Finger splint research

Because of the greater than 300% markup on Oval-8 plastic ring splints in Finland and extremely scant retail availability, it would actually be cheaper for me to order two handmade sterling silver rings from this Latvian jeweler on Etsy called MedievalJewelryMagic... so I guess that's what I'll do! The sizing of spiral-wrapped metal rings is also less precise because they can be bent, so it eliminates the very real possibility with Oval-8s of having to return them (since nobody sells graduated sets here).

It's possible I could get Oval-8s at no cost or reduced cost by going through a GP to an occupational therapist, but 1. multiple appointments face-to-face, 2. the wait and 3. no guarantee that it would actually be cheaper. Plus the silver ones are nicer, I guess.

So this might be a happy ending, but two silver rings will still cost about 60€ vs about $24 US for the plastic ones.

Snookums is getting braver but he still ran away when he heard a car across the street

Today Snookums walked around for quite a while before resting in the box of dirty rugs in the gazebo that I put him in. After ten minutes or so in the box, though, he got up and slowly inched his way around two chairs only to jump up under the arm of the chair and start climbing up the back, at which point I realized he was just trying to get into my lap and was taking the most circuitous possible route. He lay down on my chest and started purring and made no objection to being carried inside after a few minutes.