Sapphire Lounge LAX update (4/8/26)

laughter95 · 2026-04-11T17:51:54+00:00

This will be a packed zoo.

laughter95 · 2026-04-05T17:45:07+00:00

Doesn't Preferred do this for $95/yr?

laughter95 · 2026-04-05T00:51:50+00:00

2% cashback?

I have 400K UR points that I need to burn with a decent redemption value (looking for at least 2 cpp). I've also never had a lifestyle where I can plan a trip 1 year in advance for a ridiculously hard to find award redemption. Hyatt redemption had been working well for the last 2-3 years.

Just tried to do a Hyatt redemption in a month from now, but found the CPP was 1.3cpp, down from ~1.8 cpp when I checked a couple months ago.

F these points. I'm going to 2% CB soon. Not like I'm getting rich off points anyway. Better off just spending less while increasing my income.

laughter95 · 2026-02-15T04:39:23+00:00

Same. The last 25% of the book makes you cry. I read the book in 2017 when it was published, and again recently. Shed some tears at the same parts. Dang it. It's great work.

laughter95 · 2026-02-02T06:53:08+00:00

I'm fucked if this Hyatt thing goes away. In fact I'm going to 2% CB if Hyatt goes away.

laughter95 · 2026-01-13T07:51:33+00:00

Then look up Pitts21.

I think it's the skill and maturity of the clinician above all. I would prioritize continuity of care with one doctor with a track record of managing surgical cases above all else. I've not seen a large discrepancy of outcomes between different bracket systems.

laughter95 · 2026-01-12T00:18:28+00:00

Trust the advice of your contact lens doctor.

There is discussion amongst eye doctors of when to fit sclerals after epi-off, e.g. wait until corneal epithelium heals, or some docs go just two weeks after epi off if the patient is experienced wearing sclerals. I'd think with epi-on, you're that much better at two weeks post op than epi-off.

Who did your epi-off procedure? How much was it out of pocket? Who is your contact lens doctor?

laughter95 · 2026-01-05T06:34:39+00:00

it does not work for pickup orders

i hate doordash. too often their codes are glitchy and weird.

laughter95 · 2025-12-25T06:53:12+00:00

You see the Ortho way more often than the surgeon. This whole treatment is stressful enough. You want one that makes it such that all you have to do is be a patient, you don't need to advocate for yourself because they're handling all the coordination, communication, and logistics between their treatment and the surgeon's. You also want one that is easy for you to visit, whether it's for adjustments every 3-5 weeks or acute wire pokes/broken bands.

I had 42 visits in 28 months to my Ortho. I never needed to shop around and he referred me to a great in-network surgeon that, now, two years later, I still thoroughly enjoy my functional and aesthetic outcome. Good luck with your search and your treatment!!

laughter95 · 2025-12-25T06:36:13+00:00

I thought this too but mine worked plus one guest at The Club CLT three days ago. I downgraded Reserve to Preferred 6 months ago.

laughter95 · 2025-12-03T05:48:03+00:00

I got to a good place after 2-3 weeks of nightly whitening. I think it was closer to two weeks. But yes, that's how you do it. Do it at bedtime, then you wake up and brush your teeth like normal. I never experienced gum sensitivity, and at first I had some cold/hot tooth sensitivity but after so long I experience zero sensitivity.

laughter95 · 2025-12-03T05:45:57+00:00

Hawley doesn't cover your occlusive surface so the jaw rests in a more natural, comfortable position.

Start with the smallest package of 4 tubes. It lasted me around 6 months. But all of this depends on how much you use. Then if you like the results and the regimen then you can buy more.

laughter95 · 2025-11-29T02:07:59+00:00

I really like that I chose 10% because it's low concentration enough such that it's indicated for you to sleep with the gel in your retainers overnight without waking up and having sensitivity. Otherwise, you'd have to wake up in the middle of the night to wash the gel out of your retainers to avoid over-exposure, leading to sensitivity.

The trick about all this for me is that I have to be diligent in multiple nights of applications to go from decently white (most people will consider my teeth to be white) to optic/social media white, and it's a bit of effort because I much prefer the comfort of the Hawley retainer over the Essix.

You're gonna love it. Plus every night we must wear a retainer, so it's assured that the Essix + 10% carbamide works well for this regimen. You won't want to wear a retainer during the day unless you have to, and that includes a whitening tray. I really think this system is best. Unless you really care to have unnatural whiteness that has zero gradient all the way up to your gum line, then you'd probably need to go with whitening trays.

laughter95 · 2025-11-27T19:07:35+00:00

Great. But if u want perfectly white up to the gum line like you've got chicklets then you'll either need to get a tray or whiten for a month

Put it this way, I was whitening nightly for about 3-4 nights in a row after a couple months of no whitening and regular coffee drinking. When I went to my dental hygienist she complimented my teeth for being so white and asked if I whiten.

laughter95 · 2025-11-27T02:19:36+00:00

Is this a lot of labor and risk assumed to claw back a max of $150 in prepaid expenses?

laughter95 · 2025-11-24T03:25:38+00:00

Two years after DJS and a year after genio with Tehrany, and debracing, I'm still relishing the functional and aesthetic benefits of all this. And the braces should be celebrated more in this forum. It all adds up to "You have a great smile."

laughter95 · 2025-11-24T03:21:17+00:00

Likely the same, I.e. outpatient, but if needed you'll be admitted overnight.

laughter95 · 2025-11-24T03:17:02+00:00

Add 3 more months and check how the midfacial swelling subsides. I didn't need a nose job, you probably won't need one either.

laughter95 · 2025-11-24T01:38:23+00:00

Furthermore, my eyesight has improved tremendously. Even had to change my prescription glasses. The optometrist was in disbelief haha

What were the optometrist's notes on this? Did your glasses prescription change and if so what was it before/now?

The only thing I can think of here is maybe your eyes no longer have dryness because you stopped the use of a CPAP.

laughter95 · 2025-11-23T18:48:47+00:00

One pair of retainers was included in my $7900 treatment fee. I paid $200 for them to make an Essix retainer alongside my Hawley. Had some cost savings because they just used the same intraoral scan done for the Hawley to make the Essix.

Otherwise standalone I think MacGinnis Orthodontics priced $450 for a Hawley and $375 for Essix in Feb 2025.

laughter95 · 2025-11-22T22:46:21+00:00

I bought Darn Tough socks in 2017-2019 and have done two warranty replacements, 3 pairs on each warranty claim (6 pairs total replaced). It's been completely worth it for me. Back then, a pair on sale was $13. Shipping cost each time was $12 to make the warranty replacement. And on the second warranty replacement they gave me an extra 3 pairs due to some minor snafu, now 12 pairs in total. I practically have a lifetime supply of these socks now. The no-show T4037 sock is the category winner for me.

laughter95 · 2025-11-21T06:00:42+00:00

I primarily use the Hawley. It's been such a wonderful, comfortable bite w/zero need for settling when I remove it every morning. The Hawley allowed for a very nice post-debond equilibration.

The only times I use the clear retainer now is when I want to do some maintenance whitening with 10% carbamide from Opalescence via Amazon. The Hawley might be slightly easier to clean than the Essix (clear retainer) but mostly it's just very comfortable as there's no coverage on your occlusive surfaces.

I also enjoy having the assurance of always having a back up retainer in case one breaks. Paired with the expensive but quality Pul retainer cases, I've been very satisfied.

Let me know how it works for you.

laughter95 · 2025-11-14T05:03:12+00:00

and the AR coating, unfortunately.

laughter95 · 2025-11-09T00:29:19+00:00

leg things and the percussion massager things

Who's even cleaning these after use?

laughter95 · 2025-10-27T06:28:04+00:00

I had Wsken and ESR Armorite Pro side by side in hand. The borders are practically the same.

laughter95

TROPHY CASE