Spent the weekend packing Donald Ducks.
Well, not entirely, but we did get started on it. Packed up about ten bankers boxes of duckware. Took well over 200 pictures. And cleared about 3 shelves (of 16 total, plus the items in boxes already, and stacked on the floor, etc.)
We've got a ways to go, but once we're done and everything is photographed, we can put DuckWorld officially online. One thing I'm finding is that We're going to have to go through everything again at some point to make note of which items are banks, salt shakers, etc. as that's not always obvious from the picture.
I also want to measure each item, so as to give an idea of the size -- it's not readily apparent in the photos due to my choice of a plain white background.
Rachel is worried about displaying them; we haven't actually figured out what would be a good location for the collection. I'm thinking in her office, but if we have kids, we'd have to move it again.
As much as I loathe to give up the space, I think that the attic is probably where they'll end up. Perhaps in the corner opposite the room where (most of) my computers are stored.
Saturday we were supposed to go to a meeting of a Stroke and Brain Injury support group, but it turned out to be in Cantonese. Didn't do us much good. I have to say it would have been nice if they had mentioned that on the signs.
In other news, the diet is going okay. I went to a doctor for the first time in years, and he put me on a diet of 1500 calories per day. So I've been eating a lot of veggies. Carrots and cucumbers mostly. Had a lot of salad over the weekend, and I'll have leftovers for lunch today. Getting kinda tiresome.
But, I've lost about 15 pounds in about three and a half weeks. Those that know about it claim to see a difference; those that don't don't mention it.
Late breaking news: I talked to my Dad's doctor (one of them, anyway) and yes, he is depressed (my Dad, not the doctor.) Who wouldn't be, after a major stroke (the second stroke this year) resulting in the loss of the use of his right arm and leg, a pretty serious hematoma, and constant pain.
Add to that the fact that most of his kids never bother to visit, and you have a recipe for major depression.
Over and above the problem of depression itself, it is impacting his progress in other areas as well. While he really makes an effort in therapy, he is held back by his state of mind. He is a lot less verbal, and just doesn't seem to be his usual, go-getter self.
So, they're upping his dosage of Paxil and adding Ritalin to the mix.
Not an ideal solution, but hopefully it will get him going so he can come home and the excitement of everyday life can be stimulant enough.
This stroke, by the way, turns out to have been a pretty major one. It didn't affect his speech center as much, but it did affect his thinking ability and attention span. It also, of course, devastated the right side of his body. They don't know if he'll ever walk again, or if he'll be able to use his right hand.
He also has "pusher's syndrome" wherein he thinks he's falling towards the left, even though he's sitting up straight. So he pushes out with his left leg or arm (as if to catch himself) and leans to the right. Unfortunately, his right side can't hold him (no muscle control) so that isn't any good either.
Hopefully, he will regain the use of his right side and make a full recovery, but in the meantime, I'm running around trying to figure out how to build a wheelchair lift and find a vehicle that can hold a wheelchair.
Anyone who thinks life is boring is welcome to come hang out with me for a couple of months.