Murphy stopped by

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Cheap, but non-refundable, airline tickets and a pre-paid rental car plus a growing Norovirus outbreak at ODS' college means we likely won't see him make his college lacrosse debut this weekend.  We'll lose change fees and $100 on the car rental.  

Poor ODS is very sick.  The Wellness Center is overwhelmed, as is Urgent Care.  I wisely stocked him with some Coke, ginger ale, plain Cheerios, and saltines when I settled him in for the Spring semester a few weeks ago because college dorms are one giant Petri dish.  I am counseling him by phone and made him promise to roll himself into the hallway if things get worse so that someone will trip over him and call 911.    As long as he works to slowly re-hydrate himself he should be fine.  I hope the cleaning staff makes more than minimum wage.  

We're all bummed -- he's been looking forward to, and working toward, this day for 10 years.  

Oh well, next game.  

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Sorry GRG. I hope he gets well soon.

[andi9899]

Why not go see him anyway?

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Feb 18, 2016 13:38:54 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Why not go see him anyway?

Because a clean, but dated, chain hotel 400miles from home is not where *I* want to fight Norovirus.   

If he needs me, I'll go, of course.  But, it's a right of passage to learn how to fight a stomach virus on your own without your mother rubbing your back lovingly while you hurl.  

[jitterbug]

I am not in any way, shape or form trying to be judgmental about your travel choices - but this is why I'm a HUGE fan of Southwest Airlines!  There are no change fees! And while you don't get your money back if you cancel...they WILL keep it as a credit for you, for up to one year from the date of booking, to use against a future flight! They even let you rebook the SAME flight if the airfare goes down - and you can apply the credit towards a future flight.

And I am assuming that perhaps your rental car was booked via a 3rd party?  I've learned in my life that Murphy happens, so I tend to book directly so I have more flexibility in my plans.  I've had friends book a hotel at Hotels.com and then decided to continue on their road trip a day early - and couldn't get their money back once they'd checked in.  Usually I'm squeaky tight with money, but I've learned that sometimes paying more for flexibility saves me more in the long run.

BUT - I DO hope your son feels better soon and you can see him play in the near future!

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Feb 18, 2016 14:47:19 GMT -5 jitterbug said:

I am not in any way, shape or form trying to be judgmental about your travel choices - but this is why I'm a HUGE fan of Southwest Airlines!  There are no change fees! And while you don't get your money back if you cancel...they WILL keep it as a credit for you, for up to one year from the date of booking, to use against a future flight! They even let you rebook the SAME flight if the airfare goes down - and you can apply the credit towards a future flight.

And I am assuming that perhaps your rental car was booked via a 3rd party?  I've learned in my life that Murphy happens, so I tend to book directly so I have more flexibility in my plans.  I've had friends book a hotel at Hotels.com and then decided to continue on their road trip a day early - and couldn't get their money back once they'd checked in.  Usually I'm squeaky tight with money, but I've learned that sometimes paying more for flexibility saves me more in the long run.

BUT - I DO hope your son feels better soon and you can see him play in the near future!

You raise valid points.

We don't currently use Southwest because ODS is a nervous new flyer.  The herd mentality at boarding on Southwest would freak him out, LOL.  We use another airline for now, with super cheap albeit non-refundable flights that allows him priority boarding for a nominal fee.  We booked with the other airline for this trip because it allows us to combine all of our points into one account and because we were committed to going on this trip.  We bought the cheap non-refundable fares because, once again, we were committed to going on this trip.  Our failing was that we just didn't plan for the Norovirus.  

The car rental was booked directly with the rental agency but prepaid.  There will be a cancellation fee of anywhere from $25 to $100 depending upon when I finally cancel it (I have a 6 hour grace period for the lower fee).  I haven't cancelled yet in case I do need to go down and check on him.  I did, however, modify the rental pushing pick-up off a day to buy time to see how he is feeling.  

But, otherwise, like you, I do believe that sometimes a higher ticket price is worth its weight in gold in flexibility.  

[lexxy703]

Sorry he misses his first game.  He must feel bummed as well as sick.  I hope feels better quickly.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

UGH!  I've eaten more airline tickets than I care to admit.  I ate 3 sets when I got sick (and I timed out of the year reschedule).  The Feb. after I got sick (in Dec.), I had reservations to Mexico for both of us.  It took me about 18 months to feel up to getting on a plane.  I also got to eat my Christmas tickets out here that year as the day I was supposed to leave, I was in the hospital hooked up to an IV.  I did get the deposit I made at the resort back.

[wvugurl26]

For $12.50 you can buy early bird check-in with Southwest. Every time I've done it I'm in the A groups.

[TheHaitian]

Hope he feels better soon!

[Cookies Galore]

Feb 19, 2016 5:33:19 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Hope he feels better soon!

He should feel better, and five pounds lighter, by tomorrow!

Sorry GRG, the norovirus is the absolute worst! Luckily it's only about 36-48 hours of wanting to die. :-(

[tractor]

Is this U of M? I just read about it, but my son has mentioned nothing about it yet. Midterms are next week, hopefully they figure something out before all the kids start taking tests, it's hard to focus when your puking.

[dannylion]

Sending good thoughts for a speedy recovery for ODS!

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Feb 19, 2016 10:27:40 GMT -5 tractor said:

Is this U of M? I just read about it, but my son has mentioned nothing about it yet. Midterms are next week, hopefully they figure something out before all the kids start taking tests, it's hard to focus when your puking.

LOL, no. About 800 miles east, LOL. It is "Norovirus season" on most college campuses right now. It is highly contagious --!the virus becomes airborne when one gets physically sick. Just about every school is reporting cases. No Chipotle required. ;-).

Thanks for the well-wishes, everyone. Yes, this too shall pass. ODS is at the Wellness Center as I type this just to get an experienced adult eye on him -- all for my peace of mind. He will not play tomorrow -- he won't even make the trip so as to prevent any chance of being THAT player who infects the team. He is bummed, but he should be recovered in time for the next game.

[jitterbug]

Feb 19, 2016 0:01:16 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

For $12.50 you can buy early bird check-in with Southwest. Every time I've done it I'm in the A groups.

Good point! It does at least guarantee you'll be boarding early and get a seat you might like, but I do see how it's still "unsecure seating" for someone who's experiencing anxiety. I LOVE Southwest, but I really don't understand how their boarding system saves time. If anything, I would think everyone having an assigned seat - and then using their line-up system so you board in an orderly fashion (like back of the plane first) would speed things up considerably!

And thanks, wvugurl26 for not taking offense at my comment. None was intended, for sure! I also saw on the news that U of M was experiencing the virus and wondered if that was where your son was?

[ken a.k.a OMK]

800 miles East of the U of Md is in the ocean. We do have a great Div III lacrosse school here on the Eastern shore.

[wvugurl26]

Pretty sure U of M refers to big blue up in Michigan.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Thanks wvu. I thought GRG was in Md.

[wvugurl26]

Tractor asked if her son was at U of M. To me anyway U of M is Michigan and the big house. U of MD is College Park and the Terrapins. GRG's son goes to college in MD. I'm guessing there are easily 800 miles between Maryland and Michigan.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Feb 19, 2016 12:07:28 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Thanks wvu. I thought GRG was in Md.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Always open to meeting a fellow YMAM friend.

My cousin's son played for Salisbury a few years ago. Only 45 minutes from here on the way to Ocean City.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Feb 19, 2016 15:31:47 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Always open to meeting a fellow YMAM friend.

My cousin's son played for Salisbury a few years ago. Only 45 minutes from here on the way to Ocean City.

And Chesterton, home of Washington College, the other Eastern Shore lacrosse school, is about 2 hours north of Salisbury.  

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Yes Chestertown is 45 minutes North of me. I think I know where your son goes. My nephew graduated from there. He's now a science teacher.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Feb 19, 2016 15:41:07 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Yes Chestertown is 45 minutes North of me. I think I know where your son goes. My nephew graduated from there. He's now a science teacher.

No, you don't, LOL.  

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Not really. OK there are 8 division III schools in Md. We eliminated the 2 here. So of 6 not all have games tomorrow. Oh there are another 7 junior colleges. I give!

[phil5185]

Because a clean, but dated, chain hotel 400miles from home is not where *I* want to fight Norovirus.

I am not in any way, shape or form trying to be judgmental about your travel choices - but this is why I'm a HUGE fan of Southwest Airlines!

I've found that, for only 400 miles, I can drive quicker than fly.   That's door-step-to-door-step. 
Takes me an hr to get to the airport, park, shuttle to the gates.
About 2 hours to check in, wait, load, taxi out to runway.
About 1.5 hrs of wheels-up flight.
An hr to de-plane, wait for bags, pick up the rental car.
And an hr to drive to the hotel and park.

In that time, I drive from PHX to LA. And I have my car there.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Feb 19, 2016 16:38:44 GMT -5 phil5185 said:

Because a clean, but dated, chain hotel 400miles from home is not where *I* want to fight Norovirus.

I am not in any way, shape or form trying to be judgmental about your travel choices - but this is why I'm a HUGE fan of Southwest Airlines!

I've found that, for only 400 miles, I can drive quicker than fly.   That's door-step-to-door-step. 
Takes me an hr to get to the airport, park, shuttle to the gates.
About 2 hours to check in, wait, load, taxi out to runway.
About 1.5 hrs of wheels-up flight.
An hr to de-plane, wait for bags, pick up the rental car.
And an hr to drive to the hotel and park.

In that time, I drive from PHX to LA. And I have my car there.

Thank you.

I totally agree.  

Flying is just not the fast option anymore with all of the security issues, traffic to and from the airport, flight delays, etc.

It is, however, often cheaper for some trips when one adds up gas/tolls/wear and tear, etc. and compares it with some super cheap advance-purchase fares.

And it is an option for those without cars and the age and means to rent one like, say, a college student.  

We were flying this trip just because DH couldn't take today off to drive down.  We were going to fly down tonight.  We're better late night flyers than we are late night drivers.  

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Our son went to Virgina Tech. 320 miles. No easy way to fly there and I hated the drive.

[Cookies Galore]

Feb 19, 2016 16:55:37 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Feb 19, 2016 16:38:44 GMT -5 phil5185 said:

I've found that, for only 400 miles, I can drive quicker than fly.   That's door-step-to-door-step. 
Takes me an hr to get to the airport, park, shuttle to the gates.
About 2 hours to check in, wait, load, taxi out to runway.
About 1.5 hrs of wheels-up flight.
An hr to de-plane, wait for bags, pick up the rental car.
And an hr to drive to the hotel and park.

In that time, I drive from PHX to LA. And I have my car there.

Thank you.

I totally agree.  

Flying is just not the fast option anymore with all of the security issues, traffic to and from the airport, flight delays, etc.

It is, however, often cheaper for some trips when one adds up gas/tolls/wear and tear, etc. and compares it with some super cheap advance-purchase fares.

And it is an option for those without cars and the age and means to rent one like, say, a college student.  

We were flying this trip just because DH couldn't take today off to drive down.  We were going to fly down tonight.  We're better late night flyers than we are late night drivers.  

There's also no way in hell I would do the 6.5 hour plus drive (with no breaks) from essentially Boston to Baltimore (or wherever he is). Screw that! I'll fly. I also live 20 minutes from the airport so flying would be a no-brainer for me.

[wvugurl26]

Feb 19, 2016 17:29:23 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Feb 19, 2016 16:55:37 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Thank you.

I totally agree.  

Flying is just not the fast option anymore with all of the security issues, traffic to and from the airport, flight delays, etc.

It is, however, often cheaper for some trips when one adds up gas/tolls/wear and tear, etc. and compares it with some super cheap advance-purchase fares.

And it is an option for those without cars and the age and means to rent one like, say, a college student.  

We were flying this trip just because DH couldn't take today off to drive down.  We were going to fly down tonight.  We're better late night flyers than we are late night drivers.  

There's also no way in hell I would do the 6.5 hour plus drive (with no breaks) from essentially Boston to Baltimore (or wherever he is). Screw that! I'll fly. I also live 20 minutes from the airport so flying would be a no-brainer for me.

I'm pretty sure that's like a 90 minute flight. There is no way in hell I'm driving that.

I don't find flying to be that bad. 9 hour drive to Myrtle Beach or a under 2 hour flight? And all these drive times are if you don't hit traffic. Knoxville to Baltimore/DC burbs should take 8 hours. I've done it in 8 hours once. Every other time there's been ridiculous traffic on I-81 and it's taken at least 10 hours. I hate that trip. And there's no good flight options bc Knoxville is a small airport.