A bit later.

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Not too terribly late, at 20:39.  Still, keep hoping to be in bed more like between 17:00 and 19:00.  Or half after either of those, or in those ranges.  Just isn't happening.  I'll keep trying.

Cold.  The body.  Shouldn't be.  I have the house quite warm, again.  Sometimes it helps, sometimes it just doesn't matter.

A bit of a rough day.

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Some of the symptoms of the flu remain.  Headache, skeletal stiffness, aches.  No sniffles, fever, or such.  A bit of a headache, very mild.  Just a... thing, not a big one like the other day.  Painpills.  Yes.  It's not a terrible thing, it's just a lot of little things.  

As to gaming?  I have decided to start over.  I still have my other two 'toons.  Can tinker with them, or solve things with them that I have forgotten.  Such.  The main problem with a new 'toon is that it is limited to the old game.  I can't get through to the dlc portion of the game without doing things that sort of breaks the portion of the game I... need to play to get the mask.  So it is sort of limited.  I guess I know that going in.  Oh well.

A bit of a struggle.

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Waking, this morning, took a bit more time, and some pushing.  I didn't get to sleep at 17:00, as I had thought.  It... just... took longer.  Even so, I was down by 19:00, and lights out meant just that.  If felt much later, but no.  I checked several times.

I attempted to sleep without the electric blanket, but that was a no-go.  I set that up, going, and crashed so hard I don't remember much.  I did take waterpills, and so dropped between four and five liters.  Only had one, three liter, pee jug up there.  Meant to bring others.  Because, when I am this bloated, and hit waterpills, I can easily drop between nine and twelve liters through a night.  Or... that's more my record type numbers.  But... not completely rare, either.  When I go, after forgetting to order, or take, water pills.  I... can spill like a flood.  And, for days in a row.  So, tonight, I will have three three liter pee jugs up there.  And keep them up there for the next week, until the fluid is mostly out.

Bedtime.

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While it is only just now hitting 17:06, by my clock and watch, it is bedtime.  Getting up wasn't a problem.  Showering wasn't too bad.  Running around a bit was good.  It's just business.  Business eats the heart out of me, for whatever reason.  Still, all good.  Win, lose, or draw, I put in my bid, had a friend there just to... track the event, so have made my offer, taken my chance.  Might not be a way through, but I... have made an attempt.

Chocolate covered nuts, ding dongs, and cinnamon buns have gone down.  Something about... betting the bank, risking loss, even if with a good chance of winning, creates a hunger that is intense.  I have a bit left for tomorrow.  Though, I realized I overdid it, so gave some of it away.  That... was difficult, but I knew better than to take it all.  Should have given some more away.  It is what it is.

Will find out.

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To the bank, to see about a home equity loan.  Didn't look promising.   My mortgage lender keeps bumping my autopay off, making it look like I am late, in an attempt to keep me from getting a loan through a legitimate bank.  On the good side, the bank runs my finances, knows this is supposed to be on autopay.  And knows why it fails, if it fails.  Though, that doesn't mean they will necessarily give me the loan.  If they don't want to, they have a way out.

I went to see, as well, my friends' new home.  And, they have a puppy!  It's a bit squirrely, but I'm... a very large animal, and have a cat companion.  Dogs don't necessarily trust cat, or cat people.  Can't blame them.  Still, had to laugh.  He's a handsome doggie though.

Up, at about the right time.

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I started goofing with my other 'toon.  I couldn't remember where I left off, still am not absolutely sure.  As well, hadn't really settled on a good build.  Was doing simple melee, while being set up more for arcane and dex, so... had to level some weapons, and obtain one?  No, I think I had them.  I just needed to level a few.

I didn't think the thing would be playable.  To be honest.  What you see on youtube is rarely legit.  Between using computers, and thus often mods, or other systems or fixes, or even different games which look like the original but are easier?  Or tricks that aren't explained?  Can't be sure, but probably a mix of those things, you can't trust anything on youtube.  Well, and everything that works, From (the developer/devs/whatever) breaks.  They don't want you to get through.

Awake later than planned.

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A shower, brushed teeth, so good.  But... the hair just wouldn't dry as fast as usual?  So, I gamed a bit.  Still not dry, not as fully as I like.  Need to sleep.  More painpills?  Yeah.  That headache is a bugger.  I guess I had one yesterday, but it was very minor.  More an ache, in the background with the rest of the aches.  Today it is a real, standalone, type of thing.

The painpills managed it earlier in the day.  But it came back.  Unusual?  Well, no.  It's just that I haven't had a headache in such a long time that I... forget what my headaches are like.  I have had some last a week.  Migraines not so much, but have had those a few times a week, and lasting for a day or two.  I've become spoiled in my lack of certain pains.

Pork chops and sauerkraut.

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It turned out pretty good.  Fried, then put in the oven to finish.  Adding the sauerkraut when they were nearly done.  Overdone just a tad, but prefer pork to be very done.  It's... a spooky meat, to be absolutely honest.  I won't eat it very often, but... once in a while?  Depending how this works out.

I stopped eating pork when I started on carnivore.  At first, it was bacon I could no longer tolerate.  Then any pork.  Just too rich, or... something.  Bacon?  They put everything in there.  Things they shouldn't.  But, pork, as a general rule, is rich.  Too rich.  Rich in a way lamb isn't, as rich as lamb is.  I had to stop.

Headache.

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It's not even that good, or... bad... of a headache.  The thing is, I haven't had a headache in... months.  Almost since going carnivore.  Yes, there... is something about the carnivore diet that improves every part of life, if it is brutal to acquire the ability to consume the short list of things in it.  Worth it?  Just for the headaches, yes.

Throw in the lack of bloody noses, fewer body cramps (even while not taking minerals, though too if not on waterpills... which I need to get back on).  And a ton of other improvements, including losing a hundred pounds.  Hoping to lose more, but that may not be possible in winter.  My body wants food, and lots of it.  Even if I can stick to the carnivore diet, I... will gain some weight in fall and winter weather.  If for no other reason I can't get warm enough to burn it off.

Cleaning up.

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No, I haven't beaten that boss.  Not sure I want to even try.  At the best, I will die a dozen times.  Haven't even beaten the main game.  Won't, until I beat the hardest boss in the main game.  Which... I can't seem to do.  However, I have gone back and cleared a few bosses who could be beaten easier with an extra hundred levels.  And a few dungeons which I couldn't survive, when I first arrived.

Picking up a few loot items, items to help purchase things that are needed to advance other things, and finding better ways and means of doing things.  One thing, to be sure, is if you are playing online?  Go offline.  That is no guarantee, but it might fix some of the lag.  Or not.  It might not be lag that is getting your 'toon killed.  It may be the game cheating... which it does.  Ignore the reviewers who are so glued to the devs for their freebies, walkthroughs, and cheater games/mods that they are of little use to anyone.

Awake late.

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I did get to bed by 20:00, just about exactly.  But I was so cold!  I used the electric blanket, but it didn't matter.  Nothing seemed to help.  Now, feeling my feet and legs?  They didn't feel cold to the touch, but felt as if they were freezing.  That sort of kept me from sleeping well, last night.  Just couldn't sleep well, or for long.  I turned the electric blanket up.  Didn't matter.  No difference.  Ugh.

Oh, and I dreamed I was shot, last night.  It... wasn't my dream, nightmare.  I know, pretty sure, whose it was.  Surprised.  "I" knew they were rat bastards, wanted to win, would do almost anything.  But this?  This... took me aback.  Then, again?  It wasn't by accident.

Ugh.

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The last boss.  I don't want to fight him.  Pretty sure it will mean many deaths.  I know it will.  There isn't a way to win that is good, easy, or... maybe it isn't even possible.  They cheat until they don't.

Don't believe me?  And, this player is far better than I am.  He is using melee, while I use ranged.  But as fast as this boss moves in, and gets out of range?  Very slim chances for a mage.  As a fact, mages may not be able to beat this boss.  Not on consoles.

Well?

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Nearly through the dlc part of elden ring.  I have completed all bosses, to this point.  I have a group fight, and the last boss... I think... left.

Oh, about that vid?  If you got to the jumping the chasm, to land on the entrance?  I... missed that, the first time.  Made it the second time.  Bleh.  The fall isn't as bad as the fear of the fall?  I just wish they would let us to summersaults, or such, in the air, on the way down.  I'd do it in real life, if tossed out of a helicopter.  Why die crying.  Unless the pain is so intense that I can't but do so, I am going to enjoy my last death.  Make goofy faces at the nurse, or family members.  Tell really corny dad jokes.  Might even try to get a handful of nurse on my way out?  Well wife, if she was my wife.  Yeah.  I haven't been celibate this long only to wrongly throw it away at the end.  But if I have a wife, and she is there, I... wouldn't mind a handful of woman on my way out.  *grins*

Acrophobic much?

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Oh, aye.  The world spins, nausea, sweats, some other things.  Just... looking over the edge a mere two stories down will cause symptoms.  Though, the higher the worse.  Good, then... just do this and shut up.

A bit better.

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Still, some fever behind the brow, aches and pains but milder, some strange hardness to my gut rather than nausea.  Better.  My foot is still killing me.  I forgot, somehow, while checking all the other symptoms while waking, and put my foot down to walk on it regularly.  Mistake.

Like putting my foot into a bear trap.  The pain was a massive wall of hurt, that shot up my leg and hit my brain, almost causing a scream of agony.  In spite of my attempts to be quiet when in even grave pain, I... almost slipped.  Catching myself at the last instant before a horrific cry burst forth.  Agony, oh how I know thee... bitch.  :p  Hey, I... deserve that grant.  You have no idea.

Bedtime.

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I wanted to be to bed already.  But the hunger kept gnawing at me.  Finally I got to something.  But, now I have to digest it, settle, let it settle.  Good enough.  A few cans of veggies and a lot of butter.  Butter, I have found, and lots of it, is the trick to not having a terrible reaction to the carbs in veggies.  Or... I think that is it.  Losing a hundred pounds makes a difference, though, too.

Oh, and yogurt with berries.  Just... hungry.  Very hungry.  Still hungry?  Yes.  I could eat a ribeye, if it were thawed, and I could stand well enough to somehow cook it.  Bah!  Hungry.  HUNGRY!

I do my best.

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While thinking on things, I decided to call my mother.  I sent her Christmas presents early, hoping one of them would be chosen.  She did like the wrist watch, not the pocket watch.  I was trying for something... she might like.  Difficult to know.  All good though, as long as she liked one of them.  Next, to figure out how to get the one she didn't like sent back.

I have asked a friend to print it for me.  Then will send the shipping label to her.  Why they can't just give me an email?  Well, she could.  Even right there at the home, most likely.  But she doesn't understand these things, so won't do them.  Hmm... if I don't hear from my friend soon, or such, I may call the home directly.  See if they could give me an email address, and maybe specific person to receive it?  Or... next time.

Right.

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The aches, the pains, add in nausea, toss in sniffles, slightly sore throat, potential for diarrhea, and... you got yourself the flu.  So... my plans for this evening have been set aside.  I teased that I have the flu, and I'm not sharing!  Mine!  :p  But, yeah.  Now it makes sense.  I was wondering, there for a bit.  But aches and pains do come and go.

Though, I must admit, with the toe still being pretty stubbed, swollen, and walking difficult... sometimes it is good to just throw in the towel... before something else comes up.

Headache, body ache, problems.

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Just a more difficult morning.  The toe knuckle has swollen more than it was.  And it... was pretty swollen.  I stopped wearing shoes for a few days, because that was... starting to hurt.  Back to it, pain and all, today.  Shortly.  Hey, pain... is sometimes the only way through.  Though, too, it is good to take a break from pain.  Not even I am an absolute pain loving monster.  I... will endure it, as needed, as possible.  But, as well, don't expect me not to complain.  It... will happen.  If not every time, or every day, or every way.

I've been a bit grumpy lately.  Which happens.  I'll try to set the dark mood aside, endure the pains and aches more subtly, and find a better way to live.  Politics is over, for a while.  No reason to chase a tail that has been managed, one way or another.  Either it will get better, it won't, or it will get worse.  Not much I can do about it.  I'll pray, for the leaders, doers, decision makers.  But I... have been, always do.  Nothing changes, no matter which "party" is "in charge".  Bleh.  See, but that is probably as nice as I get about such topics.  Take it or leave it.

Up at five thirty, again.

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I'll keep trying to pull the bedtime back to 19:00 even.  I think I was awake, as it turned out, until 21:00.  A bit after, no more than half after, more like just after?  I can't remember.  I checked my last post, but that wasn't it.  Couldn't remember how late that was.  But it turns out to have not been near bedtime.

A good warm sleep.  Forgot to turn the furnace down, so it was a warm wake too.  The heat doesn't get upstairs, even with the door open.  But it sure stayed nice and toasty down here.

Bumping into ghosts.

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Just strolling down memory lane.  Happy memories, serious, sad, funny.  Then I noticed people gone.  So many.  Oh, I didn't get upset.  I just... am surprised how many are gone.  Aunts and uncles, that sort of makes sense.  Parental aged ones too.  Glad my mother is still around.  Most of those who filled played that part aren't here.

But cousins, my age, younger.  Siblings, or sorts.  Though, only one of those I know about.  If I suspect others are slowing passing.  Friends, associates, enemies.  So very many.  The number of dead is climbing.  Two from this blog, since I have been blogging, who I have heard about?  Friends, I think, certainly for my part.

Hungry.

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Nothing really easy.  Nothing thawed.  There is fasting, if I'm honestly not interested in that.  Though, it looks like, by default of no real good choices, fasting it is.  Annoying, but... okay.  I'm easy.  I may have a fatted coffee, though.  It's a tea day, but... yeah.

I called to cancel my appointment with the wound clinic.  So that is done.  I also called to set up an appointment at my bank.  Too late, but okay.  I was put through to the loan officer's voice mail.  Leaving just name and number, and a brief message.  I suspect there was time to talk, but... end of the day, the interest is lacking.  Setting up an appointment to arrange the details, isn't that complicated, or time consuming.  But... so be it.

Good enough, for now.

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To bed at 21:00, up at five, give or take on each.  I'd like to push that back an hour.  I keep getting stuck on something, and end up staying up a bit later to try and solve something.  Always something else.  Though, if it's a small thing, I always think it will take minutes, not an hour or three.  I need to just go on to bed when... I know I should.  Still, not terrible, just not... as I would have it.

the last three nights, so it has gone.  Or thereabouts.  I'll keep aiming for a twenty hundred downtime, and a four wakeup.  Possible, still, I think.  The sun doesn't hurt or help, at this point.  I just doesn't show up until much later.

Just a bit.

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Some boxes broken down, trash and recycling gathered and taken out.  And dishes, spoons, serving service, and more, taken in to begin soaking.  Both barrels are full, so I checked if tomorrow is both, or just one.  It's both.  So... all good.

The place was starting to get rough, rougher than usual.  By a lot.  And... it is usually rough.  It is very good to have everything out.  I just need to wake in time to get it to the curb.  Nice, very nice.

Oyster stew.

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Nothing fancy, mostly.  I did use a keto half and half, rather than just cream (or cream and water).  Using almond milk as the milk portion.  Far fewer carbs, if it's... not... milk in any way.  I must admit, I was hoping for more.  It isn't anything like milk.  Maybe skim milk?  I mean, like... no fat in it at all.  By taste.  I think this does have fat, and protein, and some carbs.  But it tastes pretty flat and watery?  To me, or this brand, or such.

I was picky about what I bought.  No sugars, no chemicals, no nothing, other than salt (sea I think, whatever some lawyer and/or bureaucrat says that might even mean though too), and water.  Filter water?  Probably not.  Which also may mean fluoridated?  Never really can tell with these bastards.  Yes, I do despise the world we now live in.  Have to watch them ever second, then they just lie to you and the government backs them.

A early Christmas present!

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As I was going to bed, my ankle was itching something awful.  So, I started scratching it.  The swelling, and the scab over the nearing two year old open wound sitting on the border between ankle and lower leg was the lead causes.  As I got to the scab I was being delicate.  Still, some of it started to crumble off.

I was tired.  Hadn't planned on bandaging it.  Didn't want to.  I was tired.  Still, I went ahead and itched and scratched with abandon.  Then went to grab bandaging and... whatever else would be needed.  Odd, it wasn't wet.  So I bothered to take a close look.  Dry under?  No wound!  It has finally healed!  Gone, a two year wound, healed.