the hospital. I returned home around 8 and played Minecraft with IL7 and then watched Toy Story 3 with IL7 and D16, since I had promised I would.
D16 had opening night of her high school play, Clue.
Week’s Photos
Reading to myself
Brothers Karamozov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Empress of Time by Kylie Lee Baker
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine
The Passage by Justin Cronin
Mr Ballen podcast
Reading to IL7
AI Told You So by Andres Miedoso
How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell
The Witch Get Witchier by Andres Miedoso
IL7 reading
Super Rabbit Boy’s Super Jump Between Worlds by Thomas Flintham
Media Completed
I found these lectures very interesting, though I don’t think I read the description before I bought it, since I expected apocalypse stories that did not involve only The Book of Revelations. I feel that a lot of people would find his opinions annoying or even offensive, especially dispensationalists. It covered a lot of contemporary historical context, which a lot of people don’t care about when the interpret Revelations, but was interesting to a critical thinker.
Saturday, D16, IL7, and I went to a llama farm. We fed them treats, and walked, brushed, and pet them. The rest of the day was relaxed.
Sunday
Sunday I was still feeling tired from the cold, and IL7 had a low grade fever again. I made baked beans for Aaron’s lunches this week and took D16 for flu and COVID shots. Aaron, IL7, and I played Minecraft. I played for about an hour, Aaron and IL7 for 3 hours. Aaron tried to mow the overgrown lawn that hadn’t been taken care of for over a month (because of several factors, including a non-working lawn mower). That did not go well. We decided to leave it for the rest of the season and start over in spring. Other than that, we relaxed. IL7 skipped swim lessons because I had a new-found respect for this awful cold (last week I ignored the fever except for not sending him to school – he’s not supposed to go, and he knows it).
Monday
Monday was busy. I had to make up for all the stuff I put off while I was sick. Well, not all of it – catching up will drag out all week. I took Dad to the audiologist and to the gym. I played Minecraft with IL7. I took D16 to an appointment. And I gave a mock interview using the STAR format with my friend Liz.
Tuesday
Tuesday I took Dad to see his GP as a followup of his ER visit. I made a bunch of calls, ran some errands and cooked dinner.
Wednesday
Wednesday, I started out taking M14 to an appointment, but the provider was sick (I had missed the text). We rescheduled for Thursday. Then I took IL7 to an appointment.
I made some pork chops, played Scribblebots with IL7, and hung out in his room.
Thursday
Thursday, I picked up M14 for a virtual appointment. I took Dad to get a CT scan, and then to the gym. I then took D16 to an appointment. Afterwards, I played D&D with Aaron and some friends.
Friday
Friday, I took IL7 to an appointment and Dad to the gym. D16 went to crew for the high school play. Dad took IL7, Aaron, and me out to Outback Steakhouse.
Week’s Photos
Reading to myself
Mr Ballen podcast
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
Brothers Karamozov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
Essays of Montaigne
Empress of Time by Kylie Lee Baker
The Passage by Justin Cronin
Reading to IL7
AI Told You So by Andres Miedoso
Eye of the Thunder Dragon, by Tracey West
IL7 reading
Super Rabbit Boy’s Super Jump Between Worlds by Thomas Flintham
Media Completed
In this sequel to The Killing Moon, the great world-building continues with some new and some old characters. This book’s unique setting and magic rules make it a good read for lovers of fantasy.
Saturday I played D&D with my new campaign. It was a good time. I did some housework. Dad took us out to Outback Steakhouse. Then Aaron and I let IL7 DM his own campaign. He is very creative, but it’s mainly us watching him play with his LEGO.
Sunday
Sunday, D16, IL7, my friend Liz, her nephew, and I went to Olive Garden. Then Liz’s nephew and IL7 played Minecraft at home for a quite a while.
IL7 had swim lessons, then Aaron and I started a puzzle with D16. Afterwards, IL7 wanted to provide an opportunity for me to relax, so he invited me to hang out in his room in the dark for the rest of the evening.
Monday
Monday, IL7 was home sick, but I needed to renew my driver’s license. So at 7:30, I left him sleeping (Aaron was downstairs working), and drove to driver’s licensing station. Success! Got back before he woke.
Dad needed to go to the gym, so I dropped him off and picked him up. And I also had a video appointment with a provider. I played Minecraft with IL7, and we relaxed in his room a bit. D16 went to crew for the high school play and M14 played cards with his friends.
Tuesday
Tuesday, I took IL7 to an appointment. Then my friend Liz came over and we all watched Doctor Who.
Wednesday
Wednesday, I was pretty sick. Luckily, an appointment was cancelled, so I only had to get Dad to the gym and back. I slept a few hours.
The plumber came and replaced our broken garbage disposal, which was under warranty. A couple came and picked up the last two kittens – now we’re out of foster kittens.
Dad took us to Red Lobster for dinner.
Thursday
Thursday was a mess. I still had a cold, so I stuffed my pockets full of toilet paper, then took Dad to the PCP for his followup after the “TIA” last week. He was fine when we walked in. I sat there reading a book, and finally the nurse came out and called him. But he was sitting there unresponsive. I shook him. The nurse shook him. I suggested 911. The nurse called out the doctor. The doctor took his blood pressure. It was crazy low. Finally Dad woke up. This all took at least 5 minutes, and I don’t know how long he was like that before I noticed. He went to the hospital by ambulance. After all day in the ER, they determined that he didn’t have a stroke, a UTI, a heart attack, or pneumonia. They decided the incident last week probably wasn’t a TIA. They sent him home and will mail a heart monitor soon. The last time he had one of those, he tore it off after a few days and sort of threw it (it landed on the bed, and they got a little data).
After the ER, I logged into the D&D game by phone, but didn’t full-on play. I just made suggestions for my character and they rolled for me. I was too tired for full-on playing.
Aaron and IL7 were at Cub Scouts when I returned home.
Friday
I had cleared out my appointments on Friday because I thought Dad was going to be in the hospital. That was for the best, because I was miserably sick. Rather stupidly, I kept going – I made bacon, took IL7 and D16 to the movie Forgotten Island, and watched IL6 program in Scratch. In the evening, my headache was mostly gone, but I didn’t feel comfortable reading lest the headache come back. But Aaron washed the dishes for the third day in a row, which was nice.
Week’s Photos
Reading to myself
Brothers Karamozov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Empress of Time by Kylie Lee Baker
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
Mr Ballen podcast
Systematic Theology: Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, by Wayne Grudem
Shadowed Sun, by N K Jemisin
Reading to IL7
How to be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell
Mega Mole Girl Digs Deep by Thomas Flintham
AI Told You So, by Andres Miedoso
The Eye of the Thunder Dragon, by Tracey West
IL7 reading
Super Rabbit Boy’s Super Jump Between Worlds by Thomas Flintham
Media Completed
In this second book of How to Train Your Dragon series, the Hairy Hooligans rush into a dangerous treasure hunt. Just as cute as the first book.
Saturday, IL7 and I made a strawberry shortcake for Aaron. Well, IL7 decided it was for the birthday of one of his stuffies, but it was really for Aaron. Aaron spent the morning taking the carpet off the stairs, since it was a tripping hazard.
Then, IL7 wanted to sit in his room in the dark, so we did that for 6 hours, so I got some reading done and put away his laundry. At the end of the day, we watched the live-action How to Train Your Dragon.
Sunday
Sunday, IL7 had swim lessons. He got his head wet, but did dunk. We ordered pizza for dinner – that was nice. We tried family D&D, but M14 and D16 were apathetic, so we stopped. I’m going to try to recruit my friend Liz and her nephew L11 (who is good friends with IL7, despite the age difference). L11 has expressed an interest in D&D, but IL7 and he together would take a lot of patience.
Monday
Monday was long. I took IL7 to an appointment. I was on my way to the gym with Dad, when we decided he probably had a TIA, and, instead, we drove to the ER. After 9 hours in the ER, we got the diagnosis of “it was likely a TIA.” Dad wanted to stop by Perkins on the way home. I was unable to go to work – no time.
Aaron stepped up and picked IL7 up at school and brought D16 to her appointment. He also stopped by the hospital to bring me food and a charger.
Tuesday
Wednesday I took Dad to the gym and then took IL7 to an appointment. I also got IL7 a haircut.
Wednesday
Thursday, I took M14 to an appointment and then stopped by the local licensing center to get a new driver’s license. Only they don’t do driver’s licenses there. I drove to the neighboring city, where they have a DVM, but it was “temporarily closed.” I gave up for now. I ran some other errands. I went to an event at D16’s school. It’s a pretty cool school. Lots of fun opportunities. I played Minecraft with IL7 and Aaron.
Thursday
Thursday, I took M14 to an appointment and then stopped by the local licensing center to get a new driver’s license. Only they don’t do driver’s icenses there. I drove to the neighboring city, where they have a DVM, but it was “temporarily closed.” I gave up for now. I ran some other errands. I went to an event at D16’s school. It’s a pretty cool school. Lots of fun opportunities.
Friday
Friday I met a nice couple who wanted to adopt two of the foster kittens. They will take them on Wednesday.
I took IL7 to an appointment. I took Dad on an errand, then to the gym. The evening was low-key.
Week’s Photos
Reading to myself
Systematic Theology: Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
Brothers Karamozov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West by Tom Holland
The Passage, by Justin Cronin
Essays of Montaigne
Empress of Time, by Kylie Lee Baker
Reading to IL7
How to be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell
Super King Viking Land by Thomas Flintham
Super Cheat Codes and Secret Modes by Thomas Flintham
The Haunted House Next Door by Andres Miedoso
AI Told You So by Andres Miedoso
IL7 reading
Super Rabbit Boy’s Super Jump Between Worlds by Thomas Flintham
Media Completed
Persian Fire is an excellently-written overview of the Persian empire up until they invaded Greece. Holland’s writing was engaging and informative. Definitely recommended for someone interested in the topic.
Saturday was fun, mostly. It started with me getting up at 5am and driving home to water the lawn and take care of Dad for the morning (mostly Dad, I could skip the lawn). I got back to the campsite at 8:30, and Aaron and IL7 slept till 9:30.
After sitting around for a bit, we went to the playground for a while, then out to Subway/McDonald’s for lunch (to make us solidly mini-glamping). We went to the beach, sat around some more, and played flashlight tag when it was dark.
Sunday
Sunday was much like Saturday. I drove home really quickly at 5am. We went to the playground and beach mid-day. Had a fire in the evening. Played flashlight tag after sundown. It was a little cooler than Saturday.
Monday
On Labor Day, we broke camp at about 10:30 and headed home. I kept myself busy the rest of the day getting this-and-that done. Aaron tried mowing the lawn, but the mower wouldn’t start. I played Roblox with D16 and IL7. Dad took Aaron, IL7, and me out to Red Lobster.
Tuesday
Tuesday was busy. D16 had a procedure in the morning. Following that, Aaron, D16, and I went to Perkins. In the afternoon, I ran a bunch of errands, then took Dad back to urgent care for the boil. They gave him an antibiotic that I’ll have to give him 4 times a day. Ugh.
In the evening, my friend Liz came over and we all watched Doctor Who.
Wednesday
Wednesday, I took Dad to his last PT appointment. (Now will be the work of convincing him to continue the exercises.) I ran an errand, then went to the gym with Dad. I sat in the sauna, then went on the treadmill.
When we got home, I made 6 phone calls, watered the lawn, boiled a dozen eggs, and cooked 3 pork chops – all in a little over an hour. I picked up the kittens after their surgery. I played Roblox with IL7. Then, I helped IL7 draw a cat on the computer.
Thursday
Thursday, I took Dad to see his vascular doctor, who told us to stay the course. Then I chugged two 2L bottles of soda (minus a little that Aaron took) for IL7’s Cub Scout meeting. He built a bottle rocket.
Friday
Friday I took IL7 to an appointment and played Minecraft with him. Dad treated us to Outback Steakhouse.
Week’s Photos
Reading to myself
Brothers Karamozov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West by Tom Holland
Fifth Elephant, by Terry Pratchett
Mr Ballen podcast
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, by Wayne Grudem
Apocalypse Great Courses, by Craig R Koester
Essays of Montaigne
Reading to IL7
Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld, by Mojang
Treasure of the Gold Dragon, by Tracey West
IL7 reading
Super Rabbit Boy’s Super Jump Between Worlds, by Thomas Flintham
Media Completed
Vimes is sent off with Lady Sibyl to be an ambassador. Angua runs away from Carrot. Several Igors are involved. Funny and fun.
Saturday Aaron, IL7, D16, and I went to the apple orchard, but the Upick wasn’t open until Labor Day, so we went back home. Aaron and I took IL7 to the McDonald’s PlayPlace, instead. In the evening, Dad took us to Olive Garden.
Sunday
Sunday, I made chicken stew for Aaron’s lunches over the coming week. We did our grocery shopping, and I took IL7 to swim lessons, where he dunked 3 times!
Monday
Monday I ran some errands, worked out while Dad was with his personal trainer, took D16 to an appointment, and watched How to Train Your Dragon (animated) with IL7.
Tuesday
Tuesday morning started with a trip to the urgent care for Dad. He had a very painful boil that they gave him antibiotics for. He cancelled his gym appointment because the boil was so painful, so I spent some extra time relaxing. It’s hard to hold a book in one hand and blindly pet 3 kittens with the other, but I managed. After dinner (meatloaf), I took M14 to get an X-ray.
Wednesday
Tuesday, I took D16 to an appointment in the morning. In the afternoon, Dad wanted to go back to urgent care because he was in so much pain. In the evening, I helped IL7 with his show-and-tell bag – he was supposed to put in 5 special-to-him things to share about. I asked him which cat he wanted a picture of – he wanted them all. So I put in pictures of all 8 cats, plus the two that have passed. He wanted a picture of me. His stat block for one of his D&D monsters. One of his favorite crafts, which is named Coffee. And a picture from his favorite YouTuber.
Thursday
Thursday I got a bit of cross-stitch done. That was nice. I took the kittens to the rescue for getting fixed. Then I spent 3 hours taking D16 to an appointment I was told she needed, but that she didn’t need. Three hours of my life I’ll never get back.
Friday
Friday after work I took IL7 to an appointment. Then I cooked some jambalaya for Aaron’s lunches and pork chops for M14’s dinners. In the late afternoon, I took IL7 to the library. Then we went camping with Aaron. We had a fire and then played flashlight tag.
Reading to myself
Brothers Karamozov, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Shadow Rising, by Robert Jordan
Mr Ballen podcast
Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West, by Tom Holland
The Killing Moon, by N K Jemisin
Apocalypse Great Courses, by Craig R Koester
Fifth Elephant, by Terry Pratchett
Reading to IL7
The Sleepwalking Snowman, by Andres Miedoso
How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell
Battle of the Supper Rabbit Boys, by Thomas Flintham
Dragons are the Worst, by Alex Willan
IL7 reading
Super Rabbit Boy’s Jump Between Worlds, by Thomas Flintham
Media Completed
In this lovely, humorous book that is nothing like the movies (better, as far as I’m concerned), Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III tries to train his dragon Toothless without yelling at him. He also wants to prove himself to become full-fledged member of the Hairy Holligans. Fun, cute, perfect to read to IL7.
Jemisin creates a world of necromantic magic, complete with war, platonic love, and back-stabbing. Very good world building. Stands alone, despite being the first in a duology.
