March 18, 2021

Oh man! Every day I say, you have your good days and bad days. Today I’m having a bad day, but I’ve been saying that for ten years. I’m exhausted. It’s a good thing I was a competitive athlete because every day is like the first day of training. I just have to plug away at it. Speaking of plugging away at it, I’ve been trying to get more money for my healthcare assistants. I’ve been trying to make this job of looking after me a more attractive job. But, now that I think about it, no money in the world would be enough to look after me. LOL

It’s true. These poor people make nothing. It’s crazy. You would think you would be paid well to look after a human soul. But they can make more money at a fast food restaurant, flipping burgers. It’s kind of irritating. I feel bad for them, cause they have to take like two jobs just to make ends meet. And because they take two jobs, they’re naturally tired. The last thing you need is a tired healthcare worker. Believe me. Don’t get me started. I’ll go on and on about it. I started the process of trying to get them more money, but it’s exhausting for me in this condition. Exhausting and frustrating. Listen, if you’re reading this, you’re gonna get old one day. Everyone gets old, and the last thing you want to do is go into a nursing home. Believe me. The future is gonna be home healthcare. You’ll see. And especially, these days, no one wants to go to a nursing home. I call nursing homes God’s Waiting Room. My advice to you guys out there, never get old, and don’t ever get sick.

Love you, miss you guys.

Love, B. Nice

February 11, 2021

Hi you guys. Welcome to the blog where I talk about the present.

Man, I don’t know what it is, but my temper’s very short. It could be that we’re locked up like caged animals with three feet of snow outside. When you have a traumatic brain injury, it really affects your emotions. My emotions swing wildly from depressed to extreme joy. It’s crazy. Unfortunately, my poor sister got the brunt of my anger one day. Luckily, my health aides are trained to recognize my emotions. I found the best thing to do is sit in any sunlight you get. Whether it be inside or outside, preferably outside. I guess also I’m going through what you might call a mid-life crisis. I just turned 60. Can you believe it? I’m officially an old man. Then, in conjunction with the fact that I haven’t seen my daughter in 2 years, bums me out. But I throw myself into my photography and art. Thank god for that.

You know, exercise is also really good thing. I still go to physical therapy three times a week. Each session is about an hour. It’s tough, but it’s worth it. My goal is to be up and walking as soon as I can. You know, walking with a walker. That’s realistic, I think. I keep doing excercises to strengthen my legs. It’s important. Also core strength is really important. I try do stomach sit ups every day. It’s important.

That’s it for now. I’m gonna keep it short. Oh, one more thing. I always try and keep reggae music on in the background. It takes me back to the sunny islands. Music is important, as well as food. Oh, yeah, and get yourself a fish. A fish will lower your blood pressure. That’s a fact.

Love you guys. Talk to you next week.

B. Nice

February 3, 2021

Hi everybody, welcome to the blog where I talk about the present.

Now, sorry about the shock value on the following paragraph, but it has a lot to do with this new medication I’m on.

There’s nothing like a good dump on the floor to start your day. Now, If I have to rush to the bathroom, my health assistant has to lift me up with a lift, put my harness on, stand me up, roll me over to the toilet chair, put me on the chair, and roll me over the toilet. Now, this time, I didn’t make it. I had an accident on the floor. Now, I’m telling you all this because you may have a traumatic brain injury and you may be reading this, and that is to show that it’s OK if things go wrong. You’re messed up. Shit happens (no pun intended). My dog looked at my health aide as if to say, “How come he didn’t get scolded?”

On another note, I got an email from a college buddy. My coach from college is not doing so well. It doesn’t look good. This guy was something else. He was a tough old bastard. I can see him now at the hospital, in his hospital gown, bare ass, running down the road, muttering “fuck this” or something like that with his handkerchief. His workouts were brutal. But he brought me to a high status of running. I became an NCAA runner. I held track records. I ran across the United States with him and a relay team. We were in the Guinness Book of World Records. The guy was a good coach. You know, thinking about it, probably his training contributed to my survival. Under his training, I had to endure a lot of pain and suffering. Basically, he made me a tough old bastard as well. RF

Love, B Nice

December 30, 2020

Welcome you guys, to the blog where I talk about the present. Every morning, when you wake up, you could say, Welcome to another day closer to imminent death. Or you could say, Welcome to another day closer to recovering. It’s your choice.

I remember when I was a competitive runner. I knew what kind of race I would have when I put my toe on the starting line. For example, if I put my toe on the starting line, and said, Man, I feel like shit, I would have a bad race. But, if I put my toe on the line and said, I’m gonna win this race, I would always do well. So basically, what I’m saying is, you gotta have a positive attitude. Like my mom always said, think about what you can do, not what you can’t do. I have to remind myself of this all the time.

It’s funny, but lately I feel like getting out of this damn wheelchair. I feel like I could just shove over to another chair. I guess that’s progress, realizing you want to do something. Frankly, I’m sick of being in this wheelchair. It’s been, what? Ten years? I think my dog would just pass out and fall over if I just stood up.

I’m still taking pictures and working on my book. It’s slow going, but it’s fun. I’m about halfway through. My friend here loads my cameras and I shoot when I can. It’s a pretty cool project and something to preoccupy my time, when I’m not working out.

That’s about it for this week. I still think it’s ironic you guys have all joined my world. Everyone’s at home now, just like me. So, If you need any advice, give me a holler. Do yourself a favor and buy a fish.

Love, B. Nice

December 9, 2020

Hi you guys. Welcome to my blog where I talk about the present.

Man. Having a brain injury, the holidays, plus covid 19 does not go together well. I hate to be a downer, but it all put together sucks. I’m spending Christmas with my smelly dog, and that’s it. I guess we’re all isolated from each other. But it’s just one day out of the year, right? I’ll have my health aide here, so we’ll have a party. I used to be a bartender, so I’ll make some fancy coffee drinks. You know, like Bailey’s, kaluah, coffee and whipped cream. That and french toast. What could be better than that?

Over all though, things are getting better for me. I think I mentioned before, I reached another level of self awareness. My therapist ordered me a support for my core. It allows me to walk better. It’s kind of like a reinforced girdle. Over all, things are getting better.

Let’s all hope we have a better new year.

Love, B. Nice