What would you do?

I’ve had a lot of questions in life. One of the most troublesome was when I became homeless. I had no idea what to expect or what to do. In time, I learned more and found help, again and again. Of course, learning is never ending. Though I am homeless no more, I am still learning about homelessness. I see people on the street, I may talk to, and may offer to try and help them how I can. What if one of the homeless people I met was you?

On April 7, 2011, I was that homeless person. I interviewed with a case manager with Deborah’s Place and was accepted in to their permanant housing program.

Here I receive support services with my housing, and with no time limits. Permanent housing is just that–I can stay forever or for as long as I like.

For my birthday on December 18th, I’m asking my friends and family for a special gift: help me raise $250 for Deborah’s Place–but in under one day that goal was met! I have faith that we can raise more yet! It is still one week to my birthday. Due to reaching my initial goal so quickly, I believe the challenge should raised. Let’s make the NEW GOAL $500.00!

Without this Deborah’s Place, I would be homeless and living on the streets. They help myself and others giving us housing and free services while we work to acheive self-sufficiency. With no income, my rent is free. We residents at Deborah’s Place love it here. We know the reality: if not for this awesome organization, we would be homeless living on the streets again.

Please consider giving to my Birthday Wish, and together we can help end homelessness. If you can’t give now, I’d really appreciate if you’d share this link
http://wishes.causes.com/wishes/494455
with your friends, family, and co-workers.

Thanks so much,

AnnMarie Walsh, @padschicago

Watch “Doing “The Robin” from @WGNMorningNews.” on YouTube

News anchors resign live on air

I admit, I have to admire what these Maine news anchors did, standing up for working conditions and ethics. Makes me wonder what the behind the scenes story is around there.

*** Sorry, I forgot that WordPress won’t allow the iframe tag to embed the video. I have an alternate way to do it but I will need to do it later from my computer. Please check back here or visit
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-maine-news-anchors-cindy-michaels-and-tony-consiglio-resign-live-on-air/
.

Hilarious! – “Long Stabby Thing”

What was that #Weiner thinking?!

He finally admitted it. Rep. Anthony Weiner, (D) NY, admitted today that he tweeted provocative photos of himself to women over Twitter. I give him credit for coming forward and finally admitting it. I really do. But what the heck was he thinking when he thinking sending photos over Twitter and having online and phone relationships with these women?! Obviously he was thinking with his penis. It must have been a very hard decision for him to make sending those photos. I bet he is going to pay a stiff penalty now. And his poor wife! I can’t imagine how she must feel! They have only been married for one year. Still basically newlyweds. She is a victim. She has got to be devastated and angry over this. I have to wonder and wouldn’t be surprised if there is a divorce. What made Rep. Wiener think he could get away with it?!

Please help: Gift cards for the #homeless are needed!

Please help me and Paul Saini by donating a $5 gift card to compensate homeless individuals for a photo shoot that will benefit Journeys From Pads To Hope, a homeless services agency. Gift cards can be mailed to me at:

AnnMarie Walsh / Pads Chicago
1456 West Oakdale
Chicago, IL 60657.

Thank you so much for your faith in me! Paul and I also greatly appreciate your support to raise awareness of homelessness and so we can raise funds to benefit Journeys from PADS to Hope.

The amazing @Ramon_DeLeon does it again!

Big thank you hugs to Ramon DeLeon for his donation of a fantastic pizza party for everybody living here at Deborah’s Place – Marah’s! The pizzas arrived on time and all 30 women feasted on the rare treat supplied by Ramon. All had a great time and greatly appreciate his generous–and delicious–donation. The food didn’t last long, everybody was so hungry.

I can’t believe how awesome Ramon is supplying pizza for so many people! And he regularly supplies pizza for area events–it’s unbelievable! The man travels to speak at networking events as well–he is always on the go. Wherever he is, always focuses on excellent customer service at his Domino’s stores. Ordering pizza has never been easier! Just call or tweet! Ramon, thank you so much for sharing yourself and your pizza with so many grateful and hungry people. We <3 you!

 

Attend @Alyssa_Milano’s baby shower!

We all love Alyssa Milano and are eager to hear pregnancy updates from her. She has been receiving so much interest that there is now a virtual baby shower for her! A postwas just made on her website inviting of her friends in Cyberworld. It sounds like so much fun! Just email an e-gift (poem, picture, whatever) to BabyBugliari@celebrityloop.com and submissions will be posted for everyone to see! Of course the Baby Bugliari website is another great place to follow–check it out!

Miracle premie baby survives – How young is too young to save?

I read a Time Magazine article about a “miracle baby” born prematurely at 21-weeks gestation. The baby left the hospital and went home last month.

” Doctors in the U.S. often advise that premature babies born before 23 weeks be given only “comfort care” — swaddled, they’re handed to their parents to hold, free of medical interventions. If parents insist on treatment and the baby weighs more than 500 grams (about 17.5 ounces), “most of us give it a try,” says Gerri Baer, a neonatologist in Rockville, Md., who also happens to be my oldest friend. ”

It’s so sad and scary. If it was my baby, I’m almost certain I’d hope for the miracle and want medical care for it. I can’t imagine going through such an event. For myself if anything should happen to me, I don’t want life support. I have lived. No sense letting my body live when my soul is gone. Donate any salvageable organs and bury me. But a baby–there is so much hope for children and there is so much to live for. I know there are often complications and illnesses in children who survive premature birth. In some cases, the most severe, perhaps the child would be a “vegetable”. It would be a risk in deciding how to care for a premie baby at birth. I have cared for people in a vegetative state, severe brain trauma, coma or something from a non-birth related injury and there is always at least some hope, but then reality too. It’s tough to see family members who are still hoping for a miracle recovery long after brain trauma leaves someone in a vegetative state. I am sure it would be tough for me to be that family member also. Worse with my medical knowledge and work history because I’d have more a sense of the reality fighting the fantasy and hope for a miracle. My prayers go to everyone going through such issues.

You can read the entire article here:  
http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/27/baby-born-at-21-weeks-survives-how-young-is-too-young-to-save/

God is a baseball fan!

New from my favorite CHICAGO LOCAL Christian online store SonGear.com, a t-shirt proclaiming that “Baseball with Jesus is better” — and it IS! T-shirts are available in adult and youth sizes–please check them out and buy, and support a local Chicago business and bring Jesus in to your life!

Also! Check out this NEW great deal from them–load up on t-shirts for yourself, your baseball team, family and friends… SonGear 1040 Sale - April 15-17 2011
Our Tax Prep special -- 10 Tees for 10.40 each

Look–I just got my new lunch bag from SonGear.com! It’s such a beautiful pink, and I love the pocket on the front too! It’s #Awesome!!