The EPCB had the pleasure to play at the 2026 BandWidth Community Band Festival in the historic Landmark Center in downtown St Paul.

Eric recorded this song. It is called Manas Rokas. It is a song the band got from a Latvian music professor when the band traveled to Latvia last year.

It is a cool piece…lots of incidentals ♭ ♯ ♮ and weird key signatures.

 

I want to start by saying this clearly: I love my brother, and I am incredibly proud of him.

 

He’s lost about half his body weight. 

HALF!

That’s not just impressive—it’s life-changing. But I’ll be honest… it also shocked me in a way I didn’t expect. Somewhere along the way, I realized something I hadn’t really faced before:

 

I had become the “fat sibling.”

 

And yeah…that hit me.

 

Now, before this turns into something negative, let me say this: this isn’t about tearing myself down, and it’s definitely not about competing with him in a toxic way. If anything, we both want the same thing—for each other and ourselves—to be healthier, stronger, and feel good in our own bodies.

 

But still…I’m on a mission.

 

Let’s be real...my brother is 6’5”. Logically, I should weigh less than him. Currently? I don’t. And that’s been a HUGE wake-up call.

 

So about a month ago, I decided to do something different. I signed up with a coach, and honestly, I thought I knew what was coming: eat less, cut everything fun, grind through it.

 

I was wrong.

 

They put me on something called carb cycling. I had never even heard of it before. Basically, some days I eat a lot of carbs, some days I eat very few, and other days are more balanced. At first, it sounded complicated… maybe even a little “out there.”

 

But here’s the wild part: I’m eating about 2,000 calories a day.

 

TWO THOUSAND!!

 

Everything I thought I knew about weight loss told me that I needed to eat less. WAY LESS. But my coach explained that I had probably been under-eating for a long time, which can actually slow things down instead of helping.

 

And now?

 

I’m eating pasta.  🍝

I’m eating potatoes.  🥔 

I’m eating burgers.  🍔 

I’m eating fruit...lots of it.  🍌 

I’m even eating chocolate. 🍫 

(Yes, it’s dark chocolate… but still, chocolate is chocolate.)

 

There are literally days on my plan where chocolate is included on purpose. That alone blew my mind.

 

What’s even more surprising?

 

It’s working.

 

After just a couple of weeks, I’m already losing weight...and I don’t feel restricted. I don’t feel miserable. I don’t feel like I’m “on a diet” in the way I always thought diets had to feel.

 

On top of that, I’ve got a workout plan that actually fits my life. I’m lifting weights about four days a week, sometimes just at home using my own bodyweight. These workouts aren’t long or overwhelming...most are around 20–25 minutes. That’s it.

 

And I still have time to run.

 

Running is important to me because I’m in the middle of a personal goal: running a half marathon in all 50 states. I’ve completed 40 so far, and I’m not stopping now. The fact that this plan supports that goal instead of fighting against it? That matters.

 

This whole experience has been…eye-opening.

 

For the first time, I feel like I’m not guessing. I’m not jumping from trend to trend. I’m not stuck in that cycle of “start over on Monday.”

 

This feels different.

 

I’m not trying to get “crazy skinny.” That’s not the goal. But if I see 199.9 on the scale someday? I’ll be thrilled. I haven’t seen that number since what…2015?

 

More than anything, this feels like the beginning of something long-term. Not a quick fix. Not a crash plan. A real, sustainable shift.

 

So yeah...this is my quest…to finally figure out how to live in a body that feels like it fits me.

🌟 Missouri Makes 40! 🌟

State number 40 is in the books!🏃‍♀️

We had the incredible experience of running past the iconic Gateway Arch not once, not twice, but like 5 times? The highlight was watching the sunrise over the Arch…absolutely breathtaking. 🌅 

Now not everybody got this experience…as a proud slow runner/walker, I got to take advantage of the early 6 AM start, which meant a few quiet miles (and yes, rocking a not-so-fashionable reflective vest for the first part of the race 😂).  

The first 6 or 7 miles of the course were great. We were by the waterfront, by the Arch and around Busch Stadium. It was great but then we went past some run-down manufacturing building which were honestly quite interesting too…I guess? We ran into some neighborhoods, a few parks over an interstate or two and eventually got our way back to Union Station and the finish line.

Even though I got an hour head start I was passed by 3 marathoners. HAHA, they ran twice the distance in less time.  One of them (I think he finished third?) saw me in the finish line chute and gave me a fist bump and made some comment about finishing it. I laughed and said you covered twice the distance in less time. Haha.

But perhaps the best part? The early start also means I can confidently say I “beat” Eric and Phil to the finish! 🤪

Feeling grateful, accomplished, and excited to keep the journey going. On to the next state…South Carolina in 35 days!

 

 For Carmen's birthday over the weekend we went tubing at Buck Hill. It has been several years since I have done this. The snow as VERY fast. My first time down I busted through the fence at the end of the course. We got to do about 6 runs in the two hours that we had. It was very cold and I'm so glad I had hand warmers. We made Tiago go with us and I think he had a good time.  Afterwards we went to their house for pizza and cake. It was a fun day!

 Tiago arrived from Brazil in January and promptly got his driving permit, enrolled in Mankato West High School and got a job. It is so great seeing him again. He was a baby when they moved to Brazil. This past weekend I took some Senior pictures for him over the weekend. Here are a few of the good ones.

Eric and I went to LUMINISCENCE at the The Basilica of Saint Mary on Friday night and it was amazing!  It is a show where history, 360° video mapping, and music come together to reveal this jewel of Minnesota's heritage as you have never seen it before. The luminous projections enhance the mesmerizing architecture and the history of the Basilica in the heart of Minneapolis.  If you want to see the videos click here: https://kim-eric.com/2026/01-16/

This weekend we celebrated a very special moment — Aurelia’s baptism. At just five months old, she was absolutely adorable and handled the whole ceremony like a pro. It certainly didn’t hurt that the holy water in the baptismal font was warm, which made the experience a lot more pleasant for a tiny girl suddenly becoming the center of attention.

It was even more meaningful because it fell on the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. Aurelia was one of five babies baptized that day, and seeing all those families gathered together added such a joyful energy to the celebration.

Her godfather drove up from Mississippi. Welcome to Minnesota Cold! After the ceremony, we all gathered for Famous Dave’s BBQ — Yum!

Aurelia’s baptism was simple and sweet. A beautiful beginning to her spiritual journey.

This weekend we celebrated my great‑nephew’s 5th birthday, and he chose a theme that surprised all of us: chess. Not superheroes, not dinosaurs, not trucks — chess. His entire party was decked out in black and white, from the decorations to the tableware, giving the whole day a fun, vibe that felt both adorable and unexpectedly sophisticated for a five‑year‑old.

Of course, no birthday is complete without a little chaos, and we were happy to contribute. Our gift to him was the game Don’t Step In It, which is exactly as silly as it sounds. The goal is simple: avoid stepping in the fake poop while walking like whatever animal the spinner assigns you. One moment you’re a hopping frog, the next you’re a stomping elephant, and if luck isn’t on your side, you’re a slow, wobbling sloth trying not to land in disaster. Watching everyone take their turns had us laughing.

After the party we lingered at Danielle’s house into the evening, enjoying family time. We wrapped things up with pizza for dinner, a perfect ending to a day full of fun, laughter, and a very proud five‑year‑old birthday boy.

It was one of those simple, joyful days that stays with you...a reminder that sometimes the best celebrations are the ones filled with family, games, and a little bit of pretend poop on the floor.