Now why did it take me two days to get this?

I don't need a toe to start this sock, I need a cast on. That's it. I just need to get 24 stitches on 2 needles that are connected in the middles.

Sigh. I ripped out the short-row, redid it with 24 stitches, re-read the instructions for the sock, realized I needed a cast on instead of a toe, read instructions for "easy cast on" (a version of figure-8) -

realized I only need 12 stitches for that cast on, but luckily it was easy to tink back.

So now I'm motoring along. It's a really good thing I'm not a drinker. Honestly.