Lunch April 30

As usual a great lunch under the patio.

The weather is really warm and pleasant.

My lunch: Protein (filet Mignon), summer squash risotto (thank you Anna)

A mandarin and finally coffee.

Finally a good coffee and at the end I carefully brushed my teeth. Brushing, flossing and mouth washer.. so now I have a clear and fresh breath.

I like my new routine: coffee is before brushing: it is also more logical as a succession of steps.

I called home as usual Lapo was eating with Anna my wonderful mother in law.

I called Simona and as she was busy I left her a calming phone message.. I am repeating here: don't worry mon amour I am fine and dandy.

Today Jolanta B here at the Enrichment Center mentioned that my case as officially transitioned to her as Sarah G. my former Case Manager is on leave.

She will send soon a letter to Simona. It is OK, we are all well here in Bakersfield.

Enjoy,, A bit of CR next

Sincerely

Giuseppe

Thursday April 30

Yesterday it was a Wednesday and as usual I went to the gym.

As I will be home this weekend for my son Confirmation I did not sign for the movie outing.

At the gym It was my cycle day. As Angie was not available Pete took over. Pete is the guy at my right hand side.

After cycle it was time for body pump with Sylvia. I stayed light and did not strain myself. And in fact this morning I am perfectly fine.

At the gym Christina did my coverage.

I had a lot of fun as usual. Before leaving I snapped a picture with Charity here pictured at my right hand side. I am realizing that I have to work on my stomach.. well it is what it is.. 

Before going to bed I had a snack, a yummy piadina to keep my metabolism going.

At the gym Silvia is saying that we keep burning calories even when we sleep.

So to make sure that I had calories to burn I  had a good piadina snack.

I washed all my dishes cleaned the kitchen and went to bed.

Soon is going to be Cinquo de Maio. It is a celebration of the Mexican culture. It celebrates the unlikely winning of the Mexican force over the French force. 

When I was in Grenoble, France at ESRF there was a strong Spanish community and it got into the habit of celebrating Cinquo de Mayo.There was a well organized barbecue and a large gathering of people looking forward to spend a nice and relaxing day together.

This is my healthy breakfast.. this morning.

I started my day by letting Simona my wife know that I am fine and dandy and in case I need something I have my Mastercard.. when we talked this morning she laughed with me and she mentioned that Renee currently is the older of the Mastercard.

This morning Luis snapped this picture of me kidding. He knows me and was kind enough to play the game with me.

As I needed to get a couple of sponges for my kitchen I went ahead and got them from James. And again he was kind enough to snap this picture of me, saying Sponge Bob Square Pans!

We are always having a good time together..

This is Sponge Bob Square Pans.,

James  mentioned that with all the stories I am inventing for him I will soon be able to write a book.. he put it down in a bit different and entertaining way.. but the essence of its sentence is the above one.

Our kids are already at school, as always I contacted Simona by phone while she was drinking her Starbucks. 

This is the little routing of ours, She first take the kiddos to school and then at about 9 am I get in touch with her while she seeps her drink.

Our kiddos are going to La Canada Elementary School. Chicco is in IV grade while Lapo is in Kindergarten. They are really good and responsible kiddos.

Their school is a good public school as La Canada has very good public school district.

There are also many really good private schools over there, obviously in such a rich county there are many people that have a lot of money.

At the Enrichment Center today I have been reading the news: in particular there is an interesting  news about a cutting-edge technology that is being developed in Kern County.

Enjoy the reading.. Soon it is lunch time.

Thank you Mon amour..

Baci :)

Giuseppe

Teaser of the day and Lunch for April 29

Q:
I can be long, or I can be short.
I can be grown, and I can be bought.
I can be painted, or left bare.
I can be round, or square.
What am I?

A: a fingernail


I had a wonderful lunch under the patio: Risotto alle zucchine (summer squash risotto with a side of chicken and green kale) finally strawberry salad.

I called home and found Lapo who was busy he did not have lunch yet.
Lapo is always cheerful and quite reserved. He is a precious little boy.
Enjoy
Giuseppe

Wednesday April 29

I cooked eggplant yesterday: slices first and then grilled on the pan. Finally let it soak with Olive Oil, basil and garlic powder. A couple of day of marinating to acquire a  nice and  flavorful taste .

I have also been cooking summer squash risotto.

I was late for my gym time so as I was cleaning up Alexis came to my apartment and waited for me to be ready (# Alexis)

Finally it was time for me to go to the gym  to do boot camp with Ellie, here at my left hand side (the woman in yellow)

Afterward I started doing Zumba with Mike and at 7pm it was time for us to leave to go back to the apartment.

Alexis has been  providing an excellent coverage.. very patient and very helpful.

As they say Alexis #.

Alexis was very kind with me and very patient. I mentioned to her she has been providing an excellent service.

Later I went back to the apartment, and started my shut down procedure:

shower, snack and meds.

The evening snack is a piadina with mortadella and chevre fromage cheese.

A yummy snack, well balanced in flavor and really fulfilling.

I am eating quite healthy right now my weight is $190 lb!.

Well it is what it is..

This morning I wake up early as usual at 6:30am. Compared to my wife sleeping I am doing well.

Quite often she wakes up at 5am and  goes to bed early in the morning at 1am.

She has to do this in order to get ready for her working day as Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Science at Caltech . Simona is a real force of nature and she is trying to do her best by keeping our family united and healthy. 

Anyway my morning breakfast has been very balanced in vitamin, carbs and fiber.

Milk, blueberry, blueberry kefir, Oatmeal, Blueberry flakes with milk.

Finally a bit of cottage cheese and coffee. The whole with a nice setting as I like to have a nice setting at home.

As usual I have been trowing the trash (thank you CNS) greeted Daisy - I am not confusing her with a different flowers (she smiles as she knows I am kidding with her).

As usual I went by the maintenance team to kid with them.

I greeted Jarron and kidded with Lupe the lady that  clean my apartment.

I am trying to keep my apartment as clean as possible so that Lupe does not have to do much,, only the window's glass.

This is a mice picture, that shows my screws have been fixed for today..:)

Simona took the kiddos to school as usual then afterward she got her coffee at Starbucks where I  typically find her.

She mentioned that today Chicco (our eldest) is at home at 3pm. 

He has Tennis practice  between 3-4pm

I brought stickers to Belinda for her daughter and for Starla's daughter. 

Belinda appreciated the stickers and she mentioned her daughter stick it to her face to have fun.

Whatever works.. it is good for me.

This morning at CNS my weight was taken together with my vital.
I am at 190lb. Both temperature and blood pressure are OK.
Well Enjoy the reading..
Sincerely
Giuseppe

Cooking club

1) corn avocado salsa
2) cowboy salsa
3)peach salsa


Ingredient

1) light balsamic vinaigrette
2 fresh bask (one bundle)
3) two  large red onions
4) five large ripe avocados
5) frozen corn
6)Two Red  Bell pepper
7) fresh cilantro
8) Zesty Italian dressing
9)Orange juice
10) Lemon juice
11) Lime Juice
12) four mango
13) four pints of strawberry
14) tomatoes
15) black eyes peas
16) canned corn
17) green onion
18) a package of turkey ham
19) Tortilla chips
20) sweet onions


Shopping next Tuesday

Cooking next Thursday

Enjoy ..
Thank you Amanda

Sincerely
Giuseppe

Tuesday April 28

Yesterday I got back to the apartment on time to make a wonderful pizza. 

Lapo calls it Pixza. 

I used the dough I had purchased earlier with the tomatoes sauce for pizza.

I dressed it with eggplant grilled beforehand  on a pan and let soak in Olive oil with garlic powder and basil leaves.

I garnished the pizza with basil leaves.. 

The stone was sprinkled with  with corn meal and the pizza stone was really really hot.

So it took about 15 minutes for the pizza to be done.

This is Simona's picture and Lapo sitting on her lap. It was taken at the time of Chicco's first communion.

Yesterday after dinner I went to the 24 fitness gym to do Yoga. She is Erica as usual our Yoga instructor, 

After Yoga I started doing cycle with Lolita and at 7pm it was time to go back to the apartment.

April did my coverage at the gym.

I had a snack and a shower and then came back home.

This morning as usual I went to the maintenance guy to greet Jarry, James and Caesar and to goof with them.

They let me chance the channel to my brain for the day and to select to the correct clear one.

Enjoy Meditation is next

Simona is fine, she took our kiddos to school as usual she is having a busy day.

Giuseppe

Monday April 27 post lunch

It is a very good day to seat outside under the patio. The temperature is warm and very pleasant.

As usual I am enjoying my lunch  under the patio to breath some fresh hair.. it is my lunch break after all. I feel claustrophobic eating inside the center. Beside I am always seeing something great outside under the patio.

Something pleasant to see, pleasing to my eyes.

Inside there are not many pleasant things to see ..

 I had a wonderful chicken tings seasoned. This time I have forgotten to roll it in bread crumbs as a result they are quite greasy- I guess it is because the chicken where very well fed.

This is my work on Luminosity for today.

I met Jolanta my Case Manager here at the AAC, I have mentioned her the few words I learnt in Polish.

- How are you? Jak Sie masz  (iak shi mash)

dzien dobry (gin dobre): good day 

Alright enough about Polish,.

During lunch I called home and found Lapo who was eating at home with Anna my wonderful mother in law. He had risotto alle zucchine (Summer squash rice) and he mentioned he had a good lunch. I called my wife Simona as well. She called me earlier today to mention she would have been busy the whole day. I am sure she has a full plate on her desk everyday. 

It is great knowing she is working hard.. well as I talked with Anna my mother in law and Simona's mom, my wife Simona has a lot to do.

Sometime she works late at night or she wakes up really early in the morning to work before everybody in the house is awaken.

She is always active and on a deadline.

Well she is my wife. Her job? She is Assistant Professor at Caltech University.

Enjoy the reading.

Mon amour thank you.

Please be safe.

Enjoy the reading.

Sincerely

Giuseppe

Fine and Dandy mon amour

Enjoy !

A great breakfast as usual

A goofing picture to start my day

Don't you worry my love.. I am fine and dandy.

Baci

Monday April 27 2015

Last Friday I went to the gym and worked on my Zumba with Honey. Honey is the smiling lady at my right hand side.

While at the gym I met Janice and Larry

Larry keeps repeating me that only Cranberry juice and Vodka is good for me.

I went to the gym with Reyes.

On Saturday it was July the 25th (Festa della liberazione in Italy).

So  I snapped a high five picture with my family.

On Saturday morning as usual after taking care of the apartment: washing all my clothes , changing the bed, washing all towel and bathrobe, I went to do grocery shopping.

She is Kenvas, I asked about her son Dante

The beers behind me is all expired, but good for a picture.

I spent $108.05 ( ouch!)

As usual I got stickers for distributing around, and ticket for the raffle as I brought back the reusable bags.

I wrote a letter to my boys: in English and block letters.

Chicco was attending a party of a schoolmate of his with Simona while Lapo was at home with Anna, my mother in law.

I double checked at the reception that I was on the list for the movie outing, somebody did crossed me out, I showed that my phone is programmed to alert me every Wednesday at 5pm to book for the movie. And hence  I was back on the list.

I went to see a very nice movie : Age of Adaline.

A movie about love, strength and determination.

Of course I had a cherry coke and an ice cream.

Finally I snapped a few picture around.  He is Shawn, his son is doing great.

She is another smiling face at the movie theater.

Well on the way back from the movie theaters we were all crumbed in a small van.. all mixed up -smokers and no smokers-- according to the best medical practice.

On Sunday April 26 I wrote another letter to my sons.

As it was a great day I snapped a picture out looking from my apartment.

It is a really 5 stars resort... isn't it.

And the best of all is that it is free.

Before going to the gym I  have prepared  a great Strawberry fruit Salad.

With  a raw cane sugar and a  lot of lemon juice.

It will take a few days to extract all the juice from the strawberry.

At 1pm I then checked with Rene my wonderful RTC and presented her the long list I had for personal shopping: A hard shell suitcase, a passport holder and credit card vallet ( $139.75)

She prized my being proactive with her.

She smiled at me and inquired if instead I would like to the gym next Tuesday. So I am going to the gym.. (She knows me very well.. thank you Renee)

 Renee mentioned that her family keeps her very busy. She has 4 boys with her  eldest being 19 years old. She is a very very busy mom.

In the afternoon at 2pm I went to the gym: I focused on leg exercise stepper for my leg strength.

I did my abdominal and shoulder. Then at 3pm it was time to go back to the apartment. 

Elizabeth provided my coverage while at the gym.

After the gym I came back to the apartment, took a shower and got ready for church on H street.

Alex drove us to church.

Here is the riddle for today:

Q: If you had five mango and two bananas in one hand and two mango and four bananas in another hand what would you have?

A:very large hands..

This morning Simona - my wonderful wife- called me and mentioned that she had a very very busy day at Caltech University (She is assistant Professor at Caltech)

Our kids are at school. Lapo is going to be home at noon today.  Chicco is  going directly at Taekwon do with Lapo at 5pm.

I will try to time my calling them in the pm to say by.
Enjoy the reading.
Sincerely
Giuseppe

Dr Madrilejo visit on April 23

Yesterday I went to Dr. Madrilejo office. He runs a very nice and efficient practice here in Bakersfield.

His staff has been very polite and very helpful.

Jessica was with me at all time. I was dropped off at his office and later brought back at the AAC.

This is the short report I wrote in my memory book.

1) weight 191lb
igf1 118 (normal range)
Thyroid OK, TSH 1.7 normal

He was really kind and very efficient as usual.

Simona had arranged everything for my visit so no co-payment was due as we are in a high-deductible tax regime.

Jessica was with me this time.

Dr. Madrilejo mentioned that I need to repeat the test in 3 month (July 23 is already set up)
If my igf1 is stable we will have to run the test once in a while.

As usual his office was very efficient.

Thank you everybody,
Sincerely
Giuseppe

post lunch posting April 24

I had my lunch outside under the patio.

Candy prepared food for everybody.. yet I brought my own food. Risotto with zucchini quash with bouillon cube by Anna. I seasoned it with butter and Parmesan cheese.

I then had chicken tender breaded and a side of a healthy spinach salad with Chia seeds, tomatoes, a tad of onion. Dressed with Olive Oil and vinegar.  Finally I had a fruit salad with strawberry.

All served under the porch outside as usual. Today is a very nice day to eat outside.

Afterward I had my coffee drink and finally brushed my teeth.

Merari was so kind today to wash my plastic container so I am praising her for her kindness.

While I had  lunch I called my mom in Verona Italy. She is doing great, she mentioned that over the weekend my sister Isabella who leaves in Germany will spend a few days with her in Verona.

This is a picture of Ponte Pietra in Verona. The river is called Adige. There are many bridges in my home town. I wish you had the chance to visit it one day.

Tomorrow is the 25th of April, and in Italy this corresponds to a celebration.

Liberation Day in Italy

Liberation Day is a national holiday in Italy that is annually celebrated on April 25. 

It marks the fall of Mussolini's Italian Social Republic and the end of the Nazi 

occupation in Italy in 1945,

 towards the end of the second World War.

Let's not forget my family here in La Canada, US.

have also called home in La Canada and  and spoke with Anna 

my mother in law and Lapo our little one.

He had just finished polpettone with potatoes prepared by Anna.

I have also called Simona and found her in her office. She was doing great.

She mentioned that her days is doing well. I confirmed after her that I am doing well.

Her  days is going well and this is important to me.

This morning I had no time to reach Simona so I left a voice mail instead. 

She confirmed it was a fast moving day.

Enjoy your reading.. some CR work.

Sincerely

Giuseppe

Luminosity April 24

Friday April 24

Yesterday I came back home and wrote a letter to Chicco and Lapo. In English and block letters.

As I was writing I cooked summer squash risotto. The recipe is from Anna -my wonderful mother in law.

The risotto is with grated cheese, bouillon and butter.  

Our kiddos were at Taekwon do. 

After writing to my kids, cooking and eating dinner it was time for me to go to the 24 fitness gym

I then went to dance Zumba at the gym. Our instructor was Mike. I then started doing strength training with Lee Anne and it was time to go back home.

Reyes provided an excellent coverage at the gym

At my left hand side is Charity. She is always good to me.

Reyes came with me at the gym. So I am thanking him and all CNS for his coverage.

After the gm I came back at the apartment, took a soothing shower and got a Piadina  snack, The flat bread was fillet with green beans and mortadella...really a good late evening snack.

Yummy .. 

This morning I wake up early as usual and get my normal morning routine done.

I had my yummy breakfast: milk, Oatmeal, Bran Cereal, fresh blueberry and blueberry Kefir.

I like to eat healthy.. and as I am independent I like to get my preferred yummy food.

I keep track on my calories intake with an app on my phone (My fitness pal)

This is a picture of my breakfast today

This morning I also went to wish a good weekend to James, Jarron and Caesar. Also I greeted Paul to let him know I was leaving, he was kidding with me telling he does not believe me as I have a large fantasy. I guess I cried wolf with him too many times.

James snapped this picture at the workshop with me pretending to be ready for shipment back home.

At the park I met Laurent who was walking his dog Rusty. He mentioned that he is doing well, he had knees replacement and he is doing well. His wife Ruth is also going through the same experience.

We I wish to the both of them all the best.

Today I could not reach my wife Simona as she was already gone at the university. I left her a voice mail not to worry anyway.  It is all good in Bakersfield.. as they say no news is good news.

Enjoy the reading.

Sincerely

Giuseppe