the finished mitts

 I also finished the pink ("currant" I think was the name Paton's gave this yarn color) mitts this weekend. And I started the green ones for my niece for Christmas.

Unsurprisingly, the green yarn is a LOT nicer (it's an indie dyer and I really like the worsted weight base she chose - it's soft and springy, but tightly plied, so it's easy to knit with and not splitty)

But the pink ones will either work if I decide I need them, or as a quick gift for someone else

 

Today was a busy day; I wrote an exam and did a bit of "hangover" grading (people who were out sick for an exam, or someone with an accommodation for "extra days" on assignments, which I get helps some people but as the professor, it's not one I love, because it feels like I'm never actually done).

And then after class, at lunch, I had to run to the local water department. My bill came Saturday, there was no mail pick up yesterday, the payment is due Thursday (the 15th) and I don't trust the mail to deliver it in 2 days (anyway: I think our local mail has to go up to Tulsa for sorting, and that means it's at least 2 days for something in town to travel). And years and years back, I got a "nastygram" from the city ON THE DAY THE BILL WAS DUE for not having sent in a payment, and that they were going to cut off my water, and it'd cost $100 to restart it. And so I went down there with my checkbook to show the duplicate stub of the check I had mailed more than a week previously, but that cut no ice, and NOW they wanted the payment in cash (that was like 20 years ago, and my dad was still around and when I called him, he advised me "go to the bank and get it in pennies" but I didn't, as I was afraid they really WOULD cut off my water). And then a few years back I learned what happened - one of the people who processed payments apparently burned out quite spectacularly, and they were SHREDDING THE WHOLE PAYMENT as it came in. So I presume mine got shredded, as the check never cleared (I had asked if I would get credit if it did, and was told "you might")

After that, though, I had to go and insurance re-enroll, and this year I couldn't just roll over the choices that worked for me; our rates are going up and for the first time I have to pay part of my health insurance premium (I always had to pay dental and some towards vision). This year they said "We'll give you $1000 towards your premiums but above that*, you're on your own" and I think I must have heard it as "we'll give you a one-time $1000 break, and then after that it's all on you" because when I did my selection - it's the second-cheapest plan but the only one I can keep my good primary-care doctor on without having to pay out of network - the "monthly cost" popped up and I had sticker shock, because it would be about 1/4 of my monthly take home pay - and how do I manage that with the inflation jacking food and gas up, and with us stalled in a horrible El Nino where I am STILL having to run the AC just to breathe?

I called someone over to ask if it was right, and she responded that "no, $1000 of that is what the university paid and she pointed to a smaller amount in smaller numbers down the page.

It's still more than I've paid any previous year, but I guess I can manage. I'll have to cut back a little on incidentals, though. (I dont' think I should cut back on the charitable donations I do; that feels wrong)

But the other thing is - everyone was very brusque and short with me and it gave bad vibes. Then again, this whole week so far has been kind of bad vibes - I've had some very demanding and entitled comments from students.

And when I finally got home today, there was an ambulance on my street, in front of the house of an older (probably close to my mom's age) woman who's lived here since I moved in 25 years ago. I know she's had health issues and at least one fall, but it made me nervous and sad. I did finally see them bring her out, and she was on one of those gurneys that props you up half sitting up, and it looked like she was alert. 

I still said a small prayer because what else can you do? They didn't use their sirens so I presume it wasn't urgent but that she needed transport to the hospital or maybe one of those "post injury rehabilitation centers." I hope she gets better and can come home eventually. I haven't heard anything from the other neighbor who usually texts when something big is up, so I presume it's nothing too big, or maybe no one really knows what it is.