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

[Haley R]

We've always had cats or dogs when we've had babies. I never knew it was a thing to prepare them for it Our current cat is a super good cat. He has been trained to stay out of my room (and my babies all sleep in my room for a long time). He didn't seem the least bit bothered by our last baby. I think they know, I swear my animals always act differently when I'm expecting. Maybe they instinctually understand it?

One of our cats should be great but the other is really skittish so he’s the one I’m worried about. Neither of our cats are mean and they normally are very friendly to people and want attention. I just want to take all precautions when the time comes so it’s easier on everyone

 

[Haley R]

once u kinda understand it, its pretty easy. it also helps to find a local Leslie Pools or local pool store. they test and teach u. Save yourself that $80 a month(or however much u pay)...

$95 lol. He does a really good job though and comes at the same time every week

 

[Calfan]

@Tikitoi I agree here. LAX has more options but the idea of it stresses me out because LAX is huge and busy. Plus you need transpo to Anaheim. If you can find something workable to SNA, it’s an easy Uber to the DLR area. If not, LAX would be a second choice for us. It’s a long Uber ride or rental car vs shuttle/car service.

1. SNA,
2. LBG
3. LAX

Just wanted to second these opinions, although I managed to lose the OP's post. IMO, SNA is by far the best airport to fly into for DLR. LAX would always be my last choice. I had my DH and kids try it once (since we can get non-strop from BOI to LAX but not to SNA), and it took them over two hours in the car service I had arranged to make it to DL. Never again. We've decided it's way better to stop and to fly directly into SNA. It's also a MUCH smaller airport and much much easier to retrieve bags, check in for flight home, etc. than LAX.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

I need to cry here for a minute. Totally OT, but our large freezer just went out. Everything is completely thawed and mostly warm. I think it's a total loss. We just stocked up a few weeks ago, and it is a TON of food lost. I called my DH just bawling and he's bringing home a new freezer tonight he said. So $ for a new freezer and $ for all new groceries is not what I had planned this week. I really don't have time for this right now either.



Ok, crying over. Time to suck it up and deal I guess.

Oh no, I'm so sorry! I've lost freezer contents twice---once when we had a huge tropical storm and our (old) neighborhood was the very last to get reconnected, after 7 days of no power; and once when the basement in our rental townhouse flooded during huge rains after a heavy spring snowstorm. It just sucks

 

[CyndiLouWho]

My dad built our first computer from a kit (HeathKit--any other olds remember them?) when I was in 8th grade! I remember him typing the first Microsoft OS code into the computer so it would run He kept that book of code literally for decades because it was such an artifact.

My dad did too! He was an engineer and loved the computer stuff even though he didn’t grow up knowing any of that stuff.

I grew up with a cat. She tolerated me dressing her up in baby clothes and let me push her around in a stroller. She was my bf all during my hard school years. She was an amazing cat!

Then dh and I adopted two cats right after we got married but once I got pregnant, my grandma cautioned me against having a newborn and a cat (one of ours had scratched me pretty severely) so right before dd was born, we rehomed them. Sometimes I wonder if dd has such a severe cat allergy because of me breathing so much cat dander while pregnant with her...? I also craved peanuts while pregnant with her. Normally I don't eat them or pb but when I was pregnant with her, I craved both. She has a very severe peanut allergy as well.

Likely coincidence as more recent studies show the opposite. Exposure helps prevent more allergies. AAP used to recommend kids avoiding allergenic foods until age 2, but they reversed that when newer research showed more allergies not fewer.

To update. IHG would have been able to manually re-instate the certificate even after the cancellation deadline (if they weren't expiring) and the hotel said there would be no penalties.
But we decided to go and come back Sunday evening instead of Monday afternoon. The Sunday night stay was on points, so we got all those back and did not lose our free nights. It did cost me an extra 2100 SW miles though, but that's not a big deal. Too bad the weather looks crappy LOL.

In Chicago? Weather looks good to me lol. 70’s with a chance of rain Saturday night is what I’m seeing. Right now, no need for AC with a nice breeze, sunny blue skies and a temp of 75. Beautiful.

Speaking of cats... I'd appreciate some nice thoughts for my cat Lillian Norris today. She has a somewhat rare disorder and occasionally becomes disoriented and hallucinates. She woke up today and is having one of those days, so she got one of her little kitty Prozacs before I left for work and I left her on the bed to try to relax. She snaps out of it eventually, but it has taken a couple days before. I feel so bad for her because she's clearly scared and doesn't know us, but once she snaps out of it she's totally back to normal.

Aww poor kitty. For her and for you. My mom’s poor pup passed today after fighting with heart failure the past 10 months.

 

[disneybirds]

I am thinking about renting a car this time...gasp. Is there parking close to the LM buildings at AofA?
I can't deal with standing around at the airport rental counter on arrival. Who has the handy go-straight-to-the-car program like Hertz? I can do Hertz for $160, but want to try to beat it if another company has skip-the-counter.

Signing up for National Emerald's Club lets you bypass the counter. DH travels for work all the time and will only rent from National. Their prices might be higher, but we have never had an issue with being charged for anything additional after the rental (unlike the others).

 

[disneybirds]

Is Universal still offering AP rates for hotels? You used to put the APH code in the reservation form, but I am not seeing a space for that anymore. Any thoughts? Looking for 2 nights at the end of September. Right now the only hotel showing availability is Royal Pacific, Hard Rock and Portofino are full.

 

[Judique]

I have quotes, but just want to throw out that it cracks me up when the subject of generations comes up. ILs were born in 57 and 58, but MIL will argue til she is blue in the face that she is not a boomer. She thinks of boomers as firmly the first 5ish years after the war ended, she considers her sister a boomer who was born in 50. I don't know why it is such a hang up It just makes me laugh, she recognizes that all her kids and even me fall into the Millennial generation, even with a 8ish year age gap total, and that the years for the Millennial generation span 20 years or so, but won't recognize the same range with the boomer generation

Your MIL was probably subject to the same information that I was growing up. We were not considered baby boomers until much later. I was born in 1953, and was not considered a baby boomer back at the time. It was probably sometime in the last 10-15 years that whoever gets these terms going started implying anyone born between 1945 and 1965 were baby boomers.

 

[Alexle2007]

Is Universal still offering AP rates for hotels? You used to put the APH code in the reservation form, but I am not seeing a space for that anymore. Any thoughts? Looking for 2 nights at the end of September. Right now the only hotel showing availability is Royal Pacific, Hard Rock and Portofino are full.

Did you go to the annual passholder’s tab on the Universal site? Are you only looking for deluxe?

 

[elgerber]

In Chicago? Weather looks good to me lol. 70’s with a chance of rain Saturday night is what I’m seeing. Right now, no need for AC with a nice breeze, sunny blue skies and a temp of 75. Beautiful.

I hope so! Several places I have looked are showing 70-80% chance of rain during the day and windy. I like your forecast better.

 

[cajunmommy]

ITA-when Ivan hit land it was "only" a Cat 3, yet the 118 tornadoes it spawned took roofs off, downed tress and it was months before life was normal again, years before our area bounced back. I don't say this to be an alarmist, but have a plan and prepare and if it looks like you're in the path, reassess, reassess and as @striker1064 says, listen to the local authorities who have lots of information-current and historical.
Each one of these storms behaves differently and the outcome can be anything from a little rain to destruction.

Triple-ditto this!! I know you’re new to hurricane prep, but please talk to your older neighbors for their advice. Stay away from any national weather sites (like TWC) who just sensationalize everything! We joke about Dan Cantore & crew, but they’re just chasing headlines.
County emergency preparedness officials should have a social media presence with reliable info.
You’re ahead of the game w your supply stash & generator. Don’t forget to grab extra gas for the generator soon. It can always be used in your vehicles if not needed.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Double post

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I have. Was just wondering people's actual time to receive the email.

Never got an email. Logged in and found the promo, already signed up.

The funny thing is that we think it did help with our dog! She did freak a bit in the beginning with all the crying but after a while she just ignored. That is clever about the foil or double tape on the crib.

Until you have to remove it from the cats fur. Or they chew and swallow it. I wouldn’t use tape.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

We've stayed at the Marriott Grand Chateau - good location, 1br suite with a King in the bedroom and the most comfortable sofabed I have ever found in a hotel - no casino onsite so its a nice escape from the madness.

This one isn’t available:-( I’ll look at the cosmo and see what the rate is.

Do any of you have a pool and know how to drain some water out of it? Ours is pretty close to the top and I want to drain some before the storms this weekend

I wouldn’t drain it too much. We haven’t drained ours pre storms. When it gets to the top we backwash it to drain off a lot or just turn on the valve to drain a little.

 

[disneybirds]

Did you go to the annual passholder’s tab on the Universal site? Are you only looking for deluxe?

I have looked at several pages, but haven't seen anything. We were thinking deluxe since you can get express pass. Not sure it is necessary since the days are a 2 or 4.

 

[Alexle2007]

I have looked at several pages, but haven't seen anything. We were thinking deluxe since you can get express pass. Not sure it is necessary since the days are a 2 or 4.

Which dates are you looking at? I can see the AP rates for the end of Sept.

 

[cajunmommy]

I need to cry here for a minute. Totally OT, but our large freezer just went out. Everything is completely thawed and mostly warm. I think it's a total loss. We just stocked up a few weeks ago, and it is a TON of food lost. I called my DH just bawling and he's bringing home a new freezer tonight he said. So $ for a new freezer and $ for all new groceries is not what I had planned this week. I really don't have time for this right now either.
Ok, crying over. Time to suck it up and deal I guess.

Check your homeowner's policy, you just might have coverage on this loss.
Bringing this full circle, saving our freezer contents is one of the main reasons we bought a generator post-Katrina. I did not want to lose 50lbs of shrimp, a quarter of a side of beef, fish, venison & random veggies.

 

[striker1064]

Stay away from any national weather sites (like TWC) who just sensationalize everything! We joke about Dan Cantore & crew, but they’re just chasing headlines.

One is worth watching - Weather Underground on TWC every weeknight at 5. They also sensationalize, but Mike Bettis, Alex Wilson, and Dr. Rick Knabb are legitimately brilliant, accomplished meteorologists who do a great job of breaking everything down.

 

[amalone1013]

Your MIL was probably subject to the same information that I was growing up. We were not considered baby boomers until much later. I was born in 1953, and was not considered a baby boomer back at the time. It was probably sometime in the last 10-15 years that whoever gets these terms going started implying anyone born between 1945 and 1965 were baby boomers.

This makes it make more sense!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I hope so! Several places I have looked are showing 70-80% chance of rain during the day and windy. I like your forecast better.

Well this is current but the one thing about Chicago weather is it’s always changing