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

[afan]

Yay! An email from ups! Now I can use my card at dinner tomorrow.

 

[Haley R]

All that work I did last year to prepare for no power with Irma and we didn't lose power. We were just extremely lucky as all the subdivisions around us did. I have no clue how we got so incredibly lucky. One of my friends was without for 8 days, most were at least 5 days. Those who didn't leave before the storm were leaving after 3 days without power. Grocery stores were completely without food though as the trucks couldn't get to the stores due to the storm moving north. That was weird -- walking into Publix and seeing the dairy, meat, bread, produce and water shelves empty.

We had a curfew for a few days after the storm as most neighborhoods had no power -- the intersection by Home Depot, which is 24 lanes (6 lanes each of 4 ways -- 3 straight through, 2 left turn lanes and 1 right turn lane) had no power for 3 days. It was a bit surreal driving through that intersection.

I wouldn't count on not losing power again though as it was just a stoke of luck that we had power -- even during the worst of Irma we were watching CNN in my den. We knew people who had generators who had people sleeping on their floors (mostly people who had elderly relatives who picked them up before the storm to be safe). It was crazy, but sort of fun (in a strange way) because all of the neighbors who stayed (dd and me stayed) were aware of who was where and what supplies we had amongst us, should the worst come to fruition.

Our damage was likely done by a small twister hitting our house during the storm and the 2 beside us (that's what the contractor thinks). Our neighbor beside us had some of the the siding torn off her roof and the one beside her had damage as well (inside and outside).

I'd probably stay again, but it would depend on the severity of the storm. Our house was built by a home builder (for himself and his family) and it's hurricane-proof (the damage we had was due to the twister that likely hit us).

We had the wind mitigation test before moving in on our home. The house was built in 2014 so it’s pretty new. We have the hurricane shutters we can put up over our windows and our sliding glass door. The whole front of our house has hurricane proof windows and doors because it’s required in this town if the house was built after a certain date.

When we were still living in Iowa we had a terrible ice storm (I was in like 8th grade). A bunch of my relatives stayed at our house because our street had power. It was actually a lot of fun

 

[Alexle2007]

PRIMEBOOK19 gets you $5 off $15 print books (shipped and sold by amazon)

Thanks! Time to order DS a couple of books.

 

[needsomesun]

Anyone have a smart speaker like Alexa? What do you use it for? Thinking of getting one with the deal running...just not quite sure what you can do with it other than asking it about the weather.

We have a few and like them. It's mostly used to play music. I also use it as an alarm or timer. My kids probably use it most often to calculate things when they're feeling too lazy to use a calculator. DD has one in her room so if i'm downstairs feeling lazy and want to talk to her, i'll have mine calls hers. I have a dot in my room that usually for music, alarm, or playing relaxing sounds to sleep.

ETA: And I really don't care if amazon is listening to us. We are really not very interesting.

 

[Alexle2007]

I tried twice on my card and DH card....I didn’t receive the match....but DH did the second time....this was back in April....I gave up trying on mine

I tried 4 times and twice I got positive responses but a no go in the letter. That card is now closed and I’ll go for higher offers in the future.

 

[gottalovepluto]

It's so quiet here today that I'm all caught up. Is Prime Day a bust? Asking since I never and DH rarely finds anything we want on this day.

Well I woke up nice and smug sans Prime Membership about how I wouldn’t be spending money today! So far I’ve spent $365.95 Admittedly all on gift cards and none on Amazon but my original plan was to spend a grand total of $0 and sit smuggly in my castle reigning it over Prime members. After spending more than many of them this plan is obviously in ruins.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Anyone have a smart speaker like Alexa? What do you use it for? Thinking of getting one with the deal running...just not quite sure what you can do with it other than asking it about the weather.

I’m too creeped out by it.

 

[amalone1013]

Hmmm... now you’ve got me thinking maybe I should do the eVGC from Newegg > discounted Disney GCs from Sam’s. I need to amass a lot more Disney GCs before the end of the year and bump up my average discount percentage. The deals have been tough to come by recently.

They have been tough which is why I rolled the dice. I’m waiting before I buy anymore to see if the credit posts as expected.

Alright now I'm thinking of this idea.... other thought was Hotels.com GCs lol

This is 30% back up to $100 right? Basically 30% back on $333.33? Want to make sure I read it correctly

 

[gottalovepluto]

Alright now I'm thinking of this idea.... other thought was Hotels.com GCs lol

This is 30% back up to $100 right? Basically 30% back on $333.33? Want to make sure I read it correctly

Yep

 

[speedyfishy]

wouldn’t be spending money today! So far I’ve spent $365.95

Did you manage to get every gift card deal? Lol

 

[vanjust14]

Anyone have a smart speaker like Alexa? What do you use it for? Thinking of getting one with the deal running...just not quite sure what you can do with it other than asking it about the weather.

I use mine as a kitchen timer, lol. Clearly I don't use it to its full potential.
My DD has the echo dot in her room and we use it to play disney movie soundtracks at bedtime.

 

[amalone1013]

When we were still living in Iowa we had a terrible ice storm (I was in like 8th grade). A bunch of my relatives stayed at our house because our street had power. It was actually a lot of fun

When I was in 3rd or 4th grade we got such a bad blizzard/ice storm the city actually postponed Halloween. They had it like a week later. Then they encouraged people to take their kids to the newer neighborhoods like ours because the power lines were underground, and older parts of town were still having issues with power/downed lines and trees.

We had 500 trick or treaters before we had to give up and shut the lights off since we were out fo candy.

ETA: I apologize, I misremembered as a 7 year old. Halloween was not postponed, the storm was a week before but they city was completely shut down so they recommended people take their kids to the new neighborhoods.

 

[afan]

I keep seeing previews for the art of racing in the rain and while it looks good and I want to see it having read the book I really don't want to see it in the theatre. I'm hoping they did the book justice, though from the bits I've seen it seems that they have. I couldn't get through the trailer at the theatre last month...

 

[Alexle2007]

Besides our terrible flight from O’Hare closing and diverting to Milwaukee for a couple of hours for gas and to wait it out, Chicago is fabulous! We tried to go to the Shedd Aquarium after training but $40 for less than an hour no thanks. So we took the water taxi over to Navy Pier and did the Architecture river boat tour and it was fabulous! Worth every $. What a terrific view of the city. We took an Uber back to the Hilton and I finally got the Plat credit to work. (Turns out I forgot my Plat had been replaced due to possible fraud and I never updated my Uber acct. Oops!) Tomorrow afternoon/evening, I am hunting down the Flamingo sculpture at federal plaza and searching for pizza. And Wed we’ll head to Millennium Plaza to see the Bean and look for a good steakhouse. Our Uber driver recommended Cindy’s???? (Just in general and for pizza or steak.) Any thoughts on it? Lovely city so far!

 

[elgerber]

Besides our terrible flight from O’Hare closing and diverting to Milwaukee for a couple of hours for gas and to wait it out, Chicago is fabulous! We tried to go to the Shedd Aquarium after training but $40 for less than an hour no thanks. So we took the water taxi over to Navy Pier and did the Architecture river boat tour and it was fabulous! Worth every $. What a terrific view of the city. We took an Uber back to the Hilton and I finally got the Plat credit to work. (Turns out I forgot my Plat had been replaced due to possible fraud and I never updated my Uber acct. Oops!) Tomorrow afternoon/evening, I am hunting down the Flamingo sculpture at federal plaza and searching for pizza. And Wed we’ll head to Millennium Plaza to see the Bean and look for a good steakhouse. Our Uber driver recommended Cindy’s???? (Just in general and for pizza or steak.) Any thoughts on it? Lovely city so far!

For pizza we love Gino’s East, can’t wait to eat there over Labor Day!

 

[Albort]

Alright now I'm thinking of this idea.... other thought was Hotels.com GCs lol

This is 30% back up to $100 right? Basically 30% back on $333.33? Want to make sure I read it correctly

they seem to be 15% off always on Samsung Pay.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Did you manage to get every gift card deal? Lol

I plead the 5th.

 

[Alexle2007]

For pizza we love Gino’s East, can’t wait to eat there over Labor Day!

Thanks! Looks like there’s a Gino’s 8 min or .4 miles from the Hilton.

 

[Lain]

Our full day will be 8/17. We arrive SJC on the 16th, leave early on the 18th. The 17th will be an In-n-Out visit, I think Walt Disney Family Museum and then DH found a bar or something he wants to visit, supposed to be kid friendly. Something about a pool turned into a tiki bar. I didn't write it down yet.

ETA: There are 6 of us, kids are 13-23.

Ah, seeing the Golden Gate Bridge will pair perfectly with your Walt Disney Family Museum visit! They’re both in the Presidio, and you’ll see a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge right from the Main Post where the museum is located, but with a car you can drive to various lookouts that’ll get you even better views, Chrissy Field, and to Fort Point that’s right at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. I’ll pull up some maps when I get a chance in the next few days.

Here’s a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from inside the back of the museum:


This is a view from behind the Presidio Lodge, right next to the Walt Disney Family Museum:

Here are some images from Chrissy Field on a nicer day around sunset:

And more pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge as you make your way from Chrissy Field to Fort Point, on different days:

And from Fort Point, right under the bridge itself:

I’m guessing the tiki bar is the Tonga Room at the Fairmont hotel? It’s a cool place; one of the few “old school” restaurants left in the city. One more cool thing right outside is the Fairmont is right on the hill on California Street, with a cable car line running up and down, and the Bay Bridge in the distance in a perfectly framed canyon view between the buildings of Chinatown and the Financial District downhill.

You could buy a one-day visitor passport, hop onto a cable car heading down California Street, which will take you down to Market Street. Hop onto an “F” streetcar headed towards the Embarcadero, and that’ll take you to Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, where In-N-Out is (and a short walk to Ghirardelli Square).

(The reason why I suggest public transportation aside from the Presidio is parking is very expensive around Nob Hill — where the Fairmont is, and along the Embarcadero, but if paying fares for 6 people is more, then maybe driving and parking is the better option.)

I’ll fill in more details, and Alamo Square (where the Painted Ladies are) when I have a little more time.

 

[Chris9ty]

I use mine as a kitchen timer, lol. Clearly I don't use it to its full potential.
My DD has the echo dot in her room and we use it to play disney movie soundtracks at bedtime.

We use a echo dot to tell us jokes.