Tuesday January 31

It is the last day of the month.

Temperatures are falling and the weather is showing signs of cold.

Some more rain is expected for the weekend.

This is good for California as a whole.

The park in the early morning is calm and silent under the dense morning fog.

There are a lot of us suffering from the cold, some of us have a cough.
I have a cough, I am taking Congesta and Roubitussin on a regular basis.


It has reached me as well. I am suffering from a mild congestion.

I am taking Rubitussin every four hours has needed.

This morning at the reception I have found that I received a letter from my mother in Italy.

It contains a letter from her and a few things from my youth back at home.

She found an old postcard I sent her from a summer camp in Asiago

It was in a book she was reading.

She is always finding interesting letters and postcards from my early time in Italy.

It means I was taking good care of my family then. 

Historically I have always tried to take care of my mother, she knows it and I remember it.

I did my best to support her and to make sure she received the best help around.

Anyway this is the park this morning

I had a light breakfast. As I have been sleeping very poorly last night I called nursing in the middle of the night for a cough medication. I have a bad cough and consequently congestion.  This cough is in the community as well. It is something that is going around here in Bakersfield.

Nursing has been checking many times my lungs. It is all clear.

Yesterday evening cooking: egg dipped cod filet.

The defrosted cod fillet was waiting for a special preparation

I broke an egg in a container, added simple spice and dipped the cod filet in it.

Afterward I rolled the cod filet on a plate with flour and  panned it.

I cooked the fish in the oven on a pan with some Coconut Oil.

It cooked quickly and uniformly.

In the final minutes I used the broil for a quick toasting of the surface.

I had a quick byte clean it all and then  off to the gym.

A supervisor Cassandra  took me to the gym as it was a cold day to walk by myself.

I had Yoga with Lilli first

Afterward I had cycle with Alma.

She is the happy lady at my right hand. 

At  7pm it was time for me to leave. I stretched got a picture of the instructor and left.

At about 7pm another  supervisor came to pick me up from the gym.

I checked back in at the apartment. I cleaned myself, got a light snack and get ready for my night.

I had troubles sleeping well. I am coughing and feeling congested.

I slept very poorly last night.

I woke up early this morning. I  got mylight  breakfast 

Banana, Organic Whole Milk, Cereal High Fiber, Strawberries and Blueberries, Breakfast Trek Mix

A good and light breakfast

I cleaned everything before leaving.

I went to grab the newspaper and to walk in the park.

I took the bus for AAC. In the morning I greeted everybody. I read the newspaper with the salient news of the day. At 11am it was time to sign out and to leave for my work program.

Here I am working at my computer.

I had the chance also to place a few phone calls to take care of business that in my mind is important and  pending.

After my phone call I have been reassured it is going to be taken care once I am back at the apartment.

It finally clears this matter out.

For lunch a soup and the left over baked cod fillet. As a side an Apple.

The plan for this evening.

Well I am signed on for Personal Shopping at 6:30pm

This means I have the time of implementing the cooking plan I have.

I am planning to make Zucchini boats tonight.

I purchased the basic ingredient and we will see how the execution will go.

I am planning to take the time to improvise for the part that needs some improvisation.

Monday January 30

I am afflicted by a cold and I am trying to get over it.
The local temperature and weather condition may have something to do with it.

I cough, my chest is at time tight. I am taking medication for it.

I had a good and independently made breakfast

This is the time to get a cold.

Anyway I had a great weekend.

Last Friday January 27  I signed out and went to the gym by myself for my Zumba time
Here at the usual nice and kind people at the gym.At 5 pm  I had my Metagenics and I signed out from CNS. I walked to the gym at  5:30 pm I arrived there.

After Zumba a CNS van was ready for pick me up.

The morning of last Saturday January 28 was spent with the usual activity of the weekend.

I cleaned the whole apartment.

I took care of washing all my personal clothes and cleaning the apartment.
Running the vacuum cleaners on the floor tile

As I had time I cleaned the carpet in the living room

Next it was the time for both bedrooms. Mine was the first one.

I carefully cleaned my bathroom using the cleaning products in the apartment.

I washed the floor in both the kitchen and bathroom

I looked around for any dust that needed to be taken care of.

Finally it was all looking good and smelling good.

At 11 am I had time to do Grocery Shopping at Trader's Joe.

As always I had a very pleasant experience. I purchased most Organic food.

A lot of fiber and healthy ingredient for a great grocery shopping.

At the store Jamie was happy to see me there. It is an hectic time at the store, yet she manages to carve a minute to snap a funny picture with me.

This time my bill was  $118.98 

Which is a lot in itself. As a matter of fact the previous week I spent only $60.69

This averages to $90 a week. As I am given $75 per week I am definitely spending more than I am bringing in.

Here is my  shopping spree.

I like to cook from scratch and cook healthy. As a result my grocery bills has historically been on the high side.

Once back at the apartment I tagged all the grocery and stored it neatly in the fridge.

The bananas are going on the the counter together with the kiwis.

In the evening I went to the Maya movie  theater.

I saw the movie Gold. It is about a mining operation in Africa.

Everybody is convinced to have found a money maker business.

The mining  company that is searching for the gold believed it had found the jackpot.

Within a day the whole life of many  people is transformed as they all become  very rich.

The story shows what the questionable  influence of the newly found gold  on these people's life.

It is a dream that keeps going. It is  going and going until the whole castle come down crashing to hearth. The gold was not there it was only  fool gold.

Suddenly the whole castle crashes down to earth an many people loose the acquired richness.

It shows how much greed and personal ambition affects everybody's life. However it shows that people want to believe in a big dream.

Anyway I enjoyed very much the movie.

Last Sunday January 29 it was a pleasant but cold day.

I took my weight at the apartment. It is 175.4lb

 I had a good healthy breakfast

Cooked Oatmeal, cereal with Organic blueberry, strawberry, Cereal medley and Organic Milk

A lot of simple and healthy food.

Later at 10am I went to church. Over there the building was crowded.

My offer was the balance of the outing money, that is $4.75

After church I went back to the apartment. I had a quick lunch. I signed out at 1:30pm on my way to the 24 fitness gym.

I took  me 20 minutes to walk to the gym. Walking calmly and reflecting on the walk.

A good practice to get ready for the  workout.

At the gym on Sunday I am following my own fine tuned program.

I walked on the Stair Master machine -aka stepper.

I set in at level 5 and did the stepper for 60 minutes.

During this time I covered a distance equals to 4.69 miles.

It is a good exercise for my body to use the stepper at a regular rate.

I am trying to increase the speed slowly and steadily.
Afterward I had time to work on the multi mode trainer at level 5.

In this machine I am pulling a cord downward using protective glove for my hand.

I am covering the distance equals to 1 miles.

Cassie Recommended me to use this machine as it is strengthening the back muscle.

After ward I had time to stretch in the large room at the gym. Once the cooling down and stretching phase was done I walked back to the apartment by myself. I signed back in at 4:35 pm on time for a snack and my pm meds.

I spent my evening cooking and writing.

Here is the lentil soup I prepared. I diced carrots, celery, onion and potatoes.

And of course the precooked lentils soup from Trader Joe's. It was time to use it.

Of course Coconut Oil for a healthy cooking is a constant presence.

While Cooking I wrote a letter to my mother in Verona Italy.

I  wrote her to tell her I am fine and the family is doing well.

I sent it Sunday evening January 29. It will take several weeks to reach her in Italy.

There is something to be said about writing a letter and mailing it.

In today's world this  is a lost craft.
My mother emailed me these pictures. It is a letter that I sent her in 1986. Imagine it is 30 years old.

I sent her from a summer camp in Italy in Asiago. Different generation and different times.

My grocery bills has been increasing again because I used the whole food I made earlier and stored in the freezer. I  used all the food done back in time.

 Actually I am still left with a frozen fish and a pizza. I am not sure when I will find the courage to get to it.

Maybe the fish is going in a soup today.

We will see

Enjoy the reading
Giuseppe

Friday January 27

It is an Eye mart eye glass day.

We went to the Eye mart store  on Ming Ave. and they mentioned for $90 they were able to replace both lenses within a few hours.

I was then taken back to the apartment to grab my wallet.  I had no money on me.

My wife had told me she was ready to pay over the phone with a credit card.

However once at the store they told me they were not able to process this kind of payment.

 I ended up using my personal money. Luckily I had enough of it.

Then I was taken back to the store, paid the lens and let them process the order.

I kept the receipt  for my wife to use for the tax.

Today I am using my sunglasses that are graduated.

Not ideal but it works.

Sincerely

Giuseppe

Thursday January 26

Yesterday evening I was booked for a haircuts.

As planned ahead I cooked  a good chicken broth.

I had the time to cut onions, garlic, celery, carrots, potatoes for making a soffritto.

As always I used  Coconut Oil for the soffritto.

Here are all the ingredients ready to be used

Here is the soffritto and the chicken legs getting browned together

I let the soup boil with water and  a bit of salt and herbs.

Once ready I added Olive Oil and Parmesan Cheese.

Olive Oil is always used in raw form. 

Afterward I went to Great Clips for a haircuts.

Over there I found that  the price in the outing sheet was outdated. It was raised to $15. As the outing schedule was wrong  my IPC was not aware either. Lucky I was carrying some extra dollar with me.

It is now $15.

Based on my experience the other day, the person was extremely rude and fairly unpleasant.

There was obviously something wrong with her.

She did not even thank me for tipping her $2...

Next time no tip for you guys at Great Clips.

By the way I just called them to let them know about my bad experience. 

There was no manager available. I talked with one of the employee and reported I am  not a satisfied customer..they asked me for my phone number. So I gave it to them.

I had a good and healthy breakfast today

This morning as part of the money management program  I was paid.

The money was ready for me.

I have $75 for grocery and $24 for outing.

Actually as agreed it was ready an extra $40 from my personal account .

I judged that I had enough money with me and that I did not need any extra.

So I let Miss Mary know at the reception that I did not need it this week.

She agreed and shredded the receipt for the extra money.

I went to take the newspaper and walk in the park. It is a nice and cold day.

As always I snapped a picture of the park . 

Time to eat

Wednesday January 25

It is a good Wednesday in California.

A cold weather yet a dry one.

I slept well and wake up by myself.

I am trying to catch up on some sleep at about 6:30am I am waking up.

The light is coming up later during the day.


As every morning I took care of myself and called my family.

Today the boys were already up and running. I talked to  the both of them and later they went to school.

It is a nice day to walk in the park.

A every morning I am enjoying the early hours of the days.

My morning walk brings me to the paper kiosk as well.

I am purchasing my daily newspapers with the money I have from the reception.

Today it my day for the receipt of money management program.

As part of the money management program this morning I gave at the reception  the change and receipt for the grocery and the outing.

As a matter of fact last weekend I spent only $60.69 for food. It is a first ever for me as normally I go over the budget. I am trying to rotate the food I made and stored in the freezer. It is good to rotate it on a regular basis. This is what I am doing during this time. Except tonight I am going to cook a chicken broth.

I returned the receipt with the money left over -oh don't forget the penny- at the reception I was told.


Obviously the  XXI century has not arrived at CNS yet.

Nowadays there are more efficient ways to move money between consumers and merchants.

For instance using plastic.. Obviously it has not caught up with the local reality at CNS.. still a penny based economy.

A penny here penny there then you quickly  find yourself as a real  millionaire.. if you see where this matter leads.

Park this morning

Anyway I  have myself a good breakfast
I had a healthy and fulfilling  cooked Oatmeal, blueberry with cereal and Organic Milk.

I completed it with  Organic High Fiber Multi grain Medley.

It is all good and healthy.

Regarding the receipts I am going to keep the outing money and receipts until later today.

In the evening I am scheduled to go to Great Clips for a Haircuts.

Pricing $14 plus $2 tips =$16

Yesterday evening my Case Manager called the Eyeglass company regarding my eyeglass.

I was there earlier during the day and they mentioned both lenses need to be replaced because of the damage that occurred to one of them.

 It did not click to them to go a step further in the conversation and explain to me what they told my Case Manager on the phone. 

I feel they are not really providing any service by switching on their brain when the people are working.

At the phone they told her that  very likely they might be able to do it on the same day.

Anyway It is sounds like a solution is near.

Moving on.

I had a quick and light dinner and then went to the gym

I had a stuffed pepper from my freezer and an apple.

I had my metagenics meds and left.

Yesterday a NRS from CNS wanted to check my meds.

I told him that only Nursing is allowed to check the meds, no other personnel from CNS.

The guy told me he had a degree on urgent care... Well as a matter of fact that  degree does not quality him to wear a white shirt nor to get into the medication cabinets of my apartment.

I am sure the line has been drawn very clearly.

And in fact the nurse Miss Araceli came with another NRS Maria Fernanda to check it.

I signed then out at 4:25 pm. I walked by myself at the gym where I arrived at 5:05 pm

I was well on time for my class.

I had the chance of catching Karen's cycle class.

The second class I had was body pump with Ellie. Light weight and repetition. 

Fatiguing  the muscle with repetition and form.

Finally I had a third and final class.

Zumba with Mike. This is an OK class. Not much of a fun any longer. I should resolve myself to skip it all together.

Afterward I was really exhausted and hungry.

I had brought with me an  apple as a snack

It is a good way to quickly refuel carbs for the body.

Mr Diego from CNS came to pick me up at the gym at 7pm.

He drove me back at the apartment. I signed back in and got ready for my night.

Over there I showered got another snack. This time it was a peanut butter, honey sandwich.

Protein and carbs.

I had my sleeping meds and waited for my evening Ambient pill. 

It came at about 9pm. Janie brought to me.

As always this is an induced sleep and  there are no dreams in it.

My brain is artificially put to sleep and has no dreamlike activity at all.

I had a good induced sleeping time. I am always using hear plugs and the retainer for my teeth. The retainer is because I grind my teeth during my sleep. It is not surprising after all. 

It is all standard procedure to me.

A couple of things before lunch.

Together with my tooth paste I am using baking soda to brush my teeth. 

There are many and very interesting use for this product.

It looks like my  teeth are  brightening and whitening up.

It definitely sounds like I am supposed to protect my teeth by limiting to two times at weeks the use of the baking soda. It is noted.

I also using baking soda in the apartment to absorb any kitchen odor.  I use it to clean the faucet and the white surfaces.

This is a very versatile compound to use in the apartment: cleaning, brushing, deodorizing.

It sounds like it is very capable to remove stain on fabric.

Reading thought the link  it  can also  be used to absorb any odors in my gym shoes. 

We will see how this matter goes next. It is my next little project.

Surprise surprise this morning I went to the AAC read the newspaper with the salient news of the day and then came here. 

I consulted with Amanda and agreed coming here is the best choice rather than following alternative leads I was given.

I had a very quick lunch, standing next to the microwave as the table was busy.

One thing I learn trough my sejour here is to eat while  standing and quickly.

There is no place to eat in  peace... in this place. To chew your food calmly.

Apparently this is the country of the fast food, also the place where there is  a total lack of understanding of the benefit of eating slowly and calmly. The land where eating well and healthy is really an option for the few.

I learnt to gulp down my food and to care very little about its status. It is always good and healthy food.

This is matching the local tradition of eating no matter what and no matter its status.

It is obviously something that needs to be rectified ins't?

Also the noises at the apartment are many, grass cutter wake up call to drink...

Really a wonderful and pleasant environment for sure to make sure the adrenal glands are stressed to work at its maximum.

Then you ask do you have any headache, is your shunt OK today... well only minor nausea.

Enjoy the reading

Giuseppe Rossi

Tuesday January 24

Yesterday evening I came back to the apartment and had a quick dinner

I am using the food stored in the freezer because I am trying to rotate it

It was a stuffed bell pepper  from the freezer with newly cooked Basmati rice.

Afterward I went to the gym

Both Chicco and Lapo were doing homework yesterday.

I had Yoga with Lilli and cycle with Misty.

At yoga I did my best in  keeping my legs straight and my balance going.

At the gym there are other people much more flexible than me at a different fitness level than mine.

I am going there to feel good and to avoid any injury in my body.

Cycle is always cycle and it is closely matching a real life experience of an outdoor trip

She is Misty always happy to see me working out over there.

I stretched before leaving.

Afterward An NRS from CNS came to pick me up from the gym.

I learnt to keep in my bag an apple to refuel my body after my work out. 

 I get hungry petty quickly after my work out and I do not want to buy any snack  food at the gym

I checked back at the apartment cleaned up and got ready for my evening.

I slept well and waked up very rested.

I got a good breakfast. Cereal, with High Fiber Fruit and Nut Multi-grain Medley Cereal, Organic blueberry and Organic milk. Also  Organic yogurt with Chia Seeds

Finally it was time for my cup of coffee with frothed milk.

I walked in the park get the newspaper 

the park is recovering from the latest rain that has been trenching California.

Speaking of the rain, California is almost exiting a period of drought. You can read the Los Angles Time that is reporting about it.

Simona and the kids are fine.

The family is well today they are busy with their activity,

As always the kids are at school and Simona is at work.

I went to the AAC this morning, I got a quick chat with my Case Manager. Took a few good notes on my memory book. Got another book to write down any negative feeling that I may have.

Today the plan for me is to go to Eyemart tocheck if they can fix my eyeglasses. The lens felt off while I was taking a shower and it got scratched. The spot is right in the center of the lens some how my brain has to learn to get over it.