Happy Halloween
October 31, 2005 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
This is the best halloween costume I’ve seen so far this year…although I did see a very authentic Napoleon Dynamite in New York City today. But seriously, is there any greater warrior than Yoda? He’s the man.
Chi-Town Extravaganza
October 30, 2005 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Last Thursday was a busy day. I started out by flying into Chicago O’Hare, and giving a program for Chicago area home schooled high school girls. This program was made possible by the annual fundraiser for the Girls Fight Back Foundation, which grants programs to groups who do not have the funding for it. It’s really great to give this life saving information to those who need it.
After the program for home schooled girls, I headed to Lake Forest College. I gave two programs to these enthusiastic students, and ended the night learning how to whoop some ass in the campus chapel. (Always an interesting, yet slightly sacrilegious experience…) I had the privilege to hang out with a fairly new Alpha Phi chapter on campus, who were all awesome and had great ideas for more merchandise for the GFB online store. (more details to come) See Charlie’s Angels-esqe photo above of myself, scary bad guy Jarod and the Alpha Phi girls.
On Saturday I headed to the Chicago ‘burbs for dinner with the McNamara family (Shannon’s parents and the extended clan) After dinner, a fundraiser took place for Shannon’s Memorial Scholarship Fund at the pub, and the Charelston Sound Machine performed. (Both my and Shannon’s fave band from college, and our good friends as well.) As usual, they rocked.
And for the grand finale of my Chi-Town Extravaganza, this morning was the annual 5k Run to benefit the Scholarship Fund as well. I decided to run it, and my lungs were simply hating me for it. (Still adjusting to running in the brisk cold) But it was good, and a great turnout as always. It’s amazing to me how people just refuse to forget our Shannon Mac, even after more than four years after her untimely death. It actually reminds me of the moment I decided to pursue GFB. It was the day of Shannon’s wake, back in June 2001. At the time I didn’t know Shannon’s mom, Cindy. (But now she’s like a second mother to me.) Anyway, I overheard her talking to another woman, and she said, “I am just so afraid that Shannon will be forgotten.” I distinctly remember thinking to myself, “Oh no, I don’t think so…”
On a daily basis, the McNamara’s struggle with ever present feelings of loss and tragedy. But knowing Shannon’s legacy is very much remembered and celebrated…I guess that’s all those who have lost a loved one could ask for.
Ay, Red Eye
October 27, 2005 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
This week has been filled with mad travel. Saturday I flew to Los Angeles and spoke at the University of Southern California on Sunday afternoon. We had a great time, and it was my favorite kind of crowd. These girls had just gone through sorority initiation, were exhausted and a bit resentful to be forced to attend my program. But by the end of the program these tired young women were throwing palm strikes and eye jabs like champs. Yeah! (See pic of myself, event organizer Beth, and male assailant Jordan. Thanks guys!)
I caught a red eye flight to Toledo, OH that night. Monday evening I spoke at University of Toledo, sponsored by Alpha Chi Omega. The program went really well, and during the groundfighting part, this tiny girl (maybe 8 or 9 years old…must have been a daughter of someone in attendance) confidently busted out of a foot grab using my patented “steamroller” technique. I think it really inspired everyone to see this kid demonstrate such calm and control.
After the program at UT, a bubbly gorgeous college girl came up to me. She said, “As a rape survivor, I just want to thank you for your empowering message. Keep up the great work.”
Damn, I love my job.
Everybody is kung fu fighting…
October 21, 2005 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Oct 20 - BLUFFTON, S.C. -A would-be carjacker got quite a jolt when he picked the wrong car to try to steal, Jasper County deputies say. The suspect tapped the window of the car Wednesday morning with a gun and motioned the driver to get out, Chief Deputy Roy Hughes said. The driver of the car had just bought a cup of hot coffee. So he slammed his door into the carjacker’s legs, threw the coffee on him possibly burning the suspect’s neck and face, and wrestled him to the ground, Hughes said. A shot was fired during the scuffle, but no one was hurt. The driver managed to get the gun from the suspect and point it at him, Hughes said. The suspect ran into the wood behind the store, the chief deputy said. Deputies are looking for the would-be carjacker along with two people believed to be with him who drove off while the fight was going on, Hughes said.
Oct 20 – CHICAGO, IL - When the young woman cried, pointed to her bedside Bible and begged her attacker to have mercy on a Christian woman, he told her to shut up or she’d be shot. So the Hyde Park woman tried another approach: She smashed her attacker over the head with a bottle, stabbed him with a kitchen knife and wrestled his gun away, a Cook County prosecutor said in bond court at 26th and California Wednesday. As Kendro Earl, 18, was being treated for stab wounds at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, a judge Wednesday set his bail at $650,000. The victim, who is 21, did not know the man who sneaked up behind her about 5 p.m. Monday and shoved a gun into her back as she opened the door to her apartment, said Cook County assistant state’s attorney Nancy Wilder.
Rochester Rumble
October 18, 2005 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Sunday evening I had the honor to speak at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Instead of driving there, I decided to take a 6 hour train ride. Trains are the greatest, and this time of year is the best time to ride the rails in upstate New York. It’s great for “leaf peeping” as they call it in New England. I was brought to campus by the regional BACCHUS coordinator, Toni Gauthier. She had seen me speak 3 times already, and has been a great supporter in my mission to teach women to fight back. Because she’s seen me before, she remembered that I request a male assistant to be present so I can demo the moves. A great guy named Sean was my scary bad guy for the evening, and Toni made him the awesome shirt in the photo at left. It says “The Guy” and has a volleyball in the center. (He is a v-ball player) A big thanks to all the Naz gals who attended…stay safe!
Tempe Travels
October 14, 2005 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
This week I flew to Phoenix to speak at Arizona State University. When I got off the airplane, I proceeded to Enterprise Rent A Car to get my wheels. Of course, I had to hop on the rental car bus to get to the lot.
So my driver was by far, the most friendly, happy rental car bus driver person I’ve ever experienced. Normally people in that line of work aren’t too personable, but my driver Aviella, was pshyched to be alive! She was the kind of person who if I had a bad day, I probably would have hated her and her extreme jolliness. But since it was a good day, I thought she was awesome.
So I said to her, “Aviella, I travel a lot, and I have to tell you that you’re the nicest, most friendly rental car bus driver I’ve ever met.” Her response to me was this. “Well Erin, whatever is in your heart comes out of your mouth.”
I think she pretty much summed up what I do for a living. Teaching women and girls to be safe and strong is really in my heart. I guess it’s only natural I’m a speaker on the topic. So a big thank you to the 700 ASU rock stars who came to see me Tuesday. An extra special thanks to my sisters, the Alpha Phi’s. (See photo of me and the A-Phi exec board)
Ode to Chucktown
October 11, 2005 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
My apologies for the week long blogging vacation. I got three words for you: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Seriously, I’m in misery. It’s just one of the lovely side effects of writing a book. (Which I’m happy to report, is almost finished!)
Today my blog entry will consist of an excerpt from a story from the Eastern Illinois University newspaper. EIU is my alma mater, and Charleston is quite an interesting town. I think the story below sums it up, though. Laugh and enjoy.
* * *
Shattered glass and broken bricks painted an action-movie-like scene Monday afternoon in Charleston. A 1998 white Lincoln Town Car crashed into Carlyle Apartment Rentals office and Snyder’s ATA Black Belt Academy on the 800 block of Lincoln Avenue.
Mary M. Williams, 83, thought she had her foot on the brake when she pulled into the parking lot, but after the collision she realized her foot was on the accelerator.
Williams said she was on her way to get her haircut at Sassy Scissors when her car hit the building. “It’s a strange thing when you have athletic shoes on,” she said. “You can’t always tell when you have the accelerator or the brake.”
No one had any injuries from the accident.
Josh Bales, a junior marketing major, said he saw the car jump the curb and crash into the buildings. “It was pretty wild,” he said, “she gunned it.”
“I sure demolished those two buildings, didn’t I?” Williams said with a laugh.
Easy Button
October 5, 2005 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
So my birthday was Monday, and I got some cool gifts. But above all, my favorite present was my brand new Easy Button. If you’ve been living under a rock, let me explain the Staples campaign that has made this Easy Button famous. A mother wakes in a panic in the middle of the night and realizes she hasn’t bought her children any school supplies. Her husband tells her to hit the Easy Button, located on her nightstand. And shazam! Staples takes care of her school supply needs. In another commercial, a staff is getting ready for a big presentation and the copy machine jams. They panic, and everyone starts rhyming for some reason. (Not sure how that fits into the scheme, but I digress…) Then bang! They’re at Staples, who saves the day by meeting their copy needs. Clearly, this is a magical little gadget. I keep it on my desk next to my computer, and whenever I get a bit overwhelmed, I just hit the button and it responds with a Frankenstein-type voice saying “That was easy.” Hey, life is complicated. Everyone needs an easy button.
Runnin’ out of 20’s
October 3, 2005 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
It was 28 years ago today that my poor mother squeezed out a 10 and a half pound monster to be named Erin Weed. (Bless her soul!) I suppose one might say that I’m officially running out of 20’s. You know you’re getting old when a fantastic b-day consists of cleaning the house and getting a car wash. I’m having a party later this week, but for tonight, I’m going to revel in the calm for once…
Because this past week has been anything but calm. I jet-setted around a bit, finally ending up giving a seminar at Vanguard in Charlotte, NC on Saturday. The great thing about speaking at businesses is the diversity of people who attend. In the seminar, we covered situations ranging from jogging alone to manuevering stairwells with a baby in tow…and how to be safe doing all these things.