Recap of [2011]

January

The start of my final semester of classes. Student teaching interview. 
Continuing to work with my cardiac-electrophysiogist.
Researching the power of a healthy diet and it's effects on the body.
   

via

February

Grandma turns 90! 

We had a big open house for her and all of her friends :)

**she has more friends than I do!**

Starting undergoing chiropractic care.

March 

Mom's birthday!

POTS Symptoms were running rather high :/

Spent hours and hours in sped classes learning how to administer the WRAT assessment.

(one long and lengthy comprehension test!)

One out of the many pages...
we scanned them as we had to practice administering this test on many a friends ;)
Extra copies just in case we needed a new sheet for mess ups!

April

Blizzard in mid April! Crazy!

POTS symptoms controlling my life :/ Not a fun month.

Countdown until geneticist appointment.

May

BUSY MONTH!!! THINGS START TO LOOK UP :)

Revelation of our family history and nationality -- received grandpa's old adoption papers.

Letter official: Fall Student Teaching Placement

Start my coupon craze!

Osama-Bin-Laden is dead!

Monday mom nights: The Bachelorette starts!

Here is a snippet of my grandpa's adoption summary.
He was brought to the agency is a suitcase!

June

Omaha/Iowa flooding worsens.

Chauffeuring Grandma and funny stories develop!

Pinterest became highly-addictive!

 Famous information about our family!!!

 July
Geneticist appointment is here! I have an amazing genetic counselor and specialist.
...after 6+ months of waiting
Official EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) diagnosis is revealed.
Click here for more information regarding EDS!

August

Student teaching in 1st grade begins! 

Funny stories of past students!

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September

I turn twenty-three and received adorable gifts from the kiddos.

Husker football season is here!

How sweet is this?

Her and her mom baked the whole class homemade carrot-cake cupcakes :)
She was SO proud.

October

Fall Break is here!
Halloween parties in first grade.
A much needed rest and catch up picking pumpkins :)
Blog break for awhile and more awesome pictures from my lovely kiddos.

Acres and acres FULL of millions of pumpkins!

Mad skills for first grade! (especially the beginning of first grade!)

November

 Assessment presentation - Mom saves the day! Story here

(a.k.a. the big kicker for assessing your knowledge of teaching and assessment)

12-14 minutes. NO going over. 

You were graded on: confidence, oral presentation skills, knowledge of content, and more specific target areas.

CRAZY nervous.

Lesson for my project! 

Pictures were incorporated during my presentation

Introducing domino's to teach addition!

part-part-whole concept using manipulatives

Differentiation & Formative Assessment :)

Summative Assessment

December

Fall Elementary Education student teaching comes to an end :/ 

Bittersweet.. 

Spring 2012 special education placement received: Middle School. I have mixed emotions.

Currently: Applying for grad school & employment for August 2012!

What a year it has been. 

Primarily, it has been full of doctors appointments/health and teaching! 

I'm so proud of everything I was able to accomplish and am anxiously awaiting an even more busy 2012 year! SO much to look forward to :)

My blog has grown so much and amazing friendships have emerged.

I'm hoping these relationships continue throughout 2012 and beyond 

♥

Best wishes for a new year, friends!

See you in 2012.

xoxo

erinj0.

Rude Awakening

Something interesting, for lack of better words, happened to me today. 
It's not the first time this happened but never the less caught me by surprise!

I woke up multiple time throughout the night to use the restroom (since I never can fully go into rem sleep, ugh) and the last time I woke up was a rude awakening...

via

As I went to stand up,
KABOOM.

I fell to the ground.

Yes. literally, fell.
No, my leg was not asleep. I did not have it crossed, twisted, or in any weird position.

My left leg just wouldn't work. There was absolutely no feeling & it felt like there was nothing below my waist.





I had to crawl to the bathroom.

Not only did I crawl to the bathroom, but my right leg was weak. It's like I had no strength in the other leg. I had to really try and lift myself up to sit on the toilet seat :/

This happened to me multiple other times within the past five years. It's such a weird feeling, because you feel absolutely nothing. No pins and needles like you do when parts of your body "fall asleep" or anything. I literally just was trying to get out of bed and THUD.

I think the guy living in the apartment under me probably had a rude awakening hearing something heavy crash down on his ceiling. Ha-ha ;)

As for what causes/caused this? I'm not sure...

Could it be due to Dysautonomia or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or neither?
I am thinking it could be part of EDS as this has happened to my mother many times as well
...but as all chronic illness lovelies know, the symptoms are endless.

oh, joy!

How are all my friends with chronic illnesses?
I hope everyone is having a lot of "good" days :)

Has anyone experienced this before?
xoxo
-erinj0

First week complete.

Here is my week in a short little recap :) 
Monday: New internist. Finally kicked my old one to the curb. It's so vital that your PCP really understands you and is willing to work with all the specialist on your case. That wasn't the case before, but no need to stress anymore. I'm moving in the right direction!


Thursday: My first day student teaching. The anticipation was killing me and I was anxiously awaiting this day for so long. The first day jitters of what to wear, what to expect, what am I going to be doing, and so on have finally passed. I pulled up promptly at 8:00am and was ready to start the day! It was great to just talk with my teacher and dive in!  There wasn't any students (they won't be there until the 15th) so we just worked on setting up the classroom and getting it all ready! By the end of the day, I was zonked. My bed was calling my name.

Friday: Second day. I officially made it through. We had a two hour meeting to start off the day but interestingly enough, we played "minute to win it" to start the meeting, during break, and to end the meeting! As we know, teachers are usually fairly creative and two of the current teacher created games for every individual to play that were just like those on minute to win it! We played "junk in the trunk" where you had a bungee cord on each side of a Kleenex box with four ping pong balls in it just over your bottom. The goal: To jump up and down until you got all your ping pong balls out. Some other ones including bouncing a ball into a cup, putting together a cut up cereal box cover, balancing six dice on a popsicle stick with your mouth, and more! Needless to say, it made for quite a morning!

If only the day remained nice...
On the way home, I had a little incident. I guess you could say I just wanted to "hug the curb."
In other words, I got a flat tire. Literally about ten blocks away from the school. What a bummer to the end of such a great week. The only thing I kept thinking is "ca-ching ca-ching, ca-ching, this is going to cost me!" I pulled over in this strip mall type area and tried to call people for a ride home. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a hold of anyone. My boy was working, mom didn't answer, friends were at a wedding, no one answered. So yes, I sat in my car for a good two hours. Yes, two hours. Luckily I had a little extra food in my lunch bag that I didn't eat earlier...that tidied me over for the dreadful time period.

This Weekend: Organizing future classroom goodies! During the month of August, Target has super sweet dollar bins AND Borders is going out of business. (Very sad for them, but excellent for my wallet). This weekend I stocked up on some super exciting deals with my mom and started to organize them! Here is what I got going so far...

Supply drawer 1

Supply drawer 2

My growing children's book stash

I only have about 60 or so books collected for my future classroom, but I just started a spreadsheet that has all these books in order by title and author. It will make it much easier when I am looking for a book to use with a lesson plan :)

cheap bins make organizing easy :)

So I scored these sweet bins at Target! You can get a pack of five for $5.00! (they even come in more colors, if you don't like black!) I used some painting tape that I found (because for now, I don't want to permanently mark these bins!) Also, tape just peels off, leaving no residue. Labels, or other sticky things can leaves marks when
you try and remove it.




Take a look at some other things I scored at Target and Borders...

I scored some cute wall charts for $2.50!

I won't open them until I am able to laminate them. 

(Who ever invented lamination was genius!)

Counting money dry erase board!

Addition dry erase spin board!

 

Educational Flashcards - These are also in those bins!

I love these flashcards. For only a dollar, you can't go wrong. I stocked up on phonics (digraphs, homophones, blends, rhyming, etc..) presidents, addition, subtraction, states/capitals, telling time, and MORE! Will I use all of them? Maybe not, but someone will! Teachers are the greatest borrowers and I know they will not go to waste.

Does anyone remember reading Ping? I found this HUGE lap-book at Borders and thought it would be perfect! I even sat it next to Chunk (who is 23lbs) so you could get an idea of how big it really is ; )

Anyways, time to catch up on the new Project Runway while I have some free time :)
Does anyone watch this show?! I love it!
Have a good week!
xoxo
-erinj0

A not so typical friday

Oh what a day!

♥ photo credit

Today was my ARS(Autonomic Reflex Screen) testing! 

I was there for two and half hours.

Here is my breakdown of the day...




First, it started off pretty painful. I had a NCV(nerve conduction velocity) test, where they sent electrical shocks through individual nerves :/ Yeah, it was just like sounds, painful. I cried.
Get this, while your laying on the bed, they have tissue boxes pinned to wall, so you can reach them. The guy doing my test said, "I'm sorry, I tend to make girls cry". Ha-ha, he sure made me laugh and got me through it.

♥ photo credit

 ...and I can get through anything...even the toughest times!

Next, I had some small fiber neuropathy testing done on my feet. I had sensations like cold, heat, and vibrations that I had to detect. Luckily, it wasn't painful and pretty simple :)


After that, I was moved to the tilt table and had sweat testing, where they suctioned these quarter sized plastic doo-dad's to my arm and leg. Boy, that little sucker (no pun intended! ha) sure left a mark and kind of hurt! Then I had breathing tests, you name it... the list goes on! After the little tests were done that lasted about 40 minutes, I began the tilt. Blah - it wasn't fun. Even though I was officially diagnosed with POTS over a year ago, my autonomic neurologist wanted to do his own testing. Grrreat, just set off my symptoms...thanks :)

♥ photo credit

Of course, it was a positive tilt. 

Heart rate lying =49bpm 

and

Heart rate standing(raised)=140bpm. 

Lastly...finally, ALMOST done. I have the EMG :/ Ugh, beware if you ever have this test, it isn't pleasant. What is it you may ask. Well, the doctor stick needles into your muscles (in you feet, legs, hips and back) and then get this...he moves them around!!!! He said I would be sore for awhile, and he was right. Ow Charlie!



Despite the long day, it is now over :) 
Tomorrow my man and I have a date planned!

♥ photo credit

Around noon, we are going to see Harry Potter at a theater where you dine and eat, it's pretty fabulous if you haven't tried it before! I'm super stoked...

...and always remember to never let your weaknesses stand in your way

♥ photo credit

xoxo

-erinj0

One of the hardest things

Understanding can be a concept that poses great difficulty for many different reasons.

For me, it's health

One of the hardest things is the "how"

How can I explain my health to others, so they can fully understand what I go through on a day-to-day basis.

This can be relatively difficult when things like definitions just provide them with medical words that are hard to understand and do not always portray an accurate picture.

One of the hardest things is explaining "why"...

WHY

:x: I frequently have to cancel my plans 

:x: I can't be out in the heat for very long

:x: I can't stand without getting sick

:x: You frequently have to come to my place, instead of me going to yours

:x: I can have a fairly good day yet completely exhausted the next

:x: I LOOK healthy on the outside, but am really suffering on the inside

:x: I am the way I am

---------------------------------------------

If you have been a follower for a little while, you know that I struggle with a condition known as POTS or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. This past Friday, I had my long awaited appointment with a geneticist to get "officially" diagnosed with another condition : /

 I finally have a reason for my POTS.
This "reason" is called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
...or EDS for short (yes, another acronym!)
**I will explain in a later post how these two are related**

**Click Pictures to Enlarge**

- These are just a couple things I can do -
This is not the Beighton Scale

I scored a 9 out of 9 on the Beighton Scale
*used to help diagnose EDS*

I have always been extremely flexible, but never though much of it when I was younger
I was the kid who had the really long arms, that could bend/contort themselves in odd positions that others just thought was fascinating. Little did I know, it wasn't a good thing. For me, this was normal. My mom possessed the same traits (while not as extreme as mine) but still in itself, I thought it was abnormal if you couldn't do what I could.

****************

.Anyways.
Back to my hardest things...explaining the "hows" and "whys"

The following video is known as "The Spoon Theory" written by Christine Miserandino

Christine has Lupus, but this explanation is a wonderful portrayal for any illness/disease, 

and in my case - EDS and POTS.

If you know anyone struggling with  a chronic illness, I really encourage you to walk this short clip. You will gain a deeper understanding of what they may go through...

If you would like to share "The Spoon Theory" with your friends, family, or anyone you know, click here to download it via text/pdf

I hope everyone is well

♥ erinj0

A look into the U.S. Healthare System...

When you think of The United States of America 
- what comes to mind?

"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" 

Well, in order to have a life at all, one needs to be healthy.
In order to be happy, one needs to be healthy.
(Because you can't have a real "life" without being healthy...)

...and Liberty. Liberty involves a "right and/or privilege"

So the question is this. Is health care a right?

How can you DENY someone adequate health care when assistance is needed.
If you see an individual who is so sick they cannot function or lead a normal life - is it right to deny them the help they need.

It breaks my heart to see people not getting the services they need to live their life. 

For people suffering with preexisting conditions, getting insurance can be impossible or impossible due to the amount of money it may cost to attain health care.

We are discriminated against - we are denied a right. A right to health care. 

**I totally understand that some people feel that health care is NOT a right, but I totally, whole-heart-idly disagree**

Health care should be a right. No one should have to suffer - 

Please, watch this video of these two people I know (and love) who are suffering with Dysautonomia/POTS, EDS, and more...

Stand up for what is right. Spread Awareness. Let your Voice be Heard.

Thanks for listening 

♥

xoxo

-erinj0

Simply Stated Saturday

I was going to blog a little on the frustrations I have been having with blogger lately, but just as ironically enough, just when I was about to post about it...everything is fixed! So this post tells of some other personal frustrations I've been having lately...

(for warning - if you don't want to read my "personal vent session" than ignore what's in between the pink lines!)

::But first::

How am I spending my Saturday night?

My boys and I are just enjoying a lazy Saturday - hitting the sack early, sipping on some herbal tea, listening to the late night birds chirp, and watching good ol' Gilmore Girls :)

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There's been a couple other frustrations that I've been dealing with.
Sometimes having a chronic illness, especially an invisible illness can make you (the sufferer) second guess yourself sometimes. People who suffer from invisible illnesses can be misunderstood a lot of the time because they appear healthy on the outside...
To my readers, I may sound like a normal twenty-two year old girl.
I can hide behind the words and you can't see the struggles that I go through everyday. 

♥ photo credit
Here's the thing.
I have my appointment with my new neurologist this Thursday, and I have been busy gathering all of my records from other doctors and MRI's, CT's, blood work, you name it.
I have waited since JANUARY to see this autonomic neurologist.
Somehow, I put this feeling in my head of "will he understand?" & "do I really need to go?"
I felt for awhile that I was having quite a few good days, that I didn't deserve to see him.
I was thinking to myself that I am healthy (while I knew that I wasn't) -
But, people always tell me "you look so good!" or you must be feeling better, etc...
I am so used to putting up this false-self/allowing people to think that I feel okay, when in reality, I feel like absolute hell on the inside.
As weird as it sounds...I just needed to feel self-validated

I haven't checked my vitals in quite some time
(I got sick of my BP machine & Heart Rate Watch)

Here were my results: Left(resting) Right(standing)

Sometimes my numbers are very high and sometimes low
- (This gave me the validation I needed) -
I hope he can help :) I'm hopefully optimistic

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*******
Here is a quote for the day that I love...

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.
-- Mother Teresa

♥photo credit

xoxo

-erinj0

I Hate the Heat...& the Heat HATES me : /

 Welp, it's the first official day of summer. 

As for summer, I mean the spring semester is totally finished

...all the grades are reported and books returned. 

I should be excited right? It's like a catch 22 - Excited school is over, but the actual temperature and the heat of summer is just dreadful to think about.

...Sort of anticlimatic


The summer time brings about many things in this dear old life of mine that I just do not like. It is like a vicious circle that I know will not turn out well. (Oh lordy, am I being positive or what) ha.

Heat=Tachycardia

Tachycardia=Fatigue

Fatigue=Brain Fog

Brain Fog=Homework/School Trouble

Homework/School Trouble=...you get the picture!

Sometimes I think I overdue to. I try to do too much or I go out for too long. I need to learn when is enough, but how will I every know? Will I ever learn... I don't know.

Story Time!

 *So, my gram calls me up last week and proceeds to ask how I am doing and start the typical grandma chit chat "so, how are you doing Erin? Feeling good today?" blah blah blah, the typical grandma conversations - After all of that, she then proceeds to ask if I could drive her to the weekly Wednesday organ class that she attends, with all her lady friends. (She knew that I had nothing to do, I finished my finals early and I would just be sitting at home, twiddling my thumbs staring at the wall) How could I say no? She has been trapped in her apartment for almost a week, as her typical driver has had a family emergency and unable to take her places.

*I pull up promptly on Wednesday around 10:10am. Let me tell you that I have a very low car and watching a ninety-two year old woman get in and out is quite...sad? Ooo, that sounds wrong - but you know what I mean. I ask if I can help get her seat-belt on (ask I typically do on the way to family functions when my mom and I always pick her up) - I definitely shouldn't have asked : / "I can do it, Erin!" she replied harshly, and I quickly backed down...*

*So. we were driving and I asked for clarification to make sure I knew where I was headed. I then said I would just catch the interstate, as it would be the fastest route. "I am in NO hurry!" Don't take the interstate. Well, mistake number one - I took the interstate and the eyes rolled and a "UGGHhHhh" fell out of her mouth. Whooops?*

*Arrival!!!!  As we stop she needs to put in a new hearing aid before she can enter.  I could see she was having difficulties trying get the tiny battery in her little aid with her arthritic fingers. You guessed it, mistake number two, I asked her if I could help. Eeeeeek. I'll just stop there*

*I was about to ask what time she would like me to pick her up. This is the kicker...she was really pulling my leg, playing the old lady card good here! She said..

• Well, you could pick me up after class around noon, if your in hurry - I mean I understand if you have to, but I usually eat lunch with all my friends and it's nice to catch up. 

OR

• I could call you from my cell phone (a "jitterbug" to be exact for people with hearing difficulties that has only a call, yes and no button! toooo cute!) and let you know where I am eating at. This way I could eat with all my friends and this is what I usually do. 

But it's totally up to you, she says. First, let me tell you that I was NEVER going to pick her up early, but man! She totally played those two options pretty well to tug at my heart strings.

*Lastly, as she was getting out of the car, I said "So are you playing today Grandma?" and she chuckles and responds, "Oh no dear, I didn't practice this week! This class is for advanced players and you need to practice!" HaHa ; )

I love being her new Wednesday chauffeur for the month of May!

THINGS THAT WILL MAKE/MADE ME SMILE THIS MONTH

1. STAR JONES GETTING ELIMINATED FROM CELEBRITY APPRENTICE! Finally : ) 
2. The Bachelorette starts this month
3. I renewed my lease & get to stay in my apartment another year
4. My appointment with my neurologist is less than a month away (I've been waiting 6months)
5. I find out where I student teach this month!
6. My family comes in town 
7. My lovely boy graduated from college this past week : )
8. My amazing family  
9. ♥

What made you smile this month?
: ) erinj0

POTS You Can't Bring Me Down...

Dear POTS,
    Although you may have ruined my weekend & caused me to feel ever so crappy for the past few days, you will not take control. You are making it harder, causing more symptoms day after, little by little, but bring it on - I am ready for you now. I can take it. You can't bring me down tonight, I will succeed.

4 1/2 months down.
1 1/2 months till' my appointment.

It can't come soon enough

xoxo
-erinj0

One Million Cards=ONE wish

YOU have the power to help someone's wish come true!

Max is a 12 year old cancer patient from Iowa. When he was in kindergarten, he was sadly diagnosed with Leukemia and has been struggling ever since. According to the DesMoinesRegister, Max now has a relapse of Leukemia in 85% of his Bone Marrow.

Photo Credit: http://act.mtv.com/tag/mighty-max-low/

His Wish?

To receive ONE MILLION get well cards. 

This young boy doesn't want money or expensive trips, just cards from people all over : )

As of 20 March 2011, Max has already received 19,966 cards and counting from people ALL OVER THE WORLD. 

He also has received a handwritten card from former president George W. Bush 

PLEASE - Be a part of this movement. You can help make a child's wish come true!

They can be handmade, they can be store bought...

whatever you would like!

WANT TO HELP?
HERE'S HOW!

Here is where to send you card to Max!

Mighty Max Low

PO Box 111

Neola, IA 51559 USA

Click here to join the facebook group

or

Click here to read more on the article about Mighty Max Low

Please note: This is not a scam - 
Max is currently receiving treatment in the city which I reside, at the local Children's Hospital

♥erinj0

I Hate POTS

For warning - This post is a vent session!

I hate that POTS controls your life. I should know that I cannot try and accomplish "too much" in one day, but I'm STILL having a difficult time figuring out what is too much and how much is enough. I have that go- getter type personality and when my body starts shutting down after such minuscule things like returning a book, depositing and check and a quick trip to ONE area in the front of the grocery store - I still get frustrated. I know that the grocery store was probably the killer. 

Who am I to complain about my life when I know that other people are suffering with their diseases/symptoms/syndromes as well. My life has just completely changed. I can't make plans for the night because I'll just have to cancel. Once 4:00 or 5:00 o'clock rolls around, my body is done. Also take note that I didn't even do anything until 1:00pm today. I so badly want to do normal things that I used to. I don't want to lay on my couch all weekend doing nothing. I hate being stuck in my apartment with no energy to even attempt to clean or get anything accomplished. I just sit and look at everything I know I should be doing but physically it is just too demanding. 

I hate that I can feel pretty good one minute and the next feel utterly awful. This is a really hard concept for my friends and people around me to grasp. It's hard for an outsider to really believe that something is wrong - to the person looking in, it sometimes may appear that I may be "faking" because it came on so suddenly. How do you explain so many symptoms that people can't see and do not experience. It can lead a feeling similar to if you had to defend yourself. I hate POTS.

Right now I'm so fatigued, I feel tachy, short of breath, my chest is tight, my legs are throbbing, my head is dizzy, I'm unsteady on my feet and I feel nauseous. I'm sure I'm forgetting more. Oh yeah - my brain is foggy what else is new?

I wish there were more answers for us POTSy patients. I wish they could tell us what caused this to happen. I wished we had more doctors who are knowledgeable and who care. I wish for an answer. I wish for relief. 

I hate POTS.

-erinj0

How Do You Feel About This?

What is happening?

I am very disgusted (and maybe disgusted isn't the accurate word usage here, but for now it will work) with the Susan G. Komen Foundation. According to the Huffington Post article out today (January 4th) they are suing other charities for using the word "cure" and the color pink in their fund raising programs. 

I don't quite understand the business world to much, but am smart enough to realize that their main goal usually is to make money. This is sadly proof for me that money is the first thing on their mind. If everyone is making a collaborative effort to raise money for charity then I don't understand the big deal. It's a word...cure. People want to cure cancer. I do not feel that the Susan G. Komen Foundation should own that word by any means, nor the color pink. This is as bad as Paris Hilton copyrighting the word "that's hot" -  I am very disappointed...

I don't know about anyone else, but I support breast cancer awareness and any fundraiser that wants to raise money for this cause. The more awareness the better. One organization is great, but multiple organizations are better.

How do some people manage?

Prescriptions (and even just general medicines) add up and sure can burn a whole in your pocket.

Fortunately, I am still covered under my mothers insurance and we are blessed to have an incredible 100% coverage. However, some of my prescriptions are not covered and the price is costly! I have opt'd out of taking some medicines that I really need based solely on financial reasons. I mean, just one medicine would cost me $87. That is just one (I am on a lot of other medicines that our insurance covers, but it still costs $20 bucks a pop) Take 6 meds x 20 and there's $120 dollars worth of covered meds in one month...then add in the ones they don't want to cover, plus over the counter non-prescriptions ... 

: / eeeek.

I just can't imagine how people without insurance or very minimal coverage get by when they are living with a chronic illness. It is such a pity that people need to make such life altering decisions such as buy food for the week or get your prescriptions - Both are vital for a healthy life!

I wish our healthcare system in the United States would improve. Wishful thinking, that I know - but I guess I'm allowed to just wish now. I pray for all those people who are struggling to get by and suffering from any symptoms that their disease causes just because they can't afford their medicines.

Oh boy
Even when people want to take control of their health and take things into their own hands, it can be almost impossible.

$$ is evil in my opinion. It controls everything...well almost everything

Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons. 
— Woody Allen 

Thoughts?