Thursday July 31

Alright, let's start from the beginning.
Yesterday I cleaned the apartment. As Levi keeps telling me to come at the center early in the morning I thought it was good to spit evenly the job so that Levi works in the morning at the clinic and I work i the evening in my apartment. It is a fair exchange of  work.

After cleaning I  have cooked a nice chicken tender that I have been marinating a couple of days, I have been preparing a very good Caesar salad, Giuseppe's style with spinach and tomatoes. A good shepherding dinner for summer time.

After dinner I went to the 24 fitness gym . Over there it is my second house.
I did  cycle with Angie, she was expecting me to show up and she had reserved a cycle for me. At the gym we snapped this picture together as I have a new shorter hair cut. I proposed to her to snap a funny picture and she gladly complied with my request.
She mentioned her son is fine. You see at the gym everybody complies gladly with my requests.

I have also greeted the gym Manager  Naomi, Lydian and Carlos they both work at the reception.

Afterward I started doing body pump with Silvia, I used some good weights this time, so I did not hurt myself,.

At the gym I met Drashdee, she was back after a long time. She mentioned the hurt herself.
At the gym I met Gloria, Richard, Pani, Alex and many other friends of Bakersfield.
At the gym Soni did my coverage. Soni is always ready to go to the extra mile. So I acknowledge his work gladly. For the time being Soni is in charge of our bicycle, he keeps it clean and locked as if it were his own. :)

This morning I called home and found our kids over there.
They are both off school and on vacation. They will start again on the 12th of August.
Chicco will be going to IV grade and Lapo to Kindergarten. They both keep growing.
Chicco is going to Chess camp while Lapo is  staying home with Marina our nanny.

This morning I have watered my flowers as usual: they are for Simona my wife

I had a good and healthy breakfast with my family picture in front of me.

 Ready to ramble.

Enjoy the reading as I have enjoyed writing to you.
Stay well and may God Bless you all.
Sincerely
Giuseppe

Wednesday July 30

Alright, yesterday went I came back home I  cooked some good Italian pasta with Ragu that I have made at  home. It is easy and fun to make. I had a pack of ground beef  and a can of peeled tomatoes to use. I  finely chopped some yellow sweet onions, mixed with ground beef and tomatoes. I have chopped some carrots added a pinch of salt and pepper and  let the whole Ragu slowly cooking  for about an  hour.

The key is slow cooking..

You see by using  excessively high  temperature is easy to burn the food. So It is best to use some low temperature cooking for a prologues amount of time.

together with my ragu pasta I steamed Broccoli. Whenever I steam Broccoli, it is like my wife is telling me about our sons. When they are sleeping she tells me they are steamed.

Yesterday I had an appointment for a hair cut at Great Clips so I did not go to the gym. As mentioned  I rather had my hair cleaned and ready for the warm temperature of Bakersfield.
Sarah my Case Manager inspired me to have a hair cut as she had it recently.

Also by going to Great Clips CNS made sure I had a discount card so it was a good deal. I went there together with  Gustavo (Gus).

This morning I wake up early as usual and I did everything in my routine:
Medications,  flowers, personal hygiene

A good fulfilling breakfast with my family's picture in front of me.

My Iphone apps is telling me that this is a good balanced breakfast.

After ward, I greeted the maintenance guys, thrown  the trash that Dag is always leaving for me. Then after all this I grab the newspaper by taking a stroll in the park. So my morning was ready. I took the bus. The big bus was driven by Jemena as she is back from the pregnancy leave. She has another girl: her name is Camilla. Her first daughter is Sophia.

Anyway today after OT I had yoga with Amy. She mentioned her girls are fine. Madison and Olivia. Madison is 10 and will start 4th grade on August 12th. Her youngest daughter  Olivia is 4 and will go on preschool on August 12th.

On the same date Chicco our eldest son will start 4th grade and our youngest Lapo will start Kindergarten.

It is all good.

You see I am getting stronger and better.

So here it is.

Enjoy the reading as I have enjoyed writing to you.

Sincerely

Giuseppe

Tuesday July 28

Alright,
yesterday it was a Monday and I went to the 24 fitness gym.
Before hand I had a good dinner with Salmon and a good salad with crab cake in it. I am using all I have at home, as Simona keeps suggesting me to do.

At the 24 fitness gym I did a couple of classes:


 I did Kickboxing with Kristie in the picture below she is on my left hand side.

Afterward I did cycle with Lolita.

Over there I met my friend: Richard, Gloria and Alex. Also I  greeted all the receptionists. 

At the gym I've got the chance of entering Simona's number for the raffle. So I have happily participated.

This is my latest picture with my new hat from Simona.

Well at the gym I went with Sonny's coverage, he is a good person always willing to do the extra mile.

Today is a Tuesday and at the clinic I brought a letter to Sara as I had forget it at home yesterday. The letter is to thank her for her help, and contains some stickers for Ian, her youngest son. Sara was expecting it on Monday but yesterday I forget it at home, she knew it was coming so today I brought it to her.

Today as I was taking the pass Jemena snapped this picture of me. Jemena is back after a break as she had a baby girl named Camilla. Her second daughter -Sophia- is doing great and the whole family is adjusting to the new baby girl.

So here is the picture of me as seen from Jemana using my phone.

While at the park to grab the news paper I had a serendipity moment as I found a couple of empty cans of beer good for recycling. Anyway it is not my stile of beer so I picked it up and collected. I have also reported it to the sups so that everybody is informed. 

Recycling is good for the environment, and I am recycling as much as I can.

At the clinic worked as CR on the CNS blog, it is a nice website I am keeping for the patients that want  to read it. But I can not access it while I am writing to you. 

I worked with Michelle and explained the blog to a different patient. I  like working on the blog as it keeps me alert of the news.

Today I had yoga so I also brought a green art for Olivia, the youngest daughter of  Amy our yoga teacher. 

Olivia is 4 and will start preschool on the 12th of August. 

Amy's  second daughters is Madison, she is 10 years old and will go to 4th grade on the 12th of August as her youngest  sister.

My program for today is to go to get a hair cut. 

Alright.

Have a great day everybody.

May God Bless you all.

Giuseppe

Monday July 28

Alright, I left at home a letter for Sarah I had prepared and stickers for Ian her youngest son.

I will bring it tomorrow, as Sarah says what is done is done..

Let's focus on my family.
Yesterday Simona and the boys came over to visit me in the afternoon.
So as it was a really hot day, I had time to swim in the pool. I have enjoyed my day in the pool. I was careful is making sure the sun did not offend my skin, so I wear a long sleeve swimming T-shirt.

In the afternoon Simona came over with the boys:
She brought me the following items: A new blue hat with a T-shirt from her latest Cape Cod conference.

A new apron for a pizza maker. I promptly entered in the role by grabbing my peeler and getting ready for the snapshot.

A sport shirt for my activities

A couple of books in French about Tin-Tin a comic very popular in France.

We went to the mall were the boys had a chance to pick up a few things for them. Lapo decided to pick up some Ninja Turtles. Lapo got introduced to the Ninja Turtle by Matteo is cousin who leaves in Brussels. Having recently been visiting his cousing Matteo, Lapo is now into some new games.

Afterward we went to have an ice cream at Frozen Yogurt here at the mall we had a refreshing snack. 

Simona and Chicco were all smiling for me. 

Lapo was so busy riding his track and eating his frozen yogurt that was all into what he was doing.  Lapo is always Lapo!

While at the mall the boys had the chance to ride their bikes

Simona was making sure we were all safe and together. After all she is responsible for everybody

Here I captured Simona's smile..my favorite subject to snap a picture about.

My breakfast has been as complete as ever:

 Today at the clinic I had the chance of running: fast and smoothly. It is  my happy  moment whenever I can run smoothly and safely. Well, it is a good session for PT. Everybody knows that I love running, My Case Manager Sarah,all my PT therapist knows I love running

I need to go

Giuseppe

Sunday July 27 2014

Alright, let me back of about yesterday activities. It was a Saturday so it was a movie night for me.
Before going to the movie I had a good dinner with my family picture:

Spinach, Burrata and tostadas; together with something that looked and tasted as ice tea...then it must be ice tea!

In the evening I went to see a nice movie: Lucy with Scarlett Joahnsson and Morgan Freeman.

This is my summary after the movie:

A nice movie about a person played  by Scarlett Johansson and a knowledgeable professor of brain anatomy played by  Morgan Freeman.  It is about the power of the human brain that can be reinforced by certain experiences. In particularly  the movie tells the story of what it is happening by enhancing   the connectivity in the brain to reach 90% capacity. Normally the movie proposes that the human brain uses only 40% of its capacity.
In this case a synthetic drug that was given to Lucy get accidentally injected into her system, as a result Lucy starts to develop super human capacity.
Is this drug related to my growth hormone injection.. Perhaps it is related .. The movie does not tell about this aspect. Anyway I have enjoyed the movie.


I need to check with Sarah on Monday, she certainly knows better than me on this matter.


Yesterday Simona and our kids went to see Planes at the movie theater. Our kids enjoyed the movie as they enjoy watching nice cartoon movie as now Disney is making after the acquisition of Pixart's Animation  Studio originally started by the late Steve Job.
Both Chicco and Lapo told me they  had a good time at the movie theater. I have talked to the both of them this morning and they were both busy with their favorite activities while Simona was sleeping. Chicco was playing with the Ipad and Lapo was playing with his Lego set.


This morning after watering my plants and taking a good shower -short one as we are in a drought  season.
I had a good breakfast  this is the picture of it: a nice balanced mix of fat, carbs and protein.Of course I had blueberry yogurt and blueberry  for my eyes.

You know it is very important to take care of oneself in life and  I am taking good care of my self at my best.

 

Today I have been reorganizing my mail for my family:letters in Italian for my wife Simona, letters in English and block letters for Chicco our 7 years old son, and simpler letters with some drawing and some simple words of Lapo our 5 years youngest son.For our boys I also have some nice red necklace with a red pimento. In Sicily it brings good luck and I am giving it to the both of them as a gesture for good luck in life.

In addition I have written a nice letter to Sarah my Case Manager and added some stickers for Ian her youngest son. I will give it to her on Monday and leave it on her desk as usual. She is so busy with everything so it is a nice gesture from my side. I have to say that she is taking such a good care of my recovery that I take every chance I have to thank her. She is always smiling at me, and she is telling that she has a lot of patience with everybody as she has three kids at home. I guess her family life is training her very well for her professional work. Well, I have you see I had a nice coverage today by Norma (same name as my grandmother) she has been her to check me out, my medication and my house. I  like having the staff checking on me and I chatted gracefully while they are here with me. I let them know about my day and my doing. Today is a Sunday so no mail. Yesterday I have already received the Economist my weekly magazine.

Anyway it is all well, here in Bakersfield. Enjoy the reading and more importantly enjoy your weekend. I will see you om Monday.
Levi keeps inviting me at the clinic at 4am during the week, unfortunately I will not be able to get there during the weekend as promised to you, as there is no transportation during the weekend.
:)

Enjoy the weekend.
Giuseppe

Saturday July 26

Alright
I have found the picture I was missing from yesterday, so here it is: this is part of my Zumba class, next to me with my hat is Maria and another friend of mine.
We danced the Zumba together and as we are good friends they all comply in taking picture with me.
We are all wearing grey, I am the one with the hat. It is Simona's hat.

This morning I had a good day. I cleaned the house, did the usual house cleaning of the weekend then I prepared my breakfast in the presence of my family, a well balanced breakfast.

 

In the morning I did grocery shopping at Trader Joe's where I met all my friends: among them here are the pictures of the many persons I got familiar with:

Kanvas

 

Monica 

Moses

 

Last but not least Jamie. We always snap a good picture together and we talk about our families.

I also bring her a flower so that she knows I appreciate her grace and help.  She knows that before leaving I am waiting to snap a picture with the flower and her. So she patiently complies..as everybody patiently complies with my requests here in Bakersfield.

Jamie  mentioned that Loggy her son his doing well and that her daughter Delaney is  enjoying her dance class.

Thorn her husband is keeping the whole family balanced.

Jamie made sure that as  usual I passed through the forbidden isle  of the beer. Good job Jamie I know I can count on your skills.

At the store I brought the bags so Simona's number got entered for the raffle and I have also remembered to get stickers for Ian, the youngest son of Sarah my Case Manager.

I will leave it on her desk this Monday morning when I am back at the clinic.

At home my lunch is displayed in this picture

A healthy salad and a chicken soup.

I have written to Simona my wife and reorganized the letter for Chicco and Lapo I have collected during this time. I will give them tomorrow when they come to visit me.

I have also written a letter to Sara my Case Manager and added stickers for Ian her youngest son.

This morning I had a nice visit: Marlene came buy to say Hi. I normally meet her at the gym. She mentioned that she is used to work a lot as at home she has twelve siblings. She is most definitely a hard worker. So she is inspiring me to move along to get better.

Alright I need to go.

Please enjoy the reading.

Sincerely

Giuseppe

July 25 2014

Alright,
yesterday evening after therapy I went to the gym to do Zumba.
I met all my friends as usual Maria, Kashi, Richard. I met also Janice and Larry.
This picture below is an old one, but Larry is always the same one. I am the one with the hat and Larry is next to me on my left hand side.

The front entrance  of the gym is shown here:

At the gym I snapped a picture( a selphie)  together with Naomi, the gym manager.  Naomi is the smiling ladies next to me. I am the guy with the Caltech hat with the thumb up! I am always positive an enthusiast of being around in the community. Every body complies with my small requests one way or the other everybody is happy to show their support to me.

Naomi's  daughter and son are fine are are back from visiting her sister in Vegas.

At the gym I had the chance of doing some cycle with Lolita.

I have also met Maria and she mentioned to  I was late. she  had to start doing Zumba without me.

Well it is what is it normally I am on time, we will try again today.

As I had a cold I made a good home-made chicken soup with chicken tenders I had in my fridge. First  of all I made a soffritto with onions, carrots and  celery. Then I added the chicken tenders with some water. I seasoned everything and let it boil for a hour. Afterward it was time to blend it all with my electrical blender that my wife Simona has given to me as a present. At that point I snapped this picture with her. I always cook with Simona picture in front of me. So she is always with me.

In the soup I added Barley so now I have a very healthy and  tasting soup at home. I had hot soup and got some medication for my cough and this morning I am fine.  My cold is gone.

This morning first thing I have watered my flowers, they are getting strong and beautiful as my love for Simona is strong and beautiful. The flowers are for her, only for her.

My breakfast has been very balanced and rich as usual. I had it together with Simona and Sara my Case Manager at CNS. Both person mean a lot to me. Also coffee tastes better in a 35 mm mug.

On my table there is my Cal tech's Dad hat that Simona has given to me.


my morning started really well by finding this little present from the Leprechaun in the park near the apartment. It is an empty beer can that I reported to the sup.


As today is a Friday it is a RT day, I knew that my RT for today was running so I did my morning run at the clinic. I run smoothly and happily.

  I did my long strives and kept a regular pace at the beginning. I then increased the speed toward the end to reach a 5.5 miles as a final sprint. Overall I run 2 miles in half an hour.
It is all good, so now I am happy for having run this long. It is about time to eat. So enjoy the reading as I have enjoyed writing to you all.
It is time to eat in a while, enjoy your weekend as I will not have time to write to you over the weekend.
We will talk again on Monday.
To all of you, stay well!
God Bless you all.
Sincerely
Giuseppe

July 24 2014

Alright, yesterday it was a Wednesday and I went to my gym. I am going always at the gym at 5:45 and I meet always a lot of friends.
Yesterday it was time for cycle and Georgia was holding the class as Angie was busy.
Anyway I met many friends over there, among them Richard, Nick and Claudia. Also I greeted Larry and Janice, they  are well as usual they are giving me the thumb up as well. Larry is telling me always that I am getting stronger and faster. He is a big supporter of mine.

I have snapped this  picture with Lydian at the gym, I conveyed to her that Simona and our kids are here in LA, and she mentioned as usual that her cat Furby is well.

At the gym I have greeted Carlos at the reception. Also over there there was another person that works as well at CNS, but I am not allowed to mentioned her.

I like the gym a lot as I am active and I have the chance of staying busy all the time. Before going to the gym I made a healthy salad with a lot of green. I like to eat healthy.

After the gym I had a snack before going to bed. I made some simple pasta with butter... what a snack !

This morning I had my usual routine:

first of all I watered my flowers for Simona.They are really getting bigger and stronger as my love for my wife.

After doing my personal toiletry I get my very yummy breakfast: A well balanced mix of carbs, protein and fat. In fact my phone app tells me that I am eating well and balanced.

Alright as usual the guys here at CNS are kidding with me about being here at 5am to help them out. It is a fact that at that time I am  not able to make it on time. Maybe tomorrow I will make it on time.

Simona and our kids have finally arrived from their trip to Rome. She mentioned that they flew very well and were treated  very nicely as they were upgraded in business during the leg over the oceans.

Our kids behaved really well and had a lot of fun/

Well our kids do learn to fly very early: Chicco is 8 and Lapo is 5. You know they have good genes.

Enjoy the reading.

Have a good day, thank you Sarah

Giuseppe