Airmiles Armchair Chatter

[pigletto]

My goal was 250 a week to get to 4 five day tickets. I got one for my birthday, ordered two and then like Ottawamom said, Ontario dried up. I haven't seen anything worth going to Sobey's for in weeks. It's been really disappointing, but the only way I would be getting anything from Sobey's these days would be to spend money on things I don't want or need. The good offers have really dried up and I find Sobey's too overpriced to shop in regularly so I don't really go at all lately. I'm thinking I will use the 1000 airmiles I have for something else and pay cash for the last ticket.

 

[bababear_50]

O/T......kind of just need to talk............
This past week has been one of heartache and stress,my younger brother is in the hospital ICU (collapsed Lung,internal bleeding,,on a ventilator). He a a multitude of medical concerns and is the brother I have always been closest to. A interfering friend of my brother has caused me even more stress (she is a drama queen) to the extreme,,I say purple--she say red I say red she says purple. She was trying to challenge his Living Will. Anyhow I called to cancel my flight for next Sat and was told I'd have to cancel my granddaughter's flight (west jet companion fare). To rebook it replacing someone else with my seat is $2,300.00,,,So much planning went into this Disney trip.

I have thought about this long and hard and decided to go on our Spring Break trip. I have 3 other siblings that will be able to be here for my brother and I think I need to get away for a few days. I know this is what my brother would tell me to do,,my granddaughter is his god child. I may not have a completely stress free trip ( I am going to be thinking of him constantly) but at least my granddaughter will get to go. Please don't judge me --believe me I am still struggling with my decision.

I hit Rexall tonight as the Atopic eczema on my hands is so bad I can not wear the gloves at the hospital--so I got some white cotton gloves which I am going to try and wear under the hospital gloves. I managed to pick up 124 bonus airmiles.
I have met my goal of airmiles for $260.00 Starbucks GC. for our trip.
So my airmiles friends ,,thanks for listening and Hugs to you.
Mel

 

[Donald - my hero]

AWW sweetie, Mel you need a HUG! Just point me in the direction of this a-hat of a twit and i will drop kick her into the middle of next week! Seriously she is only a friend and thinks she has the right to interfere in what is clearly a family issue? My heart is breaking for you right now, you do not need an extra level on drama in what is already a tense situation.

I am in your camp 100% when it comes to taking your grand-baby to Florida, I've been following along in your planning this trip and agree that your brother would not want you to stay home. I think this is a very wise decision right now but you will have a hard time while you're gone of course! I'll keep you in my thoughts over the next couple of weeks and i hope things settle down enough for you to catch your breath.

As far as your hands, i'm sure you have more knowledge of the situation than you need and to have an annoying woman on the other side of the computer screen offering advice is a best wacky ... BUT when i had real trouble as a teenager before we figured out i couldn't touch citrus fruit, we would slather the cream on them and then wrap them in saran wrap, stick some light mitts on and i'd sit in misery for an hour or so. Something about the added layer of wrap just helped the cream absorb. I'm sure you also know to avoid the drying effects of hand sanitizer, they are brutal on healthy skin.

Take some time for yourself if you can to just sit and be still. Keep us in the loop, you're one of the family!

 

[tinkerone]

O/T......kind of just need to talk............
This past week has been one of heartache and stress,my younger brother is in the hospital ICU (collapsed Lung,internal bleeding,,on a ventilator). He a a multitude of medical concerns and is the brother I have always been closest to. A interfering friend of my brother has caused me even more stress (she is a drama queen) to the extreme,,I say purple--she say red I say red she says purple. She was trying to challenge his Living Will. Anyhow I called to cancel my flight for next Sat and was told I'd have to cancel my granddaughter's flight (west jet companion fare). To rebook it replacing someone else with my seat is $2,300.00,,,So much planning went into this Disney trip.

I have thought about this long and hard and decided to go on our Spring Break trip. I have 3 other siblings that will be able to be here for my brother and I think I need to get away for a few days. I know this is what my brother would tell me to do,,my granddaughter is his god child. I may not have a completely stress free trip ( I am going to be thinking of him constantly) but at least my granddaughter will get to go. Please don't judge me --believe me I am still struggling with my decision.

I hit Rexall tonight as the Atopic eczema on my hands is so bad I can not wear the gloves at the hospital--so I got some white cotton gloves which I am going to try and wear under the hospital gloves. I managed to pick up 124 bonus airmiles.
I have met my goal of airmiles for $260.00 Starbucks GC. for our trip.
So my airmiles friends ,,thanks for listening and Hugs to you.
Mel

As hard as I'm sure it will be for you, go and spend some quality time with your granddaughter. Try your best to leave this all behind, it will still be here when you get back. This hardship you are going through just shows how fleeting our time is and we need to stop and smell the roses and share things with our loved ones. I'm sure this will be a time your granddaughter will always remember and maybe, just maybe, it will help you on your way to coming to terms with everything. No one would judge this in a negative way. As for the interfering friend, hold your head up and tell her to back off! Your brother was wise enough to prepare a living will, she needs to abide by what it says.
Safe travels.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

(((hugs))) Mel. So sorry to hear about your brother. No judgement here as I agree - your brother would not want his god daughter to miss out on her trip. My mom has not been well for years and told us before our trip, and my sister who is going on her dream trip to Australia soon, to not change anything if something happened to her. I would say I hope the drama queen smartens up, but unfortunately most don't change...only get worse when something bad happens. So strength vibes to you and the rest of your family to get through this!

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Thanks! i don't really set specific weekly/monthly goals, although i do hope to get another set of park tickets before May 20th. I put in a personal shopper request for PH tickets and i haven't heard back with a cost yet, but i'm guessing ill need about 1500 more miles by may (seems doable to me, as long as we keep seeing Blue Friday's at Safeway over here in Alberta!)

I'd be really interested to hear the goals people on this thread set, or average miles earned per week/month/however you track. Not to compare, but just out of curiosity!

My goal is to get at least 2 7-Day tickets before the Canadian Offer expires May 20th. After that I may switch to AM Cash again for GCs for Christmas shopping (then I can funnel my Christmas $$ to my travel fund). We don't plan to go anywhere until 2019 so I'd like to get enough for flights for us somewhere. Of course my dd is on the fence if she's sticking with her competitive sport next year. If she does then all AM will have to go to her travel.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

My collecting goal right now is three flights, which I already have enough for one. However, since we are going January 2018, I will wait until the fall to book flights. I likely won't use miles for them if the price is around what they were this January - $300-$400 taxes in! I'd have to pay $160 in taxes on them anyways, so I would make out better keeping the miles for flights to Miami which are between $700-$800 pp as we love to cruise.

And when I do hit enough for three flights, I'll be switching over to cash miles for a while.

Now that I'm typing this out, I'm realizing I have a lot of collecting to do! *sigh*

 

[AngelDisney]

Sending lots of hugs and prayers your way Mel! Take care of yourself first so that you can take care of your brother. Mental health is as important as physical health. Let your trip reenergize you! Enjoy your special time with your granddaughter!!

 

[bababear_50]

Thanks everyone for your kind and caring words and thoughts
i appreciate you all!
Hugs Mel

 

[ottawamom]

Mel, my heart goes out to you at this time. Your brother did the right thing setting up his living will. You and your siblings will be there to advocate on his behalf over and above what "she who must not be named" thinks. Like others have said he would want you to go on this trip. You were there with him when it mattered the most and your siblings will be with him while you are away. It's not easy knowing what to do but you will make the right decision for all involved.

 

[Debbie]

Mel, no one should be judging you, least of all someone like you described. You alone are living this, and you know in your heart that your brother would say, "Go, take pictures, and tell me about it when you get home." You do need this trip with your grandbaby. Take care...and we want pictures, too!

 

[pigletto]

Mel, you will get no judgement from me. Only love and my sincere wishes for strength and peace for your family. Your granddaughter will have a magical trip and undoubtedly be so happy to have you there with her.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Mel....sending hugs...I hope you and your granddaughter have a magical trip....I know it will be tough and you will be thinking of your brother often but try to have some fun with your granddaughter....

 

[alohamom]

WOW Mel-what a choice. I am sure this has been agonizing for you but I know I would go on the trip. I think is it so admirable that your thoughts go to your brother and your granddaughter and how this choice affects them, not you.
I really, truly hope you will be able to enjoy yourself and not associate any guilt or worry with the time away, you deserve it. I would bet the farm your brother would actually be upset that you even considered not going and would push you to go. Hang in there Bababear!

 

[alohamom]

we would slather the cream on them and then wrap them in saran wrap, stick some light mitts on and i'd sit in misery for an hour or so. Something about the added layer of wrap just helped the cream absorb

The duck is on to something! I have had pedicures where they do that. They will dip your feet into hot stuff or cream or whatever and then bag them for a bit, probably partially for teh mess of it but I am pretty sure I had a lady tell me once they do it for absorption....

 

[kerreyn]

Aww, Mel, I'm sorry to hear about your brother. As for his friend - tell her to p*ss off. She's not family, and unless she's the Agent for his personal directive (living will), there's nothing she can do. She can talk until she's blue in the face, not your problem. If she is his Agent, then you're better off getting away from there regardless.

Like the others, I agree - you should go ahead with your trip and enjoy your time with your granddaughter. Take lots of pictures with your granddaughter and share them with your brother when you get back. Maybe even have your granddaughter pick out a special token souvenir for her godfather.

Take care and big hugs to you!
Kerrey

 

[damo]

Anyone know if you can reload your load 'n go?

I've been getting piggy-backed miles loading it once but it seems to get used up if it is used once.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Any load-n go offers I've ever used are gone once used.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Just got this week's coupon for Rexall
Spend $30.00 get 50 AM valid March 6th - 9th

@damo the Load n Go offers are a one shot deal --- one of the reasons i wasn't happy to get pushed to that option since i used to print off multiple copies of each offer. If you look closely at this coupon i just linked it includes the nasty words "Cannot be combined with any other AIR MILES® store wide coupon or load+go offer" many of us have found that you can in fact use this coupon with the LnG ones but I wouldn't be surprised to find it doesn't work one time.

 

[Pumpkin1172]

Went to Safeway this weekend...spent $117 got 247 AM. Was happy with that. I did buy toilet paper... even though I didn't really need it yet. I was wondering when it would go on sale with AM...of course I bought some last week...and now this week it was offered with AM. Oh well...it won't go to waste, and doesn't expire hehehe.

We are heading to the big city on the weekend for a little alone couples get away, hoping I might be able to get to a Rexall to collect some miles. If I get to shop there...great...if not, oh well.