Thursday February 27 2014

Today is really a god day. I had a lot of fun during my therapy and I appreciate all the help I can get here at CNS.
Michael in Education told me that his cats (Nero, Simon and Sexycat) are well
Justin in Education confirmed that his girlfriend is well, and that his dog Nucky-Kentucky is also doing well
Today Justin's hair are better than yesterday, we will see after the weekend.

I worked on my CR by working on my vision and finding the little differences in 20 images, from easier to harder. But I did my best and quite well
For CR I did walk around with Max and Bethany reordering sentences from shortest to longest
Quite challenging for me
Anyway I worked as well on the Parrot Program-Memory and Attention; with the setting 7 number and 3 seconds I have achieved a total of 84% and average response time of 7.44ms

I then worked on Auditory Rehabilitation story about NASA probe that I had the chance to write up earlier during the week
This time it was questions time, and I typed up 7 nice question. This argument is really interesting, if you want to know more about it just Google Stardust

Anyway after my CR session, I did an independent PT. As I am allowed to run yet (safety) I had the chance of walking very fast for 35 minute and going for 2.5 miles

I had then a really good lunch with Pollo Alla Cacciatore, original recipe from Chez Giuseppe, and then a really good fruit salad. I am very proud of Chez Giuseppe accomplishments, you should check him out wearing his white apron

At lunch we sang Happy Birthday to Cassy, as today I decided it is her birthday. You see the really good  thing is that when I give her a chocolate candy other patients came by to give her some candies as well. This show how big is the heart of the patients at CNS
Well you know, I know very well that I call today Cassy Birthday, and the day she officially is turning 21..
Yesterday it was Jemena Birthday and we all sang Jemena Happy Birthday. Again I just decided it was her birthday and she has accepted our little gift.
So my resolution for this month is to sing happy birthday to a new person every day, soon or later I will it the jackpot.
I know it sounds crazy, but this is the way I like it! it is funny and amusing everybody, so it is best to have a good time all together.

By the way it seems to me I don't know Sarah Birthday, but when I get to it we make sure we are going to give her a really nice and smiling gift.

Sarah is a really wonderful case manager, as I mentioned to you many time, I am very proud of her Job at CNS. It is an inspiration for all of us.
this is me having a god time with my lunch-I had "pollo alla cacciatora" , original recipe of Chez Giuseppe

Really yummy. As a desert I had a fruit salad that I made by myself

During lunch we sang Happy Birthday to Kassy another patient here that is really working hard. I decided it was her birthday so we all sang Happy Birthday to her and she even received some cookies from other patients. we all had a good time. I decided that today turns 21 and tomorrow for our recreational therapy we are all going to grab a beer together. We will see what is going to happen tomorrow, I will keep everybody informed. Anyway the key here is to have good time all together and for this we have all to work together in harmony. Yesterday for instance I decided it was Jemena birthday, a person that drive the bus for CNS, and we all sang happy birthday to her. With her astonishment she was able to lough with us.

So you see I don't see why everyday can not be the Birthday of somebody, if we celebrate it between us then it is Birthday !

Stay well my friends!

Fat Thursdays

Tomorrow is Fat Thursday in Italy and in US, I believe it marks a special day in the carnival season.
It is a day when we eat some good and tasty food, specifically Crostoli and Galani, that are special pastry baked only during the Carnival. Note that this type of food is highly dependent on where you are from in Italy
Anyway, Simona is going to celebrate Carnival when she is back from her trip. I believe that Anna -Simona's mom - is going to prepare some special food to our sons (aka "the broccoli")

Anna is a really good and generous person, like Simona they are molded out from the same clay! I am very proud of their courage and achievement in life

Additional thoughts

Additional thoughts for the day. Today at the clinic there was a meeting of therapist in the education room, I said Hi to everybody  Sarah was there as well, as I had my lunch brought here I eat with the other patients
Here is my yummy lunch, steak, mushed potatoes -home made- and a really good salad made with corn, celery, tomatoes, olive oil

And of course Dark chocolate as a dessert. The thing is that I like dark chocolate and I am well known here at CNS for bringing always with me some chocolate. I started bringing both dark and white chocolate because many of the NRS people like only white chocolate. So I thought that it is good sharing the goodies.
I really appreciate whenever I can share my chocolate with anybody

Today I am planned to go to the gym to dance Zumba, I like it as it makes me feeling good. Hopefully today Alexis is coming with me as well. She mentioned she was coming today, let's see how she feels about it.
Last time she came we had a lot of fun. I have the opportunity to bring a person with me at the gym, and as Simona is travelling somewhere else I will dance with Alexis today. The last time I went I danced with Maria, a good friend of mine I normally meet at the gym. Maria has a son in Texas and she is a really strong person.

Anyway I saw Sarah Gutierrez my Case Manager and told her she is really doing a great job with everybody. Today I did not have any stickers for Ian her son, normally I bring it to her. I will bring it to her tomorrow.

Simona told me that our boys have enough sticker and don't need any more

Intelligentsia with Simona and Chicco

In the image below we are with Simona and Chicco (our eldest son) at the cafe in Pasadena called Intelligentsia (http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com )
We are there once in a while to drink their really good coffee. They really make a good job with the presentation of their product. It is topped with foam and a heart is drawn with chocolate as well
It is a reall treaty for the whole family

Simona is on travel today until Friday for three days. She is giving a seminar at the University of Miami
While she is at work over there I don't dare to call her as she is busy, beside given the time zone difference I might be interrupting her in the middle of something
Our kids are well taken care at home by Anna, Simona's mom. She is coming to stay with us to help out our family. Anna is coming from Rome, Simona's hometown
My wife is beautiful in this picture and in real life. We are all proud of her inner strengths and organizational skills

Piano lesson

this is the piece of video I was missing in the post below, it has disappeared from my blog, but I found it out and put it back again

Enjoy the performance as the boys are doing their best..this is what matters in life, everybody of us is supposed to do his best.

Well today I strained a bit my therapists patience so I did my best in making sure they have applied a lot of patience with me.

At least I realize I am jumping too far. You see my take on this is that I am always moving two steps ahead 

Perhaps is not the best way to proceed in life

This is Lapo playing the piano together with Chicco's supervision

 

this is the second part of an earlier video where Lapo is playing the piano under Chicco's supervision

The boys are doing great, aren't they?

The Planet Earth - by Chicco Rossi

Here is a poem by our son Chicco

The planet Earth

The  planet earth is third from the Sun,
it stands in between Venus and Mars
of moons or satellites it only has one
in just one year its orbit is done.

The earth looks all blue from outer space
Because of water is mostly made
Oceans, rivers, clouds, rain and lakes
these are the forms that water can take
Life started on Earth long time ago
Billions  of years before I was born
insects and birds and the big dinosaurs.
But some of these species have been long gone
Men have lived on Earth for thousand of years,
in all of its places far away and near
mountains and valley, deserts and dones
This is our planet, the place we call home

:)

the wildland conservancy

thank you Dusting for sending me these pictures of the outing  to  the wild lands conservancy  here in Bakersfield
in the picture below myself opening my arm to the sky

I am not allowed to have other patients picture as they are private.

It was a fun day !

Best

Tuesday Feb 25 second post

Sarah, m Case Manager is a really wonderful lady, she is really working with me on my recuperation.

I am always trying to invite her out for lunch but one way or the other we are always busy and we can never synchronize our schedule

Simona -my wife- is telling me that Sarah is really busy, so I have accepted it, but soon or later we will go out for lunch all together. I feel we own it to Sarah.
I feel she is part of our life. I learned to take good care of her, and she has learned to understand me and work with me throughout this Journey's on my - actually of our family
It is the whole family that has been impacted.

Anyway I like to do what I like to do, as most of therapists here at CNS have learned. I like math, computers, I like cooking - in fact I cook every meal- expect for the chocolate. I like to be independent and despite there is a schedule to follow I have come to know of my schedule pretty well
Most of the time I am independent, Sarah has learned that I like to be independent. I have an issue with doing task that I don't consider appropriate to me. And the therapist here have learned to deal with my independence.

There are  a couple of things I am looking forward: driving again, regaining my equilibrium and my strength


Nick Rasmussen my  PT therapist is really good in teaching me to walk again. I follow his suggestions as the other day when I was running I felt down the treadmill

Everybody came out to see me but as  I am writing to you, I am obviously fine

'Stirred but not shaken' or was it the other way around?

So right now I am working on my equilibrium back to square one!

It is fine, no matter how many time I hit the ground, I am picking up my pieces and get going again.

It is like the Phoenix... re-birth from its ashes


Alright I need to go in a little bit
More to follow ...

Tuesday Feb 25

this is a video of Lapo playing the piano with Chicco supervision

As you can see at time the boys speak to each other in English,  their school language

Both Chicco and Lapo are doing their best at playing the piano 

I believe the video above did not came out well enough for you to see.

Anyway I am sure that the picture above is better. It shows  Simona my wife,  together with Sarah my case Manager and my yummy breakfast. I like making some good breakfast in the morning

Yesterday I went to the gym and I did kickboxing with Christie. I said hi to Jim, to Naomi and Lidiana

When  I am going to the gym staff from the CNS is always coming with me and he or she wait at the reception

As I am not allowed to walk by myself

I go to the gym whenever I can 

Most of the days except on Saturday (movie night) and Sunday (church night)   and on Tuesday (like today) when I am busy with Personal shopping

Simona my wife is really helping me a lot, she just got a few things I needed for me on the mail.

We have agreed that as I don't need a bottle opener I need to buy bottle of beer with a twisting cap. To tell the truth I haven't been able to reach those, so for the time being I am going to hold off on these items.

CNS is giving me money every two weeks and it is based on a honor system 

I could sneak in a six pack, but then I would feel really bad as I would be doing a bad thing and betraying the trust of my therapist at CNS

I think root beer is allowed but ultimately I don't like it 

Monday 24

It is Monday 24 and it is all good
I  worked with Bethany on my word fluency, my goal is 20 and thus far I have achieved the following results
letter I   18 words
Letter A  15 words
Letter M 17 words
the goal is to reach 20 words

I worked on my independent Education by updating my blog

Then I worked on Counseling Group with Matt, we have done Meditation. I like working on my breath and with Matt, as this is helping us a lot

I then had a good lunch. Here is a picture of me being silly at lunch

I had g good turkey roast from Trader Joe's with pan sired eggplant; very Italian indeed.
I love cooking food whenever I can, I almost never buy food prepared from outside, except when it is Sushi
I love Sushi...don't you? Not everybody though like sushi. I know for personal experience. It is OK there is other food to eat as well.

Anyway I have composed my personal shopping list, send it to Rene. I asked for some help to Simona my wife, as I would like to buy some T-shirts available on-line only. It looks like I must have misplaced our credit card. After thinking about it, I am sure Simona knows where they are.

Anyway, the days is going well, our kids Chicco and Lapo are at school and they are going to be back at home in about 30 minute.
I am going to call them to say hi and to let them know I love them

Today our kids are going to Teak-won do with Marina our nanny

I need to run now

Have a great day!

Sunday 23 third post

Cooking for the next few days: staffed washroom with staffed Turkey breast
I already tasted the turkey once before and it is very yummy!

It willl last me for a few days at least

Well, how can I eat it without a good beer? It is a rhetorical question of course

Water is good as well. Let's not get in  troubles on a Sunday.

Yesterday evening we went to see a very mice movie
it is called Three way to kill, with Kevin Costner, who plays an agent of the CIA who discovers that he is affected by a tumor to the brain and has only a few months to leave.
However the CIA offers him an experimental drug in exchange of his services in combating a network of criminals
He accepts the deal and he is reunited with his family that was about to consider him lost to the CIA
In his effort to capture the heart pf his wife and daughter he is tasked with a last mission to conclude
During the mission he discovers that the business associate of the father of his daughter's boyfriend is in fact the man that he has been hunting down for long time
The CIA offers to help him for his last mission
Of course he manages to capture the bad guys and to gain back the respect and love of both his wife and daughter

A Nice movie of love and respect . So never give up Nathan (the name of the main character from the movie)
We are all Nathan, and we all need the CIA on our side... don't we?
Of course I have said hi to Shawn
Sincerely
Giuseppe
  

Sunday 23 second post

I am cooking staffed Mushroom with a staffed turkey breast

Earlier I had lunch with Sushi and Ede dame
Together with Simona, the kids and Sarah my case Manger. All the person that are key to my recovery process

Before Sushi I did recycle

Sunday 23

Today is Sunday and I am at home at CNS

Simona and the kids are well, Simona took the boys today at swimming lesson at the Rose bowl
The boys are really good swimmers. Both Lapo and Chicco are doing their best. Lapo is particularly entertaining to watch as he is doing his very best to imitate Chicco

Earlier on I called my mom she was at home in Verona, Italy she went for a walk with her friends near our house
My sister Isabella is at home in Germany, next week she is going to be in Berlin attending at a fashion convention 
My sister is very busy and very successful at her job.

This morning I did recycle here in Bakersfield, I made $ 2.50, but more importantly I had the chance to take some good air outside.

Glenda drove us to the recycle center next to Trader's Joe.

At the recycle center together with Michael there is a new guy, his name is Victor. They are really working hard at their job.

Anyway I was happy to be outside for the morning. I took the recycle from Ernesto as I have his permission to do so. Whenever I pick his recycle I leave him a message anyway
JD did come with me this morning, and Glenda drove the bus

Miss Racanelli at the reception helped me to connect to the internet this computer so she is acknowledged for her help

Alexis is doing my coverage and  she looks well, better than yesterday. 

Wednesday February 19 Third post for today

Alright I am duplicating some of the posts I am making, that means they are important to me. I could see I have uploaded already pictures of the people that are involved in my rehabilitation, and probably next time I should move on.
Zeina Saba is my Cognitive Rehabilitation therapist, she is a really wonderful person. She is now attending a conference, I am sure she is going to do a really good job

Zeina is working on my long term memory, she is giving me task to remember to do and I am normally writing them down both  in my memory book  and make a note on my phone.
This is a good strategy that work for me.
If I loose my phone again I am ...well you know Simona will probably buy me a new Iphone ... or maybe not. So in order not to test her patience with me,I am going to hold on my phone for a bit longer.


Best Regards
Enjoy your day, may this blog inspire you all !
Giuseppe

Tuesday Mach 4

Yesterday CNS was closed in observance of President day , so I I did took care of my house and cook a lot. I also wrote a letter to  Chicco our eldest son, in block letter and in English as Chiccco is fully immersed in the local culture. I have asked Chico to read the letter to Lapo our 5 years old. They are both adorable young adults. We refer to them at home as the boys or the “broccoli”

Yesterday evening I went to the gym to do Kickboxing with Cristie. The boys were going to Taekwon-do so I did my cardio at the gym. Every body at the gym is so nice. They always end up the class by saying “Thank you for coming”

At the gym my coverage was by Alexis. At the end of ,my class I was about to take off as I could not see Alexis in the all, when she appeared behind me. She add to take a ‘technical’ break J

Well today I eat my staffed peppers. The new recipe is that I am staffing them with ground meat, rice, spices and topping them with mozzarella cheese. I think this is the best staffed pepper recipe I have done thus far. So I am patting myself on the back to congratulate my recovery skills behind the  home kitchen

Whenever I am making a good food I send a picture to Simona so she knows what I am preparing.

I am very proud of Simona, and of the whole CNS personnel in general.

I am respectful and appreciative of their effort. In this image I am having my lunch at the clinic. It is a great lunch! I have done earlier CR with a therapist and she let me choose 3 articles of interest we will discuss next time. The first one was about Renzi the new Prime Minister in Italy, the second one was about a NASA mission snd the third one was about a current event, that is about an economical situation in US. 

I worked with Melanie on the trail test, The goal is to reach 1 minute time, and today my two trial were : 1:40' and 1:27' the other. I am getting faster and quicker. Which is good!

Today Michael Liebel here in Education has paid me for the next 2 weeks. I am very grateful as CNS is really taking care of everybody. Last time I went to Trader Joe's on Saturday, I was off by $10 and Andy lend me $10. The next time I see him I am planning to give the money back to him. It is a nice gesture of him. At Trader Joe's everybody is nice particularly it looks like I am having good Karma all around me. It is nice to see good gesture from the local community.

Earlier I talked to Simona, my wife and she is well she was getting ready for her class at Caltech . This is the link to her page: ((http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~bordoni) 

I hope you are going to have time to read it soon or later, as there are a lot of pictures from our family

So you see we are doing all well. I am well, my case Manager Sarah (picture below) 

Is definitely well

I have not seen here today but I know she is doing well

The physical therapist that is currently helping me to get better is Nickolas Rasmussen 

Nick is a very interesting character to meet. I am glad we work together!

Have a good day everybody

Giuseppe 

My CR therapist :)

Already I don't have any picture for Zena Saba my CR therapist. But she is doing a really good job during the Cognitive Rehabilitation sections we have been working together.
I have to admit at first I did not like my CR work, but hey I changed my mind. And I work with Zeina at the best of my capabilities. The other day she showed me where my binder for independent CR is located. It is in the CR room with my name on the side. I am working on my CR puzzle to get my mind going again. The puzzles are structured as a certain number of possibilities and I have to choose the possibilities that are fitting the best.The way to solve this problem is to exclude in the grid all cases that are not acceptable answer and to keep in mind that both vertically and horizontally one can have only one YES answer. Once I have gotten the hold of the working principle I believe I can demonstrate to Ms Zaba (Zeina my CR therapist) my understanding
The last session  Zena told me it was a good section, we did 4 work sheet with 100% accuracy with zero to moderate assistance. I appreciate Zena's help
She is a really good CR therapist and a really good human being!

Nick Rassmussen - PT therapist

the picture below shows me together with Nickolas Rasmussen my Physical therapist at CNS.
You see Nick's family did come from Denmark, that is why he has a Danish name. In this picture we are goofing around and pretending to be freedom fighters. I believe I am a freedom fighter my elf.
Actually being at CNS I already have my freedom, I only have to focus on my physical and mental rehabilitation foreknowing my stroke

Anyway, Nick is teaching me to walk again and how  to regain my balance

Nick is really a good person, and he has a really good humor and spirit, so I publish this picture with grate pride and great humility for his work

Picture with my Sarah Gutierrez -my Case Manager

Sarah Gutierrez is my  Case Manger. She is a wonderful lady full of  attention and wisdom. Actually all case Mangers are really doing an excellent job, I have thought  to say that Sarah is my preferred Case Manger.

here is the picture with us together. Sarah is doing a really great job. I am really proud of publishing this picture.. In the background the Danish booth we were manning together.

You see my connection with Danemark goes back to the time of my PhD in Grenoble, France. At the time I was sharing an apartment with John Ejton a large frame Viking from Danemark. So I have alway enjoyed Northen European items. And Sarah knows it very well
Thank you Sarah!

Ice cream with Simona and the boys

And of course an ice cream with Simona and the boys it the obvious item of the agenda
You know I know that we all a sweet tooth for ice-cream, and we all scream for ice-cream (Benigni docet!)

President day. Chiccco's Poem

On Sunday morning Simnona and the boys visited me here at CNS. We went together to do recycle here at the recycle center where Michael is working  (Alfredo this second guy has left his position)
We like doing recycle because it is good for the environment. Beside at the gym Riina - a lady coming with me at the gym- brings me always a bunch of bags to recycle. It is a good things to do for the environment and for taking a bit of air outside with my family.

Afterward we went with the kids to grab an ice cream. We also played the lottery at the public slot machine, Lapo won $10 (A real Lucky person) and Chicco won $2. Simona and I helped the kids to play.

Simona is going to keep the proceeding on behalf of the boys. The boys are always to cute and so lucky.
We both love them so much.

Here is a poem that Chicco has been composing:

The Planet Earth

The Planet Earth is third from the Sun
it stands in between Venus and Mars
of moon and satellites it has only one
in just one year its orbit is done.
The Earth looks all blue from outer space
Because of water is mostly made
Oceans, rives, clouds, rain and lakes, these are the form that water can take
Life started on Earth long time ago
Billions of years before I was born
Insects and birds and the big dinosaurs
But some of these species have been long gone
Men have lived on Earth for thousand of years
in all of its places far away and near Mountains
and valley, desert and domes
This is our planet, the place we call home

By Chicco Rossi and Family

Monday - President Day

It is Monday February 17, President Day and the clinic is closed today

I take advantage of this time to update my blog for your perusal.

This morning I wake up as usual at 6:45 am. I let the switchboard I was up and running, and wished them a happy day. I saw Brian trough my window and wished him  a good day- or rather a good night as his shift is finished and he is going home.
I  got out of bed early and grabbed the newpaper then came back to grab a good breakfast. I made omelet with jam and grabbed some granola with milk. Of course a good coffee is always welcomed chez Giuseppe.
According to my reading in the nutrition world, you are OK by eating a couple of eggs everyday as eggs are rich on many nutrient -omega 3 acid. It is believed in Europe that eggs rise cholesterol levels to an unhealthy level. Eggs are rather the most nutritious food found around. They lower bad cholesterol (HDL) and increase the good cholesterol (LDL). So I think I can take two eggs per day without any adverse effect to my health. This is why on Saturday as I was at Trader Joe's I purchased 2 dozen of eggs.
At trader Joe's everybody knows me, and helps me out. I was short by  $10 and Andy pulled it out from his wallet and lend it to me. Next time I am there, I will check if I see him again and return the money to him.
I called anyway on Saturday to thank him for his nice and generous gesture

On Saturday, after taking care of the house (cleaning and washing) we went to the Maya theater and I saw Robocop. It is a good movie, as it shows that our human spirit is alive despite and resists any tests and any injury we sustain. Also it shows that the love for one's family is a very powerful sentiment.
I  am reading a lot of personal feature in Robocop.

Post for Tuesday November 11th

it is my second post today, after doing Yoga with Tina. This morning there weren't many people around. Tina is always good and professional as usual. She told me her grand-daughters are well and so her dog -she called Lazy Lilli: it is or I should rather say  she  is a golden retrieve. I mentioned to Tina that yesterday I met Damian at the gym. Damian is a person that does Yoga with Tina, as well. I like yoga and I am looking forward very much to the days we do Yoga. Tomorrow I will have Yoga as well, tomorrow we work on balance and on mental capability to focus with the mind.
Going back to the gym I always meet people I know her in Bakersfield: Richard, Maria, Riina, Damian, and all the personnel at the gym

Tina mentioned that all the stretch we do in Yoga have a wonderful effect on our body, as they all stimulate the body in different ways, to generate feeling good hormones. I like working on my body and in keeping it functional and active as much as I can. I am here to recover from a stroke, as probably I mentioned earlier, I am working on my rehabilitation. But I am together with a dedicated team of professional experts that are working with us.

this morning I work on OT on the trail test (see previous post) the goal of previous test is to complete the trial in less than 1 minute. My recent  tests are slightly above 1 minute, but the overall test is DEFINETLY faster than when I started as I was in between 2.5 and 3 minute.
Every time is an opportunity to get BETTER. As long as I can work on toward my goals I am vey happy of any progress.

Have I mentioned to you that Sarah Gutierrez my case manager is really doing a good job in breaking thinks for me and in making sure I don't get overwhelmed by too many staff at once. She a really good case manager!
Anyway my wife Simona is doing well, she is going to be back today from Madison University in Wisconsin. She  went over there to give a seminar; it is part of her job at Caltech University. She is Assistant Professor of atmospheric science at Caltech.  This is the link to her page at Caltech. http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~bordoni/ I strongly recommend it to you as our kids pictures are also  included. Our kids have grown bigger. Our eldest son's name is Francesco - nickname Chicco. Chicco is now 7. Our youngest son's name is Jacopo-nickname Lapo.

In our family we refer to them as the "broccoli"
They are really good and healthy children

Anyway Simona s going ton be back later today. She attended a conference for 3 days. At home my mother in law Anna was backing up Simona and taking care of the boys. Anna is a very good person,  she is very fluent in English. She helps a lot our family by helping our kids to do their homework

Shown below is my family.

I am looking for another files that is the OT work for today but right now I have to leave this room
:)

After the gym I am eating brie cheese with  tostadas and  sipping a good Cote du Rone (we wish!) Since I am in dreamland it is actually Medoc Superior

Ah., I remember the old good times of my staying in France. How long ago? 17 years ago! Can you believe it? Marco knows what I am referring to, don't you agree with me? How can I eat Brie without a good glass of Red wine. Next time I see the Leprechaun I will ask him so save me a good bottle of red .. :)

Have a good night

Monday night

Tonight I went to the gym to do Kick boxing with Cristie. The boys were at Taekwon do
At the gym I met Maria, Gym and Richard. Richard drives the bus from Bakersfield to LAX and Bakersfield and Santa Barbara.. Richard has many grandchildren and great grandchildren

Maria was really working out, she did the class before the kicknoxing one

Richard is a good guy, tonight he had a cold so no hand shaking.
Riina was also there tonight. She is a breast cancer survivor, overall her health is doing quite well
At the gym I went with Joseph.
I said hi to Lydiana and to Carlos two of the persons I saw tonight.
I grabbed the recyclable and as usual I Carlos mentioned 10% goes to the gym :)
We are kidding of course

While at the gym Simona called me but I have lost her call. I hope she is going to read my blog
I am good and at CNS
 Thank you Sarah and Rene and all the oher therapists for your help and support

Note: I really need to find a trap for the Leprechaun that is roaming free around the complex :)
Best Regards
Giuseppe

these pictures have been sent to my by my sister Isabella who is currently in Spain. She loves surfing in Spain. And she loves her cat. She is a beautiful and cute kitty, isn't she? :)

 

Monday 10 2013

It is Monday morning in Bakersfield. It is all good.
 Yesterday,  Sunday,  I took care of some cooking and then I did recycle. Before hand I picked up the recycle from Ernesto. And I have also helped Coletta - the designated driver- to do the tour of all the apartments so we rounded a real big load of bags. Overall I do recycle as I like getting out from the apartment of Sunday noon.



I then went to church at St. Francis where I normally go on Sunday. Before hand I have been cooking at home. Simona was leaving on her way to Madison Wisconsin for a seminar. She left from LAX on Sunday at 10:30. She will be back on Tuesday. The boys are at home with Anna, my mother-in-law and they are well taken care of. Anna is a lovely and caring lady and she is helping a lot our family and Simona. We are lucky to have Anna here in US - normally she leaves in Rome, Italy
When she is in La Canada she helps with the homework for the boys and she helps keeping the boys healthy and busy
Chicco has many projects at school so Anna helps him with a lot of activities. Lapo is also a good and sweet little person. He is 5 and full of energy. When I called home on SundayAnna mentioned that Lapo was laying on the floor unable to move. He was pretending to be hurt. Lapo has a great fantasy. Anyway, I am happy to report that Lapo was well enough to blow me a kiss over the phone. Lapo has a great fantasy

On Saturday I did my grocery shopping at Trader Joe's the place where I normally shop. I know most of people over there and they know me as well. I managed to stay on budget and on the grocery list. The secret is to make an accurate list..and never to buy beer!
At trader Joe's I brought my bags, so Simona's number has been entered for the raffle. If we win we are going to split equally: I think 99% to Simona and 1% to me is a fair division of the fortune. Anyway over there I said hi to Amos, Jami, Lisa  and all their employees. I know almost everybody, the crew at trader Joe's is very helpful
I inquired about Jamie's husband -Thorn- and her daughter. They are al well. I have also got stickers. Since our boys have had enough stickers, I now bring stickers to little Ian, Sarah Gutierrez's son. Sarah is my Case Manager here at CNS. She is doing an awesome job. She is really busy but also full of attention for me

On Saturday I also went to the movie, I saw " Monument me" a good movie about  WWII in Europe and the Nazi occupation. The story goes that during the war the allied were worried about the artwork in Europe and they wanted to make sure that they were safe; I will talk kore in a different poist;

A good and sweet Sunday

I am home in Bakersfield, on a Sunday morning.
Simona will be leaving soon on her way to Madison Wisconsin, she will be gone for a couple of days. She has a meeting to attend
At home we have Anna, Simona's mom, taking care of the broccoli. I talked to them earlier this morning as Simona was leaving on her way to LAX
I did my recyclable, helped out Coletta with all the other units recyclable. We went down the road next to Trader Joe's 
Coletta came with me, since nobody else did came today we were only the two of us. I like being helpful to the CNS personnel. I like giving back what I am receiving from the CNS as an organization.
I am cooking chicken broth right now, I like cooking as much possible as I can. I am  normally a good Chef, I read the Michelin Book about the best restaurant but there is no mention about my little restaurant in Bakersfield
It is probably to small to appear in any book, this is fine. I  wish my family in Italy, my wife and Sarah my case manager were able soon or later to come to eat with me. I know that Sarah is busy with her husband and kiddos, so I think Simona and my family are left.

I will hear from Simona on Tuesday since she is going to give a seminar to Madison University in Wisconsins
I remember Manolo del Rio - a friend of us in Grenoble France (do you remember him Simona ?) did his PhD at Madison, Wisconsins
Well the boys are at home with Anna, my mother in law-Simona's mom. Anna is really helpful with our family. She helps the kids with their homework and home activities and keep them well attended. More importantly she is backing up Simona while she is on travel.
Simona has a very demanding job as she is Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at California Institute of Technology  (http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~bordoni/)
For the past two years Simona has been the head of our family since I am a stroke patient.
My injury is an acquired TBI ( Traumatic Brain Injury) as I was born, back in Italy, with a malformation to my head. I think more about me covers the topic for another post.
Anyway I was talking about my family. We have two children: Chicco is 8 years old and Lapo is 5 years old.
Chicco attends III grades with very good results and Lapo is in Pre-K
the boys (we call our children the boys or the broccoli) are really sweet and good little people
They do a lot of activities, for instance yesterday Chicco went to Tennis and then with Lapo he went to swimming at the Rose-bowl. Today is a rest day for everybody except for Simona.
I love dearly my wife and my family and I am grateful for everything that she has accomplished in life. Simona is a beautiful and splendid person. I am very lucky that she is my wife.

I hope you enjoy this post and will inspire you to move on in life
I am grateful for being able to work on this matter
Have a great day!

Be careful as the Leprechaun here in Bakersfield is alive and is very active all around the complex :)

Best Regards
Giuseppe

this morning I took care of the house by washing and cleaning my staff
Them I went to do Grocery shopping at Trader Joe's
I said Hi to everybody, Jamie in particular arrived when I was about to leave. I said hi to her inquired about Thorn -her husband and her son. They are all well. Over there I met dr Newbro, who works at CNS as well where I am currently undergoing rehabilitation treatment because I had a stoke. It has happened three years ago. Well here are worst things in the world. I am one of the lucky that it is pulling is out.

Whenever I go around Bakersfield I get stopped by someboody that recognizes me

I am quite popular her in Bakersfield

Anyway, I need to run

Best Regards
Giuseppe

Constraints inspire creativity

Saturday February 8 2014 A very good day

The broccoli are always with me. We call our kids "broccoli", Our kids real names are Chicco and Lapo. Chicco is on the left hand side of the picture and Lapo is on the center of the image. Chicco is 8 and Lapo is 5. They are really sweet young kids. Earlier this morning I called home in La Canada, and found Anna my mother in law with Lapo. Chicco went to play tennis at the Rosebowl, my wife Simona went with him

When I called home this morning, Lapo was laying on the floor as he was tired, my mother in law Anna managed to convince Lapo to give me a kiss so I started  my day with Lapo's blessing.

Simona took Chicco to play tennis, and now -afternoon is taking the boys to swimming lesson as the Rosebowl