April 14 Thursday

Simona will be attending a conference in Tropical Meteorology in Puerto Rico,

She is going to give a talk and her group has a poster to present.

She is as always a very busy lady.

At home Anna my mother in law is going to stay with our boys.

The boys are going to keep their activities going while Simona is going to be on travel.

The flowers for you mon amour is my daily rose.

This morning walk in the park was as pleasant as always.


I completed my money management program for today.

CNS is giving me $75 for Grocery Shopping and $24 for outing.

I am fully balancing my outing money as what I am not using for the movie and the snack goes to S. Philips church for charity.


My expenses for grocery shopping are more complex. It highly depends on the week and on the month. Whenever I need money my RTC  Anna is making sure that I have it.



Considering that I like to eat healthy and I am always eating at home, I  have been maintaining a healthy budget.

Yesterday I eat Jasmine rice with meat ball and some carrot as a side.

Some time ago I purchased the frozen meatball at Trader Joe's. I felt it was time to eat it.
I do not believe I am going to purchase it any longer. I checked the rating on the web and it is not really good for either the meat nor the meatless ones.
Oh well what is done is done.


Yesterday I went to the gym and took classes.

I had cycle with Misty. I set the bike on high so that to fully extend my legs.

Afterward I took body pump with Sylvia.

I focused on light weight, repetition and range of motion.

Obviously I am not the type of person going to the gym to bulk up.

I am going there to release whatever stress I am accumulating and to stay fit.

I greeted Sylvia with a high five. She knows me quite well. She is used to see me over there at the 24 fitness gym on Gosford.

Part of my recovering process is to be able to bend my legs and to maintain a straight posture.

My walking is off, I sense it and everybody else in the community sees it.

Yet I am walking and moving my leg in front of each other.

Steady and surely.

For the boys.. little yellow crickets 

Here are the boys activities for the week:

Monday Taekwondo

Tuesday Homework

Wednesday Piano

Thursday Taekwondo

Friday Tennis for Chicco, Lapo plays with Alan

Saturday Tennis

Sunday Swimming at the Rose Bowl

Enjoy the reading.

Sincerely

Wednesday April 13 2016

Yesterday after therapy I came back home to the apartment and cooked myself a good asparagus frittata

I first cooked the asparagus then mixed with a couple of eggs.

It was a delicious dinner.

Protein, fiber and carbs.

Our kids had homework at home, Anna was with them to follow their activities.

Both the boys are independently able to do their homework.

Chicco is 10 and very independent. Lapo has a project for school and requires Anna's supervision. She in my mother in law. She is normally residing in Rome Italy. When Simona has a plan to travel for her work, Anna is covering for her by coming to stay with us in La Canada.

At home over there there is a large and comfortable part of the house dedicated for her accommodation. 

It is a private quarter dedicate for our  guests. She is comfortably staying with us.

At the apartment I found brand new furniture for my living room.

A new recliner a a brand new couch.

My apartment is looking really nice.

I like to keep it as clean as possible as right now it is my house.

It has been my house for the past years, and I like to keep is at my best.

Anyway after dinner I  cleaned  my dishes and went to the gym.

I typically wash the dish  hand as it saves water.

Beside I  typically do not accumulate too many dishes  for myself.

I run the dish washer once in a while, to make sure it is kept up and working.

Yesterday I  was at the gym on time.

I greeted Karen who was there before me.  I did have time to do body pump with Ellie, light weight and repetition. 

Range of motion and  working on my legs and  balance.

I have been focusing on my lower extremity reeducation, on my overall posture and sense of well being. 

At the gym I am protecting my back as I do not want to strain it any longer... a very painful self inflicted accident to have.

At the gym they all know me very well.. and they are all working with me to make sure I am safe and doing well.

Finally after Ellie I had Zumba with Mike. 

At 7pm as agreed with Lisa it was time for me to leave and to go back to the apartment.

After the gym before leaving I took a selphie to show I was feeling well.

Lisa drove me there and came to take me back on time.

I went back to the apartment with other patients.

We stopped a long at a local shop as they had to buy some water.

It was very late for me so I went inside the shop and got a snack for me as I was hungry.

I choose a box of  Quinoa cracker.

The least unhealthy snack I could find at the store.

I enjoyed it a lot.

I had my evening shower got my evening banana for potassium and my evening meds. 

I went to bed at 9:30pm when I had my Ambient.

I wake up at 6am as usual after an uneventful night.. meaning it has all been very quite. Slept well indeed. Without hear plugs as it has been quite at the apartment,.

This morning I  did all my morning activities. I also took care of the apartment by letting maintenance know that I needed their help to fix a dead screw in my bathroom.

I had a good breakfast today. A lot of milk, a yogurt, blueberry and a bit of coffee.

I am using a lot of flax deeds that I am sprinkling on my my yogurt and on my cereal.

Simona and the boys are fine. Yesterday the boys were at home as they had homework to do.

Anna is following their activities as Simona is busy at Caltech.

Our eldest Chicco is 10 and he is definitely independent.

Our youngest Lapo is very conscious as well. 

Marina always says that "Lapo es listo" which means "Lapo is smart"

The boys are doing great, they are following their activities at home while I am following my program here at CNS.

Each of us has its own program to follow.

At CNS my Case Manager is making sure I doing better and better.

Also the director of AAC Amanda K. is making sure I am OK.

All therapists at CNS are looking after all the patients.

The daily flowers at the apartment are the following ones..

It is hard for me to pass by and resist  snapping a couple of pictures 

It makes a great picture for a great camera phone.

Beside I am sending it to Simona and to everybody I am caring for..

As usual at the apartment I am helping around with throwing whatever box of trash that is left around. As  I have been told many times, if it is not yours do not do it...

well I like to think it is left for me to work on it.,

When I feel like throwing I am working on it.

Here at AAC I have been reading the important fact of the newspaper for today.

Afterward I am feeling my daily blog per my program.

Today it is my day for turning the receipt in at the apartment. 

I am typically balancing my outing money. I an using it for movie outing on Friday, a snack (edamame and green tea). Last tune it was $19.75

I am offering for church at S. Philips the Apostle in Bakersfield typically  between $4.25 and $5.25

On the grocery shopping it is a bit more hard for me to keep things under control.

I eat at the apartment very well, I like to buy healthy and good food.

I am always spending a bit more on the grocery shopping.

I am shopping at Trader Joe's. My grocery bill is certainly not cheap.. I am trying to stay focused on my list. I have a very various and healthy grocery list.

There are certainly cheap places to shop like Winco or Walmart.

Yet I do not like them. I have been a few times at Winco.

 It has not been a good experience for me.

I am set for Trader Joe's. I feel I am a loyal and happy customer of them.

I am regularly checking on my food to make sure the expiration date is  in range.

 hence I am eating first was it due to expire next.

I am fairly independent on this matter.

I like to eat a lot of great food, veggy. I have my protein from my white meat (chicken), I eat Tilapia fish on a regular basis. I eat a lot of eggs. It is a superfood for the body.

I  like to sprinkle my salad using flax seeds. I can use it on the morning in my yogurt.

It is a good source of Omega 3 fatty acid.

Enjoy the reading ..time to eat.

As a lunch I brought me a sandwich. It was a peanut butter jelly sandwich. 

As a side carbs from fruits: apple and kiwi.

I guess for the level of physical activity at AAC, I am set for a light sandwich.

I then eat more in the morning and in the evening at the apartment where I feel there is much less commotion and I have things under control.

Tomorrow another sandwich.

I called my mom in Italy

Her voice is happy and her wit very important to me.

It has been raining back there. 

The rain came from Africa and brought some sand with it.

My mother told me that the cars  were covered by a think layer of sand.

I received the picture above from her.

This Sunday Simona is taking the plane to go to Portorico at San Juan.

She is going there to attend a conference on Tropical Meteorology.

She is going to be three hours ahead of California.

Simona will be staying out for the whole week. 

Anna is going to take care of the kids while she is gone.

I am sure Simona is going to take back some Coconut for the whole family

Sincerely

Giuseppe

Tuesday April 12 2016

Well yesterday I went to the gym I was feeling full of energy.

I had dinner beforehand
Left over rise frittata, flax seeds arugula salad with tomatoes. Dressing: Olive Oil and Balsamic vinaigrette a tad of salt.

I was then ready for my gym at 5:30pm. I had Yoga with Lilli, afterward I had cycle with Lolita.

I set my cycle to high to fully extend my legs.. this is a critical step for me.

At the gym the usual familiar faces. Maria, gym, Damian, Delia and many others.

Over there I am working hard as  I am working hard here at CNS.. doing my best in any place.

Both Jolanta and Amanda are doing a really good job with me.

I am a very happy customers at CNS..

Simona and the boys are busy with their activities. Yesterday the boys went to Taekwon do.

This is me ready to go back home at the apartment.

David drove me to the gym and  and then  came to pick me up.

He was really tired and pretty down in energy.

Of course today I wake up by myself had breakfast.

A lot of coffee, flax seed, yogurt, cereal and blueberry.

Of course I  am having foaming  milk  with my coffee.

Foaming the milk makes it rich of hair  and makes the coffee light. 

Since Simona got me the tool to foam the milk I am using it as much as I can.

Today's park is really  a relaxing view. 

The good season is upon us.

I feel well walking in the morning in the park enjoying the great day and nature around me.

I am breathing by remaining Mindful of my activities.

Mindfulness is something that stays with us and can be applied everywhere.

It is a quality of the brain that is cultivated everywhere.

This is the park

The roses at the apartment are really beautiful.

Nature at its best expressing its harmonic beauty and great accomplishment.

I can not ignore the flowers...

Monday April 11 2016

I had a good weekend.

Last Friday I had therapy in the morning. I came back at the apartment and wrote a nice letter to my boys. It is called doing THP (Therapeutic Home Program)


In my case small movement related to writing is good for eye-hand coordination.

In the evening I went to the movie outing  to see the Boss with Melissa McCarthy.

I enjoyed the movie outing very much.

I had a green tea and edamame as a snack.

I talked to Simona about the movie.

I was happy to share with her my experience of seeing a good and funny movie.

Unfortunately she did not  see it that way.. She told me that she is not the boss.

She sounded to me bitter and nervous about this aspect of her  life.

It is not my fault really, I was not meant to turn out this way.

Yet it happened and happened to me..

Well I am the one confined withing this wall, the one confined withing the current constraints, day in and day out.

It would have been different had not be it for this matter called TBI called a great  break down in my own life.. Called a ..

Last Saturday the usual activity of the weekend.

I cleaned the whole apartment house, washed all my items, changed my bed and washed my bathrobe.

I like to keep my items in order and as clean as possible

I went to do grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. A place I like very much, a bit expensive. Certainly more expensive than the Winco stores and the Wallmart stores. Well who said I should go for the cheap store alternative..,

And this time the bill was a cool  $ 101.36

Yet I had all sort of good nutrients, good and simple food. 

Over there I met Emily from the clinic in Ashe Rd.

Of course I purchased good food for me.

Also I purchased some chocolate for the therapists at CNS.

They appreciated my gesture.

Over the weekend evening it has been raining.

I walked by these beautiful roses and snapped a great picture of the flowers at the apartment.

 Last Saturday I had time to cook a home made pizza.

I had purchased the whole grain dough from Trader Joe's. 

It was time to use the dough as it would otherwise expire.

I used pizza tomato sauce, burrata cotto ham and  basil.

As the pizza was cooking I wrote another letter to my kids

I cooked  pizza in the stove using the pizza stone I have.

I used the peeler (long wooden shovel) to handle the pizza.

I used coarse Corn Maize on the pizza stone to facilitate the  pizza"lift off"  process.

And the pizza came out very well.

Baking pizza is very similar to working to  a semiconductor manufacturing process.

It requires thinking ahead about the exact steps of the manufacturing job.

As the pizza was cooking I had the time to wrote a letter to my mother in Italy.

I wrote to her in Italian, addressed to Verona and sent it last Saturday.

It typically takes ten days to reach her.

On Sunday April 10 I went to S.Philips the Apostle church

It is a very nice local church. I met over there Carolyn.

I gave as a charity to church the balancing of my outing money. It was $4.25 

For lunch I cooked a good rice frittata.

I cooked the rice first, mixed it with a few eggs, added some spices.

On Sunday after lunch I walked to the gym by myself.

I checked out, let them know about my destination.

Walked carefully on the side walk, respected the green and red to cross at the intersection.

It is a bit more than a miles to go and a mile to walk back.

Once  I reached the gym I called CNS to let them know I was there

I am enjoying my lonely walk,away from them and from you

I worked out following my own program.

I focused on repetition, precision and range of motion.

I am not a big guy. My ambition is only  to stay fit, I need to work on my my lower extremity.

 I am working also on my core for balance. 

Finally I weighted myself  as every Sunday I am there.

After my routine I called CNS to let them know I was leaving.

I walked back by myself, signed back in on time for my 5pm metagenics.

At the gym I noticed a very flashy car. I snapped a picture of it.

Too flashy and not family friendly.

Here is the picture of it anyway.

I believe it belong to a local medical doctor.

In the meanwhile my mom in Italy is relaxing and enjoying her time back home

She sent me this picture of herself from the balcony of our apartment in Italy

This is my mom's breakfast the other day.

Her companion radio is showing. I am like her, I lessen to NPR most of the time.

In reality over the weekend there was a bit of a commotion 

As a result I followed the procedure.

I walked at the reception, asked for a complain form.

Filled in nicely, explain the reason and the complaint.

I took a picture of and gave it for filing at the reception.

I have already been asked about what KaiZen corresponds to?

It corresponds to Change for the better in the Japanese.

The first character is Kai= Change, the second is Zen=Good

I have been asked before what it refers to... Yet it is not difficult to google the concept.

I learnt in my job while handling Management matters.. You see when you are a real dedicated person you can learn things of the world.  

Today I walked at the park. As usual I thrown away all the CNS trash that I was let found along my way. I am used to it it is fine.

I snapped these pictures of the park.

Enjoy the reading

Today I brought some chocolate that I had at the apartment.

According to the feedback I have it was a very good one,

I  stopped eating chocolate myself. I stooped liking to do a lot of  things.

I stopped caring for things I used to care before.. before being in this state.


Home made breakfast. High fiber cereal, nuts, milk, flax Seeds reach of Omega 3 nutrients.

I had a tough time eating inside the clinic, there is not enough space, I was bumped several times by wheelchair people.

I ate but as you all know in French it is called La bouffe.. which is the pasture for the animal.
Yet I feel that cows do not eat like it either. I quickly ate up my food.., it looked to me  like eating without savoring nor gathering pleasure from the act of eating. It was an awful experience, really absurdly awful.


I give a low star rating to today's environment..

According to my current feeling and experience it is a very humbling and awful feeling been confined at the present place at the present moment.

Can you feel the pain and sorrow in my words?

By the way I should start paying back using the same limited amount of patience and good will..

It is perhaps a matter to discuss with you and you CNS are better making sure this words have an effect on you...

I just rely the information to CNS and we have  understood each other regarding this matter.


Enjoy the reading
Giuseppe