MagicBands + Margaritas + Muggles + Minions = TRP. New TR link is up! 10/31

[eandesmom]

Glad to see your plans are starting to make progress again! Juggling flights and prices can be quite the challenge for sure!

I always feel better if prices jump right after I buy...not before.

Oh well.

Happy 50th Birthday to Jeff!!!!

Thanks! I took him for a surprise getaway on Saturday. We had an amazing time and then continued the celebration until his actual birthday and then will celebrate this weekend with K&T. A milestone deserves a weeklong party...even if some of that is helping to cook your own birthday dinner

I am soooo glad I can get Non Stop flights at usually a decent price !! But nothing beats our first Orlando flight that totalgot 5 of us there and back for $900 !!!!!!!!!

That's pretty sweet! We got the 6 of us there for $1200 one year, I miss those days. I can get it under $300 if I shop it right. This unfortunately came in a bit higher than that but we do have the times we want and that is worth a lot.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JEFF


I am trying to figure out my fall flights as SW surprised me too and released a bit early. Only thing they don't do a red eye and you have me convinced that is the way to go.

My problem is they released util Oct 31 and I am trying to fly back Nov 3.

Nope, no red eye on SW. My guess is from Cali your options will be Alaska, Delta and American. Maybe Jet Blue. If you can make it work, Alaska is your best bet especially with the fare guarantee.

Happy Birthday Jeff!!!!

I'm so behind...I looked at flights and was pleasantly surprised by the cost. I'm still debating tacking on F&W before the cruise vs just checking out San Juan.

I should really make a decision!

Jill in CO

You should! Hopefully the rates won't change, I did check and our flight on the 20th is still holding at the same price (of course..since it's the one I didn't book). It's such a crap shoot sometimes. We were hoping to stay under $600 each with the long layover in Orlando both ways and are pleased to pull that off. Direct to SJ via another stop would have been about the same and this actually costs us less due to no hotel fees on the front end plus pre-paid entertainment since we have park tix.

Congrats on getting flights and making the decision to go!

Happy Birthday.to Jeff!

Thanks!!!

 

[eandesmom]

Happy Birthday to Jeff! He's half way to 100!

OMG I will SO not tell him you said that

Yeah for getting your flights sorted out!

They aren't ideal, but they are close to it.

My head spins with all the choices you had. We are pretty much set flying out of a tiny airport.
But you got a decent price which is really nice!

In some ways it is too many choices, in some ways not enough. I was very frustrated not to be able to find one red eye that was Alaska for both legs. That was new and disappointing. I do wish I'd bought the American flight when I could, then I'd be even more pleased but all things considered, for the number of flights and routes, I am happy with the final price though very glad I had a credit to ease the pain. SJ from Seattle is not a short distance so all things considered I think we did about as well as we could have, I've been tracking it for about a year now and have never seen them lower.

Happy birthday to Jeff!

Thanks! We had a lovely celebration Sat/Sun and then a more minor one on the actual day and will continue the party through the weekend.

Yay for getting your flights booked and that progress is being made!

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Yay for progress and thanks!

Hooray! I am so glad to have stumbled upon another adventure with your gang, and glad to see you have many trips planned in the future! Loving everything so far!

!!! Looks like you have a new report as well that I don't think I am on.

Ah, the pain of airfare roulette. We just noticed SW came out too and already the price difference between yesterday and today is staggering (we're watching for October). Hopefully they'll come down a bit before it gets too late.

That would be nice. I've not had any luck with SW coming down after I've bought but I've gotten decent prices. I have seen it bounce around on other dates to be sure. Jet Blue, for the little I've tracked it, hasn't come down a bit, it just starts low and goes up. Alaska on the other hand...can be a roller coaster!

Happy 50th to Jeff!!

Thanks!

YAY for locking in flights. That makes the trip real. And the bonus NOT so minor detail is having the grands available to babysit.

Not so minor is right! My mom actually has her 60th HS reunion that weekend but the boys are old enough that it's really just about someone there overnight and my sister is always a back up too.

Yes, once you buy flights, you've got skin in the game. Cruise can be rebooked. Flights...not. I did just go ahead and add our 2014 UY points travel insurance though, better safe than sorry. Still need to insure the actual cruise but we are at least covered on the front and back ends of the trip now.

Happy Birthday to Jeff. Hope you had a nice lunch and day together.

We had a wonderful weekend, started the celebration saturday afternoon, and then all day Sunday. Actual birthday was fairly good, lovely lunch out and then I made him a special dinner. He did have to help with that a little which was frustrating but what can you do!

 

[eandesmom]

Happy Birthday to Jeff!!!

Bummer about the flights going up but glad you got them all booked. It always makes a trip more 'real' to have flights booked

Much more real, skin in the game!

Aw, I'm sorry to read that Cynthia. Hang in there. We're pulling for you to get well soon. Don't worry about posting, just get better.

Thanks Glenn!

Oh my Cynthia that's terrible. I'll definitely be praying for you and hoping whatever this is, gets resolved quickly and smoothly.

I hope it does too!

You seem like such a busy woman, that this sitting around thing is not going to be easy on you.

Oh not busier than anyone else but I don't do sitting around very well

Oh no! I hope you figure out the problem and heal soon!

Jill in CO

thanks Jill, me too!

Oh No this sounds VERY familiar......


I hope you find a great ortho and figure out what is causing this and that it can be fixed easily and quickly. :hugs:

Yeah.....I hope so. I suspect it really is a neck disc issue and the shoulder is just the latest manifestation of the same old problem but we will see. I really am long overdue for imagery and hope they do that tomorrow so we know what we are looking at on all fronts.

But hey, in comparison...my neck feels great at the moment!

So sorry you're dealing with this sending you thoughts and well wishes for a speedy recovery!

Thanks!

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia, I really hope that it will soon be clear what causes your issues and that you will get better soon! You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

thanks Karin!

So sorry about this set back with your shoulder/arm. I hope all goes well with the ortho and they figure things out and get you fixed up quickly. Are you able to run at all though all this? If not, I bet that drives you even crazy too.

I was able to run until recently. I suspect I should have had an inkling things were changing for the worse when after my Sunday run I had a devil of a time getting my sports bra off. I mean they aren't the easiest thing anyway..... but I was so bad last night though that no way could I run, or do anything. Today is mildly better and I may well hit the recumbent bike at the gym just so that I am doing something. I think that will be better than the elliptical, much as I'm not a fan of the recumbent. It doesn't help that well...I've been eating non stop since Thanksgiving. I knew I'd slid and put some weight and inches back on but it's a bit worse than I suspected and this post birthday get away week was to be my "knuckle down and get accountable" week with myfitness pal and all that. Trying to do that and not burning calories at the same time sucks! LOL!

As for your other updates... What a boat load of groceries. I'm interested to see if your brood finished it all off before the week was up! I don't recall a whole lot of cabinet space in the kitchen for the villas.

My normal weekly cart I was feeding vultures and that's with a lot of eating out. BWV didn't have much space but THV has dreamy cabinets!

Looks like you landed on a pretty good alternative to fries at DHS! Who knew it was so hard to find something that you associate with theme parks.

I don't think we've ever attempted to get them as a snack before, I assumed it would be very easy.

Your September plans are progressing nicely - especially considering having airfare checked off the list. I always feel like the trip is irrevocably moving forward when I have airfare purchased.

irrevocable is right!

And happy belated 50th birthday to Jeff!!

Take care of yourself and I hope you hear some good news soon from the doctor.

Thanks, me too!

I am so sorry you are having the neck/shoulder issues. I really hope it gets resolved soon.

Me too, it just better not mess with the running for long, I really will go crazy then.

I am also sorry about the flight. Glad you got it worked out, but I didn't even read your post before I was inundating you with "omg, flights for august went up" I am sure you were just like

no worries, I'd have done the same thing! Just glad they went back down and it wasn't some bizarre across the board trend. We'd be on Amtrak!

LOL

Oh no, very sorry to hear about your neck and arm issues, I hope that your inactivity doesn't last too long and you are able to get back to PT and healing in no time!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Thanks, I hope so as well!

Cynthia, I hope that the doctors/pt figure out what is causing so much pain and that they figure it out quickly. Praying for you!

thank you Lisa!

 

[franandaj]

So sorry to hear about your neck and shoulder. I hope that the ortho is able to come up with a solution that leaves you pain free without generating a great deal more pain. That is so scary when you don't know what it is and even more frustrating when you have to sit around and wait for it.

Any movies you need to catch up on? Perhaps now would be a good time to watch all the star wars movies, or Indiana Jones...Back to the Future? James Bond series?

 

[Poolrat]

I always feel better if prices jump right after I buy...not before.

Oh well.
Nope, no red eye on SW. My guess is from Cali your options will be Alaska, Delta and American. Maybe Jet Blue. If you can make it work, Alaska is your best bet especially with the fare guarantee.



You should! Hopefully the rates won't change, I did check and our flight on the 20th is still holding at the same price (of course..since it's the one I didn't book). It's such a crap shoot sometimes. We were hoping to stay under $600 each with the long layover in Orlando both ways and are pleased to pull that off. Direct to SJ via another stop would have been about the same and this actually costs us less due to no hotel fees on the front end plus pre-paid entertainment since we have park tix.

Oh yes the flight I was counting on for Sunday in late Oct just jumped $50.00 for a one way flight.

Alaska and Jet blue are not an option. The red eye on Delta will probably be the best bet to come back. I would save a nights points but still have the day in the park. Stopping in Atl is best - Most of the way and then just the short hop home.

 

[eandesmom]

So sorry to hear about your neck and shoulder. I hope that the ortho is able to come up with a solution that leaves you pain free without generating a great deal more pain. That is so scary when you don't know what it is and even more frustrating when you have to sit around and wait for it.

Very frustrating. Today has been better, last night was truly brutal. Definitely messed up for sure so hopefully we will get some direction in the morning.

I don't handle sitting around very well. I try to adapt but that seems to maybe not be working out as well as I think it does.

Any movies you need to catch up on? Perhaps now would be a good time to watch all the star wars movies, or Indiana Jones...Back to the Future? James Bond series?

I did at least sit down and finally get the last of the PP share done.

WHEW!

I was actually pretty productive on the work front both days, though given that yesterday was literally 5 hours of conference calls there was only so much that could have been done.

Oh yes the flight I was counting on for Sunday in late Oct just jumped $50.00 for a one way flight.

Alaska and Jet blue are not an option. The red eye on Delta will probably be the best bet to come back. I would save a nights points but still have the day in the park. Stopping in Atl is best - Most of the way and then just the short hop home.

We do Delta red eyes quite often either back from Hawaii or heading to FL. It was an option but their prices were considerably more.

It is always the one you are counting on not to go up, that does. There were SO many options under $150 for a red eye that I wasn't worried about it. overnight everything went to $223 and up. If it had been all on Alaska we'd have done it as they have such a great credit policy but to book it on another with times and layovers we didn't like and not even a chance at a credit, forget it.

Not that I know what I will do with a SW or Jet Blue credit

 

[scottny]

That is so nice the offer to take you shopping. 16 bags. WOW!
I am just so disappointed in that coffee cup. LOL. Only kidding.
I am with Jeff on the pirate thing. I just cannot do it again.
Those drinks look good. I could not drink this past trip and I certainly missed the holiday ones and my Gray Goose Slushie. The Gumdrop looked good.
I hear you on the prices of flights. I keep looking for Italy in September and they keep going up and down $200-300. I hate it. I would have chosen Jetblue for the individual tv’s and live map and also I love them. LOL
Yeah Jetblue. You might be longer in JFK. No flights are on time. LOL.
We will be here no matter how long it takes you to post again.

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Thanks! I took him for a surprise getaway on Saturday. We had an amazing time and then continued the celebration until his actual birthday and then will celebrate this weekend with K&T. A milestone deserves a weeklong party...even if some of that is helping to cook your own birthday dinner

I like the way you think! Well, except for maybe the cook your own birthday dinner part........

I hope you are starting to feel lots better, and you're not going too stir crazy.

 

[eandesmom]

That is so nice the offer to take you shopping. 16 bags. WOW!

those bags don't hold much! You need a lot

I am just so disappointed in that coffee cup. LOL. Only kidding.

I was dissapointed!!!

I am with Jeff on the pirate thing. I just cannot do it again.

Ok, I will go without both of you. LOL! Did Vinny like it?

Those drinks look good. I could not drink this past trip and I certainly missed the holiday ones and my Gray Goose Slushie. The Gumdrop looked good.

You are doing SOOOOOOOOOOO amazing! At some point can you drink again?

Spoiler...I didn't have a slushie on this trip

I hear you on the prices of flights. I keep looking for Italy in September and they keep going up and down $200-300. I hate it. I would have chosen Jetblue for the individual tv’s and live map and also I love them. LOL
Yeah Jetblue. You might be longer in JFK. No flights are on time. LOL.
We will be here no matter how long it takes you to post again.

Wow, that is a wide swing! A delay isn't a biggie, it seems they have one every hour heading to MCO so even if we have bigger issues I'm not overly concerned. We have never flown Jet Blue and Jeff has always wanted to so it will be interesting.

I like the way you think! Well, except for maybe the cook your own birthday dinner part........

I felt so bad! Deal at our house is that ON your actual birthday the other person cooks you whatever you want. Jeff wanted spaghetti from scratch but however I felt like making it. Which is funny given that the man eats it not from scratch at least 2x a month, more likely once a week. And that he has his own scratch recipie he loves (and it's really really good!).

So I went a different route, very simple marzano sauce with nothing added, just pureed marzano tomatoes, placed on top of the noodles, ringed with italian chicken sausage and then inside the center of the sauce on top, nested a very large mound of made from scratch pesto. Pretty presentation and then you mix it all up. YUM! But...I couldn't open the cans for the sauce, or cook the meat. I booted him for the rest of it.

I've doomed myself though, forgot just how good my pesto is. I stopped making it a long time ago and buying the Costco jars. Which is pretty decent but oh, the difference was pretty crazy. Bummer pine nuts are so pricey. Evan had never had mine before and had a hallelujah moment. LOL!

I hope you are starting to feel lots better, and you're not going too stir crazy.

Well I kept nice and busy yesterday finishing up the Epic photopass share so that was something

It actually is a bit better, not where it was before it got worse on Monday (if that makes sense) but I probably could attempt driving.

Or not, it might make it worse. Jeff is taking me to the doc. We will see if I make it into the office or not.

 

[jedijill]

I thought I hated pesto until I tried some homemade pesto in Italy...now I'm hooked. When do we get to come sample some of yours? I'll bring a stash of pine nuts!

Jill in CO

 

[eandesmom]

I thought I hated pesto until I tried some homemade pesto in Italy...now I'm hooked. When do we get to come sample some of yours? I'll bring a stash of pine nuts! Jill in CO

Mmmmn pesto! It's easy to make

 

[eandesmom]

Calcific Tendonitis + Stiff/Frozen Shoulder

Which means I've got a big old calcium deposit on the top of my shoulder (seriously, I can see it poke through lol) and my shoulder is basically frozen

While there are other options, this is the route I am going

First line...Stretch stretch stretch, avoid things that make it worse, ibuprofen for maybe another 5 days

Second line....PT. He is suggesting some different things than they have been doing, specifically u/s and massage. While I don't want to change PT places, I may have to consider it. Either way though massage is OOP which sucks.

If no improvement consider acupuncture

If no improvement MRI

Then consider surgery or cortisone, neither of which are remotely appealing to me.

They can go in and get the calcium deposit out. It "may" be what is causing the problem but it may not and I want to rule everything else out first. But they can also go away on their own. It could have been there for a long time, or just appeared, no real way to know. They can also do things surgically to release the tension causing my shoulder to be frozen. If it's the frozen issue only...they do tend to resolve themselves in 2-3 years. Fun huh. But still, if that really is the case then I can't see surgery making sense. Calcium seems to be more like 5-10 years before they spontaneously maybe dissolve. But the severe pain from that seems to go away faster than the other.

Good news is he does not think it's remotely related to the neck issues, only thing in common the 2 things have in his mind, is that both are 48 years old. LOL!

Other good news is calcium deposit aside, the shoulder itself looks really good.

 

[annmarieda]

Glad the shoulder looks ok... but on the calcium deposit. Is it feeling any better? So am I correct in understanding that this is just something you have to work with?

 

[eandesmom]

Glad the shoulder looks ok... but on the calcium deposit. Is it feeling any better? So am I correct in understanding that this is just something you have to work with?

It is better, I mean I can lift my arm up enough to put on deoderant and wash my hair so that's a rather huge improvement.

But yes, that is what it appears, something I have to work with and around. 5x a day!! BLEH. Which is what I'd suspected. In some ways a relief to know it's not connected to the neck, but in some ways I wish it was as maybe then that would get truly fixed. Was VERY impressed with the doc I ended up with though, feel excellent about my choice there. I am not surprised it's not a quick fix, didn't expect it to be but I am also glad to not have any official restrictions, truly the more I move it the better...within reason. I'll be icing and using heat more than before I think but tonight's run is definitely on and heavens knows I need it. I may well end up with a break from PT while I stretch it out, I'm keeping my appointment for next week and will review the new info with them then. He wants the stiffness dealt with before strengthening starts.

 

[Poolrat]

Checking in to see if you got back from the doc and well it looks like some good news?

They know what it is but yes Frozen shoulder is not fun. We did everything on my end to be sure that didn't happen to me.

I am sure the PT knows but MOBS on the shoulder is a must.

I hope some of things suggested help. If they don't please make sure you go back to have the MRI to double check things.


All in all Good to hear I guess.

 

[Poolrat]

It is better, I mean I can lift my arm up enough to put on deoderant and wash my hair so that's a rather huge improvement.

I know what you mean.

But He wants the stiffness dealt with before strengthening starts.

 

[eandesmom]

Checking in to see if you got back from the doc and well it looks like some good news?

They know what it is but yes Frozen shoulder is not fun. We did everything on my end to be sure that didn't happen to me.

I am sure the PT knows but MOBS on the shoulder is a must.

I hope some of things suggested help. If they don't please make sure you go back to have the MRI to double check things.


All in all Good to hear I guess.

I will, given what we saw with the calcium deposit I want to try his stretching program first, it is a bit different than what they had me doing. 5x a day though...bleh. I could have pushed for an MRI, it really was my call, but all that is likely to do is possibly show more calcium or the depth of it and I'm not sure for today that it was needed. If he thought there was any indication neck and shoulder were linked, I would have pushed for it and said as much.

I have no idea what MOBS stands for lol. But if it is what I think it is, yes they have been doing that.

 

[jedijill]

Ouch! I hope the stretching works!

Small help on the massage, but you can get a note from your doctor and you can use your FSA to pay for it if you have money in a FSA.

Jill in CO

 

[CarolynK]

I'm catching up after a lovely 4-day WDW weekend! It was so nice to be there with low crowds! Anyway, back to your report!

If we can't have fries...we can have some carbs another way!
In front of the Tune in Lounge there was a holiday drink cart.

Yes please!

A good call!!

FP+ has it's pro's and cons to be sure but let me tell you, on December 30th in a PACKED park, strolling in around noon and knocking out 3 headliners by 2:30 was pretty stinking cool. Amazingly cool.

OMG, so true! The NYE trip was our first time ever on TSMM!! How ridiculous is that?! FP+ worked great for us.

I've doomed myself though, forgot just how good my pesto is. I stopped making it a long time ago and buying the Costco jars. Which is pretty decent but oh, the difference was pretty crazy. Bummer pine nuts are so pricey. Evan had never had mine before and had a hallelujah moment. LOL!

I also like the Costco pesto, but I'm trying to make more food from scratch now - care to share your recipe??

Calcific Tendonitis + Stiff/Frozen Shoulder

Which means I've got a big old calcium deposit on the top of my shoulder (seriously, I can see it poke through lol) and my shoulder is basically frozen

Sorry about your shoulder, it's always something isn't it?? I hope you get relief soon!