I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[vanjust14]

So, I just redeemed some AA miles and used my latest card's $250 travel credit for actual flight and car through the AAvacations site. I didn't want to do it because I need all that for WDW but it's a situation where better to do it than pay cash and actually better flight options on AA portal.

Long story short - my MIL went for a shot in her back about 6 weeks ago. To help with back pain. Doctor nicked a nerve and she immediately lost all feeling below the waist. Had to have emergency surgery to relieve a hematoma in her spine. Hasn't been able to move her legs or any feeling below waist since. Was in ICU for 3 weeks, then moved to a rehab facility and in a few days is moving to a different one. They are going to have to sell their 4000sqft 2-story and get a small ranch. My dh needs to go back to help his dad in about 10 days.

Was super thankful to have the miles and travel credit. SOOOO much cheaper than cash for flight and car!

Oh my gosh!

First, I am so sorry your MIL is going through this.

Second, this scares me completely! I am scheduled to have a shot in my spine June 6th! I have scoliosis and had spinal fusion/rod placement surgery when I was 16. It was a new surgery at the time. Fast forward and now I am suffering from sciatica pain due to the stress on my only two vertebrae not fused. They are hoping to alleviate the pain with a shot in my spine. I am kinda freaking out now.

 

[wendow]

Oh my gosh!

First, I am so sorry your MIL is going through this.

Second, this scares me completely! I am scheduled to have a shot in my spine June 6th! I have scoliosis and had spinal fusion/rod placement surgery when I was 16. It was a new surgery at the time. Fast forward and now I am suffering from sciatica pain due to the stress on my only two vertebrae not fused. They are hoping to alleviate the pain with a shot in my spine. I am kinda freaking out now.

Oh no, I'm sorry to freak you out!!! This was one of those very rare side effects they tell you can happen but it never really does. Hers was the epidural space type shot.

 

[Haley R]

I'd definitely have a printed copy of the reservation with me to show the hotel upon arrival. If the price hasn't changed I'd consider cancelling and re-booking in the hopes that the new reservation shows up on the hotel computer system.

I plan to have print outs of every single hotel reservation as well as our plane tickets just in case. The printed one for that reservation will have to be our email because I can't access it on our Chase account. I used to be able to see it on their, but I can't find it anymore. I'm too nervous to cancel it because I wouldn't want to risk losing those points.

 

[havaneselover]

So, I just redeemed some AA miles and used my latest card's $250 travel credit for actual flight and car through the AAvacations site. I didn't want to do it because I need all that for WDW but it's a situation where better to do it than pay cash and actually better flight options on AA portal.

Long story short - my MIL went for a shot in her back about 6 weeks ago. To help with back pain. Doctor nicked a nerve and she immediately lost all feeling below the waist. Had to have emergency surgery to relieve a hematoma in her spine. Hasn't been able to move her legs or any feeling below waist since. Was in ICU for 3 weeks, then moved to a rehab facility and in a few days is moving to a different one. They are going to have to sell their 4000sqft 2-story and get a small ranch. My dh needs to go back to help his dad in about 10 days.

Was super thankful to have the miles and travel credit. SOOOO much cheaper than cash for flight and car!

Oh, no. So sorry. Glad your DH is able to help them out.

 

[Haley R]

We can't.

I seriously had no idea about that. I guess it's everywhere here so I assumed it was like that in other places. You can literally just walk into any local or chain grocery store here and get any alcohol you want.

 

[havaneselover]

We are just now seeing 'real beer' in our grocery stores here in CO but I think only a few stores can sell. No wine though. I know people are trying to change the laws here but I've not paid enough attention to know what's going on.

My sister moved from CT to VA about 8 years ago. She was so happy she could buy wine at Target. I don't drink so I pay no attention to these things.

 

[Lain]

how long did it take to accumulate that? currently got half that.

Edit: Probably just under 2 years at this point, since my last major redemption wiped out my balance.

 

[vanjust14]

Oh no, I'm sorry to freak you out!!! This was one of those very rare side effects they tell you can happen but it never really does. Hers was the epidural space type shot.

I have to have it done at the hospital and they have to use a special xray machine to make sure they get the exact part of the space between my vertebrae. I have a very good pain management anesthesiologist who says he's done many and has never had a problem, but the story of your MIL is just a reminder that accidents can and do happen.

I do hope she regains feeling, I can't imagine what she and your FIL are going through.

 

[miztressuz]

I'm confused...you can't get beer and wine in grocery stores?

Not all of them, nope. It's only been in the last few years we can buy beer for take-home in less than a case outside of a bar/restaurant, in PA. If you wanted beer you went to the beer distributor where it had to be sold by the case (24 pack) or keg. Fortunately they updated that law and distributors can sell by the bottle now too. If you wanted liquor or wine you went to the State store for that. While inconvenient the smart distributors opened shops near the state stores so you could do your alcohol run all at once. Liquor is still 100% controlled by the state but they allowed grocery stores to start selling wine at least and then recently they can get a wine & beer licenses.

It sounds terribly bizarre to most people, but growing up here it's terribly bizarre to see it all together in gas stations elsewhere!

 

[Alexle2007]

It's not by chain or store type yet, individual stores still have to get a license similar to how the restaurants do it. Actually I think they are restaurant licenses, or a type of one; I heard they need to have seating available because of that. Wawa got one pretty soon after they updated the laws for just one store and then haven't gone much farther than that. I'm just happy that the Acme by me was renovating and put in all the requirements to have the beer and wine sales (the seating, dedicated checkouts) and they aren't astronomically priced so the bonus categories aren't eaten up by the convenience upcharge It's a slow process but maybe one day we'll get with the times...

Still better than MD where I have to go to the liquor store.

 

[Alexle2007]

I'm confused...you can't get beer and wine in grocery stores?

Not in MD. PA just added it to some of their grocery stores. (And since I'm only a mile from the PA/MD line, we spend a lot of time in PA.)

 

[DisneyMandC]

This is me too. One of the cashiers calls me the chicken lady. When one of my dogs was old, I was trying to keep weight on her so I bought a rotisserie chicken from Costco a few times a week. That dog is no longer with us but in the process, the younger dog decided rotisserie chicken was life-sustaining for her too. So I go one or two times a week and often I'm only buying a chicken and the lines are 5+ deep. I have such a love hate relationship with Costco. I swear the customers are unbelievably oblivious. The pharmacy hours stink. And on Sunday the cart guy ran an entire column of carts into my van But I still strongly prefer it to our rarely busy Sam's. If we could get self checkout, I would be so happy.

The pharmacy at the one in Midlothian is AWFUL. They have messed up my prescription so many times but they carry it for free so I don't want to switch from them.

The doctor messed up big time. He knew it immediately too. Cancelled all other appts and headed straight for the ER with them. Stayed with my FIL at the hospital that evening while she had surgery.

My inlaws waited several weeks but then filed a medical malpractice suit. They weren't going to but then the reality began to set in of how life changing this will be. My FIL is going to have to retire early now, help caring for my MIL as my FIL cannot do it all, selling their home and buying something else, the medical bills, etc.

Wow, I am so unbelievably sorry to hear about your MIL. And she's so young... I didn't want to be THAT lawyer, but I'm glad to hear they filed a med mal suit. That's really messed up.

 

[Haley R]

Not all of them, nope. It's only been in the last few years we can buy beer for take-home in less than a case outside of a bar/restaurant, in PA. If you wanted beer you went to the beer distributor where it had to be sold by the case (24 pack) or keg. Fortunately they updated that law and distributors can sell by the bottle now too. If you wanted liquor or wine you went to the State store for that. While inconvenient the smart distributors opened shops near the state stores so you could do your alcohol run all at once. Liquor is still 100% controlled by the state but they allowed grocery stores to start selling wine at least and then recently they can get a wine & beer licenses.

It sounds terribly bizarre to most people, but growing up here it's terribly bizarre to see it all together in gas stations elsewhere!

Yep it does sound pretty bizarre lol

 

[Chancery8]

The doctor messed up big time. He knew it immediately too. Cancelled all other appts and headed straight for the ER with them. Stayed with my FIL at the hospital that evening while she had surgery.

My inlaws waited several weeks but then filed a medical malpractice suit. They weren't going to but then the reality began to set in of how life changing this will be. My FIL is going to have to retire early now, help caring for my MIL as my FIL cannot do it all, selling their home and buying something else, the medical bills, etc.

My first though after reading your story is this has malpractice written all over it. They've made her immobile! Life changing is an understatement. Your in-laws must be good-hearted people for even considering not filing a malpractice suit. I definitely wouldn't have waited several weeks....wonder what that says about me...

 

[FloridaNative8]

So, I just redeemed some AA miles and used my latest card's $250 travel credit for actual flight and car through the AAvacations site. I didn't want to do it because I need all that for WDW but it's a situation where better to do it than pay cash and actually better flight options on AA portal.

Long story short - my MIL went for a shot in her back about 6 weeks ago. To help with back pain. Doctor nicked a nerve and she immediately lost all feeling below the waist. Had to have emergency surgery to relieve a hematoma in her spine. Hasn't been able to move her legs or any feeling below waist since. Was in ICU for 3 weeks, then moved to a rehab facility and in a few days is moving to a different one. They are going to have to sell their 4000sqft 2-story and get a small ranch. My dh needs to go back to help his dad in about 10 days.

Was super thankful to have the miles and travel credit. SOOOO much cheaper than cash for flight and car!

Oh my goodness, that is terrible - I'm so sorry y'all are going through that.

 

[georgina]

Random Marriott DP for Pittsburgh-ers (well, at least the 'burbs I guess), the Fairfield in Robinson Town Center had gift cards. We stayed there so I had it added to my room to make the AmEx offer threshold. I may have lucked out as I got an Asst Mgr checking us out so when I asked she actually knew they even had gift cards. However, she had never sold one before and opened up the little plastic wrapped packs of cards and envelopes just for me. So possibly any of the millions of Marriott properties by the airport there may have some now.

Thanks. I tried several places last year when AmEx had a good offer. Quite a few nos, until I found some at the Marriott in Cranberry.

 

[1st*toright]

Wow, I am so unbelievably sorry to hear about your MIL. And she's so young... I didn't want to be THAT lawyer, but I'm glad to hear they filed a med mal suit. That's really messed up.

This is what malpractice insurance is for. Unfortunately, the only way to get to a settlement is to actually file suit and go through all the rigmarole, just 'cause that is how the system works. The Doc probably can't go to his or her insurance company and say "I screwed up bad and you need to help these people out", even if he or she wants to. Hopefully that part of the ordeal won't be too terrible either. Again, I'm so sorry that they have to deal with this, and glad they have you and your DH to help them work through it.

 

[wendow]

My first though after reading your story is this has malpractice written all over it. They've made her immobile! Life changing is an understatement. Your in-laws must be good-hearted people for even considering not filing a malpractice suit. I definitely wouldn't have waited several weeks....wonder what that says about me...

I think they just believed what the docs initially said...after they lanced the hematoma and put in the drain, the swelling on her spine would began to subside and she would begin to get feeling back. The day it happened, docs were saying she'd have feeling back in a few days to a week. They were holding out hope it'd improve but obviously not happening.

 

[wanderlust7]

So, I just redeemed some AA miles and used my latest card's $250 travel credit for actual flight and car through the AAvacations site. I didn't want to do it because I need all that for WDW but it's a situation where better to do it than pay cash and actually better flight options on AA portal.

Long story short - my MIL went for a shot in her back about 6 weeks ago. To help with back pain. Doctor nicked a nerve and she immediately lost all feeling below the waist. Had to have emergency surgery to relieve a hematoma in her spine. Hasn't been able to move her legs or any feeling below waist since. Was in ICU for 3 weeks, then moved to a rehab facility and in a few days is moving to a different one. They are going to have to sell their 4000sqft 2-story and get a small ranch. My dh needs to go back to help his dad in about 10 days.

Was super thankful to have the miles and travel credit. SOOOO much cheaper than cash for flight and car!

Wow, that's so awful. Hope her body is just healing and will regain feeling soon!

 

[Calfan]

@wendow so sorry to hear bout your MIL. That is horrible and so so frightening.

I also wanted to post to see if there are any more recent DPs on whether CIP is still coding 3x on Plastiq. I've seen the posts about pending UR that suggest 3x, but I also recall maybe some Reddit DP about it only getting 1x. I have two utility bills to pay and wondering about using Plastiq and my CIP. They are both fairly small, so I might just go ahead and be my own DP but thought I would check here first.

Also, I PM'd Barclays this morning about a match on the increased offer on the Aviator Biz. Will report back....