What makes something remarkable?  Simply said, is it just something worthy of a remark?  Or does it go deeper than that?  Why are some stories told over and over again?  Why are some songs played over and over again for decades and decades?  What makes them remarkable?

I am not sure I have the answers to any of these questions I often ask myself.  However, I am truly inspired by remarkable occurrences.  These are the things that keep me moving, keep me motivated, and keep me just simply curious.

I have often stated that “I am a lucky girl.”  That sentiment stays with me daily.  Some people believe we create our own luck and fortune.  Some people say that we can also invite disaster.  But how do we process and understand things like disease to innocent, healthy people?

We say things like “it’s just so unfair.” We ask “why?”  We shake our fists at the sky in frustration.  And in some remarkable cases, we become deeply inspired by another person’s struggle, their will to survive and overcome all the odds.  When these things happen, we share their stories because it is in the storytelling that we find the healing and the connection.

I write this today with a particular remarkable young man in mind.  His name is Theo Menswar.  He is the son of my bandmate and good friend Brant Christopher Menswar, and he is fighting for his life as he battles a very rare blood cancer.  His story has touched the hearts and souls of people all over the world.  And rightly so.

Theo is a force.  Theo is remarkable.  Theo is an inspiration.  Theo is a fighter.  In some peoples’ eyes, he is just a 15 year old boy fighting the fight of his life.  In my heart he is extraordinary, and I feel his story should be told and retold.

WIth that in mind, you can see a little bit of Theo’s story here.  I hope you will share and keep him in your thoughts….

I will never be the skinny girl.  This is ok with me.  But I can be the strong girl, and that’s why I joined Cross Fit Relentless in West Hartford, CT.  What I did not expect to get out of my membership was the total encouragement, support and community I have had the pleasure and honor of discovering.

I can tell you that I hate the gym.  I have always hated the gym.  I love sports and I love being active, but I hate the gym.  Cross fit is not the gym.  A box does not look like or feel like a gym, and the members certainly do not behave like they are in a gym.

Today the work out of the day was really hard for me.  I finished last.  This is not an uncommon event – for me to finish last.  But today most of my class stayed with me and rooted me on as I worked my way through to the end.  This is not something you would find in a gym.  Their encouragement and support is what got me to push myself, and it’s how I get stronger.

Thank you to all my coaches and classmates at Cross Fit Relentless.  I really feel my life changing because of all of you.  I will never be the skinny girl, but I definitely will be stronger.

I am really pumped about 2013.  As some of you might know, I have joined forces with Big Kettle Drum.  We start the recording process today in Nashville.  I will keep you posted on my Facebook Page as well as Twitter.   Hope to see you out there at some point this year!  Rock On!

I have been playing golf since I was seven years old.  Any diehard golfer knows that you collect sentimental accessories along the way that truly make or break your golfing experience.  We golfers have ball markers, special hats, a certain towel, or a head cover that has been on the “team” for a long time.

Me.  I have Triumph the insult dog head cover.  Yes, that Triumph – the one from The Conan O’brien Show.  He has resided on my driver for many years.  And every time I play golf, I show him off and quote “for me to poop on.”  It’s all part of my golfing ritual.

Well, last Sunday, the unspeakable happened.  Triumph was taken from me while I was demoing new drivers at Golfer’s Warehouse here in Hartford, CT.  Someone stole him from behind the counter.  I was devastated.  I seriously almost cried.  I felt like I was three years old and someone stole my woobie from me.

Late Tuesday night I got a call from the manager of Golfer’s Warehouse who expressed he had good news for me.  They found and rescued Triumph, and they were holding him in the highest level of security locations – the manager’s office.  I could come pick him up at any time.  They explained to me that James from the store had spent his lunch hour scouring video surveillance tapes looking for the culprit.  Sure enough, a frequent costumer from the store had “accidently lifted” Triumph.  James gently asked for Triumph’s return, and he is now safely and happily protecting my driver again.

Today was a triumphant day.  Thank you to James who took the time to hunt down my little pal.  And thank you to Golfer’s Warehouse for realizing it is the little things that make the biggest of differences.  I will be a loyal customer from now on.  You and your staff are amazing!

I am a lucky girl…

_{Seen above – Triumph and James at Golfer’s Warehouse}

I am going to spend the next few days working with Alan Schaefer of Banding People Together. This is an amazing company that helps corporations develop collaboration skills through songwriting. This will be my third event, and to say that I am excited is an understatement.

Past events have been for Hard Rock Cafe and ESPN. Having the opportunity to work with these corporations has been inspirational and life changing for me. It’s a rush on both sides of the metaphorical fence.

These engagements allow me the opportunity to sharpen my collaboration skills, as well as grow as a facilitator. In my life I am always on the hunt for balance, and it is within these endeavors that I get to combine all the things I love. What a lucky girl I am to be able to play music and sharpen my business and people skills all at once!

Rock on!

Jen Lowe

Change is a good thing.  Change can be frightening.  It can also set you free.  Over the last few months I have been making some changes.  I spent 11 years playing and pimping Meinl percussion and cymbal products until it was just time to move on.  In January I signed with LP.  I hesitated at first.  I didn’t want to get lost in a giant company.  I didn’t know if my style would be a fit.  I am not a Latin player.  I am entrenched in the Americana scene as both a songwriter and percussionist.  It is this scene that I love.  And my new relationship with LP has been amazing.  They have welcomed me and have already been incredibly supportive.  I look forward to sharing my adventure with you as we move forward.

LP was not the only change I made last year.  I also signed with Vater.  Yet again another great move.  You might be thinking, wow, Jen is not loyal to anyone.  This is so the contrary.  Making these moves were really tough decisions for me.  I believe in loyalty.  I also believe the relationship in any circumstance comes first.  My relationship with Vater has been outstanding.  The love, support, and camaraderie have been such welcomed aspects in my beautiful life.

Lastly, I am officially playing Takamine guitars.  I just got the sweetest New Yorker, Parlor style ax, and I just can’t put it down.  It’s an inspirational little gem that I will never been seen without.  I look forward to sharing its voice with you.

That being said, look out for some video, audio, and photographic content coming to you soon.

Rock On!

Jen Lowe

You really don’t know me.  My name is Jen Lowe.  My dad is a retired prosecutor.  In my life, I have heard and seen some truly horrible things – some truly horrible stories have been told to me.  I have listened.  I have tried to be sympathetic.  I have, thankfully, never been able to be empathetic.  I had a storybook childhood.   Every day I rejoice and exclaim to the world “I am a lucky girl.”

Not every girl is lucky.  Not every kid is lucky.  Unfortunately, some kids deal with unspeakable traumas.  We can’t empathize.  We can barely sympathize.  But we can recognize.  And that is what I am doing tonight.

Sometimes in life, you have a conversation, and you realize in one breath, why you said yes.  You understand why you took time out of your so-called busy life to be a part of an adventure you did not research.  As a musician, I get asked to a lot of shows with very little details provided.  Most times I say yes just because it is the person who is doing the asking.  This time it was Michael Tolcher.  A text message came to my phone “Jen, can you lay down some beats with me in Scranton, PA on Feb. 17 &18?”  I checked the driving distance, and I responded “fo sho.”

Michael and I have been friends a long time.  I have amazing respect for his craft.   I follow Michael on Twitter.  I found out we were doing a benefit for a group called Marley’s Mission.  Tonight I had a conversation with Gene.  Gene told us the story behind the benefit, behind the mission.  Michael and I listened. We asked questions.  We sat in disbelief.  We sat in awe.  Here we were, artists, often being asked to play at a benefit, often asked to donate our time.  This time it is really different.  This time I feel like I want to do anything I can to help the kids of Marley’s Mission.  This time, this charity resonates deep in my heart.  I am honored to be a part.

Marley’s Mission is a non-profit organization that provides equine-based therapy free of charge to children, and their families, who have experienced trauma.

I encourage you to click on the links and check it out.  Marley’s Mission is changing the lives’ of many children who really need it.

I am a lucky girl to be here in Scranton, PA sharing in this wonderful event…more to come.

Rett Thompson, Paul Warner,  Christopher Alan Yates, and all my friends in Atlanta helped me pull this together.  Very excited to present this video to you!

This Thursday night, February 24th, I will be playing at Infinity Hall.  This might be my absolute favorite place to play.  Coupled with the fact that I get to share the night with Pat Mgee, Patrick Macaloon, and Paul Lombardo makes me want to jump up in the air and holla “Yee Haw!”  I have known both Pat McGee and Patrick Macaloon for almost the same amount of time.  I met both of them on very different occasions when I was playing and touring with my band Soul Food.  I have maintained friendships with both amazing guys, have been reconnecting with each of them on a regular basis as of late, and am super psyched to be rock’n with them this coming Thursday night.

Paul Lombardo and I met each other when I moved up here to CT a few years ago.  We have been collaborating over the last few months, and he has become a wonderful friend and music compadre.  Not only can he play and sing his butt off, but he can fish the seas like no other and come home and cook that fish up into a delicious meal.  When Paul says ” I caught you a delicious bass,” he is not only quoting Napoleon Dynamite, he really means it!

So as my life collapses into place around here, and as I come full circle with old and new friends, I have to rejoice.  I am thrilled I get to do it through music and even more excited to be performing my own music as well as the two Pats’ songs at Infinity Hall.  I am pretty sure we will be passing around some YEE HAWS!