Hooray, December! We were graced with our first significant snow of the season this weekend. Snowy days always make me want to run, and I've enjoyed several white, chilly miles over the last few days. Also, I had two fun gigs this weekend: one in Bedford with Forever Gold, and one at the Ross Country Jamboree with my friends in Scottsburg. Both were extremely fun shows. I posted pics from the Forever Gold show in a slideshow. Be sure to check out JoAnnaKaiCobb.com for a list of currently scheduled 2011 gigs, both alone and with Forever Gold. Last weekend, Mom and I decorated her Christmas tree, and Abbi found a new favorite spot in the bay window. She's such a cutie! Finally, check out this new, addicting site on the Fun Stuff page, Know Your States. You'll love it!

November has brought lots of running and singing. Yesterday, Mac and I both ran in the Give Thanks 4-Miler in Mitchell while the rain poured. This race was Mac's first, and he finished 3rd in his age group with a 33:06. I finished 4th in my age group with 35:20, beating a PR I set two-and-a-half years ago. Ed braved the wet weather to take pics for us, and you can check them out at Gotta Run.... I've had lots of fun singing gigs in Kentucky and Indiana over the last few weeks. Ed and I have been in rehearsals (one where I "cut" my hand), for a Forever Gold show to be held Dec. 3, and I'll be at the Ross Country Jamboree on Dec. 4. I'm also excited that my friend Jessica won Miss Indiana Teen USA!

Happy almost-Halloween! We've already had a few trick-or-treaters tonight. This morning, I won my age group at the Run for Dunn 5K with a time of 26:59, only nine seconds off a PR! I was very encouraged by the run because I felt so good, and my body responded well to every order I gave it. There were six BMS teachers and students in the race, and four of us won our age groups. Go Cutters! In other news, I enjoyed my stint as a backup singer at the Corydon Jamboree. Coming in November, I have gigs in both Kentucky and Bedford. Fall Break was a great time for us to enjoy the nice weather. We took a fun nature walk (along the trail where the photography for my CD art was taken), and Dad took a picture of a beautiful hawk at Otis Park. Though the colors haven't been as bright as usual, there have been plenty of opportunities to view fall beauty. It reminds me of a fall 17 years ago when I was part of the cast of Annie at Little Theatre of Bedford. Seems just like yesterday!

It's finally feeling more fallish! Though the temperatures were back in the high 80°s this weekend, it's been cooler overall. It's fun to see the leaves changing color and feel the crispness in the air. I was able to enjoy fall at the Fall Foliage 5K in Martinsville last weekend. (It was on 10/10/10 at 10:00!) The night before the race (but the night after I gave Mom and Dad a cake shaped like Abbi), Ed and I played the Shawswick Class of '65 Reunion with Forever Gold. The theme was Hawaiian, so we had a doubly good time. Just check out the pics! When I went back to work on Monday, I received a nice comment from a student in the form of a note at the bottom of his turned-in quiz. It shows why I love to teach, and proves that my students enjoy my jokes. (I told them 10q sounds like "thank you.") In web site news, I archived the Summer 2010 What's Up posts, and there is a link to them at the bottom of this page.

Happy Fall! We've been in school for six weeks now, but we've had summer weather that entire time. I'm happy to welcome the Fall temperatures. I'm enjoying my time with my seventh graders, and I'm looking forward to upcoming holidays with them. School pictures were delivered this week, and it's fun to see how grown-up the students look compared to their sixth grade pictures. In other news, Ed and I enjoyed a fun gig with Forever Gold last night at the Persimmon Festival. I made a slideshow with 25 of the 375 great photos Mom took. Thanks, Mom! Check out ForeverGold.us soon for a list of fall and winter gigs.