Monday May 8

It is a cool day in Bakersfield.

I prefer the cold to the heat. I can not take the temperature when it is too hot.
It leads to a blood pressure too high for me. Then my shunt hurts.

So I rather prefer the cold temperature.

I dressed lightly.

Last Friday May 5 I went to the gym by myself.
I signed out at 5pm walked to the gym and arrived at 5:30pm

I had my Zumba time with Mike and then left at 6:40pm.

Mike is a cool person, he dresses like a surfer. He has bleach hair and a  necklace.

He told me that he works at Aetna Health Care.

Last Saturday May 6 I took care of cleaning my  apartment.
First of all I washed all my clothes, changed the bedding and washed my bathrobe.

I cleaned the tile floor in the kitchen

I took care of cleaning my bathroom carefully

I  took care of cleaning the dust from all furniture and picture frames I have in the apartment.

I run the carpet cleaner on the carpet of both bedrooms and on the living room.

I took care of cleaning inside the fridge and to check that all the food was up to date and fresh.

I removed the dust from the top of the fridge by standing on a chair, yes I did it.

I washed the  tiles of  the kitchen  floor  with a swifter.

Finally as always it looked and smelled really good ready for another round of cleaning.

I took this panorama picture as I am proud of the job well done. 

At some point in the morning I walked out to do Grocery Shopping at Trader Joe's. This is  place where I love shopping healthy food.

I walked  by myself over there. I  returned with CNS's transportation once I was done shopping.

I purchased everything that was on my list. A lot of Organic and healthy ingredients to eat.

I had the usual positive and fun experience at the store.

Jamie was there as always. she mentioned her daughter is sneezing a lot 

She told me that her sister Janine  mentioned her about last week. Janine was innocently helping me,   she almost helped me to fetch a bottle of Limoncello. It was a good run worth the fun 

Normally Jamie tells me it is TOS (Temporarily Out of Stock)

At the store I met  another person from the local community. Her name is Lucy. She is Daniel's mom.  Daniel works at CNS. Her eldest daughter Briana used to be an NRS at  CNS as well  and now works somewhere else.

A lady that was at the store recommended me to buy Atlantic Salmon vs. the Farmed raised one.

So I purchased it.

I came back home tagged everything and put away the grocery in my pantry.

Later during the day I took time to write to my kids and sent them a letter.

I lament the use of larger and larger truck in this areas.

It depict what I am feeling inside, hence it corresponds to my thoughts.

Here is the envelope that I sent them last Saturday evening.

I sent them the letter last Saturday. 

Here is what my mother in Italy had for dinner last Sunday

Good Italian food.

Agnolotti 

Salad with Ravanelli and cucumber

I am not going to the movie any longer. It does not matter to me.

I only had bad experiences over there, being forced to watch this show rather than that one, they choose for  me and I do not like it a any longer.

Waiting at the ticket counter for the last patient to be done with his/her show.. too much uncertainty to handle. Not worth it.

As a result I abstain from participating. I do not care I do not miss it.  I am more than fine like that.

On Sunday morning of course I went to church at St. Philippe the Apostle.

I am going to church once in a week and that makes it for me.

If your were to ask me what type of catholic are you... 

I would define myself as a Cafeteria catholic rather than a full menu one.

I am not a orthodox catholic. I do not like  people that shows little flexibility even on the important matter related to church.

I understand the fixed price menu is what most of people like most and it is the most appealing.

Well, I am proud to say I like to pick and choose. 

I went to church and of course gave them the whole $24 for the outing money.

Use it or loose it, I rather give it to church rather than to some other less interesting activity.

Like movie theater or snack for instance.

After church I  went to the gym. The place where I like to be.

I signed out from the apartment at 2pm and arrived at 2:30pm.

I met Leon and Suzy from the community.

A lovely couple in their 60s.

Leon had had removed a mole on his face.

On Sunday there are no classes so I had the time to follow my own program.

1) Leg curl 3x20 at 74 lb

2)  Leg extension 3x20 at 61 lb

3) crunch 3x20  40, 50 50 lb

4) Leg Press 3x20 100, 120, 120 lb

5) Chest Press 3x20 63,63,67 lb

6) compound Row 3x20 65 lb

7) seated Row  3x20 40 lb

8) Rotary Torso 3x20 50 lb

9) crunch 3x20 x50lb

10) seated pec dec vert 3x20 40 lb

11)  VMX setting 5, 1 mile in 16.5 minutes and 329 cal

I avoided the stepper as my sciatic nerve is recovering and I do not want to irritate it again with some bad movement and strain.

I stayed until 4:30pm when I  left and walked back to the apartment.

I signed back in at 5pm.

On Sunday during the day  I took my weight at the apartment, It is 176lb

Hard to take a picture of the LCD display. It is a polarized light so you need to get the right angle in order to take a picture.

So here is the log of my Sunday per the description above

Enjoy the view of the roses

Meanwhile my mother back in Italy is telling me that my brother is suffering from Otitis.

He contracted it enjoying paragliding.
This is the latest sport that he is getting all excited about.

He is flying as much as he can, no matter of the health consequence for him.

My mother is trying to make him reason a bit, then she is telling herself that his wife will perhaps have to take care of himself.

My brother's age? 47 years old.. how about that...

This morning I went to AAC, I read their newspaper as the kiosk was out.

Apparently the distribution service is not considering the Bakersfield place an important service.


My lunch, last gnocchi completed for today.

Enjoy the day

Friday May 5 2017

It is a much cooler day today in Bakersfield.
I went back and forth this morning and finally decided to stay in shorts rather than long pants.

I am making a conscious effort to adapt to the weather.

The temperatures is  expected to drop over the weekend, so I will  go back to the use of jeans.

It is also forecast rain for this  Sunday.

I am staying in cool place. My apartment, my morning shower is warm to cold. My breakfast is warm as well.

I had a good Organic breakfast this morning

I briefly talked to out eldest Chicco, he was very quick and short with time. They had to go to school.

I did not spoke with anybody else.

It is fine by me.

The usual flowers next to the apartment  in the morning

Jean is taking a good care of these plants.

Jean  is of French origin. He speaks a good French.

One in mid April I had the chance of talking in French with him.

As every day I walked in the park around a bit, there was no newspapers, I walked nevertheless around the park, To enjoy the morning hours and do my morning walk.

I boarded the bus to go to the AAC.

Over there they had a paper available.

I read it  this morning, and then left it there for their use. At 11 am I came here at my work program.

Yesterday evening I did not go to the gym.

I compiled my list for grocery shopping on Saturday morning.

I then spent time cooking and writing to the boys.

A simple letter telling them what I am doing and how I am doing.

I sent it yesterday evening at home in La Canada. 

I guess this morning it is being collected and it will arrive at home post weekend.

Something in the mail for the boys to read.

I am writing to my kids, I want to let them know they are being still part of my life even if we are in two separate locations.

I have accepted it and I am doing my best to keep up with them.

I  had an eggplant that needed to be taken care of.

So I cut it into thin slices. I cleaned a whole garlic head and minced with my cooking knife.

 I minced the garlic with my cooking knife.

I sliced the last Basil leaves I had.

I saute in a pan one slice of eggplant after the other.

In a plastic container I layered  it alternating  eggplant,basil, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and a lot of Olive Oil.

It looks amazing. It will be staying in the fridge to soak and macerate in the Oil.

This is a good way of preserving for a short term. The plastic container is good for short term.

The Oil prevent the air to reach the eggplant, so it keeps the oxidation away.

Had I have a fancier why to store it - like a glass jar- it would be able to be preserved for longer time.

My dinner has been a healthy one, several boiled eggs with Organic Mayo, a healthy salad and some brown breads, sparkling water.

After ward I cleaned accurately everything, the counter and the floor.

It is easy to keep up with the cleaning task once it is done on a regular basis.

Time to eat today the home of hope closes at 1:30pm

Time to go earlier 

Thursday May 4 2017

It is again a hot and muddy weather in Bakersfield.

The paper forecast says that it is going to rain for the weekend. I   checked both my phone and the computer website.  There is a 50% chance of light shower for this Sunday.


Hopefully it will get cooler. I am gasping for some cool air
The weekend is supposed to get a pleasant temperature 20C  and 22C

Then 26, 29 and 28 C again. We will see I am hoping for the temperature to cool down.

Only the roses at the apartment keep up with the heat.

My healthy breakfast this morning,  from my own personal healthy menu.

Cold cereal (High Fiber) with added blueberry in  Organic milk,  a serving of Grain Medley.  yogurt and Chia Seeds.

A bit of  coffee with ice.

This morning I stood up to fast from my bed and my shunt started  hurting.

Nothing new under the sun for me. I am used to get physical  pain above the right eye.

At time it is the eyes itself, the head more rarely is the whole skull.

It is certainly related to yesterday evening physical activity.

Or it is not, we can have a countless number of explanations: one time it is the atmospheric pressure, another it  is the heat, another is my physical activity.

In my opinion it shows how much the whole things is clearly wild, that is not under medical control.

Yesterday  evening I went to the gym. I asked the  sup  if any NRS could  drive me there. So Miss Marissa S. drove me . I arrived on time for static cycle with Cassie Marie. Afterward I had body pump with Sylvia Walker. I got caught in the middle of the environment, with the encouragement of  the instructors let's go pumpers  let's go you can make it.  I got carried away and loaded my self too much. I mean Cassie Marie and Sylvia are the ones that load themselves a lot compared to me.

They are really the ones that I am following in my activities.

Anyway I was feeling well. I had an adrenaline rush. Isn't what you are supposed to do at the gym anyway?  Both Cassie and Sylvia keeps saying me to keep up with the good work.

I am working hard at the gym because my physical fitness is important and it is part of my rehabilitation work.

Anyway at 7pm  I  left and   came back to the apartment by myself. I signed back in at 7:40pm

I took a warm to cold shower and my evening meds.

Feeling well and happy.

I did not wanted to go to sleep as in my experience it is an artificially induced sleep. 

I am fully aware of it. I never dream nor have any memory of my any sort of brain activity of the night. 

Anyway when Nursing came with my Ambient sleeping pill, this is the time for me to get to bed.

This morning I took a warm to cold shower, hoping that my head would gets better.

Nursing came to bring me a couple of  Tylenol pills.

I had my healthy breakfast. The usual Organic breakfast 

I completed money management for this week.

Because at the office there were no $20 bill, I was given all $10 bill.

It is fine, I will spend it one way or the other.

I was told that the newspaper kiosk is still  not working properly. Nevertheless  I walked a  bit in the park.. To enjoy the morning.

I did not go far as it is so hot outside.

A bit of walking around to check the day.

The park is always nice in the morning.

Anyway I came back to the apartment and took my lunch box.

I boarded the bus. As it is hot I am taking the large bus not the sprinter. 

I had a couple of cold water bottle and I applied to my upper right head,were my shunt is located. This is working as  a cold compress of some sort.

I went to the AAC. They had the newspaper over there. I read the newspapers and at 11 am I came here at the Homes of Hope. I left the newspaper at AAC as there is no newspaper around. 

Here at Home of  Hope I met Amanda and her husband John. He is the CEO of this foster care agency.

Contrary to what I was lead to believe by an uninformed person I  am welcome to stay here and to keep being part of the team as  a voluntary at the Homes of Hope.

You see they both  came to rescue at the right time.

I had a really good lunch.

;A large grapefruit,  a cup of brown rice and a left over of lemon chicken cooked in  the slow cooker.

Lunch before 

Lunch after

A good healthy lunch..

The air conditioner at the Homes of Hope has been fixed.

Earlier it run into some issue.

It is all fixed and now it is full speed ahead.

I like the AC, I would not be able to survive without it.

Some visitors of  mine from Italy noticed how much I got used to having the AC running and controlling the temperature of the places I am living in.

Well I have been in US for so long that I got used to it.

Once you get used to the AC cooling effect it is hard to adjust to go back to a different regime.

My mother from Italy mentioned that she had dinner with a soup a slice of salmon and a salad.
As desert she had a couple of  candies


You see I had to search the words candy in English. In Italian it is caramella, but as I do not have much of a sweet tooth   I hardly know the translation and I had to resort to the use of google.

Wednesday May 3 2017

I had a short conversation with my Case Manager.

She is telling that in a few weeks the AAC is going to move and that Homes of Hope is not going to be anymore available.

She told me to ask at Church what options are available for volunteering.

I have to say that I would like to first of all see a letter from herself to believe what she is saying.


I am personally in no way to be holding myself responsible for this situation.

I have to say I only go once a week at church that is it.

I am not a really hot person when it comes to this matter.

Italian people have a very casual relationship with church.

Perhaps it is because it has been present in Italy for such a long time.

I am not really interested on any of the church activities. I  only accept church once a week. And yet last week I did not go as I had visitor from Italy. Nothing has happened. Absolutely nothing.

So I an tired of feeling superstition by walking a path that right now I am feeling it  is not worth walking at all. A bit of healthy pragmatic approach with the church matter.

Had I been given the choice right now it would be once a month anyway. It did not change my life and my current outcome anyway.

Perhaps the alternative is to stop going all together to  AAC until it gets more organized on the direction they would like to go,

 It is anyway a place I  am not much inclined to be confined.

There is no real therapeutic program over there, there  is  an extremely limited  therapeutic and rehabilitation equipment if you want to consider a tiny pool such a powerful rehabilitation piece of equipment.

In comparison my gym - no pool either - is a fancier place, not this is a place where my family has been paying a membership for me. No CNS either.

First I would like CNS to make sure they are fulfilling their side of the  bargain.

I have been told, I can not do this I can not do that, they are wonderful in telling what one can not do.


The question is guys when you are going to be making plan again?

You guys are just interested in making card with my own pictures of the flowers.. like my Case Manager is currently proposing.

What if I wanted nothing to do with it...

About the  status of the  Old Clinic, here is my assessment.

There is a total lack of equipment and real wiliness to move forward.

No dedicated machines no real time to use it and nothing of nothing.
An over population consumes all of the CNS own resources.

Each single NRS  salary is not that much.certainly it has to compete with minimum wage standard.
The CNS management makes the all money.

Anyway this is matter for CNS as a whole. I am not in charge of that place, the Human Resource Department will deal with the salary pressure if any at all.

CNS has a constant stream of applicants and of new people asking for job.

In my experience they are having no difficult time to hold their strong position. I believe they will not change their salary policy because simply put all they need to do is to replace the ones that ask for more money. 

It is called capitalism  after all.


This is my dinner before the gym

A couple of boiled eggs,  a salad with a lot of fresh ingredients such as spinach, cucumber, heirloom tomatoes anchovies and avocado.

I saved something for my lunch today as I normally do. I eat for lunch what I had for dinner the previous day.

Then I  went to the gym. Miss Robert drove me there  because  it is too hot to walk outside.
Muddy Bakersfield sticky weather.

I arrived on time for Body pump with Ellie. In this class I  have been working on my general wellness.
My extremities were solicited using  light weight. I used barbell gym and hand weight.

I worked on my core and on my general mobility. You know my legs have been historically the issue since my accident. I am struggling to walk well and to jump. Oh yes because having a motor coordination issue is the best part.

At the old clinic I do not have any therapist that follows me for PT. I learnt it quickly.  When I am going to the gym  it is on my family's money and on my own. I like it this way.  I intend to keep it this way

My wife got my membership renewed at  the gym and I do not intend to trade the gym with any other PT activity at the CNS. It there are qualified professional for physical rehabilitation then we can have a chat, pending this matter I am set with my own plan. I am setting conditions and expectations.

Yesterday evening after the gym  set up the slow cooker at the apartment.
I had purchased at Trader Joe's a good piece of chicken. It  is called a  Spatchcocked  lemon Rosemary chicken already marinated in lemon juice.
All I had to do is to open the package and carefully empty  it in the Slow Cooker.

I added some celery, carrot and garlic piece.

I set the slow cooker on low. It  has been cooking over night so it will be ready when I came back today.

Once the slow cooker is done cooking it automatically switches itself into a warm setting to keep the food warm.

it is a large piece of chicken so it hopefully will take care of my food needs for the next several days.


I had a good Organic breakfast as always. Oatmeal, peanut butter with honey, then cold cereal blueberry with milk.

Finally Chia Seeds with yogurt

As every day I walked in the park - it was already hot.

I had fulfilled the first part of the money management.

I returned part of the money for the outing because I only had paid my hair cut, no movie and no church either. I went to Upper Cut. A simple no trill place. I paid $15 plus  $2 tip

I gave the receipt for my grocery shopping $125.61. All spent at Trader Joe's in good nutritional food.

By the way today is Wednesday and there is the latest schedule available at CNS. Yet nobody will move a finger to distribute because they know  they can rely on Giuseppe Rossi service.

Certainly they are not allowed to distribute it.

It is hot so I am going to grab only mine.

There are no surprises each week. It is all very uniform.
Today gym time.

Cycle with Cassie and then body pump with Sylvia

The usual activity of the Wednesday

By the way there is no AC at the Homes of Hope

No cool air

Tuesday May 2 2017

Yesterday afternoon I ended up waiting on the stairs of the home of hope after my therapy.

As I was waiting outside for a pick up a police car unit drove twice by me to check.

Lucky I am a person with  fair completion and they did not stop for me but hey ...

My reaction to this matter is a comment to say : this is priceless.

Once back at the apartment I  took my meds and at 5 pm and signed out.

I walked to the Uppercut store near the apartment. I desired to have a hair cut.

With temperature skyrocketing this week it is good for me to keep my head cool for my blood pressure.

I do not need any fancy place, so basically any little store that provides this service will do it for me.

I returned to the same place I used a couple of months ago.

In addition the same person was there. Her name is Maria.

I kept her business card so I can use this place over and over again.

To my experience she is  a fast person and a very consciousness one.

She is not spending time on any fancy items, so I am basically in and out in  no more than 35 minutes this includes 15 minutes of wait for my walk in.

 . As mentioned before I am simply there for a hair cut.

Nothing fancy, just a short one, a military stile cut. Too short. well I like efficiency. I also had her to take care of my eyebrows.

Last weekend I had visitors and  not used the outing money for anything. I asked at the reception if I could use it for this matter.  Ana at the reception confirmed. So I presented my receipt to her and get the exact change for my outing money.

I had used my own personal money in the meanwhile.

Now I have a  very efficient hair cut.

Supercut keeps sending me email with $5 coupon off offers.

I did not like their business the last time I was there. I did not appreciate their service so in no time I dropped it.

Beside going there it was a big Ordeal. Only with CNS I was allowed to get there.

They tagged me as  Joseph_CNS on their reservation list.

Well I did not appreciate it and therefore thank you guys, bye and Saionara.

Arrivederci.

It is hard to take a selfie at the apartment because there are always other patients in the field of view of the camera.

So here it is.. no frill selfie it is what it is anyway.

My mother thinks I have terrible eyes in this picture

I am just trying to check my environment as there are constantly people in the field of view of the camera phone. And one of the rules of privacy is that there can be nobody 

So there is nobody but my wonderful very green eyes.

Dinner after my hair cut.

 I had prepared a very summer spinach salad.
Sliced celery, heirloom tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and a whole sardine cans in Olive Oil.

Of course I dressed it with Olive Oil and balsamic vinegar by limiting the salt consumption.

Well I slept well and wake up at 6 am as always.


I dressed and had  my very good breakfast.

My menu in the morning is set. I like my oatmeal mixed with peanut butter and honey.

I like  yogurt with Chia seeds.

I like cold cereal with blueberry,  high fiber and nut cereal

Once I am up, I am up and start my day.

What do I do the whole day?
Well first of things I have to attend AAC, a place that I am suffering a lot from.
I am witnessing a lot of bad things over there, anyway I am in charge of reading the news papers with my heavy and thick Italian accent. I am doing this futile action in the middle of a wonderful cacophony of sounds and among a total uninterested audience. Among the one who asks for ice among the one who asks for playing card.. weird place, you can take my word.

At 11 am I am signing out to get a  different type of therapy. It is a better place here

My computer and desk.

the computer has been trying to update for the longest with the results that it has not enough space to do the trick.

I am serving  my time until 2:45pm. I am really trying to stay in a cool environment as the heat is deleterious to my blood pressure and my shunt starts hurting again.

I forgot that nowadays I am no more human than the gear implanted in my head and the tubes that are going by my right hear.

I am done what are you doing at CNS?
Nothing absolutely nothing.

I am free to do afterward to be where I am recovering at the Bakersfield apartment.


I will not stay there long as I am most of the time at the gym, among other human person.

They are all used to my physical inability, to my walking oddly and to my weirdness.
But I try to survive to a brain injury and then we can discuss once more.


And I am always on the move because I can not stay put in any one place...

It is not my fault, I have done nothing to deserve this...I was perfectly well with my previous life.
It was hard but at least I had chosen it.

I have not chosen the CNS. I have no say on the so called activity that happens in this place.

I  make the assessment that based on my experience it is not the place they want to make you believe it actually is .


Approposito oggi e' arrivata a Verona la lettera che aveno mandato a mia madre. E' datata il 22 di  Aprile.  Ha impiegato una decina di gioni come attestato in precedenza.
La posta dall'America in Italia arriva superveloce.. la strada opposta e' un'altra storia

Sincerely
Giuseppe Rossi

Monday May 1st 2017

I had a good weekend.

The temperature is getting hotter and hotter so I am staying as much as possible next to the Air Cooler.

Here is a picture of my brother Francesco in Verona Italy.

He is trying his latest sport gear.

He is now flying using a paraglider

Over the weekend two good friends of mine visited me at CNS.

On my right Betty and on my left Riccardo.

I have been knowing  them since the time I was in France at ESRF.

I believe it was the years from 1995 to 1997 that is 20 years ago.

Betty lives in Stanford she is a business owner and personal trainer.

Her daughter Sophia is 19 years old. I remember when she was a new born baby

Her husband Uve is a tall German person. He works at Stanford University.
He used to be a beam-line scientist in Grenoble

Betty mentioned that I went to visit them in Berkeley in 1999. I do not recall this fact, I trust her recollection of the events.

Riccardo is a freelance scientist. He worked for many years at the Synchrotron facility in Japan  and then China. He has been all over the places in the word. He has now returned in Italy in Veneto.

They came to visit me for a day and to catch up with the present and the past.

I showed them my apartment at CNS, the picture of the boys and of my family.

We had a lot of Sushi. I loves Sushi so I  am glad we went to eat it.

I had hot tea to drink, it is good this way.

Finally they brought me back to the apartment, at 4:43 pm I signed out and went to the gym

My weight on Last Sunday is 171.2lb

Last Saturday April 29 I took care of my apartment.

I changed the bed, washed all my clothing.. the usual activity for taking care of my apartment in the local lingo it goes by ADL (Activity of Daily Living)

I  signed out at 10: 05 am and walked to Trader Joe's.

I did my shopping as always over there 

I greeted everybody, I am very popular shopper at that Store.

Jamie was not there last Saturday. Her sister Janette was at the Store.

I shopped and purchased everything. I normally buy food from scratch as I enjoy cooking.

I spent $125.1  of healthy food.

I kindly  asked Janette to fetch a bottle of Limoncello for me.

Of  course she actually did it.  I could not  believe it.  I explained I was simply checking on her training skills and did not touch not take the product.  Her sister  Jamie is always telling me that any similar product that I am asking and does not fit my program is TOS (Temporarily Out of Stock)

My shopping card was  full of good produce.

Once done I called CNS and I returned with the van of CNS driven by miss Amanpreet.

I  returned to the apartment and put all the grocery away . I tagged it and set it in my refrigerator at the apartment.

At 2pm I met with my IPC Ana.

Because  I had  short no cash she gave me $40 of cash advance. This is done  on the trust because Simona had already sent a check to replenish my Personal Account, yet the check had not arrived on time .

I quickly had my lunch and then at about 5pm I signed out on my way to the gym.

My program at the gym is reported above. I worked on shoulder chest and back muscle.

I also worked on abdominal by working on torso, crunch and VMX machine.

I stretched  accurately and then at 6:30pm I started walking back from the gym to the apartment.

I signed back in at the apartment at 7:10pm

Last Friday April 28 I  wrote a letter for my kids in La Canada 

I sent it to the kids last Friday

I also wrote a letter for my mom in Italian and sent it to her in Verona.

For Italy the postage fee is worth four forever stamps.

Among the good and healthy food I made is Farfalle pasta with cooked eggplant, basil and red pepper flakes.

By the way on Friday evening I walked to the gym for my Zumba time

Giuseppe on the left, Carole in pink and Salve in orange

Carol had a new hair style.