December 7, 2022

Hi everybody. Welcome to the blog where I talk about the present.

I’m gonna dedicate this blog to my friend here. We’ve been doing this blog for about 10 years now. She comes over every Wednesday at 3 o’clock. When you have a traumatic brain injury, it’s awesome when people come over to visit. And, frankly, something like doing a simple blog is like a form of therapy.

Speaking of therapy, learning how to walk is an athletic endeavor. It takes patience, repetitive exercise, and more patience. I’ve been at it for about 10 years now. But, like they say, the more you put into it, the more you get out. My friend and I were just talking about learning how to walk, and it’s incredible whatever you have to put into learning how to walk. When I first started, I couldn’t even move. They had to get the brain used to swinging the arms and the legs. Then they put me in the water with weights on my ankles, and a life jacket on me. That was to get me used to the muscle groups you use in walking. I was cool with the water, because I used to be a surfer. Some people freak out because the water’s right at your nose. Then they suspend you from the ceiling, get you wearing a harness, and put you on a treadmill and move your legs and arms. Now I’m in a harness strapped to a four wheel walker (my friend said, I’m going four wheeling, and I guess I am). Then, every Sunday, an instructor comes over and helps me walk with a walker. This is all the second time I’ve done this. Because, remember, this is a recovery from my second brain bleed. Remember I had two brain bleeds and two brain operations. So, yeah, it’s monotonous, and for sure it’s an athletic endeavor. You gotta stick at it. It’s either this or buy a lazyboy chair and a bag of weed and a bong. Actually, that sounds like a good idea - and it’s legal now, well, at least in some states.

Having some down-time is definitely important. I often sit in my garden and reflect on what my life used to be like. It was crazy. I was on a plane almost every week, for about 20-30 years. It was non-stop travel. No wonder why I like to sit in my garden. Anyway, having some downtime after all the training I do is important, and frankly I don’t mind at all.

That’s all for this week. Don’t forget to check out my other blog about the past. Have a good one. Love and miss you guys.

Love, B. Nice

November 30, 2022

Hi everybody. Welcome to the blog where I talk about the present.

I’m gonna dedicate this blog to my daughter who I just spoke to.

I mentioned this before, but I’ll do it again. I truly believe my experience in training for cross country and track contributed to dealing with how I am now.

In cross country and track you have to fight your way through incredible pain, monotonous training and loneliness. Those are all factors I have to deal with with this traumatic brain injury. Mind you, the pain isn’t as bad as my initial injury, but the monotonous training and loneliness go on. It’s hard to explain, but if you walked in my shoes you’d know what I’m talking about. There’s a saying. The loneliness of a long distance runner, but - try the loneliness of a traumatic brain injury survivor. Man, I need a vacation. My friend here just reminded me that I’ve been saying I need a vacation for about 11 years, but it’s true. I guess I’ve been needing a vacation for 11 years now.

I’ve been walking a lot with this one therapist. I’ve gotten up to using a walker. It’s pretty cool. It hurts like hell, because you’re bearing all your weight on your hips. I still find it amazing how one gets used to the wheelchair. Walking becomes so foreign. I don’t like that at all.

I really don’t have much else to talk about. I’m still recovering from the show I did. It was a great success and we raised good money for a good cause. Thank you again, for all of you that helped.

This is B. Nice, signing off. Love, B. Nice

November 16, 2022

Hi everybody. Welcome to the blog where I talk about the present.

This blog is dedicated to all the pregnant women out there.

Apparently, I’m a pregnant woman. That’s what my aide from Ghana says. You see, I have a ferocious appetite. He said, in an accent, “You eat like a pregnant woman.” I’m not sure what that means, but I guess I have a pregnant appetite.

You see, when I was normal, I used to run six miles in the morning. Take my daughter on a walk. Walk around town and then surf in the afternoon. I was pretty active, and I ate a lot. Now I eat a lot but I’m not active. Not a good combination.

I suggest to all you who are new to the wheelchair, that you curb your appetite and try to stay active. If you don’t, your weight is going to catch up to you. Just a word from the wise.

I’ve been walking more and more. It’s brutal on the hips, but I hire someone on the weekends to get me up on a walker. So, basically, I have therapy three times a week. You know, when you’re trying to walk, it’s just like any other athletic endeavor. You have to practice over and over again. It gets monotonous. It hurts like hell, but you got to keep at it. That is, if you want to walk again. If you want to stay in the wheelchair, I suggest you get a lazyboy chair and a bag of weed. Oh, yeah, and a good dvd collection although, you can stream them all now, right?

Anyway, that’s just my opinion. I want to walk again. That’s about all for this week. Remember, if you’re like me, don’t give up. Stay at it. Love you, B. Nice

P.S. Above is a photo I did in my studio. I’m starting a series of photos in my studio.

November 9, 2022

Hi everybody! Welcome to the blog where I talk about the present. I’m gonna dedicate this blog to my friend here, her skin, because it looks great. That was kind of avant garde but whatever…

Recently, I had a showing of my recent photographs. It only took me five years to take the photos, but I did it. I had the showing for three reasons. 1) I wanted to call attention to the Open Space Institute. They work hard at saving fields like the one I shot in, the one that inspired me. 2) I wanted to call attention to the Philipstown Food Pantry. They are a comfort to someone like me because if things go real bad, I can always rely on help from them. And 3) I wanted to show people, people like me, that even though you’re all messed up, you can do something to give back, which actually, makes me want to talk about my condition.

You know, I don’t want people to think, “Oh, poor Brian…” That sort of thing. I consider my condition a blessing in disguise. You see, when you’re an artist like me and things are altered for you, if you take advantage of the change in the norm, you can use the alteration to your advantage. For example, I see so differently than anybody else. I found a way to recreate how I see, and I have the need to share that with everyone. Well, either that or get a lazy boy chair and a bag of weed. I prefer to stay creative, but that’s just my opinion.

You know what’s cool? A filmmaker is using the show as a grand finale to a documentary she is making. I’ll keep you posted and send you the link of the documentary.

That’s all for now. Sorry, I don’t have any inspiring words to write down. Oh yeah, one thing! What did one hat say to the other hat? —— I’m go get a head……..

Miss and love you. Talk to you next week.

Love. B. Nice

August 31, 2022

Hi everybody. Welcome to the blog where I talk about the present.

I was just talking to a friend. He’s going though some rough rough stuff, but he’s gonna be OK. You see, he was in good shape. He ate well. He recently went on the cleansing diet. You know, gave up alcohol, drugs. All that stuff. Anyway, it helped him battle what he is battling right now. I guess I was the same, but I didn’t give up the bad stuff. I did now. What I’m getting at is, it pays off to be in good shape. You never know what’s gonna be around the corner, and your body has to be ready for it. I don’t think I could have made it though what I went through if I wasn’t in good shape. So, if even though it’s a pain, it pays off to be in good shape.

That’s all for this week. Love and miss you guys.

Love, B. Nice