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Today we recovered from a non-stop weekend of family wedding madness by visiting the beautiful Boulder Falls.  Just a 10 minute drive from Boulder, it’s pretty unbelievable how you’re so quickly transported to such a gorgeous and magical place.  The icy water flows from 70 feet high, and cascades down a series of rocks, boulders and other natural formations.  The sound is beautiful and serene.  Sometimes I can’t believe I live so close to such beauty, and am grateful for the reminder to breathe, relax and enjoy all life has to offer.  I also can’t believe that some climbers attempt to scale the nearby mountain faces, literally hundreds of feet high!  Click here to check out pics of our little adventure.

This weekend was the wedding of my husband’s brother, Mark Lacis.  He married a lovely gal named Chris Giameo in the most picturesque wedding ceremony you’ve ever seen.  We had a pretty intense family and friend invasion from all over the United States…Illinois, New Jersey, Washington DC, Florida and California just to name a few.  Perched on a mountain top in Lyons, Colorado they took their vows…and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  I am especially grateful for these two wonderful people, as they have been incredible supporters of Girls Fight Back.  Since day one, Mark has been our attorney and sometimes even stepped in during GFB classes as SBG. (scary bad guy)  Chris has always been quick to volunteer and support me in whatever my latest and greatest crazy idea is…I am grateful for them both.  Many, many congratulations!

Ever have the feeling like you just want to get away?  Yeah, me too.  So many wonderful things are happening right now, but even so, things can get overwhelming.  Normally I’m the type of person who runs myself into the ground, totally crashes and burns, then spends a few weeks putting the pieces back together.  But in my old age, I’m starting to take better care of myself and recognize the warning signs of an impending meltdown.  Living in Colorado is pretty awesome for getting away, breathing the fresh air and YOGA!  Yoga and meditation are two of my favorite things, and I find it so incredible how as Americans we are having to learn how to breathe and stop and relax.  I found myself needing a reminder in all of those things, so enter Shoshoni.  This is a yoga ashram in Rollinsville, Colorado and it’s run by yogis living there.  I had a blissful weekend of thinking, meditating, stretching, relaxing, praying, eating vegetarian, writing and meeting wonderful new people.  The first night I also spent some time cursing, as I was the only fool in a tent during the craziest thunderstorm you’ve ever seen. (thus, I fled to my car for cover)  Check out photos of my zen weekend by clicking here.

As many of my loyal blog readers may have noticed, my website has gotten a makeover.  If you’ve followed my wanderings for awhile, you know this tends to happen rather often.  But I assure you, I have found a look and feel that complements exactly where I am right now, and where I’m going.  For once, I put a lot of thought into my new look…and took some serious time to develop it.  So I’d like to explain, in case you’re curious about these sorts of things…

My name is Erin Underwood Weed, and indeed, it’s a ridiculous name. The Erin is normal enough, but the Underwood throws people a bit, especially when they just see my middle initial is “U.”  I mean, what woman’s name besides Ursula starts with a U?  It’s actually a family name.  My great-great grandfather was the founder of the Erie Railroad, and had 5 daughters.  The family name was going to end, so my ancestors gave the middle name Underwood to their daughters.  This continued for almost 100 years. Now the last name Weed is just silly.  At graduation ceremonies throughout my life, laughter from the crowd usually joins my proud walk across the stage to receive my diploma. Thankfully I embraced the humor in it, and dodged any deep need for therapeutic emotional healing from the taunting.  My family embraced it so much so, that my father had the license plate of Weed 6.  (Weed being the last name, 6 people in our nuclear family.)  This illegal drug reference resulted in many encounters with the law as I began driving at age 16.

So how does this explain the new site?  I embrace the ridiculous of my name.  In fact, I love it.  So the main logo is a dandelion…a very colorful weed.  One of my staff members named Camella remarked recently, “I love the dandelion as your logo, because it reminds me of a child who brings one to his mother wanting to give her flowers.”  So as this blog evolves with me, I hope you’ll see my daily messages as something similar.  Ideas and experiences that just drop into your cyber-life to say hello, that I’m hoping to make this day a little better for you with my ridiculous meanderings and that beauty can really be found anywhere…even among the weeds.

This weekend was the bachelorette party for my good friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law, Chris Giameo.  She’s an outdoorsy chick, so we decided to go whitewater rafting at the Royal Gorge instead of strippers and penis straws.  It was a blast. There’s really nothing more refreshing and exciting than being in nature, and getting your ass kicked by it!  I’ve live in Colorado for over a year now, but everytime I do something like this, I still have to convince myself it’s not a Disney ride…it’s mama nature in full effect.  If you’ve never gone rafting before, you gotta try it.

Click here to watch us hit the rapids

Lately I’ve been wrestling with a decision about my car.  I drive a black, VW beetle convertible and the lease is about to expire.  I absolutely ADORE this little automobile.  Her name is Black Mamba, which anyone who is a fan of Kill Bill movies will understand.  Before my sweet mamba, I was queen of the beater-mobiles.  Usually to mask what a junker I was driving, I’d spray paint it with daisies or other flower-power related design.  So Black Mamba was my first “real” car with a real payment.  And this month I was forced with the question of whether to give it back to VW, or buy it.  The buyout price is fair, but the rust-bucket lover in me says to purchase a mangled civic just to drive to work in.  The scooter obsession I have says to just screw the car and get a Vespa.  But I also feel true to my sweet, sweet Black Mamba.  What’s a fight girl to do?

So today I was still thinking about this on  my way to the office, and I passed a cute girl driving a white jeep with the top off.  As we saw each other we enthusiastically waved at each other. (This is normal behavior for people who drive beetles and jeeps.)  And this is when I realized, I will keep her.  She makes me happy.  And life is just too short not to wave, beep and smile at complete strangers.

As many of you read in my June e-news post, this year I’m beginning the process to reclaim my peace.  For seven years since Shannon’s death I’ve been fighting, and now it’s time to try a new road.  I’m starting easy, given I’m not what you might call a relaxed person.  Quite the contrary, actually - I’m a total spaz.  So my quest for finding peace brought me to my local yoga studio today.  I’ve been going intermittently since 2006, but not remotely skilled.  When it was time to attempt Crow Pose (also known as Crane Pose), I was ready to seriously attempt it for the first time.  Deciding not to let fear hold me back anymore, I tossed up my knees onto the triceps and went for the balancing act.  And then for 1, 2, 3, 4 seconds I had it.  Never before had I been able to do this and actually hold it.  And as I captured the pose, time stood still.  That is, until my arms gave way and I fell smack on my head.  It made a knocking sound, like someone rappin’ on your front door.  I saw a few stars, but it was worth it.  When I came home, I stumbled upon this anonymous quote while looking for tips on how NOT to give myself a concussion next time:

“The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.”
Ain’t that the truth…

Whew!  Vacation is awesome, but catching up after a vacation can be brutal.  But the trip was interesting, fun and breathtakingly beautiful.  So at long last, you can view photos from my awesome California road trip by clicking here.

Here was the itinerary:
Day 1:  Fly to San Francisco.  Picked up convertible. Dinner & drinks downtown with friends.
Day 2:  Breakfast in San Francisco. Visited Golden Gate Bridge. Took lame tourist photos.  Drove to Monterey for dinner and fireworks.
Day 3:  Drove to San Luis Obispo to visit friends, then on to Santa Barbara.  Dinner on the marina.
Day 4:  Drove to Los Angeles. Had brunch with friends and margaritas with more friends. Then dinner with even more friends.  Who knew we had so many peeps in LA?
Day 5:  Lunch with my mentor.  Drove to La Jolla.  Stared at the ocean, enjoyed amazing sushi and interesting people watching.
Day 6:  Drive to San Diego. Had an In-N-Out burger, animal style.  Flew back to Denver.

As much work as it can be to get away for a week, it’s important to stop, appreciate those we love…and especially to take that time for ourselves.  In the thick of problems, deadlines, goals and common stresses of work and life, we can lose perspective.  Walking away helps you get it back.  The Europeans know this…why don’t we?

Four years ago today, Pete Lacis had the courage to marry me on Maui.  Clearly he had no idea what he was in for, but here we are…happier than ever 4 years later.  I never really pictured myself as married when I was in college.  I guess some things are hard to imagine until they appear.  And when they do, it’s an ah-ha moment, where you laugh at all the silliness of things you did in your past for the sake of finding “the one.”   My single friends often ask me when I knew that Pete was the man I would marry.  And I know the exact moment.  He is a musician, and wrote me a song with these lyrics:  “I want you to be free, standing right next to me.”  And that is the kind of relationship I had always wanted.  Someone who would make me better, let me do my own thing and then laugh about life over dinner.

Today we flew to San Francisco, and will be driving down the Pacific Coast Highway over the next few days, ending in San Diego.  Our convertible was upgraded and our hotel sent champagne to our room in celebration of the anniversary.  Love is in the air, and it is good and kind.  So here’s my virtual gift to you today: wind in your hair, a light ocean breeze and love…everywhere.