greatest paragraph in a medical reference I've read all year:

[From a chapter on corpus callosotomy in my big fat textbook o' epilepsy, a.k.a. The Treatment of Epilepsy: Principles and Practice, 3rd ed, pp. 1178-1179]

A disturbing complication known as alien hand syndrome has been reported. In this syndrome, poor cooperation or even antagonistic behavior between the left and right hand is noted. The verbally dominant hemisphere may express displeasure with the actions of the ipsilateral extremities. The phenomenon is usually short lived and is usually seen only in the immediate postoperative period; however, on rare occasions it may persist....

Is your non-dominant hemisphere plotting revolution? And how would you know?

(no subject)

With the holiday season come holiday parties. I am all in favour of this, but it does mean talking to many people I don't see very often, who say "And how's your house? You moved in a while ago, right? It must be so exciting!"

Still, at least it's fodder for conversation. I have been telling them (1) no, we haven't moved in yet, (2) no, there's still quite a lot to be done, (3) we are hoping the tinbashers come next week, (4) once the ducts are in we can put the drywall in, (5) once the drywall is in it will just be finishing left to do and I will feel much further ahead, (6) I will move in as soon as there's a finished room I can sleep in and a bathroom. I don't even demand a kitchen.

For those of you still following the saga in depth, though, here's ( the latest two reports. )

(no subject)

on a related note, I was talking to an old friend of my parents at last night's party and he informed me that he works with a guy who bought a house in October, dug out the basement, redid all the wiring, drywalled, decorated, and is now ready to move in.

"Oh," I said feebly, "but I bet he spent a fortune."

I knew this was a weak comeback, and felt somewhat down about it until his wife and daughter came over. I repeated the conversation; they raised their eyebrows, looked at him, looked at me, and said:

"Yeah, but did he mention that the guy has triplets?"




Which does put a slightly different complexion on the matter. I mean, if it's a choice between taking a year ages* to move into my house and triplets? I think I'll keep what I've got.

*My mother** is now saying February 21 will be our move-in date, but has no idea why she thinks this.
**I've moved back in with my parents as of Tuesday evening. We all felt it would make for an awkward Christmas morning if I was running downstairs saying "Don't mind me! Carry on with your stockings! I'll just get a cab!"