Happy 29th Father's Day, Dad; Happy 17th Father's Day, Ed; and Happy 4th Birthday, Abbi! Wow! Lots of "Happies"! The Relay for Life was awesome! I ran 24 laps, or six miles. Dad even ran a lap with me! Ed, Mom, and Jim helped keep me hydrated. Jim Sowders's Running Team ran over 250 miles in the 18-hour event! Cool! I thought the track running would be monotonous, but it wasn't that bad. There was a lot going on, including hot air balloon rides, so I had interesting things on which to focus. While making the slideshow of the Relay for Life pictures, it occurred to me that I have an awful lot of running slideshows. Therefore, I've combined all those slideshows into one, easily accessible page. Check it out! In other news, golfing continues in the Cobb and Hackney families. (Click here to see one last Times-Mail article on the BNL golfers.) Ed, Dad, and Uncle Bill were joined by Jenna White to form a team for the Steven Stenger scramble at Otis Park yesterday. They shot 10-under, and Dad won some hole prizes! However, they were beaten by Sam's team. Finally, Abbi has been getting herself into some sticky situations lately. She's always been a huntress; but this summer, she's a fierce huntress. I added some pictures on her web site that show to what lengths she'll go to sniff out prey. (Mom saved the birdies!)

Happy Flag Day! Sam shot a 5-over 77 at The Legends on Tuesday, making him tied for 37th out of 131 golfers! Unfortunately, he missed the cut (to play the next day), by one stroke. We are so proud of him for posting such a solid round as a sophomore at his first (of three, hopefully), State Finals appearances. Way to go, Sam! Jeff Bartlett of the Times-Mail wrote a great article about Sam's round. Check it out! Also, I added seven pictures from State to the BNL Golf Season 2007 slideshow. In other news, the Lawrence County Relay for Life is tomorrow night at the track. I'll be running in the 8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. slot for Jim Sowders's Running Team. This is my first time participating in Relay for Life, and I'm excited to run tomorrow night! Thanks to all of my family and friends who donated to this American Cancer Society event!

Happy Birthday (tomorrow), Mom! Tomorrow is State, and Sam is ready! Check out another Times-Mail article about Sam going to State. We've been enjoying more than golf this summer, as evidenced by the pictures (at right), of Mac and his cousin Alex. The fun and sun has been awesome. I'm also spending summer training for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon (Sept. 2), and the Cicero Triathlon (Aug. 11); and practicing with Forever Gold for various appearances. In web news, I've deleted some Fun Stuff files to make room for new stuff (like Sam's golf slideshow), but I added a new site, Marathon Guide. Find a marathon to run! Also, on Abbi's site, I've added new pics of an interesting hairdo.

Sam is going to State! Yesterday, Sam played with the BNL golf team in the Regionals at Shadowood Golf Course in Seymour. Unfortunately, the team did not make it to State, but Sam's score (75) was good enough for him to advance to State as an individual! (Read about it in the Times-Mail article titiled "Lone Star".) It's bittersweet that he's advancing without the team, but we are all so proud of him. Check out the BNL Golf Season 2007 slideshow, and look for pictures of State to be added soon! The State Finals are Tuesday and Wednesday at The Legends in Franklin. GO SAM! Good luck at State!

Summer Vacation is 15% over today! Boo! Even though the last few days have been very tough, we've managed to stay afloat doing things we enjoy. First, on my birthday, Sam shot a 1-over 73 at Otis Park during the IHSAA Golf Sectional! He tied for third overall, and the team won with a score of 295. The Times-Mail wrote a wonderful article about Sam that discusses his focus during Sectional. Please read it! We're headed to Regional in Seymour on Friday. On Saturday night, I ran in the Outrun The Sun 5-Miler in downtown Indy. I didn't put up my best time (48:58), but I had a lot of fun! Ed took some great pictures, and I made a slideshow (and put it on the Fun Stuff page), to share them. Also, you can check out the race results page, if you'd like. I came in 267th! Today, Ed, Mac, and I enjoyed as much sun as we could. Even Abbi joined in the fun (see right)! I've added a few new pictures to her site today; check them out! The rest of summer will include more sunning, golfing, running, and singing. I already have three singing gigs lined up, including some Indians games and a benefit concert. With Forever Gold, I'll be at the New Albany fireworks on Independence Day, and at the BNL Performing Arts Center on July 29.

Chad Cobb, Ed's brother, passed away on the evening of Thursday, May 31. He was a lot like Ed, which means he was awesome, and I always looked forward to seeing him. More information about services can be found here. Our lives will never be the same without him, but they are also enriched because he was in them!

Awesome news: I am the new Lawrence County Idol! Hooray! I was also named the People's Choice winner. Both awards are quite an honor, because the 11 finalists with whom I competed last night were awesome. There was so much variety: rock, country, Christian, pop, blues, you name it! (I sang "The Auctioneer," an old country tune.) I'm proud to be a resident of such a talented town and county. You can read more about last night's competition in this article written by Bob Bridge of the Times-Mail. Also, I've made a slideshow of some pictures from last night, and added it to the Fun Stuff page. My prize package includes plaques, hair care, a parade appearance, some vocal appearances, and... tickets to American Idols Live! Cool! Thanks to everyone for the support! I ♥ you! It was a wonderful day for the Cobbs yesterday, because Sam also experienced success in his event. He and the rest of the BNL golf team won the Stonecrest Invitational. Sam shot a 75! Good luck in the Sectional on Friday; all I want for my birthday is a WIN!

I know I've posted a lot of Mini pictures, but here is another one. I can't help posting them; running the Mini was one of the biggest accomplishments of my life! This one will likely be the last one I post. Notice I didn't promise! :o) In other news, I am competing in Lawrence County Idol with 11 other finalists on Tuesday. Come watch—this article from the Times-Mail gives all the details. Also, Sam has a match in Muncie today. Go, Sam! (Click here to see what Bill Murray said about Bedford and the BNL golf team!) Finally, SCHOOL'S! OUT! FOR! SUMMER! It's an 80-day weekend!

It's been longer than usual since my last update, and a lot has happened! First, Sam shot a 76 in yesterday's HHC tournament at Otis Park. BNL missed winning the title by one stroke, but Sam earned All-Conference honors for having the third-best-overall score. Go Sam! Next, I was named a finalist in the Lawrence County Idol II contest! The finals will be held on May 29. Next, Forever Gold is reviving our most popular show, with a new twist, and calling it Good Vibrations Plus! It will be performed at the PAC in July. Check out last year's Good Vibrations slideshow now, because I'll be taking it down soon to make room for more recent Fun Stuff. Finally, I have entered two more races: Outrun the Sun in Indy on June 2, and the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach on September 2. Four days until SUMMER VACATION!

Happy 43rd Birthday, Ed; and Happy 28th Mother's Day, Mom! Check out the new and improved Indy Mini Marathon Slideshow! I have added the professional pictures taken by Brightroom Photography. I recommend you visit their site to search for photos of other Mini participants you might know! You can search by name and/or bib number. I really like the new pictures; they truly capture the excitment of the event and my feelings of accomplishment. I'm already signed up for next year's Indy Mini; you can also sign up by visiting the official Mini web site! A few of my current students have made the commitment to participate next year. I know 13.1 miles sounds like a lot, but if I can do it, anyone can. I couldn't run all the way around a quarter-mile track last November; but with the help of my family, friends, and Let's Go, six months later, I've run a half-marathon without stopping. I've found a new passion, I feel great, and I'm much more fit. Now I'm considering participating in a full marathon! In other news, Sam shot a 1-over 36 in his match last Thursday! Go Sam, and good luck in your match today!

Today, I took a personal day from work in order to have another adventure in Indianapolis. I kicked off my National Anthem season with the Indy Indians at an 11:00 A.M. game! It was a lot of fun, and I added some pictures to the Indy Indians slideshow. Look closely at the JumboTron picture; you can see Ed taking my picture and his father, Steve, standing next to him! In other news, the professional pictures of the Mini are now available! You can click here to search for folks you know. Not all of my pics appear in my gallery (because my bib number was obscured), but the photo folks are going to fix that soon. When they do, I'll add the professional pics to my Mini slideshow! Finally, I was quoted in this month's issue of Light & Life magazine in an article by Michelle Medlock Adams. The story dealt with honoring one's parents. I love you, Mom and Dad! :o)

It's possible that I experienced one of the Top 10 days of my life yesterday. The Mini Marathon was unbelievable! I ran 13.1 miles, without stopping, for 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 22 seconds. That put my pace at 10:34, and that was pretty consistent all the way through. I did slow down a bit toward the end. The first seven miles were like a big party; I didn't even know I was running! People and entertainers lined the streets and cheered. When we hit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it was really neat for about a mile, but it became hard to endure the monotony of running around a banked track. However, I saw Al Unser, Jr., on the eighth mile, and he spoke to me! The last miles were tough, but I was determined not to stop. I kept going with help from two of the C4C performers, who were street entertainers yesterday and gave me extra encouragement. Ed, Mom, and Dad spotted me from the bleachers when I hit Mile Marker 13. Their cheering carried me to the end. It was quite a day! I came in 13,740th. You can review results and statistics in two places: go to the Mini Results page to search specific names and bib numbers, or check out the PDF file. I like the PDF file best. If you right click in the window, you can select search, and enter a term like "Bedford" or "Oolitic" to find Law. Co. folks. Professional pictures will be available later this week. For now, enjoy the pictures Ed and Mom took in the Indy Mini Slideshow, added to the Fun Stuff page! Thanks to my family, friends, and Jim Sowders and Let's Go for all the support and encouragement! (Happy 05-06-07!)

Let's Go had a pasta dinner this evening! I received my packet and learned that I'm starting in Corral G. I haven't yet figured out how you can follow me online in Saturday's Mini. However, if a link for following comes up on the Mini web site, my bib number is 27238. Also, the Mini will be televised live on WISH TV8 in Indianapolis and WLFI in Lafayette, so start watching at 6:30 A.M.! (The race starts at 7:30 A.M.) The Mini telecast will then be replayed on WISH TV8 on Saturday night at 11:35 P.M. and Sunday, May 6, at noon. In other news, a final article about Croonin' for Crohn's appeared on the front page of the Times-Mail on Tuesday. Check it out! Sam will likely appear in the paper tomorrow, because he tied for Medalist in tonight's golf match at Otis! Finally, be sure to tell everyone tomorrow: MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!

Croonin' for Crohn's was an incredible success! We raised over $3,600 (after expenses) to give to CCFA. All of the acts were amazing. Check out the C4C Slideshows and Video Clips, added to the Fun Stuff page, to see all the fun we had! (There is also a slideshow in the photos section of ForeverGold.us.) I also want to include two links for Times-Mail articles: one featured the bios of all the performers, and another included a picture from the event itself. It was mentioned onstage that this was the "first annual" Croonin' for Crohn's—which implies "second annual." We'll see! :o) I'm thankful that I have today's snow-make-up day to recoup. In other news, the Mini is coming up in five days! Check back here for instructions on how to follow me during the race! I also changed the countdown clock on the Fun Stuff page to count the days until Independence Day—only 65 to go!

Today is *the* day! Croonin' for Crohn's is tonight! We had a fun rehearsal last night, and everyone is ready to put on the show! I'm having a great time, but I'm also learning how stressful it can be to be in charge of an event. Therefore, I've been enjoying some stress relief activities, as well. I ran eight miles this morning, then I enjoyed painting like Jackson Pollock (a new Fun Stuff site). Just drag your mouse around the page (click the mouse to change your paint color), and feel your stress melt away! Good luck in your match today, Sam; and happy tenth monthiversary, Ed!

I have a few miscellaneous updates today. First, JoKai CobbWebs is the proud designer of a new site, PritchettBros.com! Check it out! Next, my friend Lisa's band, The Longbranch Band, has a new web site that she created. Check it out too, and leave a comment in their guestbook! Longbranch's site has been added to the Fun Stuff page. Next, a professional photographer took some shots at the Mrs. Indiana America Pageant, and he posted the photos online. They all have "proof" stamped across the front, but you can still see some neat shots of each contestant; and I hear some photos of family and friends will be added soon! Finally, Bob Bridge of the Times-Mail wrote a little blurb about Croonin' for Crohn's in last night's paper. C4C is going to be a great time; don't miss it!

Spring is back! It's so nice to be able to enjoy warm weather again! Yesterday, I started the day by running 12 miles. (The Mini is in less than two weeks!) Then, I followed Ed, Mac, Dad, and Uncle Bill in the Girls' Club Scramble at Otis. It was a great day! Sam's also been taking advantage of the warm weather by playing on the BNL Varsity golf team, and doing quite well! In web site news, Insightbb had a major problem this week, and many of its customers' web files were erased. I've almost gotten things back to normal, but some of the Fun Stuff files are still inaccessible or look strange. I'm doing my best to fix them, but my real focus is on Croonin' for Crohn's right now. It's in less than a week!

Yesterday was a bit of an adventure; I was a contestant in the Mrs. Indiana America Pageant in Indianapolis! I'm a veteran in the Teen and Miss circuit, but this was my first time in a "Mrs." pageant. It was fun to meet other married women from around the state; one of which lives in a town just a few minutes south of Bedford! It was a fun day, and I was honored to be named the second runner-up. Check out the slideshow of Mrs. Indiana pictures! I have a feeling that Mrs. Indiana 2007, the 17th pageant in which I've competed, will prove to be my final pageant competition. As I told the Times-Mail, it's been fun, but it's time to hang up the five-inch taupe shoes! (Read the full article here.) Just below that article was a story about my friend Amber. She was in a bad car accident today. Please pray for her quick recovery from a broken back and several lacerations. Finally, I am excited to announce that ticket sales for Croonin' for Crohn's are going quite well. Better get yours soon!

Happy Easter, and Happy 16th Birthday, Sam! Yesterday, I ran in the Family Fitness 15K (9.3 miles), part of the Let's Go training series. It was colder and windier than it should ever be in April, but I had a great run! I finished with a time of 1:28:39 (9:32 pace), which made me the 9th woman to finish (21st overall). A link to the results of the race can be found on the Let's Go page. In web site news, I've added a new quote (regarding our local Burger King), to the About Jo page; and I've added a new site to the Fun Stuff page: Crohn's & Me. Check it out!

Happy April! I doubt I could be much more excited about Croonin' for Crohn's. Forever Gold practiced last night for the first time with the full band. It was nothing short of awesome—and so much fun! Forever Gold and the other super cool folks that are featured in C4C are going to ROCK Schafer Auditorium! To add to the excitement, Ed and I picked up the C4C yard signs this afternoon. Nifty!

This was quite possibly the best Spring Break ever! The weather was great, we got lots done, and we had some free time to sit in the sun, run, play golf, web design, read, fly kites, work on Croonin' for Crohn's, etc. Speaking of C4C, Ed and I hung over 20 posters around town today and purchased some yard signs to advertise the benefit. I think it's going to be a great concert! Also, click on the picture to the right to see my cool new Care Bear charm bracelet.

Guess what Mom and I did on Monday? Flew kites! It was really fun. We went to the church parking lot and let 'em fly! Mom had a hard time getting one to work for her, but finally managed with a fine alien kite. Mine had happy bugs on it. We discovered that the cheap drugstore kites work a lot better than the expensive ones! In Mini news, check out the official site! It has lots of neat info on it, including the course map and a search engine for this year's participants. Just click on "Confirmation" to enter info for your search! Speaking of running, check out the Fun Stuff page's latest site: USA Track & Field — America's Running Routes. It's really cool! You can search for or create running routes in your town! Also new to the site is the archived Winter 2007 What's Up file. There's a link to them at the bottom of this page! (Happy ninth monthiversary, Ed!)

Happy Spring Break! I kicked it off by running 10 miles on Saturday morning! (Forty days until the Mini!) I'd like to introduce a new JoKai CobbWebs site, ForeverGold.us. Forever Gold is the cover band in which I am a lead/backup vocalist. Check it out! We're looking forward to playing at Croonin' for Crohn's. Jason Mullis of the Times-Mail wrote an excellent article about C4C. Check it out, too! In other news, I've added some new stuff to JoKai.net. The Fun Stuff page has a clip of Forever Gold singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," and the About Jo page has a new favorite quote, straight from the musical mind and mouth of Forever Gold 's Jim Stevens.