Since I can remember, I have wanted to visit Mackinac Island in northern Michigan. My favorite movie, Somewhere In Time, is set there. Last year, I looked up Mackinac races, and found the Mackinac Island 8-Miler, run the weekend after Labor Day. We planned the trip for 2010. I trained for eight weeks. I reread Bid Time Return (the book on which Somewhere In Time is based), and the sequel, Memoirs of Elise. I watched the movie. Our friends Deb and Paul made their vacation plans to coincide with ours. On Friday, we began the 565 mile trip to the island. More than 400 miles into the trip, we were forced to stop at the MidMichigan Hospital in Clare, Michigan. Extreme pain from Crohn’s disease was causing me great discomfort. After spending eight hours there for medicine and tests, Ed and I headed back to Bedford, arriving just 25 hours after we left. What a disappointment. Big thanks go to the Pattons for capturing some great Mackinac pics for us, and for picking up my race number and shirt. I will make it there someday!

Finally, I have edited the Croonin' for Crohn's video. It only took me four months! I posted it on the C4C slideshow page. It features music by all the bands that played, and backstage antics, as well. Check it out. In other news, Abbi has a few new pictures added to her site. She's been up to lots of cute little things lately. I'm going to miss her now that I'm back on a regular schedule. I've never been so excited for school to start, and I don't have to wait much longer—tomorrow is the day! We will meet with teachers tomorrow, and students arrive on Tuesday. It's going to be a great year!

I have never endured such a long, hot, humid summer. Today, the heat index soared into the 120°s, and it was just too hot to enjoy oneself outdoors. I worked at school, then played board games at Mom and Dad's house. Speaking of school, my classroom is ready for the 2010-2011 school year. Ed and I painted the walls blue, and Paul and Deb painted white, wispy clouds along the tops of the walls. Throw in some posters, manipulatives, and materials, and my classroom is ready! I made a slideshow to show off the room. Check it out! I've never been more excited for school to start because of my new room, new grade, new subjects, and new routine. It's going to be a great year! In other news, we've been making improvements around the Cobb household as well. From our front yard, I pulled a weed I've been trying to uproot for four years. The root system was pretty advanced, but I managed to unearth it. Ed also reshelved and painted his clothes closet. Painting is my favorite improvement job, so I was able to help him. Finally, Abbi has been enjoying summer, as well. She continues to chase bugs and animals, run around the backyard, and stand in her dinner plate. I'm going to miss her when school starts. I spend many of summer hours at her house lounging in the pool. I hope she forgives me when I'm less of a fixture next week.

In just two weeks, a new school year will begin! I'm especially excited this year because I'll be teaching a new grade. I've revamped my class web site. Check out MrsCobbMath.com to view my class's expectations packet, calendar, homework, fun links, and more!

It's sort of ridiculous that it's taken me so long to post an update to JoKai.net. Therefore, I decided to post a ridiculous amount of thumbnail pictures in response to my laziness. Much has happened in July, the hottest, most humid month of my entire life. It began with fun times with friends at a Patriotic Party to celebrate Independence Day. Check out the pics! The 4-H Fair has come and gone, but not before Dad and I were able to see nine 30-minute old piggies. The Otis Park City Golf Tournament is always a July fixture, as well. This year, Dad, Sam, Mac, and Ed all played in the event. Dad led much of the tournament, and finished tied for second. I was his cart mate/honorary caddy. This week, Lisa, two of her sons, and I had an adventure at Bluespring Caverns, a river cave in Lawrence Co. It was so beautiful! I've run two races recently: the Limestone 5K, where I earned third in my division, and the Glory Days Teammate Relay, where I teamed with Mom, Lisa, and Deb. We had a great time, and even enjoyed splashing around in the pool after our workout. On the music front, I've been busy selling CDs and performing at venues in Indiana and Kentucky. It's been a great month. Even Abbi has enjoyed July!

Happy Fourth Anniversary, Ed! Today is also my first anniversary of becoming a marathoner. To celebrate, I have posted my marathon reflection at the Kona trip site I made last year. It's pretty lengthy, but you can read only the parts that interest you. In it, I discuss my apprehension the night before the race, the moments before the marathon, each mile of the marathon, and how I felt after having crossed the finish line. In web site news, I archived the Spring 2010 What's Up posts, and there is a link to them at the bottom of this page. I hope everyone has had a great June! A few days remain until my favorite holiday—Independence Day!

Happy Summer! I've been neglecting JoKai.net since I've been moving into my new classroom and spending time on my raft. Additionally, I've been working on finishing my Kona Marathon reflection, to be posted next week. Check out these pictures of fun summer events: Mac playing in Regional, where BNL earned fourth place; me getting ready for the LTB 50th; a gig in Bardstown; the flood at Otis; and Father's Day.