Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

A nun gives birth to conjoined twins in a mission
hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The mother dies in childbirth and the father, a British surgeon named Thomas Stone, disappears. It is this birth that sets in motion the action of Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese's first novel.

To read more, or listen to a reading by the author. Click here.

Fall Classes for Men at THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER

NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.

Class 1 - How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays
Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 2 - The Toilet Paper Roll--Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3 - Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?
Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4 - Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor
Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5 - Dinner Dishes--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning At 7:00 PM

Class 6 - Loss Of Identity--Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7 - Learning How To Find Things--Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.
Open Forum.
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8 - Health Watch--Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9 - Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.

Class 10- Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations. 4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11 - Learning to Live--Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing.
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM , location to be determined

Class 12 - How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM

Class 13- How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy--Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14 - The Stove/Oven--What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.

Are we Done?

Yes. Our family is complete.

I believe I told Ian this (tho it is a little blurry) as we drove home from the airport after I landed home with Ebba - you know, the Trip from Hell? I was not terribly rational then (too tired), but the decision has remained firm, and I think we are all content with it. After all, we are on the older side of parenting (I'm 44 and Ian's 51).

I am very much enjoying the purge that is accompanying Ebba growing out of things. As Mei Le grew out of clothes, I was hesitant to pass them on (feeling unsure about whether we would adopt only one child). But now I am purging with a vengeance. I have about 6 plastic tubs full of clothes for Ebba to grow into ... and with 5 yrs btw them, I may always have a few on hand. However, I suspect Ebba may catch up by a size or two as the years go by. Plus, as they reach tween- and teen-dom, they may become less receptive to "previously-owned" clothing (the staple of our current wardrobes - me included!).

Gratuitous Cute Kid Pics

Bald Darby

Well - the hectic-ness of the past few months took its toll on my grooming time & energy - resulting in one matted Setter. So last week I dug out my clippers and took it all off! It's a bit of a hack job - but after a bath (waiting for a warmer day), I will try to smooth it out a bit. Should grow in nicely for spring.

I think she feels better ....

More Sisters ...

A Quiet Saturday Morning ...

... yeah, right.

Ebba's First "Boo-Boo"

Ebba scraped the side of her pinky finger a couple of weeks ago - and so earned her first bandaid. She was intrigued - and it stayed on for all of an hour or so.

Barbie Boom

Family friend Joy (an amazing seamstress) told me a few weeks ago that she was going to make Mei Le some doll clothes for her birthday. Well, I think Joy had Way Too Much Fun ... she created a Whole Wardrobe of fantastic fashions, including pjs, sleeping bags, outerwear, and accessories. Mei Le was thrilled. All the girls had an impromptu slumber party (yes, Ebba's sleeping bag is a pillowcase!)

Thanks, Joy!

More Sisters ...

Mei Le turned Six

Hard to believe - but Mei Le is now 6 years old. Her birthday was Feb. 19, but she had her party on the 14th - a mixed party (boys and girls), if you can believe it. A bit of a challenge for me, as I had kinda figured out the Little Girl Party thing: crafts (usually beading), food, pinata, cake, gifts, princess dress-up. Throw in a couple of boys, tho, and a few of those activities drop off the Top- Five List. So, we did a craft (decorated a wooden letter for each of their names), ate, pinata (with little dinosaurs, bugs, gender-neutral stickers, plus candy - including other than pink!), cake, gifts, dancing (!), and playtime (dress-up for girls, building blocks for boys - it just happens that way!). Everyone had fun.

I'm getting better at this Hair Thing ...

Have now evolved to proper parting before twisting. And, since these pics, have learned to put in a few braid "stitches" at the beginning of each twist to make the base tighter - so hopefully the twists will last longer. Some moms are getting 3-4 WEEKS out of their daughters' twists - I am lucky to get 3-4 DAYS before they are super-fuzzy.

Hopefully the new technique will pay off ('cuz it takes a little longer to put these twists in).

When time and/or patience (mine or Ebba's) is in short supply, little puffs (pigtails) are quicker. Have tried 4 and 8:

They will last maybe 3-4 days before needing re-doing. I think her hair is a little short "around the edges", and the short bits pull out and go wild. A friend is making me some satin crib sheets that will hopefully reduce friction (and therefore fuzziness).

Her hair is getting long enough now (4+ inches when pulled out straight) that leaving it free is not really a good choice (tho I usually do it for a day or two a week), bec it pulls so much to comb it through (even when I wet it down with water and de-tangler btw baths) that we end up in tears.

A Little Reminder of ETH

Was folding laundry the other day, and noted a little loop of black thread on my socks ... lingering evidence of the wonderful person (whoever she was!) that did my laundry while we stayed at the Weygoss Guest House. Apparently they sewed loops of thread of diff colours into the clothes of diff people to allow the clothes to be sorted after washing. If I recall, Andrea had red thread. I can't help but picture some patient woman sewing these into all our little bits and pieces!

I subsequently noticed a thread loop on one of my bras. Here's a pic of the sock - I'll spare you my bra! I've decided to leave the loops there ... a tangible reminder of what was such a surreal experience!