Want to know immediately when JoKai.net is updated? Click here to be added to the mailing list!

Monday, December 14, 2009, 6:20 P.M.
The girls at the Ross Country Jamboree and I have begun wearing the same color on the nights that I work there. Last weekend, we enjoyed Red Night. To perfect my outfit, I bought some shiny red high heels. We had a lot of fun, and I even yodeled "Cowboy's Sweetheart." Now, I'm in the middle of the last week of school before Christmas. When you're in charge of the education of 109 sixth-graders, and it's 11 days until Christmas, life can be a little hectic. However, it's a fun time as well. Friday at 3:00 P.M. is looking good right now, though! On Saturday, I'm going to be a guest on the Corydon Jamboree Christmas show. Good times!

What's Up Picture
Red night
What's Up Picture
New kicks
Friday, December 11, 2009, 7:03 A.M.
We received a surprise on Monday: TWO-HOUR DELAY! A light snow produced some slick roads, and the administration thought it best to delay. AGREE! I was able to enjoy a run, and Ed was able to enjoy some extra sleep. In other news, the Croonin’ for Crohn’s web site for 2010 is now available. Check out the site for C4C#4. The new address is www.CrooninForCrohns.com. Ed picked out the colors. The bands performing at C4C#4 all play different styles, so it's going to be an eclectic evening. Mark your calendars to attend C4C on April 10, 2010!

What's Up Picture
2HD @ BMS!
What's Up Picture
C4C#4!
Sunday, December 6, 2009, 2:46 P.M.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I have all of my gifts made and wrapped. Part of the Christmas season includes attending BNL basketball games with Dad. We've sat under the basket at home games for years and years. Cheering for the Stars and screaming at referees are fun Christmas traditions. Mom and I decorated each other's houses over the last two weekends. Dad has been learning the different features of his camera and took a cool pic of his and Mom's Christmas tree. Continuing with Christmas fun, I'll be performing in a pair of Christmas shows over the next two weekends. Come share the Christmas fun!

What's Up Picture
With Dad at BNL
What's Up Picture
Dad's artistic pic

Sunday, November 22, 2009, 9:58 A.M.
This weekend, I am enjoying a rare gig-free weekend. Believe it or not, I have three of these in a row! That kind of schedule, plus time off work for Thanksgiving, will allow me to spend more time with family and more time preparing for Christmas fun. Yesterday, Mom and I decorated my house for Christmas. Next weekend, we'll hit her house! Last weekend, I had Friday off for a Remicade treatment. After that, I decided to treat myself to a pedicure, something I've never done before. (I've always used gift certificates from someone else.) Though you can still see the blackness in my big toes from the marathon, it's nice to have ten toes to be painted! That evening, I was able to see the Little Nashville Express at their debut performance in their new (though temporary) home, the Brown County Playhouse. It did my heart good to see them performing a regular Friday night gig again. Saturday brought an awesome show at the Corydon Jamboree. Tammy and I were on the show together, so that made for a fun evening. Last week, I decided to darken my hair even more. It sort of matched the chocolaty fur of one of the little lab puppies that visited Bedford Middle School last week. Ed and I seriously considered adopting one, but we just don't have enough yard for such a large dog. Ed even had names selected: Kamea, Maebe, and Kona. Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

What's Up Picture
Ronna & Tammy
What's Up Picture
Pedicured toesies
What's Up Picture
With "Maebe"
Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 8:53 P.M.
Happy Veteran's Day! Two weekends ago, I had a crazy weekend where I sang at three different venues and ran a 5K. It literally exhausted me, but I had such good times that it was worth it. Forever Gold had a retro dance at BMS, I enjoyed Halloween at the Corydon Jamboree, and I reconnected with friends at the Miss Indiana USA pageant. Last weekend was a little more relaxed with just one show at the Ross Country Jamboree on Saturday. It was Purple Night, and was one of the best shows I've ever enjoyed there. This weekend, I'm back at Corydon on Saturday. However, first I'll get to enjoy the Little Nashville Express at their new home: the Brown County Playhouse!


What's Up Picture
Purple night
What's Up Picture
With Steel Man Dave


What's Up Picture
Ed & Lisa jammin'

What's Up Picture
Running to the run

What's Up Picture
With Kevin on Halloween

What's Up Picture
Singing at IN USA

Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 7:29 P.M.
The last two weekends have presented us with lots of fun musical opportunities. On October 15, Ed and I played a sock hop with Forever Gold. It was an intimate setting, and ended up being one of our favorite gigs we've ever played. Just check out the pics! The next night, I was excited to see the Little Nashville Express for the first time since the fire. They played the Masonic Grand Lodge in downtown Indy. It was so good to watch them make music together. I put together a slideshow of that gig as well. The following night, Ed and I attended the Blooming-Tunes concert that was headlined by our friend C.J. Watson. It was a cool concert that featured award-winning songwriters in several genres. October 23 was the night of the much anticipated benefit concert for the Little Nashville Express hosted by the Ross Country Jamboree. It was a wonderful concert, and I was honored and thrilled to be asked to perform in the show. It was good to see everyone again, and the band's spirits were buoyed quite a bit. I also made a slideshow to share the fun of the benefit concert. Finally, I was on the show at the Corydon Jamboree on Saturday night. Good times! Now, I'm looking forward to another sock hop with Forever Gold this weekend, this one for my students at Bedford Middle School. I'll also be performing at the Miss Indiana USA pageant on Sunday. Let the gigs keep rollin' in!


What's Up Picture
Ed at the sock hop
What's Up Picture
Fun in Indy
What's Up Picture
...starring C.J. Watson!
What's Up Picture
Little Nashville Express
What's Up Picture
The trio

What's Up Picture
Jo at the benefit

What's Up Picture
Full house

What's Up Picture
With Kim, the organizer

Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 11:59 A.M.
Two weekends ago, I was honored to be part of a dinner honoring "History-Making Lawrence County Women." The dinner supported the Lawrence County Museum. Also honored was Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman. She gave a great speech about her Lawrence County roots. I discussed my work with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. One of the coolest parts of the evening was getting to go to the top of the Masonic Temple. Once there, I had an awesome view of downtown Bedford. I even had a clear view of Bedford Middle School. It was a memorable evening. In other news, this week is Fall Break! We had conferences yesterday. Now we get to enjoy Thursday and Friday as vacation days. On the agenda are a shopping trip, a lunch date with friends, and two singing gigs. Speaking of gigs, I have two slideshows to post (1, 2) from shows last weekend. I'll get to those on one of my vacation days this week.

What's Up Picture
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman
What's Up Picture
Overlooking Bedford
Thursday, October 8, 2009, 6:29 P.M.
Happy Fall! I hope you enjoy the autumn look on the web site. I also archived the Summer 2009 What's Up posts to make way for new fun things. Much has happened in the last two weeks. Fall is here, bringing with it a massive spider web on my porch and a new scarecrow named Leo. Also, the cause of the Opry fire has been determined to be arson. The Times-Mail ran an article I wrote called, “My Little Nashville Opry” that tells about my memories there. Luckily, the Little Nashville Express is staying together, and I'm designing their web site. I was able to perform with a few of them this weekend at the Ross Country Jamboree. The LNE benefit is only two weeks away! In other news, Mac earned fourth in the Jr. City, and Dad was named the Sr. City Champ for the fourth year in a row. Way to go, guys! My latest news is that I am no longer blonde. Hooray, Fall!


What's Up Picture
Spider web
What's Up Picture
Jo & Leo
What's Up Picture
LNO meets RCJ

What's Up Picture
Mac & Sam

What's Up Picture
Dad the Champ

What's Up Picture
New 'do

Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 10:48 P.M.
I apologize for being a horrible web domain updater. JoKai.net has taken a back seat to Facebook lately. With Facebook, updating is so quick and easy. Life has been a little zany lately, so Facebook has been the best way for me to stay electronically connected to friends. Ed and I enjoyed a trip to Spring Mill for the annual Candlelight Tour on Saturday night. We enjoyed listening to the musical groups that were performing along the walkways of the Pioneer Village. It was such a lovely evening. Little did we know that a couple hours later, my beloved Little Nashville Opry would be destroyed by fire. So many years of musical history were gone in minutes. I've been struggling greatly with the loss of my “friend,” the Opry. It the greatest sense of loss I've experienced outside the loss of a person. There is so much speculation surrounding the fire, and it's making it even harder to cope. I appreciate all my family and friends for helping me through this tough time. Hopefully, the Little Nashville Express will once again have a home. RIP LNO.

What's Up Picture
Spring Mill fun
What's Up Picture
Rustic scene
What's Up Picture
Opry memories

Back to What's Up?