Beach Ready 30 Day Challenge: Day 1

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Jen Barker

I’m beat.   Two workouts a day is definitely the remedy to insomnia – there is no way I’m not getting an awesome night of sleep!  So, here’s how Day 1 went.

WORKOUT 1

I started the day with Bikram Yoga which is the only yoga I’ve ever really enjoyed.  Bikram is a 90 minute class taught in a room heated up to 105 degrees and consists of 26 poses that are the same each class no matter where you are practicing.  Here is how Bikram Yoga Boston’s website explains the practice:

Bikram’s Therapeutic Hatha/Raja Yoga is a series of 26 yoga postures, and breathing exercises taught in a 90 minute class. Each pose is a challenge based on one’s personal abilities. The postures are done in the safe environment of a heated room so that deep penetration can relieve one’s body resistance without risking injury.

By the end of a class session, each individual will have worked every muscle, tendon, joint, ligament, internal organ, and gland while systematically moving fresh, oxygenated blood to 100% of the body. The result is restoration of health to all systems.

As you increase strength, flexibility and balance in your body, you will be energized, you will revitalize your mind, and you’ll be working on eliminating conditions of stress produced by fast paced lifestyles. These postures work synergistically and cumulatively to put the body back on track and in balance. Regular practice of this series of postures results in the healing and repair of injuries and illnesses, weight loss, and peace of mind.

I left Bikram this morning smiling.  I felt rejuvenated and I rocked my “yoga glow” all the way home.  After class I was starving.  I definitely have a problem with constantly eating, especially after working out, so I make sure I have lots of healthy options from which to choose.  I ate healthily all day, and felt fueled for my evening workout when the time came.

WORKOUT 2

I started out tonight’s workout with a fitness test that can be found in Jillian Michael’s book, “Making the Cut”.  I’ve had the book since ’09, but never got around to taking the test (guess I wasn’t ready to ‘Make the Cut’).  Below is the test and my  results.

Took this fitness test from Jillian Michael’s book, “Making the Cut”. My results will be posted in tonight’s blog. If you have about 7 minutes, give it a try. Share your results if you’d like.  This test will serve as another way for me to measure my success on day 30.

1. STEP TEST – Step on and off a 12-inch step for three minutes. Take your pulse for one minute. Record your pulse.

My pulse was 55 beats per minute!  I couldn’t believe it.   Excellent was <85 and I blew that out of the water.  Guess all that endurance cardio is paying off.

2. PUSH-UPS – Do as many push-ups (No girly push-ups) as you can in one minute. Record how many you did. 

I was striving for 35 which would land me in Jillian’s “Excellent” category again, but alas, I fell short.  32 pushups in 1 minute.
3. SIT-UPS – Do as many sit-ups as you can in 1 minute. (Keep hands on thighs and lift up enough so hands touch knees. Be sure to squeeze your abs while you do it. Make ‘em count.) Record how many you did.

This was really hard for me.  I think I was more focused on form than speed because I only did 29 in one minute.  That score landed me in the “Average” category, 14 sit-ups from “Excellent”.
4. WALL SIT – Do a wall sit by placing back against wall and bend knees at 90 degrees. Maintain position as long as possible. Try to hold for at least 30 seconds but you reach awesomeness if you can hold 90 seconds or more. Record your time.

I reached “awesomeness” by staying in a wall sit for 93 seconds.  My thighs were on fire.

After shaking out my legs for bit, I decided to try this workout from Fitness Magazine next.  This “Beach Body Cinch & Sculpt Circuit Workout” was okay, but it didn’t totally win me over.  I used the 5lb dumbbells in my apartment and gave it a go for one round.  I enjoyed that it was something different, but overall, was ready for it to be over.  So, next I headed to the gym in my apartment building.  Here’s what I did:

50 sit-ups on the decline bench

50 Russian twists on decline bench

5 minutes on the bike at moderate effort (Level 10 resistance)

50 squats

50 V-sits

5 minutes on the bike at moderate effort (Level 10 resistance)

1 minute of single leg lifts with crunch

1 minute straight arm to forearm plank

5 minutes on the bike at moderate effort (Level 10 resistance)

1 minute lunges

1 minute side plank with dips (30 seconds each side)

1 minute leg lifts on each side

At the end of this, I was sweating a ton and felt like I got in a great workout.  I will post links to the exercises y’all may not know over the weekend.  Right now, I’ve got to get my beauty sleep.  Tomorrow, ride 50 miles in the a.m.

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4 Weeks to Greece! Beach Ready 30 Day Challenge – What is it?

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Jen Barker

Yesterday, I was thinking about Greece and my 30th birthday which will happen while on vacation, and how I’ve been working to be as fit as possible when I hit 30.  Somewhere in the midst of these thoughts/daydreams, I decided that it was time to challenge myself and see what kind of changes I can accomplish with my body in just 4 weeks time.  To help me along in this sure-to-be-tough journey (that’s’ why it’s called a ‘challenge’, right?), I started a Facebook page to share my blog posts, workouts, recipes, and to have the support of friend.  I also committed to the following:  sharing all workouts, documenting and sharing all food and drinks using my public MyFitnessPal Food Diary, and working my ass off (details below) for the next 30 days.

WHY 30 DAYS?

30 days works because basically, that’s all the time I have left until I go to Greece.  Also, I turn 30 next month.  Oh yeah, and it just so happens that 30 days is a great amount of time to challenge oneself to something new.  And, while working out isn’t new to me, keeping a food and workout diary is.  Check out this great TED Talk on committing to something new for 30 days below and start thinking about how you would like to challenge yourself.

HOW THE 30 DAY CHALLENGE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING

*I will be recording all workouts

*I will be recording all food and drinks

*There are not cheat days or cheat meals.

*2 workouts a day, 6 days a week

*There are no “rest days” only “active rest days”

*No refined sugar.  None.

*2 drink max, 2 days a week.

WORKOUTS I WILL USE FOR THE 30 DAY CHALLENGE

I will be using a combo of the following:  Spartan Race WODs, Tough Mudder Training Workouts, BodyRockTV workouts, HIIT workouts, Bikram Yoga, weight-lifting, and lots of regular cardio primarily using the elliptical and stationary bike, but will use the rowing machine and stairclimber as well.   I will grab exercises that work for me and create workouts.  I will post each day’s workout on Facebook and possibly here, too.

If you’re wondering why I haven’t mentioned running, it’s because I am taking 6 weeks off from running to make sure that my right foot, which is stress-fracture-prone, is 100% healthy before I embark on my Run 30 on my 30th adventure in Greece.  Following the Reach the Beach Relay where I logged 36.5 miles on the roads as part of an Ultra Relay Team, my foot was tender and achy.  A week later I completed my second 50 miler with no foot pain, but I don’t want to push it, so I’m taking some time off doing what I love so I can make sure that I’m able to do what I love.  This is also the reason you will not find me doing plyometrics or other high-impact exercises that I truly enjoy.

I will do several workouts a week that can be done anywhere with minimal or no equipment, so you can see what can be done in your own home.

I WANT TO DO A 30 DAY CHALLENGE

Your challenge is just that – YOURS.  Research shows that if you can consistently do something each day for 30 days, it is very likely to become a habit you will stick to.  So, you want to workout each day?  Wake up and try doing something like this each morning.  You want to cut out dessert?  Commit to it for 30 days with me and share your 30 day challenge in the comments of this post or on Facebook.

GETTING STARTED

To kick things off, I photographed, measured, and weighed myself as the first part of the measurable baseline (I’ll go over the second piece to this in my Day 1 post which should go up tonight) .  Below you can see how my hard work over the past months has paid off.  The pic on the left is of me on vacation last July.  On the right and at the bottom, you can see the pics taken yesterday.  In 10 months I have lost over 20 lbs and added significant muscle.  I didn’t realize how much my body had changed until I saw the pictures side-by-side.  Now, it’s time to kick it up a notch.

Before 30 day challenge pics

Here are my starting measurements:

Weight – 131.8

Waist – 28 inches

Hips 35 1/2

Thighs – 22 1/2

I will weigh in each Friday and post.  I will take new photos and measure again on June 30th.

LET’S DO THIS!

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Long Time, No Talk: Part One

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jen Barker

It's been awhile and we definitely need to catch up.

Hey there, folks.  It has been wayyyyy too long since I posted.  I guess I got distracted by starting my own business, an ever increasing workload (which is great!) , Ken’s return from Afghanistan, our Tour de South, our trip to Kenya, move to Cambridge from Arlington, and enjoying day-to-day life as KeJen.  But, enough with the excuses, I should have written months ago. But, since I didn’t, this post will be all about catching up.

APRIL – I launched Ginger Social – a boutique (fancy way of saying super small and run all by myself) social media management firm, focused on helping small businesses reach their customers and strengthen relationships.   I began with one fantastic client, Solid Body Fitness, and now, have six – including a Hahvad (that’s Harvard for those who don’t read Bostonian) based education journal.  It’s been a slow process but, I have met some excellent folks, learn more and more each day, and really like what I do.

The first day of Spring happens each April, as you probably know.  With Spring, generally come the rain showers that bring May flowers.  Not in Boston.  Nope, the first day of Spring instead brought a couple of inches of snow.  I halfway convinced myself that it must just snow year ’round here.

MAY – Things began warming up a bit.  I scored a great client in the Plough & Stars in May and had a great time counting down the days to Ken’s arrival home by watching lotsa live music there.

JUNE/JULY – Ahhh, June.  With 6 long months of waiting coming to an end, I prepped for Ken’s arrival home. Then, it happened.  It was remarkably good to see him!  I was nervous and excited and happy and I fell in love with him even more.

The night of Ken's arrival we went to Hooters for a televised MMA fight and because Ken loves owls. ; )

In the days after Ken’s arrival home, we packed up a house, putting everything in storage, and found an apartment.  We then flew to Atlanta for our Tour De South.  We visiting my family in Mississippi, our friends in Memphis, and my family in Kentucky before heading back to Atlanta to spend some time with his family and friends.

Our pal Greg welcomed us back to Memphis with this nice note on the chalkboard at Bardog.

Me, Memaw & Pops in West Point, MS (not the best pic, but thankful Ken took it).

Following over two weeks of driving through the South and visiting family and friends, plus camping with friends a couple of nights outside of Atlanta, we headed back to Boston.  I had to knock out a couple of meetings before we went on our big adventure.  KeJen Went To Kenya.  Yep, we spent 10 days in Kenya.  And it was   a  m  a  z  i  n  g!!!!  Many of you have heard the stories of our trip, but if you haven’t call, email or comment here and we will tell you all about it.

We got to spend about 8 hours exploring London on the way to Kenya.  We landed in Nairobi and caught a flight to Mombasa, on Kenya’s East coast where we met up with a couple of Ken’s friends who live there and stayed at a great resort called The Voyager.   We hungout by the pool, went running on the beach, went into Mombasa with our local friends and went snorkeling (me) and scuba diving (Ken) one day, too.  It was beautiful and I didn’t want to leave.  Except, we had another adventure to go on when we left Mombasa – we climbed Mt. Kenya.    I’ll write soon and share more about our trip, tell you where you can find all the pics from London and Kenya,  let you know how we are liking Boston, what we have been up to and lots more info you didn’t know you couldn’t live without.

Kwa heri (that’s goodbye in Swahili).

While in Mombasa, we did a lot of this...

Whirlwind tour of London was literally windy (check out my hair).

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New York I Love You: Pics From Last Weekend

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Jen Barker

 

Atop Hotel Indigo in Chelsea

Caroline Atop Hotel Indigo in Chelsea

Rain coming down on Caroline inside Hotel Indigo

 

Anyone care for a piece of Ugly Fruit?

Mmmm....Grilled Porcini Rubbed Shell Steak @Blu

Caroline Pre-LCD. Post-Three Olives Chocolate Vodka Cocktails

Saw lots of panda costumes, but only one Twister get-up.

Proof that I was pre-drinking – I held my phone the wrong direction to record. Oops.

 

Nearly 4 hours later, LCD Soundsystem was over and Madison Square Garden was a ghost town

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LCD Garden Party

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Jen Barker
James Murphy (no it's not Chris Moyles) from L...

Image via Wikipedia

From the moment I first heard James Murphy telling me how he was losing his edge, I wanted to see him do his thing with LCD Soundsystem and Saturday night – thanks to Ken – it happened.  At a sold-out Madison Square Garden show, I witnessed the show dubbed, “The Long Goodbye”.  It was epic.

Excerpts and Edits from the email I wrote Ken on the Bolt Bus heading home from NYC.

Thanks again for an amazing weekend.  Your thoughtfulness is remarkable.  The hotel was so nice.  Caroline and I had a room on the, 17th floor, overlooking a 12-story building with a beautiful rooftop garden.  The bed was nice – it of course would have been infinitely nicer with you in it, but Caroline and I had fun jumping on it and when we finally made it back to the room this morning at 5:30, it proved to be a fantastic place to pass out…(yes, we stayed out until after 5am. It was that good of a night)

Walking around, I was constantly impressed with the fashion and the architecture.  Being there offered renewed awareness that Boston is a city of people with no fashion sense.  They may be smart and practical, but no one has clued them in that taking a few minutes getting dressed in the morning can lead to that combination actually looking appealing.  The architecture.  One famous building I had never seen before was the Flatiron Building .  The way the clouds were moving as I stood at the crosswalk waiting for the signal to change to “walk”, made it  look as though the building was swaying to and fro in the wind.  I could have stood watching the building for a lot longer.

Flatiron Building

I would love to have a weekend in New York with Ken.  To go on an architecture tour of New York with him. We would grab food from street vendors and sip coffee with Bailey’s as we walked the city for hours watching people, holding hands and taking in the architecture in one of the most amazing cities in the world.

The first time I went to New York, I was maybe 22 and a buyer at Treehouse Boutique.  It was January.  After a flight cancellation due to snow in Cincinnati, my boss and I finally made it.  That was the trip that I got stopped at market and asked if I was Toni Collette.  It happened more than once.  The bars. The food. The people.  Then, I think it was too much for me to take in almost.  I was overwhelmed.  Maybe it was my age and having never traveled to a city that large, but focusing on work in the midst of the complete sensory overload that New York City can bring was definitely overwhelming.  I wanted to go back.

And, I did. Since then, I’ve been back 5 or 6 times.  This trip will be remembered as my favorite.  My favorite because I was seeing LCD Soundsystem with my bff Caroline, and all the while I was thinking of Ken.  Damn, he is great.

Before heading to the Garden for the show, Caroline and I had dinner at the restaurant in the hotel, Blu.  We started with the a simple caprese` appetizer  - the Caprese con Bufala e Olio di Pesto and then got super indulgent with the Bistecca ai Porcini con Cipolline alla Griglia e Asparagi which is grilled porcini- rubbed shell steak served with scallions and grilled asparagus.  We liked it. A lot.  Following our steak we got our dessert to go- an amazing chocolate cake (this dessert is not currently on their online menu so what I can tell you is that it was served with pistachio ice cream and tasted heavenly at 5:30am).  The dessert went into the hotel fridge and we journeyed a few blocks over to see LCD.

We cleaned our plates - as a reward we went to see LCD

We arrived at about 8:15 and Liquid Liquid had already played.  We got to what we thought were our seats – we ended up moving twice, as it is difficult to find section row and seat numbers in the dark with a smoke haze and tens of thousands of people anxiously mulling about ready to see the concert of a lifetime.  LCD began playing a little before 9 and played until nearly 1 am. They played everything I wanted to hear (except Disco Infiltrator).   The end of LCD is bittersweet, LCD definitely stopped while on top and will be forever considered a seminal dance-punk band. I could write about the show and the set – which kept blowing me away – and the people, but there is a Village Voice blog that did a fantastic job saying everything I would have said and more in a much more eloquent manner.  So, if you care, read this:  Live: LCD Soundsystem Say Goodbye, For Once and For All .  Also, if you want a timeline not of the songs but the actual happenings of the show, Time Magazine’s Claire Suddath did a pretty great job explaining the amazing weirdness that went on inside the Garden.  This story also has a few relevant links.

After the nearly 4 hour show.  Caroline and I went to the Tribeca Grand Hotel for an afterparty.  The energy was intense.  Everyone was still excited from the show and there were so many pretty hipsters.  While many people are annoyed by hipster’s self-importance and nearly-guaranteed pretentiousness,  I actually have an affinity for them.  I was in dudes in skinny jeans heaven.  Caroline and I each had one of the most expensive vodka drinks I’ve ever had at $13 each – it was just an Absolut (not my choice of vodkas either – that’s just what they were pouring at the dancefloor bar) and soda   It was refreshing though and dancing and checking out the fashion was a blast.  If it weren’t for the reality that Caroline had a flight to catch the next morning and that my feet were a bit achey, I would have stayed until the sun came up.  I like dance parties even more than I like hipsters (fortunately they often go together).  Note:  NBC’s Parks and Recreation cast member and all around funny guy, Aziz Ansari, was at this party.

We made it to the hotel. Ate our chocolate cake – so glad we got it to go. Passed out. Caroline left at 10 for the airport.  I gathered myself enough to make it to the restaurant, grab a New York times, drink a lot of oj and coffee and eat more carbs than I’d had in months. Following this I attempted to get ready to walk around the city.  Everything is so much harder with 3 1/2 hours of sleep and a hangover (Until now I have failed to mention the pre-partying Caroline and I did.  We don’t get together that often, so when we do, it’s as though we need to drink like we’re in college again.)

I think it took me an hour and a half to shower, get dressed and make it out the door from my next near 2 mile excursion to East Village, where I was to meet up with a friend.  I walked through the Union Square Artist Market.  I think I could have spent an hour just taking in all the creations. When I finally got to my friend Chris’s neighborhood I told him I needed a bloody mary.  He said we should walk to St. Dymphna’s.  I love this bar.  It was quiet and small and the bloody mary was really good.  I learned from Chris that Jeff Buckley recorded a live e.p. there.

After my bloody I walked back to the hotel, grabbed my things and headed to the grab my bus back to Boston.  I proceeded to intermittently sleep and write for the next 4 1/2 hours.  Okay, mostly sleep.

I will be posting a few pics and video from the trip soon and will update blog with that info.

Ken, thank you.

This was a weekend I will surely never forget.  You are, without a doubt, the love of my life.

One year down, 60+ to go…

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We All Have Secrets…

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Jen Barker
We All Have Secrets…

Americans are obsessed with secrets.  Have you noticed?  One of television’s highest rated shows right now is “The Secret Millionaire” where millionaires secretly infiltrate non-profits and charities pretending to be you Average Joe or Jodie and at the end of a few days determine what good-doers deserve a portion of their fortune and how much and then dish it out.   There are plenty of scandals involving secrets – secret sex tapes, secret bank accounts, secret political donations and the list goes on. Then there are diet, workout, beauty, and make a fortune in a second (no, we promise this isn’t a pyramid scam) entrepreneurial secrets (don’t even want to give them the satisfaction of any click-throughs they may get).  There is of course “Secret” deoderant – never been a big fan, but hey apparently it works (I’m bet it’s because of their secret formula – ha).   There is 2006 best seller “The Secret”, which as far as I can tell is a self-help book turned occult.  And, there is the biggest secret of them all – Victoria’s Secret.

Victoria's Secret is so precious, there are angels protecting it

I know I have secrets. Here’s one:   I put on perfume anytime I know Ken is going to Skype me. Silly, right? I’m the only one smelling it, but it makes me feel sexy and I think he would like it if he were here.

Some  of my secrets are fears. For example, I’m scared I’ll never be able to really run again and imagining hours of my life spent on various versions of ellipticals and bicycles just to get that endorphin high I’ve been addicted to since my youth nearly shatters my spirit.  I hate doing cardio in the gym when it’s above freezing.  I just want to be outside running, but each day – 6 to 7 days a week – I drag myself to the gym to whittle away hours, inches and pounds (L.B.s as I like to call them), to unload stress and to feel those endorphins and try to get down to my pre-stress fracture weight.  (The bigger secret here is how selfish that probably makes me seem, huh?)

2 more secrets:  I wanted to be 2 inches taller and be a model when I was a teenager (but who didn’t).   I think the fact that I have three tattoos is a secret to some of my family, but not anymore – right?

The story behind this tattoo is worth writing about...

Some secrets, like the ones I’ve told you, are harmless.  Just little pieces of what makes me “Jen Barker”.  Other secrets eat away at us if we don’t tell someone.  They can control us.

At the end of my freshman year of college I went through something that was very difficult and while I confided in friends and eventually in a couple of professors, I saw a therapist for a bit.  This short-lived pay to divulge how and why this semi-secret was eating at me did a lot of good, and I think it may be the only reason I climbed out of that dark abyss that seemed to surrounding me those days.  Some people can’t afford therapy or don’t know where to go and they feel alone.  The worst secrets can take hold and act as a leach sucking the joy and determination out of a person’s life.  That is where, for hundreds of thousands of people, PostSecret comes into play.

Each Sunday, Frank Warren publishes 20 +  ”secrets” on his website – www.postsecret.com.  In a recent interview with small Georgia-based site Connect Statesboro, Warren said, “I was always fascinated with secrets in my own life. I felt like my family had secrets — some that I knew and some that I didn’t — and I had this faith that if I could create this project and really earn the trust of strangers to share their deepest concessions with me, that would be really special.”  And thus, in 2004, PostSecret was born.

Many Sundays there is a focus on secrets dealing with suicide or drug addiction or bulimia or deployed military.  Some Sundays, the mostly handmade postcards displaying the secrets are quite random, with many that’ll make you laugh.

For about two years, I awoke each Sunday and read Post Secret.  Most Sundays, I sat in front of the computer, scrolling through the secrets with tears running down my face, thinking, “Damn, why is there so much pain?” (Note:  I am a crier by nature. Not a public crier, but at home, if triggered by a commercial or, as recently noted, the arrival of a large dry erase board, the tears flow.)

While crying, I would also find relief know that not only did these people find a way to tell their secrets, they often received help.  While remaining completely anonymous, people commented on the secret baring postcards, offering words of encouragement and advice (Note:  This piece of the site is no longer active in the same way.  To participate in conversation you now go to PostSecret Community)  Also, Warren has made a point to publicize via his website and support financially through his books and fundraisers a suicide prevention program called Hopeline.

When you visit PostSecret – I hope you do if you haven’t – you will notice something every different from other large blogs – there is no advertising and thus no censoring body.  Any secret – no matter how brash or unseemly – can be published.

We all have secrets. Most of them shade our personalities in wonderful and interesting ways, but if you have a secret that isn’t so delightful – something that is eating at you, maybe it would help to share it.  If you are struggling with addiction, depression or thoughts of suicide (I know I sound like a commercial here – sorry), talk with a friend and seek professional help now.

Mail your secret here.

Read more about how PostSecret got started here.

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The Best Things in Life Aren’t Things…

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Jen Barker

We all know that life has it’s challenges and the past few months have definitely been challenging for me.  Since moving to not-quite-Boston, and especially since being laid off earlier this month, I am finding true joy in moments that I may have taken for granted in the past.

Here is a list of moments in my days that make me happy to be healthy and alive…

1. Feeling the sun hit me through a window.  This has been an infrequent sensation here in Boston, but with the arrival of Spring, while the temperature has yet to budge, the sun got the message and is showing up more often.  Yesterday, feeling the sun on my back while sitting by a living room window brought a smile to my face.  Simple moments…

2. Phone calls from dear friends and family.  Each day I miss dozens of people – family members of course, but also friends I made in Jackson, Miss. and Memphis, Tenn. Talking to any of these folks brightens my day.

3.  Skype calls from Ken.  Hearing the bubbly Skype notification of someone signing on always triggers a bit of anticipation around the time Ken normally calls.  Then, hearing his voice and seeing his face brings me pure joy.

4.  Burying myself under a soft, warm blanket with a cup of hot tea or coffee in hand makes me feel good all over – morning or night.

5. Speaking of coffee, starting the day with a good cup of coffee (occasionally with a splash of Bailey’s) can’t be beat

6.  Time on the trails – running or walking, when I am on the trails, life seems simple and peaceful.

7.  A hard workout – pushing myself to be the fittest I can be feels fantastic.

8.  Doing anything nice for others.  Putting a smile on someone else’s face, puts one on mine.

9.  A glass of wine, good music and reading a magazine, a good blog, New York Times online or even flipping through Tumblr pages is a relaxing way to spend the evening.

10. Thinking of Ken arriving home safely and enjoying this Summer with him makes me giddy.

What moments throughout your day make you happy?

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Strokes Suck

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Jen Barker

Pops George with a turkey last year...gobble gobble

My grandpa, Pops George, and I have never had a phone conversation longer than a minute or two.  But, about once a month or so, he’d answer one of my at least bi-weekly phone calls to my grandma. He’d tell me that she’d run to town or was at Wendy and Paul’s (aunt and uncle who have three fun-loving youngsters).  He’d then say I should call her cell, and that would be that. Occasionally, he would ask when I was going to come visit.  Then, beginning a couple of years ago, he would surprise me by responding to my “I love you” with “I love you, too”, and guaranteeing I hung up the phone with a warm heart.

Pops George is 73 (give or take a year or three) and has worked hard each day of his adult life.  His dedication to his farm and his family stood out more and more to me as something to emulate as I’ve grown older.  Until my half-sister, Marissa, was born I thought he was all work and no play.  Marissa, the 5th grandchild, seemed to finally  soften him up a bit.  Now, with three more grandchildren who live just a quarter of a mile down the road, he is quite the grandpa!

Memory:  When my brother and I were young, probably under 10, we stayed our customary week or two of the summer with Memaw and Pops.  Ben riding fourwheelers and fishing, me going on adventures by the train tracks and going to thrift stores.  I loved those times with my grandparents.  At night, we would eat together and my grandpa, would without fail shake his plastic tumbler  (he doesn’t like glasses) of sweet tea, the ice swishing and clanking in the cup.  Over the years, I think this sound may have started to drive my grandma a little crazy.  Seeing her irritated for that second made me giggle.  My brothers response was to do shake the ice in his plastic tumbler just like Pops.

I haven’t seen my grandpa since his stroke over 5 weeks ago.  I have spoken with grandmother on the phone nearly everyday.  The pain in her voice is apparent.  In the past, I think she has hidden pain from me as to keep conversation upbeat – especially after my mom’s death.  I don’t think she has strength to hide the pain now.  Often though, she fights back tears saying that she needs to be strong for him. Other times, the battle against the tears is lost.  I can’t imagine the pain she is going through paired with all of the responsibilities that she normally carried out, plus my grandpa’s share.

I mentioned before that the stroke left him with global aphasia.  For those of you who don’t know what this is (I didn’t), the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine defines “global aphasia” as a condition characterized by either partial or total loss of the ability to communicate verbally or using written words as a result of widespread injury to the language areas of the brain. This condition may be caused by a stroke, head injury, brain tumor, or infection. The exact language abilities affected vary depending on the location and extent of injury.

My grandma says that he has shown some improvement in his cognitive skills and a little with his speech.  Fortunately, his motor skills were not effected by the stroke.  He was released from inpatient rehab on Monday and is now at home, participating in rehab twice a week.   The family is helping in transporting him and cooking dinner and coming to visit so my grandmother can go to the grocery store or get a haircut – things that we take for granted.
I hope I am able to see my grandpa soon and that one day in the not so distant future I will hear him shaking the ice in his plastic tumbler and maybe, just maybe hear him say, “I love you, too.”
For more information on strokes you may want to read “My Stroke of Insight” by Dr. Jill Taylor.  If you don’t feel like reading a riveting autobiography by a neuroanatomist who had a stroke, then maybe you will watch the movie based on the book that Ron Howard is said to be directing, with Jodie Foster as lead. Could be a few years.

Memaw and Pops at my brother's wedding in May 2007


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Dry Erase Boards & Bikes Named James Murphy

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Jen Barker
Dry Erase Boards & Bikes Named James Murphy

Today, around 2 pm I heard a thud and the slam of the front porch door.  I rose from the computer just in time to catch a glimpse of a fella in all brown duds climbing into his delivery vehicle.  A package!!!  I am such a sucker for surprises, but who isn’t, right?

I went out the front door and there on the enclosed front porch was a very large package.  Not only was it large but flat.  I thought it was probably something boring like an air filter and that it had to be for my roommate, Alan.  But there printed in bold, black ink was my name on the address label.  Then, I looked over to other flap of the box and saw a description of what was inside.  The tears started flowing.

Ken's incredibly thoughtful gift for me and my new business venture

While on the phone last week, I told Ken about the large dry erase board at Revolution Fitness that I really liked.  I said that I thought I could use one to map out marketing strategies, etc.

Not only did he listen to me (we have a joke that he’s allowed not to listen to me 10% of the time, but I often think he stretches that to a much higher percentage), he got me one.

Yep, that’s right, I was on my front porch crying, holding a large box that I knew contained a dry erase board.

Now, there are a few reasons that a dry erase board brought me to tears.

1.  I miss Ken tremendously and more and more his sweet gestures and loving words make me cry.

2.  I know that Ken believes in me, but somehow seeing my new dry erase board hanging on the wall is a constant reminder that he is cheering for me to succeed.  And, I don’t know about you, but there are days that knowing I have a fan club pushes me to work harder.

3.  I am a woman and some women cry a lot.  I am a crier.  Recently, I read an article in Women’s Health Magazine explaining why women cry more than men and why they should cry whenever they felt the need.  Apparently, you don’t gain as much weight if you cry. So, ladies, stop fighting back those tears – let ‘em roll down your cheeks and melt away a pound or two.

Tickets to LCD Soundsystem! Watch out James Murphy!!!

On a related note … I’m going to NYC in less than 2 weeks to see my favorite band ever play their last show at Madison Square Garden!!  That’s right, me and my BFF, Caroline, are going to see lead man James Murphy and his crew rock out courtesy of none other than Ken Herringdine – it’s my anniversary gift. How is this related, you may ask.  Well, when I received the tickets, you guessed it – I cried.

About the band…I started listening to LCD Soundsystem back in 2005.  I remember the first time I heard the song “Losing My Edge” and listening to it again and again and again, Googling all the bands Murphy was namedropping but I didn’t know.  From then on I was hooked.  I like it all; From the catchy stuff like “Daft Punk is Playing at My House” that hit some charts to the slightly more somber “Movement”, I don’t think they have released anything that I don’t like.  Murphy and his DFA Record label are brilliant.

So you get it.  I like them.  Last year, I had tickets to  Pitchfork Music Festival , the annual festival put on by oh- so-clever-when-it-comes-to-anything-music0related (semi-facetious comment) people at www.pitchfork.com that I bought mostly because I was going to be able to see LCD.

But, I bought those before I knew that I would fall totally in love with Ken and he would move to Boston and that if I went to Chicago for the festival, I wouldn’t get to see him.  I chose Ken over LCD Soundsystem and had an amazing weekend in Minneapolis instead.  Absolutely no regrets there.

From the very beginning of our relationship, I think Ken knew of my adoration of LCD Soundsystem.  He probably found out when I referred to “James Murphy” as my mode of transportation – as in, “No need to pick me up, I’ll ride James Murphy.”  In Memphis, I rode my bike everywhere.  I even went over a month without driving at all.  At one point I mentioned to Ken that maybe I should sell James Murphy (James Murphy is a vintage English commuter bike – a 1969 Raleigh Folder to be exact) and buy a bike that would be a bit more practical for commuting here in Boston.  Ken told me that he viewed James as part of our relationship, so he is still my two-wheeled supa-star and plan to keep ‘em with me always.

Me on James Murphy in my apartment in Memphis

Back to work.  I think I’ll map out my tomorrow on my dry erase board.

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Winning!!!!! Defeat was not an Option!

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Jen Barker

Just couldn't resist posting this

In my mind bells are chiming, whistles are blowing, foam fingers reading “KeJen is #1″ are waving and people are cheering for me because I WON.  Today is the first day of Spring and that means I officially made it through my first Boston winter!!!  If that doesn’t equal “Winning!!!!”, I don’t know what does.  The first day of Spring here was beautiful – the mercury rose right up to 70 and the sun was so bright, I think I may have gotten a bit burned.  Hmmph.  I wish.  Subtract 38 degrees, throw in light to moderate snowfall followed by cold misty rain and that is what Day 1: Spring 2011 brought to the good folks of Arlington, Mass.

We did have two back-to-back days of 65+ degrees and sun last week.  Plus, I know that in a few weeks I can put away the coat and gloves and embrace t-shirt weather.

Ken won’t have to wait as long.  It has already begun to warm up nicely at Camp Stone.  I think he said it was about 70 degrees one day last week.  I would have been jealous, but even the simplest comfort and joy in his life provides me with comfort as well.  But just about two weeks ago, it was snowing there (I think Boston and Western Afghanistan have the same weather patterns).

March snowfall at Camp Stone

Enough about the weather, the real news since I last posted, aside from the arrival of Spring of course, is that Ken will be home is about 80 days, I lost my job, my grandpa had a stroke and I decided to try to freelance my way out of unemployment.

First things first…time has kind of flown by and Ken will be home in just 80 days.  That’s just a little over two months.  About 11 weeks.  Again, WINNING!

Next…Revolution Fitness, the gym where I was the Director of Marketing and Community Outreach, a job that I loved, closed on February 28th. The gym closed due to an inability to reach a workable lease agreement.  It all happened pretty suddenly and was hard on everyone.  The members (some of whom had been going to the same gym for 28 years, the trainers, the staff and especially Derek, the owner).  Derek and his wife, Sarah, have gone out of their way to make sure that we all find jobs that we enjoy (more on my new gig later).

The sad news now…my paternal grandfather, Pops George, a man for whom I have much respect and love, suffered a stroke on Friday, February 25th.  This stroke left him with global aphasia. He has been in the hospital going through inpatient rehab and was released today to begin outpatient rehab. His recovery is something that will be ongoing. Not being with my family during this time has been hard and am really looking forward to being there.  My grandmother, Memaw Mary, who since my mom’s death in 2009 has become more of a maternal figure to me, has reassured me that the family is fine with me here in Boston.  I am hoping that I can spend some time with them and help Memaw with Pops later this Spring and Summer.  I looked for a picture of them both, but couldn’t find any.  My Uncle Phil emailed me a picture of Pops that he took with his camera phone last week.

Pops George with his dog, Buck on the patio at he and my Memaw's home in West Point, MS

Speaking of my grandparents…my Memaw said she was very proud when I told her I had decided to try to go into business for myself.   I know that the freelancing world is tough – especially in the social media world, but I’m going for it and am really excited.   My focus is social media management (if you don’t know what this is, it’s a-okay – a lot of folks don’t.  This site’ll kind of tell ya.) and right now I just have two clients, but that will change.  Ginger Media (The biz name with which I am going.  If you are interested why I chose Ginger Media aside from the obvious answer of my hair color, ask) will be in full swing in no time – hopefully.  When I get a website up, you all will be the first to know.

Ken has been super supportive during all of this.  I couldn’t ask for a better friend or boyfriend during the last month.  And on top of him being super rad, his family and friends have been quite rad, too.   Thank you all for your cards, candy, candles and especially the head massager.

While I’ve been starting my freelancing business, Ken has been doing some really cool things.  He and a colleague are planning an on base 5k to support needy women and children in Herat.  I am so excited to be able to help with this and hear about it as it develops.  Also, Ken has been going on quite a few site visits – visiting his clients.

Below are a few pictures Ken sent me.  I am a big fan (read: I think he looks quite handsome) of the one of him in the Blackhawk.  If you think it’s pretty rad that Ken was riding in a Blackhawk you may want to visit this site to see how Blackhawks work.

At Camp Stone you just throw out your thumb and a Blackhawk lands

Riding in a Blackhawk looks like fun!

Besides getting to his site visit, Ken was able to see this

Write more soon…should be easier to type after I thaw out and drink some tiger blood.

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