Bryan Koch

Contacts Again

2010-02-22T09:34:00.000-08:00

I broke my "unbreakable" glasses the other day so I decided to try contacts again. It is a little pain in the butt, but there are definitely more benefits than annoyances. Flipping upside down should be a lot more fun without worrying about my glasses flying off. (I didn't get to try them out this past Thursday class because the snow was nastier than I felt like driving in when I didn't have to. ) My prescription is stronger than my glasses, so the world is strangely clearer and I don't have any frames in the corners of my vision. One of the more exciting implications is that I will be able to use a monocle at my wedding. I already own a top hat, cane, gloves and a tux (all in white) that I think will look great with some purple and gold accent pieces to match the colors of the wedding.

Wedding Planning

2010-02-16T20:11:00.000-08:00

There is still so much work to do!

Zamboni?

2010-02-10T21:19:00.000-08:00

I took a class on driving a Zamboni today. It was awesome. I have only ice-skated twice in my life and I have no interest in hockey. Ashley signed me up for the class as a Christmas present after reading about the class in the newspaper. An excellent gift.

Cake Tasting

2010-01-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

Ashley and I did our first cake-tasting yesterday. It was strange to go to someone's house for something like that, but the lady had everything you could think of for a wedding available to rent. I liked the cake, but I like most cake. Ashley did not like the cake so much, and was not impressed with any of the designs. All in all, it was an awkward situation for everyone involved.

Ready For Adventure

2009-12-27T19:03:00.000-08:00

I got a new pack for Christmas and some cash that I used to buy some equipment to put in it. I upgraded my tent and sleeping bag, and got some cooking equipment. There are enough things I can eat without cooking that I don't really need to take a stove with me, but it is a nice little option. I bought a left and right bag so that Ashley and I can zip together, so that will be a nice option. I also got some cool shoes that will be awesome for climbing dunes. They have individual toes and feel like being barefoot but protected. I'm pretty excited about all this.

Suspenders!

2009-12-21T09:21:00.000-08:00

I have been looking for suspenders for a while, to no avail. (Note: I don't like to buy stuff online.) I finally found some, but they were annoying holiday ones with shot glass holders attached. It took a while to get those things removed, but it was worth the effort. Without further ado, I give you...... MY SUSPENDERS!!

Click on past the break to see a tastefully cropped photo of me in suspenders and underwear.

I know what you're thinking. Yes, they are different glasses.

I've been there, and I am glad to be where I am now instead.

2009-12-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

Below is a response to a FaceBook note that a friend wrote about wondering what to do with his life after getting his degree. For those who don't know, I also have my degree. I remember it being a strange and trying time. Here is the response:

I don't suggest it for everyone, but working retail allows me to define myself by what is important to me and not by what I do for money. I am an expression of my faith and my interests, which sometimes cost money to pursue. I fund the pursuit with a retail job where the corporation could easily replace me, but where I am free to make relationships with individuals that are all unique and irreplaceable. Most importantly to me, I don't take the job home with me. My phone is set to not even ring if they call me.
Now, on the other end of the spectrum, I have also worked in a field that I do define myself by. Working as a martial arts instructor was rewarding and I was proud to tell people that's what I did. To this day, people are still more likely to call me "Chuck" than by my real name at my retail job. Why do I no longer teach for money? Because the compromises you have to make will cause you to almost hate something you were once passionate about. Working with kids especially, you have to tailor the class to their interests, and not necessarily to what would be the best for them. If they are lazy and don't want to do the hard work, they will quit and you are out of a job. The same applies in any other field with the types of customers specific to that field.
(Friend), keep reaching for the things you love in this life. Nothing can stop you and it doesn't matter where the money comes from.

After The Break

2009-12-20T22:56:00.000-08:00

Ashley just took a picture of me in my underwear and suspenders. I told her it wouldn't work on Facebook, but maybe after the break in a blog.

Maybe! Not for sure. Check back some other time.

Wait, why did I do that?

2009-12-18T17:59:00.000-08:00

I just worked from 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM. My brain is mush.

Today's Project

2009-12-16T19:05:00.001-08:00

Today I started prototyping for a magic effect involving a nice box like the one you see on the left there. The inspiration for the effect comes from one I saw performed on Sunday at a social for my S.A.M. assembly. Without going into how it works, I was able to work in an extra effect that the original would not be able to do. Without factoring in the cost of tools I used to alter the box, my entire cost was under $7. I will have to start with a new box for my finished piece because I made a couple mistakes, but this one is still functional. I decided to flame distress the box to give it a more interesting look than the plain wood it started as. I do NOT suggest you try this at home, kids! Maybe not even some of you adults. Basically, I took a torch to the thing to make it look more rugged. I am pretty happy with the results.

Blog-Browsing

2009-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

What a strange world blogging is. Some interesting finds today:

A blog about girls wearing leg casts (I think the fetish is that they have trouble walking.)
A video of a small child playing "I'm Yours" on the ukulele, singing along in words you can't make out, but getting a lot of the nuances
Video blogs of a guy who looks like a Mexican Steve Carell wearing a santa hat

More than 95% of the blogs I saw were about cancer or another disease. After a while the "Next Blog" button just kept taking me to blogs I had already seen, so it feels like the total number of blogs on Blogger is about 50. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Aw Crap!

2009-12-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

Ashley posted an entry in her blog about blogging, which included a reference to my own blog. Since she has a number of followers, someone might actually click on the link and be looking at this entry right now. I suppose I should post about something interesting.

~Pizza where there is no pizza~

Ashley wanted me to make her a pizza last night, which of course was ridiculous since we had absolutely nothing that resembles pizza ingredients in the house. I don't let these types of things stop me.

Step One: Use a stainless steel shaker to cut a piece of bread into a circle.

Step Two: Use the bottom of said shaker to flatten out the bread as evenly as possible.

Step Three: Mix up a paste of ketchup and Sriracha, spreading it evenly over the bread.

Step Four: Shred cheese to cover the paste.

Step Five: Add small pieces of lunch meat.

Step Six: Microwave for 27 seconds.

Step Seven: Enjoy. No really, enjoy. It was really good.

The Idea Of Being Prolific Scares Me

2009-12-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

It takes me a long time to write anything. I want it to be perfect. I don't understand how some people can write so much. Bla!

Time For Snow

2009-12-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning to the sound of snow plows. I thought it was someone dragging trash cans around, at first. Looks good out there!

Trying to Organize my Life

2009-11-29T19:29:00.000-08:00

I try a lot of weird things to motivate myself to achieve all my little small goals. The goals I am thinking of are the little ones that you can skip a day without noticing. These are the ones that you eventually DO skip a day. Then you skip two days. Then it isn't a habit for you anymore, and you never get around to it again. We all have lots of good reasons to not do these things. Maybe you worked extra hours. Maybe you have to go out of town. Anyways, I printed up about 20 cards of things that take about ten minutes to do and shuffled them up. Then I set my alarm on my phone to go off every ten minutes. So far I have done 100 situps, had a quiet moment to myself, done 100 pushups, done ten minutes of reading, gone for a walk, worked on my flexibility, worked on my TKD book, and done this blog entry. My next card is to practice playing harmonica for ten minutes. I'm actually having a lot of fun doing it this way. I like not knowing what comes next, I have no time to dread it.

WAVE

2009-11-12T19:29:00.001-08:00

I'm on the Wave! woot! Now to wait until any of my friends are so I can do cool stuff with them. As cool as random strangers might be, I don't see much collaboration that I need to do with any of them.

I Should Be Asleep

2009-11-11T20:25:00.000-08:00

I'm not though. Nope, I am downloading a photo program and trying to think if hosting my own website is going to be worth the effort. I feel like I am so close since it is accessible to other computers on my network, but I am just lost on the step that gets it to be available for the whole wide world. I tried substituting my WAN IP for my LAN IP in the address, but to no avail. yeargh..

on blogging

2009-11-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

Most of what I write here is crap, but to look back at my past posts and remember important events in my life is really cool for me. Sometimes I talk about goals I don't remember setting, and sometimes I include good photos I barely remember taking. So yeah, blogging just revealed some of the value it has to me. I doubt I will write any more often than I do now, but meh.

Dunes

2009-08-20T19:34:00.000-07:00

I went to the dunes for a couple days. I got to the top of high dune twice, and took some great pictures. A nice couple took me with them in their rental car to do the primitive trail and we had a great time. I learned a cool Chinese word from them, but I'm not sure how to spell it. It is basically a word for the connection between strangers that causes them to not just pass by each other like we all do to so many others.

Tonight, I finally managed to throw a back tuck. I have been attempting them every once in a while for the past year. There is a video of one mostly successful attempt on my podcast, and if you ask me specifically for it I will show you the videos of me falling on my face.

oops just doesn't cover it.

2009-07-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

i just read a news story about a guy who was accidentally charged over 23 quadrillion dollars for a pack of smokes. his bank fixed it but it took a 2 hour phone call. i would have been livid.

S.A.M.

2009-07-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

Got an envelope in the mail today...

Our Alaska Photos

2009-06-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2140100&id=42103467&l=a4dbcd138e

click for public facebook pictures.

Ash, Me, Gerhard Knapp, Hans-Peter Weis

2009-05-27T23:22:00.000-07:00

On the South Platte

2009-05-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

Swine Flu

2009-05-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting opinion in the newspaper the other day that suggested cigarettes are much more to be concerned about than H1N1 flu. They stated that 1000 people die a day from cigarettes (which is less than the actual 1,205 according to the CDC), and that while they might walk away from someone who is sneezing, it would be good to run from smokers. 50 Americans die every hour from smoking, totaling four hundred forty thousand a year. According to the American Cancer Society Website, one in five deaths in the United States is caused by smoking, and one in five adults are current smokers. (Seems to me that would indicate a 100% mortality rate for smokers...)

Compare those numbers to the WORLD TOTAL of 615 cases and only 17 deaths so far because of H1N1. I think people just love to panic. People need to calm down, and to try not to use a cigarette to help them calm down.

More Magic

2009-04-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day, with a magic show as a finale. I left my Email with the Master of Ceremonies for the show so that he could get in contact with me about going to a magic store in Denver with his S.A.M. chapter. I am definitely thinking about joining, despite my reservations due to knowing so little magic anymore. I'm not sure I would feel like I was being fair with so little to offer. It has been stressed that anyone with any interest and of any skill level is welcome, but I still think that way.
Earlier today, Ashley, Peter and I went to Horsetooth Reservoir for a hike, and to check out what kind of activities there are to do there. The trail was a bit muddy for us to go very far, but it was still enjoyable and beautiful. Knowing that I won't post any pictures of the hike if I say I will do it later, I will just mention that I did take some.
After our hike, we went to a hibachi restaurant. It was delicious and the performance was very impressive. Ashley and I both caught food in our mouths. I took some video of some of the action, which again I won't promise to post anytime soon.

Magic

2009-04-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

I recently rediscovered an interest in magic and have been learning a few tricks to amuse myself. If you are interested in seeing my attempt at a levitation illusion, you can click on to my podcast for a video of it. On Sunday, there will be a live magic show and magic-related movie at my favorite theater so I am really excited for that. It all started when I just happened to see a sign for a magic/juggling store that was tucked behind some other stores in Albuquerque. The guy running the store was performing back to back tricks and chatting us up, eventually asking me what type of magic I perform. I told him about the magic set I had when I was younger with multiple tricks in it. I don't know what ever happened to that thing, but it would be cool to find again. Anyways, I think it might be cool to pursue an old interest. Let me know what you think if you have an opinion.

Tumbling (flip and branny)

2009-04-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

Here is video of me doing a flip over a block on the floor, then doing a branny on the trampoline. Both are filmed at 420 frames per second. They are played back at 30 FPS, so this is 14 times slower than reality.

Igloo Pictures

2009-03-28T12:52:00.001-07:00

Alaska List: Get A Picture!!!

2009-03-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

Please comment to suggest any other things that we should try and get a picture of.

Bears
Moose
Elk
Whales
Mt. McKinley
Sarah Palin
Cool Beards
Sea Lions
Milk Prices
Glaciers

Alaska List: Buy It There

2009-03-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

Please comment to suggest anything else that might be better to buy there than to pack with us. I have no intention of bringing any fluids on the plane just to make going through security faster.

Basics
toothbrush
toothpaste
shampoo
body wash
mustache wax
extra batteries?
Food
snacks
easy meals
NOT milk, but take a picture of the high prices

Alaska List: Bring It With

2009-03-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

Please comment on this post and suggest anything else you can think of to pack with us. There is another post for things to buy at Target while we are there.

warm clothes
long underwear
hat
boots
thick socks
gloves
sweaters
undershirts
camera
battery charger (compatible with power inverter)
phone
charger (compatible with power inverter)
written list of numbers and addresses
miscellaneous
power inverter to charge things in the rental car
wallet (ID, cards,etc)
sunglasses

Playing with the Beard

2009-03-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

Yasmine being cute

2009-03-15T19:01:00.000-07:00

volume two

2009-03-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

Engagement party pictures Volume one

2009-03-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

New carpet

2009-03-05T07:20:00.000-08:00

Installed and awesome

Getting Ready For New Carpet

2009-03-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

My dad paid for new carpet for my house as an engagement gift, and now I am preparing for the installation by moving all of my stuff out of the areas being carpeted and pulling up the old stuff. I could have paid extra to have someone else do all that, but I never feel right paying someone to do something I am qualified to do. I keep debating about how much time it will take me, because I don't want to have it all torn up a day and a half before I even need to. I do have plenty of help available if I need, though.

Ashley's Birthday

2009-02-20T18:20:00.000-08:00

Today is Ashley's birthday, and we had a fun time out and about today. We went to a Thai place in Fort Collins that we found while looking for a Turkish place that seems to no longer exist. I'm sure there is a French word for things you find while looking for something else that end up being awesome. I might try to find that word.... Anyways, after that we went and saw Coraline in 3D, which was pretty amazing. Besides taking her out, I got Ashley some Gyokuro tea, and some salami from Salumi in Seattle. We had Gyokuro in Seattle, so I had a theme going. Apart from the theme, I got us a video game featuring pirates, one of my old favorites and one I knew she would at least check out because of the pirates. Now we are listening to music and chilling after the yummy yak-burgers I made us for dinner. Happy birthday, Ashley!

A Moment To Myself

2009-01-22T08:53:00.000-08:00

I went up on the roof for breakfast this morning. Here are some pictures of the sunrise.

You can't interrupt a moment to blog about it.

2009-01-07T09:04:00.001-08:00

I asked Ashley to marry me last night and she said yes. This was my earliest chance to post about it, and I wanted to post it here first so that everyone had a chance to find out at the same time. Also, if I forget anyone, they won't miss out.

Obama

2008-10-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

A Brief Update

2008-08-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Passion died too, probably lonely
I own a home
Repairing leaky tubs is expensive
I went on a river
I made a website : www.TheFloatTrip.com
I love my girlfriend
I want to be a ninja, so I am taking a seminar
I work 3 jobs
My dog is current on all her shots
I have had no time to update my blog
My dog loves going to doggy day care
I love my girlfriend YAY

Praise God, Keep Moving

2008-06-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

As a lot of you know, I am trying to buy a house. It is a slow process, with many factors to consider. It has caused me a lot of stress. I have been working two jobs, and still teaching Tae Kwon Do to help pay for it. With the tornado and other things, I haven't had the same amount of classes and income as I was getting used to. I have also been sick for the last week, throwing up every other day. I discovered my turtle, Fury, dead today when I was adding water to his and Passion's aquarium. I really don't know what else to do but praise God and keep moving. If anyone has any encouraging words I would love to hear them right now.

Couldn't make a year..

2008-06-09T19:31:00.001-07:00

Shaved my head again.

Just need shoes now

2008-05-01T16:23:00.001-07:00

ha ha ha

2008-04-14T14:33:00.001-07:00

see more loldogs ask - i can has hotdog?

The difference between in your brain and in your hand

2008-04-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

White Tux!

2008-04-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

My white tux, which I didn't bother to mention I'd found and ordered, finally came in after being tailored. It looks awesome.

Old pic, stylized

2008-04-08T16:47:00.001-07:00

Blogging my fortune cookies #9

2008-04-06T06:46:00.001-07:00

You are never selfish with your adivce or your help.

been a while...

2008-03-22T17:34:00.000-07:00

I finally went to the doctor after 6 months. I got some antibiotics and should be all healed up in ten days... also awaiting results of a blood test....

Anyways, I am looking for a white tuxedo that I can touch before I buy it. I don't want to rent it, especially not for $150 when I can find plenty to buy for less than that. The problem I am having is that the sites that sell them look like they were designed with free software from 1990. I don't trust poorly designed websites, and you shouldn't either. The brick and mortars sell everything on earth formal-wise that isn't a white tux. If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

Grieving

2008-03-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

My grandfather died today, and there are so many things going through my head. I think what sticks out the most in my mind right now is the chance I got to speak to him on the phone one last time. I've never had that before with anyone I have known that passed on, and I had no idea what to say, but it means a lot to me that I got a chance to say something.

S EAT T L E 3

2008-02-26T07:36:00.001-08:00

My father was killed by ninjas, need money for karate lessons.

Giant donut that got a lot of looks...

Gum wall

Seals

S EAT T L E 2

2008-02-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

Starbucks, the first.

Space Needle

View from Space Needle

Salumi, our first meal in Seattle.

Five minutes before this, that little guy was alive.

S EAT T L E

2008-02-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

Seattle Skyline

Me, about to eat Jamon Iberico, roughly 100 bucks a pound. Worth it.

Ashley, looking cute, and about to enjoy Jamon Iberico.

Pike Place Market

Me with Schincken. Delicious.

Blogging my fortune cookies #8

2008-02-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

Prosperity makes friends and adversity tries them.

My Lovely Ladies

2008-02-10T19:22:00.001-08:00

Yasmin!

2008-02-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

Kristen's Early Birthday Present

2008-02-08T19:25:00.001-08:00

Flying Again Finally

2008-02-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

It took 3 months to have time and money to fly again, but it was awesome! There was a little rust, but we knocked that right off. Also, one of my bills is completely paid off so now I will have more money available to spend on flying every month.

Birthday Party

2008-02-02T08:48:00.000-08:00

I just finally got around to writing about my birthday party from the other day. The cake was awesome (Thank you, Ashley), and enjoyed by everyone there who isn't allergic to chocolate. We all had a fun time playing cards and hanging out, having a good laugh about some other festivities from the actual day of my birthday. This was definitely one of the best birthdays I have ever had.

Blogging my fortune cookies #7

2008-01-31T07:07:00.001-08:00

Be calm when confronting an emergency crisis.

I'm 26 Now.

2008-01-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

feels ok.

Blogging my fortune cookies #6

2008-01-26T16:55:00.001-08:00

You have enough energy and enthusiasm for two people.

Birthday #26

2008-01-18T20:08:00.000-08:00

Well, it is almost here. I have no idea what I want, but it probably involves lingerie and peanut butter. I'm very happy right now, but I did have a little bout of my usual birthday antics earlier today. I get all concerned that I am not doing everything I can with my short time on Earth. If you really want to do something nice for my birthday, make me feel like you are glad I exist.

Blogging my fortune cookies #5

2008-01-18T20:07:00.001-08:00

Perhaps you have been focusing too much on saving.

Guitar Progress

2008-01-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

I can sorta play 3 songs now, Jingle Bells being the only one I can play completely. I can also play most of Dust In The Wind and a good part of Amazing Grace. Yeah, I'm kinda skipping over some stuff and using music from some other books besides the one I am learning from, but it keeps me interested to play songs I recognize.

Trumpet Trade-Up

2008-01-09T08:11:00.001-08:00

This is Blue, nice to meet you.

Here is a close-up of the color.

I traded in my trumpet for a guitar. I never played my trumpet, and now Ashley and I can learn to play the guitar together. Jonathan wants me to teach him after I learn, but doesn't want to learn with us. Also of note, this is my 100th blog entry. Yay me!

Blogging my fortune cookies #4

2008-01-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

Your boss will give you a big raise on April first.

Head pics

2008-01-02T12:48:00.001-08:00

Ashley Suggested It.

2008-01-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

I shaved my head yesterday. I'm still growing it out, but we wanted to see the whole process day by day, starting on the first of the new year. I will upload some pictures later.

2008

2007-12-30T19:11:00.000-08:00

Almost there.

Blogging my fortune cookies #3

2007-12-22T12:34:00.001-08:00

A surprise treat awaits you.

KK Graduates!

2007-12-22T12:32:00.000-08:00

Click here

Blogging my fortune cookies #2

2007-12-02T17:30:00.000-08:00

I lost the actual paper, but it said something like "sometimes the wisest person in the room is the rudest dressed." It made me laugh because before reading it I was thinking I might be rudely dressed because I was wearing my hat while I ate.

Interesting Stuff

2007-11-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking of mentioning some stuff I have seen online lately. You should all check out Ectomo.com and theantigym.com because they are both awesome. That's all for now...

Leaving The Cult

2007-11-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

After a 7100, a 7105, and two Pearls, I have decided to leave the BlackBerry cult. It is kind of a sad day for me, but I am getting tired of not being able to scroll left and there were no comparable BlackBerry models that I could get instead of the Pearl as a free replacement from T-Mobile. My replacement phone will be a T-Mobile Dash, which is probably only bested by the Pearl because of Rim's Push Email, which I no longer use anyway. The Dash seems to have a lot more compatability for media formats, and I will be able to access the internet through my wireless connection at home without getting a data plan. I guess this is just one more step towards regular human interaction that my CrackBerry had been preventing.

Blogging My Fortune Cookies #1

2007-11-15T17:58:00.000-08:00

When the moment comes, take the one from the right.

There Must Be Some Mistake.....

2007-11-15T17:57:00.000-08:00

Lesson Two

2007-11-14T18:04:00.000-08:00

Today was my second flying lesson. The turbulence was somewhat intimidating but it was an excellent chance to learn a lot of stuff that is a bit more advanced. I am doing well with maintaining altitude while turning, which can be a real challenge for most people. I am pretty proud of how well I am doing, and I am really enjoying myself. Time to eat, I have a neat picture to share in another entry later tonight.....

Thank You, Uncle Nick!

2007-11-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much for the generous check. I will be putting it towards my flying lessons and necessary materials for that.

The days go so fast

2007-11-06T16:36:00.001-08:00

I can't believe it is already the 6th and almost the 7th. Halloween was yesterday right? I'm looking for a happy medium here, somewhere between the days dragging on endlessly and this current situation of the days just flying past. Speaking of flying, my next lesson is scheduled for next week. Time to get into slightly more complicated stuff, I presume. Not quite time for the barrel roll yet.

Pictures From Flying over Greeley

2007-11-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

Rocky Mountains

South Platte River

Target from the sky

Flying Over Greeley

2007-11-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple videos from inside a Diamond. One is our takeoff and one is our landing. The plane I flew last month was a Cessna 172, but I didn't take any video. Rachel and I went flying on Saturday because there was an aviation open house and it was only ten bucks! Awesome!

oh, toes

2007-10-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

SO yeah. The part of my toe that was hurting me is fine now, but my attempts at preventive maintenance have rendered two other pains in my toes. whatever, I am just gonna eat my ice cream and play my video game.

twitch

2007-10-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

My left eye has a random twitch that has been there for a week now. I want it to go away because it worries me, but honestly it feels kind of cool.

LIVE!

2007-10-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

Saw Live last night. Absolutely awesome. I was about 15 feet from Ed!!!!

I got a raise

2007-10-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

holy crap! We have brand new equipment and more money. All we did was ask for it.

Greeley is actually beautiful from 7000 feet.

2007-10-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

I took my very first flying lesson in a Cessna 172 today with instructor Craig Kozak. He was extremely friendly and made me as comfortable as possible. The controls were a little bit of work to learn at first, but there was a certain level of intuitiveness to them once things got rolling that I was not expecting. I just thought I would post that I had, and if you want to hear the story in more detail just let me know. I'm sure the effect is greater if you see the big grin on my face while I tell the story than if you just read it. If you live in Greeley or nearby, you should definitely check out Poudre Aviation to learn to fly or just go on a scenic flight.

Send in your signatures!

2007-09-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

Uncle Nick! John P!

A sense of relief means you did the right thing.

2007-09-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

I was scheduled to start at TSA this morning. I was going to write "supposed to start" but when I thought about it I knew that wasn't true. I'm sure some people will be disappointed, confused, suspicious, etc, but let me tell you what I have learned to be valuable in this world before you decide to be anything about this turn of events. As some of you may know, I recently attended the funeral of my uncle Cliff, (father's brother) and it was an incredible learning experience for me, both about myself and about my family. I spent almost a week in Iowa, watching my dad and uncle Nick bury a second brother, hearing stories about the "Koch boys" from friends of the family, and seeing hundreds of different people grieving in different ways. I had no idea so many lives had been touched by my uncle. I wish I could convey to you the images of my aunt's grief that have stuck with me, but what she did or what she said would never come across enough if you only heard of it without being there. I hope someday that someone is that in love with me. My cousin was so strangely calm through the whole process of picking out photos, writing a pamphlet, and even the wake, right up until the funeral. She felt like a stranger to me with all the years since we have seen each other, but some sense of family made me love and care for her so much. There is a much larger experience to write about here, reaching farther than I'm going to post online, but the basis of my recent evaluation of my life is summed up by the question of "what happens when we die?". The simplest answer to that question is "we no longer live". We no longer read books. We no longer tell stories. We no longer share hot cocoa. We no longer go camping. We no longer hold hands. We no longer kiss. We no longer go for walks on the beach. We no longer ride our bikes. We no longer look at funny videos on the internet. We no longer watch movies. We no longer make fart noises and laugh. We no longer pay bills. We no longer work. We no longer drive to and from work. We no longer wait between shifts. Only some of these things are going to be missed. If you need me to explain which ones there is something wrong with you. Some of you will say "You could have been making more money", and I will tell those people those people that money isn't what's valuable. If I need to, I can even break down the numbers for them, and ask them if they would be willing to give up 20 more hours of their life every week in travel and waiting, and in giving up other things that they love which also make money. All told with the extra expenses of travel and lifestyle changes, it adds up to 88 dollars per week that I would be making more if I had started. 88 dollars in exchange for 20 hours of my free time, and my Tae Kwon Do classes that I would likely not be able to teach any longer (and not get paid for anymore). If you haven't done the math yourself already that is $4.40/hr to abstain from what life really is. If someone offered you $4.40/hr to drive for an hour, sit for two (You can read a book, but most internet activities are prohibited) and then drive back an hour and do this five days a week, I'm not sure many people would take it. I have heavy emotional and rational influence on my thought processes because of my parents. Because of my mom, I always consider how I feel about something. Because of my dad, I always consider what I think about something. I've made my decision and I have justified it to myself and the world. I have invited some other influences to sound off. (I have also chosen not to ask when I know the response.) My sister says it might be a great opportunity that I am passing up. Maybe I will regret it years from now. Monica says, "do what makes you happy, Baba." Tyler Durden (Fight Club) says, "You are not your job!". The Buddha says, "Take the middle way." God says, "I put you here to be happy." I'm allowing comments if you have anything to say, too. I think I'm done for now.

Google me

2007-08-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

I am the first and second result for Bryan Koch. The first is my old blogger account, which I forgot the password to and never really wrote on. The second one is this site! Yay! People can find me.

Vexillology? I guess so....

2007-08-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

I never thought it was that important, but the program I bought to help me brush up on my German seems to think I should be able to recognize the flags of different countries. How many countries have flags where there are three stripes of different colors? Ridiculous. Anyone wanna practice/learn German with me?

How To Make Money Doing What You Love.

2007-08-08T09:59:00.001-07:00

Step One: Do what you love.
Step Two: Ask for money.

Let's see if it works.

The River

2007-08-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

The river trip was pretty enjoyable. It was good to see everyone again and spend time with my roommates and family. We didn't take a camera, but if someone sends me some pictures I will post one or two here. We think next year we will do canoes instead.

River Time!

2007-08-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Today is the day that we leave for our tubing trip! There should be some stories and pictures coming Monday. The pirate gear is all ready and it is time for the ridiculousness to begin.

A stupid little poll for you to do. Yay

2007-07-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

Create your own Friend Test here

Moving

2007-07-21T10:00:00.001-07:00

We are moving now and I won't have internet til Tuesday. text me if you need me, or call after 7 on weekdays and any time weekends.

Our Treasure Chest

2007-07-07T17:10:00.001-07:00