rhythm, running with your arms, and a a very beautiful sunset.

Howdy folks!

I am learning a LOT these days, about myself, about running, about the spirit that lives within and connects us all!

What happens when your mental goals don't match up with your bodies abilities?  Scary thought.  My run this morning got off to a very rocky start.  I have a bodily malfunction in my foot.  A couple of bones decided to grow too closely together and now they are very prone to pinching my nerves (between the ball joints of my right foot), which results in a severe "popping" sensation.  NO FUN!  This morning I took one step off my drive way and had a "popping" for the next 1/4 mile.  I actually had to take my shoe off, in this capricious Cleveland weather, just to massage my foot and help the bones not pinch the nerves!  Good decision, as I was then able to complete my entire run!  

I'm trying to strengthen my muscles/joints to help keep my legs in line, to avoid this very painful popping sensation.  Tis a great challenge, but i'm up to get down!

There is a great rhythm to life, and a great rhythm to running.  I LOVE RHYTHM!   I am a musician and thrive off of a new beat or melodic measure!  Running is an old, but now very new rhythm of life for me.....and I feel best and blessed when I run with my arms!  Not hold my arms, but utilize them to help carry my momentum, or rather, keep me on beat and keep me in line!

I've got lots to learn about running and the rhythm of life, so, any and all suggestions are welcome!

Before I close this message, I want to share with you an AMAZING Cleveland Ohio sunset!  (yes, the sun does shine....every once-and-a-while here in the great CLE.)

Enjoy!

Lots of love your way,

Brandon E. Kocher

Ready....Set.....VACATION!

The excited/nervous feeling is officially here!  Rebecca and I will be going to Maui (where her family lives) for two whole weeks!  YEEHAW!  Excited, as we're going on a great adventure!  Nervous, as i'll be meeting Becca's entire family!  I am thankful to meet her family, as she's spent ample time with my crazy family.  It will be nice to finally reciprocate.

This will hopefully be the first of many trips to Maui.  There's been lots and lots of ideas out there, as to how we'll spend our time.  I just want to be open and absorb everything that is Maui and Rebecca's family and go with the flow.  Perhaps I'll ride that flow with a surfboard!

Next time we chat i'll be on an Island!  Til then, Peace and Love!

Brandon E. Kocher

Change, our only constant variable.

Yup, it's true.  Change is our only constant variable.  Nothing ever really stays the same.

I've been dealing with a great bit of change in this new year, but i still feel it is not enough.  If you want more, you gotta give more!!  I've flip-flopped my life, turned it upside down, in the past 6 months....and I LOVE IT!   This week in particular has been a great challenge.

Yoga every morning for only 30 minutes....sounds easy right?  WRONG!  Maybe this is just coming from the "i'm not a morning person" personality, but having an alarm blare in your ears 40 minutes earlier (now 6:05am) has played the roll of the "most challenging" aspect (thus far) of 2011.  Please, let it be known, that there was a place and time in my life when I would go to bed between the hours of 4am-5am, wake up around noon(ish) smoke a bowl, write a song, paint a picture, serve ice cream, and then rinse and repeat.  Loved every minute of it.  BUT, change has ensued (as it is our constant variable), and i've moved on.

Practicing yoga at the butt-crack of dawn every morning, is how i want to live.  I no longer want it to be an "event," I want it to be my lifestyle.  BUT!!!!  I'm learning this includes much more than I ever thought it would!  Waking up earlier means going to bed earlier, therefore, negating many "night" activities, like song writing, painting, or snuggling with the woman I love!  Or at least that is what I thought!  I'm doing my best to include some of those "night" activities in the morning....like song writing!!  Music is now one of my favorite morning activities!  I'm still trying to find time for intimacy with the woman I love, (which just saying that makes me sick to my stomach "finding time for intimacy...."......not very romantic) but I pray we'll "snuggle in" to this new routine soon!

Moral of the story is, change is not always easy, but if we believe in what we want/need, and see how we need to grow, than that path of change is necessary!!  I welcome these changes, and pray for the strength to not only endure them, but to welcome them!

HELLO 2011!!!!

a moment to reflect.....

Hello family and friends!  Happy holidays to you all!

It is Monday and I am in desperate need of a bit of reflection.  I have had a wonderful holiday season thus far, filled with lots of family and food and drinks and presents and LOVE!!!  Which also leaves me rather tired and shy of words. I would like to take a moment to reflect withOUT using words.  Enjoy:

Pele' and the chipmunk Christmas!

This is Pele' rehearsing for his big performance on Christmas eve!!  Pele' is a light in my life and inspires me everyday to stay limber, fit and most importantly to SING!!!!  I hope you enjoy his performance!

The "holiday spirit"....hhmmm....what does that mean?  As Santa would say "Christmas is not a day, it is a state of mind!"  This holiday season continues to be a great teacher for me, and what i'm being taught, is to BE THANKFUL!!!

I am thankful for my health, the family I was born into, the family I choose to create,  and the friends that help  me experience life, so that I may continue to grow.  I'm thankful to have a job and a world of opportunities that i'm not even aware of....YET!!!  I'm thankful for a voice to sing with, as "when you sing you pray twice...." ......and I like to pray!!!

I wish everyone a very safe and wonderful holiday season!  I hope you all enjoyed Pele's singing!  We will both be back to sing more very VERY soon!

TTFN.....ta ta for now!!

Brandon E. Kocher
FireSide Symphony

Priority

Howdy folks!  This is a post turkey-day jam, filmed somewhere between here and there.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with as much family as possible!  First we went to the family farm to visit Grandma, Uncle David, Aunt Cheryl (my God mother) and B-ry, my cousin.  Our feast was amazing and so was the booze!  The best part about all of this, is my Gma set her "i don't approve" attitude down,  and welcomed Becca to our family with arms wide open.  Thanks Grandma!  I guess I should preface this story by telling you that Gma had a conniption when I told her that Rebecca and I are living together now.  Gma has a very traditional stance on all this....."well Brandon, if you love her, why don't you just ask her to marry you!?!?!?!?"  You are right Gma, and I will, when the time is right.

The second leg of our Turkey-day extravaganza included much MUCH more driving.  We (Rebecca, Alex and I) drove (well, Becca and I drove......hem.....Alex.....) down to Fayetteville NC to visit my little sister Danielle and her boyfriend Andrew.  Danielle made so much wonderful food, it was amazing!  I am really proud of my little sis....all grown up and baking turkeys!!  We had a wonderful Saturday, starting with Beccs and I going for a run and then sharing a bagel!  The day quickly moved to all of us enjoying a few day drinks, some OSU kicking Michigan ass, a board game and lots of laughs! And with full belly's, after Danielle and Andrew's wonderfully prepared feast, we watched some Harry Potter.  Becs and I were on a "Harryathon" and are now finished.  Which means we can go see the new one in theaters now!  

I've been spending lots of time reflecting on how blessed I am in life.  I have my health, my family and enough love to satiate an entire world's need for affection.  I think that is why i've started this blog.....just so I can keep sharing some love.

Back to the beginning.....the song "Priority."  This song is a constant reminder that every human's basic needs (food, shelter, water, AIR), are what connects us.  ALL OF US!  All I want to know, is "What is your Priority?"

snowy morning

The snow is slowly coming, letting us know winter is almost here!! I find great joy being outside (bundled up of course) when the snow is falling. Tis another one of mother natures natural mystics! So before you place cold judgement on snow, put on an extra layer of cloths and get outside and, dare I say it.....PLAY! Or simply be quiet and observe what is happening all around you! Besides, I'm all ready to build another snow fort with Pele' and Anth. I am also definitely ready to shovel the driveway with Becca, as in the long 25 years of her life, she has not yet shoveled ANY snow! That will soon change!
I am at work now (Ben and Jerry's) and am thankful we have great big windows at the front of the store, so I can continue to appreciate the snow that is falling, even from the inside! Besides, not much ice cream to be scooped on this blustery Cleveland day!