Tuesday Sept 27

Today I am well, rested and physically fine.

On the Internet the Mayo Clinic recommends to sleep with a pillow between the knees in order to alleviate any back pain.

It is used to align the spinal cord.

 I tried last night and I can already feel the difference this morning.
My back is fine and the pain significantly reduced.

I have been battling back pain for a long time. It is my fault as at the gym I must have strained my back by charging it too much. Since then I have been trying to stay light so that not to compromise it.


In the morning I had a good walk at the park. Pushing my morning walk in the open to enjoy the day.
It is a hot day already. Today is the hottest day of the week. The cooling trend is going to start tomorrow. It is forecast that by Saturday it will be only 76F (25C)

Air quality Pollutant PM 2.5 Good 4.6.  Ozone 133 (unhealthy for sensitive people)
Overall the air quality is OK not great due to the Ozone.

As I mentioned this is the local park near the apartment

The local flowers are always a good subject to capture in the morning

As the weather is perfect nature is thriving.

Even at the apartment the basil in my balcony is growing strong and happy.

I am keeping it moist with water and soaked with water infused by tobacco from a cigarette I had somewhere. 

The use of water flavored with nicotine  is a simple natural remedy to keep the little bugs away from my plants.

This morning I had a good and healthy breakfast

NPR is busy talking and analyzing yesterday Presidential Debate.

It is the first of a set of three  leading into the Presidential Election.

Yesterday evening I watched this CNN program rather than going to the gym.

An interesting debate that shows the difference of personality between the candidates.

A CNN poll later concluded that the debate had a net winner.

They  have different styles and substances.

As I was watching this program very closely I did not go to the gym

I instead spent my time cooking. I prepared grilled eggplant. I sliced it into thin slices and cooked on a hot pan. Each slice requires a few minutes of contact on a hot pan.

I finely chopped the garlic. Also I cut some fresh basil that I took from my balcony.

I layered the cooked eggplant with garlic and basil and let it soaking  with  olive Oil.
 It is going to be ready in a couple of  days.

I received a letter from my mom in Italy.

Yesterday the kids were busy at Taekwondo.

My five Simona was busy doing a qualifying exam at Caltech University.

Everybody is busy as always.

The kids are fine with Simona.

She is taking are of the house while I am gone.
It has been this routine for the past  years, as I have been gone for  the past four  years.

It is OK, I am working on my rehabilitation program.
Right now my physical rehabilitation is what is at stake.

I  am busy doing some activity by myself.  This is the way I like to be handled.
I am a IOP (Independent Operating Patient)

Yet I am in a structured environment that provides me activities during the day.

At the AAC I have well defined activities.

Typically In the morning I wait for everybody to be settled in and I read the newspapers.

There are local, national and international news to cover.

Then at 11am I sign out from the clinic and come at the Homes of Hope where I am staying until 2:30pm

Here at the Home of Hope I have  a variety of tasks to accomplish. Some time I worked on tasks that  are needed for the Agency.

Other time I am free to work on my own activity. I have a laptop that belong to the Homes of Hope.

The key is to stay busy.

As always I bring stickers to all the kids of the center.
It is a small gesture that makes me happy and makes them happy.

Lately I received Halloween stickers from Trader Joe's  and I am bringing  it to the kids.

I know that kids love stickers and every day there is a new batch for them.

At the apartment I have a composting box that I have received at the beginning of the months.

I am using it to compost. I am using it to hold vegetable and fruit parts. I put my used coffee powder inside as well. I mix it with some shredded newspaper and brown bags from Trader Joe's.

As far as I have been reading ideally you should have two boxes, the first one for the things on progress and the second one for the latest composting items.

Well it quickly get complicated and you see it quickly gets our of hand.

It is said you should keep three boxes : the on going one, the long term one and a third for middle term.

Oh well it is best to start with one.

Today my Case Manager asked me if I wanted to meet with her and talk.

I felt there was no need to do so this morning at AAC.


It is all good. We are fine

Enjoy
Giuseppe