We've moved!

Being that I got married and there are a million things to change because of a new last name, I figured that the blog should be one of them! OUR new blog website is wackywalkers.wordpress.com. Please come and visit us :)

We're really getting married!

Looks like there's no turning back now!! This is the picture that was in the Lafayette, LA newspaper last Sunday! Anybody surprised??

21 days from tomorrow I get to marry my best friend!

Do I really live here??

I have been here in the Appalachian Mountains for about 3 months now and I have not ceased to be amazed that I actually live here. It is October 20th, and this morning there was ice on my windshield. Yes, ICE! It's not even November! In Texas/Louisiana the "ICE STORM" of the year does not hit until at least January or February! So, that's an adjustment for sure. But besides the freezing winter I am preparing for, there are other interesting and beautiful aspects of the Appalachians.

As mentioned earlier, I live about 2 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. In North Carolina we actually have Fall. I once heard Matt Chandler say that in Texas we don't have Fall, we just fell. Well, there is definitely a full Fall season here.







We spent all day Saturday at the Valle Crucis Country Fair. The fairgrounds were equipped with homemade apple cider (you have no idea what you are missing until you have apple cider straight from fresh apples), lots of crafts, blue grass music, and an old mountain man telling century-old tales. (You have no idea how amazing his tales were...)





So, there's a tiny taste of our Fall. Anytime you want to come and visit, we would love to welcome you to the Appalachian Mountains.

Lost in a Nicholas Sparks Book and The Cake Fairy Strikes Again

This weekend Joey surprised me and took me to Carolina Beach for my birthday. It was the greatest surprise! We sat on the beach and painted pottery and rode our bikes--it was absolutely perfect! The weather was gloomy, windy, and cold, but I seriously felt like I was somewhere in a Nicholas Sparks book and a great love story was about to ensue!

It was a great weekend to get away from the craziness of this new life in the High Country of North Carolina and nice to spend some undisturbed time with my amazing fiance! And it wasn't too bad to come home to the mountains at the end of the weekend.

We started off by trying to watch the sunrise--it was so cloudy that it was more like a cloud rise!

So, Joey decided to build a sand castle--complete with a moat!!

And take some artsy pictures of me enjoying the waves!

And then we started having a LOT of fun!!!

The houses on the beach were so colorful!

On Monday at school during 3rd period I got a note saying that they needed me in the office asap. So, after 3rd period I went into the office to find this surprise:

My mom has always been the "Cake Fairy". No matter where I am for my birthday, she finds a way to get a cake to me! Year after year, she would show up in College Station with a homemade birthday cake. This year was no exception. She did not let the distance between us get in the way of getting me a birthday cake. She called the receptionist at my school and got a recommendation for a local cake baker. She ordered a cake for me and had it delivered to school!

It seriously was a great birthday weekend that finished off with a great surprise!

Thanks Mom and Dad, for making sure that I get a wonderful cake on my birthday :)

Please Pray

Hurricane Gustav is on it's way straight toward Lafayette, LA--my home town. My entire family is in Lafayette, except for my brother, Kevin, who is in Baton Rouge. The eye of Gustav is currently expected to make landfall at Vermillion Bay, just south of Lafayette, and head directly for Lafayette. The eastern side of the system is always the strongest which means that Baton Rouge will get the worst of the storm. My family in New Iberia (right at Vermillion Bay) are under a mandatory evacuation, so once again my parents are welcoming the entire family into their house. Please pray for safety for my family as well as for everyone that will be affected by this powerful storm. My parents have been through countless hurricanes throughout their lives, but my dad told me today that he is really scared of this one--something he would not say loosely. I am trying to see the Lord's hand in all of this. It is a huge storm and the hugeness of God and smallness of man is so evident in weather systems. However, I know that He loves us and will always protect us. Gustav is expected to arrive late Monday night/early Tuesday morning, so your prayers are greatly appreciated.

much love,
cb

Another New Adventure

Aaah....tis the season once again. Not the Christmas season, but the season of change. But this time, it's a change that I have been waiting for. And hopefully a change that will not change for a while (at least 2 years).

I am a Boone, NC resident! Yes, that's right. No more Texas or Louisiana or California. I have ventured to the other side of our great country, and I couldn't be more excited.

But, with excitement also comes a bit of anxiety.

Upon my arrival I cried as per usual. I cried because it was all new. I cried because no one here really knows me. I cried because I just needed to cry. But this time something was different. I have Joey. He has been my rock over this past week. My move and this decision to be his wife has been confirmed over and over again when time after time he has chosen me over his friends. When he has made the decision (he says it's an easy one) to hang out with me when his friends are playing apple sauce in their backyard. (Basically, apple sauce is baseball with apples where you turn the apples into apple sauce!) So, even though this is hard at times, and it's another move without my chicks, it's okay...in fact it's very good!

Since we have been here, lots has happened. Probably the biggest news is that I found out that I am the JV Cheerleading coach at Hibriten High School where I am also teaching Science.

Yes, I said that right.

JV CHEERLEADING!!!!

I was just as surprised as you are.

So, there's that.

But, we have also been having a lot of fun! We went hiking the other day and the cycling yesterday. And, I'll tell you what, I thought I was a cyclist until I started cycling here. People who cycle here are real cyclists. The hills/mountains are killer! So, maybe I'll become a real cyclist after all. Here's some pictures of some of our first adventures in Boone. (Please, excuse the spandex.)






Sooo...who's ready to come visit??

much love,
cb

Bike-walking

Joey and I are moving to North Carolina on Thursday, and someone asked me the other day how our time in Lafayette has been.

"Awesome" I say.

As I think about my cliche answer some more, one thing stands out during our time in Lafayette--our bicycle woes.

The woes began even before we got to Lafayette.

I got a few stories for ya ags!

Bike-walking #1

So, about a month before Joey moved to Lafayette, he was mountain biking with some friends in North Carolina. He went off a jump, but quickly decided that he didn't go high enough. So, of course he had to try it again. The second attempt was not as pleasant as he had hoped as he flew over his handlebars and proceeded to be knocked unconscious. When he came to, he had to be taken to the emergency room (his friends walked his bike home) where they though that he had ruptured his spleen. (He ended up being okay, praise the Lord!) He soon realized that his mountain bike was totally busted and will require hundreds of dollars of parts and hours of labor.

Bike-walking #2

A couple of weeks after Joey and I got to Lafayette, we decided to go on a bike ride on the Northside of town (a little ghetto at times). We started our journey and soon saw that along our route were prisoners (in black and white stripes, no lie) working on the side of the road. I rode by quickly as they were whistling at me in my spandex! About 3.5 miles into our ride, we heard a pop. One of Joey's spokes on his back wheel had broken off his bike. Are you kidding me? Who does that happen to? So, we began the bike-walking. We decided to go down a side street to avoid the prisoners, but soon found out that we were walking down a very dangerous street in Lafayette. I was scared to death and when I asked Joey afterwards if he was scared he just replied, "I was ready." (Whatever that means...)

Bike-walking #3

A couple of weeks after incident #2, we headed over to Austin for Jessica to take our engagement pictures. Joey insisted on going mountain biking. But, since his bike is still busted, I let him use my Gary Fisher (affectionately named Number 9) that survived the 1-35 bike incident. He was about 3 miles out peddling up a hill when suddenly he heard a clunk. The rear derailleur had fallen off the bike. WHAT?? Yes, I said that right, the rear derailleur fell off the bike. There is a little piece of aluminum that holds the derailleur onto the bike and it cracked in half. Joe had walk his bike back to where we were lying on the beach of Lake Travis. He was upset to say the least, but REI came through again and Hector, my friend at the Dallas REI, called Karl, my new friend at the Austin REI and he special ordered the part for us.

Bike-walking...er...pulling #4

Just a couple of days ago, we went riding around River Ranch in Lafayette with my parents. It was just a leisure 7pm ride after dinner when suddenly Joey couldn't pedal anymore and realized that a link on his chain had broken. So, we took his chain off his bike and I pulled him behind my bike (he held onto my seat) for the rest of our ride. We did pretty well except for one time when we had to start again after crossing a major street and I fell down onto Joey's bike with my feet still clipped into my pedals. I have bruises to keep the memory alive!

So, there you have it...our bike-walking woes of Summer 2008. We did manage to go on a couple of good rides around Lafayette and the surrounding little cajun towns and only came out with minor injuries (sunburn, the beginnings of a heat stroke, you know the likes).

It has been a great summer, but we are excited to be back with 4 fully functioning bicycles and in North Carolina where it isn't so hott!

much love, cb

We Love Schmale!!

Last weekend Joey and I ventured off to Austin, TX because one of our favorite people in the whole world--Miss Jessica Lynn Schmale--lives there and donated her mad photo skills for the weekend. We spent the Fourth of July at Muleshoe Ranch where Jess, Jillian, and I laid out by the water and Joey attempted to go mountain biking (due to a bicycle malfunction, he was unable to complete his entire journey). We ended the day by watching fireworks over ATX and then got a good night sleep for our big day to come.

During our "photo shoot", we were completely at Jessica's disposal and had an absolute blast. She did a fabulous job capturing our personalities for our engagments and we are more an impressed with her skills. We ended the day cliff jumping at Pace Bend (Jess even jumped off!).

To see more awesome pictures, visit Jessica's blog.

Jess,

Thanks so much for putting up with us and our "personality" for an entire weekend! We had a blast, the pictures look fabulous, and we love you soooooo much!

Joey and Claire

An Ode

My mother--Renee Claire Borne--is one of the most talented people I know. She and I have not been the closest of mothers and daughters, but we have a mutual understanding that we don't have to be 100% involved in each others lives 100% of the time. She has always been "that mom" who taught French and Science at my school, coached the Science Olympiad Team, sponsored the cheerleaders, made every single one of my formal dresses, made and decorated all of our birthday cakes, cooked every night like a true Cajun woman, cleaned up after 3 disgusting children and one disgusting husband, put together a Mardi Gras Ball, and at the same time still managed to keep up with THREE soap operas a day!!! I mean are you getting the point? This lady is superwoman!!!!!

But, ladies and gentlemen, I do believe that she has outdone herself this time.

About a month ago, Renee Borne opened up her very own quilt shop in Lafayette, LA.

I am not even kidding.

Hundreds of bolts of fabric.

Bar codes.

A scanner gun.

A credit card machine.

I mean...it's legit!

She decided to call it The Borne Quilter--get it...our last name is Borne!! HA! So clever!


I am working at the shop this summer as I plan Joey's and my wedding. Which brings me to another reason why she is superwoman. Not only is she running a brand new quilt shop, she is also organizing yet another Mardi Gras Ball (she's the Dame Commander again), and she is helping me plan our wedding!

Can someone give me a ditto on this woman being SUPERWOMAN!?!?! (Chicks, I want to see those fingers in the air!!)

So, this blog is dedicated to my mom. She's so stressed right now, but still has time to laugh with Joey and me to tears at midnight, cook us chicken yum-yum, teach us how to have at least a little bit of etiquette while planning this wedding, and still manages to keep up with The Young and the Restless, All My Children, and One Life to Live!

P.S. You can see pictures of the shop here. Part of my job has been doing computer stuff and I made this website a couple of days ago. It's nothing fancy, but it'll do the trick for now.

Confessions of a Sonic Junkie, Part II

For all of you in the heat of the south this summer, I would like to recommend my newest favorite Sonic drink (Joey loves it too):

Strawberry Lime Slushie

Seriously--they are delicious.  They even have chunks (sorry Brookie) of strawberry and pieces of limes at the bottom--an added bonus!!  And they are so cold that they make your insides fool your outsides that you are actually cold instead of dripping with sweat.

So, if you are looking for a cool summer drink from the drive in we all love most, try a strawberry lime slushie--it won't let you down.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

It seems to be a trend in my life to move frequently. I have blogged before about how I have moved 5 times since I graduated from college and by the end of this summer it'll be seven.

Seven times in 2 years!

There are times that I love the wandering lifestyle. I have made many great friends along the way and have experienced things that I wouldn't trade for the world. The Lord has led me out into the desert and has drawn me back to himself. It has been good--very good.

But also very exhausting.

I am tired of moving. I absolutely HATE packing and I hate even more saying goodbye to people. I have been told that when I make a friend I make them my instant best friend. I am all in. This is a quality that I like because I really have some deep friendships, but I hate because I continue to have to tell them goodbye. It is so hard.

And although this is a good move I still find myself asking the Lord why. Why do I have to move again?? Why do I have to say goodbye? Why? Why? Why?

He continues to say, "Just follow Me. I have never let you down. Why would I start now? I will take care of you."

So alas...here I go again. I am currently sitting at my desk on my last day of school (a workday for teachers--no children) with nothing to do because I am not coming back here next year. My car is packed to the brim (literally) and my bikes are loaded on the top--yes I am scared to death to drive 7 hours with them on top of my car without Sarah in case of a crisis again! I am going to make the drive to Lafayette for the summer to plan our wedding and then will move to Boone, NC at the beginning of August. I did get a teaching job (PTL) in Lenoir, NC teaching physical science and physics to juniors and seniors which is a HUGE blessing as well as a huge load off my back.

I am ready to be somewhere for a while. I am ready to really settle. To nest. I always thought I was the wandering type, but I think I am ready for a break. I am ready to be somewhere and not have in the back of my mind when I am going to move or where I am going to get a job next. I would LOVE to teach at this school for at least two years. But I am going to continue to follow Him (along with Joe's leadership) wherever He takes us (at least I pray that I will).

So, to all of my DFW friends--I love you and I will miss you terribly. You guys have been so consistent with me even though I have been all over the place. Thank you for your friendship. I hate that some friendships are just for a season, but that just the way it goes, right? We will stay in touch--I promise.

Much Love, CB

The Future Mrs. Joey Walker!!! AAAHHH!!!

Well readers (if there are any more of you left out there), I have some news for you.

Are you ready?

Are you sure?

Okay--here goes....

I am currently the future Mrs. Joey Walker!!!!

That's right! Joey asked me to be his wife on Saturday. Wow--just writing that makes my heart race!! I, of course, said yes! I cannot believe that I get to be his wife!!!

So...here's the story--

He was coming in to visit and he told me that he missed his connecting flight and that his phone was almost dead and that he had left his phone charger at home. I was immediatly frustrated with him and didn't know when he was going to be in and had no way to find out. So, I went to the Vierlings house to lay out by the pool and cool off.

About an hour or so later, my friend Sarah Seifipour called me and told me that she needed me to come to my house. She said that she and her husband got in a fight and she was at my house and needed someone to talk to. I got in my car and rushed home to help "a friend in need". As soon as I pulled up, this is what I found...

I yelled, "I am supposed to be mad at you!" And then walked up to him. I couldn't believe what was happening!! He started singing "I wanna grow old with you" from The Wedding Singer. It was so funny and so sweet!!

After the song was over he told me to stand up and he asked me if I would be his wife! I was speechless--yes, weird for me! I mustered up a "YES" and then started freaking out!

I then realized that Sarah was there taking pictures the whole time! She was so stealth.

I was beyond excited! I am beyond blessed!

The ring is soooooo perfect! He did such a great job!

Joey Walker is my best friend and I cannot wait to be his wife. I feel so honored to get to spend the rest of my life with him and I cannot wait for forever to start!!

If I Wasn't a Celebrity...

For those of you who don't know, I am a Chemistry teacher at The Academy of Irving ISD. At The Academy there are a number of specialities that students can choose from and take classes in. One of those specialities is Media Technology. In Media Tech, students learn all about video stuff--from cameras, to news casting, to editing--the whole thing! Part of the speciality includes a weekly live broadcast of ANN--Academy News Now--and a weekly airing of "School'd"--an in house game show. Normally students are the anchors and weather people and contestants on ANN and School'd, but this week was an exception--the teachers took over!

I was asked about a month and a half ago to represent the 3rd floor on School'd along with another 3rd floor teacher (we competed against the 1st and 2nd floors). Of course I said yes--any excuse to be in front of a camera I will accept. However, I usually hate the end result!

I'm not going to tell you if we won--you'll have to see for yourself!

Two weeks ago, I was asked to try out to be an anchor for the teacher ANN episode. I didn't want to because I had already done the School'd episode, but I was forced--literally! I auditioned but was hoping not to get the spot, but much to my dismay I got it. So, on Wednesday during homeroom I was the ANN anchor...LIVE. I was so nervous!!!!!!

Here I am anchoring ANN. It's no "Heather with the weather", but I did okay!

But, here's the clencher--they were both aired on the same day. At 8:40am they aired my School'd episode and at about 9:10am they aired ANN live. The whole reason why I didn't want to be on ANN was because I had already done School'd. It was as though it was "The Ms. Borne Show". Since Wednesday (today is Friday), I have been getting comments by every student that walks by my classroom. Comments from, "I saw you on T.V. today Miss." to "Hey Miss, next time try decaf!" Seriously, I feel like a celebrity! It's so funny.

So, there you go...I have officially been at this school for about 6 months and already everyone knows who I am--for better or worse!

Ridin' and Rockin' (cheezy title, I know)

Thirteen thousand riders.

One hundred and fifty miles.

All riding to find a cure.

There are no words to describe how cool last weekend was.

There was a 15-20 mph head wind almost the entire 150 miles. There were some nice hills. It was hard. But it was so much fun! I love riding my bike and I love Rachel and her family so it was just perfect. My mom added some nice cajun flare to the weekend. She came complete with some boudain and some butter rum cake--no one ever said she lacked hospitality skills!

Here are a few pictures of our weekend.

Rachie and Me getting at the starting line--before our butts were sore!!

Team Yags (almost all of us) at lunch on day 1 with Yags (Rachel's mom) and Renee (my mom).

Day 2 lunch. "The Cupid Shuffle" came on so I had to show everyone the dance!!

Rachie coming into the finish line at the Texas State Capital in Austin. If you can't tell by it's length--that's my arm in the back!

I quickly shifted gears (no pun intended) and had to get back some energy to enjoy a night out with the girls! On Monday night I joined some girl friends at a Bon Jovi concert at American Airlines Center. We bought the tickets months ago and were so excited about the concert. (Those of you who know me well, also know of my love for Bon Jovi. Needless to say, even though I was painfully tired, I was beside myself.) The concert was all that I hoped for-and more! It was truly amazing! I got goosebumps when the entire crowd sang "You give love a bad name" without Bon Jovi singing or playing at all. Truly amazing! Here's some pictures for your viewing pleasure...

Daughtry opened for them. Seriously--how in the world did Taylor Hicks win that year of American Idol?? I am still baffled.

Oh Oh...We're halfway there. OOOOOOH Livin' on a Prayer!!

It seriously looked like I was watching the making of a bad 80's music video. Hilarious!

Not even kidding. Amazing!

"Raise Your Hands!"

The spirit fingers were alive!

"These five words I swear to you...I'll be there for you!"

His moves are still living in 1984!

That vest with no shirt just about killed me!

So there you have it. A great few days indeed! Gillman family--I'm ready for next year! Anne--we must do this again!!

one hundered and fifty

Multiple sclerosis (MS) usually strikes adults in the prime of life - between the ages of 20 and 50. It is a chronic disease of the central nervous system affecting the brain and spinal cord. One new case of MS is diagnosed every hour. It comes and goes unpredictably, leaving people to wonder, "Will I become paralyzed, blind or have trouble walking? Will I be able to raise my family and continue my career?"


My dear friend, Rachel's mom was diagnosed with MS in 1990. Last year, while we were roommates, she asked me if I wanted to ride in the MS 150 with her--a 150 mile bike ride from Houston to Austin to raise money to find a cure for MS. The race was in about one month and I didn't even have a bike, but I agreed. It seemed like a good cause and I'm always up for a new adventure.

I found a bike, trained for a few weeks, and then headed down to Houston with Rachel's family. It turned out to be one of the greatest, most rewarding weekends of my life. Rachel's mom, Denyse, is such an inspiration and it was a pleasure and a joy to ride my bike for her and for all other fighting MS.


So, this weekend I will once again, head down to Houston, get on my bike, and--over a course of 2 days--will ride my bike to Austin. And, this year, my mom will be hanging out with Denyse and driving one of the chase cars. I can't wait!!

Rachel's siblings have started their own MS 150 team called "Team Yags" (Denyse's nickname) and I'm excited and honored to be a part of their team once again. Our website is www.teamyags.com where you can see bios of all of us and donate if you would like.

Please pray for our safety this weekend. There are thousands of riders and it can get dangerous on the roads with that many people out there. I'll post pictures of this year's ride next week!