Author Archives: edwinandlisa

Travel Strategies: IHG PointBreaks

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As a member of IHG (International Hotels Group) and owners of their credit card, Lisa and I have about 100,000 points between us.  With redemptions for free overnight stays around 25k – 40k, that is good for about four free nights at the low end.  However, every quarter IHG releases their PointBreaks promotion where certain hotels in their portfolio are discounted to only 5,000 points per night.  So conceivably, we could stretch our 100k points into twenty free hotel stays.  Of course, the hotels are usually lower end properties in rural, far-off areas, and the availability is limited and runs out very quickly.  However, we have gotten lucky in the past and were able to use two 5,000 point nights on our recent trip to Savannah, saving us at least $200.  And we were also able to book the promotion in Eugene for two nights for the James Taylor concert, again saving us at least $200.  I write this post tonight because the next batch of IHG PointBreaks should be released sometime this week, for stays November 1st – January 31st.  Since Lisa and I have a week of winter break still open, plus some weekends, we are hopeful that we can find a property here in Oregon or Washington that we can take advantage of.  With the Holiday Inn brand, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites, there are a number of hotels that just might work and we’ll cross our fingers that we can score something good.  Updates later this week to follow!

Fantasy Basketball Auction Draft 2016

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Always one of my highlights every year … yeah, it’s nerdy, but so much fun!  So much unpredictability and I never know if the guys I want will be too expensive for me to continuing bidding on.  And this is the reset year one for a four-year league, so the stakes are extra high to find players that I can keep for the next three years at minimal cost.  And for the most part, I got the guys I wanted at prices that I can afford.  We’ll see how things shake out, but the evening is always entertaining, and of course there is always lots of food and laughs.  Let the games begin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Something Learned #3: Qigong Part 6

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Sixth week of class and only four people are there — that includes myself, a married couple and the instructor.  It was a rainy night and the third and final debate between presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — perhaps people were just too exhausted to come attend after another cringe-worthy hour and a half debate?  No matter.  I went to my class, went through the regular routine, and once again when we sat down to do some movements, I promptly returned to my usual routine of falling asleep and jerking my head awake.  Well, perhaps not that dramatic.  I was just in a trance like state, still aware and hearing, but not really conscious.  And certainly not meditating at all.  But I’m okay with that.  Next week I’ll have to remember to take a picture of the space and the circle of chairs so that you can really see why this place makes me so sleepy.  I’ve been so good about doing my morning routines, but once again I have failed with the challenge for entering a building with my left foot.  And so again I shall attempt to remember this for next week.  But until then I have a great weekend to look forward to!