Snow in July on Mount Hood!
PORTLAND TRIP
We flew to Portland, Oregon for a vacation. Right off the bat I was able to, in essence, pay for the trip. We had a 6:45 AM flight of which we had to get up at 3:30 AM. At that time I’m still dreaming about some oddball stuff like running from some dentures that are nipping at my shorts or where I find myself engrossed in a battle with smelly ogres wearing fancy suits that want to use my eyeballs for fishing bait.
I got the tickets from Priceline.com. I kept checking to see when the price dropped. Prices can drop hundreds in one week and go right back up. We got the tickets just a few weeks before the trip after I saw the price drop hundreds.
We flew into Atlanta first. The flight from there to Portland was overbooked. They asked for volunteers to get bumped to the next flight. We were on the 11:14 AM flight and they wanted to bump us to the 5:22 PM flight. They were giving away $400 vouchers. I asked for $600 and she said no, so I passed. We prepped to see if it would be ok to get there later.
We had about a half hour before the flight left so I decided to take care of the call of nature. I was on the toilet when my wife called. I knew the call was important, so I picked it up. Not something I usually do when I’m doing my business. She said they upped the voucher to $600. My business could wait.
There were already some takers for the voucher, so I wasn’t sure if I could get in on it. They said they needed 8 volunteers. We were number 7 and 8. Timing is everything. I asked if the could do $800 – what they hey, doesn’t hurt to ask. She said no. I kept our names on the list nonetheless.
As we get closer they start offering the tickets to the passengers ahead of us on the list. She said to sit down as she worked on things. She points to me and I go up. We made it. Of course, I want more and ask for meal and drink tickets. She said yes on the meal tickets. She couldn’t find any drink tickets and would need to find some.
We waited and they called for a few passengers that didn’t board yet and they were getting ready to lock the door. All of a sudden a guy opens the door from the baby changing station and yells out he’s changing the diaper on his baby. During that time the other passenger arrives. The gal that helped us goes into the room and takes the baby stroller and brings it onto the plane to get things going. After a good many minutes the guy rushes out with fresh baby in his arms.
The gal that helped gives a nodding approval and we give her a thumbs up. She realizes she didn’t give us a drink ticket and comes over with 6 of them! I’m ready to do a Russian Cassock dance like Fonzie did the one time on Happy Days. I wish I didn’t remember things like that, but at a young age every little event stuck in my memory.
A few minutes later the guy with the baby bolts out of the door that leads to the plane with the airline folks looking in horror. He forgot something. He runs down the gate and comes back with a bag. I think he needed his diaper changed now.
The main reason for the trip was for my wife to rerecord a song with her brother that her Dad sang when he tried to make it big in Nashville way back when. They wanted to surprise him for his 75th birthday. Her dad went by the name Budd Raggits as his country persona. The song they chose to rerecord was Smarty Pants. All his songs were whimsical in nature with some being very humorous and mostly about jilted love.
The recording went well until one of the guitarists enjoyed one too many glasses of Maker’s Mark whiskey. By one too many, it was two to be exact. Hard to play guitar when your brain doesn’t tell your fingers and eyes to work in slow motion. He even blinked slow.
The natural scenery in Portland is majestic and beautiful. Mountains, huge pine trees, and rivers. Odd folks there I tell you that make for great people watching. It’s like a people zoo. Eww, did you see what that one did. Look at that one…it has nice colors and makes interesting noises. We heard numerous times that the people don’t have the best work ethic. They’re more into chillin and enjoying a minimalist life which doesn’t sound bad at times with what can be a stressful rat race out there.
Grocery prices in Portland were higher than Cleveland . Surprisingly, produce was much higher in cost. With a lot of produce being grown there I thought it would cost less. A pint of blueberries was $2.50 where I can find it for $1 or $1.50 in Cleveland . Bananas were 69 cents or 89 cents a pound. In Cleveland I can find it for 39 cents a pound.
No double coupons at the grocery stores there. The main stores in the area were Fred Meyer and Safeway. To find the deals at those stores and other in the Pacific Northwest go to http://www.couponconnectionsnw.com, http://www.frugallivingnw.com, http://www.nwcouponlady.blogspot.com,
http://www.nwdealseeker.blogspot.com, and http://www.thriftynorthwestmom.com.
The cool thing about Oregon is that they don’t charge a sales tax. The price on the shelf is the price you will pay for all items and not just food.
We got a rental car for a quick excursion out to the Columbia Gorge area and to check out the wineries there and also Multnomah Falls. I enjoy Washington wines, especially the reds, and there were some good Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir in Oregon. Most of the wineries charged $5 or $10 to taste, but we shared and got the money back when we bought a bottle or two. Hood River had some good wineries and great views of Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens. I kept looking over at Mount St Helens to make sure I didn’t see a puff of something coming out of it and if there were Ogres in suits behind me.
We booked the rental car from priceline.com. The gal was amazed at the price I found. She said it was a quarter of the cost of what she was typically renting the car for. The airport was charging a ton for rentals – about $100 a day – crazy. I could buy a rickshaw and have someone ride me around town for cheaper. Instead, I got a rental car a few miles from the airport where it was much cheaper. I waived all the insurance stuff since I’m already covered and using a good credit card will cover most everything else. I always bring the car back full of gas too. Found the cheapest price in the area to do so at http://www.gasbuddy.com.
When booking a car be sure to set the return time way past the actual time you think you’ll return it. Being just an hour late can cost almost an extra days worth of rental. Also rent in 24-hour chunks. For instance, a car rental for 18 hours costs the same as 24 hours. So give yourself some leeway when returning a car.
Check out the hotel travel magazines for coupons to restaurants. I brought some coupons that I got in the coupon inserts, newspaper or mail with me too for national chains.
We stayed at a Super 8 motel. Not my usual choice but I checked http://Tripadvisor.com and hotels.com and they had some decent enough feedback on the hotel. For the price I got it on at priceline.com it was worth it. We woke up in the morning and found ants on the bed, bathroom, and my wife’s purse. That changed things.
While there I got a massage from my brother-in-law’s girlfriend. She has a business in Portland. She was in San Fran, but is now living in Portland to be near her Mom. She wrenched out some nasty knots I had. Even got rid of my headache I had. I can’t stand those light as a ballerina fingers dancing on my back massages. Get in there and get out my kinks like Helga would do. She has done massages for major superstars while she was in San Fran. To schedule a massage you can contact her at m.tbc@sbcglobal.net or 971-285-3539 in Portland or 415-339-8040 in San Fran. Her website is http://www.mtherapeutic.com. Just tell her you want the Coupon Guy discount and she will knock off $10 off the original price of a massage and $20 off a second visit if booked within 30 days of the first appointment. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Well worth it. No expiration date.
We got gift certificates from restaurant.com at 80% off for a handful of restaurants including Imbibe, Stepping Stone Café, and Chez Joly.
I found free wifi in Atlanta and Portland airports, so check for free wireless networks before paying for any. Also check http://www.wififreespot.com for free wifi.
And the capital of Oregon is… no, not Portland. It’s Salem. Salem. Remember that in case you get asked it on Smarter than a Fifth Grader show or something like that.
LAKE METROPARKS FARMPARK
Free events day on July 12, 20, August 1, 9, 17, 21 for Lake county residents with proof of residency. Always free for active military personnel with military id. Find the events at http://www.lakemetroparks.com.
OPENING
Mia Bella – Little Italy
Zinc bar & restaurant – in the 668 Euclid Ave complex
Thriftique – name brand furniture and housewares – Warrensille Heights at 26055 Emery Road. $5 off coupon in PD.
CLOSING
Baricelli Inn – will be replaced in the fall with Washington Place Bistro and Inn
NEWS-HERALD
5 line ad free in print and online for 5 days. Item must have a list price less than $1,000. Contact the News-Herald at 440-951-SOLD.
CVS
Free after extra bucks:
Scissors
Papermate Pens
Complete Contact Solution
STAPLES
Ends Wednesday:
1 cent after $5 minimum purchase:
8 pack pencils – limit 2
2 pocket folder – limit 10
ream of paper (after rebate)
Many $1 items including some that were $3.99 and photo paper originally $14.99 before rebate.
Plus use $5 off $30 purchase coupon in ad or online.
RITE AID
Watch a video and get a $5 off a $20 purchase coupon:
http://my.adperk.com/splash/d30b50da/index.html
Get a $5 off $25 purchase coupon here:
http://offers.riteportal.com/1166/ecoup_5offnynj_073110.pdf
LEBRON
LeBron, LeBron, LeBron… tsk, tsk. Looks like Lebron’s ego won…by a long shot. The King, The Chosen One, Witness, The Decision…really. How about play your heart out and let the accolades and nicknames come after you play your best and win a ring. He still needs to make his free throws, not slow down the game, and make the last minute winning shot more often than not to be great. The mess of his decision will not take him down the road that he thinks it will. Where was his integrity?
As I mentioned in a previous post I think the way he played or didn’t play in the playoffs might be a good thing for Cleveland. He wasn’t going to put his heart into playing in Cleveland, so it was time for him to go. He was as committed to Cleveland as he was to the mother of his kids. It looked like he wasn’t that comfortable even making the decision to go to Miami. I think he somewhat realized the mess he made. Great players don’t need all stars at every position to win a championship.
I think he was enjoying the trick mid-court shot, the alley-oop slam dunk, and follow-from-behind ball swat more than he wanted to do the fundamentals right like make a free throws. His mother didn’t set a good example of playing by the rules as she has been arrested many, many times and it showed with how LeBron was becoming uncoachable with his egotistical antics.
His heart for Hollywood was becoming bigger than his game. At 25, he chasing fun in Miami with his crew. He enjoyed the camradie as shown by the dances and routines before the game. He just wanted a new cast. He’s a great talent. I have to give him that. I have to give him that. Just use your physical talents that God gave ya and not your egotistical one. I just think he’s heading down the road to wasting it. I think the puff of chalk he threw up before every game might just be, in essence, his career. Cleveland’s time will come. Our owner is better and more passionate than LeBron. And new coach Byron Scott may get the team to overachieve and play some offense along with defense. And if not, Go Browns and Go Indians!
REDDSTONE
Today’s Deal: $20 for $40 Worth of Upscale Pub Fare and Drinks at Reddstone.
Expires Jan 13, 2011
Limit 2 per person. Limit 1 per table, 2 per table of 5 or more. Not valid on specials. No cash back. Tax and gratuity not included.
Click here to order:
REDDSTONE DEAL
RESTAURANT.COM
Get 80% off on restaurant gift certificates and gift cards. Get them early in the month before they sell out. Find $25 certificates for $2 (normally $10). Over 15,000 available across the U.S. Great to use when travelling.
Use code: FUN
Deal ends: 7/12 – ENDS TODAY
Click here to order:
RESTAURANT.COM 80% OFF DEAL
SUPERCENTER K-MART
Supercenter K-Marts are doing super doubles until 7/13. Coupons of $2 and less are doubling. Limit of 10. Must have a Shopyourway rewards card available free at the store. Check with your store to make sure they are doubling.
BEST DEAL MAGAZINES
Weekly Deals:
MOTOR TREND
Additional 20% Off – $3.75 for 1 year – Coupon Code: WKLYSPEC
FITNESS
Additional 20% Off – $3.75 for 1 year – Coupon Code: WKLYSPEC
SHAPE
Additional 20% Off – $3.75 for 1 year – Coupon Code: WKLYSPEC
Daily Deals:
7/12 – Family Fun 1 Year – $4.29
7/13 – Wine Enthusiast 1 Year – $4.39
7/14 – Angels on Earth 1 Year – $4.29
7/15 – Muscle & Fitness 1 Year – $4.29
7/16 – Truck Trend 1 Year – $5.39
7/17 – Road & Track 1 Year – $4.39
7/18 – Sporting News 1 Year – $4.39
Take An Extra 15% Off Most Titles – Code: PXCJ718 Offer Expires July 18, 2010
TAKE AN EXTRA $5 OFF $30 ORDER COUPON – Code: MNDCJ718 Offer Expires July 18, 2010
TAKE AN EXTRA $7.50 OFF $40 ORDER COUPON – Code: MQQCJ718 Offer Expires July 18, 2010
TAKE AN EXTRA $10 OFF $50 ORDER COUPON – Code: MQPCJ718 Offer Expires July 18, 2010
Click here to order:
http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2783844-10456209
BEST DEAL MAGAZINE DEALS
VICTORIAS SECRET
All clearance panties $2.99 – ends Tuesday, July 13th. Go to http://www.victoriassecret.com to order.
WALGREENS
Order $25 or more online, and get $10 to spend at Walgreens.com, valid 7/1 – 10/1
Click here for the deal:
$10 DEAL
9¢ Prints, when you order 100 prints or more plus FREE Shipping, valid 7/11 – 7/17
Click here for the deal:
9 CENT PRINT DEAL
ALDIS
Strawberries – 99 cents/lb
Pineapple – $1.49
Brocolli – 99 cents
Red/Yellow Peppers – 2 pack – $1.29
ENTERTAINMENT BOOK
Get the 2010 Entertainment book for only $7.99! Great to buy one for a city that you’re travelling to. Deal ends 7/14.
Click here to order:
ENTERTAINMENT BOOK DEAL
FACEBOOK
Be my Facebook fan at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joe-The-Coupon-Guy/197073886914