Brian’s fitness journal after brain stroke
Written September 9, 2025
Hello Dear Readers,
Yesterday, my long-awaited new phone finally arrived, and with it came the noble quest of getting everything set up. Of course, because my old phone’s screen had given up the ghost, I couldn’t simply transfer my data over. I suspect there was a little “permissions” pop-up trapped behind that black screen, laughing at me while I fumbled in the dark.
Thankfully, Google had my back—literally. My contacts and calendar were safely stored in my account, and those were transferred without a hiccup. Losing those would have been a nightmare.
The real adventure? Pairing my trusty headset. Since the old phone’s Bluetooth antenna still worked, it refused to release its grip. And with no screen, I couldn’t politely ask it to “let go.” My workaround was to turn off the headset, leave the old phone sulking on my desk, and walk outside. I had to trek past the mailbox (still too close!) and finally reached the top of the hill where the signal weakened. I powered the headset back on, and—victory! It announced its battery level instead of pledging loyalty to the old phone, giving me just enough time to pair it with the new one. Not the most high-tech solution, but effective nonetheless.
With my headset freed, I began reinstalling the apps that make my digital life hum—my audiobook player, pharmacy app, running tracker, language-learning tools, and the all-important electric weight app. I’ll add the others as they pop into my memory.
First order of business: letting my family know I was back in communication. Then, sweet relief—I finally listened to my audiobook again after a two-day drought. Since chore practice can take me two to three hours, audiobooks are my faithful companions, and I was grateful to have them back.
So far, the new phone runs beautifully. My wife even got me a protector (because, apparently, I’m the kind of person who needs one). While the phone belongs to a newer generation, most of the functions feel comfortably familiar. One delightful upgrade: instead of fumbling for the fingerprint reader on the back, I can now unlock it directly from the screen. It feels like moving from a keyhole to a sliding glass door—simple, smooth, and oddly satisfying.
Here’s to many more days of smooth syncing, audiobook marathons, and not walking hills just to outwit Bluetooth.