Well, I called both places I wanted to go in Longview and both are still in existence and should be open on Thursday. So, it's a day of retail therapy for me. I'm considering dipping into my savings account (where I stash "windfall" money like payments for reviewing books, tax refunds, extra money leftover at the end of the month, etc.) and taking cash - and trying to force myself to pay cash instead of just pulling out my credit card. I don't know. I feel like this is going to be the "last fling" before I stop shopping before the holidays, and before I sequester myself in my house to avoid virus-ridden crowds. (I am also STILL expecting my travel money from this summer's conference extravaganza; I've jumped through every hoop possible and still no check has shown up.)

Went home at lunch (that's when I called) and graded papers after lunch. I forced myself to read through and write comments on all the short papers I received today for one of my classes. (Some were quite good, which makes grading easy). I also decided that I couldn't let Socktober! end without at least casting on for another pair, so I pulled out my big cake of Interlacements Toasty Toes in the color "Carbon Dioxide" (bright jewel-tones; no, I don't know why they call it that either) and cast on a pair of simple, 2x2 ribbed-cuff socks. And knit on them while I read, just putting the socks down to write comments here or there, or to do the "circle out" of extraneous commas, or to write "AWK" next to awkward passages. And I got over an inch done on the cuff of the first sock. The yarn is between sport and dk weight, and I forget how much faster socks go when you're not knitting fingering weight on size 1 needles. I like the colors in this yarn; they're just this side of too gaudy.
And I love the yarn because it's a nice, fluffy wool - all wool, and not superwash, either.

(I didn't have the energy to work on the teeny tiny needled Meilenweit socks, even though I'm within striking distance of the toe).