Sicko
September 26, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
The body is a funny thing, and I’m constantly amazed by it. Somehow, it knows the exact convenient time to make me dysfunctionally ill. I was on the road for the past few weeks, and yesterday I returned from Florida. Then BAM! Sick as a leper. Can’t move anything but my thumb on the remote control.
I think this is nature’s way of telling us, “Slow the hell down, or I’ll do it for you!” Thanks for the reminder, you resilient body. I’m taking a break from work and this bloggy for a few days so I can catch up on mindless television while I recover.
I did see Michael Moore on Oprah, about his movie Sicko. Think what you will about him, but he posed a very interesting question: Does everyone, regardless of income, deserve quick and top notch healthcare?
University of Central Florida - Orlando, FL
September 25, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
I’m so pissed that I forgot my camera last night! We booked this program at UCF pretty last minute, so we scrambled the thing together within just weeks. In my past experiences, this usually equates to not many people in attendance simply because there was no time to promote it. But whoa, I had no idea the passion and dedication of these women at UCF! It started with my friend Lindi Smedberg, who saw me speak at Jacksonville University last spring. She made some serious magic happen, along with the Panhellenic Council. There were probably 500 women in attendance, all who were so psyched to learn some Palm-Knee-Knee action. Thanks to all of you…and I loved the Houlihan’s dinner afterwards. Hope to be back soon.
Old Dominion University - Norfolk, VA
September 21, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
I pride myself on being on time, and never getting lost. Between good advance planning and my GPS, both these things are usually possible. But I royally messed things up yesterday, walking into the room at 7pm…when the speaking time was scheduled for 7pm! I was so incredibly lost, it was unbelievable. So when I finally arrived after one hour and forty minutes in the car, I ran to the bathroom (damn near peed my pants), we put up my powerpoint presentation and I pretty much jumped on stage out of breath. But it’s funny, having all that adrenaline in my veins gave a new twist to the “Bad Victim” program, and I have to say I really dug it! This crowd was amazing…a bunch of men and women from all walks of campus life. See me signing LOTS of books after the program, along with a pic of the Alpha Phi chapter on campus and the staff of the women’s center who organized the event. Special thanks to Gretchen (for directions!) and Alexa Priddy who put it all together. And by the way, it only took me 10 minutes to drive back to my hotel. How the hell did I get so lost on the way there??? What’s wrong with me?
University of Tampa - Tampa, FL
September 20, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Yesterday I flew from New Jersey to warm, sunny Tampa. I’m happy to report that my mother in law is doing really well after her surgery, so it was great to depart knowing she’s hangin’ in there. I gave the “Bad Victim” program at UT to a room full of awesome men and women, and we had a blast. I also had an opportunity to sell a bunch of people on the iphone…I did a demo of how cool it is. A huge thanks to Nora Bugg, who organized the event and pulled together an enthusiastic bunch. Check out me and my new buddies at UT holding the “Stop. Leave me alone. I don’t want any problems.” door hangers. There are safety tips on the back. How fun is that?
Pretty sunrise
September 19, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Just thought I would share this pretty sunrise with you, which I watched happen from the windows of Newark Airport. Every morning that I have to travel, I always take the first flight of the day to avoid any cancellations or delays. So usually I’m up at 4am, out the door by 4:45am and at the airport by 5:30am. It’s a little exhausting, but it’s really peaceful to watch the day begin before my very eyes.
University of Delaware - Newark, DE
September 18, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
What a crowd last night at the U Del…a jam packed room with some really awesome students. Both men and women were in attendance, as I was giving my “How to be a Bad Victim” program. There’s always a crazy moment before I step onstage in front of a thousand people or so, when I think to myself, “I can’t believe I do this for a living.” Above is me with some of the Alpha Phi girls (my sistas) who brought me to campus.
Cosmopolitan
September 15, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
This month there is a cool article in Cosmopolitan about how to stay safe. I was interviewed for it, and have a side-bar full of practical tips. Check it out…on newsstands now.
Emergency Landing
September 14, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Whoa, what an arm-rest gripper today was! En route from Denver to New Jersey, our airplane pilot told us that the electric system was not functioning (and I later learned this directly affects hydraulics) so we made an emergency landing in my hometown of Chicago. Never been so psyched to land there, and believe me, I’m usually happy as hell to be home. After landing, our airplane was chased down the runway by about 10 different fire trucks. Exhilarating!
But we made it to New Jersey, where my mother-in-law is going through another surgery because of her cancer. Please send your happy thoughts and well wishes her way…
OJ’s book on Oprah
September 13, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Today there was an Oprah show about OJ’s book, “If I did It.” You may have read my previous post from August 16, where I share some of my personal experiences about dealing with homicide of a loved one in the limelight of the media. On today’s show, it was the Goldman’s versus Denise Brown. I have to say it’s one of the saddest shows I’ve ever seen. After 13 years, these poor people aren’t even a smidgen closer to peace . The Goldman’s are walking revenge, while Denise is walking anger. Having no other outlet to let their energy go, it’s targeted at each other. It’s depressing on so many levels…that a killer gets yet another platform to taunt the system, that 2 families still find no healing, that another garbage book glorifying murder will see the light of day…just sad.
U of U - Salt Lake City, UT
September 11, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
If you want to go to a pretty place, check out Salt Lake City. It reminds me of being in Boulder, CO with the rolling mountains and gorgeous skies. Last night I spoke at the school simply referred to as “The U.” Met some amazing gals, even if it was a small gathering. But it was great to be there…thanks for coming out!
Today I flew back to Denver, and made sure not to tell my mom about it. She’s a nervous wreck as it is, with the extreme amount of flying I do. But to fly on September 11th? Forget about it. She’d freak. So I just don’t tell her.
Not many people know this, but I used to commute into the World Trade Center every day ’till the towers fell. At the time, I was in the beginning stages of getting GFB off the ground, and had a temp job at Miramax Films in NYC. It was just a few blocks walk from the World Trade Center. The day of the attacks, I was running late for work because I was picking up GFB t-shirts at the printer…seems like so many people have a good story for missing “being there.” I wish more people were running late for work…
Meet Kris Carr
September 8, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Warning, you are about to meet the coolest chick alive! Last night I flew back into Denver, and had a getaway car arranged to whisk me off to the Tattered Cover bookstore so I could see Kris Carr speak. She is a 36 year old cancer survivor, documentary producer and author. Here’s the short version of the story: On Valentines Day in 2003 Kris was told she had incurable Stage 4 cancer. There is no Stage 5. She was told to just watch and wait, but at 31, who can do that? Instead, Kris forges a journey of learning and discovery of finding her own “cure” in a holistic way. From becoming a “juicing queen” to studying at a Zen monastary, Kris tries it all. Her documentary aired on TLC last week, and will be available on DVD in 2008. Her book, Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, is now available in bookstores nationwide.
I was very touched by this inspirational gal for a multitude of reasons. I lost a very dear friend named Julie Frichtl to breast cancer in 2003. My mother in law has been battling cancer since last September and my very good friend Tracy Maxwell is a survivor of ovarian cancer. I’ve come to learn quite a lot about treatment, side effects and how cancer affects the spirit and the soul. Many of my friends have said that strangely enough, cancer is a gift. As Kris writes on her website, “Why, when we are challenged to survive, do we give ourselves permission to really live?”
Support this girl by visiting www.crazysexycancer.com.
Baylor University - Waco, TX
September 7, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
Yesterday I flew down to Dallas, Texas (yee haw!) to speak at Baylor University in the bustling metropolis of Waco. Before going to Waco during last year’s book tour, my only knowledge of the city involved crazy cults, but I’m glad I got to visit to see it for myself. Alas, no crazy cults to be seen. However, I was accosted by a large woman in the Wal Mart parking lot who ran toward my car and slapped the windshield. I seriously had no idea what I could have done to provoke this. Glad my windows were up and doors locked securely.
But back to Baylor, which was the highlight of the trip. (as opposed to random auto assaults at the local discount superstore…) These Baylor girls rock like spock. And they even made their own shirts with the GFB motton on them: “Strong. Resilient. Spirited. Unified.” You wanna know the best thing about Baylor though? Every Thursday night they serve Dr. Pepper Floats in the student union. (I was told that Dr. Pepper was actually invented in Waco.) After I finished speaking, I signed a ton ‘o books and Erin brought me my very own DP Float. Quite the tasty way to end a night of whoop’ass. (See me pictured with my new Texas girlfriends while pointing at my DP Float.)
(WO)men Speak Out
September 5, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
My friends Chris & Ophelia have started a really awesome organization I want to tell you about. (Wo)Men Speak Out is a group dedicated to eradicating male/female violence against both genders. They seek to educate both men and women, cultivating healthy relationships and gender equity. They just released the first issue of their minizine, and it really rocks like Spock. CLICK HERE to read it.
Happy Labor Day
September 3, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
What the heck is Labor Day, for real? Thanks to Wikipedia, here you go:
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday in September. The holiday began in 1882, originating from a desire by the Central Labor Union to create a day off for the “working man”. It is still celebrated mainly as a day of rest and marks the symbolic end of summer for many. Labor Day became a federal holiday by Act of Congress in 1894.
Now go pack away those white capri pants ’till next spring!
Wilco
September 2, 2007 | Leave a CommentPosted by admin | Filed Under Erin Weed's Blog
As many of you know, one of my favorite pasttimes is seeing live music. Last night we had the chance to visit the Taste of Colorado, where I gorged myself on raviolis and roast beef sandwiches. Then we rocked out at the Fillmore, where we saw Wilco. Awesome show, but the venue should really look into the concept of air conditioning. My hubby took the pic above from his iphone. He was totally “that guy” in the crowd, holding up his phone and snapping shots. Nice.