Eileen's Blog

Thank you for your emails and prayers today. We had gotten the word about Terri Schiavo's passing about ten minutes before we went on the air at 9am this morning and it was a rough two hours--I felt like a member of my own family had died. I know a lot of you felt the same way...looking for explanations, looking for someone to blame. You go through all the stages of grief--anger, sadness, depression, disbelief. I think I went back and forth through all the stages during our time this morning and hope that even if I reach the stage of acceptance, it will only be the acceptance of her death-- not certainly the acceptance of the laws that allowed her to die. With Terri Schiavo's passing...the fight for life and the struggle to speak out for the weak, the unborn and the suffering still continues. I'm still incensed over some of the nastier emails I received that poked fun at Schiavo's condition. It makes youwonder if what you're saying and standing up for matters to anyone--certainly not to those who think it's hilarious to refer to a helpless woman as a "mushroom girl". But then you receive a note that says what a difference you make in someone's life and the job again becomes worthwhile.

A note about the Schindler family--I was absolutely stunned to see Bobby Schindler asking the public today for forgiveness. I thought he was asking Americans to forgive Michael...but to ask for forgiveness for himself and the members of their family--they are a stark contrast to their former-brother-in-law without even trying. Says a lot about someone who, at the moment of death, refuses to seek a truce and make peace with a former loved one, in the spirit of what Terri would have wanted. We don't know a lot about what she wanted...but I think it's safe to say she would have wanted her entire family to make peace at the time of her passing.

We'll have a lot more about this tomorrow....and lining up some guests to discuss the political ramifications of Terri's life and now death. Thanks for reading. Eileen Byrne

Would you like to meet? Talk about the news? Root for Illinois? Well, I look forward to meeting you this Saturday at Woodfield Mall. I'll be there from noon till 2pm, April 2nd, at the Select Comfort Store on the lower level right by Marshall Fields. I LOVE Woodfield and haven't been in ages. We'll have t-shirts and hats to give away, plenty of chances to win prizes and I need to buy a new bed...so maybe you can help me select one this Saturday!

We also have a great opportunity for all of you history buffs! From now till April 12th, stop by Terry's RV in Frankfort or click on the website to win a trip for you and a guest to join me for a LIVE BROADCAST on a Terry's RV to attend the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Official Dedication Celebration in Springfield on Tuesday, April 19th. I CAN'T WAIT! My first live remote at WLS-AM. This will be a blast! The Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resort will provide your hotel accomodations. I really am looking forward to the festivities in Springfield. Ironically, I will be in Arkansas the weekend before Tuesday the 19th...and guess where I'm going? THE BILL CLINTON LIBRARY DOUBLE WIDE! That'll be a really interesting comparison!

Thanks for participating in today's discussion about the high school students protesting at American Girl Place over the Marisol book. What a load of hogwash THAT is. The students even told the reporter that they didn't even read the book...just excerpts from a website. Great research. If you read the book, you would know that the depiction of the Pilsen neighborhood is fantastic. Her school and teachers are a credit to the educational system and that the little girl doesn't even WANT to move. Beyond the facts of a FICTIONAL girl...if American Girl Place has got it SO wrong and they are so insenstive of the Pilsen community, why are they asking for jobs from the company?

One of the interesting phone calls we had today on the subject, was from a woman named Tricia, who has a daughter, Kathryn, who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called pilomyxoid astrocytoma. According to Tricia's website, her daughter is presently on a clinical trail chemo regimen and I certainly will keep her in my prayers. The tumor has never been researched and Tricia's family has received a very generous donation of 1000 Good News Bible Kids Dolls for their fundraising efforts for research. If you would like to assist Tricia and are interested in the Good News Bible Kids Dolls (THEY ARE SOOO CUTE! And have a very positive message!) , please visit her website at kathrynshope.us

I plan on getting one of the dolls for Cisco! Or..maybe I could just get one to be my new co-host. Squeeze his tummy and he quotes from the Bible!

Hi. Haven't written in a while...I have been consumed with following the news regarding Terri Schiavo's fight to live. I am just stunned that this case is going down the way it has. One court decision after the next...no one wants to review the facts, de novo, anew, as Congress had intended. Many of you have written that it is ironic that this is playing out during Holy Week and I am reminded of Jesus dying on the cross, in His final words, uttering His thirst.

I am so sad for the Schindler family, mostly. The disappointment that we feel must be miniscule in comparison to what they are going through. I pray that they will find comfort and hope. There's not much else we can do..but watch and pray. I sincerely hope that Governor Jeb will do something, anything..to save Terri Schindler Schiavo's life. I joked today that if it was Mayor Daley down there...he, like Michael Corleone in The Godfather would have her safely removed by now. If only her hospice room was at Meigs Field.

Thank you for your emails. We'll chat again...........Eileen

BENEFIT FOR ILLINOIS TROOPS & FAMILIES

I am devoting all of my passion and energy to trying to get this going. If you have any thoughts, or want to assist, please email me at eileen.f.byrne@abc.com.

I contacted Elk Grove High School. They have just lost a second member of the class of 2001 in less than a month. Please pray for the families of US Army Spc. Adriana Salem, who died on Friday when her vehicle rolled over and the family of US Marine Cpl John T. Olson, who was killed on Feb. 21. At this time, the school is not planning a benefit...but the family of Addy Salem has asked for donations to the school. The assistant principal gave me the address:

Elk Grove High School
500 W. Elk Grove Blvd
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
c/o Adriana Salem or John T. Olson.

They may be planning a college scholarship in their memories. I wil keep you posted.

Hi. Just want to let you know I'm off to the Radio and Records annual Talk Radio Conference in Los Angeles. There will be a number of hosts, including Sean Hannity at the event. I look forward to it. I'll be back Sunday for the event at The Majestic Star Casino. I'll be there playing roulette and having a great time with you and Christina Filiaggi from 2-6pm this coming Sunday. For more info, click on the event at this website, wlsam.com. I thank Teri O'Brien for filling in in my absence...and I'll see you Monday morning, if not before. Thanks!

Hi. I just wanted to add my email to the blog. If you need a direct response from me, request more information about any subject, or need me to be in touch, please email me ONLY at eileen.f.byrne@abc.com

The current system at wlsam.com, frankly, is painfully slow, keeps knocking me off the system and I can't categorize any of your emails, which I really do want to respond to. Thank you so much. If I have not responded to your email at wlsam.com, please email me at the above address. It is much more efficient. Thanks! Eileen Byrne

As we discussed this morning, and as seen in today's Chicago Sun Times, one of the stores I passed by on Friday, as I was waiting for the bus, is a shoe/designer clothing shop that features a series of paintings entitled, "NEVER AGAIN" by AMERIKA...featuring a swastika, a member of the Klan and a depiction of the WTC on fire, dated 9/11. It outraged me and saddened me at the same time. I found out, after calling the boutique, that the World Trade Center painting is, according to the artist, the first time this country ever experienced racism. Sorry...but what a load of baloney that is. Racism can exist anywhere and occurs more often that maybe we do care to admit...but if you let it envelop you, you will never see what is RIGHT with this country..and the paintings inspired me...on the 36 bus, no less...to write a poem about what this country means to me. I call it, "In My America".........

"In My America"

I like to think about complete strangers who offered their prayers and donations to my friend who ran the New York City Marathon in memory of her brother-in-law who was lost on 9/11.

I like to think in my America about doctors, without even being asked, getting on a plane to Indonesia to assist in the tsunami relief effort.

I like to think of the men and women who waited hours in the days after September 11th who lined up to donate their own blood to victims.

In my America, I think of children who emptied their piggy banks to buy clean, dry socks for firefighters working round the clock at the World Trade Center.

In my America, I think of millions who pray for our President and the members of the military every night and can't help but ask for blessings for those who disagree with our leaders and our troops.

In my America, I think of the beauty of this country and think of the good within its citizens.

I think of how sad it must be in your America--where you dwell on the negative, you're not able to see what's right and always jump to conclusions that your America is wrong.

In my America, I still respect your opinion to call me a name and I still hope that maybe one day you'll see the beauty that's all around you.

And in my America, I will never stop hoping--not that your America will trump mine or my vision will become yours--but that one day we can take pride and salute Our One America.
By Eileen Byrne, March 4, 2005

Hi. Thanks for tuning in this week--filling in for the vacationing Don & Roma was a blast...and although we politically disagree, I did enjoy my time this morning with Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and am thankful to all of our guest hosts this week for taking the time out of their schedules, waking up early and discussing Martha Stewart, Howard Dean, Michael Jackson and other miscreants. (ha ha!)

Don and Roma are on vacation ONE more day...so I hope you can put up with us Monday morning. I'll be sitting in once again with Art Wallace and Lt. Governor Pat Quinn.

The best thing about the morning show...is so much more time to discuss the issues of the day. Four hours instead of two to get into WHY IS MATT HALE getting the time of day to discuss what he thinks about Judge Lefkow's family being murdered?! Who cares what he thinks? He wanted her offed to begin with. And I was wondering if he didn't have a secret code issued in his statement. When he made the comment about the "animal"..it made me think of referring to the judge as a "rat".

Martha Stewart...another one. Felon...out of prison this morning. Hope her fifteen minutes is up soon..but I doubt it.

One issue we didn't get to discuss..and I welcome the emails...I can check them at home now so I'll be reading up this weekend...If you're upset over comments Howard Dean and Senator Klansman Robert Byrd made....are you equally upset over the comments that Congressman Jim Gibbons of Nevada made:

"I say we tell those liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippie, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and their music and whine somewhere else."

I welcome the emails and I'm sure we'll talk about this on Monday...so tell me what you think.

Thank you again. Have a great weekend. I'll see you Monday morning at 5am-9am. -Eileen

It's an honor to fill in for Don & Roma for the remainder of the week...tomorrow tune in from 5am-9am, I'll be sitting in with Jim Oberweis and we'll have a great discussion on immigration and the recent Senate race. ABC 7's Andy Shaw teams up with me Thursday morning and on Friday, Representative Jesse Jackson Jr and Bill Cameron will join me and take your calls. Should be a very entertaining week!

We had a very infomative discussion on identity theft this morning. If you are concerned about protecting your identity or want to check for errors, obtain a free copy of your credit report by calling this number: 1-877-322-8228. You can also obtain your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion and Experian by logging on to www.annualcreditreport.com

What to do when you get your report--First, stagger obtaining the credit reports. Our guest this morning, Dan Bulley from The Identity Theft Resource Center suggested that you get one from Equifax--then four months later, get the second from TransUnion and then Experian four months after that--doesn't matter which order. With credit report in hand, check for unusual activity--such as unfamiliar account numbers or transactions OR a large number of credit inquiries indicating someone may have tried to apply for credit.

If you suspect that you're a victim-- what do you do? Put a fraud alert on your credit report. Call one of the three agencies and they will alert the other two. The alert will make it difficult for thieves to get more credit in your name. Also notify your credit card issuers and financial institutions. You may also have to file a police report and get a copy of it. You may need to prove to creditors that you are not responsible for accounts opened without your permission.

For more information, go to idtheftcenter.org

Thanks again for joining us this morning...tune in tomorrow morning beginning at 5am. We'll talk about the issue about race and sports on the high school level in the south suburbs.